NBA rumors

3 June 2020

03/06/2020 18:44

NBA to approve tomorrow plan for 22-team return

The NBA’s board of governors is expected to convene and approve tomorrow afternoon the league’s plan for a 22-team return in Orlando, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Each of the 22 teams will play eight regular-season games in Orlando for seeding purposes for the playoffs. Joining the 16 current playoff teams will be the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs in the West and the Washington Wizards in the East.

The eight regular-season games could be followed by a playoff play-in tournament: if the No. 9 seed is more than four games behind, the No. 8 seed will make the conference playoffs. If the No. 9 seed is less than four games back, there will be a play-in tournament. As of now, Washington trails Orlando by 5.5 games in the Eastern Conference, while three teams (New Orleans, Portland, Sacramento) are 3.5 games behind Memphis’ 8th seed in the West.

The return would begin July 31 under the proposal, and a last possible date for Game 7 of the NBA Finals would be Oct. 12, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.

2 June 2020

02/06/2020 19:37

Ron Adams hopes to remain with Golden State next season

In a conversation with The Athletic, veteran assistant coach Ron Adams has stated that he would like to return to the Golden State Warriors next season. Adams signed a one-year contract last offseason in which he stepped away from coaching on the bench and took on more player development responsibilities.

“It was fairly difficult in some ways,” said Adams. “I think when you’re used to being in the fight and you’re not in the fight, that adjustment is a hard one; but having said that, I enjoyed the year. We have a lot of young coaches. I try to plug in and help them. I would like to come back, yeah, I have no reason not to. I want to be involved.”

Fonte: The Athletic.

2 June 2020

02/06/2020 18:58

Thunder owner Bennett urges NBA to resume play for all 30 teams to protect small markets

Oklahoma City Thunder owner Clay Bennett delivered an impassioned speech, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe, near the end of the NBA’s Board of Governors call on Friday asking for the competitive and financial plights of smaller market teams that could be left out of the resumption of the 2019-2020 season.

The NBA is moving towards a plan of inviting 22 teams to restart the season, but Bennett was wondering if there’s a way to safely bring all 30 teams.

Bennett suggested that nine months without games for some teams could have an impact on developing players, cultivating sponsorships and selling tickets in certain markets. His call was reportedly backed by Philadelphia 76ers’ Josh Harris and Phoenix Suns’ Robert Sarver.

Fonte: ESPN.

2 June 2020

02/06/2020 18:51

NBA moving to complete plan of a 22-team resumption of season

The NBA is moving toward a plan invited 22 teams to start the 19-20 regular season, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.

The NBA is working to complete the details of a 22-team format to compete in Orlando’s Walt Disney World this week. The 16 current playoff teams would be included along with the New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns and Washington Wizards.

Fonte: ESPN.

1 June 2020

1 June 2020

01/06/2020 19:43

Jerami Grant says he’s not leaning towards picking up player option

Denver Nuggets forward Jerami Grant said he is leaning towards declining his $9.3 million player option for next season.

“I’m definitely not leaning towards picking up the player option,” Grant said. “I feel like I definitely outplayed the $9 million that I’m making each year right now. But at the same time… I’d love to come to a conclusion or something like that with Denver, it just depends what we discuss and negotiate when the time comes.”

Fonte: Posted Up with Chris Haynes.

31 May 2020

31/05/2020 11:40

Enes Kanter ‘shocked’ to hear that some NBA stars don’t want to play without a vaccine for COVID-19

In an interview with NBC, Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter has revealed that he heard that some NBA players don’t want to play if there is not a vaccine for COVID-19.

“They said ‘hey, we are not going to play,’ They said that until they find a vaccine, until they find a cure, they are not going to play. I was shocked by those players that don’t want to play. If they don’t play… Those people are All-Star players”, Kanter has said to NBC’s Chris Fosberg, without adding further informations.

Fonte: The Enes Kanter Show.

30 May 2020

30/05/2020 09:01

Wizards star Bradley Beal sees trade rumors as a ‘sign of respect’

In an interview with ESPN, Washington Wizards star Bradley Beal has addressed the rumors that sees him targeted by the Brooklyn Nets to reinforce the duo formed by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

“It’s not the first time I’ve heard this kind of talk, it’s interesting. To me, I look at it as a sign of respect, that I’ve been doing good things and guys want to play with me. That’s an unbelievable feeling. When you hear that Kyrie and KD want you, that’s amazing. At the same time, you don’t know how much there is to it, or how easy it would be to do. And I’ve put down roots in D.C. I’ve dedicated myself to this town, this community. I love it here, and it would feel great to know I could grind out winning here instead of jumping to another team”, he said.

Fonte: ESPN.

29 May 2020

29/05/2020 21:18

NBA targeting July 31 for return of season

NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league office informed the Board of Governors that July 31 is a target date for the return of season, according to Shams Charania.

The NBA discussed four competition scenarios with the Board of Governors:

– 16 teams: Directly to playoffs
– 20 teams: Group/stage play
– 22 teams: Games to determine seeding, play-in tournament for final seed(s)
– 30 teams: 72-game regular season, with play-in tourney (less likely scenario)

Fonte: Shams Charania.

29 May 2020

29/05/2020 17:34

Austin Daye has an out clause in his contract, may return to the league this season

Austin Daye has an out clause in his contract with Umana Reyer Venezia that expires on June 30, a source Sportando.

The American forward, who has been MVP of the 2019 Serie A Finals and the 2020 Italian Cup Final Eight, is negotiating with an NBA team and may return now when the season resumes.

Daye has played 293 games in the NBA averaging 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds.

28 May 2020

28/05/2020 11:27

Jason Terry to become assistant coach at Arizona

Jason Terry will become the new assistant coach of Arizona Wildcats.
Terry will become coach after 19 years in the NBA.

26 May 2020

26/05/2020 22:37

Charles Barkley is “100% sure” NBA is going to finish the season

Charles Barkley says the NBA is going to finish its 2019-20 season. “We’re gonna make a decision in the next week,” he said on The Paul Finebaum Show on Monday.

“I’m 100 percent sure we’re going to play. I do know this, talking to my bosses at Turner: We’re going to play basketball. It’s either going to be in Florida and Vegas, or just Florida. And they say two to three months. So normally, I get two or three months’ vacation during the summer. That is gonna be gone”, Barkley said.

Fonte: The Paul Finebaum Show.

26 May 2020

26 May 2020

26/05/2020 19:23

Lauri Markkanen wants to sign extension with Bulls

Interviewed by On Tap Sports Net, Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen went on the record by indicating his interest in remaining with the team and sign a new contract as he becomes eligible this offseason.

“I want to stay in Chicago and sign an extension (with the Bulls), no question. I love this city,” said Markkanen, who also expressed his excitement for the franchise changes: “Their work speaks for itself. I can’t describe how excited I am”.

Fonte: On Tap Sports Net.

26 May 2020

24 May 2020

24/05/2020 20:51

Jon Leuer announces retirement at age of 31

Free agent forward Jon Leuer announced his retirement at the age of 31.

“The past 3 years I’ve dealt with a number of injuries, including 2 that kept me out this whole season,” Leuer says. “It’s taken me a while to come to grips with this, but I’m truly at peace with my decision to officially retire.”

Leuer, a second-round pick in 2011, played 377 games with Milwaukee, Cleveland, Memphis, Phoenix and Detroit. He also appeared in 13 playoff games with the Grizzlies and Pistons.

Fonte: Jon Leuer Instagram.

24 May 2020

24/05/2020 15:23

Bradley Beal’s agent says the guard wants to stay in Washington

Mark Bartelstein, Bradley Beal’s agent, has decided to make things clear after the recent rumors about the Brooklyn Nets’ interest in his client.

“There are no Beal Sweepstakes and that’s why he re-signed with the Wizards,”  the agent said to Adam Zagoria.

“Brad re-signed with the Wizards because he wanted to stay in Washington and the Wizards wanted to keep him there.”

Before the suspension Beal was the second top scorer of the league, with a career-high 30.5 points per game, plus 4.2 rebounds, 6.1 assist and 1.2 steals.

Fonte: Forbes.

24 May 2020

24/05/2020 08:51

NBA estimates 36-38 referees needed to resume season

Around 36-38 referees would be needed to finish out the regular season, a top referee told Tim Bontemps & Brian Windhorst of ESPN. That number takes into account having three refs for an average of eight games to finish out the regular season, as well as extra crews for rest and injury.

Television producers also believe that games could be televised with only five manned cameras; between camera operators and other production crew, 20-25 people would be needed to broadcast games.

A hotel manager also estimated that it would require 300-350 on-site personnel to serve 1,110-1,200 essential NBA personnel should the season resume.

Fonte: ESPN.

23 May 2020

23 May 2020

23 May 2020

23/05/2020 10:18

Some NBA teams could start training camp directly in the ‘bubble site’

Teams are looking to bypass having players return to their market and instead have them report directly to the NBA’s proposed bubble site, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The NBA told teams in certain markets that they are working to redirect them to the bubble site for the start of training camp. 21 of the league’s practice facilities are currently open. Teams are expected to begin recalling their players around June 1st for training camp.

Executives from Brooklyn, Boston, New York and Toronto were among those who expressed concerns specifically tailored to their market. An example is Raptors’ Kyle Lowry, who is currently working out in his hometown Philadelphia and would have to be quarantined for two weeks should he return to Toronto.

Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.

22 May 2020

22/05/2020 11:32

Sergio Scariolo thinks there are concrete possibilities for Shved to leave for the NBA

The Spanish national basketball coach Sergio Scariolo commented on the rumors about the possible return of the Russian guard Alexey Shved to the NBA.
“I am quite convinced that there are concrete possibilities for Shved to leave for the NBA for the second time, he has consistently shown the highest level in recent years. I think he will certainly have good deals on this property. In the United States? In Khimki, he feel a lot at ease, he is the star of the team, the team is largely formed for him. Many are just dreaming about it. I think, the guard will stay in Russia”, he remarked to Izvestia.

The deal between Shved and the Moscow region club will expire this summer.

21 May 2020

21/05/2020 22:03

Nets guard Dinwiddie: NBA games to re-start on July 15th

Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie has tweeted that the NBA games are to re-start on July 15th. Dinwiddie has also confirmed the rumor that NBA teams could play 5 games at ‘bubble site’ before the start of the NBA playoffs.

21 May 2020

21/05/2020 18:47

LeBron James held safe, private on-court workouts with Lakers teammates

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has held safe, private on-court workouts with some Lakers teammates at a secure location, reports Shams Charania.

Everyone has taken the necessary safety measures, undergoing tests and practising social distancing. Charania added that the same happened between unprecised Los Angeles Clippers players.

Fonte: Shams Charania.

20 May 2020

20 May 2020

20/05/2020 21:45

NBA teams expect to get guidelines in June for ramp-up of season resumption

According to ESPN, NBA teams are expecting that the league office will issue guidelines around June 1 that will allow franchises to start recalling players who’ve left their markets to return as a first step toward a formal ramp-up for the season’s resumption.

Teams also expect that around June 1 they’ll be allowed to expand workouts that are already underway with in-market players, per Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe.

Fonte: Adrian Wojnarowski.

20 May 2020

20 May 2020

20/05/2020 12:47

Khimki GM Pavel Astakhov: Shved is our leader. He may join NBA with a serious proposal

Khimki Moscow GM Pavel Astakhov said that Alexey Shved may return to the NBA.

“He is our leader. When we sign new players, sometimes we consult with him. He is not just the highly paid player but part of our team, and it is very important. We want him to stay in Khimki. The negotiations with his agent have been held. We are in pause now. If he gets serious proposals from the NBA, not about the money but about the role in the team, it won’t be easy for us to keep him. He will accept a proposal with certain guarantees from the club and the coach. If he doesn’t get a good offer from the NBA, I don’t see any reason in why he should change the club. He is the absolute leader. But the final decision is up to him”.

Astakhov spoke with RG.ru.

19 May 2020

19/05/2020 21:55

Nets star Kyrie Irving close to playing return?

Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving hinted via a Instagram Story that he’s resuming on-court work after having shoulder surgery in March. Former Cavs and Celtics star may be ready to play if the NBA season will resume.

18 May 2020