The Detroit Pistons announced today that the team has named David Mincberg as assistant general manager. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Mincberg comes to Detroit from Milwaukee where he spent three seasons with the Bucks, including this past season as Vice President of Basketball Strategy.
Storyline: Pistons Front Office
219 rumors in this storyline
More Rumors in this Storyline
Pistons hiring David Mincberg as assistant general manager
Adrian Wojnarowski: Detroit Pistons assistant GM Pat Garrity will be departing the organization, sources tell ESPN. His contract was expiring and new GM Troy Weaver is starting to reshape the front office.
The Thunder have been in this position before. For the fourth time in their 12 seasons, the Thunder have lost an assistant general manager to another team. It’s a testament to the sharp minds general manager Sam Presti has surrounded himself with in Oklahoma City. This time is a little different. Troy Weaver was different, from his eye for talent (documented by The Athletic’s James Edwards III) to his truth-telling style, from his storytelling to his trash-talking.
Weaver — the Thunder’s vice president of basketball operations for the last seven seasons — bridged the gap between executive and player better than any high-ranking front-office member in the Thunder’s history. It’s why so many players who’ve come through Oklahoma City were overjoyed when Weaver was named the general manager of the Detroit Pistons on June 18. When Thunder guard Chris Paul picked up his phone and saw Weaver was hired in Detroit, he called and congratulated him. Even before Weaver was hired — when there were reports Weaver was in the running for the Detroit GM job — Paul called then, too.
It was Weaver who helped Paul’s transition from Houston to Oklahoma City. “Personally, I had a tricky summer being traded when I didn’t know I was going to be traded, and Troy made my transition so smooth,” Paul said last week. “I can’t imagine going through last summer without someone like Troy.” Many former players can’t imagine their Thunder experience without Weaver.
To wit: Weaver was the only candidate to interview with the Pistons’ owner, Tom Gores, according to a person familiar with the search who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. Beyond maximizing the Pistons’ forthcoming high draft pick and some newfound financial flexibility after the February moves to jettison Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, Weaver’s immediate challenges include learning his new terrain and meshing with the various voices in Detroit after spending the last 12 seasons in Oklahoma City. Gores leans heavily on Arn Tellem, the longtime power agent who serves as Detroit’s chairman, and Ed Stefanski, who will remain with the Pistons in his position as a senior adviser to Gores.
To wit: Weaver was the only candidate to interview with the Pistons’ owner, Tom Gores, according to a person familiar with the search who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. Beyond maximizing the Pistons’ forthcoming high draft pick and some newfound financial flexibility after the February moves to jettison Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson, Weaver’s immediate challenges include learning his new terrain and meshing with the various voices in Detroit after spending the last 12 seasons in Oklahoma City. Gores leans heavily on Arn Tellem, the longtime power agent who serves as Detroit’s chairman, and Ed Stefanski, who will remain with the Pistons in his position as a senior adviser to Gores.
Although team owner Tom Gores and Stefanski have conceded that the Pistons are beginning a rebuild, Weaver isn’t so quick to use that term. “This isn’t a rebuild — it’s a restoring. There’s been greatness here,” Weaver said Monday in his virtual introductory press conference. “The Motor City deserves a consistent winner back on the floor.”
“You have two veteran big-time players that are looking to restore their careers: Blake Griffin, who is a perennial All-Star, and Derrick Rose. Both guys have had some injury history and they’re looking forward to building their careers back,” Weaver said. “That stood out and we’re excited to get them healthy and help us moving forward. “The second piece is the young players on the roster: Sekou (Doumbouya), (Luke) Kennard, Bruce Brown and Svi (Mykhailiuk) and (Christian) Wood. We feel like we have a good mixture of young guys with those two staples to start there.”
Weaver, Gores, Casey, Stefanski and Pistons vice chairman Arn Tellem were all on the video conference Monday. “I always recognized Troy as one of the top talent evaluators – you just look at the finished products in OKC, he had a big part of doing that. Not only that, he’s a man of his word,” Casey said. “He’s genuine, he’s real, and I will say this, and in today’s time, with all the unrest, here’s an opportunity for an African American man to be named to this position, and I’m going to credit Tom and Arn and Ed for opening up the door for the opportunity for him to step in.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons Ed Stefanski on front office structure: “I see myself as the senior adviser to Tom Gores…I’m all about winning. We all have egos.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons GM Troy Weaver on the roster: “You have two veteran, big-time players looking to restore their careers (Griffin and Rose). Both guys have had some injury history and looking forward to building their careers back. We’re excited to get them healthy.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons team owner Tom Gores on new GM Troy Weaver: “It’s an exciting day to be able to bring a person the caliber of Troy to Detroit.”
Eric Woodyard: Pistons Owner Tom Gores on hiring new GM Troy Weaver: “We just felt it was time to go big or go home.” Gores said they tried to talk with him a few years ago, too, but OKC wasn’t ready to let him go.
Rod Beard: #Pistons Gores: “He’s the GM, no doubt about it; he’s in charge of a lot of decisions … he has a great grasp of our basketball team and the roster, but I like his leadership.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons GM Troy Weaver: “This isn’t a rebuild — it’s a restoring. There’s been greatness here.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons coach Dwane Casey on new GM Troy Weaver: “We’re rebuilding our roster and Troy brings a tremendous amount of experience. He’s one of those guys who has a knack for talent … the next couple of years of developing our roster is a key team in our organization.” via @NBATV
Adrian Wojnarowski: Troy Weaver agreed to a four-year contract as GM, sources tell ESPN.
Pistons to hire Troy Weaver as general manager
Rod Beard: Confirmed that the deal is done and Troy Weaver is the #Pistons’ new general manager. Woj first.
Mike Dunleavy, JR Holden on Pistons' radar
Nets director of player personnel J.R. Holden and Warriors assistant GM Mike Dunleavy are among the executives on the Pistons’ radar as they look to add to their front office, per SNY sources. Holden had a remarkable Euroleague playing career and worked for both the 76ers and Pistons in scouting roles before Nets GM Sean Marks added him as director of player personnel last year.
Dunleavy Jr., a 15-year NBA veteran, started scouting with Golden State in 2018 and was promoted to assistant general manager last season. Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson and Thunder VP of basketball operations Troy Weaver are among the top candidates for the Pistons’ opening, SNY sources confirm.
James Edwards III: I’m told that the #Pistons’ plan is still to hire a GM first and then allow that person to fill out his team. Unless things fall through, expect assistant GMs to be named after GM is hired.
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: Three serious candidates have emerged for the Detroit Pistons GM job: Clippers assistant GM Mark Hughes, Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson and Thunder VP of Basketball Operations Troy Weaver. Those conversations are continuing this week.
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN Sources: Three serious candidates have emerged for the Detroit Pistons GM job: Clippers assistant GM Mark Hughes, Nets assistant GM Jeff Peterson and Thunder VP of Basketball Operations Troy Weaver. Those conversations are continuing this week.
Pistons eyeing Troy Weaver as GM?
Marc Stein: Longtime Thunder executive Troy Weaver has emerged as the top choice in Detroit’s search for a new GM, @NYTSports has learned, with the Pistons actively working to complete a deal to hire Weaver
Vincent Goodwill: Sources to @YahooSports: Major hurdles have been cleared to pave way for OKC’s Troy Weaver to become Detroit Pistons new GM. Both sides want to make this happen
Pistons eyeing Troy Weaver as GM?
Marc Stein: Longtime Thunder executive Troy Weaver has emerged as the top choice in Detroit’s search for a new GM, @NYTSports has learned, with the Pistons actively working to complete a deal to hire Weaver
Vincent Goodwill: Sources to @YahooSports: Major hurdles have been cleared to pave way for OKC’s Troy Weaver to become Detroit Pistons new GM. Both sides want to make this happen
Pistons interested in hiring Chauncey Billups as an assistant GM
The organization would also welcome a reunion with Chauncey Billups, who has maintained that he is interested in being hired only as general manager, according to a source. The Pistons would prefer to hire Billups, who has no NBA executive experience, as an assistant, where he could learn the ins and outs of working in a front office.
After hiring a general manager, the front office will begin its search for an assistant. The goal is to find someone light on experience who could eventually grow into a larger role within the organization. The timing of the decision to fill one or both positions shows that the organization is committing to change. Per a source, the team is prioritizing diversity in both searches. Former Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince, who is currently the vice president of basketball affairs for the Memphis Grizzlies, is a candidate for the assistant GM job.
The Pistons are in the market for their first general manager since 2018, but it remains to be seen if the role will be filled for the 2020-21 season. Sources told The Athletic that while the team’s focus is on hiring for that job, Detroit could consider hiring multiple assistant general managers instead. The timing of the hires and what roles will be filled will be dependent upon how the search pans out, per a source. Assistant GM Malik Rose left the team earlier this week for a role with the NBA.
Among those who could be on the consider list for the assistant GM job? Former Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince, now the Grizzlies’ vice president of basketball affairs. Prince has been working in Memphis’ front office only since 2017, so it appears the team would target him only for an assistant general manager position.
The Pistons also have had interest for many years in finding an assistant general manager job for former point guard Chauncey Billups. Per a source, Billups, to this point, has shown interest only in lead GM jobs if he is to make the leap from TV analyst to a team executive.
It appears the team would prefer an experienced candidate for the GM job, someone who can step in and make an immediate impact. With Detroit rebuilding and focusing on young talent, a decision-maker with an eye for player evaluation and drafting seems to be of the utmost importance. The Pistons are likely to hold high lottery picks for the foreseeable future, and building the organization through young, cost-friendly talent appears to be their best path back toward relevancy.
Eric Woodyard: As Detroit continues its GM search, multiple sources tell ESPN that the Pistons haven’t requested permission to interview former Piston Tayshaun Prince for the role. Prince is currently Memphis’ Vice President of Basketball Affairs and wasn’t on Detroit’s initial interview list.
Ryan McDonough about Pistons GM candidates
Malik Rose leaving Pistons
Stefan Bondy: Detroit assistant GM Malik Rose is leaving the organization to take a job with the NBA, according to multiple sources. The Pistons are searching for a new GM to work with Ed Stefanski.
A league source confirmed Tuesday to The Detroit News that the Pistons are looking to add a general manager, who will report to Stefanski. It’s an opportunity to add another voice to the front office who will assume more of the day-to-day responsibilities.
A league source confirmed Tuesday to The Detroit News that the Pistons are looking to add a general manager, who will report to Stefanski. It’s an opportunity to add another voice to the front office who will assume more of the day-to-day responsibilities.
Rod Beard: The #Pistons still are working on their list of candidates for their GM opening. One would have to think that Tayshaun Prince would be on that list, along with possibly Chauncey Billups.
Vincent Goodwill: Ed Stefanski will remain at the top of basketball operations for the Pistons, if they hire a GM, a source tells Yahoo Sports. Pistons have been quietly vetting candidates since before the league shutdown, according to sources. @Adrian Wojnarowski first on official news of search
Rod Beard: A league source confirms the #Pistons are opening a search for a general manager, but there is no timeline to complete the process.
Pistons looking for a GM to work with Ed Stefanski
The Detroit Pistons are opening a search to hire a general manager to work with senior adviser Ed Stefanski, sources told ESPN. Detroit plans to begin contacting potential candidates to start an interview process this week, sources said.
Stefanski will be working with Pistons and Palace Sports vice chairman Arn Tellem on the process to hire a GM, sources said. The new GM will work closely with Stefanski and coach Dwane Casey on personnel matters. Stefanski and Casey were hired in 2018.
Vincent Ellis: But some #Pistons tidbits. Everyone is expected back from coaching, front office. Coaching consultant Corey Gaines was on a one-year deal, but could return.
Rod Beard: #Pistons Ed Stefanski: “This is a plan. We’re not going at warp speed because we don’t have the flexibility to go warp speed. Would I want to go warp speed? Yes. We have to make good decisions. We can’t bring in players that we’re not sure of on pretty expensive contracts.”
Rod Beard: Senior adviser Ed Stefanski on #Pistons Wired podcast: “I will tell the fans I’m not going to make a deal that could hurt us going forward that could be instant relief but could be only for this season and then we could have issues going forward. That makes no sense to me.”
Rod Beard: Senior adviser Ed Stefanski on #Pistons Wired podcast on whether they’re buyers or sellers at the deadline: “Neither. We’re in a hold (position).” He said he’ll likely wait until the trade deadline on Feb. 7 to make a decision.
DFP: Going into trade season, what are you trying to get accomplished? Ed Stefanski: “We as a front office, we talk to the league on a regular basis, finding out from teams what their philosophy may be right now, but the thing is, it always changes. A lot of teams — trying to make the playoffs — will wait to see where they are at the trade deadline in February to discern whether they are buyers or sellers. The majority of teams are waiting. Teams that are struggling mightily may be sellers right now and if there’s a deal out there, they’ll pull the trigger, but like every year, more trades are going to occur closer to the deadline.”
DFP: Besides the obvious issue of creating a future problem to solve a current one, can you further explain the reluctance to create a better cap situation at all costs? Ed Stefanski: “We’re in cap restrictions right now. We were this past free agency and we will be again the next free agency. If we had to get off assets for cap relief, with our cap situation it really wouldn’t improve more than what we already have — the midlevel exception — for next year. We wouldn’t improve substantially so to use assets to get off some of the contracts you may want to get off — I’m not saying we want to — but to do something like that? It still wouldn’t create a lot of room.”
DFP: Has Blake Griffin exceeded expectations? Ed Stefanski: “I didn’t know what to expect from Blake. In talking to him this summer, he mentioned this is the first summer in a while he’d been totally healthy and I think it’s shown. He’s very difficult (to defend), he’s a force out there, he’s playing at an All-Star level. I enjoy watching how the other teams want to come out and play him. A lot of teams get physical with him, … teams bring double teams, teams bring triple teams and he’s been real good at finding the open man. … Most of this year he’s found the open man and we run a lot of our offense through him.”
The Detroit Pistons announced today that Sachin Gupta has been named assistant general manager. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Vincent Ellis: The Detroit Pistons announce Sachin Gupta has been named assistant general manager. He will oversee analytics, source tells the Free Press.
James Edwards III: The Detroit #Pistons have announced the hiring of Gregg Polinsky as director of player personnel. He’s been with the Nets since 1999 in various scouting and personnel positions.
The Pistons have hired Gregg Polinsky as director of player personnel, a league source confirmed to The Detroit News on Thursday. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported the hiring. In his new role with the Pistons, Polinsky he will oversee the scouting department and report to senior adviser Ed Stefanski. The two worked together previously with the Brooklyn Nets.
Vincent Ellis: Aside from Nets exec Gregg Polinsky joining #Pistons front office, Pat Garrity and Andrew Loomis, holdovers from SVG staff, are here in Vegas and are likely to remain.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Detroit has hired Brooklyn’s Gregg Polinsky as Director of Player Personnel, league sources tell ESPN. Ed Stefanski and Polinsky worked together for years with the Nets. Polinsky will take on a larger front office role with Pistons.
James Edwards III: The Detroit #Pistons have also officially named Malik Rose as assistant general manager.
Marc J. Spears: Former NBA forward Malik Rose is expected to be hired as the @Detroit Pistons assistant general manager tomorrow, a source told @TheUndefeated. The two-time champion has been the @Atlanta Hawks basketball operations manager since 2015.
Shams Charania: Sources: Atlanta Hawks executive Malik Rose has agreed to a deal to become assistant general manager of the Detroit Pistons.
James Edwards III: Stefanski echoes Van Gundy’s thoughts when the trade for Griffin went down: “I’d rather have Blake than whoever we’d get at No. 12”
Rod Beard: #Pistons Gores says Ed Stefanski “could be named the GM tomorrow” but he’s not concerned about the title. In other words, he’s that dude.
James Edwards III: Gores on Ed Stefanski: “Ed is worried about making us one of the most dynamic front offices in the entire league. … Ed can do anything, and he’s willing to.”
Rod Beard: #Pistons Gores on Casey: “We’re very fortunate in Detroit to get Dwane.”
James Edwards III: For all of those who still are unsure or unclear, Ed Stefanski was just introduced as “leader of our front office.”
James Edwards III: In the front office, the #Pistons were looking for a young, promising person to put in the mix. Rose fits the bill. And given the new structure of the front office, it’s unclear if he’ll be labeled as “general manager.” But he’ll be involved.
Shams Charania: The Detroit Pistons have offered a front office role to Atlanta Hawks executive Malik Rose and sides are in conversations toward deal, league sources tell Yahoo. Rose was awarded G League Executive of Year this season with Erie.
The Pistons stayed aggressive in pursuit of Casey, and closed on a deal Monday morning to land the franchise’s primary coaching target. Owner Tom Gores and senior adviser Ed Stefanski sold Casey with an aggressive contractual commitment and a case that together, they could make the Pistons a perennial playoff team in the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons are also in the market for a general manager and some NBA officials speculate former Pistons standout Tayshaun Prince could be the leader. The Pistons, league sources said, want to fill the GM position with a former NBA player.
Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka meeting with Pistons owner Tom Gores today, according to sources. Dwane Casey met with Gores yesterday. Pistons very impressed with Casey, appears to be leader at this point
Dwane Casey met with Detroit owner Tom Gores on Tuesday, league sources tell ESPN — and now, Michigan’s John Beilein has pulled out of Pistons search. Beilein had talked separately with Gores and Detroit management in process, league sources said.
Vincent Ellis: In the wake of GM Jeff Bower leaving the #Pistons, I gather assistant GM Pat Garrity is a strong candidate to have a role in #Pistons front office.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Houston Rockets executive Gersson Rosas has withdrawn as a candidate from the Detroit Pistons GM/senior basketball leadership search, league sources tell ESPN.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Amid a regime change, Detroit and GM Jeff Bower have parted ways, league sources tell ESPN. Bower has been a GM for two playoff franchises, as well an an NBA and NCAA head coach.
Vincent Ellis: Another name to add to the #Pistons front office search: Malik Rose, Atlanta #Hawks manager of basketball operations and GM for the Hawks’ G-League affiliate in Erie, Pa.
Zach Lowe: Note on Pistons continuing front-office search: Shane Battier has withdrawn from consideration for a leading front-office role in Detroit, sources tell ESPN. Rod Beard: #Nets Trajan Langdon is still the name to watch here.
Zach Lowe: Note on Pistons continuing front-office search: Shane Battier has withdrawn from consideration for a leading front-office role in Detroit, sources tell ESPN.
July 14, 2020 | 3:03 am EDT Update
Even with his upcoming supermax decision full of uncertainty, with the new realities of the league in effect following the pandemic, Milwaukee’s front office isn’t worried about opposing players trying to potentially recruit him. “Zero. We can only control what we can control. If it’s considered tampering or recruiting or whatever it is, in our league people talk, people are connected, people have relationships,” said Bucks GM Jon Horst. “At the end of the day, I have full confidence in my personal relationship, our league’s relationship, our coach’s relationship, his teammate’s relationship with Giannis in what we’re doing and what we’re about.
Exactly one month before announcing he’s tested positive for COVID-19, Russell Westbrook was hanging poolside at Encore Beach Club at Wynn Las Vegas. Westbrook was with a group of friends, including former NFL running back Reggie Bush, fashion jeweler Greg Yuna, bodybuilders and trainers Mike Rashid and Valeriu Guto and Wynn club host Jai Shaun White at the outdoor dayclub on June 13. The group posed for a photo at one of the party space’s VIP bungalows.
Responding to a question asking if Westbrook had contracted the virus at the hotel, Wynn Las Vegas referred to company policy that it does not disclose personal information about guests. Generally, the statement read: “Any guest diagnosed with COVID-19 while visiting the resort is reported to the Southern Nevada Health District, which conducts community contact tracing. Our internal contact tracing determines who in the resort the guest has had contact with and what areas they visited; relevant contacts are informed for testing and the areas visited are thoroughly sanitized.
Lydecia Holmes: You only cross the line for your MOMA’s COOKING! AND I WAS NOT IN FLORIDA SIR!! #lol @Rich_Holmes22 . Love you baby!
“Guys make mistakes. The Postmates — you learn,” Portland Trail Blazers center Hassan Whiteside said Monday, referring to the popular online delivery service. “I think more mistakes made as we go on, but guys are learning what you can and can’t do. This is new to everybody. So it’s a learning lesson.”
Denver Nuggets guard Troy Daniels posted two images of his meal to his Instagram story when he first arrived inside the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World last Tuesday. The post immediately went viral as social media jokes were made comparing the entrees to the meals “Fyre Fest” distributed. “It’s actually not that bad man, to be honest with you,” Daniels tells ClutchPoints from inside the bubble. “I think my picture that went viral really took everything out of context.” He then went on to explain how he really feels about the bubble. “You can tell the NBA put a lot of thought and a lot of money into it,” Daniels said. “Once you get out of the quarantine process, it’s really dope.”
Ben Simmons to play power forward?
Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown said Monday he has been playing All-Star Ben Simmons “exclusively” at power forward in practices inside the NBA bubble at Walt Disney World Resort and has been thrilled by what he’s seen. “He’s so dynamic,” Brown said on a conference call with reporters. “Let’s just talk about running. There’s nobody faster in the NBA. So to always have the ball and dribble it up against five guys … to do that dilutes some of his potent weapons. “So, watching him fly up the floor, watching him and Joel [Embiid] play off each other, has been a really good look. I think they’ve been fantastic together.”
Gratitude to be working during a time when he said “there’s not a lot of hope.” Gratitude for the opportunity to again inspire, playing the game he loves. Gratitude for his basketball career breathing another life. Gratitude for the opportunity to compete for a championship with the team that, just under three weeks away from the restart, owns the third-best record (44-20) and title odds in the league. “I feel really blessed to be in this situation. In September, I had a freak accident and cut my achilles,” Noah said, referencing an incident in which he sliced his achilles — crucially, not rupturing it — while carrying a steel ice tub, which required six-plus months of rehab. “And you know I told myself that’s just not how I wanted to end my career. So the day after the surgery I was in the gym working out, with the hope of making this team.”
“He looks great,” said Clippers coach Doc Rivers. “I don’t know if this stoppage has helped any single player more than him, because he was not healthy when we signed him, and now he is. And so, you know, I think he’s gonna help us on the floor, but even if he doesn’t, he’s just gonna help us with his presence, and his voice. I think he’ll be invaluable for Zu(bac).”
For Conley, this latest round of training camp represents a polar opposite from his initial foray in a Utah Jazz uniform. He’s comfortable now. He knows what to expect from his coach, from his teammates, from the front office. It’s no secret that the season hasn’t been easy for him, especially when it came to adapting to a new system for the first time since matriculating from high school to Ohio State. But what seems to have been a painfully long integration now appears to be a thing of the past. “It feels like I’ve played a full season already,” Conley said. “I’ve had a chance to build chemistry with my coaches and with my teammates. I haven’t had any questions about plays or my role. I have a clear picture on what to expect.”
For the second straight media availability, head coach Doc Rivers was non-committal when asked about Leonard’s health status and the team’s plan with his injury management. “I don’t know that yet,” Rivers said of Leonard’s limitations with minutes and back-to-backs. “But no limits. Kawhi is healthy, for the most part. That still doesn’t mean that we don’t want to maintain him and get him through the first eight games and get ready for the playoffs. We want to be smart about this. Not just for Kawhi. It’s with everybody. “But having everybody healthy was more about training camp. I mean, we really did not have a great training camp because we didn’t have enough bodies and enough of our key guys practicing. We have a virtually new team so we needed our new guys to be on the floor, and we didn’t have that ability to do that. This time, for the most part, we’ll have everybody in.”
But Leonard has become the inadvertent poster boy for load management, and any mystery regarding his status only fuels speculation. For now, the specifics of his health remain a mystery — remember, Rivers qualified Leonard’s health with “for the most part,” which leaves room for interpretation — and this storyline isn’t going away until games resume and there is a greater sense of where he’s at physically.
Frank Vogel expects Rajon Rondo to play in postseason
The Los Angeles Lakers’ time in the NBA bubble might have had an inauspicious start, with guard Rajon Rondo discovering a fractured right thumb during the team’s second practice, but coach Frank Vogel is still counting on the veteran’s contributions. “What we have to understand about Rajon, losing Rajon is a huge loss for our team, but we expect Rajon to be a part of our playoff run,” Vogel said on a video conference call with reporters Monday.
Knicks coaching job: Tom Thibodeau still the frontrunner
Tom Thibodeau remains the front-runner for the position, league sources have told The Athletic. The Knicks have 11 candidates in all, embarking on an exhaustive and wide-ranging search that might just land on the same man who has been thought to be their first choice all along. Rose told MSG Network last month that he expects a mid- to late-July conclusion to the search.
Tim Duncan not in Orlando
Don Harris: I can confirm that Spurs Asst. coach Tim Duncan is NOT with the team in Orlando. Spurs tell me Tim and a few members of the medical and performance group are directing LaMarcus Aldridge’s rehabilitation program.
The Bulls hired Eversley three weeks after vehement blowback from Black executives over not having any candidates for the open executive vice-president of basketball operations job. Former Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas got the top job, while Eversley was hired as the No. 2 man. Behind the scenes, there’s still skepticism about the Bulls. “I could just see people saying they hired him because they needed a Black face,” said one high-ranking African American team executive who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The Knicks still have another critical hire to make in the front office. Craig Robinson left the organization, a league source confirmed, to take over as the executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Robinson had been the Knicks’ VP of player development since 2017, when he was hired by former president Steve Mills.
Mike Vorkunov: Sean Maclean started with Knicks today as an exec part of Brock Aller’s basketball strategy team, according to a source. He’ll be working alongside Michael Arcieri & others. Maclean worked in strategy lead roles at Capital One and Stack Sports before this. https://t.co/lQb9GQq9g5
“Equality” will be the social justice message that Antetokounmpo will wear on the back of his Bucks jersey when NBA action resumes in Orlando. His teammate and brother, Thanasis, will be making the same statement, but he wouldn’t elaborate on why.
The NBA has given players the approval to express their frustrations with the inequalities Black people are enduring by allowing them to choose from 28 different social injustice statement options to wear on the back of their jerseys. Troy Daniels said he selected Black Lives Matter as his first choice and Say Her Name as his second. “It’s unprecedented times,” Daniels said. “It’s one of the biggest movements ever. So, I want to shed light on that. It’s very important to me.”
Brooklyn Nets: ◾️ @CarisLeVert says he’ll wear BLACK LIVES MATTER on his jersey for the restart ◾️
Kelcey Wright Johnson: Jamal Murray will wear “FREEDOM” on the back of his jersey in the NBA’s restart.
Kelcey Wright Johnson: DeAnthony Melton will wear his own last name on his jersey for the remainder of the season.
Kelcey Wright Johnson: Justise Winslow will wear “SPEAK UP” on the back of his jersey for the remainder of the season.
Mark Medina: Raptors guard Kyle Lowry on protesting systemic racism: “I grew up a black man in America. Definitely a tough thing to grow up that way. You never know what could possibly happen to you. You never know if you’re going to make it out. So for me to do that itself is a blessing.”
As NBA players arrive at games during resumed play in Orlando, they will have the freedom to wear clothing from their own wardrobes while walking from the team bus to the venue’s locker rooms, according to a league spokesperson. Initially, ESPN was misinformed by a league spokesperson that a “concrete” dress code protocol had been finalized last week, requiring players to fully dress for games in their hotel rooms and “be in uniform and warmups when they arrive” to the game venue.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., suggested Monday he would support a subpoena of NBA commissioner Adam Silver to investigate the league’s relationship with China. Hawley expressed concern that the NBA is allowing players to wear preapproved social justice cause messages on their jerseys for causes such as Black Lives Matter but does not allow for messages relating to China or supporting law enforcement. He called a Senate Judiciary committee subpoena of Silver “a great idea.”
“If the NBA’s going to put these social justice statements on the back of uniforms, which is what they’re doing now, why is it that there’s nothing on there about, like, free Hong Kong or the Uyghurs or anything that has to do with the billions of dollars the NBA makes in China?” Hawley said in an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
Hawley also fired back at ESPN for suspending reporter Adrian Wojnarowski after he responded to an email from Hawley’s press office with an expletive. Hawley said Wojnarowski’s suspension was a distraction and he should be reinstated. “They don’t want to address the core issue, which is the NBA’s relationship with China. ESPN has a slice of that pie,” the senator said.
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, in a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Friday, wrote that the league’s policy on social injustice messages “appears to stop at the edge of your corporate sponsors’ sensibilities,” especially when it comes to matters involving China and support of the United States military and law enforcement personnel. In the letter, Hawley said Silver has been “deepening the NBA’s ties to the CCP [Chinese Communist Party]” since Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s tweet in support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong in October.
Andrews is one of only 10 or so “Group 1” reporters who will be admitted to the NBA bubble, which started welcoming 22 teams last week to restart the suspended season by July 31. Andrews admits she thought twice about the assignment. Reporters must agree to stay inside the bubble for three months. They must undergo daily COVID-19 testing. They can only move between their hotel and the practice and competition venues. But Andrews seized on the chance to tell the story of the NBA comeback to millions of global basketball fans. “I’m not going to lie. I was nervous. I’m a bit of a hypochondriac. I have bouts with anxiety,” said Andrews. “But first and foremost, I cover sports. I love journalism first. And sports journalism is what I do. This is an incredible journalistic opportunity. There are only 10 reporters and a handful of other folks who are going to be able to experience this and document it first-hand. It’s documenting history.”
“I keep getting asked if I’m bored? The answer is absolutely not. There’s so much reporting to be done; my days are just packed,” she said. Andrews said she has also taken up meditation to remain on an even keel.
Harris remains saddened by the loss of Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in January. “We talked different times over the years, but he was focused mainly at first just on him and what he could do to be the best. And for a while, he wasn’t the best teammate because he was, you know, in it to be the best. And he didn’t have patience for other players who couldn’t do what he could do. But he developed maturity later in his career. And he became such a man and did things for others,” said Harris. “And the shame of it all is that, at age 41, he was going to make an impact for years. He had a program all set up. But it’s a shame that he wasn’t able to continue on for another 20, 30 years and show just what kind of a man he turned out to be.”
Boban Marjanovic ( @BobanMarjanovic ) and Tobias Harris ( @tobias31 ) are reunited in Orlando! Tobias ( @tobias31 ) wasn’t having any of it though, telling Boban ( @BobanMarjanovic ) – “I don’t like you no more. You got new friends now.”
July 13, 2020 | 9:55 pm EDT Update
Harrison Faigen: Kyle Kuzma on why he brought a panini press to the bubble: “I brought that after I saw the pictures of what they were serving here. I just wanted to eat comfortably during the self-quarantine portion of things.”
Harrison Faigen: Kyle Kuzma said he hasn’t really been taking part in the bubble entertainment options. “There’s nothing but basketball for me here. I’m not really interested in doing a lot of other things.”
July 13, 2020 | 9:36 pm EDT Update
Cayleigh Griffin: Coach D’Antoni clarifies that he is hoping the players who did not make the flight will be in Orlando mid-week. He says there is a good chance, but he cannot say for sure. He noted that they will be ready to go, nonetheless, and excited to be back on the floor playing. #Rockets
Salman Ali: On if Robert Covington will put a social justice statement on the back of his jersey: “I am putting something on the back. Asked what it will be: “Nope. You have to wait.”
