Longtime Blazers assistant David Vanterpool could receive strong consideration for multiple head coaching vacancies across the league, Jordan Schultz of ESPN tweets.
The Celtics, Magic and Blazers all recently opened up their head coaching positions, with more teams potentially on the horizon. Many league observers are monitoring the Pacers and Pelicans after both clubs finished with underwhelming campaigns.
Vanterpool, who has been linked to past coaching vacancies, served as Minnesota’s associate head coach this season, but he won’t return to the team for 2021/22. Prior to joining the Wolves, he spent five years as an assistant with CSKA Moscow and seven years as an assistant with Portland.
Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Former NBA guard Shelvin Mack has left Panathinaikos in Greece, according to SDNA.com (hat tip to Sportando). Mack departed from the club due to personal reasons. The 31-year-old was drafted at No. 34 overall in 2011 and holds eight years of NBA experience, the most recent of which was with Charlotte in 2018/19.
- David Aldridge of The Athletic examines how the past failures of some teams could provide fuel in the championship race this season. The Bucks and Clippers are two prime examples of such, with Milwaukee getting revenge against Miami in the first round and Los Angeles avoiding another playoff collapse on Sunday.
- Michigan transfer DeVante’ Jones has received an invite to the G League Elite Camp, which is set to be held from June 19-21 in Chicago, a source told Hoops Rumors. Jones remains an intriguing mid-major prospect for the draft, averaging 19.3 points per game with Coastal Carolina last season. The 23-year-old also averaged 7.2 rebounds per game and finished third in the NCAA in steals per game (2.8). For more information on draft-related dates and deadlines this year, click here.
Since Dame & CJ had lobbied Vanterpool for other teams coaching vacancies in the past – it’s a no-brainer for Olshey to just get Vanterpool as his next head coach now.
It might prevent Dame from having any thoughts of trade demands this offseason.
Vanterpool might get it and actually have the BLAZERS play some defense and go hard for rebounds.
Vanterpool is a perfect fit for Wolves and he can take them to the playoffs next year, others can’t
Blazers need a championship coach, Vanterpool is not a good fit
Gonna take more than a coach to wanna make Dame stay….but it’s a start.
Pelicans shouldn’t have ever hired Van Gundy. Only coach in the NBA that wouldn’t surround Zion with shooters. It’s an insanely stupid way to use a generational talent.
I’m not saying if Van Gundy is a good or bad hire but he’s not the GM. He doesn’t make personnel decisions.
Lonzo and Ingram can shoot. It’s also not Van Gundy’s fault Reddick lost his touch and as much hype as Hart gets as a shooter he was only good in his rookie year. Yes they need more shooters but the Pelicans just don’t have much talent outside of Ingram, Ball and Zion. Adams is out of place and Hayes is a keeper but he’s very young for a big.
Besides Van Gundy made his name off defense and surrounding a generational talent with shooters. He also was at the forefront of deploying stretch 4s with Rashard Lewis. He got the Magic to 2009 finals with that exact philosophy.
Yes, little fault on SVG’s part if Lonzo or Hart can’t shoot and Reddick being injured and disengaged.
That being said, I did expect the PELS to have a better defensive rating with SVG on board. They didn’t and took a lot of close losses, many with defensive miscues.
It could be that SVG can’t reach these kids – a younger voice might be needed.
It’s probably playoff-or-bust next season for the PELS …….. they don’t make the play-in or playoffs next season, SVG will surely be canned.
Lonzo shot .378 from deep league average was .346. That’s not elite, but we’ll above league average. Lonzo is one of the leagues better perimeter defenders. Finally he’s a great passer in transition. Lonzo is not a problem
The league average from 3 this year was 36.7%.
Agreed shooting comes and goes, GM builds the team, etc. But why start Adams *and* Bledsoe? Two chronic non-shooters makes it easy for opposing teams to smother Zion. One or the other, fine. But both? Every game? Indefensible.
Who but Bledsoe? Defense and 34% is not horrible. NAW 35% but he addresses less. Ingram & Ball 38%.
Jaxon Hayes did not take any 3s until the last two months when he got more PT, and did well, so that is good to build on. I think they shoud trade Adams but IDK howxthat would affect ZW.
Bucks have big opportunity with Harden out. Better wake up. Sixers too, underestimated Hawks. Mavs must have Clippers number. This series should not go 7. I just don’t see Mavs worth. Without Luka they are not even a playoff team. Have not seen a team take him out of his game yet. I would play him full court. Use different bodies. But full court. KP and Hardaway you really think they are the answer. Only if Luka avgs 45 a gm.
Ummm….how many teams are playoff teams without their best player? Maybe the Nets?
I thought Durant was fine now?
He is and he is their best player. I’m just pointing out of the 16 playoff teams the Nets are the only one that would still be a playoff team if you take their best player away that they’d still be a playoff team.
76ers free throw 35
Hawks free throw 21
Embiid x Trae
shelvin mack to the celtics as an assistant coach.