Category: NBA News Blog

NBA news blog

With playoffs set to begin, Kevin Durant assumes Ben Simmons will remain inactive

With the NBA playoffs starting this weekend, there is no reason to expect that Ben Simmons will make his Brooklyn Nets debut anytime soon. Via ESPN.com:

As the speculation surrounding Ben Simmons’ potential debut for the Brooklyn Nets continues to be a talking point inside the NBA, Nets star Kevin Durant admitted Thursday that he is preparing as if Simmons won’t return as the Nets get ready for their Eastern Conference quarterfinal matchup with the Boston Celtics.

“I’m not expecting him to play,” Durant said after practice Thursday. “That’s easier for me. I’m not putting any pressure on Ben to come out there and hoop. So I’m not expecting him to do anything but just to get his body right and get healthy as fast as he can. So in my mind, I’m preparing as if we’re playing with the team we have.”

Simmons, who was acquired by the Nets just before the February trade deadline from the Philadelphia 76ers, has not played in an NBA game in almost a year after requesting a trade from the Sixers last season, citing mental health concerns. Simmons has been dealing with some back soreness since late February and has not been cleared to participate in a practice since coming to Brooklyn. Nets coach Steve Nash said Thursday that Simmons still isn’t doing any “basketball conditioning” and continues to do individual rehab work.

Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley fined by NBA

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Patrick Beverley has been fined $30,000 for, per the NBA, “inappropriate statements during a media interview and on social media, including the egregious use of profanity,” it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.

Beverley made his comments to the media during a postgame press conference and on a social media post following the Timberwolves’ 109-104 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on April 12 at Target Center.

Hornets forward Miles Bridges fined by NBA

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges has been fined $50,000 for, per the NBA, “throwing his mouthpiece into the spectator stands, which resulted in the mouthpiece striking a fan,” it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.

The incident occurred after Bridges received two technical fouls and was ejected in Charlotte’s 132-103 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on April 13 at State Farm Arena.

Kings part ways with interim head coach Alvin Gentry

Today, Sacramento Kings General Manager Monte McNair announced that Alvin Gentry has been relieved of his duties as interim head coach of the team.

“The entire Kings organization is grateful for the leadership of Alvin Gentry, who stepped up when he got the call mid-season,” said McNair. “We appreciate his leadership on and off the court.”

Per the Sacramento Bee, “Gentry, 67, has 34 years of NBA coaching experience, including 18 seasons as a head coach with the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Suns, New Orleans Pelicans and Kings. He came to Sacramento to join former coach Luke Walton’s staff as associate head coach in October 2020. He was appointed as interim head coach in November when Walton was fired after the Kings went 6-11 to start the season.”

Craig Randall II wins 2021-22 G League Most Improved Player award

Long Island Nets guard Craig Randall II has been named the 2021-22 NBA G League Most Improved Player, the NBA G League announced today.

The award, which honors the player who demonstrates the most significant improvement during the season, was voted on by NBA G League head coaches and general managers.

In his first NBA G League season, Randall (6-4, 185, Tennessee-Martin) averaged 26.7 points, 6.2 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 27 regular-season games. He finished second in the voting for the 2021-22 Kia NBA G League Rookie of the Year Award.

Randall earned a spot on the Nets’ roster in October 2021 after participating in a local tryout. He was named the NBA G League Player of the Month for games played in February, becoming the first local tryout player to earn Player of the Month honors.

Earlier in the regular season, Randall was named the NBA G League Player of the Week for games played from Jan. 5-9 after scoring 40 points against the College Park Skyhawks on Jan. 5 and 44 points against the Greensboro Swarm on Jan. 7.

Prior to the regular season, Randall averaged 11.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 14 games for Long Island during the 2021 NBA G League Showcase Cup.

Delaware Blue Coats forward Braxton Key and Skyhawks forward Justin Tillman finished in second and third place, respectively, in the voting for the 2021-22 Kia NBA G League Most Improved Player Award.

Lakers fire head coach Frank Vogel

The Los Angeles Lakers have fired head coach Frank Vogel.

Vogel was the 27th head coach in franchise history. During his tenure, Vogel compiled a 127-98 (.564) record and led the Lakers to their 17th NBA championship during the 2019-20 season.

Per the Los Angeles Times, “the Lakers fired coach Frank Vogel on Monday just two years after he led the team to its 17th NBA championship and first since 2010. In the seasons since, Vogel’s teams have been decimated by injuries to LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers losing in the first round of the 2021 playoffs before missing the postseason in 2022. It culminated with a 49-loss season during which the Lakers were never more than three games over .500 and in which Vogel used 40 starting lineups.”

Per the Orange County Register, “LeBron James spoke to reporters Monday morning as Vogel’s status remained unconfirmed. He said he had not been told that Vogel had been fired: “I’ve seen the reports just like everybody else.”

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Frank both on and off the court,” said Rob Pelinka, the Lakers Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager. “Frank is a great coach and a good man. We will forever be grateful to him for his work in guiding us to the 2019-20 NBA championship. This is an incredibly difficult decision to make, but one we feel is necessary at this point. All of us here wish Frank and his wonderful family all the best for the future.”

Timberwolves sign head coach Chris Finch and coaching staff to contract extensions

The Minnesota Timberwolves have signed Head Coach Chris Finch to a multi-year contract extension, while also announcing contract extensions for the team’s coaching staff.

“I am thankful to Glen, Becky and the entire ownership group for their ongoing support and commitment,” said Finch. “It’s been a season that all of us, including our fans can be proud of and I’m grateful that my staff will continue to lead us forward.”

“I am excited that Chris will be leading our team for years to come,” said Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Sachin Gupta. “His leadership both on and off the court is unmatched and was evident by this year’s team success that featured great improvement on both ends of the court. We look forward to the start of the postseason tomorrow night and building towards more success in the future.”

“Chris has done a tremendous job creating stability and consistency for this franchise and building a winning mentality,” said the Minnesota Timberwolves ownership group. “We look forward to supporting him throughout the years while he continues achieving the goals he and his staff have set out for the team.”

Finch wrapped up his second season as the Timberwolves head coach after being hired in February of 2021. His 62 total wins over the last two seasons rank fourth in team history and his .504 winning percentage ranks second behind Flip Saunders’ mark of .521.

This season, Finch and the coaching staff led the Timberwolves to a 46-36 record, the seventh-best record in club history, including a 26-15 record at Target Center and a 32-20 record against the Western Conference, the second time since 2004-05 with 30+ wins against the West. With the 136-130 victory over the Denver Nuggets on April 1, the Wolves finished the season 12-4 against Northwest Division foes, the most division wins by the team since the division was formed in 2004 and just the third time since 2004 winning 10+ division games. Additionally, Minnesota finished the season winning 10 straight games against Northwest division opponents, the most since 2004. The team finished the 2021-22 campaign with 20 road wins for the first time since the 2004-05 season and just the fifth time winning 20+ road games.

Under the staff’s tutelage, this season the Timberwolves led the NBA in points per game (115.9 ppg), the first time in franchise history that the team has led the league in scoring, surpassing the club record of 113.3 ppg in 2019-20. Minnesota additionally led the league in three-pointers made (1,211), ranked seventh in assists (25.6 apg) and tied for sixth in offensive rating (a franchise-high 113.8). On the defensive end, Minnesota led the league in opponent turnovers per game (16.3). Those turnovers led to 19.8 points off turnovers per game, leading the NBA in the category. The Timberwolves forced 1,339 turnovers this season, first in the NBA in the category. The team finished the season tied for third in blocks (5.6 bpg) and tied for third in steals (8.8 spg).

Utah Jazz convert Trent Forrest’s contract from two-way to standard

The Utah Jazz have exercised the Standard NBA Contract Conversion Option on two-way guard Trent Forrest’s contract.

Forrest (6-4, 198, Florida State) is in his second NBA season with the Jazz, appearing in 60 games (six starts) averaging 3.3 points on 49.0 percent from the field, 1.8 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per contest in 2021-22. For his career, Forrest has seen action in 90 games as a Jazzman, owning averages of 3.1 points, 1.7 assists and 1.6 rebounds.

The Chipley, Fla., native was a four-year collegiate player at Florida State and left as the winningest player in school history with 104 victories, also ranking third in all-time steals (224), third in all-time games played (137) and fifth in all-time assists (455). Off the court, Forrest was named to the ACC All-Academic Basketball Team and ACC Academic Honor Roll in four-straight seasons.

Andre Ingram wins 2021-22 G League Sportsmanship Award

The NBA G League announced today that South Bay Lakers guard Andre Ingram has been selected as the winner of the 2021-22 NBA G League Sportsmanship Award, which honors the player who best represents the ideals of character and conduct as a teammate on the court and in the locker room.

Ingram becomes the second two-time winner of the award in NBA G League history, having previously received the honor for the 2009-10 season. Each NBA G League team nominated one player for the 2021-22 award, and Ingram was ultimately selected as the winner by his fellow NBA G League players.

The Kia NBA G League Sportsmanship Award trophy is named after the late Jason Collier, who exemplified the qualities of a great teammate during his career in the NBA G League and the NBA. A 2003-04 All-NBA G League First Team selection, Collier was preparing to begin his sixth NBA season at the time of his death in 2005.

Ingram, who just completed his 13th NBA G League season, is a fixture atop the NBA G League record books, ranking first all-time in games played (474) and minutes (11,699), third in points (4,533) and fourth in field goals made (1,515). He also holds the all-time NBA G League record for most three-pointers made (845), while sitting in fifth place all-time in three-point percentage (44.9). The Richmond, Virginia native appeared in six career NBA games for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

Ingram’s energy off the bench as a player and mentor helped South Bay achieve one of their most productive seasons in franchise history. The team started strong with a 10-4 record in the Showcase Cup followed by a 21-11 record in the regular season, earning a three-seed in the Western Conference and advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals. Ingram’s leadership was pivotal in the development of the team’s young players as South Bay finished the season with eleven NBA call-ups, the second most in the G League.

Cavaliers convert Moses Brown’s contract to a standard one, and sign RJ Nembhard

The Cleveland Cavaliers have converted the contract of center Moses Brown to a standard NBA contract.

And in a related move, the team signed guard RJ Nembhard to a two-way contract, Cavaliers President of Basketball Operations Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

Brown (7-2, 245) signed his first 10-day contract with Cleveland on March 10, his second 10-day contract on March 21 and a two-way contract on March 31. He has appeared in 13 games (five starts) for the Cavaliers, averaging 6.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 12.8 minutes. In those five starts, Brown posted three double-doubles and averaged 12.4 points and 11.8 rebounds while connecting on .649 from the field in 25.0 minutes. Prior to joining the Cavaliers, Brown appeared in 26 games with the Mavericks this season.

In 91 career NBA games (38 starts) with Portland, Oklahoma City, Dallas and Cleveland, Brown holds career averages of 6.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 0.70 blocks in 14.2 minutes. Additionally, Brown has also played in 45 games (15 starts) over three seasons in the NBA G League and was named to the 2021 All-NBA G League First Team and NBA G League All-Defensive Team, posting averages of 18.5 points, 13.9 rebounds and 1.71 blocks in 26.4 minutes during the 2020-21 NBA G League season. Brown went undrafted in 2019 after playing one season at UCLA.

Nembhard (6-5, 200), prior to being waived on April 7, was signed to a standard NBA contract with Cleveland on March 31 and was originally signed to a two-way contract on October 16. Nembhard has appeared in 13 games this season for the Cavaliers as well as 13 games (12 starts) with the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ exclusively-owned and operated NBA G League team. With the Charge, Nembhard averaged 22.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists in 37.7 minutes. Nembhard went undrafted in 2021 after playing four seasons at Texas Christian University where he averaged 9.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 26 minutes per game.