NBA Teams – Page 283 – NBA Blog

Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will miss Game 5 against Jazz

The Clippers, who are already without the services of center Serge Ibaka, now have a major injury problem at the forward spot. Via the LA Times:

When Kawhi Leonard was asked about his right knee Monday night following Game 4 of the Clippers’ second-round playoff series against Utah, he replied quickly, “I’m good.”

Because the answer was hard to hear through the videoconference’s feed, he was asked again.

“Yeah,” Leonard said. “Next question.”

Less than 48 hours later, with Game 5 of a deadlocked series looming Wednesday night in Salt Lake City, Leonard is not good. The forward, who has averaged more than 30 points, seven rebounds and four assists while shooting 57% in the postseason, is out for Game 5 because of a strained right knee suffered in the final five minutes of Game 4, when he was bumped by Utah’s Joe Ingles.

And from the OC Register:

Leonard – who was named to the All-NBA first team on Tuesday, his third such honor – reportedly could miss the rest of the best-of-seven series, which is tied, 2-2. He was not listed on the Clippers’ official injury report Tuesday, but according to ESPN, the 29-year-old forward told teammates Tuesday night to prepare for him to be out. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Clippers are fearful Leonard has suffered an ACL injury.

The five-time All-Star from Moreno Valley planted awkwardly on a drive to the basket in the fourth quarter of the Clippers’ 118-104 victory on Monday night at Staples. He grimaced following the play but remained in the game, missing both free throws he was awarded on the drive after a foul was assessed to Bojan Bogdanovic. Leonard remained in the game briefly after that, too, drawing another foul and making both of those free throws.

The Jazz remain without the services of point guard Mike Conley. But Leonard being out is a bigger problem for L.A. than Conley being out is for Utah.

Scott Brooks out as head coach of Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards announced today that they will not extend the contract of Head Coach Scott Brooks.

Wizards General Manager Tommy Sheppard will begin a search for a new head coach immediately.

“We have been committed to taking the proper steps over the last two seasons to develop our young players, bring in pieces to complement Bradley Beal and build a winning environment that will ultimately lead to sustained on-court success,” said Sheppard. “Our organization will always be grateful to Scott for his dedication and work both on the court and in the community over the past five years and I personally admire and respect how he helped keep our team together during the unprecedented events of the last 15 months.”

Brooks was originally signed as the team’s head coach on April 26, 2016. He compiled an overall record of 183-207 (.469), ranking him fifth overall in total wins in franchise history.

Stan Van Gundy out as head coach of New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans and Stan Van Gundy have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced today.

“On behalf of Mrs. Gayle Benson and the Pelicans organization, I would like to thank Stan for the integrity and professionalism that he demonstrated during his time in New Orleans, as well as the commitment and work ethic he brought to our team,” said Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. “This was a difficult decision as I have tremendous respect for Stan both personally and professionally, but we agreed it is in the best interest of our team to move forward in a different direction. We wish Stan, Kim and their family all the best in the future.”

Van Gundy, who was named the seventh head coach in franchise history on October 22, 2020, compiled a 31-41 (.431) regular season record in one season with the Pelicans. Van Gundy has a career regular season record of 554-425 (.566) with Miami (2003-06), Orlando (2007-12), Detroit (2014-18) and New Orleans.

Donnie Nelson out as GM of Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks and general manager Donnie Nelson have mutually agreed to part ways, the team announced today.

Nelson, who owns 36 years of NBA experience, came to Dallas on Jan. 2, 1998 and recently completed his 24th season with the franchise.

“I just want to thank Donnie for his 24 years of service to this organization,” said Mark Cuban. “Donnie has been instrumental to our success and helped bring a championship to Dallas. His hard work, creativity and vision made him a pioneer. Donnie will always be a part of the Mavs family and I wish him all the best.”

During his tenure, the Mavericks have made the playoffs in 17 of the last 21 seasons, been to the Western Conference Finals three times, advanced to the NBA Finals twice, captured three division titles (2007, 2010, 2021) and won their first World Championship in 2011. Since Nelson joined the franchise the Mavericks have won 58.0% (1,087 of 1,873) of their games with three 60+ win seasons, including a franchise-record 67-win season in 2007, which tied for the sixth-best record in NBA history.

Pistons set to add new assistant coaches

The Detroit Pistons are close to filling out their coaching staff. Nothing is official yet but the moves should happen soon. Via the Detroit Free Press:

When the Detroit Pistons added former Michigan basketball coach John Beilein to Dwane Casey’s coaching staff earlier this month, it signaled that more changes were underway as the franchise continues to flesh out its player development program.

Former Boston Celtics assistant Jerome Allen, former Indiana Pacers assistant Bill Bayno and former Sacramento Kings assistant Rex Kalamian are all joining Casey’s staff as well, a league source confirmed to the Free Press on Tuesday.

The Pistons are also progressing toward re-signing current assistant coach Sean Sweeney.

A look at the Knicks and the 2021 NBA Draft

The Knicks had themselves quite a season, beating all expectations before then falling short in the first round of the playoffs. Now on to the draft, where they have a lot to think about. Via the New York Post:

As it stands in the July 29 draft, the Knicks have two first-round picks at Nos. 19 and 21 along with the No. 32 overall pick.

There’s talk inside the organization of packaging their two first-rounders to move up. The feeling around the NBA is the Knicks could possibly get to the No. 12-to-13 range by doing so.

If the Knicks stand pat at 19 or move up slightly, Seth Greenberg, ESPN’s college-basketball guru, has got a couple of guys for the Knicks.

One is in their backyard – UConn sophomore 6-5 combo guard James Bouknight, a Brooklyn native who played part of his high school career at Manhattan’s LaSalle Academy. The other is out of the Pacific Northwest – Oregon 3-point shooting machine Chris Duarte.

Former Miami Heat trainer Ron Culp has died

The original head athletic trainer of the Miami Heat has passed away. Via the Sun Sentinel:

Banners commemorating the careers of six members of the Miami Heat hang above the team’s court. Ron Culp is one of them.

Tuesday, the team noted the death of the franchise’s first athletic trainer, on June 9, at the age of 75.

Unlike the retired jersey numbers of former Heat players Alonzo Mourning, Tim Hardaway, Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, which hang from the west rafters of the facility now known as FTX Arena, Culp’s banner stands as a tribute to his 21 seasons with the team, featuring the words “Head Athletic Trainer.”

Nets’ James Harden upgraded to Doubtful for Game 5 against Bucks

Will the Nets have James Harden available tonight? The answer could change between now and tipoff. But here’s the latest, via the New York Post:

With Brooklyn facing a desperate Eastern Conference semifinal Game 5, injured James Harden has been upgraded from out to doubtful Tuesday vs. Milwaukee.

“I don’t know if (he’s out) or not. I might have to wait,” Nets coach Steve Nash had said Monday. “He’s working out, so I have no idea if that means he has a chance for (Game 5) or not. I think there’s a plan behind the scenes that I don’t totally know what the deal is and then they’ll give us an update. But he’s working out.”

Harden went down just 43 seconds into this second-round series with what has been deemed right hamstring tightness. The Nets won the first two games without him at Barclays Center, but proceeded to drop the next two in Milwaukee to see the Bucks level the series and steal the momentum.

Jazz guard Mike Conley remains out, will miss Game 3 vs. Clippers

The Jazz remain without the services of their starting point guard. Via the Deseret News:

Mike Conley will miss a third straight game on Saturday.

The Utah Jazz’s All-Star guard was ruled out of playing Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Los Angeles Clippers because of the right hamstring strain he sustained in Game 5 of the Jazz’s first-round playoff series against the Memphis Grizzlies.

The Clippers lead the series 2-0. Game 3 is tonight in Los Angeles at 8:30PM ET, televised on ABC.

Clippers center Serge Ibaka undergoes back surgery

L.A. Clippers center Serge Ibaka underwent back surgery in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 10. He will miss the remainder of the NBA post-season.

Ibaka played 41 games for the Clippers this regular season, starting 39 times, for an average of 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in limited action: 23.3 minutes per game. He missed two months of action, from mid March through mid May, but played just six minutes in a first round Game 2 against the Mavericks on May 25, and hasn’t been on the court since.

The Clippers are currently down 0-2 to the Utah Jazz in their second round playoff series.