Week in Review

In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

The Raptors fired head coach Dwane Casey after the team was swept for the second straight postseason by the Cavaliers. Ironically, Casey was fired despite winning the peer-voted NBCA Coach of the Year Award just days earlier. Casey, who took over as the Raptors’ head coach in 2011, is the winningest coach in team history, leading the club to five straight seasons with at least 48 wins. Yet, despite Toronto’s regular season success, the Raptors have struggled to make deep playoff runs, ultimately dooming Casey’s future with the franchise.

Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons have parted ways, with the team ultimately making the decision to move on from the former head coach and president of basketball operations. Van Gundy’s job security had been a source of speculation for much of this year after the team posted a disappointing 37-45 record in 2016/17 and again failed to make the postseason this season. The Pistons will conduct separate searches for its new head coach and new head of basketball operations. It was later reported that Van Gundy was willing to give up his front office position after that issue was originally reported as a point of contention.

Former Spurs’ assistant coach James Borrego has been named the new head coach for the Hornets, replacing Steve Clifford. Borrego began his NBA coaching career in San Antonio from 2003 to 2010 before returning to the Spurs in 2015. He has head coaching experience, having led the Magic to a 10-20 record as Jacque Vaughn‘s interim replacement the season before returning to San Antonio. Borrego also interviewed with the Knicks and Suns and reportedly received interest from the Hawks and Bucks.

Sixers’ assistant coach Lloyd Pierce will be named the next head coach for the Hawks, replacing Mike Budenholzer. The team named four finalists earlier in the week, but ultimately came back to Pierce after a third meeting with him yesterday. The pairing makes sense on the surface, as Pierce has been with the Sixers through their long rebuild and the Hawks are in the midst of a similar rebuild in Atlanta.

Thunder veteran big man Nick Collison is retiring after 15 seasons with the franchise that originally drafted him. Collison will retire with career averages of 5.9 PPG and 5.2 RPG and was a member of the Thunder team who made it to the NBA Finals in 2012. Because Collison signed a one-year contract last summer, the team won’t carry any dead money for the veteran and won’t have to waive him.

Here are 15 more headlines from the past week:

• The Suns are planning to offer a maximum or near-maximum offer for Rockets big man Clint Capela this offseason.
• The Heat declined next season’s team option for forward Jordan Mickey.
• The Sixers will exercise next season’s team option worth $1.6MM for point guard T.J. McConnell.
• The Hawks waived rookie forward Tyler Cavanaugh.
• Budenholzer and former Pelicans’ head coach Monty Williams are reportedly the favorites for the Bucks’ head job.
• Kosta Koufos officially exercised his player option for 2018/19.
• While nothing official has been inked, Doc Rivers has apparently reached an agreement on a multi-year extension with the Clippers.
• The Knicks officially named David Fizdale as the franchise’s next head coach.
• Cavaliers’ swingman Rodney Hood will not be punished for refusing to enter the team’s Game 4 win against Toronto.
• Paul George will delay offseason activities for six to eight weeks after undergoing a scope on his left knee.
• Clippers forward Wesley Johnson officially opted in to his contract for next season.
• Johnson’s teammate, Danilo Gallinari, says his broken right hand is still not fully healed from an injury that occurred back in March.
• Despite a new coach in New York, the stretch provision remains the most likely option for Joakim Noah.
• The Sixers and head coach Brett Brown are discussing a potential contract extension.
• Klay Thompson and the Warriors are also discussing a contract extension.

In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

The Suns are hiring Jazz assistant coach Igor Kokoskov as their new head coach. Kokoskov, 46, interviewed with the Suns for a second time during the Jazz’ series against the Rockets and was named head coach shortly thereafter. Kokoskov is signing a three-year deal with no options and will be the first head coach in NBA history to be born and raised outside North America.

The Knicks and former Grizzlies’ head coach David Fizdale have come to an agreement naming Fizdale as the team’s next head coach. Fizdale, 43, will sign a four-year contract and will become the Knicks’ 11th head coach since the 2001/02 season. In addition to his recent head coaching experience, Fizdale was an assistant coach with the Heat for eight seasons, helping the team reach four NBA Finals, winning two of them.

Stephen Curry missed Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Pelicans, but returned in Game 2 to help Golden State take a 2-0 series lead. Curry, coming back from a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, scored 28 points off the bench in 27 minutes.

Three more players made decisions on their player options for the 2018/19 season. Clippers forward Wesley Johnson intends to pick up his option worth about $6.1MM, while Pacers point guard Cory Joseph officially picked up his player option worth roughly $7.9MM. Meanwhile, Wolves guard Jamal Crawford will turn down his player option worth about $4.5MM and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Highly touted 2018 NBA Draft prospect Luka Doncic will not work out for NBA teams due to his commitment to Real Madrid in Spain. Real Madrid is scheduled to compete in the Euroleague Final Four later this month, then will play in the Liga ACB postseason after that. The Liga ACB playoffs are scheduled to begin on May 27, and could end as late as June 23, two days after the NBA draft, and Doncic refuses miss any postseason games with his current team.

Here are 11 more headlines from the past week:

• The agent of Nuggets’ big man Nikola Jokic has advised the franchise not to pick up Jokic’s 2018/19 team option.
• Trail Blazers assistant coach David Vanterpool has received permission to interview for the head coaching vacancies in Orlando and Charlotte.
• The Magic will also interview Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka for their head coaching job, while the Hornets will interview Udoka’s colleague, Spurs’ assistant James Borrego, for their opening at head coach.
• The Hornets have also been granted permission to interview Bulls’ associate head coach Jim Boylen.
• The Hawks will interview Trail Blazers’ assistant coach Nate Tibbetts and Warriors’ assistant Jarron Collins for their head coaching vacancy.
• The Hawks will also interview Hornets’ assistant coach Stephen Silas, Celtics’ assistant Jay Larranaga, and Sixers’ assistant Lloyd Pierce for the team’s head coaching position.
• Jazz point guard Ricky Rubio injured his left hamstring in the team’s first round series win against the Thunder and has yet to return for the Western Conference Semifinals against the Rockets.
• Pistons head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy is resisting team owner Tom Gores‘ plan to make structural changes within the organization.
• Thunder head coach Billy Donovan will return to coach the team next season.
• The Bucks will interview Spurs assistant Ettore Messina, former Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, and former Pelicans head coach Monty Williams for their head coaching vacancy,
• The Bucks will also interview Spurs assistants Becky Hammon and James Borrego.

In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

The Warriors waived offseason acquisition Omri Casspi and, as anticipated, signed former two-way player Quinn Cook to a two-year deal. Cook, who has filled in admirably for the Warriors while Stephen Curry is out with injury, will likely play a significant role for Golden State in its first round series against San Antonio. His minimum-salary contract for next season is fully guaranteed.

Grizzlies majority owner Robert Pera will retain his controlling interest in the franchise after buying out minority stakeholders Steve Kaplan and Daniel Straus. Pera shared his decision in an open letter to Grizzlies MVP Season Ticket Members. Of particular relevance to the team, Pera’s decision to retain control could improve J.B. Bickerstaff’s chances of being retained as head coach, something for which stars Marc Gasol and Mike Conley have already advocated.

The Knicks fired Jeff Hornacek. Team management first informed Hornacek of its decision upon returning to New York on Wednesday night following the Knicks’ win in Cleveland. In two seasons with the franchise, Hornacek led the Knicks to a 60-104 record (.366), missing the playoffs in consecutive years. Some early potential candidates to replace Hornacek include Mark Jackson, David Blatt, David Fizdale, Doc Rivers, Jeff Van Gundy, and Jerry Stackhouse.

The Magic fired Frank Vogel. Vogel was hired just two years ago but found himself on the hot seat after Orlando overhauled its front office during the 2017 offseason. Vogel compiled a 250-181 record (.580) with five playoff appearances during six years as the head coach of the Pacers but he was unable to replicate that success for the Magic, going 54-110 mark (.329) during his tenure in Orlando.

The Hornets fired Steve Clifford. Unlike Hornacek and Vogel, Clifford was the NBA’s seventh-longest-tenured head coach before being relieved of his duties, having been hired in 2013. He led the franchise to a 196-214 record (.478) during his five years, with the team making the playoffs twice. Luckily for Clifford, he remains well regarded in coaching circles, and it may not take him much time to find a new job elsewhere.

Here are 10 more headlines from last week:

• The Cavaliers signed forward Okaro White to a rest-of-season contract.
• Before firing Clifford, the Hornets hired new president of basketball operations and GM Mitch Kupchak.
• The Clippers signed swingman C.J. Williams to a three-year deal through the 2019/20 season.
• Kentucky point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will sign with an agent and enter this summer’s NBA Draft.
• Villanova forward Mikal Bridges will also forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the draft.
• Dirk Nowitzki will return for a 21st year in the NBA, confirming that he will play during the 2018/19 season.
• Villanova point guard Jalen Brunson will join teammate Bridges and enter the 2018 NBA Draft.
• Vince Carter also plans to return for his 21st year in NBA next season.
• Wizards guard Jodie Meeks has been suspended 25 games for violating the league’s anti-drug program.
• The 2018 NBA Draft Lottery odds have been finalized.

In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Listed below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

Celtics guard Kyrie Irving will undergo another procedure on his injured left knee and will miss the next four or five months. Although Boston bounced back from Gordon Hayward‘s season-ending ankle injury to claim the East’s No. 2 seed, the team’s odds of making a deep playoff run fall precipitously without Irving.

The Hornets offered their general manager job to former Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak. There’s still no word on Kupchak accepting the offer, so nothing is official yet, but it’s essentially viewed as a done deal. Kupchak would take the reins from former GM Rich Cho and from interim GM Buzz Peterson, who is expected to retain a top front office position.

Frustrated by his lack of playing time, Hassan Whiteside blasted Heat coaches after a loss to Brooklyn last weekend. While Whiteside later walked back his comments and said he regretted making them, he received a fine for conduct detrimental to the team and raised more questions about whether he has a long-term future in Miami.

Teams around the NBA are set to inquire on Kawhi Leonard‘s availability this offseason. Of course, that doesn’t mean that the Spurs won’t quickly hang up on those clubs. Still, the league-wide perception that Leonard might be available is a sign of how the rest of the NBA views the situation in San Antonio.

NCAA underclassmen continue to declare for the 2018 NBA draft in record numbers. Among the top prospects to enter the draft this week? Michigan State big man Jaren Jackson Jr., Alabama guard Collin Sexton, Kentucky forward Kevin Knox, and Miami guard Lonnie Walker.

Here are 10 more notable headlines from the last week:

• The Bucks re-signed Brandon Jennings to a rest-of-season contract, ensuring he’ll be eligible to play in the postseason.
• A pair of key figures returned to their respective teams, with Jimmy Butler playing for the Timberwolves on Friday, while Tyronn Lue coached the Cavaliers on Thursday.
• The Pelicans brought back a familiar face, signing Jordan Crawford for the rest of the season.
• USA Basketball announced the 35-man player pool it will draw from for the National Team between 2018 and 2020, for events like the 2019 World Cup and 2020 Olympics.
• Nuggets guard Will Barton reportedly turned down a four-year contract extension offer in the fall.
• Mavericks center Nerlens Noel and Jazz forward Thabo Sefolosha were each suspended five games for violating the league’s anti-drug program.
• After suffering a scary fall during last Saturday’s game and leaving on a stretcher, Warriors guard Patrick McCaw has been ruled out through at least early May.
• The Grizzlies made a series of roster moves, signing MarShon Brooks to a multiyear deal, signing Omari Johnson, and signing and later cutting Marquis Teague.
• The Warriors are talking to Quinn Cook about a deal that would get him onto the playoff roster and would give him a guaranteed salary for 2018/19 as well.
• The Bulls shut down Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, and Denzel Valentine for the season, while the Mavericks did the same with Dirk Nowitzki and J.J. Barea.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

Warriors guard Stephen Curry will miss the first round of the playoffs with a grade 2 left MCL sprain. Golden State coach Steve Kerr confirmed his team will open the postseason without Curry, whose condition will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Sixers center Joel Embiid needed surgery to repair an orbital fracture of his left eye. Embiid was injured in Wednesday’s game after colliding with Markelle Fultz and had to be helped to the locker room. His projected recovery time is two to four weeks.

Lakers guard Isaiah Thomas will miss the rest of the season after arthroscopic surgery on his right hip. Thomas had been relatively pain free since being traded to Los Angeles, but woke up with stiffness in the joint last week. He will be an unrestricted free agent in July.

Darius Bazley, a projected lottery pick in the 2019 draft, may have set a precedent by deciding to play in the G League next season rather than college. Bazley, who had committed to Syracuse, will be eligible to join the league in September. He is the highest-profile player ever to choose the G League over the NCAA.

Zeke Upshaw of the G League’s Grand Rapids Drive died Monday after collapsing on the court during Saturday’s game. Upshaw, 26, spent the past two seasons with the team after playing collegiately at Illinois State and Hofstra.

Here are 10 more headlines from last week:

• Thirteen new members were announced for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, headlined by former NBA stars Grant Hill, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash and Ray Allen.
• Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue rejoined the team after nearly two weeks away for health reasons.
• Wizards guard John Wall returned to action today after being sidelined for about two months following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
• After a last-minute decision to turn down a 10-day contract with the Celtics, Sean Kilpatrick signed a three-year deal with the Bulls.
• After his second 10-day contract with the Raptors expired this week, Nigel Hayes agreed to a multi-year deal with the Kings.
• Sixers guard Markelle Fultz, who missed almost all of his rookie season with an injured shoulder and mysterious shooting woes, was activated Monday.
• Duke freshman Marvin Bagley III, who will be in contention for the top pick, decided to enter the NBA draft.
• Michigan State star Miles Bridges, who surprised many observers last year by returning to college for his sophomore season, also declared himself for the draft.
• A bone bruise and a sprained ankle will keep Hawks point guard Dennis Schroder out for the rest of the season.
• Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left knee that puts his availability for the beginning of the playoffs in question.

In case you missed any of this past week’s top stories from around the league, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

Cavaliers’ head coach Tyronn Lue has taken a leave of absence for health issues/reasons. Associate head coach Larry Drew has taken over for Lue on an interim basis, with Lue hoping to return to the team sometime over the next week.

In his first game back from an ankle injury that sidelined him for six games, Stephen Curry suffered a sprained MCL last night and is set to undergo an MRI later today. Curry was injured when teammate JaVale McGee fell on his knee after attempting to block a shot.

In better news for the Cavs, All-Star Kevin Love returned to action this week for his first game since January 30. The Cavs are 3-0 this week with Love back in the line-up, and Love averaged 20.3 PPG and shot 47.6% from long range in those three games.

Despite conflicting reports on the nature/tone of the meeting, it is clear that a players-only meeting to discuss the status of Kawhi Leonard, among other topics, occurred in the Spurs’ locker room this week. Unfortunately, the meeting ended without a clear update or timeline on Leonard’s status.

Celtics’ star Kyrie Irving will undergo a minimally invasive procedure on his left knee today with the hope of alleviating some nagging discomfort. A clearer timetable for Irving’s return should be known after the procedure takes place.

Magic head coach Frank Vogel’s job may be in jeopardy at the end of the year after two seasons as head coach. Orlando replaced the GM who hired Vogel and cleared out several other members of the basketball operations department last summer, and new team president Jeff Weltman and GM John Hammond may prefer to select their own coach this offseason.

Here are 16 more headlines from last week:

• The Magic signed guard Rodney Purvis to a second 10-day deal.
• The Trail Blazers have signed center Georgios Papagiannis to a multi-year deal through next season.
• The Cavaliers signed forward Okaro White to a 10-day contract.
• Pelicans’ rookie guard Frank Jackson will not play this season after undergoing follow-up surgery to remove residual scar tissue from earlier right foot operations.
• Oklahoma point guard Trae Young will hire an agent and enter the 2018 NBA Draft.
• The Pistons are reportedly interested in a front office role for their former All-Star point guard Chauncey Billups.
• Texas big man Mohamed Bamba will forego his remaining collegiate eligibility and enter the 2018 NBA Draft.
• The Bucks signed point guard Brandon Jennings to a second 10-day contract.
• The Hawks have signed rookie guard Jaylen Morris to a a multi-year deal.
• Potential first-round pick Anfernee Simons will forego college and enter the 2018 NBA Draft.
• The Mavericks signed shooting guard Aaron Harrison to a 10-day deal.
• Texas A&M big man Robert Williams will enter the 2018 NBA Draft.
• The Lakers signed forward Travis Wear to a rest-of-season contract.
• The Rockets plan to waive Brandan Wright and replace him on the roster with former Oklahoma State player Le’Bryan Nash.
• The Hawks signed rookie Damion Lee to a second 10-day contract.
• The Grizzlies signed former first-round pick Marquis Teague to a 10-day contract.

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.

The Warriors will be without Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant for the foreseeable future after Thompson was diagnosed with a fractured right thumb and Durant suffered an incomplete rib cartilage fracture. Thompson will miss the next several games at the very least and Durant will be out at least two weeks. The Warriors lost to the Kings last night, at home, without the three All-Stars.

Celtics’ guard Marcus Smart is expected to miss six to eight weeks after being diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right thumb. Based on this timetable, Smart would be on track to return around the end of the first round of the playoffs. The Celtics will also be without forward Daniel Theis for the remainder of the season after he tore the meniscus in his left knee.

Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, who has missed 19 games with a broken bone in his left hand, is planning to return to action this week, approximately seven to eight weeks after suffering the injury. Love hopes to be ready for the team’s March 23 game against Phoenix, but isn’t ready to set an exact return date.

The Mavericks are expected to be without swingman Wesley Matthews for the remainder of the 2017/18 season while he rests and rehabs a stress fracture in his right leg. Dallas is out of the playoff picture and has already been warned for tanking, so the absence of Matthews shouldn’t be a big issue for the team.

Kent Bazemore will miss the remainder of the 2017/18 season after suffering a bone bruise in his right knee against the Bulls on Sunday. Like Dallas, the tanking Hawks are not in the playoff hunt, so the club likely won’t be too devastated to lose one of their more productive rotation players.

Here are 14 more headlines from last week:

• The Bucks waived forward Mirza Teletovic in order to make room for newly-signed point guard Brandon Jennings.
• The Hawks signed rookie guard Jaylen Morris to a second 10-day contract.
• The Trail Blazers have filled the open spot on their 15-man roster by signing former first-round pick Wade Baldwin to a rest-of-season contract.
• Suns’ rookie guard Shaquille Harrison has signed a multi-year contract with the team.
• The Lakers signed forward Travis Wear to a second 10-day contract with the team.
• The Knicks will retain Troy Williams, who has signed a two-year contract with the team that runs through next season.
• The Clippers, as expected, will be without guard Avery Bradley for the remainder of the 2017/18 season after he underwent surgery to repair muscles related to a sports hernia.
• The Grizzlies have signed guard Briante Weber to a 10-day contract.
• The Hawks signed Antonius Cleveland to a multi-year deal.
• The Clippers have signed guard Sean Kilpatrick to a second 10-day deal.
• The Pelicans signed guard Larry Drew II to a 10-day contract.
• The Wizards have signed point guard Ramon Sessions to a rest-of-season contract.
• The Raptors signed Nigel Hayes to a second 10-day contract.
• The Jazz have signed guard David Stockton to a 10-day contract.

In case you missed any of the past week’s top stories from around the Association, we have you covered with our Week in Review. Below are the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

The long layoff for point guard Derrick Rose ended Thursday when the Timberwolves signed him for the rest of the season. The move reunites him with Tom Thibodeau, who coached him in Chicago, along with several former Bulls players. Rose spent a month out of the league after being waived by Utah following a trade at the deadline.

The NBA issued a warning to the Bulls about resting healthy players. Chicago stuck center Robin Lopez and guard Justin Holiday on the bench while launching a youth movement, but the league determined that the move violated a new regulation adopted last summer.

Arizona center Deandre Ayton became the first major star to declare for this year’s draft. In the wake of a scandal at the school over accusations involving payments to players, Ayton, Rawle Alkins and Allonzo Trier all decided to enter the draft. Ayton is considered a possible No. 1 pick.

Kawhi Leonard tried to calm rumors of unrest in San Antonio, saying he wants to finish his career in San Antonio and announcing that he hopes to start playing again soon. A quad injury has limited Leonard to nine games this season. He can become a free agent in the summer of 2019.

Celtics forward Gordon Hayward is still holding onto hope that he can play this season. Hayward has spent the last five months rehabbing from a severe ankle injury he suffered on opening night.

Here are 10 more headlines from last week:

• Brandon Jennings returned to the NBA on a 10-day deal with the Bucks.
• Derrick Williams, the second player taken in the 2011 draft, signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers.
• The Magic signed Rodney Purvis for 10 days and waived Rashad Vaughn.
• Georgios Papagiannis, a first-round pick by the Kings two years ago, signed a 10-day deal with the Trail Blazers.
• Nigel Hayes inked a 10-day contract with the Raptors.
• G League guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes got a 10-day deal from the Grizzlies.
• The Bulls are considering a contract extension for forward Bobby Portis this summer.
• The Pelicans were relieved when an MRI on Anthony Davis showed he just has a sprained ankle.
• Hornets guard Michael Carter-Williams was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a posterior labral tear in his left shoulder.
• An ankle sprain will keep Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson out of action for about two weeks.