In preparation for the NBA Draft, we examine several advanced statistical categories to determine which players stand out both good or bad to help solidify our opinions on their strengths and weaknesses. Read More. Written by Dan Hanner on Jun 17, 2013
Jerry Sloan maintains a close relationships with Jazz management, making his return to the franchise this summer an easy transition even without an official position as consultant to this point. Read More.
Tony Parker said Saturday that his ailing hamstring is at risk of getting much worse.
“My hamstring can tear at any time now,” he said, “so if it was the regular season I would be resting. But now it’s the NBA Finals. If it gets a tear, it’s life.”
Parker is dealing with a right hamstring strain.
“I feel like I’m getting stronger with it,” he said. “My goal is to be close to 100 percent by tomorrow (for Game 5). I felt confident, being disciplined with all the treatments, with the ice. Hopefully I’ll be good by tomorrow.”
Doc Rivers has been informed that the Los Angeles Clippers won't accept the Boston Celtics offer, according to sources.
The Clippers have been trying to acquire the rights to have Rivers as their coach along with Kevin Garnett in exchange for DeAndre Jordan and one future first round pick.
The Celtics have been seeking the inclusion of Eric Bledsoe and a second first round pick, who has presumably become the deal breaker.
With Rivers presumably off the board, the Clippers will offer the job to Brian Shaw or Lionel Hollins next week.
"Not looking good, but I wouldn't say (it's over) for sure," said a source that spoke with Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Atlanta Hawks named Darvin Ham their new assistant coach on Saturday.
Ham joins the staff of Mike Budenholzer.
“Darvin has a great feel for the game and knows what it takes for a team to be successful and compete at a high level," Budenholzer said. “He was a smart player who played with intensity and toughness every night and he has gone about coaching the same way.”
Ham played eight years in the NBA and spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Doc Rivers has a non-compete clause in his contract with the Boston Celtics.
The clause reads that Rivers cannot work for another NBA team for the duration of his contract. Rivers has three years and $21 million remaining on the deal.
Danny Ainge could allow Rivers to leave and become head coach of another team in exchange for draft picks and cash considerations.
Mikhail Prokhorov sees a budding coaching star in Jason Kidd because of the former Nets guard's knowledge and playing experience.
“The point is that there are people who are born coaches,” Prokhorov said. “And it is known that Jason Kidd was in fact a player-coach on many teams. And he has been training for a long time. He has played under many coaches, and he has always wanted to be a coach.”
Prokhorov thinks Kidd will bring star power to the Nets sideline.
“Despite all the N.B.A.’s competitive potential, they lack a little bit of star coaches,” he said. “Of course, we are very glad that now, together with our fans, we can grow up a new star and finally, naturally, win the N.B.A.”
The Utah Jazz invited 24 players to participate in a free agent minicamp this week.
Travis Leslie, Luke Zeller and Lazar Hayward were among the players who attended the free agent bonanza.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see a handful of these guys from this camp on an NBA roster on opening night next year,” Jazz head scout David Fredman said. “Now, whose roster? I don't know, These guys are guys that have enough talent in the right place at the right time they could be on an NBA roster easily."
Dennis Lindsey suggested the minicamp after coming to Utah from the Spurs organization.
"They had some success doing it in San Antonio. Dennis had the idea when he came here to do it," Fredman said. "It's no earth-shattering thing. It's just we're doing it now in Utah."
The Jazz only have six players with guaranteed contracts for the 2013-14 season.
With 12 of the 30 NBA teams changing coaches since the end of the regular season, Erik Spoelstra ripped the coaching turnover that has gone on, calling it a "terrible state for the profession right now."
"[For] true success in the NBA, you must have consistency of culture," he said. "When you see that type of turnover over and over and over, it's impossible to create any kind of sustainable consistent culture. And we don't see it as a coincidence."
Spoelstra compared the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs as two organizations that have stability starting at the coaching spot.
"San Antonio has been the same way for 15 years with Pop in charge," Spoelstra said. "We don't see it as coincidence.
"I think it's really a shame for the profession of coaching that it's been so volatile. But I'm also very grateful that our organization doesn't behave in that manner."