On Andrew Wiggins and the Warriors

Here’s NBC Sports Bay Area reporting on Andrew Wiggins:

Wiggins came to the Warriors in the February trade that sent D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in large part for his better-perceived fit alongside Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. A talented but inconsistent wing, Wiggins had worn out his welcome in Minnesota following four years of failed expectations and sub-par defense.

But he was successful in his short time in the Bay Area, averaging 20.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists over his last five games. In a 112-106 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Feb. 12, he finished with 27 points, four rebounds and five assists and four blocks. Three weeks later, in his first game playing with Curry, he notched 20 points, 10 rebounds and two assists against the Raptors.

In 12 games played for the Warriors, Wiggins averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, shooting 45.7% from the field.

The Warriors this season were short-handed. The real test — the chemistry test — comes in the future when the squad is healthy and at full strength.

Knicks will reportedly hire Brock Aller for front office

The Knicks will reportedly soon add to their front office. Here’s New York Newsday:

Leon Rose has been silent since taking over last month as Knicks team president, but he is expected to make his first front office move shortly.

A league source confirmed an SNY.TV report that Brock Aller, who has served as Dan Gilbert’s righthand man in Cleveland with the official title of Senior Director of Basketball Operations, is expected to join the Knicks front office within the next week.

Aller officially joined the Cavs in 2013 after working with Gilbert, the Cavs’ chairman and principal owner, for 10 years. He spent four seasons as the team’s Senior Director, Strategic Planning before being promoted to his current position in July 2017.

The Knicks were an Eastern conference 12th-best 21-45 this NBA season, which has been suspended since mid March due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Rick Carlisle amused by quick cameo in Michael Jordan documentary

Here’s ESPN.com with a fun item about Mavs coach Rick Carlisle:

Dallas Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle responded to his brief, not-so-glamorous appearance in the opening episode of ESPN’s “The Last Dance” with a wry bit of self-deprecating humor.

“There must have been an exhaustive search to find footage of me actually PLAYING in an NBA playoff game,” Carlisle wrote in a text reply to an inquiry about his thoughts on the clip that showed him as a Boston Celtics reserve guard being torched by Michael Jordan for a dunk after a baseline spin.

The first two episodes of The Last Dance were mostly introductory, setting the stage for the real meat of the series. There are eight more episodes, airing over the next four Sunday nights.

TV ratings: The 2020 WNBA Draft averaged 387,000 viewers on ESPN

The 2020 WNBA Draft averaged 387,000 viewers on ESPN, up 123 percent over the 2019 Draft, and up 33 percent from the last time it aired on the network in 2011. This makes it the most-watched WNBA Draft in 16 years, and the second most-watched in ESPN’s history.

Due to the global coronavirus pandemic, this year’s WNBA Draft was held virtually, using Internet video technology, with almost everyone shown on the screen at home.

Unanimous National Player of the Year Sabrina Ionescu of Oregon was selected by the New York Liberty with the first overall pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft. Ionescu, a three-time Nancy Lieberman Award winner as the nation’s top point guard, averaged 17.5 points, 8.6 rebounds and an NCAA-leading 9.1 assists as a senior. She holds the NCAA record for career triple-doubles and is the only NCAA woman or man to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 assists.

Before the start of the draft, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert named Alyssa Altobelli, Gianna Bryant and Payton Chester as honorary draft picks. The Mamba Sports Academy teammates, who played on a youth basketball team coached by Kobe Bryant, tragically passed away in a helicopter accident in January.

Also, the WNBA introduced the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, a new annual honor that will recognize an individual or group who has made significant contributions to the visibility, perception and advancement of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels. The award will carry on Kobe’ legacy of advocacy and Gigi’s passion for the sport.

Will Kevin Knox be a part of Knicks future?

Here’s the New York Post reporting on young Knicks swingman Kevin Knox, who has a lot of work to do to solidify his place in the league:

I’m told one of team president Leon Rose’s biggest regrets from the suspension of the season’s final 16 games because of the coronavirus was not getting a closer look at his enigmatic second-year forward. According to a source, Rose still doesn’t know what to make of Knox and doesn’t know if the 20-year-old is part of their future. That is despite Kentucky coach John Calipari’s warning not to trade Knox (Calipari and Rose are close.)

Right now, most players on the Knicks roster could very well be wearing different uniforms by the time next season rolls around.

Michael Porter Jr. showed nice flashes of talent for Nuggets this season

At 43-22, good for third best in the Western conference, the Denver Nuggets were one of the best teams in the league this season. Here’s the Denver Post on a talented young member of the squad’s supporting cast, Michael Porter Jr:

On Oct. 31 in New Orleans, Porter scored a team-high 15 points in his professional debut, but it came during an embarrassing pummeling to the Pelicans. It was unsettling because his personal triumph came amid a painful loss. To his credit, he struck the right tone.

For the next two months, he was a part of the revolving door at small forward, splitting time with Craig and Hernangomez. None of them found much rhythm, and Porter wasn’t getting the consistent minutes that would allow him to maintain confidence on offense or develop as a defender. Finally, in late December, he had his breakout game (19 points, 8-of-10 shooting) in his first start vs. the Kings. Two games later, at Indiana, he had the highlight of his season.

Porter hung a career-high 25 points against the Pacers and served as the catalyst for a significant road win. The degree of difficulty on some of the shots he hit that night validated some of the rumors that had trickled out of the Nuggets’ practice court.

Porter played sparingly, averaging 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds in 14.0 minutes per game, but he shot well: 49.5% from the field and 42.2% from three-point range. There’s every reason to believe he’ll keep improving.

The NBA season remains on hold due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

Spencer Dinwiddie onto Team Nigeria?

Here’s some interesting international basketball news, via the New York Post:

Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie is planning to acquire a Nigerian passport to play for Nigeria in the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, according to The Athletic.

Dinwiddie, who was not among the 44 players who were announced as finalists for spots on Team USA, can be eligible to play for Nigeria if he is successful in his quest for a passport. He confirm The Athletic’s report with a simple reply on his Twitter page.

“Well now y’all know lol,” Dinwiddie tweeted.

Dinwiddie had a good season for the Nets in 2019-20, and for many weeks was considered a contender to make the All-Star team.

Anthony Davis reportedly selling his house in Los Angeles

Here’s the Los Angeles Daily News with some NBA-related real estate news:

Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis, scheduled to become a free agent this summer, has listed his contemporary Mediterranean-style home in Westlake Village.

The asking price is $7.995 million.

Set atop two-plus acres in guard-gated North Ranch Country Club Estates, the five-bedroom, 15,815-square-foot house was built in 1996 and recently expanded and remodeled.

And more from the New York Post:

Dealt to the Lakers last summer, the 27-year-old Chicagoan can become an unrestricted free agent after the season if he declines his player option for 2020-21. Back in January, Davis turned down a maximum contract offer from the Lakers worth $146 million over four years, as he would be eligible for a larger contract with the Lakers by first becoming a free agent. The Lakers at the time maintained optimism they would be able to retain Davis, according to USA Today, while the superstar has danced around questions about his future.

And the Los Angeles Times:

The contemporary Mediterranean mansion sits behind gates with a guesthouse and a $1-million infinity-edge swimming pool complete with dual waterslides, a baja deck and a spa. But perhaps even more impressive: an attached basketball gymnasium featuring its own viewing box.

Custom-built in 1996 and later expanded, the roughly 16,000-square-foot house features a two-story entry with a curved staircase, a wood-paneled office and a movie theater. The kitchen is equipped with two islands. There are five bedrooms and seven bathrooms including a multi-room master suite.

The house is a bit small for our tastes, but feel free to place a bid if you don’t mind a cozy lifestyle.

No timetable yet for possible NBA season restart

The waiting game continues.

Except, this particular wait isn’t a game. It’s a global pandemic that has put many things on hold, including the NBA season, which has been paused since March 11.

Here’s NBC Sports Washington reporting Friday’s words of league commissioner Adam Silver:

It’s been over a month since the 2019-20 season was suspended following Rudy Gobert’s positive test for COVID-19 and commissioner Adam Silver was unable to give the update hoops fans are looking for Friday.

“As I sit here today, there’s too much unknown to set a timeline and even too much unknown to say, ‘Here are the variables,'” Silver said. “I would just say everything is on the table.”

Silver said on TNT a few weeks ago that the NBA wouldn’t be able to make a decision on the 2019-20 season before at least May 1. So don’t sound the alarms based on Silver’s uncertainty at this juncture.

The 2019-2020 regular season had been scheduled to end this past Wednesday. The playoffs had been scheduled to begin today, on Saturday.

Could Cole Anthony be the right pick for Knicks?

Here’s the New York Post reporting on guard Cole Anthony, who is going pro after one season at UNC:

The Knicks need a point guard and there is a highly rated one who lives just a few subway stops from the Garden. It could be a perfect match, one that Cole Anthony — the son of former Knicks guard Greg Anthony — would welcome.

“It would be pretty cool,” the Upper West Side native and one-and-done former North Carolina star told The Post in an exclusive interview. “I was a fan for a good amount of time. I do like the Knicks. I think they definitely can use a guard, a good scoring point guard. If that happens, it would be pretty cool to play in front of my little brother.” …

If the Knicks did take Anthony, he would join a young core that includes RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson and Kevin Knox. A lot of pressure would come with staying home, expectations to get the once-proud franchise back on track. But Anthony has dealt with pressure for most of his life, as the son of Greg Anthony and an elite recruit dating back to his freshman year of high school.

The draft is scheduled for June 25.