Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie has parted with Roc Nation Sports and is seriously considering representing himself, according to Shams Charania.
This is not the first time that Dinwiddie has shown his creativity when it comes to managing his business. In the past, he made headlines when he tried to turn his NBA contract into an investment vehicle, while recently he attempted to crowdfund his next one in exchange for letting fans choose his next team.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
The New Orleans Pelicans have officially hired Stan Van Gundy as their new head coach.
“Stan’s ability to teach while building genuine relationships was one of his many strengths that drew us to him. We feel like we are hiring one of the most accomplished leaders and authentic human beings in the NBA,” Pelicans EVP of Basketball Operations David Griffin said.
Fonte: New Orleans Pelicans.
The Philadelphia 76ers have hired former NBA point guard Jameer Nelson as a scout and assistant GM for the Delaware Blue Coats, the organization’s G League team, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Nelson, 38, will work for the first time as an executive after playing 14 years in the NBA. He spent 10 seasons with the Orlando Magic, reaching the NBA Finals and becoming an All-Star in 2009. He also played for the Mavericks, Celtics, Nuggets, Pelicans and Pistons.
Fonte: NBC Sports Philadelphia.
The Boston Celtics are monitoring the situation between Andre Drummond and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Evan Dammarell reports.
The parties are discussing a contractual extension, but they would still be far from an agreement.
Drummond has a player option for over $ 28 million option for next season and will most likely exercise it.
Last season he played just 8 games with Cleveland before the suspension, with averages of 17.5 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.
Fonte: Forbes.
Stan Van Gundy has reached an agreement with the New Orleans Pelicans to become the next coach of the franchise, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
Shams Charania added that the former coach of Miami, Orlando and Detroit agreed to a four-year deal.
Van Gundy led the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals in the 2008/09 season
ESPN reporting with @_andrew_lopez: Stan Van Gundy has agreed to a deal to become the next coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 21, 2020
Sources: Stan Van Gundy agreed to a four-year deal to be the new Pelicans head coach.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 21, 2020
Brooklyn Nets swingman Joe Harris will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason at the age of 29 after shooting better than 40 percent on three-pointers in each of the past three seasons.
“I have news for the Nets,” said ESPN’s Zach Lowe on his podcast. “They’re going to have competition for Joe Harris. These teams with cap room all view Joe as a potential very good fit on the floor and a good culture guy. I think Harris may have even more of an market because teams trust their defense more. He’s more sort of positionally fluid on defense. I think the Nets are going to have to pay like $15 million per year to keep Joe Harris”.
Fonte: Zach Lowe.
Los Angeles Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy has confirmed, in an interview with Jason Dumas of Kron4, that he will remain with the NBA Champions next season. Handy had been linked as a possibility to join Steve Nash’s staff at the Brooklyn Nets.
“I am a Los Angeles Laker,” Handy said. “What’s next for me is to wait for Frank Vogel to pick up the phone and text me or call me and give me what my next directives are. I’m just going to sit back and try to enjoy this championship we earned and, you know, decompress a little bit. We work so hard that people think we never take time off and I, myself, have had to learn to how to decompress and step away from the game, to where I can stay mentally and physically sharp. I’m going to enjoy this time with my friends and family, and I’ll be ready for whatever directives coach Vogel has for me next as we prepare for this next upcoming season.”
Fonte: Jason Dumas.
After reaching the Western Conference Finals, the Denver Nuggets are seen as likely looking for a trade to upgrade their roster, but Brian Windhorst of ESPN points out that the Nuggets are heavily reluctant to include rookie Michael Porter jr in any trade discussion.
“In talking to teams around the league, the Nuggets have made it clear: Michael Porter Jr. is not available,” said Brian Windhorst. “Do not ask.” Porter averaged 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.4 minutes over 55 games as a rookie in 19-20 after sitting out the 18-19 season due to a back injury.
At least three teams are expected to show interest in Derrick Jones jr, according to the Miami Herald.
Jones will be unrestricted free agent when the NBA free agency starts.
Via RealGM, Derrick Jones Jr. is expected to draw interest from the Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, and Chicago Bulls, sources told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
The 23-year-old Jones is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Teams will be interested in Jones due to his age, athleticism, defensive ability, and a belief that he has yet to peak as a player.
After playing in every Heat game starting from December 1st, Jones averaged just 6.5 minutes in the playoffs.
Jones averaged 8.5 points and 3.9 rebounds last season.
New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets discussed a trade centered on Jrue Holiday before last trade deadline according to Espn.
Via RealGM, Holiday is commonly viewed as a player who would fit perfectly with Kevin Durant and Jrue Holiday due to his ability to play off the ball and his ability on defense while matching Brooklyn’s timeline of contention.
“That certainly is something that’s been out there and I think it has been reported. If it hasn’t been reported, I found out somewhere, I don’t think it was from an executive, maybe it was, there was some discussions between the Nets and Pelicans in February.”
Holiday can become a free agent in 2021.
Blake Griffin is expected to have suitors when the NBA market will begin.
Griffin has two years remaining on his contract at $36.8MM and $38.9MM (the second one is a player option) with the Detroit Pistons that acquired him from the Clippers in January 2018.
Per RealGM, Griffin was limited to just 18 games during the 19-20 season after having two surgeries on his left knee.
“Enough people have asked me what I’ve heard about Blake Griffin and how he’s looking,” said Zach Lowe on his podcast. “What am I hearing? This and that. That I think Detroit is going to have a market for him.
“I don’t think it’s going to be, like, strong. They’re not going to have two first round picks, or even a first round pick unless they take back something onerous too. But I’ve had enough teams ask me about Blake Griffin that I think there’s still interest in what he can do to help you win.”
The New York Knicks would love to pick LaMelo Ball or James Wiseman in the upcoming NBA draft and they are also ready to trade down their pick if the two won’t be available at no.8.
Per NY Post, It doesn’t mean the Knicks will pick him if he falls to No. 8 in the NBA Draft, but Killian Hayes currently has a narrow edge as the team’s second point guard on the board after LaMelo Ball, according to NBA sources.
Hayes has agreed to do a limited number of private, in-person workouts with one team. The Knicks probably will be granted an audience, according to a source.
The Milwaukee Bucks may pursue Victor Oladipo in the next NBA market.
The guard has a contract worth $21 million for next season and he is unlikely to remain in Indianapolis.
Per RealGm, Oladipo has one season remaining on his contract with the Pacers and has an uncertain future, while the Bucks are expected to be active in trade talks to upgrade their roster ahead of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s supermax decision this year, or perhaps free agent decision in 2021.
“I’ll give you a team I’m keeping an eye on with Victor Oladipo,” said Zach Lowe on his podcast. “Milwaukee. Just keeping my eye on them. That’s all I’m going to say. I’m keeping my eye on them.
Oladipo was an All-Star in his first two seasons with the Pacers, but was uneven in 19-20 as he worked his way back from a ruptured quad tendon suffered in January 2019.
The LA Clippers have named Tyronn Lue as the team’s head coach, it was announced today by Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.
Lue will become the franchise’s 26th head coach after serving as an assistant coach for the Clippers during the 2019-20 season. Before joining LA, he was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2016-18, amassing a 128-83 record, taking the team to three consecutive NBA Finals, and winning the franchise’s first NBA title in 2016.
“Ty has been where we want to go. He is a championship head coach with an extraordinary feel for the game and the people who play it,” Frank said. “He’s one of the great minds in our league, and he’s able to impart his vision to others, because he connects with everybody he meets. We conducted a thorough search and spoke with fantastic candidates. We found that the best choice for our team was already in our building. As head coach, Ty will put a unique imprint on the organization, and drive us to new heights.”
“The pieces we need are in place – committed ownership, smart management and elite talent, on and off the court, in the NBA’s best market,” Lue said. “My familiarity with the organization, particularly Mr. Ballmer and Lawrence, confirmed this is where I want to be. We have work to do to become champions, but we have the motivation, the tools, and the support to get there. I’m excited to get started.”
During the 2015-16 season, Lue became the fourth head coach since 1980 to win an NBA Championship during his first year, and the 14th person to have won a title as a head coach and as a player. During that same season, Lue was also selected to coach the Eastern Conference All-Star team. Over the next two seasons, he led the Cavaliers to two more Finals appearances, becoming the third head coach in NBA history to lead his team to three straight NBA Finals in his first three seasons. Lue previously worked on the Clippers staff as an assistant coach from 2013-14. He joined the team after spending two years with the Boston Celtics, as an assistant coach and the director of basketball development.
A native of Mexico, Missouri, Lue played 11 seasons in the NBA, winning two NBA championships in 2000 and 2001 with the Lakers. He appeared in 554 career games and averaged 8.5 points and 3.1 assists. Lue attended the University of Nebraska, where he was selected First-Team All-Big 12 in 1998 and had his jersey (#10) retired by the school in 2017.
Fonte: Los Angeles Clippers.
Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said there is ‘no reason’ to blow up their roster despite changing the head coach and GM.
“This is still our window, the next couple of years. James and Russell are in their early 30s. We’re not blowing up anything. We plan on contending. We’re going to do whatever we had to do to win,” Fertitta said.
Fonte: Jonathan Feigen.
Press release from the Indiana Pacers regarding the hiring of Nate Bjorkgren as their new head coach.
The Indiana Pacers announced Tuesday that they have hired Nate Bjorkgren as head coach. Per team policy, the terms of the contract were not released.
Bjorkgren (pronounced BEE-ork-gren) served as assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors during the past two seasons (2018-20), and helped the Raptors win their first NBA Championship during the 2018-19 season. He also served as player development coordinator and assistant coach of the Phoenix Suns for two seasons from 2015-17 before joining the Raptors as an advanced scout during the 2017-18 season.
PHOTOS: Nate Bjorkgren Career Gallery »
“We are very pleased and excited to have Nate as our new coach,” said President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “This was an extensive and thorough search, and when we reached the conclusion, we felt strongly Nate is the right coach for us at the right time. He comes from a winning background, has experienced championship success, is innovative and his communication skills along with his positivity are tremendous. We all look forward to a long, successful partnership in helping the Pacers move forward.”
Prior to his tenure as an NBA assistant, Bjorkgren served as a head coach in the NBA G League for four seasons and compiled a 126-74 record (.630) with the Bakersfield Jam (2014-15), Iowa Energy (2013-14), Santa Cruz Warriors (2012-13), and Dakota Wizards (2011-12). He served as an assistant coach under current Raptors head coach Nick Nurse for Iowa from 2007-11 and helped the Energy win the 2010-11 NBA G League championship.
“I am honored to take on the role as head coach of the Indiana Pacers,” said Bjorkgren. “This is something I have prepared for during my career. I want to thank Kevin, Chad (Buchanan), Kelly (Krauskopf), Larry Bird, Donnie Walsh, and Herb and Steve Simon for this opportunity. I also want to thank Nick Nurse for giving me my first professional coaching job 14 years ago.”
“I’m looking forward to working with this great team to achieve our goal as NBA Champions.”
Bjorkgren is a native of Storm Lake, Iowa. He played basketball collegiately at the University of South Dakota and Buena Vista University in Iowa.
Fonte: Indiana Pacers.
The Los Angeles Lakers have requested a career-ending injury application to have Luol Deng’s salary removed from the team books, according to Shams Charania.
Deng agreed to a buyout with the Lakers in 2018, then retired in October 2019. He has a $5-million-per-season cap hit for the Lakers until 2022.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
The Indiana Pacers will hire Nate Bjorkgren as head coach for next season.
Bjorkgren comes from the Toronto Raptors where he was Nurse’ assistant coach.
The coach will replace Nate McMillan, fired at the end of the season.
The Indiana Pacers are hiring Raptors assistant Nate Bjorkgren as their new head coach, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 20, 2020
Mike Miller could resurface as Jeff Van Gundy’s assistant in Houston Rockets next season as reported by Marc Berman.
If the Houston Rockets hire veteran NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy to their vacant position, recent New York Knicks interim head coach could be among Van Gundy’s assistants.
One of the Toronto Raptors’ main targets in the next free agency is to re-sign Fred VanVleet. But the former NBA champions will try not to exceed a four-year, $80 million deal for the player.
Per ESPN, If the Raptors sign VanVleet to a larger number due to interest from rival teams, they would presumably need to shed salary in other areas if they end up signing a max player in 2021.
The Raptors are widely expected to pursue Giannis Antetokounmpo if he becomes a free agent in 2021.
Fonte: ReaLGM.
The Milwaukee Bucks will not try to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo if decides to pass on the extension when free agency begins.
The two-time MVP will become unrestricted free agent in the free agency at the end of the season 2020-2021 if he doesn’t sign a new contract with Milwaukee.
Per ESPN, If Giannis Antetokounmpo passes on an extension with the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason, Tim Bontemps of ESPN reports that “multiple sources have emphatically said Milwaukee will not look to trade [him].”
The Bucks will instead try to improve their roster and bolster their case on why Antetokounmpo should sign long-term with the franchise.
The Bucks could be major players in the trade market if they are willing to increase payroll.
A few teams such as the Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat could be more aggressive in 2020 if Antetokounmpo does sign an extension now.
Fonte: ESPN.
Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers in talks for Derrick Rose?
Sean Deveny wrote: «Back at the NBA trading deadline, it was no secret that the Lakers had an interest in bringing in some bench help, particularly in the backcourt. While not trade came to pass, there were talks that involved Pistons guard Derrick Rose, who was briefly a teammate of LeBron James in Cleveland».
One league GM told me a potential Lakers-Pistons deal for Derrick Rose, which never got off the ground last year, makes a lot more sense with Detroit going into full rebuild and the Lakers eager to bulk up a now-depleted backcourt.
For @HeavySan:https://t.co/2OwAWevJDY— Sean Deveney (@SeanDeveney) October 18, 2020
Stephen Silas, Jeff Van Gundy, and John Lucas are the three finalists to be the next head coach of the Houston Rockets as reported by Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston.
Daryl Morey reportedly took a diminished role in the current search.
ICYMI NBA sources: For the moment the @HoustonRockets 3 finalists to be their next head coach are Stephen Silas, Jeff Van Gundy & John Lucas. Sources said the next step for team officials is to consult with their players about their candidates.
Silas had his 2nd interview Friday— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) October 17, 2020
According to Sean Deveney of Heavy.com, the Los Angeles Lakers are increasingly considering the possibility to trade for Pistons’ guard Derrick Rose.
Former NBA MVP was linked to the Lakers in January. Rose is under contract with Detroit for 2020-21 at $7.6M.
Fonte: Sean Deveney.
Malcolm Brogdon’s contract with the Indiana Pacers is a barometer for what Fred VanVleet could expect to earn this offseason, sources told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Brogdon signed a four-year, $85 million deal with the Pacers last offseason.
According to Bondy, the Raptors remain the favorites to re-sign VanVleet but they face a tough competition with Detroit, Phoenix and New York reportedly on the hunt.
Fonte: Stefan Bondy.
According to Mark Berman of Fox 26, for the moment these are the three finalists to be Houston Rockets next head coach: Mavericks assistant coach Stephen Silas, Jeff Van Gundy and Rockets director of player development John Lucas.
Berman reports that the next step for the Rockets officials is to consult with their players about their candidates.
Fonte: Mark Berman.
Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Stephen Silas was scheduled to have a second interview with the Houston Rockets on Friday, reports Tim MacMahon and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
The Rockets are believed to have identified Silas, Jeff Van Gundy and John Lucas as the three top candidates for their head coaching position.
Fonte: ESPN.
The Philadelphia 76ers are expected to hire Peter Dinwiddie and Prosper Karangwa to roles in the front office of Elton Brand, reports Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Dinwiddie is currently senior vice president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers. Karangwa is the director of scouting for the Orlando Magic.
The preferential treatment that Kawhi Leonard received from the Los Angeles Clippers “ruffled the feathers of some teammates,” according to The Athletic.
Per RealGM, Patrick Beverley, Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams reportedly “bristled” when Leonard was allowed to take games off. Leonard played in 57 games last season.
Leonard, who lived in San Diego last year, was also “often” late for team flights.
In addition, Leonard was allowed to control when he was pulled from games.
Daryl Morey said it was the perfect timing to part ways with the Houston Rockets.
Per ESPN, Morey’s resignation will be effective on Nov. 1, the team announced Thursday, as he will continue to assist owner Tilman Fertitta and the Rockets’ front office in the franchise’s search for a new head coach.
“For me, it was just a great run,” Morey told ESPN on Thursday night in a telephone conversation that also included Fertitta. “Personally, the timing worked for me. My youngest son just graduated from high school, and it was just the right time to see what’s next with family and other potential things in the future. It just felt like the right time.”
Fonte: ESPN.