Category: NBA Teams

NBA teams blog

Stan Van Gundy discusses Nets and Knicks coaching jobs

Here’s the New York Post reporting what veteran coach Stan Van Gundy has to say about coaching opportunities with the two teams:

Both the Knicks and the Nets have head coaching vacancies. And between the two open spots, Stan Van Gundy – a big-name coach on the market – says the more attractive gig is the one in Brooklyn.

And it’s not even close.

“Of the two the Nets are the better job. There’s no question about that right now,” Van Gundy said on ESPN Radio. “The organization has been more stable. They’ve won more games. They have more talent.”

The Knicks will be spending this offseason figuring out which young players to hang onto, while chasing free agents. The Nets already have a crop of stars, and must figure out what the supporting cast should look like.

UPDATE: No salary reductions for Sixers at-will employees

UPDATE: STATEMENT FROM JOSH HARRIS, FOUNDER OF HARRIS BLITZER SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Our commitment has been to do our best to keep all of our employees working through this very difficult situation. As part of an effort to do that we asked salaried employees to take a temporary 20% pay cut while preserving everyone’s full benefits — and keeping our 1500 hourly workers paid throughout the regular season. After listening to our staff and players, it’s clear that was the wrong decision. We have reversed it and will be paying these employees their full salaries. This is an extraordinary time in our world – unlike any most of us have ever lived through before – and ordinary business decisions are not enough to meet the moment. To our staff and fans, I apologize for getting this wrong.”

ORIGINAL POST BELOW. THE UPDATE IS ABOVE

Sports leagues are on hold. It’s an adjustment for the entire leagues, including individual teams, and of course the people they employ.

Here’s Philly Voice with an update:

At-will employees making over $50,000 for the Sixers and Devils have been asked to take salary reductions of up to 20 percent as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, a team source confirmed to PhillyVoice on Monday evening. Marc Stein of The New York Times was the first to report the news.

Those employees include employees in marketing, sales, communications, and a variety of different members of business and sports operations for both franchises, a team source told PhillyVoice. The change will apply to the period through the end of the Sixers’ fiscal year on June 30th.

The Sixers will not have layoffs and there will not be any changes to health insurance or 401k as a result of the move, a team source told PhillyVoice, which was part of the internal discussion about such a move being made.

The fallout from coronavirus continues.

Pacers salary cap situation looks to be in good shape

When the NBA season paused, the Pacers were 39-26, which ties them with the Sixers for the 5th best record in the Eastern conference. Impressive, especially considering guard Victor Oladipo had just recently returned to action, and in 13 games played wasn’t up to his usual standards just yet.

Here’s the Indianapolis Star reporting on their salary cap situation:

No one knows where the NBA is heading because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but what’s clear is the projected $115 million salary cap could shift downward as teams are preparing for the worst-case scenarios. The Indiana Pacers, who have the 27th highest payroll of the league’s 30 teams, are expected to drop to the league’s lowest payroll.

That’s because the Pacers have received $10 million insurance on Victor Oladipo, a league source tells IndyStar. Oladipo tore his right quad knee tendon in January 2019 and missed most of the season. He returned this season past the midway point to appear in 13 games.

The Pacers’ cap number is $114.6 million for 2019-20 and they’re positioned to come in at $104.6 million due to Oladipo’s injury, well below the current 30th payroll of the Atlanta Hawks ($112.3 million).

There is no reason to expect the NBA to resume play anytime soon, as the world focuses on fighting coronavirus. Hopefully in the coming weeks, that view may begin to change.

Utah Jazz arena employees to receive financial relief

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, some good news is emerging out of Salt Lake City.

The Desert News reports:

Thanks to generous donations and creative collaboration, the vast Vivint Arena workforce, suddenly off the clock since games and events there were recently postponed, will soon receive financial relief and temporary employment opportunities, multiple sources have told the Deseret News.

A little more than 1,000 part-time arena employees — who make things click for games, concerts and other events — will have extra funds placed in their next paycheck thanks to donations from Gail Miller, the Miller family and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, according to sources.

The economic assistance will be distributed equally — an undisclosed amount — to employees in light of the arena’s temporary closure and workers being furloughed because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to a suspension of the NBA season and a postponement of scheduled entertainment.

Rough waters remain ahead. But this is a very generous gesture being made to people who help make events at the arena a success.

Pacers reportedly taking measured approach to coronavirus

The coronavirus updates continue, now with the Pacers. The team hasn’t issued a statement. They have no reason to, yet.

Here’s the Indianapolis Star:

Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart revealed Thursday night that he has tested positive the coronavirus, or COVID-19. The Indiana Pacers’ last regular-season game before the league suspended operations was a March 3 home loss to the Celtics.

But the Indiana Pacers aren’t getting their players tested unless they have symptoms, a league source tells IndyStar, given the limited number of tests available.

The team had been giving daily checkups to players since the outbreak but they’ve dispersed during the hiatus.

The players are probably under self-quarantine, in which case it is perfectly responsible for them to stay at home and avoid contact with others, while hopefully not experiencing any symptoms.

Here’s to hoping the number of players, and of course people everywhere, begins to level off.

LeBron James shares insight on pivotal time with the Miami Heat

LeBron James chatted on social media yesterday and revealed some interesting insight on his days with the Miami Heat. Here’s ESPN.com‘s summary:

However, James did speak about his 2012 Game 6 performance for the Miami Heat against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals, which stands as one of his greatest games. Facing elimination on the road and a second consecutive season with no title for the heralded “Big 3” in Miami, James scored 45 points with 15 rebounds to turn the tide and begin a streak that led him to his first title.

James said if he’d lost the game, he believed the Heat could have traded him or teammates Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

“My mentality was if we lose, [Heat president] Pat Riley may break us all up. And I [didn’t] want that,” James said. “It might be the quickest breakup in basketball history.”

Fortunately for LeBron and the Heat, things worked out.

Two Lakers players test positive for coronavirus

STATEMENT FROM LAKERS

Following four Brooklyn Nets players testing positive for COVID-19, because Los Angeles Lakers’ players were exposed to them during our game against the Nets on March 10, our team physicians and public health officials recommended coronavirus testing for the players.

We learned today that two Lakers players have tested positive. Both players are currently asymptomatic, in quarantine and under the care of the team’s physician.

All players and members of the Lakers staff are being asked to continue to observe self-quarantine and shelter at home guidelines, closely monitor their health, consult with their personal physicians and maintain constant communication with the team.

The health and well-being of our players, our organization, our fans, and all those potentially impacted by this situation is paramount. As always, we appreciate the support of our fans, family and friends, and wish everyone affected by this virus a speedy recovery.

Boston Celtics player tests positive for coronavirus

A Boston Celtics player has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the team, who did not name the player, but shortly after the announcement, guard Marcus Smart confirmed it’s him.

Smart says he feels okay, and is in self-quarantine.

Testing was initiated because of exposure to a known positive case, the Celtics say.

The Celtics player, who is not exhibiting symptoms, has been in isolation for several days and will continue to do so while being monitored by team medical staff.

The team is awaiting further testing results.

Per the Celtics, “taking steps to maintain the health and safety of everyone in our organization and across the NBA remains our top priority, and we will continue to work closely with health officials and the league in addressing this situation.”

Three members of Sixers organization test positive for coronavirus

The Philadelphia 76ers, in consultation with medical experts and the NBA, received the recommendation that certain individuals from the organization, including players, coaches and specific basketball operations support staff, be tested for COVID-19. The tests were secured and processed privately.

Three individuals from the Sixers organization have received positive test results for COVID-19. All other tests results are currently negative. The team says they have reported this information to state and local health authorities as required.

Pursuant to CDC guidelines, the members of the 76ers organization who tested positive for coronavirus are in self-isolation and will be monitored closely by medical professionals.

The Sixers also say that “the health of our players, staff, fans and community is paramount, and we continue to be guided by medical experts at this time. We extend our gratitude and appreciation to the public health and medical communities for their tireless efforts during these challenging times, as well as to our fans and partners for their support.”

Member of Denver Nuggets tests positive for coronavirus

The Denver Nuggets today released a statement that on Thursday, March 19th, a member of the organization tested positive for COVID-19. The person was tested after experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 on March 16th and is currently under the care of team medical staff and in self-isolation.

It’s not known if the person is a player or not.

The testing was undertaken following guidance from state public health officials and team physicians.

The Nuggets say they “will continue to work in coordination with team physicians, public health officials and infectious disease experts, while focusing on the health and safety of everyone in our community.”

There are now seven NBA players that have tested positive for coronavirus, not including this member of the Nuggets, who may or may not be a player.