Two Phoenix Suns players have tested positive for coronavirus, sources have informed The Arizona Republic.
The positive tests led to Suns temporarily shutting down voluntary workouts at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Players were training at the arena this morning.
Fonte: The Arizona Republic.
Paul George explained why he left the Indiana Pacers in a Knuckleheads podcast with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. Clippers forward suggests the best power forward in the NBA in 2017 wanted to join the Pacers to play with George.
“I ain’t gon’ say the names, because I’m going to keep their business private, I’ma just say it like this,” he said. “I had at the time, the best power forward saying he wanted to come to Indy and team up with me. They’re like, ‘we’re a mid-major, we’re a small market, like, we can’t do it, we’re a small market, we can’t afford that.’ I’m like the best power forward wants to come play here, like, y’all can’t make that work? They didn’t want to do it.”
George was disappointed that the Pacers didn’t want to make the move that he thought would improve their team. “So I’m like, now I’m pissed, because it’s like, what am I doing here? You know what I mean? They don’t want to win. I’ve got the best power forward that wants to come play here. Not everybody chooses Indy to come play here.”
Fonte: Knuckleheads.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, one Western Conference playoff team had four positive COVID-19 tests in just the past few weeks.
The NBA has started today to test all players, coaching staff and personnel who is poised to go to Orlando. Full training camps will begin on July 11th in Florida.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
Andre Drummond will opt in of his contract for next season.
Drummond, traded from Detroit to Cleveland in the middle of the season, has a $28.75 million player option.
Per ESPN, Two-time All-Star Andre Drummond says he plans to pick up his player option that will keep him in Cleveland for another year . Drummond, who was traded to the Cavaliers by the Detroit Pistons in February, has a $28.75 million option for the 2020-21 season. He said on Tuesday’s episode of ESPN’s Le Batard & Friends — STUpodity podcast that he “definitely” will be in Cleveland next season. “Yeah, it’s going to be hard to give up, so you can count on me being in Cleveland still,” Drummond said when pressed on whether he plans to exercise his option. “I definitely will be in Cleveland.”
DeMarcus Cousins will not play in Orlando despite interest from multiple teams.
The big man is recovering from an injury and will return next season.
Sources: Multiple teams have expressed interest in DeMarcus Cousins but have been told the four-time All-Star will sit out the resumed season and continue rehab for full return in 2020-21.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2020
Corey Brewer plans to sign a contract with the Sacramento Kings during NBA’s transaction window, Shams Charania reports.
The swingman played 24 games for the Kings during the 2018/19 season, with averages of 4 points and 2.4 rebounds.
Free agent Corey Brewer plans to sign a deal with the Sacramento Kings during NBA’s transaction window, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Brewer chose the Kings over multiple potential offers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 23, 2020
Trevor Ariza will not play in Orlando with the Portland Trail Blazers due to family reasons.
Per ESPN, Ariza, a starter, has been involved in a custody case over his 12-year-old son, and the mother’s decision to grant a court-ordered, one-month visitation period during the league’s quarantine of teams in Orlando, Florida, led Ariza to choose his parenting responsibilities over competing with the Blazers in the 22-team restart, sources said.
Ariza, 34, could lose between $1 million and $1.8 million in salary, based on whether the Blazers qualify for the playoffs, for not participating in the restart. Ariza has a minimally guaranteed $12.8 million contract for the 2020-21 season.
Fonte: ESPN.
Dallas Mavericks swingman Courtney Lee suffered a calf injury during the shutdown that required surgery, according to Marc Stein.
The Mavericks will be looking for a replacement when the NBA’s one-week transaction window opens Tuesday.
Fonte: Marc Stein.
The New York Knicks will interview Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd for their head coaching vacancy, according to Marc Stein.
It was reported previously that the Knicks will also interview Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown.
Fonte: Marc Stein.
The New York Knicks interview Mike Brown for their head coaching job.
Former head coach of Lakers and Cavs is now assistant coach for Golden State Warriors and head coach of Nigeria NT.
The New York Knicks are interviewing Warriors associate head coach Mike Brown for their head coaching job, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 22, 2020
Victor Oladipo said to ESPN he will increase his physical activity and re-evaluate his repaired torn quad tendon injury before making a decision on whether to return this season for the Indiana Pacers. Oladipo returned to the Pacers in January after a year-long recovery from injury.
“I feel a whole lot better. I know there’s risk going into it with the unique situation that I’m in, being off so long and trying to ramp it up that fast. I’ve just got to be smart, that’s all,” said to ESPN. Players must inform their teams by Wednesday if they plan to go to Orlando. Teams must then provide a roster by July 1st.
Fonte: ESPN.
The surging number of coronavirus cases in Florida, which posted a record high Saturday for the third consecutive day, has raised concerns in many corners of the NBA, from players to team executives to the league office itself, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes and Zach Lowe.
In at least one recent call with high-level team executives, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has acknowledged the spiking numbers in Florida. Multiple team sources described the general tone of that call, including the questions asked of Silver on it, as tense. Another called Silver’s tone “resolute but somber.” He expressed a resolve to go on — a confidence in the NBA’s bubble concept — while recognizing the seriousness of the coronavirus spike, sources said.
The National Basketball Players Association held a virtual town hall with players this week and addressed concerns about the Florida cases, multiple sources familiar with the matter told ESPN. Players brought up the fact that Walt Disney World staffers who will not reside in the NBA campus — including hotel housekeepers — will not be subject to any coronavirus testing, sources said. One mitigating factor that was cited, a source added: Many of the new cases are in areas other than Orlando. Most teams aren’t slated to arrive in the campus until July 7, 8 or 9, except for Toronto, which is the only team scheduled to arrive during the first phase of the plan.
The NBA will allow teams to have 10 coaches and four players in their practice facilities at one time, according to a league memo reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Eight players will then be allowed in practice facilities from July 1-9. Teams will then be scheduled to leave for Orlando for full training camps.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
Memphis is the likely destination for Anthony Tolliver when the league’s transaction window opens Tuesday, per Marc Stein.
However, Tolliver has attracted interest from multiple teams.
Fonte: Marc Stein.
The LA Clippers plan to re-sign Joakim Noah for the rest of season, according to Shams Charania.
Current 10-day contracts, including Noah, expire on June 23. He will sign a new deal during the transaction window (June 23-30).
Fonte: Shams Charania.
Adrian Wojnarowski reports the 2020 NBA Draft will be on October 16. The early-entry withdrawal deadline is 10 days before the draft: October 6.
Free agency negotiations begin on October 18 at 6 PM ET.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
According to Shams Charania, the NBA has set the transaction window for all 30 teams. It will start on June 23 (12 pm ET) through June 30 (11:59 pm ET).
The NBA has set the transaction window for its 30 teams: June 23 (12 pm ET) to June 30 (11:59 pm ET), sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 20, 2020
Most general managers are expected to enter the NBA’s bubble in Orlando, reports The Athletic’s Ethan Strauss.
The motivation is to show their face as leaders at a crucial time, but also because this figures to be an opportunity for general managers to communicate with one another to begin working on offseason plans.
“Oh, it will be tamperpalooza in Orlando! That’s for sure,” said one staffer to The Athletic.
Fonte: Ethan Strauss.
Golden State Warriors All-Star guard Klay Thompson has been cleared to train without restriction on his healed knee, sources told The Athletic.
The Warriors’ season is over but the team’s belief is that the NBA will authorize a minicamp between mid-July and August, with group practices and intrasquad scrimmages.
Fonte: The Athletic.
The New York Knicks will interview Jamahl Mosley for the head coaching job.
Mosley is Carlisle’s assistant in Dallas.
Mosley was one of the candidates for Cavaliers head coaching job last season.
Dallas Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley has permission to interview for the New York Knicks coaching job, sources tell ESPN. In his sixth season with Rick Carlisle, Mosley has emerged as a head coaching candidate in league. He interviewed for Cavaliers job last year.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 19, 2020
Mavericks stars Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic will be back in Dallas “in the next few days,” Mavs owner Mark Cuban tells Marc Stein of the New York Times.
International players were originally asked to be back in the US by earlier this week. Teams leaguewide are scheduled to begin coronavirus testing of players next Tuesday.
As reported by CNBC, the NBA will give each player a “smart ring” that can measure body temperature, respiratory functions and heart rate, which are all things that can signal whether or not someone is sick. All players and essential staff members will be given the option to participate in health monitoring using the ring. The titanium rings, reportedly made by Oura, are capable of predicting COVID-19 symptoms up to three days in advance with 90% accuracy, according to the company.
Players will also be given access to a MagicBand that they will be required to wear at all times, except during workouts and games. The Disney MagicBand will act as a hotel room key and let players check in at security checkpoints and coronavirus screenings. It’s similar to the device of the same name that Disney World guests can use for access to hotels and payments for food and gifts inside the park. The MagicBands can also help the league with contact tracing. The league is investigating a way to use the bands to know if a player diagnosed with Covid-19 has come into contact with another player.
Fonte: CNBC.
Justin Holiday is currently the only potential holdout for the Indiana Pacers when play resumes next month in Orlando, according to the Indianapolis Star.
Holiday is reportedly 50/50 on whether to play or sit, and the team isn’t trying to push him into joining them. Players have until June 24 to make a final decision on the topic.
Fonte: Indianapolis Star.
In an interview with ESPN’s The Undefeated, Washington Wizards star John Wall has admitted that he is lobbying for the team to sign his former college teammate DeMarcus Cousins.
“Oh man, you know I’m trying to push for that. I’ve been on that for like five years. I want to sign him right now,” Wall said, adding that he and Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard have discussed Cousins recently.
Fonte: ESPN.
The San Antonio Spurs have granted permission for assistant Will Hardy to be interviewed for the New York Knicks coaching job, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Hardy, 32, is well-regarded within Spurs organization and has served as Popovich’s assistant for the last four seasons.
Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal with Troy Weaver to make him the franchise’s new general manager.
Weaver has been the VP of Basketball Operations with Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal with Troy Weaver to make him the franchise’s new general manager, sources tell ESPN. Weaver has been the VP of Basketball Operations with Oklahoma City.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 18, 2020
The New York Knicks plan to interview 76ers assistant coach Ime Udoka for their head coaching job, Shams Charania reports.
Udoka is an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Knicks plan to interview 76ers assistant coach Ime Udoka for their head coaching job, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2020
Kyrie Irving doesn’t like the idea of the NBA of resuming the season in the bubble in Florida.
The Nets superstar proposed that the players can start their own league.
To be clear on this, Kyrie Irving has proposed to his teammates they should start their own league, and it’s not necessarily in response to the bubble situation. https://t.co/x6pM4Dipc3
— Stefan Bondy (@SBondyNYDN) June 17, 2020
Longtime Oklahoma City Thunder executive Troy Weaver has emerged as the top choice in Detroit Pistons search for a new general manager, according to The New York Times’ Marc Stein.
The Pistons are reportedly actively working to complete a deal to hire Weaver.
Fonte: Marc Stein.
Speaking as a guest in Caron Butler’s podcast “The Tuff Juice Podcast”, Washington Wizards star John Wall has said that he stands with Kyrie Irving in sharing doubts about playing in the resume of the NBA season.
“For me, if I was playing, I wouldn’t want to go to it, to be honest. I just don’t feel like it’s safe, I just don’t feel like it is. I understand why they want to do it and what they’re trying to get to, but I wouldn’t want to. If I was healthy enough to play, I wouldn’t want to go play: what am I going, just to play eight games? I’m not going for just eight games and then coming back home (…) I think Kyrie has a point. A lot of people feel that way. I think that’s why they tried to get on that call to see how many people really want to go play and how many people don’t want to play. Because with all this ‘Black Lives Matter’ going on and protesting and trying to get justice and all that; a lot of people feel like it’s not safe to go there. That’s what he stands on“, Wall said.