In case you missed any of the past week’s top stories from around the NBA, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.
In what is likely the most bizarre story of the 2017/18 NBA season, Sixers’ president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo is under investigation by the team for allegedly using burner accounts on Twitter to divulge confidential team information and criticize his own players. In a report rife with compelling circumstantial evidence connecting Colangelo to the burner accounts, Ben Detrick of The Ringer details how the accounts went after, among others, current Sixers’ players Joel Embiid and Markelle Fultz and former Sixers’ players Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel. Colangelo immediately denied the report, issuing statements such as “Someone’s out to get me” and “This is clearly not me.” The current narrative is that perhaps it was a family member who operated the accounts.
As the NCAA deadline for college underclassman to make a choice on their draft status came and went, we relayed numerous relatively high-rated players’ decisions on whether to stay or go:
- Brian Bowen (South Carolina): Staying in Draft
- Donte DiVincenzo (Villanova): Staying in Draft
- Kevin Huerter (Maryland): Staying in Draft
- Omari Spellman (Villanova): Staying in Draft
- Jarred Vanderbilt (Kentucky): Staying in Draft
- Tyus Battle (Syracuse): Returning to School
- Jalen Hudson (Florida): Returning to School
- Shamorie Ponds (St. John’s): Returning to School
- Jontay Porter (Missouri): Returning to School
- PJ Washington (Kentucky): Returning to School
- Lindell Wigginton (Iowa State): Returning to School
- Austin Wiley (Auburn): Returning to School
- Kris Wilkes (UCLA): Returning to School
The Magic have hired former Hornets’ head coach Steve Clifford to the same position, with league sources reporting that Clifford and Orlando management have agreed upon a four-year contract through the 2021-22 season. Widely respected, Clifford led the Hornets to a 196-214 (.478) record over five years before he was dismissed in April. He previously worked as an assistant coach for the Magic under Stan Van Gundy from 2007 to 2012.
Knicks’ guard Ron Baker has exercised his player option for the 2018/19 season and will remain under contract with the team for one more season. Baker’s decision comes as no surprise, as his salary for next season of $4.544MM is likely far more than he would have received as a free agent this offseason after he missed most of this season with injury and ended up averaging only 2.4 PPG and 1.6 APG with a .339/.333/.769 shooting line in 13.3 minutes per contest.
The Sixers and coach Brett Brown have reached an agreement on a three-year contract extension that will lock up Brown as the team’s head coach through the 2021/22 season. Brown, 57, has coached the team through some tough years, guiding Philadelphia through a now-famous rebuild colloquially known as “The Process.” This is Brown’s second contract extension after he received a two-year extension in December, 2015.
Here are 10 more headlines from the past week:
- Kevin Love missed the Cavaliers’ Game 7 Eastern Conference Finals win over the Celtics with a concussion, but returned for the team’s Game 1 loss to the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
- Warriors’ swingman Patrick McCaw has returned to action after missing nearly two months with a back injury, while Andre Iguodala remains out with a left lateral leg contusion/bone bruise.
- Celtics’ backup guard Marcus Smart believes he’s worth more than the $12-14MM he’s reported to earn in free agency.
- Thunder’ swingman Andre Roberson underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after complications arose during rehab from a ruptured patella.
- The Pistons intend to interview TNT analyst Kenny Smith for their head coaching job, as well as Heat’ assistant Juwan Howard, former Raptors’ head coach Dwane Casey, and Spurs’ assistant Ime Udoka.
- The Pistons have also interviewed Michigan head coach John Beilein and plan to interview former Bucks’ coach Jason Kidd.
- Spurs’ vice president of basketball operations Monty Williams is in discussions with Sixers’ head coach Brett Brown about a possible lead assistant role.
- Clippers guard Patrick Beverley has received medical clearance to resume full basketball activities about three months earlier than originally projected.
- The Pistons have parted ways with now former general manager Jeff Bower.
- Tristan Thompson was fined $25K for his actions at the end of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, but will not be suspended.
Why isn’t this clown Colangelo not fired yet… I really don’t know. Fire him quickly it’s damaging Philly’s image that is all he is doing. Bring Hinkie back, please.