Caleb Martin said at Friday’s exit interviews that his preference is to remain with the Heat, but Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald explains that the team’s financial situation may not make that realistic. Martin has a $7.1MM player option for next season, which he’s expected to turn down to seek a longer and more lucrative contract in free agency. “Everybody knows I want to … [Read more...] about Heat Notes: Martin, Second Apron, Spoelstra, Butler
Celtics Notes: Porzingis, Horford, White, Tatum
Holding a commanding 3-1 lead against an injury-riddled Heat team, the Celtics may not need any more contributions from Kristaps Porzingis to get through the first round of the playoffs. But Boston’s odds of winning a title this spring would take a serious hit without a healthy Porzingis available in future rounds. After the Celtics announced on Tuesday that Porzingis would … [Read more...] about Celtics Notes: Porzingis, Horford, White, Tatum
Woj: Clippers Want To Retain Lue, George, Harden
After Darvin Ham was fired this afternoon, a report from The Athletic indicated the Lakers would be interested in Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue if he were made available. Appearing on NBA Today with Malika Andrews (Twitter video link), ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski downplayed the possibility of Lue becoming the Lakers’ coach, but suggested he could remain in L.A. for the … [Read more...] about Woj: Clippers Want To Retain Lue, George, Harden
Brown Gains Bonus With First Round Win
Jayson Tatum said that opponents’ gameplans in the postseason against the Celtics put an emphasis to “pick up the pace, the pressure, be more physical, crash the glass, do all the intangible things.” Boston showed it could wreck those plans, at least against a depleted Heat team while advancing to the second round. “Why don’t we flip the script and be the tougher team?” Tatum … [Read more...] about Brown Gains Bonus With First Round Win
Atlantic Notes: Porzingis, C. Johnson, Bridges, Sixers
The Celtics are hoping Kristaps Porzingis can recover from his right soleus (calf) strain in time for the Eastern Conference Finals, Chris Haynes reported tonight on TNT (video link via ClutchPoints). Porzingis was ruled out for Game 5 after suffering the injury on Monday, but no official announcement has been made beyond that. Sources tell Haynes that team officials are … [Read more...] about Atlantic Notes: Porzingis, C. Johnson, Bridges, Sixers
Celtics’ Brad Stevens Named NBA’s Executive Of The Year
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has been named the NBA’s Executive of the Year for the 2023/24 season, the league announced today (via Twitter). In his third season as the Celtics’ head of basketball operations after eight years as the team’s head coach, Stevens put together a dominant Boston roster that posted a 64-18 record, easily the best mark in the … [Read more...] about Celtics’ Brad Stevens Named NBA’s Executive Of The Year
Celtics’ Porzingis To Miss Game 5 With Strained Calf
4:30pm: Porzingis is expected to miss multiple games, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets. 4:03pm: Porzingis has been ruled out for Game 5 due to what the Celtics are calling a right soleus strain (Twitter link via Brian Robb of MassLive.com). The soleus is the same calf muscle that has sidelined Giannis Antetokounmpo since the final week of the regular season, though it’s … [Read more...] about Celtics’ Porzingis To Miss Game 5 With Strained Calf
Porzingis Keys Boston’s Offensive Attack
Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis has scored 18 points in each of their first-round victories over Miami. He was held to six points in Boston’s Game 2 loss. Getting Porzingis involved in the offense is crucial, Jayson Tatum told Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “He’s probably our most important guy on our team for what we’re trying to accomplish,” he said. “So no doubt in my mind, … [Read more...] about Porzingis Keys Boston’s Offensive Attack
Thunder’s Mark Daigneault Wins Coaches Association Award
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault has won the Michael H. Goldberg award for the 2023/24 season, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, who reports that Daigneault has been named the National Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year. This award, introduced in 2017 and named after longtime NBCA executive director Michael H. Goldberg, is voted on by the NBA’s 30 head … [Read more...] about Thunder’s Mark Daigneault Wins Coaches Association Award