Walker Kessler will play for Team USA in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup.
The big man of the Utah Jazz averaged 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in his rookie season in the NBA.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler has committed to play for Team USA's FIBA World Cup team this summer in the Philippines, sources tell ESPN. Kessler had an All-Rookie season, averaging 9.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 15, 2023
Some NBA franchises have started to probe the Washington Wizards about a possible trade for Bradley Beal.
Team president Michael Winger and Beal’s agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, are in close contact to discuss scenarios presented to the franchise, according to ESPN.
Rico Hines is set to join the 76ers as an assistant in Nick Nurse’s coaching staff, according to ESPN.
Hines was previously part of Nurse’s staff with the Raptors.
Rico Hines is joining the 76ers as an assistant on Nick Nurse’s coaching staff, sources tell ESPN. Hines had been a part of Nurse’s staff with the Raptors. Hines is a former player development coach who has worked his way to a front-of-the-bench assistant.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 14, 2023
Shams Charania reported that the Miami Heat put forward a proposal for Kyrie Irving to the Brooklyn Nets in February, just before he was dealt to the Dallas Mavericks.
Currently, it’s largely anticipated that the franchise will be on the hunt for a high-profile star during the forthcoming offseason. Charania suggested that they might even make another play for Irving.
The trade package from Miami would likely revolve around Tyler Herro and potential future first-round draft picks.
As an unrestricted free agent, any agreement involving Irving and the Heat would necessitate a sign-and-trade deal.
According to Marc Stein of Substack, the Toronto Raptors perceive the forthcoming offseason as an opportunity for restructuring rather than a total rebuild.
Over the weekend, the franchise welcomed Darko Rajakovic as their new head coach.
It is anticipated that Fred VanVleet and Gary Trent Jr. will not be rejoining the team for the next season.
The Phoenix Suns have received several trade proposals for Chris Paul, following reports that the player would be released from the team if he remained on the roster at the end of the month, when his $30.8 million contract becomes guaranteed.
“This has sparked a series of trade discussions and calls focused on Chris Paul,” Adrian Wojnarowski revealed.
Wojnarowski also reports that the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, and Golden State Warriors might attempt to sign Paul if he becomes a free agent.
In the first major domino of free agency, Toronto Raptors All-Star guard Fred VanVleet has declined his $22.8 million player option and will become an unrestricted free agent in July, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro could make his return tonight vs. Nuggets in Game 5: his status has been upgraded to questionable. The hope is that the player doesn’t suffer a setback ahead of Game 5 and can still manage the discomfort in his right hand, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Herro has been out since fracturing the hand in Game 1 vs. Milwaukee in the opening round of the Eastern Conference playoffs
After Sam Cassell, Joe Mazzulla’s staff at the Boston Celtics is further strengthened with the addition of Charles Lee as the new lead assistant coach.
Lee has previously served as an associate head coach with the Milwaukee Bucks and has been considered for head coaching positions with the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons.
Lee joins Joe Mazzulla on a reshaped staff that includes Sam Cassell.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 11, 2023
After a great first season in the Euroleague with Zalgiris Kaunas, 24-years-old Ignas Bradzeikis is scheduled to attend a workout minicamp with the Toronto Raptors next week, reports Basketnews.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Toronto Raptors have decided to bet on Darko Rajakovic for the role of new head coach.
The Serbian coach was chosen over several candidates, including current Segafredo Virtus Bologna coach Sergio Scariolo.
Rajakovic spent the last decade between G League, Thunder, Suns and -from 2020- Grizzlies, where he was Taylor Jenkins’ top assistant.
ESPN Sources: The Toronto Raptors are finalizing a deal to hire Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic as the franchise’s next coach. pic.twitter.com/AEPu64p2F2
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 10, 2023
Boston Celtics forward Grant Williams today underwent successful surgery to repair a tear of the radial collateral ligament of the 3rd metacarpo-phalangeal joint on his left hand. He is expected to make a full return to basketball activities in 6-8 weeks.
Williams will be restricted free agent from July 1. Williams, 24, had career bests this season of 8.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in nearly 26 minutes a game.
After reports of a possible parting ways between Phoenix Suns and Chris Paul, an option that has emerged is Phoenix making a run at Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden. Harden has a player option for next season that most expect him to decline.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said that the Suns going after Harden was “in the wind” over the last month or so. Shelburne also suggested that Phoenix wouldn’t waive Paul “unless they feel pretty good about someone else”.
Dwight Howard has been offered a huge paycut by the Taoyuan Leopards to remain in Taiwan one more season.
Howard averagted 23.2 points, 16.2 rebounds and 5 assists per game in 20 games in Taiwanese league.
Per Taiwannews, In an interview with TVBS on Wednesday (June 7), Howard said the Leopards offered him a contract that would provide 65% less in salary than what they gave him in his first season. He said this was “very disrespectful” as he felt that he had “brought value to the team.”
Howard said the pay cut was “very disappointing” and he felt that he deserved more. The team’s CEO, Chang Chien-wei (張建偉) told the news agency that Howard’s salary next season would be based on a new calculation method.
Chang said that during this past season, Howard played 20 out of 30 games and missed the rest due to injuries. Therefore, under the new payment scheme, there is a “winning bonus, losing bonus, and non-bonus for not playing, combined with a fixed base salary.”
The CEO said that with the new incentive package, he hopes Howard can “play seriously and play hard.” He said that as long as Howard plays in the games and wins, the bonuses combined with the base pay rate will ensure his wage will not be lower than his previous salary.
Pooh Jeter has decided to retire at 39.
The American guard with Ukrainian passport will join Blazers new G League team as assistant GM and player development coach.
Jeter has played 62 games in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings in 2010-2011 but his career has been mostly overseas in China, Ukraine, Spain, Israel and France.
Former NBA and G League Ignite guard @PoohJeter is officially retiring from playing, a source said. The former University of Portland star has agreed in principle to work for the Trail Blazers’ new G League team as an assistant GM and as a player development coach for Blazers.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) June 7, 2023
The Milwaukee Bucks are hiring Joe Prunty and Patrick Mutombo as assistant coaches of Adrian Griffin.
Prunty has been head coach ad interim of the Bucks in 2018.
Mutombo has served as assistant of Monty Williams in Phoenix.
The news was reported by Adrian Wojnarowski.
Sergio Scariolo commented on La Gazzetta dello Sport the rumors about the Toronto Raptors.
The Canadian team is interested in the Italian coach to replace Nick Nurse.
“I cannot comment on a process that is still ongoing. I want to express my gratitude to Virtus and Toronto for their understanding and flexibility for tshown in considering the mutual reasons that emerged in this week of contacts”.
Scariolo will coach Virtus Bologna in Serie A finals against Olimpia Milano from Friday.
The free agency of James Harden has long been a topic of discussion between the Philadelphia 76ers and Houston Rockets, but it appears that he has yet to make a definitive decision about his future.
“I don’t think he knows, as far as what I know about his mindset, I don’t think he totally is there,” said Shams Charania on the Ryen Russillo podcast. “We’re less than a month out from free agency starting. I really think he’s torn with the prospect of staying in Philadelphia or moving on to Houston potentially and returning back to his home. That’s where his roots are and his family there of course. They’ve got upwards of $60 million [in cap space]. They can make even more money available. Close to $70 million in cap space.
Sergio Scariolo had his second interview with the Toronto Raptors on Monday afternoon via Skype.
According to Repubblica-Bologna, it will take another week for the Canadian franchise’s choice to be known.
According to Toronto Star, neither ex-Brooklyn head coach and Canadian icon Steve Nash nor Sacramento Kings associate head coach Jordi Fernandez have been invited for a second interview for the Toronto job that has been vacant since Nick Nurse was let go in late April.
Anthony Davis becomes eligible for a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers this August worth approximately $167 million over three seasons. Davis signed a five-year, $190 million contract with the Lakers during the 2020 offseason following their championship. Media experts in the US are conflicting about whether Los Angeles should offer Davis this max contract extension already this summer. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin says: “You play out this year with him. You see where things stand with him and LeBron. Obviously, then you risk the second year he has left, he can opt out and leave as a free agent. (…) You hope Anthony Davis stays healthy and you get the best out of him next year. But I don’t think they’re going to be in a position to be interested in a long-term extension for him this summer”.
Brian Windhorst, however, disagreed: “They do not want him messing with free agency in 2024. That’s a primary offseason thing for the Lakers. Get Anthony Davis locked down. Past even when LeBron James is signed for”.
Khris Middleton could become a free agent this offseason if he declines his $40.4 million player option, but he was an active participant in the Milwaukee Bucks’ coaching search.
Middleton was included during meetings with Milwaukee’s final coaching candidates, as reported by Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
The Houston Rockets have interest in Fred VanVleet, Brook Lopez, Cam Johnson and Dillon Brooks in free agency, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
The Rockets will also pursue James Harden, with VanVleet viewed as a potential secondary option if Harden re-signs with the Sixers. Houston has over $60 million in cap space and wants to add a table-setting point guard along with upgrades on the wing and at center.
Phoenix Suns are hiring David Fizdale as an assistant coach.
Fizdale, who had joined the Jazz’s front office as an associate general manager last year, is a former HC with Knicks and Grizzlies.
Fizdale had taken to the front office turn in his career, but the lure of reuniting with Vogel — whom he had worked under with Lakers — and coaching a Suns franchise with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant turned out to be too much to pass up.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 5, 2023
The Orlando Magic have waived guard Jay Scrubb, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.
Scrubb (6’5”, 220, 9/1/00) played in two games during the 2022-23 season with Orlando, averaging 6.5 ppg., 3.0 rpg. and 1.00 stlpg. in 15.1 minpg. He was signed to a two-way contract by Orlando on Mar. 24. Scrubb also appeared in 27 games (25 starts) with Lakeland of the NBA G League, averaging 22.3 ppg., 5.9 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 31.1 minpg. He led Lakeland and ranked sixth in the NBA G League in scoring.
Originally selected in the second round (55th overall) of the 2020 NBA Draft by Brooklyn, Scrubb has appeared in 24 career NBA games (one start) with the L.A. Clippers and Orlando, averaging 4.0 ppg. and 1.5 rpg. in 9.8 minpg. He has also played in 29 career NBA G League games (27 starts) with Agua Caliente and Lakeland, averaging 22.4 ppg., 5.6 rpg. and 2.3 apg. in 30.8 minpg.
We have waived guard Jay Scrubb, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced today.https://t.co/8umChHR0o0
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) June 5, 2023
The Phoenix Suns are finalizing a deal to hire Frank Vogel as coach, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Agreement is a five-year, $31 million contract to make the 2020 championship coach the new head man in Phoenix, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic
Larry Bird returns to the Indiana Pacers as a consultant. This was the announcement on Twitter by the franchise following the visit on May 12, when Bird was pictured with coach Rick Carlisle and Assistant GM Kelly Krauskopf.
Monty Williams will be the next coach of the Detroit Pistons. They have reached a six-year, $72 million agreement with the former Suns coach. The official announcement is expected to be made in the coming days.
Monty Williams, who coached the Phoenix Suns from 2019 to 2023, was named Coach of the Year in 2022. After a brief period of being unemployed, he has now secured a new coaching position with the Detroit Pistons. The deal is still in the process of being finalized.
Breaking: Monty Williams and the Detroit Pistons have agreed in principle on a six-year, $72 million deal for Williams to become the franchise’s new head coach, sources tell me and @JLEdwardsIII. The deal is expected to be finalized in the coming days.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 1, 2023
According to Shams Charania, the Chicago Bulls and Nikola Vucevic are in talks for a contract extension.
Without an agreement by June 30, the big man will become an unrestricted free agent.
Vucevic has produced 17.6 points and 11 rebounds per game this year.
La Gazzetta dello Sport headlines: “Scariolo and the NBA, final interview to lead Toronto”.
According to Andrea Tosi, the Virtus Bologna coach is among the three finalists to take over after Nick Nurse for the franchise where he won the NBA title as an assistant in 2019.
La Gazzetta dello Sport also cites the NBA partner agency, FanDuel, which has Sergio Scariolo at 6-1 odds and as a big favorite, given that Steve Nash is at 6.50 and Monty Williams at 7.50.
A new meeting is therefore expected before June 22, the day of the NBA Draft.
Nick Nurse has reached an agreement to become the next coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Nurse — who won an NBA championship and a coach of year award with Toronto — now gets to coach the 2023 MVP Joel Embiid.
