Mavericks star Luka Doncic will play in Game 4 against the Clippers. Slovenian guard suffered an ankle sprain on Friday, but will play later today as reported by The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Gordon Hayward has left the Orlando bubble to rehab his sprained ankle, confirmed Brad Stevens.
Celtics coach added that he has no firm timetable for Hayward’s return, but that he would come back when his ankle is healthy. Boston was already prepared for Hayward to leave the bubble for the upcoming birth of his fourth child.
Quincy Acy is unlikely to remain in Tel Aviv.
The former NBA big man and Maccabi negotiated a contract extension but without reaching a deal.
Acy averaged 4.8ppg and 3.5rpg in EuroLeague and 10.9ppg and 5.9rpg in Winner League.
As things stand, Maccabi Tel Aviv is expected to part ways With Quincy Acy
— Roi Cohen (@RoiCohen99) August 23, 2020
Domantas Sabonis is returning to the Orlando’s bubble but he is unlikely to play considering that the Indiana Pacers are down 3-0 against the Miami Heat.
Per ESPN, Sabonis left the Orlando campus on July 17 to rehab plantar fasciitis in his left foot. Sources told ESPN that it isn’t believed Sabonis has been able to participate in basketball activities in that time.
Pacers coach Nate McMillan confirmed Saturday that Sabonis was returning to campus, and sources told ESPN that he will need to pass four consecutive days of coronavirus testing, beginning Sunday.
“He will go into quarantine for a few days, so even though he is here, it will be a few days before we can even see him,” McMillan said on Fox Sports Indiana.
Fonte: ESPN.
Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is game-time decision for Game 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers scheduled for today in Orlando.
Per ESPN, A source told ESPN that an MRI later Saturday revealed “nothing alarming,” confirming his status as a game-time decision. Another source said Doncic is experiencing “minimal” swelling.
“I believe that this is going to be most likely a game-time-decision type of situation, but I can’t tell you the exact timing,” Carlisle said Saturday afternoon. “He is not doing anything on the floor today. It’s treatment, and we’re trying to get him an MRI.”
Fonte: ESPN.
San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White had surgery on the second toe of his left foot, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
White, who averaged a career-best 11.3 points per game this season, is believed will be ready to go by the beginning of next season.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic will get an MRI on his sprained left ankle on Saturday. Slovenian guard suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Mavs’ 130-122 loss to the Clippers. Doncic briefly returned in the fourth quarter before being ruled out for the rest of the game.
“We’ll know more tomorrow. He did come back and try it obviously and wasn’t moving great, so we’ll see where he is come tomorrow and then Sunday morning,” said Rick Carlisle. “It’s not that bad. Honestly, I had luck that it was my left ankle. It’s not my right,” added Doncic.
Luka Doncic heads to the locker room after turning his ankle pic.twitter.com/TKQ04xCf64
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 22, 2020
Portland Trail Blazers’ Zach Collins will miss the remainder of the season.
The player will undergo a season-ending ankle surgery.
Five-star prospect Paolo Banchero announced that he will play for Duke Blue Devils in 2021-2022.
The big who recently got the Italian passport will play for coach K. in NCAA.
End Of The Beginning…COMMITTED💙😈 pic.twitter.com/Jrr1rMy5zB
— Paolo Banchero (@Pp_doesit) August 20, 2020
The Washington Wizards will retain coach Scott Brooks next season.
Brooks will enter the final year of the five-year contract.
Per ESPN, “He’s a decorated coach. He’s been in the league a long time as a player and as a coach. Very accomplished guy,” Tommy Sheppard said Wednesday on a video conference call with reporters. “And I think we’re in great hands next season.”
The Wizards went 25-47 this season with a 1-7 record during the restart. Washington played the entire season without John Wall as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Fonte: ESPN.
Russell Westbrook is working hard and progressing but there is still no timetable for his return, Houston Rockets coach D’Antoni said.
Per Houston Chronicle, “I don’t know how long it’s going to take,” D’Antoni said. “It’s going to take a little bit. He’s working hard and he’s feeling better every day. The images are looking better. But I think it’s too early to say how many days he’s out. I don’t think anybody knows.”
Will Barton has left Orlando’s bubble due to a knee injury.
Per Denver Post, Nuggets small forward Will Barton is leaving the bubble to rehab his right knee offsite, according to a league source. Barton’s ongoing knee issues have led to soreness in other areas of his body, the source said, and Barton is seeking a second opinion for his extended discomfort.
Barcelona Josep Maria Bartomeu ruled out the signing of Pau Gasol. The Spanish big man is still recovering from a foot fracture that kept him sidelined the past 18 months.
“He is a person who has helped us a lot, he is an ambassador for Barcelona and represents us in the US. He is an NBA star, and Barcelona would hardly pay what he asks” Bartomeu said as reported by Marca.
Despite an internal support for Mike Miller to remain with the New York Knicks as an assistant coach, he will pursue other opportunities due to the presumed hierarchy of the bench, according to New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy.
Johnny Bryant, Kenny Payne and Mike Woodson would likely complete Tom Thibodeau’s coaching staff.
Fonte: Stefan Bondy.
The NBA is expected to hold a virtual draft combine held at regional sites throughout September, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Prospective players would attend selected regional team facilities throughout the country for physicals, body measurables and physical testing. Because of the outbreak, teams haven’t been allowed to do anything with prospective picks except for virtual interviews.
Houston Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni remained uncertain of when or if All-Star guard Russell Westbrook will be available during the team’s first-round series. Before Game 1 win over the Thunder, D’Antoni said that Westbrook’s strained right quadriceps is healing, but the team does not have a specific timetable for his return.
“Can’t rule anything out, but don’t rule anything in,” he said. Westbrook was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, and the results were not immediately known.
The NBA and NBPA have reached agreement for the eight teams not involved in the restart in Orlando to conduct voluntary group workouts while residing in campus settings, reports The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
There had been discussions about the teams participating in a second bubble with team workouts and scrimmages, but the union had resisted that concept. The Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks were not invited to participate in the league’s restart in Orlando and will now be involved in this program.
Fonte: Shams Charania.
Johnnie Bryant will be the next Knicks associate head coach.
Bryant is the assistant coach of Quin Snyder in Utah.
The New York Knicks are hiring Utah Jazz assistant Johnnie Bryant as associate head coach under Tom Thibodeau, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 18, 2020
Celtics forward Gordon Hayward suffered a Grade III sprain of his right ankle during the fourth quarter of last night’s game against Philadelphia. He is expected to miss approximately four weeks.
NBA continues to have an issue on TV Ratings, according to Ethan Sherwood Strauss of The Athletic. Games on ABC, the biggest broadcaster of the leagues, have averaged 2.95 million viewers for the 19-20 season compared to 5.42 million for the 11-12 lockout-shortened season, representing a decline of 45 percent.
TNT’s average NBA viewership is down over 40 percent since 2011-2012 and ESPN is down roughly 20 percent over that span. The 2019 playoffs saw a double digit decrease in viewership.
Fonte: The Athletic.
Montrezl Harrell has cleared quarantine and participated in shootaround with the Los Angeles Clippers, per Los Angeles Times’ Andrew Greif. Harrell had a seven-day quarantine instead of four days.
The Clippers begin their first round series against the Dallas Mavericks later today, and Harrell is listed as questionable for the game.
The Utah Jazz will be without Ed Davis in the first round of playoffs against the Denver Nuggets.
The PF/C is out with a left knee MCL and he will be re-evaluated in a few weeks.
More depth concerns for Utah: Jazz F Ed Davis will miss the first-round playoff series against Denver with a left knee MCL injury, sources tell ESPN. He's expected to be re-evaluated in a few weeks, per sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 16, 2020
Rajon Rondo will end quarantine today but there is still uncertainty on when he will be able to play again.
The Lakers point guard fractured his right thumb five weeks ago.
Per ESPN, “I’m not sure exactly when he’s going to be available to be in uniform,” Vogel said on a video conference call Sunday. “We’ll get him on the court and see where he’s at. But no specific timetable yet on him.”
Fonte: ESPN.
Peja Stojakovic is not expected to remain with the Kings after Vlade Divac stepped down from his position.
The Serbian legend will step down as well from his position as assistant GM.
Kings assistant GM Peja Stojakovic is expected to step down from his role, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 15, 2020
The Orlando Magic announced that Mo Bamba has left the bubble and will undergo “comprehensive post-coronavirus evaluation” after he was tested positive to Covid on June 11th.
Per Josh Robbins, Mo Bamba has left the NBA bubble, Magic officials said, in order to undergo what the team is calling a “comprehensive post-coronavirus evaluation” on the advice of Magic performance staff and team doctors. Bamba will be out for the rest of the season, the team said.
New Orleans Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin announced today that Alvin Gentry has been relieved of his head coaching duties.
“I’m grateful for and appreciative of Alvin’s commitment to the organization and, most importantly, the local community,” said Griffin. “The City of New Orleans is richer because of his presence here. These types of moves are often about fit and timing, and we believe now is the right time to make this change and bring in a new voice.”
Alvin Gentry has been relieved of his head coaching duties.
Story: https://t.co/RhbAvMAryh pic.twitter.com/unDvEPtAsf
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) August 15, 2020
Fonte: NBA.com.
The New Orleans Pelicans have fired coach Alvin Gentry. The coach missed the playoffs in the bubble and won’t continue at the helm of the team. The news was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.
Scary injury for Miami Heat’s Derrick Jones jr.
The forward suffered a neck injury in a collision with an opponent during the game against the Indiana Pacers.
Jones left the game on the stretchers.
Per Miami Heat, “After an MRI, CT scan and concussion test, Jones, Jr. will be re-evaluated again over the weekend”.
The Sacramento Kings announced today that Vlade Divac has stepped down as General Manager. In the interim, Joe Dumars has been named Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and will immediately assume General Manager duties.
“This was a difficult decision, but we believe it is the best path ahead as we work to build a winning team that our loyal fans deserve,” said Kings Owner and Chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “We are thankful for Vlade’s leadership, commitment and hard work both on and off the court. He will always be a part of our Kings family.”
“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the General Manager for the Kings,” said Vlade Divac. “I want to thank Vivek for the opportunity and recognize all of the incredible colleagues who I had the great pleasure of working with during my tenure. Sacramento and the Kings will always hold a special place in my heart and I wish them all the best moving forward.”
The team will work with Dumars to develop a long-term strategy for the organization’s basketball operations structure, to include a search for a permanent General Manager. No further personnel decisions will be made until a new General Manager is in place.
“Joe has become a trusted and valued advisor since joining the team last year, and I am grateful to have him take on this role at an important time for the franchise,” said Ranadivé.
In June 2019, Dumars was named Special Advisor to the General Manager and has over 30 years of NBA experience both as a player and front office executive in addition to an extensive executive business background.
Fonte: Sacramento Kings.
The NBA and NBPA are in serious talks on in-market bubble program in September for the eight franchises that were not part of Orlando restart, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The program would have the following framework:
– Daily testing
– One week of individual workouts
– Two weeks of group practices
– One hour of 5-on-5 per day