Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

On some possible big Celtics roster decisions this summer

After winning the championship last year and then falling short in the postseason this year, the Boston Celtics could face some challenging roster decisions this offseason.

Via the Boston Herald:

We don’t yet know whether Jaylen Brown will be on the Celtics’ roster when the 2025-26 season tips off in October.

Trading the homegrown $305 million star would be a massive, franchise-altering move – but it’s one Brad Stevens could consider depending on how radically he wants to rework Boston’s roster in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s ruptured Achilles.

The Celtics are expected to move at least one of their championship-winning starters this offseason as they look to escape the second apron and ease their overwhelming luxury tax burden. Could they flip Brown for a haul, accepting a reset year in exchange for assets and long-term financial relief? It’s possible.

But if Stevens chooses a less aggressive roster-building path and retains Brown, Boston’s longest-tenured player will have an opportunity to do something he’s never done in his NBA career: enter a season as the Celtics’ unquestioned No. 1 player.

Reflecting on the Timberwolves after playoff elimination

The Timberwolves went about as far as they were expected to go in the playoffs, before losing to the Thunder, who more games this regular season than anyone in the league. Minnesota deserves praise. They only lasted five games in the Western Conference Finals, But they were up against the squad that looks like the clear title favorite.

Still, getting bounced from the playoffs is always tough.

Via the Star Tribune:

Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo said a series like the one Minnesota just endured “gives you perspective that you’re not far off and you’re right there. We just have to be ready to try to get another bite at the apple.”

Was that a bite? It felt more like a nibble. Like, Minnesota tasted a smidge of the peel and thought maybe there was a drop of juice on there. That’s not to belittle this year’s team. Minnesota did post a net rating of plus-5.0, just below the title-winning threshold. Post Jan. 1, that number was plus-7.0.

A year ago, the Wolves were plus-6.3. That’s title-contending stuff. And Minnesota certainly looked like more of a championship-caliber team last season, armed with its top-tier defense. That felt more like a legitimate bite, like a crack at the crown that just didn’t go the Wolves’ way for matchup and injury reasons.

This did not. A few things lined up in the Wolves’ favor by season’s end, and it simply didn’t matter. It rarely will when you simply aren’t in the same caliber as the conference’s top contender.

Thunder advance to 2025 NBA Finals

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the NBA Western Conference champions and have advanced to the NBA Finals after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 124-94, winning the series 4-1.

With its second NBA Finals appearance, the Thunder will now play the winner of the Eastern Conference finals series matchup between the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks.

With the Thunder’s home-court advantage, the Finals schedule begins at Paycom Center and is as follows:

Game 1, Thursday, June 5, 7:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City
Game 2, Sunday, June 8, 7 p.m. in Oklahoma City
Game 3, Wednesday, June 11, 7:30 p.m. (away)
Game 4, Friday, June 13, 7:30 p.m. (away)
Game 5 (if necessary), Monday, June 16, 7:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City
Game 6 (if necessary), Thursday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. (away)
Game 7 (if necessary), Sunday, June 22, 7 p.m. in Oklahoma City

Nuggets name David Adelman as Head Coach

The Denver Nuggets have named David Adelman as the 13th Head Coach in Denver Nuggets NBA franchise history, Vice Chairman of KSE Josh Kroenke announced today.

Adelman was named Interim Head Coach on April 8th with three games remaining in the regular season. Adelman helped lead the Nuggets to a 3-0 record (1.000) to end the regular season, earning the fourth seed in the Western Conference and home court advantage in the first round against the Los Angeles Clippers. Denver secured a first round series victory by beating the Clippers in seven games, advancing to the Conference Semifinals to face the Oklahoma City Thunder where they were defeated in Game 7 on the road. Adelman concluded his first postseason run with a 7-7 record (.500), becoming just the sixth Head Coach in Nuggets NBA history to lead his to team to a playoff series win.

Adelman entered the 2024-25 campaign as Denver’s lead assistant, his eighth season as an assistant coach with the organization. Prior to Denver he served as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic during the 2016-17 season and also spent the previous five seasons (2011-16) with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Before joining the Timberwolves, Adelman spent five seasons as head basketball coach at Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon.

Adelman went 83-53 (.610) during his five seasons at Lincoln, leading the Cardinals to three Portland Interscholastic district championships (2006-07, 2009-10, 2010-11). He also guided Lincoln to the Oregon Class 6A state championship final in 2009. Adelman was named PIL Coach of the Year three times.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player award

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the recipient of the Michael Jordan Trophy as the 2024-25 NBA Most Valuable Player.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been named the NBA MVP for the first time, having finished second in the voting last season and fifth in 2022-23. He becomes the second player from Canada to earn the honor, along with two-time winner Steve Nash (2004-05 and 2005-06). Gilgeous-Alexander is also the third player to win the award with the Thunder, joining Kevin Durant (2013-14) and Russell Westbrook (2016-17).

In the 2024-25 regular season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.72 steals and 1.01 blocks in 34.2 minutes in 76 games, setting career highs in points, assists and blocks per game.

A seven-year veteran, Gilgeous-Alexander won the NBA scoring title for the first time. He became the first player to lead the league in games with at least 20 points (75), 30 points (49), 40 points (13) and 50 points (four) in a season since James Harden in 2018-19.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s only regular-season game with fewer than 20 points was an 18-point performance against the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 30, 2024. He scored at least 20 points in each of his final 72 games, the longest streak at any point in a single season since 1963-64 (when Wilt Chamberlain recorded an 80-game streak and Oscar Robertson had a 76-game streak).

The 6-6 Gilgeous-Alexander shot 51.9% from the field, a career-high 37.5% from three-point range and 89.8% from the free throw line (sixth in the NBA). He made an NBA-leading 601 free throws and a personal-best 163 three-pointers, 68 more threes than his previous career high of 95, set last season.

Gilgeous-Alexander joined Michael Jordan as the only players in NBA history to average at least 32.0 points and 6.0 assists per game and shoot 50.0% or better from the field in a season. Jordan accomplished the feat twice, in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons.

On defense, Gilgeous-Alexander was the only qualifying NBA player to average at least 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. He ranked fifth in the NBA in steals per game for a Thunder team that led the league in defensive rating (106.6).

In addition to being selected as an NBA All-Star for the third consecutive season, Gilgeous-Alexander was named the Kia NBA Western Conference Player of the Month three times (October/November, December and March) and the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week twice (Weeks 10 and 20). He earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team of the Emirates NBA Cup after leading Oklahoma City to a runner-up finish.

Behind Gilgeous-Alexander, the Thunder (68-14) finished atop the NBA and tied for the sixth-best single-season record in league history. Oklahoma City outscored opponents by an NBA-record 12.9 points per game.

Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson wins 2024-25 Rudy Tomjanovich Award

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinso nhas won the 2024-25 Rudy Tomjanovich Award, which honors an NBA coach for his cooperation with the media and fans, as well as his excellence on the court, the Professional Basketball Writers Association announced today.

This season, Atkinson guided the Cavaliers to a 64-18 record, tops in the Eastern Conference, and was consistently thoughtful and engaging with the media, and generous with his time. This is his first time winning the award.

“Kenny has always brought great candor, humility and a sense of humor to the job, and to his regular sessions with the media,” said PBWA president Howard Beck. “He’s always eager to explain the nuances of the game and to discuss the bigger issues across the league.”

J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons and Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves tied for second place in the balloting. The other finalists, based on nominations from PBWA members, were Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls. A vote of the full PBWA membership determined the winner.

The award is named for Hall of Famer Rudy Tomjanovich, the former coach of the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers, who always was professional and respectful while dealing with the media. During his 13 seasons as an NBA head coach, Tomjanovich compiled a 527-416 regular-season record and a 51-39 postseason record. His Rockets won back-to-back NBA titles in 1994 and 1995.

The PBWA annually honors a PR staff (Brian McIntyre Award), coach (Rudy Tomjanovich Award) and star player (Magic Johnson Award) who go above and beyond to work with the media and help inform fans. Under the PBWA’s current rules, adopted in 2020, no team or individual can win in consecutive years.

Mavericks win 2025 NBA Draft Lottery

The Dallas Mavericks beat overwhelming odds and moved up to the first overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after the results of the NBA Draft Lottery. This is the first time in franchise history Dallas has moved up when in lottery position.

Dallas entered the night in the 11th slot, and the Mavericks had a 1.80% chance of landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 Draft, as well as an 8.50% chance at moving into one of the top four positions. This marks the second time that Dallas has held the first-overall selection, the first being in the second-ever draft in Mavericks franchise history in 1981 when the team selected Mark Aguirre out of DePaul.

NBA Draft 2025 will take place June 25-26 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Coverage on both nights will begin at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN platforms.

Kings hire Mike Woodson as associate head coach

The Sacramento Kings announced today that Mike Woodson has been named associate head coach. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Mike Woodson brings decades of coaching experience to this staff,” said head coach Doug Christie. “His impact will be extremely valuable, and I’m looking forward to getting to work with him.”

Woodson joins the Kings after more than 40 years in the NBA community. Woodson played 11 seasons in the NBA (1980-1991), before transitioning into coaching where he served as head coach of the Atlanta Hawks (2004-2010) and New York Knicks (2012-2014), leading both franchises to multiple playoff appearances. In 2021, he returned to his alma mater, Indiana University, as head coach of the men’s basketball team.

He began his coaching career as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1996 and later held assistant roles with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Detroit Pistons, where he helped lead the team to the 2004 NBA Championship. In 2004, he was named head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. During his six-year tenure in Atlanta he led the Hawks to back-to-back 50-win seasons and three consecutive playoff appearances.

Cavs star Donovan Mitchell aims to be able to play Tuesday

Per Cleveland.com:

The Cavs’ season comes down to one game — and star guard Donovan Mitchell vows to be available for it.

“I will be good for Tuesday. You know me. I will see you Tuesday,” Mitchell told cleveland.com and one other outlet with a wry smile during a brief conversation prior to leaving Gainbridge Fieldhouse alongside his father late Sunday night.

With the Cavs trailing by 41 points at halftime — tied for the largest deficit in playoff history — Mitchell came out of the locker room for warmups as usual. As he attempted to step into a jump-shot near the top of the key, he felt pain in his lower leg that caused him to shake his head and crouch down while multiple trainers came out to check on him.

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Kings hire B.J. Armstrong as assistant general manager

The Sacramento Kings announced today that B.J. Armstrong has been named assistant general manager. Armstrong will report to general manager Scott Perry.

“B.J. has an elite understanding of the game, and his basketball IQ, front office insight, and championship experience will be invaluable as we build towards the future,” said general manager Scott Perry. “He’s been a trusted advisor to me and many others in the basketball world for years, and I’m confident his perspective and leadership will make a significant impact on our organization.”

Armstrong brings over 30 years of NBA experience to Sacramento. After playing 11 seasons in the NBA (1989-2000), Armstrong joined the Chicago Bulls front office before departing in 2005. He then joined Wasserman as an agent and represented several NBA players including Derrick Rose, the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and the youngest player to ever be named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.

Armstrong was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1989 and played for them for six seasons, winning three NBA championships (1991, 1992, 1993). He also spent time with the Golden State Warriors (1995-1996), Charlotte Hornets (1996-1997), Orlando Magic (1997-1999), and returned to the Bulls for one final season (1999-2000). Armstrong was named an NBA All-Star in 1994. Over 11 seasons, Armstrong averaged 9.8 points and 3.3 assists per game.