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Will Warriors pursue Ben Simmons?

Sixers guard Ben Simmons is young, talented, but will also probably be the subject of serious trade rumors throughout the offseason. Via the Philly Voice:

The Ben Simmons rumor mill continues to churn, and the latest potential suitor is a name you should expect to hear a ton up until draft night in late July: the Golden State Warriors.

That’s the word from ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who has been a source of a lot of Simmons gossip this past week…

Any trade the Warriors are making this offseason is going to be in an effort to put a stronger supporting cast around Stephen Curry in the final year of his contract next season. Curry has never said anything to suggest he wants to leave the franchise where he became a megastar, but playing elite-level basketball only to miss the playoffs entirely surely is not what he has in mind for his twilight years.

Timberwolves hire Joseph Blair, Micah Nori and Pablo Prigioni as assistant coaches

The Minnesota Timberwolves today announced its front bench coaching staff, naming Joseph Blair, Micah Nori and Pablo Prigioni as assistant coaches.

“Chris and I are excited to have Micah join our coaching staff in addition to giving new responsibilities to Joseph and Pablo. With staff development at the forefront, we look forward to supporting Joseph and Pablo as they continue to progress in their new roles, as well as provide guidance for Micah as he steps into a new coaching chapter,” said Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations Gersson Rosas. “We had a diligent process to evaluate our front bench needs and determined the coaching styles, philosophies and ideologies that best complement Head Coach Chris Finch and the vision we see for the future of the Timberwolves. We’re confident that with Chris at the helm and with the support of the assistant coaches, we have a group in place that will maximize our top players’ potential both on and off the court and also untap our young talent.”

“Gersson and I executed a collaborative process to evaluate the purpose and talents of the coaches we needed on staff to support the future goals and accomplishments of the Timberwolves,” said Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch. “It was an easy decision to round out our front bench staff with Joseph, Micah and Pablo because of the different skills, approaches and backgrounds each bring to the table. I look forward to getting to work with each coach starting this summer.”

Blair spent the past season with the Timberwolves after serving as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2019-20 season. Prior to the 76ers, Blair spent four seasons with the Houston Rockets G League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, one of which as head coach (2018-19). Blair led the team to the 2019 G League title over the Long Island Nets after amassing a 34-16 overall record. In 2015, he originally joined the Rockets organization as an assistant with Rio Grande Valley. He also spent two seasons as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of Arizona.

Nori joins Minnesota after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons. Prior to his time in Detroit, he spent three seasons with the Denver Nuggets. A 23-year veteran of the NBA, Nori also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings. He entered the NBA in 1998, spending 15 seasons with the Toronto Raptors organization including four years as an assistant coach. Before being named assistant coach, Nori held roles of director of NBA scouting, an advance scout and an assistant to the coaching staff with the Raptors. The Middleton, Ohio native was a four-year starter and captain of Indiana’s 1996 Big Ten Championship baseball team. He also holds a master’s degree in Sports Organization from Miami (OH) University.

Prigioni was named an assistant coach for the Timberwolves during the summer of 2019, becoming the team’s offensive coordinator. He also led the club to the championship game of the 2019 NBA Las Vegas Summer League. Prigioni spent the 2018-19 season as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets. Prior to the Nets, he enjoyed a 20-year playing career that featured stops both overseas and in the NBA. The Argentina native spent the majority of his career playing in Spain, where he led Baskonia to three Spanish King’s Cup titles, four Spanish Supercup titles and a Spanish League championship. Prigioni became the head coach of Baskonia in 2017 after retiring as a player for the club. In 2012, Prigioni became the NBA’s oldest rookie, when at age 35 he embarked on a four-year NBA stint which included stops with the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers. As a member of the Argentine national team, Prigioni won a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing and finished fourth in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Rick Carlisle, for the second time, will become head coach of Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers announced Thursday they have reached an agreement with Rick Carlisle to become head coach.

“Rick is a proven winner with a championship and will be a Hall of Fame coach,” said Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard. “He has demonstrated throughout his career an ability to build something with sustainable success. He has great respect for our franchise and our fans from his previous times here. We are very happy to welcome him back to Indiana.”

Carlisle will begin his second head coaching stint with Indiana after he guided the Pacers to a 181-147 (.552) record during four seasons from 2003-07. In his first season as Pacers head coach in 2003-04, Carlisle led Indiana to a franchise-record 61 wins, posted the best record in the Eastern Conference and reached the Eastern Conference Finals. His 181 wins stands as the fourth-most by a head coach in NBA franchise history. Carlisle was also an assistant coach for the Pacers under Larry Bird from 1997-2000.

“My sincere thanks to Herb Simon, Kevin Pritchard and the entire Pacers organization for the opportunity to come back to basketball’s heartland,” said Carlisle. “My wife, Donna, daughter, Abby, and I are truly grateful.”

Carlisle has completed 19 NBA seasons as head coach of the Detroit Pistons (2001-03), Pacers and Dallas Mavericks (2008-21). He has compiled an 836-689 (.548) record and will enter the 2021-22 season ranked 15th in NBA history in coaching victories. Carlisle was named NBA Coach of the Year after his first season in Detroit in 2001-02 and led the Mavericks to their first NBA championship in 2010-11.

Zach LaVine will reportedly play for Team USA in 2021 Olympics

Chicago Bulls scoring guard Zach LaVine will reportedly be going international this offseason. Via the Chicago Tribune:

LaVine committed to joining Team USA for the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, securing the final roster spot on the 12-man team, the Athletic reported Wednesday. LaVine will make his first Olympic appearance alongside some of the NBA’s best.

Other players who have pledged to play in the 2021 Olympics include Kevin Durant, Bam Adebayo, Bradley Beal, Jayson Tatum, Draymond Green, Devin Booker, Damian Lillard, Khris Middelton, Jrue Holiday, Jerami Grant and Kevin Love.

As usual, Olympic bball will be must-see TV. And as usual, hit our site for daily coverage.

Phoenix Suns GM James Jones wins 2020-21 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award

NBA team basketball executives have selected Phoenix Suns General Manager James Jones as the winner of the 2020-21 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award, the NBA announced today. This is the first NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award for Jones, who has served two seasons as the Suns’ general manager and four seasons overall in the team’s front office.

Jones received nine of the 30 first-place votes and earned 65 total points from the voting panel, which comprised one basketball executive from each team. Utah Jazz Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Dennis Lindsey finished in second place with 61 points (nine first-place votes). Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks finished in third place with 51 points (five first-place votes). Executives were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

With Jones leading the Basketball Operations department, Phoenix assembled a roster that posted the second-best record in the NBA (51-21) and the fifth-highest single-season winning percentage in franchise history (.708). The Suns made the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 2009-10 season. Head coach Monty Williams, whose hiring in May 2019 was overseen by Jones, finished in second place for the 2020-21 NBA Coach of the Year Award.

Last November, Jones reshaped the Suns’ roster by acquiring guard Chris Paul in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder and signing forward Jae Crowder as a free agent. Paul averaged 16.4 points and 8.9 assists in his first season with Phoenix and joined Suns guard Devin Booker as a 2021 NBA All-Star selection. Crowder made a team-high 148 three-pointers this season.

Jones also re-signed forward Dario Šarić, who averaged 8.7 points and 3.8 rebounds this season as a valuable reserve. Key contributors also included Cameron Payne, who averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 assists in his first full season as a Sun after signing with Phoenix in June 2020 in advance of the 2019-20 season restart. Jones further bolstered the roster during the season as the Suns acquired forward Torrey Craig in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks on March 18. Craig averaged 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 32 games with Phoenix.

Phoenix hired Jones as vice president of basketball operations in July 2017. He handled general manager duties on an interim basis for the 2018-19 season and was named the team’s GM in April 2019. Jones joined the Suns after playing 14 seasons and winning three championships in the NBA.

Some thoughts on the upcoming Denver Nuggets offseason

Here’s the Denver Post with some key points on what this Denver Nuggets offseason may look like:

To begin, the Nuggets aren’t going to have much cap room, if any at all. That depends on what JaMychal Green ($7.5 million) and Will Barton ($14.6 million) decide to do with their player options. They should have access to their midlevel exception, which is worth $9.5 million annually. If I’m Nuggets executive Tim Connelly and I decide to spend that money in my backcourt, the free-agent names I’d consider are Derrick Rose ($7.6 million last season), Patty Mills ($12 million), Ish Smith ($6 million) and Wayne Ellington ($2.5 million). The reason the Nuggets may look to spend in the frontcourt, however, is because of P.J. Dozier, who missed the whole postseason with an adductor injury. If Dozier’s healthy, he might be in the starting lineup next season as the team waits out Jamal Murray’s return.

Free agents Paul Millsap, JaVale McGee and the aforementioned Green could leave the Nuggets extremely thin in the frontcourt. In that event, the Nuggets might bolster their bench with a guy like Reggie Bullock ($4.2 million last season), who can hit from outside, or a veteran like Jeff Green ($2.5 million). The problem with any potential forward options, though, is they’d inhibit the growth of Zeke Nnaji. Ultimately, if the Nuggets decide they don’t want to play small in their second unit, Denver’s biggest need might come at center. If McGee walks, there’s one name I’d keep an eye on: Boban Marjanovic, close friend of Nikola Jokic.

Tyrese Maxey gave Sixers a big boost in Game 6 against Hawks

The Sixers won Game 6 on the road against the Hawks Friday, 104-99. The squad received a nice boost off the bench from Tyrese Maxey, who in 29 minutes put up 16 points and seven rebounds. Via the Philly Voice:

Picture this: you’re a 20-year-old rookie, you played just 1:20 in your team’s heartbreaking Game 5 loss, and your head coach comes to you and says you need to be ready to play real minutes in a do-or-die elimination game. How exactly do you handle the news and get ready for the biggest game of your life?

“Got done with shootaround, got me some pasta, called my mom, and then I went to sleep,” Maxey said after Philly’s Game 6 win. “Woke up, and then came to the gym. Was ready to go.”

If the pressure impacted him in any way, Maxey never showed it on Friday night, pouring in 16 points off of the bench and leading the entire team in plus/minus with a +12 for the evening. That was representative of how the game changed with Maxey on the floor, who provided the spark his teammates needed with a belly full of pasta and a mother’s wisdom as the fuel.

Hawks at Sixers Game 7 is Sunday at 8PM ET.

Jazz and Mike Conley face big free agency decision this offseason

The Jazz were the league’s most winning team this regular season, but were sent home earlier than hoped in the playoffs, falling to the Clippers in six second round games. Will veteran point guard Mike Conley’s time on the team be extended? Via the Deseret News:

Following the Utah Jazz’s postseason exit on Friday night at the hands of the LA Clippers, a huge question facing the team in the offseason is the future of point guard Mike Conley.

The 33-year-old is a free agent who had an excellent 2020-21 season for the Jazz, and the team doesn’t have the financial ability to go out and sign another floor general of his caliber.

On the other hand, the Jazz could bring Conley back (teams can go over the salary cap to re-sign their own free agents), but it would put the team deep into the luxury tax, meaning owner Ryan Smith would be on the hook for a big bill to the NBA aside from the team’s total salary.

The rest of the Jazz core, including Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gobert, Jordan Clarkson, Joe Ingles and Derrick Favors, are all signed at least through next season.

Hawks preparing for Game 7 on road vs. Sixers

Winning an NBA playoffs Game 7 on the road, and as an underdog, is a tough task, but that’s the Atlanta Hawks’ intended agenda Sunday night. Via the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

It comes down to one game, with the teams on even footing, aside from the No. 1-seed 76ers having home-court advantage over the No. 5-seed Hawks.

“To be honest, I don’t think any of it matters,” Hawks guard Trae Young said about the previous games in the Eastern Conference semifinal series, after the Hawks’ 104-99 loss Friday at State Farm Arena. “It’s one game. They came in and took care of business to try to force a Game 7, and all the other games don’t mean anything. This is one game. Both teams are in a win-or-go-home situation.” …

Several key players on the team, including Young, [Kevin] Huerter, John Collins, and Bogdan Bogdanovic (who exited Game 6 with right knee soreness) hadn’t been in the NBA playoffs, so this obviously will be their first time in a high-intensity elimination game on the road. On Saturday, McMillan said Bogdanovic’s knee was sore and he was receiving treatment, but it was too soon to know his status for Game 7.

On Stan Van Gundy’s short-lived Pelicans coaching run

Stan Van Gundy’s run as the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans didn’t last long. On what went wrong, here’s the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

Scott Kushner: The circumstances were bad. The fit was bad. The personnel was bad. All in all, it was a situation that demanded a refresh. The Pelicans underwent a makeover in the 2020 offseason to become a more defensive-minded unit and emerged as one that was actually worse on defense.

Van Gundy was only part of that downfall, but it was evident his message never connected, and there was no sign it would get any better entering a critical 2021-22 season. Brandon Ingram never committed to the defensive end. Eric Bledsoe never came out of the lineup despite sleepwalking through large parts of the season. And the trio of first-rounders not named Zion were alienated early on when Van Gundy had them rotting on the bench rather than taking their lumps on the court. Combine those things with limited practices and meeting time due to COVID protocols, and it was simply a combination that required terminating.