Rick Carlisle, Mavericks Agree Upon Five-Year, $35M Extension

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
The Dallas Mavericks have agreed upon a five-year extension with Rick Carlisle worth approximately $35 million.
Carlisle was widely believed to be in the final year of his second contract with the Mavs, but sources say the club actually held a little-known team option for the 2016-17 season.
Carlisle's deal is the richest in the NBA for any coach without a dual executive role.
Posted by Unknown at 6:07 AM 0 comments

Tim Duncan Believes Spurs Thinking Too Much

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
Tim Duncan believes the San Antonio Spurs are overthinking things this season as they work to incorporate LaMarcus Aldridge into the team.
“Everybody is trying to think the game,” said Duncan. “They’re trying to think the right way, they’re trying to make the right decision every time, and when you’re thinking too much, your normal reaction comes secondary. That pause and that hesitation takes something away from your game. We just have to get through that.”

Said Aldridge: “(Against the Wizards) I definitely went backwards as far as thinking. I got on the block and I was overthinking my moves and things like that. It’s going to be nights like this when you don’t make shots and you don’t play as well.”

Duncan believes the Spurs will figure things out in time.
“It’s a playing thing,” said Duncan. “It’s an experience thing. It’s a situational thing. It’s all those things. You can watch film and do all you want to, but the bottom line is when you’re out there on the floor and get put in those situations, you don’t know what to expect.”

Added Duncan: “That’s what the 82 games are for. We’re going to figure it out and guys are going to come around.”
Posted by Unknown at 6:03 AM 0 comments

Dunc'd On Pod: Brooksovan And Hoibergo?

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments


Breaking down Thursday's action, including OKC/CHI, MEM/POR, some belated thoughts on another Warriors/Clippers classic, plus an extended mailbag. 


Posted by Unknown at 6:02 AM 0 comments

NBA Has Had 50 Percent Drop In Black Coaches From Three Years Ago

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
There has been a 50 percent drop in black head coaches in the NBA from three years ago, the lowest total in 16 years.
"That's not enough," said Paul Silas, who is now retired after three decades in the NBA coaching ranks. "There are more guys that understand how to coach basketball. And they should have a chance."
From 2001-2014, the NBA averaged 11 black head coaches per season. On opening night in 2012, half of the NBA's 30 head coaches were people of color, including an all-time 14 black coaches.
The number has been declining ever since.
"I think it bears watching, to see what happens," said Alvin Gentry. "Five years from now, where are we going to be, from a numbers standpoint?"
Mark Tatum, the NBA's deputy commissioner, dismissed the downturn as "cyclical."
Over the last 10 years, white head coaches have lasted 3.2 seasons, on average, while black coaches have lasted just 2.85 seasons, according to a study of coaching tenures by Bleacher Report.
Turnover has been especially heavy in the last two-and-a-half years, with 29 coaches hired since the end of the 2012-13 season. Just 11 of those hires were black.
Posted by Unknown at 6:01 AM 0 comments

Harry Giles Commits To Duke

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments


Harry Giles has committed to Duke, picking the Blue Devils over Kentucky, Kansas and Wake Forest.
Giles suffered a partially torn right ACL this week and had previously torn the ACL in his left knee.
Giles is rated as the No. 1 recruit in the 2016 class by ESPN.
Giles will have the chance to play with Jayson Tatum, who is ESPN's No. 2 recruit.
"We were roommates in USA Basketball this past season," Tatum told ESPN. "When you spend over 30 days together, you either grow closer or apart. We got closer."

Jeff Capel was key in the recruitment of Giles.
"Jeff built a great relationship with Harry and that was key," Oak Hill assistant coach Cory Alexander said.

Posted by Unknown at 6:00 AM 0 comments

Gasol Brothers, Jabari Parker Leave Wasserman Media Group

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
There have been a number of departures from Wasserman Media Group following Arn Tellem's decision to take a job with the Detroit Pistons.
Marc Gasol, Pau Gasol and Jabari Parker have now left WMG.
Al Horford and Danilo Gallinari previously left the agency as well.

Posted by Unknown at 5:58 AM 0 comments

Kevin Durant: Westbrook And I Put Each Other On Best Player Pedestal

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
Kevin Durant said this week he believes Russell Westbrook is the best player on the Oklahoma City Thunder and was asked to explain the next day.
Durant labeled himself the world's best player in the past.
"That's how I feel. And he feels the same about me,” Durant said of Westbrook. “We hold each other on that pedestal. That's what makes us great teammates. I believe he's the best player in the world, and he believes the same about me. Of course I'm gonna say that. There's gonna be nights where I'm the best player on the team. There's gonna be nights where he's the best player on the team, when Dion (Waiters) is the best player on the team. That's how I feel about my teammates. A lot of people may read into it but any given night it's different."
Durant won the 2014 MVP, while Westbrook finished fourth last season despite missing several games due to injury.

Posted by Unknown at 5:57 AM 0 comments

Long Island Nets To Become Brooklyn's D-League Team

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
The NBA Development League and the Brooklyn Nets today announced that the club has acquired the right to own and operate an NBA D-League team. The new team, the Long Island Nets, will begin play in the 2016-17 season at Barclays Center in Brooklyn before relocating to its permanent home at the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the 2017-18 campaign.
The Nets become the record 12th NBA team to fully own and operate its NBA D-League affiliate, while the NBA D-League expands to a record 21 teams for the 2016-17 season.
“Today’s announcement is an exciting one – not only for the NBA D-League, which welcomes the league’s record 21st team; or the Nets, who will have a place for young talent to develop; but for Nets fans,” said Malcolm Turner, NBA D-League President. “The NBA D-League is a place where talented young athletes refine their skills and develop into NBA contributors, and fans in Brooklyn, and later on Long Island, are sure to enjoy watching current and future NBA talent in an affordable, family-friendly atmosphere. I’m excited to work with the Nets’ executive staff as we ramp up to the start of the 2016-17 season together.”
“The creation of a D-League club goes hand in hand with the building of a younger, more athletic Brooklyn Nets team,” said Brooklyn Nets Principal Owner Mikhail Prokhorov. “It will provide additional roster opportunities that will serve us well as we focus on realizing the full potential of our coaches and players, current and future.”

Posted by Unknown at 5:55 AM 0 comments

Kevin Love Wasn't The Player LeBron James Expected During First Season

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
LeBron James had admired Kevin Love's game for years before he called him in 2014 to convince him to join the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James and Love didn't know each other well before the 2012 Olympics and Love initially thought James was joking with him because of how much praise he was being given.
The Cavaliers had pursued a trade for Love over several seasons, but he had no interest in signing long-term until James signed.
The relationship of actually being teammates was not good initially and team officials now conceded James didn't treat Love very well last season.
Love showed up to camp out of shape and wasn't the player James was expecting. Love's legs and back bothered him all season.
Love approached James in Los Angeles before the start of free agency indicating he wanted a bigger role in the Cavaliers' offense, but it wasn't an ultimatum as he had already decided to re-sign.
“More than anything I just wanted to see what he thought about where the team was going and what we wanted to accomplish,” Love said. “It was always ‘we’ or ‘us.’ It was never like, ‘You need to tell me this.’ Never.”
James listened and was prepared to oblige with Love responding by reporting to camp in excellent shape.
James has called Love the focal point of the offense multiple times this season.
Love has a higher usage rate so far this season at 24.2 compared to 21.6 last season.
Posted by Unknown at 5:54 AM 0 comments

Tim Duncan: Porzingis Was Impressive, Skill Set Is There

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
Kristaps Porzingis had 13 points, 14 rebounds, two blocks and three steals against the San Antonio Spurs, impressing Tim Duncan in the process.
“He was impressive,” Duncan said. “He is a young guy, but his skill set is there.”
“I thought he had a brilliant game," Carmelo Anthony said. "I thought that this was one of his best games so far."
Posted by Unknown at 1:16 PM 0 comments

Kobe Bryant Excused From Practice For Being 'Really Angry' With Himself

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
Kobe Bryant was given the day off from practice on Monday following his disappointing performance in Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Byron Scott said Bryant was told to just come back on Tuesday since he was "really angry" with himself.
Bryant shot 3-for-15 from the floor and 2-for-8 on three-pointers.  
"I'm just playing like (expletive) right now. I'm getting the shots I want. I'm just not making them," said Bryant after the game.
Scott isn't worried about Bryant figuring it out.
"He’s going to get to the Kobe that we know. It’s just three games into the season."
Posted by Unknown at 1:15 PM 0 comments

J.R. Smith To Undergo MRI On Injured Right Knee

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
J.R. Smith will undergo an MRI on Tuesday to check out the extent of a right knee contusion.
David Blatt says he believes Smith locked legs with Nerlens Noel during the first quarter.
Blatt's demeanor while talking about Smith made the injury sound serious.
"We're anxiously waiting to see how he responds tonight and if necessary, he'll do an MRI tomorrow. But hopefully he's OK," Blatt said. "That's a scary thing."
Posted by Unknown at 1:04 PM 0 comments

Rajon Rondo Was Vlade Divac's First Choice In Free Agency

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
Rajon Rondo has played well for the Sacramento Kings to begin his tenure with the team and he's connected with DeMarcus Cousins.
"People that know me, know me," Rondo told Yahoo Sports. "I am the way I am. … They know my character. It is what it is. The perception the media gave me, the character of the person they made me, whoever they made me out to be, that's their prerogative. It doesn't affect me at all."

Rondo's reputation across the NBA had taken a hit following his injuries, inability to shoot from the perimeter and his occasionally mercurial personality.
"I like being the underdog," Rondo said.
Rondo turned down a five-year extension estimated to pay close to $70 million in hopes of landing a maximum contract later, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 18.
"I don't look at the past at all," Rondo said. "What's for me is what's for me. Everybody always talks about money, money, money. But for me it's all about happiness."
The Kings gave Rondo a one-year, $11 million contract.
"I knew he was going to be available," Divac told Yahoo Sports. "He was my first choice when I went after some free agents. Honestly, we weren't a perfect destination in free agency and that was something we could take advantage of. He works well for us.
"We have things to turn around. I was very honest with him. I knew people were talking. But this is a great opportunity not only for him, but for us. Honestly, we were probably the first ones to approach. Everyone was scared. I wasn't. As a player, I knew what he could do."
Posted by Unknown at 1:04 PM 0 comments

Terrence Ross, Raptors Agree Upon Three-Year, $33M Extension

Post by Unknown in | 0 comments
The Toronto Raptors and Terrence Ross have agreed upon a three-year extension worth nearly $33 million.
The Raptors will avoid allowing Ross to become a restricted free agent, who has become a reserve behind DeMar DeRozan and DeMarre Carroll.
Ross was the eighth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.
Posted by Unknown at 1:02 PM 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)