Rondo, Borrego Among Frontrunners For Pelicans’ Coaching Job
Rajon Rondo, James Borrego, Darvin Ham and Steve Hetzel have emerged as the four frontrunners for the Pelicans‘ head coaching job, sources close to the search tell Rod Walker of NOLA.com.
According to Walker’s “best guess,” Rondo and Hetzel are “at the top” of the team’s list of candidates.
Within a look at the pros and cons of each candidate, Walker writes that Rondo would bring toughness and leadership to the Pelicans, pointing out that the 40-year-old was a significant voice in the locker room when he played one season in New Orleans back in 2017/18. That was one of only two seasons in which the Pelicans have won a playoff series, Walker notes.
Walker also points out that Rondo is still respected for his time as an elite player, having earned numerous individual accolades and won two championship during his career, which spanned 16 years (from 2006-2022). He would also “fire up” the teams fans.
On the other hand, Rondo has never been a head coach. He has spent the past two seasons in Milwaukee as a coaching associate.
As Walker writes, Hetzel is the other candidate who lacks head coaching experience, and he probably wouldn’t excite the team’s fans since he’s not a household name. But the Nets assistant is “said to be a good motivator,” with a career arc similar to Jordan Ott, who gradually worked his way up the ranks before leading Phoenix to a playoff berth in 2025/26.
Head of basketball operations Joe Dumars has also worked with Hetzel in the past, Walker notes, having spent four years together in Detroit.
Borrego finished out ’25/26 as New Orleans’ interim head coach after Willie Green was fired in the fall. He has the most head coaching experience of the group and the Pelicans showed some positive signs in the second half, per Walker, though they went just 24-46 in Borrego’s 70 games at the helm.
Ham has spent the past couple years as the top assistant with the Bucks. He led the Lakers to a pair of playoff trips in two seasons as the team’s head coach before being fired in 2024. Dumars is familiar with Ham as well, but Walker notes that some people say Ham lost the Lakers’ locker room.
Eastern Notes: George, Rondo, Heat, Thompson
The Sixers only got six total points from their reserves on Thursday, but an impressive all-around performance from their starters, each of whom scored at least 14 points, helped them secure a victory that will send the series back to Boston for a Game 7 on Saturday.
Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers with 30 points and Joel Embiid nearly had a triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists). But the team also benefited from a big game third star Paul George, who scored 23 points to go along with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. George fueled a defensive effort that limited Boston to 41.9% shooting on the night.
As Dan Gelston of The Associated Press writes, George referred to his first season in Philadelphia as “rock bottom.” He was limited to 41 games in 2024/25 due to injuries and the team registered just 24 wins after giving him a four-year, maximum-salary contract. While George only made 37 appearances in ’25/26, that was largely due to a 25-game suspension that served as an extended recovery period for his knee issues and resulted in something of a “physical rebirth,” Gelston notes.
“I’m finally enjoying it now that I’m able to do things I was once able to do again,” George said. “It’s fun again. It’s like seeing who I am again. How can I be relevant again? How can I chase some of the things I was doing in my past? … Before the suspension, I was kind of saving myself for games because of the soreness and I wanted to be as fresh as possible going into the games. Now, I can focus on basketball.”
“Once he came back from his 25 games, he had a mission,” Maxey said of his veteran teammate. “I think he’s been accomplishing that mission.”
We have more from around the Eastern Conference:
- With reports linking Rajon Rondo to New Orleans’ head coaching vacancy, Eric Nehm of The Athletic explores how Rondo’s two years as a coaching associate with the Bucks have helped prepare him for a larger coaching role. Rondo, who worked closely with breakout guard Ryan Rollins in Milwaukee, told Nehm that he believes he’s ready to coach a team. “I know I can do it now,” Rondo said. “I have the discipline, preparation and, obviously, it’s about having the right people around you. I feel like I know who I am, and I know the people I can trust in this business for the most part. I’ve had a lot of great mentors, a lot of people rooting for me. I definitely think I’ll be ready to go.”
- Given how few top players have reached unrestricted free agency in recent years, carving out significant cap room isn’t as advantageous as it once was for would-be contenders. Still, Heat president Pat Riley said during his annual postseason media session that his team is planning on opening up cap space in 2027. Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald relays Riley’s comments and breaks down what they mean for the club’s approach over the next 12 months, noting that extensions or multiyear deals for Tyler Herro, Andrew Wiggins, and Norman Powell seem unlikely.
- Cade Cunningham led the way with his 45 points, but Ausar Thompson was the Pistons‘ “silent hero” in Wednesday’s Game 5 win, writes Coty M. Davis of The Detroit News. Thompson, who will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason, scored just six points but racked up 15 rebounds, six assists, five steals, and two blocks, all team highs. “Ausar is awesome. He understands how to impact the game,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “What stands out is that he sacrifices himself every single night to do whatever the team needs from him. He has taken on tough defensive assignments. Not to mention his ability to get deflections, get steals and create chaos out there.”
Rondo, Hetzel, Ham Interview For Pelicans’ Coaching Job
5:44 pm: Ham also interviewed for the head coaching position last week, Rod Walker writes for NOLA.com.
12:34 pm: Hetzel has also been interviewed for the Pelicans’ head coaching job, Will Guillory of The Athletic tweets.
11:00 am: Rajon Rondo is among the candidates the Pelicans are considering as they look for their next head coach, with league sources telling Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line (Substack link) that he has already interviewed for the position.
The former All-Star guard was hired in 2024 as a special assistant on Doc Rivers’ staff in Milwaukee. Fischer and Stein note that he first expressed interest in coaching when he was with Boston early in his career, and Brad Stevens brought Rondo into some staff meetings while he was recovering from a torn ACL. Rondo spent 16 seasons in the NBA before his career ended in 2022.
Fischer and Stein hear that the Pelicans have reached out to several candidates, including Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, Bucks associate head coach Darvin Ham and Nets assistant Steve Hetzel. Ham has also been mentioned as a potential replacement for the Magic if they decide to fire Jamahl Mosley.
In addition, the Pelicans have requested permission to interview Pistons assistant Jarrett Jack, according to Fischer and Stein’s sources. Jack played in New Orleans for three seasons of his career and moved on to coaching after his retirement in 2021. He spent two years on the staff in Phoenix before being hired by Detroit.
James Borrego, who took over as the Pelicans’ interim coach when Willie Green was fired in mid-November, remains “very much under consideration” to get the job on a permanent basis, sources tell Fischer and Stein. Borrego, who joined the organization as associate head coach in 2024, guided the team to a 24-46 record after replacing Green.
Bucks Notes: Cap Relief, Giannis, Rondo, Celtics Loss, G League
The Bucks, under second apron restrictions this season, will have a lot more financial flexibility beginning next offseason, according to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Even with the contracts of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard still on the books, there’s a good chance Khris Middleton and Bobby Portis will decline their player options with the salary cap rising. Brook Lopez, who is making $23MM this season, will be an unrestricted free agent.
“I’d like to say it’s by design,” Bucks co-owner and governor Wes Edens said. “We’ve worked pretty hard to be in the position we’re in. I think we have one of the most competitive teams. I think we have a very good chance to really contend and maybe win a championship (this season) and we have a real chance for continuity and continuance beyond this. That’s the goal.”
We have more on the Bucks:
- Antetokounmpo was outspoken after Sunday’s 13-point loss to the rebuilding Nets, saying the team is searching for an identity. “Right now, we don’t have an identity. Like, how are we going to win the game?” he said, per Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “Are we going to defend for 48 minutes? Are we going to move the ball for 48 minutes? Are we going to attack and play fast for 48 minutes — or 36 minutes and slow down in the last 12? We gotta find an identity. We don’t have that right now.”
- Rajon Rondo is working with the club on a part-time basis under head coach Doc Rivers, who explained Rondo’s status. “He’s got a son, it’s not that he didn’t want to be a coach,” Rivers told Brian Robb of MassLive.com. “He’s got a son that’s a really talented player and he’s working with him. We’re crafting out a schedule right now to try to give him enough time to be there and to be with us.”
- Their third consecutive loss, this time to the Celtics on Monday, was a reminder that swapping out Jrue Holiday for Lillard hasn’t worked out for Milwaukee, Robb notes. The Bucks led at halftime but were outscored by 11 in the third quarter and couldn’t mount a meaningful rally. “I don’t like moral victories, but I just thought that’s what we can be — at least for three quarters,” Rivers said, per Nehm. “I thought we kind of ran out of gas a little bit. Didn’t get a lot of help tonight from our bench, so we extended minutes.”
- The Wisconsin Herd, their NBA G League club, has announced its camp roster. James Akinjo, Terence Davis, Henry Ellenson and Justise Winslow are among the notable names with NBA experience on the list.
Central Notes: Rondo, Tyson, Okoro, Jerome, Duren, White
When Rajon Rondo got married this summer, his first NBA coach Doc Rivers was one of the attendees, Baxter Holmes of ESPN writes. Rivers motivated and encouraged Rondo to get into the coaching sphere this season.
That’s exactly what Rondo is doing, as he’s serving as a guest coach for the Bucks during training camp. According to Holmes, Rondo will remain with the Bucks through the rest of the season in an unspecified role. Rondo has said he “absolutely” hopes to be a head coach some day.
“There’s a lot of factors that go into coaching,” Rondo said. “You just can’t say, I’m going to be a coach, and then everything works out and that’s how it happens. So certain personalities have to mesh, [and there’s] a lot of sacrifice. There are certain things that I’m learning. The morning meetings, the amount of hours you’re spending watching film, it’s a lot.”
Rondo declined to say whether he received any other offers from teams. However, it was reported in June that he was high on the list of preferred staff members for new Lakers coach J.J. Redick.
We have more from the Central Division:
- Cavaliers rookie Jaylon Tyson — the No. 20 overall pick this year — is making a strong first impression in training camp so far, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “Our rook has impressed me,” Max Strus said. “He plays basketball the right way. He’s mature in the way he carries himself. He’s not out here asking for the ball or trying to do too much. He’s just trying to get in where he fits in. As a rookie, that’s not easy to do always. It’s impressive to see that. It’s refreshing to have a rookie come in and do that.” All three Cavs players who were asked for their immediate standout named Tyson, who has shown a little bit of everything, including rebounding, defense, and shooting. While Cleveland has a deep rotation, there’s a chance Tyson will make an impact right away.
- Isaac Okoro admitted that he considered taking the Cavaliers‘ one-year, $11.8MM qualifying offer in order to hit unrestricted free agency next year. He eventually signed a three-year contract that includes $33MM in guaranteed money. “In my head I was like, ‘Nah, I think Cleveland wants me and I want to be here.’ I wanted to be here,” Okoro said. Fedor writes in a separate piece that head coach Kenny Atkinson is considering an expanded role for Okoro, who will be expected to screen more often and diversify his game.
- In the same piece, members of the Cavaliers continue to point to Ty Jerome as a standout player in camp, per Fedor. “Ty has been one of the best players in camp in my opinion,” Darius Garland said. Jerome could be a surprise member of the rotation due to the fact that he was previously coached by Atkinson in Golden State and the front office likes him.
- Jalen Duren served as an effective rim-runner and shot-blocker during his first two seasons as a member of the Pistons. However, according to Omari Sankofa II of Detroit Free Press, Detroit is hoping to unlock other aspects of Duren’s game — namely his play-making. He has been working on those skills in camp, and with just three true play-makers on the roster, Duren might be leaned on sooner rather than later. “I think we’re going to let him play with the ball some,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Whether he defensively rebounds the ball and has the ability to bring it up the floor some, whether he catches it on the elbow and we play split action and he can make those reads. So I think just trying to diversify where he touches it, and then we’ll keep building from there.“
- DeMar DeRozan left the Bulls for the Kings this offseason, but he’s still giving advice to Most Improved Player runner-up Coby White, according to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. White is aiming to limit the number of off nights he has as a scorer after breaking through last year. “It’s got to be an every night thing. … I’ve got to build on this,” White said. “That’s what I talked to DeMar a lot about, how he prepares for every moment.“
And-Ones: Rondo, Free Agency, Centers, USA 3×3 U23 Men
Former NBA guard Rajon Rondo avoided jail time with a plea deal related to an unlawful possession of a gun charge in Indiana, Kurt Helin of NBC Sports relays via a report from Indiana’s WDRB. Rondo was arrested in Indiana in January for unlawful possession of a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana.
Rondo pled guilty to misdemeanor unlawful possession of a firearm and was given probation as part of the deal. The charges of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were dismissed. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail, which was suspended. Rondo was also credited for two days of time served, and put on probation for 180 days.
Rondo, who had a 16-year NBA career, confirmed his retirement in April.
We have more from the basketball world:
- The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement has essentially killed free agency for top-level players, Zach Harper of The Athletic opines. He notes that superstars don’t have enough incentive to let things play out in free agency any more. Rather, they’re signing extensions, then pushing for trades if things go sour.
- No surprise —Nikola Jokic stands atop Frank Urbina’s center rankings for HoopsHype. Jokic has been named Most Valuable Player in three of the last four seasons. Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Victor Wembanyama and Domantas Sabonis round out Urbina’s top five.
- John Butler Jr., Alex Fudge, David Johnson and Jameer Nelson Jr. have been named to the USA’s 3×3 U23 Men’s National Team, according to a USA Basketball press release. They will compete at the FIBA 3×3 U23 World Cup Sept. 11-15 in Mongolia. USA is the defending champion in the event. Butler, Fudge and Johnson are currently NBA G League players.
Pacific Notes: Lakers, Kings, Siakam, Gordon, Suns
While there was skepticism both inside and outside the Lakers‘ organization about how genuine the team’s pursuit of Dan Hurley earlier this month was, team owner Jeanie Buss was “highly motivated” to land the UConn head coach and was “genuinely disappointed” when it didn’t work out, sources tell Shams Charania, Sam Amick, and Jovan Buha of The Athletic.
After missing out on Hurley, the Lakers circled back to J.J. Redick, reaching a four-year deal on Thursday with the analyst and podcaster that will make him the club’s new head coach. According to The Athletic’s reporting, Redick had a phone call with Anthony Davis on Monday, which was viewed as an important step in the process, since the Lakers “prioritized Davis’ voice” throughout their coaching search. Davis and other key players were supportive of Redick’s hiring, sources tell The Athletic — while LeBron James isn’t specifically named, it’s safe to assume he approves of the choice to bring aboard his podcasting partner.
As has been previously reported, Scott Brooks, Rajon Rondo, Sam Cassell, and Jared Dudley are a few of the candidates on the Lakers’ wish list for spots on Redick’s new staff, per Charania, Amick, and Buha. However, league sources tell Marc Stein (Twitter link) that the Mavericks will make a strong effort to retain Dudley, who has been an important part of Jason Kidd‘s staff in Dallas.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- A roundtable of ESPN writers discussed the Lakers‘ decision to hire Redick, sharing their thoughts on their former colleague getting his first NBA coaching job. All five panelists believe Redick will be the first Lakers head coach since Phil Jackson to remain in the position for more than three years.
- The Kings pursued Pascal Siakam before he was sent to the Pacers, but ended those efforts after the forward reportedly conveyed that he likely wouldn’t sign with the team long-term. Appearing on The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross (YouTube link), Sam Amick of The Athletic explained why Siakam wasn’t enthusiastic about going to Sacramento. “There was an inference from his camp that over the years there were, behind the scenes, somewhat disparaging remarks made that came from the Kings about his game,” Amick said. “The way it was framed to me was that – in an attempt to drive down what it would to get him – some gossipy-type feedback on his game had gotten back to him. … That is the way it was put to me from his side.”
- Responding to a report stating that Eric Gordon is “50-50” on exercising his player option with the Suns, plugged-in local reporter John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 (Twitter link) says he doesn’t expect the veteran wing to be back in Phoenix next season.
- Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports takes a look at five guards who might make sense as Suns targets in next week’s draft, with Marquette’s Tyler Kolek topping his list. Kolek reportedly visited Phoenix this week for a workout.
Lakers Notes: Borrego, Brooks, Rondo, St. Jean, Redick, Prince
Pelicans assistant James Borrego had an in-person meeting with the Lakers on Wednesday about their vacant head-coaching position, according to Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. Anthony Davis thinks highly of Borrego, Woike writes.
The Lakers had previously met with Borrego, but according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link), that was more of a “get-to-know-you” session. Today’s meeting was more in-depth and Wojnarowski says Los Angeles will look to bring in more candidates for second interviews in the coming days and weeks.
Borrego was a longtime NBA assistant before being hired by the Hornets in 2018. He coached Charlotte for four seasons, compiling a 138-163 record.
As Woike writes, other staffing candidates linked to the Lakers include the previously reported Sam Cassell and Jared Dudley, as well as former Thunder and Wizards head coach Scott Brooks. Cassell was interviewed by the Lakers for their head-coaching role while Dudley was reported to be under consideration for an assistant role, depending on who is hired as head coach. Woike points out that Cassell (Boston) and Dudley (Dallas) could receive promotions from their own organizations after the playoffs.
We have more from the Lakers:
- Former Lakers guard Rajon Rondo and former Lakers assistant Greg St. Jean are among other names under consideration for staff roles, again pending the head coach hire, according to Woike. Rondo played with the Lakers from 2018-20, winning a ring with Los Angeles in 2020. He also played there briefly in ’21/22. St. Jean spent last season as an assistant under Frank Vogel with the Suns.
- While the Lakers are doing their due diligence with a multitude of coaching prospects, J.J. Redick still seems to be the favorite for the position, according to TNT and Bleacher Report’s Chris B. Haynes (Twitter link). “I will be very surprised if their next head coach is anybody but J.J. Redick,” Haynes said. “Everything that I’m hearing is J.J. Redick. From what I know he’s doing some background, calling some assistant coaching candidates who might be able to join his staff.“
- Taurean Prince was thrust into a significant role with the Lakers under former coach Darvin Ham and while he was relatively productive offensively (8.9 PPG, .396 3PT%), his defense took a step back until he moved back to the bench, Lakers Nation’s Matthew Valento writes. An unrestricted free agent this offseason, Prince expressed an interest in returning. “My family, the quality of life in Los Angeles is something that myself and my family haven’t had in probably three or four seasons,” Prince said. “So to stay here would be definitely number one. If not that, then I mean, wherever the dominoes fall and wherever it’s best, that’s where I’ll be. But I for sure want to be a Laker, 100%.“
Rajon Rondo Confirms Retirement From NBA
Longtime NBA point guard Rajon Rondo confirmed during an appearance on the All the Smoke podcast with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson (YouTube link) that he has retired as an NBA player.
Asked by Barnes if his NBA career is over, Rondo replied, “Absolutely,” adding that he wants to focus on spending time with his kids.
Rondo, 38, last played in the league during the 2021/22 season when he appeared in 39 total games for the Lakers and Cavaliers. He played in 957 regular season games and 134 additional postseason contests over the course of 16 years in the NBA, winning titles in 2008 with the Celtics and 2020 with the Lakers.
Rondo was never an elite scorer, but was a talented play-maker and defender who led the league in assists per game three times and made four All-Defensive teams. He also earned All-Star nods in four consecutive seasons in Boston from 2010-13 and was named to the All-NBA third team in 2012.
After spending the first eight-and-a-half years of his career with the Celtics, the former 21st overall out of Kentucky was traded to the Mavericks and spent the next several years bouncing around the NBA. In addition to Boston, Dallas, Cleveland and the Lakers, Rondo also suited up for the Kings, Bulls, Pelicans, Hawks, and Clippers.
The veteran point guard finished his career with regular season averages of 9.8 points, 7.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals in 29.9 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .456/.324/.611. He earned approximately $118MM in salary over the course of his career, per Basketball-Reference.
While his playing time and production declined in his later seasons, Rondo’s exit from the NBA may have been expedited by a series of legal issues in recent years. Most recently, he was arrested in Indiana this January for unlawful possession of a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana.
And-Ones: Cauley-Stein, Rondo, Curry/Ionescu, Silver, Morant
Longtime NBA big man Willie Cauley-Stein, whose last brief stint in the league came with the Rockets at the end of the 2022/23 season, has signed with Indios de Mayaguez, the Puerto Rican team announced (Facebook link).
The sixth overall pick in 2015, Cauley-Stein signed with Italian club Pallacanestro Varese last summer, but the two sides parted ways in December, freeing up the veteran center to join a new team.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Four-time NBA All-Star Rajon Rondo was arrested on Sunday in Indiana for unlawful possession of a firearm, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, reports Jason Riley of WDRB.com. An initial court hearing has been scheduled for February 27. Rondo appeared in nearly 1,100 total regular season and playoff games from 2006-22 but hasn’t been in the NBA since finishing the 2021/22 season with Cleveland.
- The NBA confirmed on Tuesday in a press release that Warriors star Stephen Curry and WNBA sharpshooter Sabrina Ionescu will compete in a one-on-one three-point contest for charity on All-Star Saturday next month. Ionescu, who racked up 37 of 40 possible points in the final round of last season’s WNBA three-point contest, will shoot from the WNBA three-point line using WNBA balls, while Curry shoots from the NBA three-point line using NBA balls.
- Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press lays out why Adam Silver‘s contract extension as NBA commissioner was seemingly a “no-brainer,” noting that that seems to be the consensus among players around the league as well. “Our league, from the time that I came in until now, it’s 10 times better,” Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “Everything’s more organized. … I think he’s done a tremendous job. He’s definitely a max player.”
- Grizzlies star Ja Morant is launching an AAU basketball program called “Twelve Time” that will be based in South Carolina and Georgia. Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal has the story.