NBA rumors

7 June 2021

07/06/2021 10:49

Mark Cuban: You don’t make a change to make a change

Rick Carlisle talked about if he believes he is still the right coach to lead the Mavericks after 10 seasons without winning a series: «That’s a question you’ll have to ask Mark (Cuban). I obviously do, but I’d text him and see what he has to say about it».

Mark Cuban on Dallas’ future: «Let me tell you how I look at coaching. You don’t make a change to make a change. Unless you have someone that you know is much, much, much better, the grass is rarely greener on the other side».

6 June 2021

6 June 2021

6 June 2021

5 June 2021

5 June 2021

5 June 2021

05/06/2021 08:16

Portland Trail Blazers reportedly expected to hire Billups or Kidd

Who will be Stotts’ successor as Portland Trail Blazers head coach?

As reported by Adrian Wojnarowski the names are Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups, Jeff Van Gundy, Nets assistant Mike D’Antoni, and Michigan’s Juwan Howard.

As reported Chris Haynes Damian Lillard said that his preference is Jason Kidd.

«The Portland Trail Blazers are increasingly expected to hire Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups or Lakers assistant Jason Kidd as franchise’s next head coach» wrote Shams Charania.

5 June 2021

05/06/2021 08:06

Terry Stotts, Portland Trail Blazers officially agree to part ways

Terry Stotts is out as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers following their latest first-round ouster, multiple outlets reported Friday.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Yahoo’s Chris Haynes characterized the decision as mutual. Stotts leaves the Trail Blazers with the second-most wins in franchise history (402) and eight playoff appearances in his nine seasons. But four of the past five trips have ended in the first round, including the Trail Blazers’ 4-2 loss to Denver despite 34.3 points per game from Damian Lillard.

As noted by both reporters, Stotts had been the only coach Lillard ever played for since joining the Trail Blazers in 2013. Haynes reported that the six-time All-Star will have “major input” on who Portland hires to replace Stotts. Per Wojnarowski, the early candidates include Chauncey Billups, Jeff Van Gundy and Mike D’Antoni.

Fonte: nba.com.

4 June 2021

04/06/2021 22:22

Efes GM on Micic, Larkin: They have a desire to play in the NBA. I don’t know if they will go

Efes GM Alpe Yilmaz talked about the future of his two superstars Vasilije Micic and Shane Larkin with BeIn Sports: «We want them to stay. But in the end, in an environment where going to the NBA has become so easy, I don’t know how we can prevent such successful players from leaving».

«They have a desire to play in the NBA, and they deserve it until the end. I don’t know if they will go if they get a good offer, but I know they are happy at our club».

Micic agent Misko Raznatovic talked about it in recent days: «He is ready to be a great player in the NBA, but I am not sure that it will happen this year. I won’t allow for Micić to have the same faith NBA as Vassilis Spanoulis did, to sit on the bench».

4 June 2021

04/06/2021 11:50

Kevin Pangos reportedly waiting for NBA offers

After an excellent year in Euroleague with Zenit, Kevin Pangos will try to get a contract in the NBA.
According to Aris Barkas, the former Gonzaga has decided to wait for offers from the NBA, and therefore for now he will not accept any proposals from Europe.

Pangos averaged 13.6 points (45% FG, 39% 3p, 84% FT) and 6.6 assists in 39 Euroleague games.

 

4 June 2021

04/06/2021 10:25

Memphis Grizzlies extend contract of EVP and GM Zach Kleiman

The Memphis Grizzlies announced the franchise has entered into a long-term extension with Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Zach Kleiman.
Memphis ended his season in the first round of the playoffs.

Fonte: NBA.com.

3 June 2021

3 June 2021

03/06/2021 21:25

Wizards to evaluate coach Scott Brooks before potential re-signing

No decision has been made on Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks’ expiring contract, general manager Tommy Sheppard has said on Thursday. After the Wizards were eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers in five games, Brooks was the top topic for the general manager and coach, with Sheppard saying an evaluation is likely to take place over the next few weeks. Brooks has just completed his 5th season at the helm of the Wizards.

“We are not doing anything about that today,” said Sheppard, who will talk to team owner Ted Leonsis about Brooks’ future. “We obviously are going to do a thorough evaluation from top to bottom of our whole organization and ways we can get better. But any questions about that stuff, that is not for today.”

3 June 2021

2 June 2021

02/06/2021 15:37

Boston Celtics’ Danny Ainge reportedly considers to step down

Danny Ainge considers to step down as Boston Celtics’ President of Basketball Operations.

Ainge became Boston Celtics Executive in 2003 after eight years as player.

1 June 2021

01/06/2021 12:35

Sixers center Joel Embiid to have MRI after exiting Game 4 with right knee soreness

Philadelphia 76ers’ star Joel Embiid suffered a right knee injury after a hard fall Monday night, which knocked him out of his team’s 122-114 Game 4 loss at the Washington Wizards.

Sixers coach Doc Rivers said Embiid would have an MRI on Tuesday and was uncertain if he would be able to play in Wednesday’s Game 5 in Philadelphia as the 76ers, up 3-1 in the series, try again to clinch.

Embiid crashed to the floor after he was met in the air at the rim by Wizards center Robin Lopez just over seven minutes into the game. Lopez cleanly blocked the shot, but Embiid lost his balance on the way down and crashed onto his backside, instantly grimacing in pain.

1 June 2021

01/06/2021 10:41

Raznatovic: Micic won’t go to the NBA until everything is right. Not sure it’ll happen this year

Agent Misko Raznatovic said that it is not certain for Vasilije Micic to go overseas this summer.
The EuroLeague and Final Four MVP will go to the NBA only for the right project.

Raznatovic spoke with Novostionline.

“He is ready to be a great player in the NBA, but I am not sure that it will happen this year. I won’t allow for Micić to have the same faith NBA as Vassilis Spanoulis did, to sit on the bench” Raznatovic said. “Micić won’t go until everything is right – maybe this year, maybe not. Everything is still open – if the NBA is not good enough and fair enough towards him, they will have to wait for Vasa for another year”.

30 May 2021

30/05/2021 21:06

Chris Paul to play Game 4 vs Lakers, Serge Ibaka expected to miss Game 4 vs Mavs

Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul will play tonight’s Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers, while Lakers’ guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is out and will be replaced by Wesley Matthews in the starting lineup.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Serge Ibaka is expected to miss Game 4 against the Dallas Mavericks, per ESPN, due to sore back.

30 May 2021

30/05/2021 21:01

Several foreign-born players declare for the 2021 NBA Draft

International players Pavel Savkov (Russia), Zsombor Maronka (Hungary), Ivan Perasovic (Croatia), Ziga Samar (Slovenia) and Jovan Kljajic (Montenegro) have declared for the 2021 NBA draft, agent Guillermo Bermejo of YouFirst told ESPN.

Additionally, Italian guard Gabriele Procida and Italian-based international players Ousmane Diop (Torino), Mouhamet Diouf (Reggio Emilia) and Gora Camara (Casale) have also declared for the 2021 NBA draft, a source told ESPN.

30 May 2021

30 May 2021

30 May 2021

30/05/2021 14:46

Olimpia Milan reportedly interested in Nicolò Melli

According to Daniele Dallera of Corriere della Sera, Ettore Messina and Olimpia Milano would have identified Nicolò Melli as the right player to improve the roster.

The power forward, currently in the NBA playoffs with the Dallas Mavericks, will become a Free Agent at the end of the season.

According to the reporter, Messina has contacted the player’s agent several times.

Once the LBA playoffs are over, the Messina-Stavropoulos duo will try to bring Melli back to Milan.

Dellera adds that the team will confirm Shavon Shields and Kevin Punter.

In 23 regular season games with the Dallas Mavericks, Melli averaged 3.9 points and 2.8 rebounds.

Fonte: Corriere della Sera.

28 May 2021

28/05/2021 22:31

Makur Maker enters 2021 NBA Draft

Makur Maker has decided to declare for the 2021 NBA Draft.

Per ESPN, Makur, 20, won’t sign with an agent to keep open the option of returning to Howard for his sophomore year, sources said.

Makur has shown himself to a be highly skilled 6-foot-11 forward with the ability to play on the perimeter. Makur played only two games for the Bison last season because of a groin injury. In those two games, Makur averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists.

The university shut down the remainder of the team’s season because of COVID-19 issues in early January.

Fonte: ESPN.

28 May 2021

28/05/2021 14:36

Jason Kidd hopes to be close about getting another job as head coach

Jason Kidd hopes to be a head coach again in the NBA.
He has coached the Nets and the Bucks and now he is in his second season as assistant coach for the Lakers.

Per The Undefeated, After a pair stints of varying success with the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks as head coach, Jason Kidd is now in his second season as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers. Kidd would like another opportunity to be a head coach and if given the opportunity to give his prior self advice, he would tell him to “Just relax.”

“Just relax and enjoy the growth of the team,” Kidd said. “The growth of the individual players. And not be so hard, and so wanting them to be perfect. …

“The biggest thing I would say in Milwaukee or Brooklyn is the way the message is delivered could have been different. Not so hard. Not so rough. A little bit more fun to it. As a competitor, you get lost into, ‘What can I do to help them win?’ And that’s all they can hear, is that, ‘He just wants to win.’ Where’s the fun? Let’s build this thing and enjoy it. You play as a player for a championship and you coach for a championship. But there’s also different parts of different environments that you are trying to build in a culture.”

Kidd has interviewed for head coaching opportunities over the past few years.

“I hope I’m close,” said Kidd about getting another job. “I would love to have another opportunity at it. Being here with Frank, understanding his strengths and watching him and how he handles different situations, is a big key that I’ve learned. Patience, communication is really key to understanding where everybody stands. Not just your top players, but the end of the bench.”

27 May 2021

27 May 2021

27/05/2021 21:34

Mavericks “confident” in ability to re-sign Tim Hardaway jr in offseason

There is confidence within the Dallas Mavericks’ organization in their ability to re-sign guard Tim Hardaway Jr. in free agency this summer, league sources tell Marc Stein of the New York Times.
Hardaway has been huge in Dallas’ seizing a 2-0 lead over the Clippers with two road wins: 24.5 PPG and 11-for-17 shooting on 3s.

Fonte: Marc Stein.

27 May 2021

27/05/2021 21:09

Bucks reportedly unanimous in opposing “tanking” to avoid Heat in Playoffs

The Milwaukee Bucks had internal discussions about trying to avoid the Miami Heat in the first round by tanking their penultimate regular season game of the season against the Heat, sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN.

The team, according to Lowe, “unanimously opted against it”. In discussing the scenario, some reflected back on their first round loss in 2018 to the Boston Celtics that was followed up with a 4-1 defeat of Boston in the second round in 2019.

27 May 2021

27/05/2021 20:50

Real Madrid’s Usman Garuba enters 2021 NBA Draft

Real Madrid big man Usman Garuba has submitted paperwork to make himself eligible for the 2021 NBA Draft, reports ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. Garuba is the No. 15 prospect in the ESPN Top 100.

Garuba is averaging 5.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 19 minutes per game in ACB for Real Madrid. He has been crowned as Euroleague Rising Star of the 2020-21 season.

25 May 2021

25/05/2021 22:26

Stan Van Gundy, Pelicans players reportedly had “tensions” during season

Players on the New Orleans Pelicans had tension with Stan Van Gundy during his first season with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell Scott Kushner of the Times-Picayune.

Sam Amick of The Athletic previously reported a similar sentiment while on the radio in New Orleans: “In New Orleans, the players are not vibing with the coach, there’s issues there.”

25 May 2021

25/05/2021 19:52

Myles Turner says he wants to remain with Pacers

Indiana Pacers big man Myles Turner has said, during his end-of-the-season press conference, that he would like to remain with the team after several speculations of a trade during the last seasons.

“I love Indianapolis and there’s no place I’d rather be than here – it’s my second home and the fans are the best the NBA has to offer,” said Turner. “In terms of any trade rumors, I’m really just trying to stick to basketball. I’m laser-focused on being the best I can be on the court, supporting my teammates and trying not to get wrapped up in rumors. And at the end of the day this is a business I’m fully aware of that and conduct myself as such, I’m confident in my skillset and growth that I feel I’d thrive anywhere I’m at. The grass is greener wherever I’m at.”

Turner has still two seasons left on his contract with Indiana.