Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Trail Blazers and head coach Terry Stotts agree to part ways

The Portland Trail Blazers and Terry Stotts have mutually agreed to part ways, it was announced today by Neil Olshey, president of basketball operations.

“I have the utmost respect for Terry and what he has accomplished these past nine seasons,” said Olshey. “This was a difficult decision on both a personal and professional level but it’s in the best interest of the franchise to move in another direction. Terry will always hold a special place in the Trail Blazer family and the Portland community. We relied on the integrity, professionalism and consistency he brought to the job every day and we wish he and Jan nothing but the best.”

Stotts completed his ninth season as head coach of the Trail Blazers in 2020-21 after guiding Portland to a 42-30 record and an eighth consecutive postseason appearance.

A 27-year coaching veteran, Portland introduced Stotts as the franchise’s 14th head coach on August 7, 2012. He is the second-winningest coach in franchise history after Jack Ramsay. Overall, Stotts holds a career coaching record of 517- 486 (.515) and a 402-318 (.558) mark with Portland.

“We are all grateful for Terry’s contributions and his nine years with the Trail Blazers,” said Jody Allen, chair of the Trail Blazers. “I appreciate his steadfast dedication to the players, the game, and the broader Portland community. We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Jrue Holiday wins 2020-21 NBA Sportsmanship Award

Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday has received the Joe Dumars Trophy as the winner of the 2020-21 NBA Sportsmanship Award.

The annual award is designed to honor a player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court.

Each NBA team nominated one of its players for the NBA Sportsmanship Award. From the list of 30 team nominees, a panel of league executives selected one finalist from each of the NBA’s six divisions. Current NBA players selected the winner from the list of six finalists, with nearly 350 players submitting their votes through confidential balloting conducted by the league office.

In addition to Holiday (Central Division), the finalists were Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo (Southeast), Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes (Pacific), Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie (Northwest), Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker (Atlantic) and San Antonio Spurs guard Derrick White (Southwest).

Holiday received 130 of 343 first-place votes and earned 2,752 total points in balloting of NBA players. Walker, a two-time winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award, finished in second place with 2,474 points. The six finalists were awarded 11 points for each first-place vote, nine points for each second-place vote, seven points for each third-place vote, five points for each fourth-place vote, three points for each fifth-place vote and one point for each sixth-place vote.

A 12-year NBA veteran, Holiday has won the NBA Sportsmanship Award for the first time. Last season, he won the 2019-20 Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award in recognition of his selfless play, on- and off-court leadership as a mentor and role model to other NBA players, and commitment and dedication to team.

Holiday, 30, was selected as an NBA All-Star in the 2012-13 season and named to the NBA All-Defensive Team in 2017-18 and 2018-19. This season, he averaged 17.7 points, 6.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds in 59 games for the Bucks, who acquired him from the New Orleans Pelicans as part of a four-team trade on Nov. 24, 2020. Holiday was a co-winner, along with Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Richardson, of the January NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of his efforts to provide support for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NBA Sportsmanship Award is named in honor of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Joe Dumars, a six-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion. Dumars played 14 NBA seasons and won the inaugural Sportsmanship Award in the 1995-96 season.

FYI: Doc Rivers and Monty Williams remain tight

It’s always interesting knowing which coaches in the league keep in regular contact with each other. As opposed to the ones who only say hello when their teams are playing against each other. Via the Arizona Republic:

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers said he and [Phoenix Suns coach] Monty Williams “talk literally once a week at least.”

The two had something very special to discuss Thursday night after the Phoenix Suns eliminated the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers to give Williams his first career playoff series victory in seven seasons as a head coach.

“I’m just happy for Monty,” said Rivers, who was teammates with Williams in New York and coached him in Orlando. “Listen, the Suns have proven all year they’re good, they’re talented and they’re well coached. Very proud of Monty.”

Knicks made great strides forward this season

Here’s New York Newsday on big strides made by the Knicks this season:

If you have followed the Knicks any longer than the last two weeks, it’s not hard to consider what the organization accomplished this season as a rousing success. With new faces in the front office, with a proven coach in Tom Thibodeau and an assortment of low-cost additions, the Knicks shed decades of dysfunction and earned a playoff berth for the first time in eight years.

The Knicks jumped far above the expectations of anyone outside of their locker room, winning 41 games, earning the No. 4 seed and filling Madison Square Garden for three playoff games infused with hope and enthusiasm. It ended in disappointment, All that was dimmed by the abrupt ending, a five-game ousting at the hands of Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks, who talked and taunted and backed up every bit of it in humbling the Knicks.

“I think you learn from each experience,” Thibodeau said after it was over. “Atlanta really added some good pieces to complement Trae and I think that helped them. Every year, you analyzed the things you did well, the things you didn’t do as well as you’d like. You look at how you match up with the teams — you start with the division, then you look at the conference, then you look at the league. Then you see where you might have opportunities, whether it’s through the draft or free agency or trades, your own player development. All four areas factor into it.”

Although the Knicks quickly got sent home by the Hawks in the first round oif the playoffs, it was a better season than anyone predicted.

Pistons name John Beilein as senior advisor, player development

The Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, June 2 named John Beilein as senior advisor/player development.

In this role, Beilein will work closely with the team’s coaching staff and development coaches to analyze, implement and execute player skill development programs.

“There is nothing more important to our franchise right now than the growth and development of our players,” said Pistons owner Tom Gores. “Having spent time with John, we all know he is one of the best teachers in the game of basketball at any level. Dwane’s decision and desire to bring him on board underscores our commitment to helping this young Pistons team maximize its potential. John will be a real asset to the organization and we are fortunate to have him join us.”

Beilein spent 12 seasons (2007-19) as head coach at the University of Michigan where he compiled a 278-150 (.650) record with the Wolverines and led them to nine NCAA Tournament appearances including five trips to the Sweet 16, two to the Final Four and National Championship Game appearances in 2013 and 2018. Under Beilein’s leadership, Michigan won two Big Ten regular season and two Big Ten Tournament titles. Following Michigan, he served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for part of the 2019-20 season.

“John has been one of the best fundamental teachers in the college game for years,” said Dwane Casey, head coach of the Detroit Pistons. “With the age of our core group I wanted to add to our excellent developmental staff. John is a basketball lifer with a passion to help young players get better, especially in the area of shooting. We have an excellent group of young development coaches who have done a good job with our young core. John will add to and enrich the development staff’s quest to get our youth brigade to the next level.”

Overall, Beilein owns an 829-468 (.639) record as a collegiate head coach and recorded 23 seasons with 20-plus wins. He’s finished with a winning record in 35 college seasons and guided his teams to 20 career postseason appearances. Beilein’s other collegiate coaching stops include Erie CC, Nazareth (NY), Le Moyne, Canisius, Richmond and West Virginia.

Brad Stevens replaces Danny Ainge as Celtics’ President of Basketball Operations; team will find new head coach

Danny Ainge – the only Celtic in the team’s 74-year history to win championships both as a player and as a general manager – announced today that he is retiring from his role as President of Basketball Operations.

Brad Stevens, who has served as the team’s head coach for the last eight seasons, has been promoted to the team’s President of Basketball Operations.

Ainge will continue to work with the team on transition planning through the upcoming off-season.

A search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

“Helping guide this organization has been the thrill of a lifetime, and having worked side-by-side with him since he’s been here, I know we couldn’t be in better hands than with Brad guiding the team going forward,” said Ainge. “I’m grateful to ownership, all of my Celtics colleagues, and the best fans in basketball for being part of the journey.”

“Danny has made all the difference over the past 18 years – our record of winning percentage and playoff victories is near the top of the league during that time. He has always been a relentless competitor and a winner. Red Auerbach told us Danny is ‘lucky,’ and he was right, but a lot of the luck came from his intense drive and his incredible basketball insights,” said Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics Co-Owner and Governor. “Turning to Brad is a natural next step, since we have built a partnership over the past eight years, and he is a special basketball mind. We want him to lead us into the next great era of Celtics basketball.”

In his 18 years guiding the team, Ainge’s teams made 15 playoff appearances, seven Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and brought the team a championship in 2008, the franchise’s 17th and first in 22 years. Ainge was the first, and to this point, only general manager hired by the current Celtics ownership group, led by Wyc Grousbeck and Steve Pagliuca. Since the 2007-08 season, the Celtics have won more playoff games than any team in the NBA.

“I have loved every day I have worked with Danny and we have really benefited from his relentless pursuit of excellence and high integrity approach to the game. Danny built a team that brought us our 17th championship, and leaves us with a great foundation of talent for us to build upon, including of course bringing Brad Stevens into the organization,” said Steve Pagliuca, Celtics Co-Owner and Alternate Governor. “To replace someone of Danny’s stature, we know we need a great talent evaluator, a great leader, and a great communicator, and Brad possesses all of those qualities in abundance.”

Stevens was hired by Ainge in 2013, and has led the team to a 354-282 record, including seven consecutive playoffs and three Eastern Conference Finals appearances. Stevens joined the Celtics after coaching Butler University where he became the only coach in school history to lead a team to the NCAA Division I national championship game, which he did twice.

“I’m grateful to ownership and to Danny for trusting me with this opportunity,” said Stevens. “I’m excited to tackle this new role, starting with a wide ranging and comprehensive search for our next head coach. I love the Celtics, and know the great honor and responsibility that comes with this job. I will give it everything I have to help us be in position to consistently compete for championships.”

Ainge has overseen dozens of transactions, but his best-known roster moves include the off-season of 2007, which resulted in acquiring future Hall of Famers Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to join with Celtics cornerstone Paul Pierce and Ainge draft picks Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins. That group played in two NBA Finals in three years from 2008-2010.

In 2013, Ainge rapidly rebuilt the franchise in a series of moves, none more notable than trading Garnett and Pierce in a deal that netted lottery picks that were used to select current Celtics All Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. That was also the summer Ainge and ownership hired Stevens.

On Magic center Wendell Carter Jr.

Here’s the Orlando Sentinel on Magic center Wendell Carter Jr., who averaged 11.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game in the 22 games (19 starts) he played for the Magic this past season after a trade from the Bulls:

Carter completed the third year of the rookie-scale contract he signed in 2018 after being acquired in a March 25 trade with Chicago. He will earn $6.92 million in 2021-22 and is set to reach free agency in the 2022 offseason. If the Magic extend a qualifying offer, Carter can either accept it and remain with the team for 2022-23 or decline it and become a restricted free agent…

Carter will compete with Mo Bamba for the starting center job next season. But the Magic will have a decision to make regarding the two players because both can become restricted free agents after next season.

Heat shooting guard Duncan Robinson set to enter free agency

Miami Heat shooting guard Duncan Robinson will be a restricted free agent this summer. Will his time on the squad extend to future seasons? Via the Miami Herald:

“Just trying to get all the information possible so I can make the best decision possible,” Robinson said Monday afternoon when asked to look ahead at free agency, as the Heat held exit interviews at AmericanAirlines Arena after it was swept out of the first round of the playoffs. “In terms of the different factors that contribute, all of them do to some extent. First and foremost, the fit. A place where I can really feel comfortable. Winning is obviously a priority for me, as well. Then of course, it’s also a business and there’s an opportunity to make money to take care of the people I love the most. That’s also a priority, as well. Any place that can offer all of those is a destination that I would be excited about.”

The Heat will have the right to match any offer Robinson receives from other teams, assuming Miami extends a qualifying offer as expected. His 2021-22 cap hit for the Heat will be modest (about $4.7 million), but his salary easily could top $15 million per season after playing on a $1.7 million salary this past season…

“Obviously, I’ve had an incredible experience here and love this organization for many different reasons. So yeah, we’ll see,” Robinson said of the Heat. “For the most part, I haven’t really shifted my focus toward that just yet. But the next weeks, months, it will be mostly just about gathering information and trying to make the best decision possible.”

Mavericks star Luka Doncic dealing with nerve problem in neck

Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is dealing with a nerve problem in his neck, and it’s a huge issue for the squad. Via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

American Airlines Center has seen quite a turn. The unbridled joy and sheer hilarity of the first quarter of Friday night’s game has been replaced by a quiet and somber crowd following Sunday night’s Game 4 loss. The Mavs went from from being up 2-0 to being tied 2-2, and it’s not wrong to wonder when — and how — they might win another game in this series.

Sunday’s 106-81 loss provided the exclamation point but it was simply a continuation of a merciless onslaught that began in a 118-108 setback on Friday night when the Clippers rallied from an early 30-11 deficit to run away from Mavs.

The Mavs simply have no answers for Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George as the series heads back to Los Angeles for the critical Game 5 on Wednesday…

And with the Mavs’ all-star guard Luka Donic now playing in obvious pain with an injured neck, albeit valiantly, the Mavs don’t stand a chance.

Doncic led the Mavs with 19 points on Sunday but it was on 9-of-24 shooting. He also missed all five of his free throws.

The series is taking a few days off, with Game 5 not until Wednesday.

The 2020-21 Miami Heat season was rocky from the start

The Miami Heat’s postseason ended in a hurry with a four-game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks. Though, considering how the regular season went, it’s not a total surprise that the Heat fell short in the playoffs. Via the Miami Herald:

The Heat entered the season after a COVID-19 pandemic-shortened offseason that lasted 71 days, which is the fewest between the end of a season and the start of the next season in NBA, MLB, NHL and NFL history, according to Elias Sports. The Heat lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals on Oct. 11, and Miami began team practices in December before opening the regular season on Dec. 23.

But the Heat’s season ended abruptly on Saturday afternoon, as it was swept out of the first round of the playoffs, 4-0, by the Milwaukee Bucks. It marks just the second time in franchise history that the Heat has been swept in a best-of-seven series and the first time since Erik Spoelstra took over as head coach prior to the 2008-09 season…

It was a bumpy season from the start for the Heat following its magical bubble run to the Finals as the fifth seed. At one point this season, Miami stood at 7-14.

The Heat used 18 different starting lineups in the first 36 games because of injury and COVID-19 issues that kept various players out.

Massive free agency decisions must be made this summer. Potential franchise-changing decisions. We’ll post more about that as the offseason approaches.