Basketball Wiretap

Troy Weaver Out As GM Of Pistons

May 31, 2024 6:18 PM

Troy Weaver is out as general manager of the Detroit Pistons amid a retooled front office led by Trajan Langdon, according to multiple reports Friday.

Detroit has had the NBA's worst record the past two seasons and won just 23% of its games over four years with Weaver in charge of basketball operations.

espn.com

Tags: Detroit Pistons, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kristaps Porzingis 'Getting Better' Ahead Of Finals

May 31, 2024 6:20 PM

Kristaps Porzingis participated in parts of Friday's practice -- the Boston Celtics' first since advancing to the NBA Finals earlier this week -- and coach Joe Mazzulla said he's pleased with the center's recovery from a right calf strain.

"He's getting better," Mazzulla said at the team's facility. "He's out there shooting. Went through a couple of drills in practice. So, progressing well and kind of confident where he's at right now."

espn.com

Tags: Boston Celtics, NBA, NBA Injury

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Cavaliers Clear To Interview Johnnie Bryant, Chris Quinn

May 31, 2024 6:24 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been granted permission to interview two more head-coaching candidates in the franchise's ongoing search, including New York Knicks associate head coach Johnnie Bryant and Miami Heat top assistant Chris Quinn, sources told ESPN on Friday.

espn.com

Tags: Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Glen Taylor To Meet With Tim Connelly To Discuss Future

May 31, 2024 9:43 AM

Minnesota Timberwolves primary governor Glen Taylor plans to meet with president of basketball operations Tim Connelly to discuss Connelly's future with the team. Connelly can opt out of his contract in the coming days. The Wolves ownership battle could be a factor in Connelly's decision to stay or to pursue other opportunities.

The Detroit Pistons were rumored to be interested in hiring Connelly to run their front office, but have since hired Trajan Langdon. That came as a relief to Minnesota, as it removed a primary contender, should Connelly opt out of his deal.

Taylor remains in full control, as he still owns the majority stake of the Timberwolves. Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez contend that Taylor acted in bad faith, by backing out of an agreement to sell the team to them. That fight doesn't seem close to a resolution any time soon.

Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Cavaliers Not Motivated To Trade Any Members Of Core Four

May 31, 2024 1:45 PM

The Cleveland Cavaliers do not appear motivated to listen to trade inquiries at this point for any member of their core four of Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

There has been an expectation that the Cavaliers could trade either Mitchell or Garland this offseason. If Mitchell declines Cleveland's extension offer, he becomes an instant trade candidate. If Mitchell signs the extension, there are reports that Garland's representation at Klutch Sports could work to facilitate a trade.

Allen is also a trade candidate as the big man tandem with Mobley hasn't produced the type of results they were expecting due to spacing issues.

Allen has two seasons and $40 million remaining on his contract and figures to have multiple trade suitors interested in him if he becomes available. 

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Tags: Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA, NBA Trade Rumor, NBA Misc Rumor

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Timberwolves Willing To Pay Tax To Keep Team Together

May 31, 2024 9:59 AM

The Minnesota Timberwolves project to have one of the NBA's most expensive teams next season. The Wolves have nearly $191 million in guaranteed salary on their books for nine players. That figure is already over the projected second apron of $189.5 million, before the team finishes filling out the roster.

That sort of spending is unprecedented in Minnesota's history. However, as the team's ownership battle plays out, both sets of owners indicate they'll pay to keep the team together.

Glen Taylor, who retains majority ownership of the Wolves, and Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez have each given the impression that they won't break the team up because of the tax. The challenge is that the second apron makes building out the rest of the roster a major challenge. That could eventually force the team's hand in making some changes to alleviate the high payroll.

Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Zaccharie Risacher Moves To Hawks At No. 1 In Latest ESPN Mock Draft

May 31, 2024 11:04 AM

ESPN has moved Zaccharie Risacher to the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 1 pick in their latest mock draft.

Every team drafting in the top-5 has interest in Risacher, who is not expected to fall out of the top-2.

During the playoffs, Risacher averaged 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, shooting 67% from the field and 38% on 3-pointers.

The direction of the Hawks remains unclear as Trae Young and Dejounte Murray are trade candidates and while they will definitively retool their roster, it remains to be seen if their ownership will embrace a rebuild. A further complication of any desire to rebuild stems from their decision to trade away control of their next three drafts to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the Murray deal in 2022.

Jonathan Givony, Jeremy Woo/ESPN

Tags: Zaccharie Risacher, Atlanta Hawks, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Mock Drafts

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Nets Hire Steve Hetzel, Juwan Howard, Deividas Dulkys, Connor Griffin, Travis Bader As Assistants

May 31, 2024 1:40 PM

The Brooklyn Nets have named Steve Hetzel, Juwan Howard, Deividas Dulkys, Connor Griffin and Travis Bader as assistant coaches on Jordi Fernandez’s staff. They join Jay Hernandez, Adam Caporn, Ryan Forehan-Kelly and Corey Vinson on Brooklyn’s bench.

Hetzel comes to Brooklyn from Portland, where he was an assistant coach on the Trail Blazers’ staff for the past three seasons (2021-24). He previously served as an assistant coach for three seasons (2018-21) with the Orlando Magic following a four-year stint (2014-18) as an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets. Hetzel was also the head coach of the Canton Charge in the NBA G League for one season (2013-14) while Fernandez served as his lead assistant coach. 

Howard joins the Nets’ staff after serving as the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Michigan, for the past five seasons (2019-24). While at the helm in Ann Arbor, the Wolverines compiled an 87-72 record, which included trips to the Sweet 16 (2022) and Elite Eight (2021) in the NCAA Tournament and a regular season Big Ten Conference championship. At the conclusion of the 2020-21 season, Howard earned National Coach of the Year honors. Before his stint leading Michigan, Howard spent six seasons (2013-19) as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat. 

Dulkys joins Brooklyn’s bench after spending the last two seasons (2022-24) as an assistant and player development coach for the Sacramento Kings. 

Griffin arrives in Brooklyn after three seasons (2021-24) with the Denver Nuggets. He spent the last two seasons (2022-24) as head video coordinator/player development while assisting a postseason run in 2023 that resulted in the Nuggets’ first NBA championship. Griffin originally joined Denver ahead of the 2021-22 season as an assistant video coordinator. 

Bader begins his fifth season as part of the Nets organization and his first as an assistant coach. He spent the last two seasons (2022-24) as the team’s head video coordinator following a two-year stint (2020-22) as a video seasonal assistant. 

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Brooklyn Nets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Kings Offer Mike Brown Three-Year, $21M Extension

May 30, 2024 11:18 PM

The Sacramento Kings offered Mike Brown a three-year contract extension worth $21 million, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic.

The deal could increase to $27 million with bonuses.

Brown is believed to be seeking around $10 million per season.

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Sacramento Kings, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Dunc'd On: DAL/MIN Game 5; Zaccharie Risacher Scouting Report

May 31, 2024 10:04 AM

Luka Doncic gives new meaning to the term “coming out aggressive” and sends the Wolves into the Minnesota night. We revisit how he and the Mavs were able to rebuild their team and make their 3rd NBA Finals appearance.

We then start our draft scouting with wing prospect Zaccharie Risacher of France, who is in contention to be the number one overall pick.

Four more episodes with Nate & Danny per week are available exclusively on Dunc’d On Prime, plus it’s the only place to hear John Hollinger & Nate as well! DuncdOn.SupportingCast.FM

Plus, subscribe on YouTube to see our hilarious faces and, more importantly, see the key moments from the pod each week.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NBA

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Luka Doncic Receives Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP

Joe Vardon/The Athletic

Thunder Could Pursue Isaiah Hartenstein In Free Agency

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Drew Gordon Passes Away In Car Accident

Marc J. Spears/Andscape

Warriors Looking To Hire Big-Name Assistant Coach, Had Conversations With Darvin Ham

Anthony Slater/The Athletic

Lakers Prefer To Avoid Trading Austin Reaves

Jovan Buha/The Athletic

Dereck Lively II Cleared To Play Game 5

RealGM Staff Report

Warriors Could Pursue Trade For Jimmy Butler, Likely Wouldn't Be Interested In Brandon Ingram

Anthony Slater/The Athletic

Klay Thompson, Warriors Haven't Made Progress On Extension

Anthony Slater/The Athletic

Lakers 'Nowhere Close' To Decision On Coach Amid Growing Expectation J.J. Redick Will Be Hired

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Dwight Howard Signs With Taiwan Mustangs

RealGM Staff Report

Several Notable NCAA Players Withdraw From 2024 NBA Draft

RealGM Staff Report

Dereck Lively II Questionable For Game 5

Brad Townsend/Dallas Morning News

Kristaps Porzingis 'Ramping' Up Intensity, No Update For Game 1 Of NBA Finals

NBC Sports Boston

James Borrego Has Second Interview With Lakers

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Caleb Love Withdraws From 2024 NBA Draft, Returns To Arizona For Final NCAA Season

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

Cavaliers To Begin Head Coach Interviews With Kenny Atkinson, James Borrego

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Wizards Remove Interim Tag, Hire Brian Keefe As Head Coach

RealGM Staff Report

Sixers, Two Other Teams Interested In Acquiring, Extending Jimmy Butler

Anthony Chiang/Miami Herald

Clippers 'Determined' To Retain Paul George, James Harden

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Caron Butler Signs Extension To Remain As Assistant Coach With Heat

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN