June 2015 – Page 13 – NBA Blog

Warriors guard Klay Thompson expects to play in Game 1

As expected, Klay Thompson should be ready for NBA Finals

Here’s the San Francisco Chronicle reporting good news on the Warriors front:

Warriors guard Thompson expects to play in Game 1

Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson returned to practice Monday and expects to complete the NBA’s concussion protocol in the next couple of days, which would make him eligible to play Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

“I knew it wouldn’t take me more than a few days to get back to normal,” said Thompson, who said a concussion he had as a freshman in high school was much worse than the one he endured last week. “To me, I think this one was mild, not really severe. It was perfect, because I got a week off to get fully healthy.”

Thompson went down in the fourth quarter of the Warriors’ Western Conference finals-clinching victory over Houston on Wednesday, when a leaping Trevor Ariza hit him with a knee to the side of the head in Game 5.

Expect Klay Thompson to be ready for NBA Finals Game 1

Expect Klay Thompson to be ready for NBA Finals Game 1

Everyone expects Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (concussion) to be ready for NBA Finals Game 1 on Thursday. Head coach Steve Kerr feels the same way. Here’s CSN Bay Area reporting:

Eight years after the Warriors snapped a long playoff drought and pulled a shocking first-round upset under the “We Believe” banner, there is a new cause in which they believe.

Shooting guard Klay Thompson, who sustained a concussion in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday, will be fit to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals next Thursday – or so coach Steve Kerr believes.

“I expect him to be there,” Kerr said after Saturday’s practice, in which Thompson did not participate.

Glancing at Utah Jazz free agency

Glancing at Utah Jazz free agency

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on the Utah Jazz, who played well towards the end of the regular season and must now figure out how to get their squad to the next level:

Before the recently-concluded season ended, most experts figured the Utah Jazz would be signing a free agent or two for next year because of all the extra money they have to spend.

However, after the Jazz played so well down the stretch, going 19-10 after the All-Star break and finishing 38-44, the question became: Should the Jazz basically stand pat with their current young roster and not worry about pursuing any free agents?

Like several other NBA teams, the Jazz are well under the current NBA salary cap of $63 million-plus with an expected payroll of a little over $50 million for next year with their current players. Next year’s cap is expected to be around $67 million before making a major jump the following year when the new TV contracts kick in.

With a few dozen top players around the league available as free agents, either restricted or unrestricted, the Jazz have an opportunity to add a player or two for next season to give their young squad some experience.

Tyler Haws scheduled to work out for Jazz today

Tyler Haws scheduled to work out for Jazz today

Here’s the Deseret News reporting on Utah Jazz pre-draft workouts:

BYU basketball’s all-time leading scorer is getting his chance to audition for the hometown team.

Guard Tyler Haws, an Alpine native, is one of six players the Utah Jazz have invited to a pre-draft workout for the team Monday at Zions Bank Basketball Center.

The news leaked a day before the Jazz made their announcement Sunday, as Haws told KSL Newsradio’s “Cougar Sports Saturday” program he will be working out for the Jazz on Monday morning. He also told the radio program he has upcoming workouts with the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies.

Once Finals end, Alvin Gentry set to lead Pelicans

Once Finals end, Alvin Gentry set to lead Pelicans

Here’s the New Orleans Times Picayune reporting on the Pelicans, who have found their new head coach. Alvin Gentry, currently the top assistant with the Golden State Warriors, will begin with the Pelicans after the conclusion of the upcoming Warriors-Cavaliers NBA Finals series.

When the New Orleans Pelicans initiated their extensive coaching search, sources confirmed the franchise was willing to spend up to $4 to $5 million for Monty Williams’ replacement.

But the Pelicans hired Golden State Warriors lead assistant Alvin Gentry at a bargain price after he agreed to a four year, $13.7 million contract on Saturday, a league source confirmed Sunday.

Yahoo sports was the first to report Gentry’s contract terms with the Pelicans on Saturday night.

Gentry’s salary will average $3.4 million a season, which includes a $4 million team option in the final year of the deal. Gentry’s deal is higher than Williams’ $2.7 million per season salary he earned after signing a four-year, $11 million extension in 2012.