Author: Inside Hoops

InsideHoops.com has been a world leader in NBA basketball coverage for over 20 years. Read our blog, but also be sure to read our main website on www.insidehoops.com

Rest is a good thing for Thunder center Steven Adams

Here’s the Oklahoman reporting on Thunder center Steven Adams, who plays like his life depends on it and can use rest whenever it’s available:

A defensive anchor. A steady rebounder. A guy who didn’t care if he ever touched the ball. All kinds of entities have people like Stone Cold. Businesses. Families. Teams. Things just go smoother when he’s around. It’s always a little strange when he’s not.

But I’m also delighted when Adams sits. Because I know he’s resting. Adams is big and physical. He deals out plenty of punishment; some day, make yourself watch an entire game without following the ball. Just keep your eyes peeled to Adams and watch how many shoves and bumps and collisions he causes. But for every one of those skirmishes, there’s punishment coming back his way. Adams hits the deck a lot, in part because he does play hard and he doesn’t give up on plays, and it doesn’t take too far into the season before you can see him rising gingerly from the hardwood.

Worries me greatly. Adams hasn’t missed much time – like I said, 16 games total over the last four years and just 31 in his entire seven-season career. But Adams always looks injured. Wrapped up. Worn out. Then like Samson tied to the pillars, his feats of strength break through.

Adams always appears to need about two weeks off, though he never gets it.

Spencer Dinwiddie asking fans to buy his next team-signing decision

Here’s the Detroit Free Press summarizing the latest tech-inspired creativity from Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie:

Since the Detroit Pistons traded him during the 2016 offseason, Spencer Dinwiddie has established himself as one of the NBA’s best point guards and most creative thinkers.

In his Twitter bio, he describes himself as a “tech guy with a jumper,” and some of his recent ideas have supported that. In September, he attempted to convert his three-year, $34 million contract extension with the Nets into a digital investment. The NBA rejected his plan, citing collective bargaining agreement rules.

Dinwiddie’s latest idea is also likely a violation of CBA rules, but that won’t stop him from trying. On Friday, Dinwiddie announced a GoFundMe with a $24,632,600 goal — the rough value of 2625.8 bitcoin. If met, he will allow fans to choose where he signs his next contract. If he falls short of that goal, he’ll donate the money to charity.

When the Sixers traded Moses Malone

Here’s NBC Sports Philly reviewing some of the worst Philadelphia 76ers trades in team history, listing the Sixers’ Moses Malone deal as their worst ever:

Malone had been the missing piece in helping Dr. J get over the hump in 1982-83. His numbers as a Sixer were outstanding (23.9 points, 13.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks per game) and it was the best era of Sixers basketball during his four seasons here.

But in 1986, the Sixers traded the 30-year-old Malone along with Terry Catledge and two first-round picks to the Bullets for Cliff Robinson and Jeff Ruland. The move was not received well by the players — especially by a young Barkley — and Malone made three more All-Star appearances.

Robinson was a pretty good player here, but not an All-Star. Ruland, who already had foot issues during the previous two seasons in Washington, played just five games with the Sixers before retiring. He made a brief comeback during the 1991-92 season but played just 13 games. This began what Sixers fans call “The Curse of Moses Malone.”

NBA Players Union reportedly pauses search for new executive director

So far, 2020 has been the year of pauses and cancellations. Here’s Yahoo Sports with a report on the NBPA:

The National Basketball Players Association has temporarily suspended its search for a successor to executive director Michele Roberts until there is more certainty on the future of the NBA season, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

With the union in good hands, Roberts, who has two years remaining on her contract, will continue to lead the NBPA through the coronavirus crisis, which caused the NBA to suspend the season on March 11. Critical decisions and negotiations lie ahead that could drastically affect the players’ earnings in the next CBA in the wake of the pandemic.

Bulls and assistant coach Shawn Respert will reportedly part ways after this season

Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times reporting on Bulls head coach Jim Boylen and his plans beyond this season — the one that’s currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic — regarding one of his assistants:

Boylen won’t retain assistant coach/player-development coach Shawn Respert when his contract is up at the end of the season, but it was obvious weeks ago that Respert was looking for a new career path long before the season was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Respert had long hinted that he wanted to be a head coach at the college or pro level and couldn’t really envision achieving that goal with his role on the Bulls’ staff.

Steve Kerr hotel check-in alias used to be ‘Austin Powers’

Here’s NBC Sports Chicago reporting a fun item from the Bulls’ past:

In news that really only would have made sense in 1997 or 1998, it appears current Warriors coach Steve Kerr used “Austin Powers” as his alias to check into hotel rooms on road trips while playing with the Chicago Bulls.

NBC Sports Chicago’s Rob Schaefer deduced Kerr’s nom de plume after examining a list of road-trip room assignments that ’97-98 Bulls reserve Rusty LaRue shared on Twitter. Schaefer found that the list, which wasn’t presented in alphabetical order, closely corresponded with an A-Z list of Chicago’s roster from that season.

Kings 2020 NBA draft glance

Here’s the Sacramento Bee with a glance at the 2020 NBA draft, currently scheduled for June 25 but subject to change due to the global coronavirus pandemic, with the Kings in mind:

The Sacramento Kings have a lot to consider between now and the 2020 NBA draft. Questions are more plentiful than ever with the season on hold, including where the team’s first selection will end up.

It appears Sacramento’s first-round pick will be in the lottery. The exact position of the draft slot would be determined by chance. All teams that fail to make the playoffs will have a shot at picking at the top of the draft, with the best odds going to the teams with the worst records.

As it stands, Sacramento would have a 1.3 percent chance at the first overall pick and a 6.2 percent chance of landing in the top four. It’s also possible the teams behind the Kings in the standings could jump into the top four, bumping Sacramento down. The current chance the Kings pick 13th is 7.6 percent and the chance they fall to 14th is about 0.1 percent.

Kai Sotto signs to play in G League

NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim today announced that Kai Sotto, a top prospect from the Philippines, has signed to play in the NBA G League next season. Sotto, ranked by ESPN as the No. 4 player in Georgia in the Class of 2020, spent this past season at Atlanta-based sports development organization The Skill Factory.

The NBA G League gives top young prospects a chance to begin their professional careers while receiving mentorship and life skills training. Sotto will have the opportunity to accelerate his on-court development as he learns NBA-style basketball.

Sotto joins consensus five-star high school recruits Jalen Green, Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix in signing to play in the NBA G League for the 2020-21 season. Details of the new team Sotto, Green, Todd and Nix will play for, which will be unaffiliated with any existing NBA G League franchise or NBA team, are forthcoming.

A 7-2 center, Sotto excelled at Ateneo de Manila High School in Quezon City, the Philippines, before playing at The Skill Factory. In February, Sotto participated in the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp during NBA All-Star 2020 in Chicago. He has represented the Philippines in several competitions, including the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup.

Orlando Magic practice facility likely opening soon for individual workouts

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel with an update on the magic:

The Orlando Magic did not reopen team facilities Tuesday for voluntary individual player workouts amid the coronavirus pandemic as they had tentatively planned last week.

The team now plans to reopen Wednesday, but even that is subject to change, according to a team spokesman.

The Magic delayed the works while they wait for COVID-19 test results for players and staff who will be on hand for workouts, according to the spokesman.

Pacers reportedly taking small steps towards using practice facility

Some NBA teams are taking small steps towards increasing the use of their training facilities, in very limited fashion.

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on the Pacers:

The Indiana Pacers are starting to get players back at St. Vincent Center, a league source tells IndyStar, though most staff hasn’t been cleared to enter the building.

A return to business as usual is still a ways off, as are full practices.

“Full team activities will not resume without express permission from the NBA, and only in compliance with the executive orders issued by the State and the City or other clearance,” the Pacers said in a recent statement. “After consulting with the Mayor’s Office and their subsequent discussion with health officials, players can begin regulated individual therapy and training … while adhering to government and NBA guidance on social distancing and other health guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. Currently, we are following testing guidelines laid out by the State of Indiana.”