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Mavs’ Maxi Kleber Available To Play Tuesday

May 28th, 2024 at 6:30pm CST by Luke Adams

6:30pm: Kleber is available to play, the Mavs’ PR deparment tweets.

8:52am: Mavericks big man Maxi Kleber is on track to return to action on Tuesday for Game 4 of the Western Conference finals vs. Minnesota, reports Marc Stein (Twitter link).

The team has yet to offer any clarity on Kleber’s status beyond upgrading him to questionable for Tuesday’s contest, but Stein says he should be able to play unless he suffers a setback at some point before the game tips off.

Kleber was injured in Game 6 of Dallas’ first-round series vs. the Clippers, sustaining a right shoulder AC joint separation on May 3. The team announced at the time that he’d be out for at least three weeks before being reevaluated. Stein stated on Sunday night that the Mavs were optimistic about the possibility of Kleber potentially returning for the NBA Finals — now it sounds like he’ll be able to beat that timeline.

Whether Kleber will be able to perform at his pre-injury level is a separate question, but the Mavs will welcome any quality minutes he can give them in the frontcourt, since they’re expected to be without center Dereck Lively on Tuesday. Lively sprained his neck in the team’s Game 3 win and is listed as doubtful for Game 4.

Considered a solid defender, Kleber was limited to 43 regular season appearances due to health issues this season and averaged 4.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 20.3 minutes per night. He logged 19.3 MPG during the first round of the playoffs, bumping his scoring average to 5.7 PPG and knocking down 10-of-18 (55.6%) three-pointers.

Sixers Willing To Extend Butler If Heat Star Becomes Available In Trade

May 28th, 2024 at 5:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Jimmy Butler may not be the Sixers’ top target this offseason but they’re apparently willing to give him more financial security than the Heat.

Paul George is widely considered the Sixers’ primary focus if the Clippers forward declines his $48.8MM option in order to enter free agency. A reunion with Butler could be a viable alternative and Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports the Sixers are prepared to give Butler a maximum-salary extension if he forces a trade out of Miami.

There has been speculation about Butler’s future since the Heat were eliminated from postseason contention. Butler, who will be 35 next season, has a $48.8MM salary for next season and a player option for $52.2MM for the 2025/26 season.

Butler is seeking a two-year maximum extension for $113MM in which he’d decline the $52.2MM option in order to get an extra year of guaranteed salary. Miami president Pat Riley indicated during his annual postseason press conference he’d be reluctant to make that commitment, noting that Butler has missed chunks of time in recent seasons.

“It’s a big decision on our part to commit those kinds of resources, unless you have someone who is going to be available every night,” Riley said.

Butler hasn’t appeared in more than 64 regular season games in any of his five years in Miami and was unavailable for the playoffs this spring due to an MCL sprain.

Butler stated in a GQ interview his preference is to finish his career with Miami.

“I feel at home, man. I really care about the city, I really care about the people in this city,” Butler said. “Miami has embraced me.”

There’s no indication that the Heat have any plans to trade Butler unless he forces the issue. Beyond that, the Sixers — seeking another star to join forces with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey — would seemingly have to strike out on the George front before turning to other options.

The Sixers do feel they erred by shipping Butler to Miami in a sign-and-trade five years ago and could make amends by slotting him into one of their forward spots.

Philadelphia is in the rare position of being a playoff contender with the ability to absorb a huge salary. The Sixers could have close to $65MM in cap space this summer and they’ll also have five first-round picks and multiple pick swaps available to trade, beginning at the start of the draft, Pompey notes.

The Sixers have also been linked to the Lakers’ LeBron James and Knicks’ OG Anunoby in free agency. Bulls wing Zach LaVine and the Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram could emerge as potential trade targets if they must go further down the wish list.

Pistons Confirm Fontecchio Underwent Surgery On Toe

May 28th, 2024 at 3:22pm CST by Luke Adams

Pistons forward Simone Fontecchio, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, recently underwent surgery to address the left big toe injury that ended his season early, the club announced today in a press release (Twitter link). According to the team, Fontecchio is expected to make a full recovery this offseason and will be ready for training camp in the fall.

Fontecchio himself revealed on Instagram a few days ago that he’d undergone surgery that will sideline him for Italy’s Olympic qualifying tournament this summer, but he didn’t offer any specific details about the procedure or his recovery timeline.

The 28-year-old played professionally in Europe from 2012-22 before signing with the Jazz two summers ago. He spent a season-and-a-half in Utah, then was traded to Detroit at this year’s trade deadline. In 66 total games (43 starts) for the Jazz and Pistons in 2023/24, the Italian wing averaged 10.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 24.9 minutes per game, with a strong shooting line of .460/.401/.818.

Fontecchio signed a relatively modest two-year, $6.25MM contract when he first made the move to the NBA in 2022, but he increased the value of his qualifying offer to $5.2MM by meeting the starter criteria this past season and appears to have positioned himself for a salary worth well above that on his next contract.

James L. Edwards of The Athletic predicted last month that Fontecchio’s next deal could be worth between $14-17MM annually due to his three-and-D skill set, citing contracts signed by Luke Kennard (four years, $56MM) and Bogdan Bogdanovic (four years, $68MM) as points of comparison.

While a rival suitor could put pressure on the Pistons by signing Fontecchio to a lucrative offer sheet, Detroit has a ton of cap flexibility and would be able to match any offer. Fontecchio said in an Instagram post last week that he’s looking forward to a future with the Pistons.

Jaylen Brown Named Eastern Finals MVP

May 28th, 2024 at 6:58am CST by Luke Adams

Celtics wing Jaylen Brown was named the Most Valuable Player of the Eastern Conference Finals, winning the Larry Bird trophy for 2024, the NBA announced (via Twitter).

Brown narrowly edged out teammate Jayson Tatum, who earned four of nine votes from media members for the honor at the conclusion of Boston’s 4-0 sweep over the Pacers. Brown received the other five votes (Twitter link).

“I wasn’t expecting that at all,” Brown said of the award, per Joe Vardon of The Athletic. “I don’t ever win s–t. I was just happy we won.”

Brown scored at least 24 points in all four games of the series, including 40 in last Thursday’s Game 2 win and 29 in Monday’s close-out victory. He averaged 29.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in 40.9 minutes per game vs. Indiana, making 51.7% of his shot attempts from the field, including 37.0% of his three-pointers.

“He was unreal this whole series, a complete player on both sides of the ball that you don’t really see much these days,” teammate Derrick White said, according to Vardon.

The NBA instituted MVP awards for the conference finals just three years ago, naming the trophies after Bird in the East and Magic Johnson in the West. Tatum was the first ever Eastern Conference Finals MVP in 2022, while Heat star Jimmy Butler took home the honor last spring.

Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton Out For Game 4

May 27th, 2024 at 5:10pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton won’t play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals tonight against the Celtics, Joe Vardon of The Athletic tweets. Haliburton also missed Game 3 on Saturday due to a left hamstring strain.

Indiana, which is facing elimination, nearly won Game 3 without its All-Star point guard until Boston staged a fourth-quarter rally. Andrew Nembhard stepped up his production with 32 points but Ben Sheppard, who was inserted into the starting lineup, was held scoreless in 26 minutes.

Haliburton suffered the injury during the 126-110 Game 2 loss in Boston. He had just 10 points and eight assists in that contest after a 25-point, 10-assist outing in Game 1.

He underwent an MRI on Saturday, and the risk of doing further damage with his team facing long odds of a comeback outweighs trying to push through it. He also dealt with a hamstring strain during the regular season. Haliburton, a third-team All-NBA selection, has averaged 18.7 PPG and 8.2 APG in the playoffs.

The Celtics have announced that Jrue Holiday and Luke Kornet, who were on Sunday’s injury report, are available, Keith Smith of Spotrac tweets. Kristaps Porzingis remains out.

Lively Expected To Miss Game 4; Kleber Listed As Questionable

May 27th, 2024 at 4:18pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Mavericks won’t have their outstanding rookie center for Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals but they could get another veteran big man back in action.

Dereck Lively won’t play as the Mavericks try to close out the series against the Timberwolves on Tuesday, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT tweets. Lively is officially listed as doubtful to play by the team, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon tweets.

Lively suffered a neck sprain during the second quarter in Game 3 on Sunday when he fell backward in the lane and was inadvertently kneed in the head by Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns. Lively’s head snapped forward upon contact. He was down on the court for several minutes before appearing dazed as he was helped to the locker room.

Lively has knocked down all 13 of his field goal attempts in the series. He had a 14-point, 9-rebound outing in Game 2.

Fortunately for Dallas, Maxi Kleber could be back in action. He’s listed as questionable, according to MacMahon.

Kleber has been out since May 3 due to a right shoulder injury, officially labelled an AC joint separation. He averaged 5.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 19.5 minutes per game while appearing in all six first-round games against the Clippers.

Luka Doncic (right knee sprain/left ankle soreness) is also listed as questionable again, though it would be surprising to see Doncic sit out a closeout game. Doncic was a game-time decision on Sunday and wound up dominating with 33 points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals in the 116-107 victory.

Hall Of Famer Bill Walton Passes Away

May 27th, 2024 at 12:27pm CST by Luke Adams

Former NBA star and Hall of Famer Bill Walton has died at the age of 71, the league announced today (Twitter link). According to the NBA’s release, Walton passed away surrounded by family following a “prolonged” battle with cancer.

“Bill Walton was truly one of a kind,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said as part of a longer statement. “As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. … Bill then translated his infectious enthusiasm and love for the game to broadcasting, where he delivered insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans. But what I will remember most about him was his zest for life. He was a regular presence at league events — always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth.”

Walton played his college ball at UCLA, winning a pair of national championships in 1972 and 1973 and earning national college player of the year honors for three straight seasons from 1972-74. He was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1974 draft and won championships with the Trail Blazers in 1977 and the Celtics in 1986, as well as an MVP award with Portland in 1978.

Walton was the NBA Finals MVP in ’77 after having led the league in both rebounds and blocked shots per game during that season. He earned an All-Star nod and made the All-Defensive First Team in both ’77 and ’78, then won the Sixth Man of the Year award in ’86.

A long list of injuries affecting his back, knees, ankles, and feet cut Walton’s career short and limited his availability when he did play. He ultimately appeared in just 468 career regular season contests – the equivalent of fewer than six 82-game seasons – for the Blazers, Clippers, and Celtics, averaging 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 blocks in 28.3 minutes per night.

Walton was named to the NBA’s 50th anniversary and 75th anniversary teams honoring the best players in league history.

Following his playing career, Walton was an NBA and NCAA color commentator for several networks, including CBS, NBC, and ABC/ESPN. His son Luke Walton also played in the NBA and has since gone into coaching — Luke spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the Cavaliers.

Our condolences go out to Bill’s family and friends.

Clippers Among Teams With Interest In Chris Paul

May 27th, 2024 at 7:57am CST by Arthur Hill

A return to the Clippers is possible for Chris Paul this summer, Marc Stein writes in his latest Substack column.

Sources tell Stein that L.A. is among several teams that would be interested in the 39-year-old point guard if he becomes a free agent. Paul spent six years with the franchise and was one of the stars of the “Lob City” era.

Stein previously cited the Lakers and Spurs as potential landing spots for the 12-time All-Star. Paul told reporters last month that he doesn’t plan to retire after Golden State lost in the play-in tournament, and coach Steve Kerr expressed a desire to keep him, saying, “He’s still got good years left.” Paul prefers to stay close to his family in Los Angeles, Stein adds.

Stein cautions that reaching free agency will be the first step for Paul, who has a non-guaranteed $30MM salary for next season. He has an early salary guarantee date of June 28, so the Warriors have a little more than a month to decide whether he’s worth that investment. Stein points out that Golden State’s options include guaranteeing Paul’s salary and trading him to another team. The guarantee date could be extended, but that would require Paul’s consent.

Paul appeared in 58 games and made 18 starts this season after being traded twice last summer. He averaged 9.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists in 26.4 minutes per night while shooting 44.1% from the field and 37.1% from three-point range.

Stein’s sources say another possibility for the Clippers is Kyle Lowry, who turned 38 in March. Lowry will be an unrestricted free agent after finishing the season with the Sixers, who signed him in February following a buyout with Charlotte.

The Clippers’ summer moves will be affected by Russell Westbrook‘s decision on a $4MM player option, Stein adds. The 35-year-old point guard, who has spent the past season and a half with the team, has until June 29 to determine whether he wants to opt out and test free agency.

Mavs’ Lively Suffers Neck Sprain After Knee To Head

May 26th, 2024 at 9:42pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Mavericks rookie center Dereck Lively departed Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Sunday night due to an injury labeled by the team as a neck sprain (Twitter link).

Lively was hurt during the second quarter when he fell backward in the lane and was inadvertently kneed in the head by Timberwolves forward Karl-Anthony Towns.

Lively’s head snapped forward upon contact. He was down on the court for several minutes before appearing dazed as he was helped to the locker room, according to The Associated Press. While many observers suspected Lively might have suffered a concussion, the team did not immediately reveal any testing results.

Lively has been a major factor in the postseason. He made all three of his field goal attempts with three rebounds in Game 3 prior to the injury and has now knocked down all 13 of his field goal attempts in the series. He had a 14-point, 9-rebound outing in Game 2.

Lively posted double-doubles in the last two games of the conference semifinals against the Thunder. Overall, he was averaging 8.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 blocks in 22.4 minutes across 14 postseason games entering Sunday’s contest.

With Dallas taking a 3-0 lead in the series, the Mavs can afford to be cautious with Lively even if he doesn’t enter concussion protocol.

If he needs to miss any games, the Mavs will have to rely on Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell and smaller lineups to fill the void up front. Maxi Kleber remains sidelined due to a right shoulder injury.

Usman Garuba Expected To Sign With Real Madrid

May 26th, 2024 at 6:49pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Usman Garuba, who finished the season with the Warriors, is returning to Europe to join Real Madrid on a multiyear contract, according to Aris Barkas of Eurohoops.net.

Garuba played for the Real Madrid organization from 2017-21. He was drafted in the first round by the Rockets in 2021 but has only seen modest playing time in his NBA career.

The 22-year-old power forward was traded twice during the 2023 offseason, then was waived by the Thunder. He signed a two-way deal with the Warriors in September and spent most of the season in the G League. He was promoted to the 15-man roster just before the start of the postseason but Golden State was eliminated during the play-in tournament.

Garuba, touted as a strong defender, barely played for the Warriors. In six games and just 18 minutes, he totaled three points, seven rebounds and three blocks this year. Across his three seasons in the NBA, Garuba holds averages of 2.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 104 games (three starts).

This season with Santa Cruz in the G League, he averaged 12.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks in 35 regular season and Showcase Cup games.

Real Madrid is expected to lose another former NBA big man, Vincent Poirier, whose contract is expiring.