2 days agoThe Washington Wizards have hired Brian Keefe full-time as head coach. The 48-year-old from Winchester, Massachusetts, finished last season as the team's interim head coach, going 8-31 after Wes Unseld Jr. managed a 7-36 record. Keefe had previously worked as Unseld Jr.'s assistant in Washington following similar stints with the Nets, Thunder, Lakers, and Knicks. It's his first job as a head coach in the NBA. While Washington's results didn't improve much under Keefe, the team held opponents to the second-lowest three-point shooting percentage (34.5%) in the league after he took over. He is seen as a skilled player developer and appears to be a good fit for a rebuilding ball club that finished with a franchise-record 67 losses in 2023-24.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the Los Angeles Clippers have signed head coach Ty Lue to a new deal through the 2028-2029 season. The Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank had high praise for the veteran coach, stating "There's no one we'd rather coach our team. T Lue is a pillar of the organization and will be for a very long time." The Clippers roster remains a mystery going into the offseason, as both
Paul George and
James Harden are free agents. However, the organization clearly believes in Lue to lead the team moving forward, after locking up their coach to a long-term deal. In four seasons with the Clippers, he has compiled a record of 184-134.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoDallas Mavericks center
Dereck Lively II (neck) is continuing to recover from a neck sprain he suffered in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. The rookie center recently told Andscape, "It's a day-to-day thing. I'm not trying to rush it. We will see." The Mavericks hold a 3-1 series lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lively II has been an important contributor off the bench, averaging 8.5 PPG, 7.1 RPB, and 1.1 BPG in the postseason. He was unable to suit up in Game 4, but Dallas fans will be hoping he can get back on the court for Game 5 on Thursday.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: Marc J. Spears
3 days agoBoston Celtics center
Kristaps Porzingis (calf) has been increasing his activity, as he attempts to return from a strained calf injury he suffered in the first round of the playoffs. In a recent interview, head coach Joe Mazzulla provided a positive outlook on the veteran center's potential return for the NBA Finals, stating, "Like I said, he's working really, really hard. There's been a couple shootarounds where he hasn't done anything with the team but has been in a 1-on-1 setting kind of ramping it up with the intensity level of it. He's been getting better and better." The Celtics have cruised through the postseason, and the NBA Finals will not begin for more than another week, giving Porzingis more time to get fully healthy.
--Dave Goldsholl - RotoBallerSource: MassLive.com
3 days agoDallas Mavericks center
Daniel Gafford scored 12 points with perfect 6-for-6 shooting and swatted away three shots in a 105-100 loss to the Timberwolves on Tuesday. Playing a playoff-high 31 minutes, Gafford contributed in multiple areas, grabbing eight rebounds and tallying one assist with one steal. The 25-year-old big man saw extra action due to
Dereck Lively II (neck) being out. He's been a major force on the defensive end in the series and always does his work on offense efficiently as well. With four games played in the matchup, Gafford has averaged 10.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks with 72.4 percent shooting.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoDallas Mavericks guard
Kyrie Irving saw his incredible run of wins in closeout games come to an end on Tuesday, as the team went down 105-100 to Minnesota on home court. Irving had previously won on all 14 occasions when his team was in a spot to finish off a playoff series. However, the Mavericks were far from their best on Tuesday, and it was also a poor effort from Irving, who had 16 points on 6-for-18 shooting. He was 1-for-6 from behind the arc and capped off his line with two rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Irving and the Mavericks will look to get back on track in Game 5 on Thursday.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoDallas Mavericks point guard
Luka Doncic came up with his ninth postseason triple-double on Tuesday, but his efforts weren't enough in a 105-100 loss to Minnesota. The Mavericks leader finished with 28 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading his team in all categories. His line included one steal, although Doncic's triple-double came with poor 7-for-21 shooting. He was 4-for-11 from downtown and 10-for-12 at the free-throw line. Doncic now shares the ninth spot on the all-time playoff triple-doubles list with Wilt Chamberlain, with Magic Johnson sitting at the top with 30. However, four of Doncic's triple-doubles have come in losses, including two this year, which will be frustrating for him.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoMinnesota Timberwolves point guard
Mike Conley produced a good two-way performance in Tuesday's Game 4 win over the Mavericks, scoring 14 points on 5-for-9 shooting and snagging four steals. He also recorded three rebounds in 34 minutes on the floor as Minnesota fought off elimination. Conley struggled in the first game of the series, but he's played well since then, and the team needs more of the same to remain alive again in Game 5 on Thursday. The veteran point guard will enter the contest with averages of 16.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.0 steals across the last three games.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoMinnesota Timberwolves center
Rudy Gobert registered a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double as the team managed to avoid a sweep against Dallas in the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday with a 105-100 win. Gobert made four of his five attempts from the field and finished 5-for-9 at the line. He had one assist and one block, logging 39 minutes of action despite battling foul trouble. This marks the second double-double of the series for Gobert, who has averaged 12.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in the matchup. His numbers have dropped compared to the regular season, and it would be a big plus for the Timberwolves if he could get back to the level.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoMinnesota Timberwolves guard/forward
Anthony Edwards posted a game-high 29 points and had 10 rebounds with nine assists as the team won Tuesday's elimination game against Dallas 105-100. He finished with 11-for-25 shooting, going 2-for-5 from downtown. Edwards has struggled to remain efficient from the field in the series, but he's been close to a triple-double multiple times and boasts some impressive numbers. Through four games in the matchup, Edwards has averaged 23.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, and 1.0 steals. He should be around triple-double numbers again on Thursday as the Timberwolves try to stave off elimination once more.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoMinnesota Timberwolves forward/center
Karl-Anthony Towns managed to end his shooting slump in Tuesday's Game 4 against Dallas, hitting 9-for-13 from the field en route to 25 points in a 105-100 win. After nailing only three shots with 22 attempts from deep across the first three games of the series, Towns was 4-for-5 with the three-ball. He recorded five rebounds and one assist while battling foul trouble all game. With Towns back in form, this series might not be over after all. Minnesota can make it 3-2 at home on Thursday, and we should see Towns in a prominent role again.
--Taavi Pailk - RotoBallerSource: ESPN
3 days agoAccording to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the 76ers are reportedly willing to offer Miami Heat forward
Jimmy Butler a max contract extension. Of course, Miami would need to make him available. But if the Butler era in South Beach is finished, Philadelphia would be required to give him a two-year extension worth $113 million. The 34-year-old averaged 20.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals during the 2023-24 campaign. However, he hasn't played more than 64 games in a season since 2016-17, when he was still with the Bulls. If Butler can stay healthy, he could be at least a top-15 fantasy option. On the other hand, his consistent injuries over the years will make fantasy managers look the other way heading into the 2024-25 season.
--Dennis Clausen - RotoBallerSource: Keith Pompey
4 days agoDetroit Pistons forward
Simone Fontecchio (toe) had surgery on his left big toe on Tuesday and is expected to return by the start of training camp, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Fontecchio missed the final 14 regular season contests with a contusion on his right big toe. However, the 28-year-old was reliable for the Pistons before getting injured. He averaged 15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.9 steals in 30.2 minutes per game, starting in nine of 16 outings as he was traded from Utah in February to the Motor City. As a restricted free agent, he could attract interest from multiple teams, including Detroit. Fontecchio had previously expressed a strong desire to stay with the Pistons.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: James L. Edwards III
4 days agoSan Antonio Spurs small forward
Keldon Johnson could be traded this summer as the Spurs are willing to hear offers involving the 24-year-old, according to Clutch Sports NBA reporter Brett Siegel. This past regular season, the Kentucky Wildcat averaged 29.5 minutes, 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.3 blocks, and 0.7 steals across 69 contests. Johnson would be an excellent option coming off the bench for a contending team.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Brett Siegel
4 days agoIndiana Pacers forward/center
Pascal Siakam is expected to receive a max contract offer from the Pacers this summer, per Shams Charania of the Athletic. The 30-year-old averaged 35.4 minutes, 21.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 0.8 steals across 17 postseason contests. He helped take the Pacers to the Eastern Conference Finals after being traded from the Toronto Raptors in January.
--Andrew Lennox - RotoBallerSource: Shams Charania
RADIO
