Category: NBA Basketball

Houston Rockets to hire Stephen Silas as head coach

Staff

from nba.com: The Houston Rockets are finalizing a deal with Stephen Silas to become the team’s next head coach, according to reports from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN and Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Silas previously was an assistant coach under Rick Carlisle with the Dallas Mavericks for the past two seasons. Prior to joining Dallas, the 47-year-old coach had spent his previous nine seasons as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets. His 20-year NBA coaching career also includes stops with the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington…

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Utah Jazz to be sold to tech entrepreneur Ryan Smith

Brandon King

from the AP: SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The majority interest of the Utah Jazz is being sold to technology entrepreneur Ryan Smith, a move that when formally approved by the NBA will end the Miller family’s 35-year run as owners of the franchise. The Jazz said Wednesday that “definitive agreements” have been struck with Smith on the sale of the team, Vivint Arena, the team’s G League affiliate and management of a Triple-A baseball club. Part of those agreements call for the team to remain in Utah. Smith is a co-founder…

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Amar’e Stoudamire joins Steve Nash’s staff in Brooklyn

Brandon King

from nba.com: One of the NBA’s most famous pick-and-roll combinations is reuniting as coaches in Brooklyn. Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, former NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire will serve as an assistant coach on the Nets under their new coach, Steve Nash. Stoudemire and Nash were teammates on the Suns from 2004-10 as one of the league’s most feared guard-big man combinations in the early 2000s. Nash was hired to coach the Nets earlier this month in what will be his first head coaching job in the NBA. He spent the previous five…

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Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie leaves Roc Nation, considering self-representation

Brandon King

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie is leaving Roc Nation and “seriously considering representing himself.” Dinwiddie’s departure comes barely a year after joining the agency in September 2019, shortly after his former agent , Raymond Brothers was hired by the firm.

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Stan Van Gundy agree on deal to become Pelicans new head coach

Brandon King

From nba.com: The New Orleans Pelicans have agreed to terms with veteran NBA coach Stan Van Gundy to become their next coach, per multiple reports. Van Gundy had been serving as an NBA analyst for Turner Sports before reportedly agreeing to his deal. Prior to that, Van Gundy spent 12 seasons as an NBA coach from 2003-18, serving in that role with the Miami Heat (2003-06), Orlando Magic (2007-12) and Detroit Pistons (2014-18). Van Gundy has coached 907 games in his career, amassing a 523-384 record and led the Magic…

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NBA Player Option predictions

Brandon King

From Sam Quinn of cbssports.com : In a rising salary cap environment, productive players with options in their contracts are heavily incentivized to test free agency. It’s common sense. Consider Kyrie Irving. When he signed his rookie extension in the summer of 2014, the salary cap was $63 million. Last offseason, when he had to decide whether to pick up the option on the final season of that contract, the cap was over $109 million. Over the past half-decade, the cap has grown so rapidly that, short of injuries or rapid…

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Lakers Rondo and Caldwell-Pope to opt out contracts

Brandon King

As a professional athlete the offseason after winning a championship can be a time to cash in. The incumbent champ will want to keep the player and other clubs will want the “championship pedigree” these players have and are willing to pay for it. Such could be the case for Rajon Rondo and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. The Lakers guards, fresh off winning an NBA title on Sunday are expected to both opt out of their current deals and enter free agency. However The Athletic and Stadium’s Shams Charania reports the Lakers…

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Rockets and Van Gundy talks continue Thursday

Staff

From nba.com: Jeff Van Gundy met with Houston Rockets ownership and management Wednesday about the team’s coaching job and talks will continue Thursday, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. According to USA Today‘s Ben DuBose, besides Van Gundy, the other top candidates are believed to include recent Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson; former Cleveland head coach Ty Lue; and four assistants: Dallas’ Stephen Silas, Denver’s Wes Unseld Jr., Minnesota’s David Vanterpool; and Houston’s John Lucas. Van Gundy, who has been a color commentator for ESPN since 2007, hasn’t coached in the NBA since leading…

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Toronto Raptors unveil three jerseys for the 2020-21 season

Brandon King

From nba.com: The Toronto Raptors are looking to their past a bit as they prepare their uniform looks for the 2020-21 season. On Thursday, the team unveiled three of the five uniforms the Raptors will wear next season, all of which take some elements from the history of the franchise in their design.  “Uniforms do matter to players. Our team made the choice to wear the Earned jerseys during the 2019 Finals, for example,” Raptors President Masai Ujiri said in a statement. “We want to give our players — and…

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