TJ Warren suffering from foot injury
J. Michael: McMillan says Warren’s foot injury is the same as Sabonis…plantar fasciitis #PacersRockets
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Salman Ali: Russell Westbrook with strained quadriceps muscle in his right leg. Will be out for Fridayās game against Philadelphia and re-evaluated before the playoffs pic.twitter.com/SQmjuMVwcX
The Boston Celtics have signed head coach Brad Stevens to a contract extension, the team announced today. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Stevens, who was named the franchiseās 17th head coach on July 3, 2013, has produced a 318-245 win-loss record (.565) in six-plus seasons with the Celtics. His 318 wins are the fourth-most by any Celtics coach in franchise history (795-Auerbach, 427-Heinsohn, 416-Rivers).
āBrad is an accomplished coach and an outstanding person,ā said Boston Celtics Lead Owner and Governor Wyc Grousbeck. āWe are proud to have him lead our team forward in our quest for Banner 18.ā āWe are thrilled that Brad Stevens will continue to be our coach,ā said Boston Celtics Co-Owner Steve Pagliuca. āHe has become one of the best coaches in the NBA and is a real leader on and off the court. This is a great day for the Boston Celtics.ā
āBrad is one of the most intelligent and hard-working coaches in the game today,ā said Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge. āMore importantly, his character and integrity have contributed to a culture that we all highly value here. Brad is a great teammate, and a leader people want to follow. We are honored to have him with us as we continue to pursue our next championship.ā
Eric Woodyard: Nate McMillan confirms that his extension is 1-year. “I just felt that, that was appropriate for both sides. Normally I don’t do any negotiations until after the end of the season. This has been an unusual season for all of us. Myself, the organization, the NBA,” he said.
Zero positive COVID-19 cases in latest batch of tests
Shams Charania: Zero NBA players tested positive for coronavirus out of 342 tested at Orlando campus since last results were announced Aug. 5, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
Joel Embiid set to return from ankle injury
Shams Charania: Philadelphia star Joel Embiid (left ankle) will return to 76ers lineup tonight against Toronto, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
He confirmed that Wednesday with IndyStar: “This has been done for a while now.” It was signed in July. And the Pacers came to him about it. Former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy said on ESPN’s Zach Lowe’s podcast last week that McMillan’s job was “in trouble” which led to speculation about who his replacement might be. With his deal being done for more than month, that clearly had no impact on the Pacers getting the deal done now.
“I’m looking forward to what we look like with all of those guys,” McMillan said. We haven’t had a lot of time to have them all together.” They haven’t had their other All-Star, Domantas Sabonis, in the restart because of a left foot issue (plantar fasciitis). “My hope is that we will be healthy next year and see what we can do with a full roster,” McMillan said. “I’ll have that opportunity and the organization thought it was only fair. It’s just another year but I’m OK with that.”
Myles Turner on Victor Oladipo rumors
Since heās come back to you guys, thereās been some noise about him looking ahead towards his free agency. And, you know, youāve been around the league long enough now where you see this stuff all the time, but teams like the Heat get mentioned. From your perspective, what do you make of that free agency talk a year in advance? Myles Turner: I mean, itās just the media doing what the media does. They have to gaslight certain situations, and you know I donāt think much of it, because like you said, itās really a year out. Ultimately, itās going to be up to him and the decision he wants to make, or the decision the front office wants to make. So, until then, all you can do is control what you can control and just hoop on the floor. I think if he continues to be himself, then he can kind of create his own destiny, so I donāt pay much attention to all that stuff.
Four bubbles next season?
Meanwhile, there is talk of as many as four bubbles next season, according to sources. Given the leagueās current success housing 22 teams at the Wide World of Sports Complex, a return to Disney is a given, as is using Las Vegas, the runner-up to Orlando this year. There just isnāt another city that far west (any city in California, right now, is a non-starter, given the explosion of COVID cases there) with the hotel space and big-event experience of Vegas. One source says New York and the Dallas-Fort Worth area are two other potential bubble cities; New York not only has what would be an otherwise empty Madison Square Garden in Manhattan and Barclays Center in Brooklyn as venues, but also Basketball City, the longtime midtown Manhattan venue by the Hudson with numerous courts available, for potential practices.
Pacers extend Nate McMillan's contract
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: Indiana Pacers coach Nate McMillan has agreed on a contract extension. https://t.co/btfZFQHvht
Derrick Favors hopes to be back with Pelicans
āI think I handled it well,ā Favors said of transitioning from Utah to New Orleans. āObviously, a new team and new environment after being in Utah the past eight, nine years, just coming into a new environment, it was challenging and it was fun at the same time. I think I did good. I came in and really just played my role, did my job as a vet, kept guys ready, kept young guys ready, teaching them everything I could help them with and it was fun. āI enjoyed it. I enjoyed the role I was in, I enjoyed being around the young guys, being around this organization. Hopefully, I can come back but weāll see what happens.ā
Earl Watson: Damian Lillard was approached by super team
Earl Watson: Since @Dame_Lillard wonāt say it, I will! Before Dameās last extension he was approached to join a super team! He immediately called me & Iām assuming itās because he respects me! I asked him, āwhat do you want to doā?! He didnāt waste a second before he responded, āBig EJ, I want to stay in Portland, build it with my teammates & beat every mf super teamā! My response was, āReal ones do things others are afraid to endureā! He didnāt waste a second before he responded, āBig EJ, I want to stay in Portland, build it with my teammates & beat every mf super teamā! My response was, āReal ones do things others are afraid to endureā!
Ante Zizic to Israel?
Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ante Zizic have agreed to terms on a two year deal, reports journalist Moses Barda. Croatian center will join Maccabi after the end of his brief NBA spell with Cleveland, despite a strong interest by Real Madrid.
Giannis Antetokounmpo regrets headbutting Moe Wagner
“Terrible action,” Antetokounmpo said. “If I could go back, turn back time and go back to that play, I wouldn’t do it. But at the end of the day, we’re all human, we all make mistakes. I think I’ve done a great job all year, in my career at keeping my composure and focus on the game, but at the end of the day, we’re human and make mistakes. But at the end of the day, you learn from it, keep playing good basketball and keep moving forward.”
Paul George, Damian Lillard clear the air
Before things got any worse, Paul George wanted to make sure things didn’t escalate any further. According to Chris Haynes, that’s exactly what George did. “George recently reached out to Damian Lillard to clear the air,” Haynes said. “Explaining that he had no beef, and clarifying that it was just competitive banter on his part.” Despite how upset Lillard seemed at the Clippers, he was willing to hear George out. “Lillard apologized remarks made by one of his family members, but stated why he said what he said after that loss to the Clippers,” Haynes said.
CJ McCollum playing through back fracture
CJ McCollum had a rough night from the field for the Trail Blazers Tuesday, but he’s playing with a serious injury.
Will Guillory: From what we heard from Jrue Holiday and Brandon Ingram today, it seems both guys are optimistic about the team’s future and are looking forward to coming back next year. BI is a restricted free agent. Jrue has one year left on his deal and a player option for the 2021-22 season
Andre Iguodala to retire in one year or two
Just as practiced ended, Miami Heat forward Andre Iguodala disappeared into the weight room. He then returned to the gym so he could stretch out his 36-year-old body on a yoga mat. It has become almost a yearly tradition. Iguodala remains a valued star on a contending championship team. He also foreshadows an imminent expiration date. āI have about a year or two left,ā Iguodala told USA TODAY Sports. āIām serious this time. I got two left.ā
Terrence Ross back in the bubble
Orlando Magic guard Terrence Ross has rejoined the bubble after negative, non-COVID-19 test results and is in quarantine protocol.
No Philly: Vasilje Micic staying in Turkey
Anadolu Efes will count on Vasilije Micic for the upcoming 2020-21 season, Micicās agent Misko Raznatovic confirmed on Twitter.
Executive of the Year award: Rob Pelinka getting no love
Among the voting constituents sampled, there seemed to be little support for the candidacy of Los Angeles GM Rob Pelinka, who helped a massive turnaround to vault the Lakers into the top seed in the West. In back-to-back years, Pelinka landed top-10 players in James and then Davis. He cleared out cap space and pivoted fast to get key supporting players such as Danny Green and Avery Bradley after holding out for days waiting to see if Leonard would sign with the Lakers. And he helped hold the team together after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, who was one of Pelinka’s closest friends.
DeAndre Ayton responds to Draymond Green's comments
“I need my man somewhere he can play great basketball all the time and win because he’s that type of player.” Suns big man Deandre Ayton was asked about Draymond’s opinion during a guest appearance on “The Woj Pod” with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. “We definitely heard that noise. It was promoted everywhere,” the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft said. “It’s just outside noise. Book is a dude who really maintains focus, and he just wants to win. He’s a competitor at the highest peak there is in this league. “It’s contagious. Seeing how he plays out there every day — it just spreads. Him and I being the head honchos leading, so any noise like that is nonexistent to me.”
Kyle Kuzma wins game for Lakers
Kyle Kuzma was the hero as the Los Angeles Lakers trumped the Denver Nuggets 124-121 in the NBA on Monday. Kuzma nailed a three-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining to see the Lakers past Western Conference rivals the Nuggets at Walt Disney World Resort. The Lakers forward finished with 25 points in Orlando, while LeBron James put up a double-double of 29 points and 12 assists as Anthony Davis contributed 27 points.
Alvin Gentry about to be fired?
The worst-kept secret in the NBA is that Gentryās time with the Pelicans wonāt last much longer. Names of potential replacements have already been floated in the media, and the season isnāt even over yet.
Adrian Wojnarowski: There’s optimism that the Embiid ankle injury isn’t serious and that he’ll be back soon, sources tell ESPN.
NBA Draft lottery to be held virtually on Aug. 20
Shams Charania: The NBA plans to hold the Aug. 20 Draft Lottery virtually, with 14 team representatives appearing via virtual display, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
Terrence Ross leaves Orlando bubble
Adrian Wojnarowski: Orlandoās Terrence Ross leaves The Bubble for off-site testing. “Orlando Magic guard Terrence Ross had to leave the NBA campus following Sunday’s game against Boston due to a personal, non-Covid medical matter, which required him to undergo some off-site tests as advised by league physicians. Ross will be out tomorrow against Brooklyn and his availability moving forward will depend on test results and NBA quarantine protocols.”
Josh Robbins: Terrence Ross left the NBA bubble after Sunday’s game to undergo off-site tests for a non-Covid medical issue, Magic officials said. Ross will not play in Tuesday’s game against the Nets, and his availability after that will depend on test results and NBA quarantine protocols.
The most obvious area where a drastic change could be made immediately is in the coaching ranks. Gentry has been on the hot seat practically since the day he arrived in New Orleans, and when a team hires a new executive, itās usually a matter of time before the boss gets antsy and decides to make a change. The worst-kept secret in the NBA is that Gentryās time with the Pelicans wonāt last much longer. Names of potential replacements have already been floated in the media, and the season isnāt even over yet.
Chris Haynes: Yahoo Sources: NBA teams that have been mathematically eliminated on or before Aug. 12 will depart campus immediately after their final game has ended. Following game, teams will shower in designated rooms at the Coronado Springs Resort, receive meal and take team bus to airport.
Sticking with basketball, do you continue to consider you bought robbed by the referees within the 2006 finals? Mark Cuban: 100 p.c. Due to ineptitude or one thing else? Mark Cuban: Ineptitude plus one thing else. Iāve had refs inform me that I wasnāt their favourite individual. In order that they have been screwing you deliberately? Mark Cuban: With out query.
Did you speak to the league about that? Mark Cuban: I did. They investigated it and mentioned they couldnāt show it. That yr was the final yr, as a result of I raised such hell, when many of the refereeing assignments within the finals have been based mostly on seniority. Now thereās an try and make it based mostly on job efficiency. As soon as I went via the record, proper round that 2006 timeframe, of all of the just lately employed referees. I used to be curious the place we have been hiring these folks from. These werenāt refs that have been within the pressure-cooker video games, Indiana-Purdue, Duke-North Carolina video games. They have been from these small conferences. Iām like, Why are we hiring refs from these small conferences? Seems that the man who was answerable for officiating for these small conferences was the previous coach of the individual chargeable for hiring the referees. There was this connection between the 2 of them, and so he wasnāt hiring one of the best. We employed any individual from the Rucker League! I donāt even wish to go into all the small print. It was a joke.
Letās get into that dialog. Mark Cuban: White folks donāt like to speak about race. Itās uncomfortable for a white individual to say the time period āwhite raceā or āwhite people,ā as a result of thereās a right away affiliation with white supremacists. And while you use the time period āwhite privilege,ā folks get defensive. āI canāt be a racist.ā We attempt to say, āI see everybody the same,ā however I realized once we went via our sexual-harassment problem that treating all people the identical isnāt the identical as treating all people equally. I used to assume that if I advised a silly joke to David, I might inform a silly joke to Sue and I might inform a silly joke to an African-American as a result of I didnāt assume that it was racist, and if Iām colorblind, I canāt be a part of the issue.
Mark Cuban: George Floydās loss of life, it modified me. It actually did ā listening to our African-American gamers discuss private experiences and seeing the ubiquity of all of it. Like, after Trayvon Martinās loss of life, I talked about strolling down the road and the way I might cross to the opposite facet if I noticed a black child with a hoodie or a white bald man with tattoos coming towards me. That was my method of claiming: āI donāt see color. I try to evaluate each person individually, but I have prejudices that all people have.ā I receivedāt say that anymore. Colorblind isnāt the best way to be. Youāve bought to acknowledge the variations. When folks discuss Black Lives Matter, theyāre not saying white lives donāt matter; theyāre saying that black folks and completely different ethnicities have been mistreated. And while you see any individual whoās mistreated, you assist them. Thatās what I got here to comprehend.
Montrezl Harrell back in the Orlando bubble
Montrezl Harrell: Iām back!!!!!!!!
Joel Embiid hurt
The Sixers’ number of available All-Stars has dropped from two to zero this week. Joel Embiid left Sunday’s game vs. the Portland Trail Blazers in the first quarter with a left ankle injury and the Sixers fell, 124-121. They’re now 42-28 and next play the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
