Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

Charlotte Hornets sign president and GM Mitch Kupchak to contract extension

Charlotte Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan announced today that the team has signed President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Mitch Kupchak to a multiyear contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Mitch has done a great job leading our organization,” said Jordan. “He and his staff have assembled a talented, young team, and I’m excited about our future. I look forward to continuing to work with Mitch in the years ahead as our team continues to improve.”

Kupchak, who was hired by Charlotte on April 8, 2018, has been responsible for leading the organization’s day-to-day basketball operations for the last four seasons. During his tenure, Kupchak has overhauled the Hornets roster through significant personnel moves including drafting 2020-21 NBA Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball, acquiring the rights to Miles Bridges in a draft-night trade and completing a sign-and-trade for Terry Rozier. Additionally, the Hornets have maximized the second round of the NBA Draft with selections such as Cody Martin and Jalen McDaniels. The Hornets currently have two first-round picks in next month’s NBA Draft (Nos. 13 and 15), as well as the 45th pick. Charlotte has improved its win total in each of the last three seasons.

Prior to joining the Hornets, Kupchak spent more than 30 years as a front office executive with the Los Angeles Lakers. After his NBA playing career with Washington and Los Angeles, Kupchak began working in the Lakers’ front office in 1986 under NBA Hall-of-Famers Jerry West and Bill Sharman. Kupchak was named general manager of the Lakers in 2000, serving in that role for 17 seasons in which Los Angeles won four NBA Championships and six Western Conference Championships, posting a 747-607 (.552) regular-season record and a 111-66 (.627) postseason record.

As a player and executive, Kupchak has been a part of 10 NBA Championship teams – three as a player (one in Washington and two in Los Angeles) and seven as a Lakers executive.

The 13th overall pick in the first round of the 1976 NBA Draft, Kupchak played nine NBA seasons in Washington and Los Angeles before a knee injury forced him to retire. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in 510 regular-season contests. Kupchak earned NBA All-Rookie Team honors during the 1976-77 season and averaged a career-high 15.9 points (.512 field goal percentage) and 6.9 rebounds per game during Washington’s championship season in 1977-78. He was traded to Los Angeles in 1981, where he played a key role off the bench in the Lakers’ 1985 NBA Championship. Kupchak played collegiately at the University of North Carolina where he was an All-American standout. He is one of 53 players to have their jersey honored and raised to the rafters of the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill.

Heat guard Kyle Lowry remains out heading into Game 2 vs. Celtics

The Heat remain without starting guard Kyle Lowry. Here’s the Miami Herald:

The Heat will be without Kyle Lowry for an eighth time in postseason, and a fourth game in a row, when Miami meets Boston in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals on Thursday (8:30 p.m., ESPN).

Lowry was listed as out for the game. He didn’t practice on Wednesday but did “light shooting” on the side, according to Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. The Heat is 7-0 without him in postseason.

Max Strus and Gabe Vincent are listed as questionable with hamstring injuries, but players listed as questionable by the Heat almost always play in postseason.

Meanwhile, the Celtics listed Al Horford (COVID protocols) as doubtful and guard Marcus Smart (mid-foot sprain) as probable.

Celtics injury list update heading into ECF Game 2 vs. Heat

Here is the latest Celtics injury list update, via ESPN.com:

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (right midfoot sprain) is listed as probable for Thursday’s Game 2 against the Miami Heat, while Boston center Al Horford (health and safety protocols) is doubtful.

Also, Celtics head coach Ime Udoka was sick Wednesday with a non-COVID-19 illness.

Both starters missed the team’s 118-107 loss in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals in Miami on Tuesday night.

As of this evening, Heat guard Kyle Lowry is still listed as Out.

Dallas Mavericks fined for bench decorum reasons, again

The Dallas Mavericks organization has been fined $50,000 for violating league rules regarding team bench decorum, it was announced today by NBA President of League Operations Byron Spruell.

Per the league:

The amount of Dallas’ fine also reflects prior infractions of team bench decorum rules in the 2022 NBA playoffs.

On multiple occasions, several players and a member of the coaching staff stood for an extended period in the Mavericks’ team bench area, stood away from the team bench, and were on or encroaching upon the playing court during game action in the Mavericks’ 123-90 victory over the Phoenix Suns in Game 7 of their conference semifinal playoff series May 15 at Footprint Center.

Per ESPN.com, “The Mavs were also fined $25,000 on May 6 for similar violations that occurred during their Game 2 loss to the Suns. Dallas considers team chemistry an essential ingredient of their success, and the Mavs made it clear at the time that they had no intention of toning down the enthusiasm from two-way player Theo Pinson, injured guard Tim Hardaway Jr. and the rest of the bench.”

Sixers president says coach Doc Rivers will return next season

The Sixers may have some changes to make this offseason, but head coach seemingly won’t be one of them. Via ESPN.com:

Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said coach Doc Rivers will return next season for a third year with the franchise.

“I just think he’s a great coach,” Morey said during Friday’s exit interviews after the Sixers were eliminated the previous night on their home court by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference semifinals. “I love working with him. I feel like I’m learning from him. I think [general manager] Elton [Brand] and I and him make a great team, and we’re gonna see where this journey takes us.

“But we feel very good about where it’s gonna take us, and it’s gonna be where we have a very good chance to win the title.”

Memphis Grizzlies’ Zach Kleiman wins 2021-22 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year award

Memphis Grizzlies EVP of Basketball Operations and General Manager Zachary Z. Kleiman has been selected as the winner of the 2021-22 NBA Basketball Executive of the Year, the NBA announced today.

“This is an organizational honor,” said Kleiman. “I wouldn’t be in this position without Robert (Pera)’s vision and support, and I’m grateful to be pursuing NBA championships in Memphis with such a driven and competitive group of players and staff. Thank you to my peers for this recognition.”

Kleiman received 16 of the 29 first-place votes and 85 total points from a voting panel of team executives across the NBA. 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. Kleiman, 33, is the youngest recipient of the NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award, which has been presented annually since the 1972-73 season. He also becomes the second person to earn the honor with the Grizzlies, joining Jerry West (2003-04).

In Kleiman’s third season leading the team’s Basketball Operations, Memphis recorded the second-best record in the NBA (56-26) and tied the 2012-13 franchise record for winning percentage (.683). The Grizzlies earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference Playoffs (a franchise record) and captured the Southwest Division championship, the first division title in franchise history.

Under Kleiman, the Grizzlies assembled a roster that set a franchise record for scoring average with 115.6 points per game (second in the NBA) as the second-youngest team in the NBA. All 9,480 of the Grizzlies’ points this season were scored by players under the age of 30. Memphis led the league in rebounds (49.2), offensive rebounds (14.1), steals (9.8), blocks (6.5), points in the paint (57.6), second chance points (18.7) and fast break points (17.7), setting single-season franchise records in every category except blocks (which ranked second in club history). The Grizzlies became the first team to lead the NBA in rebounds, steals and blocks since steals and blocks became official statistics in 1973-74.

This is the first NBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award for Kleiman, who has served seven seasons with the Grizzlies and three in his current role.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic wins 2021-22 NBA MVP award

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić has been named the 2021-22 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player, the NBA announced today.

This is the second Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award for Jokić, who also earned the honor last season. He becomes the 13th player to win the award in consecutive seasons, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Stephen Curry, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Moses Malone, Steve Nash and Bill Russell.

Jokić received 875 points (65 first-place votes) from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters. Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid finished in second place with 706 points (26 first-place votes). Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo finished in third place with 595 points (nine first-place votes), followed by Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in fourth place with 216 points and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić in fifth place with 146 points. Players received 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five points for each third-place vote, three points for each fourth-place vote and one point for each fifth-place vote.

This is the first time that both the top three and four of the top five finishers in voting for the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award are international players, with Jokić (Serbia), Embiid (Cameroon) and Antetokounmpo (Greece) comprising the top three and Dončić (Slovenia) joining them in the top five. Jokić is the second European player to win the award more than once, joining Antetokounmpo, the MVP in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.

In his seventh NBA season, Jokić averaged 27.1 points, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 1.47 steals and 0.85 blocks per game, setting career highs in each category except assists (second highest). Jokić, who played 74 games and averaged 33.5 minutes, ranked sixth in the NBA in points, second in rebounds, eighth in assists, 12th steals and 33rd in blocks per game. He led the league in total rebounds (1,019) and total defensive rebounds (813). His career-high 58.3 field goal percentage was eighth highest in the NBA.

Jokić, 27, became the first player in NBA history to record at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in a season and the first player to average at least 25.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in a season. He led the NBA in triple-doubles with 19 and double-doubles with 66, both single-season records for a Nuggets player.

Jokić earned his fourth consecutive NBA All-Star selection and second straight All-Star start. He twice was named the Kia NBA Western Conference Player of the Month (January and March/April) and the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week (Jan. 24 and April 4).

Behind Jokić, the Nuggets (48-34) qualified for the NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel for the fourth consecutive season. With Denver trying to clinch a playoff spot late in the season, Jokić averaged 35.7 points, 16.3 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 2.14 steals in his final seven games.

The Nuggets selected Jokić with the 41st overall pick during the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft. Last season, he became the lowest-drafted player to win the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award with the exception of three-time recipient Moses Malone, who was not selected in the NBA Draft.

Jokić will be presented with a special edition 75th Anniversary commemorative trophy today in celebration of the honor, gifted in addition to the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award trophy, which he will receive later. The commemorative trophy, composed of a solid crystal basketball, features the NBA 75 logo 3D laser etched and suspended within its center.

Grizzlies guard Ja Morant doubtful for remainder of 2022 NBA playoffs

Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant exited during the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals on May 7 at Golden State with right knee soreness. Morant underwent an MRI, and subsequent evaluation has revealed a bone bruise in his right knee.

Morant is doubtful for the remainder of the postseason but is expected to make a full recovery.

Trail Blazers name Joe Cronin as new general manager

The Portland Trail Blazers today named Joe Cronin as the organization’s 11th general manager.

Cronin had been serving as interim GM since December 3, 2021, and will continue leading all aspects of basketball operations.

Since assuming the interim role, Cronin developed a strategy to reshape the Trail Blazers roster with various deals and roster moves that create valuable assets and additional flexibility to improve the team’s competitiveness. Since first joining the team as an intern, Cronin has worked across a variety of front office roles. Now with 16 years of front office experience, including extensive knowledge of the salary cap, proven management skills, player evaluation prowess, and player contract expertise, he will continue to be invaluable to the organization.

“Joe has shown in his short time as interim GM that he is more than ready to continue leading the front office,” said Jody Allen, Portland Trail Blazers Chair. “We remain excited for the future of Trail Blazers basketball with Joe and Chauncey driving a cohesive plan to build an even more competitive and winning roster.”

“I would like to thank Jody and Bert for this opportunity and a long list of other incredible people that have put their faith and trust in me not only over the last six months, but the last 16 years,” said Joe Cronin, Portland Trail Blazers General Manager. “My focus has always been creating a championship team and culture that players, coaches, and staff want to be a part of. I look forward to continuing that focus with the vision that Chauncey, Dewayne, and I share while unifying our business and basketball operations on and off the court.”

“I’m excited to continue to partner with Joe and help bring the success that Rip City expects to Moda Center,” said Chauncey Billups, Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach. “We’ve established a great working relationship in the last six months and have the same vision for what it takes to win a championship in this league. I look forward to bringing Joe’s vision to life with our entire front office.”

Entering his 17th season with Portland in 2022-23, Cronin joined the team as a basketball operations intern in 2006. In 2010 he was promoted to pro scout/salary cap analyst where he was a crucial part of the player evaluation and roster construction process. In 2014, he was named the team’s director of player personnel and in 2021, was named assistant general manager. As a result of his continued dedication to the team, Cronin was the 2011-12 recipient of the Trail Blazers’ “Unify People in a Championship Culture” award. Prior to joining the team, Cronin earned his master’s at the University of Denver, where he also worked as a graduate assistant for the men’s basketball team. A Denver native who played college basketball at Regis University and the University of Northern Colorado, Cronin competed against Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups in the Colorado state high school basketball tournament.

Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little undergoes surgery

Portland Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little underwent successful surgery today to repair a core muscle injury.

The surgery was performed by Dr. William C. Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia.

The Blazers say a full recovery is expected, which will not impact Little’s return to play timeline related to his February 1 left shoulder surgery.