Author: Inside Hoops

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Expect Raptors president Masai Ujiri to eventually receive contract extension

The Raptors won the NBA championship last season, were one win away from reaching the Eastern Conference Finals this season, and clearly have a well put-together squad. Here’s the Toronto Star on what comes next:

There is a plan, and a time and a place for everything, and Larry Tanenbaum and Raptors president Masai Ujiri are working at their own pace on all of it.

The long-term future of Ujiri, whose contract runs out at the end of next season, is a growing concern among the team’s fans but Tanenbaum knows there is no need to rush. There are other priorities, as Ujiri spelled out last week.

“Our fans, they love Masai for all that he’s contributed to the Raptors franchise and to our community and to our country — and our appreciation for him, that can’t be measured,” Tanenbaum, the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, said in an interview Tuesday. “But it was his and my game plan to secure his management team extension before his own.”

That plan is halfway complete with coach Nick Nurse getting a contract extension earlier this month and plans are being finalized on a new deal for general manager Bobby Webster.

Chicago Bulls hire Todd Campbell as Head Athletic Trainer

The Chicago Bulls have named Todd Campbell as the team’s Head Athletic Trainer.

Campbell brings more than 16 years of NBA experience in both athletic training and physical therapy to the Bulls.

Prior to coming to Chicago, he spent the previous three NBA seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans as the team’s athletic trainer and physical therapist. While in New Orleans, Campbell helped stabilize the team’s medical staff and decrease the number of games lost due to injury. In his first season with the Pelicans in 2017-18, the team tied its longest postseason run to make it to the second round against Golden State. The Massachusetts native began his NBA career with the Boston Celtics as a Northeastern University student intern in 2002. In 2004, he was hired by the Celtics as a staff physical therapist. Campbell was on staff during the Boston’s 2008 NBA Championship season as well as the 2010 NBA Finals season.

His academic clinical experience as an athletic trainer in other sports includes football at Brown University in 2003 and Harvard University in 2012, and ice hockey with the Northern Cyclones junior hockey team of Hudson, NH, in 2011. Campbell has also worked with a number of famous musicians including the band Aerosmith, with which he toured as the staff physical therapist in the summer of 2009.

He is a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) and National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA).

LaMelo Ball not on lookout for player comparisons

LaMelo Ball is one of the most fascinating prospects in the 2020 NBA draft class. Here’s the Arizona Republic reporting:

LaMelo Ball is so strong-minded, he didn’t openly co-sign what his opinionated father, LaVar, said about three-time NBA champion Golden State being a good fit for him.

“My old man, he is his own man,” the youngest Ball brother said. “He has his opinions. I have mine.”

His skill set and abilities gives him the confidence to reject comparisons to other NBA players.

“I really don’t compare myself to nobody,” Ball said. “I feel like I’m myself.”

Yet this 6-7 gifted talent with scoring and playmaking ability repeatedly said during Monday’s 25-minute Zoom media interview he can blend with any team that selects him in the Nov. 18 NBA Draft.

“The winning aspect, I feel like with any team, I can play,” he said. “Put the best five out there, I can play.”

Ball isn’t lacking in confidence. And there’s nothing wrong with that. His fun style of play will be worth watching immediately.

Oklahoma City Thunder staff promotions announced today

The Oklahoma City Thunder promoted seven internal members of its Executive Team, it was announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti.

“We are proud of the continued evolution of our Executive Team and the promotions of many long-tenured Thunder team members,” said Presti. “These individuals have demonstrated a consistent commitment to our vision for Thunder basketball on and off the floor, and we are grateful for their contributions. The continued leadership development of our entire staff is essential to our focus of sustaining an elite basketball infrastructure.”

Will Dawkins, who has been with the Thunder since its inaugural season in 2008-09, has been promoted to the role of Vice President of Basketball Operations. The Springfield, Mass. native has risen through the ranks of Thunder basketball operations, where he started as a front office intern, then spent time as Assistant Video Coordinator, Scouting Coordinator, Director of College and Player Personnel and Vice President of Identification and Intelligence before taking on his current role.

Rob Hennigan will also be taking on the role of Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Thunder. Hennigan is currently in his second stint with the Thunder (2008-2012; 2017-present), where he has held positions as Vice President of Insight and Foresight and Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel. Prior to his return to the Thunder, Hennigan served as the General Manager of the Orlando Magic for five seasons.

The Thunder is also promoting Jesse Gould to Vice President of Strategy and Analysis and Wynn Sullivan to Vice President of Strategy and Design. Gould has been with the organization since the start of the 2009-10 season and Sullivan will be entering his ninth campaign with the club. In their roles, Gould and Sullivan will work closely with Amanda Green, the Thunder’s Vice President of Strategic Alignment/Team Counsel, on future-focused initiatives for the organization.

Brandon Barnett, who has worked for the organization as a Senior Pro Scout and in a multitude of roles helping to build the organization’s G League program, has been promoted to Director of Pro Player Personnel. Barnett has been with the club since its inaugural season in 2008-09.

These long-time members of the Thunder front office have helped to oversee teams that have accumulated the second-best record in the NBA over the last 10 seasons and have reached the postseason in 10 of the last 11 years.

As part of the changes to the Thunder front office structure, Nazr Mohammed will take on the role of General Manager of the Oklahoma City Blue/Pro Personnel Evaluator. In his new position, the former Thunder center will lead the efforts for the franchise’s G League operation while also continuing his involvement in all facets of the Thunder basketball operations department. Mohammed has gone through an extensive post-playing transition program for former players with a curriculum designed by the team to prepare them for a transition to basketball operations.

Additionally, Paul Johnson, who has worked in different capacities for the Thunder front office including most recently as Pro Evaluation Coordinator, has been named the Blue’s Assistant General Manager.

As part of the most recent basketball operations staffing updates, the Thunder is also announcing the hiring of Corey Evans as Amateur Scout. Evans comes to the Thunder from Rivals.com, where he worked as a national recruiting analyst.

Clippers and coach Doc Rivers part ways

The Clippers and Doc Rivers have reached what the team describes as a mutual decision for Rivers to step down as the team’s head coach.

“Doc has been a terrific coach for the Clippers, an incredible ambassador, and a pillar of strength during tumultuous times,” Chairman Steve Ballmer said. “He won a heck of a lot of games and laid a foundation for this franchise.”

Rivers, 58, was the most successful head coach in Clippers history, compiling a record of 356-208 over seven seasons. Under his direction, the Clippers made the playoffs six times and reached the Western Conference semifinals in 2020, 2015, and 2014. Before arriving in Los Angeles in 2013, Rivers spent nine seasons with the Boston Celtics, winning a championship in 2008.

Per the Los Angeles Times:

According to people familiar with the Clippers’ situation, names that will come up to replace Rivers include Clippers assistant coach Ty Lue, who is reportedly set to interview for the Philadelphia 76ers job this week, and former NBA coach and ESPN/ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy.

Rivers joined the Clippers before the 2013-14 season and in his seven seasons helped build the team into a championship contender, finishing with a record of 356-208. He was the fifth-longest-tenured coach upon his departure, behind San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Miami’s Erik Spoelstra, Dallas’ Rick Carlisle and Portland’s Terry Stotts.

Rivers owned the second-highest winning percentage among all active coaches, trailing Popovich. In August, Rivers passed Red Auerbach for 11th on the all-time coaching victories list. Rivers owns a .506 postseason winning percentage.

Rivers was hired for his championship coaching experience but during his tenure became as much of a spokesman for the franchise. After former owner Donald Sterling was banned for life by the NBA after allegedly making racist comments that surfaced in 2014, Rivers became the franchise’s voice and helped guide players and the team through uncertain times.

After Ballmer bought the Clippers in 2014, Rivers was given responsibility over all player personnel decisions. Three years later, Ballmer shook up the organization’s structure by limiting Rivers to coaching duties and installing a new front office led by Lawrence Frank, a former assistant coach under Rivers.

“I am immeasurably grateful to Doc for his commitment and contributions to the Clippers and the city of Los Angeles,” Ballmer added. “I am also extremely confident in our front office and our players. We will find the right coach to lead us forward and help us reach our ultimate goals. We will begin the search and interview process immediately.”

LaMelo Ball plans to stick with his current shooting form

LaMelo Ball is expected to be one of the top picks in the 2020 NBA draft. Here’s the Charlotte Observer with an update:

In a 24-minute media session Monday, Ball said …

He doesn’t need to fix his shooting form, which was widely criticized from his play last season in Australia.

He is a fit for any NBA team — from the title contender Golden State Warriors to a starless one (such as the Hornets).

He “doesn’t really care” about numerous perceptions of him and his family, which once was the subject of a reality show.

As far as his bombastic father, LaVar, he said this in regard to dad calling the Warriors, with the second pick, a bad fit:

“I’m my own man. He’s his own man. He has his opinions. I have mine,” Ball said. “I feel like I can play on any team, and do good anywhere I go.”

All eyes will be on Ball throughout the entire process. He’s one of the league’s most fascinating prospects in years.

Bam Adebayo has stepped up big for Miami Heat in 2020 NBA playoffs

The Heat have reached the NBA Finals. A huge reason why has been the play of Bam Adebayo. Here’s the Miami Herald on his play and more:

The fifth-seeded Heat has posted a 12-3 record in the playoffs to exceed all outside expectations and earn a spot in the NBA Finals for the sixth time in franchise history and the first time since 2014. Game 1 of the Finals series between Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers is Wednesday at 9 p.m. on ABC.

At 23 years old in his first postseason as a starting big man, Adebayo has been one of the catalysts behind the Heat’s improbable run. It marks the first time a team seeded fifth or lower has made it to the NBA Finals since 1999, when the eighth-seeded New York Knicks represented the East in the championship series during a lockout-shortened season…

Adebayo set a career-high with 32 points, to go with 14 rebounds and five assists in Sunday’s Game 6 East-clinching win over the Boston Celtics. He became the fourth different player in Heat history to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a playoff game, joining a list that also includes LeBron James, Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade.

Adebayo averaged 21.8 points on 60.8 percent shooting, 11 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.7 steals and one block in the East finals. He led the Heat in points, rebounds, assists and steals in the series.

Leading scorers for the Heat in these playoffs have been Goran Dragic at 20.9 points per game, Jimmy Butler at 20.7 PPG, Adebayo at 18.5 PPG, Tyler Herro at 16.5 PPG off the bench, and Jae Crowder at 12.3 PPG.

Game 1 of the NBA Finals is Wednesday night, televised on ABC.

Pistons basketball operations staff hirings

The Detroit Pistons announced today the completion of their basketball operations staff with the additions of Britta Brown, Tony Leotti, Michael Lindo and Ryan West, as well as the return of former staffers Harold Ellis and Rod Williams.

Britta Brown joins the club as Senior Director of Basketball Administration. Brown will oversee team operations, logistics and assist in day-to-day management of the department. Most recently, Brown was an Assistant Athletic Director at Eastern Michigan University, responsible for athletic and alumni events, overall development and daily department management. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2008 where she was also a member of the women’s lacrosse team.

Tony Leotti joins the Pistons as Senior Director of Strategy and Systems. Leotti will assist with salary cap oversight and overall strategy. Leotti joins Detroit after four seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers where served as the club’s Director of Basketball Administration & Team Counsel and was a part of the 2016 NBA Champions front office. Prior to joining the Cavs, he served as the Associate Vice President & Senior Associate Counsel for the NBA where he advised team and league personnel with transactions and interpretations of the collective bargaining agreement. Leotti earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Economics from Georgetown in 2004 while also competing as a lightweight rower. He later received a Juris Doctor law degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from New York University in 2010.

Harold Ellis and Ryan West both join the basketball front office as pro personnel evaluators. Ellis rejoins the Pistons following a stint as a Pistons assistant coach during the 2008-09 season and as a scout for the team from 2009-12. Since those appointments, he held a Director of Pro Scouting position with the Orlando Magic from 2012-17 and a Director of Player Personnel role with the New York Knicks from 2017-20. West comes to Detroit after spending more than a decade in scouting capacities with the Los Angeles Lakers, holding the Director of Player Personnel title from 2015-19. He was also a scout for the Memphis Grizzlies from 2002-09.

Michael Lindo has been hired as Director of Player and Family Engagement and will be responsible for assisting Pistons players and their families off the court. Prior to coming to Detroit, Lindo worked at Under Armour for six years as the Sports Marketing Consultant – Director of Under Armour Association. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports Management from Howard University in 2013 and his Master of Professional Studies in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown in 2016.

Along with the announced new hires, the club also announced five promotions within the department. Gregg Polinsky has been elevated to Senior Director of Player Personnel, Bernard Condevaux to Senior Director of Medical and Performance, Dan Rosenbaum to Senior Director of Analytics, Eric Tellem to Director of Pro Scouting and Jhonika Hawkins to Director of Executive Operations. The club also welcomes back Rod Williams as Director of Team Security. He rejoins the Pistons after serving in security positions with the club from 2012-14 and 2017-18.

Heat eliminate Celtics in Eastern Conference Finals, advance to NBA Finals

Sunday night at the Disney NBA bubble in Florida, the Miami Heat beat the Boston Celtics 125-113, winning the Eastern Conference Finals in six games. The Heat advance to the NBA Finals, where they’ll face the Los Angeles Lakers. Game 1 of the Finals is Wednesday night on ABC TV.

Boston.com: The Celtics had a six-point lead in the fourth quarter, but Miami didn’t flinch. The Heat went on a 19-6 run to take a seven-point lead with just over four minutes remaining. They moved the ball with confidence and went back to their zone to reinvigorate themselves on the defensive end. Bam Adebayo led the way for Miami’s offense as it extended its lead to 12-points with three minutes left.

Boston.com:The Heat continued to ride that momentum, while Boston struggled to handle its opponent’s relentless energy. This series really came down to crunch-time execution, and that was the case again Sunday night. The Heat outscored the Celtics 35-17 over the final nine minutes of Game 6, leaving their final mark on the Eastern Conference Finals with authority.

Boston.com:The Celtics played great defense early in the fourth quarter, effectively slowing down the Heat, but their inability to close out games reared its head late. Miami exerted its dominance down the stretch as it did in all four of its Eastern Conference Finals wins, a fitting way to seal the deal in Game 6.

Boston Herald: “Though four Celtics scored at least 20 points, led by Jaylen Brown’s 26, they were unable to get the requisite stops. That especially was true where Adebayo and his rolls to the rim were concerned. The Celtics also missed a plethora of open shots down the stretch, with players like Gordon Hayward (5-for-12) and Kemba Walker (5-for-15) missing open layups. With the Celtics caught between his interior attack and the omnipresent threat of Miami’s shooters, the Heat put this one away with a 26-6 run in the fourth quarter that effectively squelched the Celtics’ season.

South Florida Sun Sentinel: “Sunday’s victory was powered by 32 points and 14 rebounds from Adebayo, as well as 22 points from Butler, 19 from Tyler Herro, 15 from Iguodala, 15 from Duncan Robinson and 13 from Goran Dragic. For the Celtics, there were 26 points from Jaylen Brown, 24 from Jayson Tatum, 20 from Marcus Smart and 20 from Kemba Walker.”

South Florida Sun Sentinel: “After going down six earlier in the fourth quarter, the Heat got a three-point play from Adebayo with 6:16 to play to go up 101-100. The counterpunching continued from there, with Celtics center Daniel Theis fouling out with 5:30 to play and the Heat then calling time out while up 104-102. A minute later, a Duncan Robinson 3-pointer put the Heat up 107-102. The Heat eventually made it a 26-6 run, for a 14-point lead. At one point, the Celtics went 3 1/2 minutes without a point. By then, it was time for the white flag from the Celtics.”

Lakers eliminate Nuggets in five games, advance to 2020 NBA Finals

OC Register: “After a jaunt through NBA history, the Denver Nuggets met the one thing they could not overcome: The 35-year-old James in a closeout opportunity, smelling a path to his ninth Finals in 10 years. The star of his era rose to the moment of a Game , nailing four straight shot in the final four minutes to seal in an unforgettable cap to a masterful Game 5 victory, 117-107, that saw him score 38 points, grab 16 rebounds and dish out 10 assists. LeBron James is going to the Finals, and the Lakers are going with him. He choked out the last fight from Denver, which had won six straight elimination games headed into Saturday night. And even as he sat on the court in a near-empty AdventHealth Arena, he started looking ahead. There’s four more wins left to a championship, and if James’ will in a closeout game was any indication, he’s impatient to finish the whole thing.”

OC Register: “The clinching nine-point run was the stuff legendary runs are made of: James hit a stepback, a turnaround fadeaway, a pullup and a 3-pointer in one two-minute sequence to put the Nuggets to bed as the Lakers won the Western Conference Finals, 4-1. It’s the first time the Lakers have been to the Finals in 10 years, the longest drought in franchise history.”

LA Times: ““This is what I came here for,” James said. “I heard all the conversations and everything that was said about why did I decide to come to L.A — the reason I came to L.A., it was not about basketball. All those conversations, just naysayers and things of that nature. I understood that, with the season I had last year and my injury, it just gave them more sticks and more wood to throw in the fire to continue to say the things that they would say about me. “But it never stopped my journey and never stopped my mindset and never stopped my goal.” With a 117-107 win in Game 5 of the Western Conference finals in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday night, the Lakers eliminated the Nuggets to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in 10 years after six consecutive years of not even making the playoffs.”

LA Times: “[Anthony] Davis scored 27 points including a pair of three-pointers, a block and two steals, earning his first NBA Finals appearance. Heading into the game, the Lakers were 26-1 when they had a double-digit lead at halftime, with their only loss coming to the Clippers. They held a 61-51 lead at the break and increased the margin to 16, but Nuggets forward Jerami Grant scored 14 points in the third quarter, picking up for foul-plagued Nikola Jokic, and Denver tied it at 84.”

Denver Post: “But their storied ride came to an end Saturday night, when the Lakers ousted the Nuggets, 117-107, in Game 5, concluding Denver’s magical run. For weeks, the Nuggets were the talk of the bubble. Their resiliency and toughness, at times, left their coach searching for words. “What more could you ask from a group?” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “What more commitment, sacrifice, just everything in the last 82 days that our team has gone through. The history that we’ve made. The adversity that we faced and never ran from, embraced it. … From a pride perspective, couldn’t be more proud.” What happened in Orlando won’t soon be forgotten. The six wins in elimination games. Jamal Murray’s scoring spree against Utah, followed by his emotional tribute to Breonna Taylor. Nikola Jokic’s sustained excellence in the face of those elimination games. When the Nuggets land in Denver on Sunday, they’ll still have heavy hearts over a series they felt was closer than the final result.”

Denver Post: “Once again, fouls were a thing in Game 5, with Jokic logging his third with 9:32 left in the second quarter and Gary Harris his third midway through the same period. One of Jokic’s was most certainly questionable — the offensive foul Alex Caruso sold with Oscar-worthy gusto in the paint. But his first was simply a bad decision — intentionally stopping a 3-on-1 L.A. fast break by grabbing a Lakers ballhandler just two minutes into the game. The way the Lakers have targeted Jokic for contact throughout the series, he should’ve just surrendered the fastbreak layup so early in the game rather than pick up a cheap foul. It was a decision that ultimately cost him.”