In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the NBA, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.
Spurs star Kawhi Leonard requested a trade out of San Antonio. Leonard, who can become a free agent next summer, said he has “grown uncomfortable” with the organization and wasn’t pleased with the way it handled the quad injury that limited him to nine games this season. The Lakers are Leonard’s preferred destination, but several teams are rumored to be preparing offers.
A hip strain forced Michael Porter Jr. to postpone a workout scheduled for Friday. He was eventually cleared for medical evaluations by teams in the lottery. Their view of Porter’s physical condition will go a long way toward determining where he is selected in Thursday’s draft.
The Pistons ended their coaching search by hiring former Raptors head coach Dwane Casey. Spurs assistant Ime Udoka was reportedly also a finalist for the job, and several high-profile candidates such as Michigan’s John Beilein and TNT analyst Kenny Smith were interviewed. Casey, a finalist for Coach of the Year honors, gets a fresh start after being dismissed in Toronto following a sweep in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Nick Nurse will take over Casey’s spot with the Raptors, as he was hired to fill the NBA’s final head coaching vacancy. Nurse got the final nod over Spurs assistant Ettore Messina, who was a candidate for several openings this spring. Nurse was a successful coach in Europe before coming to Toronto in 2013.
Kyrie Irving has no interest in discussing an extension with the Celtics this summer. Irving, who has a $21.3MM player option for 2019/20, said “contractually, financially, it just doesn’t make any sense” to negotiate now rather than testing free agency.
Here are eight more headlines from the past week:
The Warriors‘ Draymond Green also isn’t ready for extension talks. He said he gave up about $12MM in his current contract to help bring Kevin Durant to the Bay Area and doesn’t want to take another discount.
The Sixers picked up options for next season on Richaun Holmes and T.J. McConnell. Both players will receive non-guaranteed $1.6MM deals before becoming free agents.
Wizards guard Jodie Meeks opted in for next season. He was set to make $3,454,500, but that amount will be reduced because he still has 19 games remaining on his 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
Also exercising his player option was Nuggets forward Darrell Arthur. The 30-year-old, who appeared in just 19 games this season, will make $7,464,912.
The Heat tendered a qualifying offer to Derrick Jones, making him a restricted free agent and allowing the team to match any offer he receives. Because he is a two-way player, the qualifying offer was only $77K.
Raptors assistant coach Rex Kalamian is leaving the team to join Doc Rivers‘ staff with the Clippers. Kalamian had an interview to become Toronto’s head coach before Nurse was hired.
Backup point guard London Perrantes was waived by the Cavaliers. He appeared in just 14 games after signing a two-way contract in October.
The Celtics‘ Abdel Nader had wrist surgery to take care of issues that had bothered him since he fractured it in high school.