Central Notes: Buckner, Giannis, Pacers Workout, Pacers Offseason

Greg Buckner is expected to join Doc Rivers’ staff with the Bucks, Marc Stein tweets. Buckner was the Cavaliers‘ associate head coach under J.B. Bickerstaff. He had been on Cleveland’s staff since 2020. Previously, Bucker was an assistant with the Grizzlies (2017-19). Former Lakers coach Darvin Ham has also made a commitment to join Rivers’ staff.

We have more from the Central Division:

• The Bucks didn’t play Giannis Antetokounmpo at center very often this season, but that has to change, Eric Nehm of The Athletic opines in his latest mailbag. While the team’s superstar doesn’t want to play the position regularly, there’s strong evidence that lineups featuring Antetokounmpo in the middle often produce positive results.
• Jack Gohlke, who became a folk hero when he lifted Oakland to a huge NCAA Tournament upset of Kentucky, will be among six prospects working out for the Pacers on Wednesday, the team tweets. Joining the 3-point specialist will be Michigan State’s Tyson Walker, TCU’s Emanuel Miller, UC-Santa Barbara’s Ajay Mitchell, Belgium’s Thijs de Ridder and China’s Yongxi Cui.
• In a subscriber-only story, The Indianapolis Star’s Dustin Dopirak has seven suggestions that would make for a successful Pacers offseason. Dopirak’s list starts with re-signing Pascal Siakam and also includes trying to find a shooter at a good price and extending both T.J. McConnell and Andrew Nembhard.