Although she interviewed with the Trail Blazers twice and was identified as a finalist for the team’s head coaching position, Spurs assistant Becky Hammon sensed that she wasn’t the favorite to land the job.
“I knew I was second; I knew who they wanted,” said Hammon, who openly discussed multiple topics with Jabari Young of CNBC. “And I’m OK with that, because every race I’ve gotten into my entire life, I’ve been behind, and I’m OK with that. And that’s just how it is — but at the same time, I’m not ignorant to what I’m going up against.”
Instead of Hammon, Portland opted to hire Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups in the position. Billups was one of two preferred names mentioned by Blazers star Damian Lillard last month, immediately making him a strong candidate for the job.
“I’m not mad,” Hammon said. “This is the business, and it’s a very competitive business. But, at the end of the day, throw everything out the window — if you want to hire me, you’ll find a reason to hire me. And if you don’t want to hire me, you’ll find that reason, too. And that’s just that.”
There’s more from the Western Conference tonight:
- Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle examines the pros and cons of drafting Evan Mobley for the Rockets. Houston owns the No. 2 pick in the draft. In addition to Mobley, Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga and Jalen Suggs are widely projected to be drafted in the top five, joining probable No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham.
- Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman lists five things to know about prospect Josh Giddey, who’s arguably the best international player in the draft. Giddey is expected to be available when the Thunder select at No. 6 later this month and could even be in play at No. 16 or 18 if he slips a little.
- Warriors superstar Stephen Curry won an ESPY award for “Best NBA Player” this past weekend, as relayed by NBA.com. The award was voted on by fans, with Curry averaging a career-high 32 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game in 2020/21.
Kinda ironic that the Mobley piece also includes a link to Feigen’s mock draft from 3 days ago where he has Rockets picking Jalen Green.
Voted by fans
Curry is the best player in the nba now
According to the (casual) fans he is, but not the people who actually know basketball.
Curry still produces at an very elite level. “Best” player is subjective. Personally I’d go with Giannis but I wouldn’t blame anyone for going with a handful of players and Curry’s in that group along with Durant and Jokic
Casual? People complained because Curry’s team didn’t win the division so he can’t be MVP. This award has to do with best player not where your team finished. Curry is the most popular player in the NBA who had the best season. name somebody who is better?
The best player doesnt get eliminated by ja morant and kyle anderson. He is still an amazing player but he needs Klay and more help in order to compete.
A MVP doesn’t get his team knocked out of the playoffs. See how that works. When half your team is out due to illness you don’t win. Warriors were down 5 players in that game. LeBron couldn’t win with 1 player out.
Mobley or Green you can’t go wrong here. Thing about Mobley it lets you move Wood. His value is high now. I would move him and go full rebuild. This is draft to do it.
Or ya know you could just move Wood to PF. He can shoot, rebound and defend in space. Perfect stretch 4. He’s only 25, still young enough to part of a rebuild and he’s on a decent contract.
The Rockets aren’t moving Wood, even if they draft Mobley. The only thing that would change is whether or not they re-sign Olynyk, who played great alongside Wood.
What’s the point of rebuilding if you trade away one of the best young players in the NBA?
They could just as easily move Mobley to PF and keep Wood at center. Whichever works best.
Best young players in the league? Is that a reference to Wood? That seems like a stretch
He said move to pf, not trade.
I would also capitalize on Woods optimal value today and cash in that chip –
I realize there’s solid arguments both ways but I’m with AL; give me a lottery pick this year and a future pick and he’s yours
Get Pacers 13 for your Erics services, use your cap to get New Orleans 10 by taking a different Eric, Flip Wood for Picks or Wiseman —–Go BiG , 1 Star in Green and 3 rotation players.
10~20 looks like the sweet spot, Id Love to take as many hacks as I could this year in that range
What they don’t mention is dissension in locker room with Wood. He’s not a team guy and does not want to be part of rebuild. Has two yr deal. Already talking about getting paid, and padding his stats. All things considered, I move him now. Plus he’s not a 4. He’s a center who’s D needs work. He’s solid so far but his value will never be higher. Why keep another head case. It’s a rebuild anyway.
This likely what I would want my team to do. This is a full rebuild, sell as high as possible.
Excatly …. It’s the smart move. Mobley will have better career too.
Houston is a good place to have a player like that though. Wood’s reputation is well known; it’s the story of why he got bounced around. I doubt anybody would offer two lottery picks.
GM Stone said he planned to execute a fast rebuild… Wood, Porter & Tate was what he meant… All have questions, more than House, Wall, Bradley, Brown, who have been in that category too. IDK about Martin jr. but sr. did. And then there’s Fertita with his Sicilian sauce.
It’s an exciting team.
Slander and out.
To be honest, I’d like the Rockets to go “bigger”. I think Mobley and Wood would be the two players Rockets would want to be “bigger” with. They may not be Zion, but Mobley is labeled as a forward at 7 foot. Wood can stay at center and have Mobley play PF while switching to center when Wood is resting or injuried. Top 5 draft has way too many Guards and outside of Cade, they aren’t any better than what than what Rockets have currently. I also believe Gordon should be traded with potentially Wall being the “6th man”. Maybe that will keep him healthy throughout the season. Porter Jr, Woods, and Mobley can be scary if all are healthy and on the floor together.
If you’re drafting Mobley to get rid of Wood then you better get a wing prospect that would give you a reason not to draft Jalen Green. The league revolves around guards and wings these days not centers.
Warrior fans like to make excuses but bottom line is W’s missed playoff the last 2 years and Curry wasnt able to beat Memphis in play in.
It reminds me of W’s of old rather than the one that won 3 Titles. It is going to be a critical offseason for Curry’s legacy.
Dumb comment. Curry’s legacy is solidified.
Sure!! His legacy is solidified thanks to the KD signing fool!!
It was solidified after 2015 unanimous MVP + title (and should have had FMVP it Rachel Nichols wasnt literally asking Bron who to vote for, ergo FMVP since 2012 has been a sham, corrupted award).
SMH He was a 2 time MVP without KD. He averaged more in every category before KD joined. Curry gave up a lot to allow KD to get his points.
Curry is a great player who also benefit from injuries to opposing stars.
??? Sounds like somebody is jealous their team won 0 championships.
??? Sounds like somebody doesn’t like the truth. Also, my team has 2 championships, both of which came about during my life time.
they beat injured teams to win. Didn’t the Astros had to cheat with trash can and buzzers for a championship? Yes they did. Maybe you should say nothing since your Asterisks had to cheat to win a championship.
If you actually believe the Astros cheated you don’t watch baseball
Lil D what you should be saying is if a team must cheat like the Astros they will always cheat. I remember back in 2015 A’s announcers were saying its like the Astros knows what pitches the pitcher is throwing. Turns out the A’s contacted MLB and a few other teams that year but MLB swept it under the rug. Astreks will always be know as the team that needed to win. Stop pretending because you know they are CHEATERS
I’ll just say steve curry looks very healthy for someone his age…players dont typically get more strong as they age, do they?
Hmm. Funny you mention A’s…San fran…mark mcguire… barry bonds…something in the golden gate water?
Steroids were legal back in the day. Ask Bagwell about that. Altuve is paying for the good stuff that can’t be detected now. A guy who goes from 1% first few years to over 5% home run % is a red flag.
Also helps to hit 3s when your legs arent tired…but you seem to have no problem with ‘roids
Wrong I don’t think any roid user should be in HOF. Suspend them when they get caught., If you cheat with buzzrs and trash cans you probably cheat with roids too.
Well it takes one to know one, cheater. You basically just admit you take steroids give me a break
What do the Astros have to do the Warriors benefiting from injuries to opposing stars?
Because you cheer for a team that had to cheat to win a championship. Not sure how anyone can be proud of a bunch of cheaters.
Forgot to add the year the Rockets won they beat a Suns team without one of their best players hurt. They also beat the Jazz without one of their starters. Ironic the Rockets last championship beat injured teams.
Ah, so it was Curry’s fault? crazy talk.
“Curry wasnt able to beat Memphis in play in.”
Ah yes, the ol 1-on-5 game, yup thats all on Curry.
Imagine literally thinking this. Curry was the real MVP this season whether you like it or not. He had nothing but g leaguers and low IQ morons on his team all year (and Draymond who refuses to shoot now).
You speaking in terms of 1 player = whole team reeks of ESPN brain damage. Please stop thinking like this and use your head and most importantly – watch the games. Curry was clearly the best player in the league.
Warriors down 5 players 2 starters against a team that was 100% healthy. SMH can’t believe there are people out there that make weak excuses like he couldn’t win play in while half the team was injured.
No matter what happens, team lebronaganda will ALWAYS move the goalposts when it comes to Curry. Its always infuriatingly illogical and always serves only 1 purpose: to make casuals think the game revolves around Bron, when in reality it revolves around Curry -USA lost to Nigeria with a team made up entirely of players that the klutch propaganda machine says are better than Curry – KD, Dame etc.
Curry scored 39 in that game.
While one player can dominate and change a game, basketball is still a team sport and you need teammates to make plays.
The warriors roster was brutal and yet curry took them to the play-in. What was their record last year without curry?
“It is going to be a critical offseason for Curry’s legacy.”
I love this sentence though
“Critical offseason for his legacy” – this can only actually mean the way he trains for the upcoming season
But also, how is his legacy ever in doubt when to this day, 100% of players who play well get compared to him? CP3, Dame, Bron, KD, Harden – who is the #1 guy who gets talked about most in relation to them? Curry. If you are the #1 guy everyone gets compared to/with = you already won.
How stupid can you be not to think Curry is one of the best players ever. Same as somebody claims LeBron is not one of the best ever. SMH The excuses they make about Curry not being great is just plain lame.
Curry is all time great, but he needs to still build his resume to be compared with Top 15 players of all time. Curry is thinking the same and wants the team to make drastic upgrade this offseason.
I still think W’s should have beaten Lakers or Memphis in the play in. Curry played amazingly but also made several careless turnovers in the 2nd half against Lakers. Let’s not give great players free passes. That being said, let’s hope mgmt can provide better support for Curry next yr.
HMMMMM….
Let’s see, says the Timberpuppies President of Basketball Operations, David Kahn,
I’ve got 2 picks, back to back.
Just who do I pick?
Steph Curry ???
NAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I’ll go with…………………………….
Ricky Rubio
&
Jonny Flynn
Wonder why the Timberpuppies are TERRIBLE ???
Becky sain’ what we all new already – NBA is not ready for a female coach, they use her as a hoax just to show they are PC
I dont think she gets a head coaching job until pops retires and she takes over for him
IF they don’t give if to the Nigeria coach first
I think Pops still may call it a career after the Olympics.
That’s not fun.
Why can’t she apply for college HC job? Why so much obsession with NBA?? Missing the playoffs back to back as coach assistant is a bad look to any candidate so stop looking for excuses! Keep it moving !!!
This is why the Portland saga was not a good idea for her.
She does sound sane about it though, more than some. Maybe it helped her to be in the middle of a tumult, rather than just have her name thrown around a lot.
Steph Curry was the NBA MVP this season. GSW are a 10-win team without him, Denver makes the playoffs without Jokic – bottom line, thats how you determine value.
B.S. I’m a Curry fan hell I’d say Curry is a top 5 player in the league but Denver would be a lottery team without Jokic. The 2nd best player on that team was hurt for a good portion of the season and the entirety of the playoffs.
Nope, YOU are the BSing one here.
Michael Porter Jr had 7 WS this year, not to mention Murray, Campazzo, Green, Millsap, Barton and Gordon. Denver had one of the deepest teams – they for sure are making the playoffs without Joker, they aren’t top 4 but they are very good. You don’t know what you are talking about, Curry’s value to his team is untouchable, Jokic just had better counting stats.
…and now he can count one MVP along with all that.
If any proof was ever needed that Miss Becky will never get a job as a HC in the NBA is that when teams like ORL hires a useless guy who sets a bad team culture, still gets the job ahead of her… sorry Becky but don’t expect a job any time soon, it really sucks but that is the problem of this league!
How do you know Mosley has or will do that?
Supposedly he undermined Carlisle with Doncic but I think Doncic was not understood properly. Mosely may have accepted faster than Carlisle, that Doncic will do what he does regardless, but it does not matter to Doncic anymore. Kidd was headstrong too.