Latest news with #MikalBridges
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Phoenix Suns drops asking price for Kevin Durant in trade talks, NBA insider claims
The Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets aren't actively discussing a Kevin Durant deal, but that could change quickly as summer trade season heats up, according to The Athletic's Kelly Iko. The reason, as Iko reports, is that the Suns have gradually reduced their asking price for the future Hall of Famer in any trade scenario. And while 'aggressive' Phoenix has yet to entice Houston, there is a price point where the Rockets would become interested, according to Iko. Durant was the crown jewel of the team makeover after new owner Mat Ishbia bought the Suns in 2022. The former Texas Longhorns star did not come cheaply, however, as Phoenix surrendered four unprotected first-round picks and a future pick swap as well as Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal. At the time, then-ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski reported the trade was Ishbia's idea, writing it was 'very much on the ownership level' between the Suns boss and Nets governor Joe Tsai. Ishbia pushed back on that reporting soon after, saying the decision was unanimous. 'It wasn't a tough decision,' he told reporters in Phoenix. 'We really didn't want to give up some of the guys, because we love those guys. They were winners and we didn't want to give them up. 'But at the end of the day the right decision was, what do we do to maximize our team for today and for the next three to four years? This is going to be what the Phoenix Suns are about.' The Suns would go on to add high-scoring Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal to a core that already included Devin Booker, while Ishbia reiterated his desire to keep Durant in Phoenix. When the Rockets were reportedly interested in Durant in 2024, Ishbia shot down any trade speculation. 'Everyone talking about the drama and storylines, some are right and some are just wrong,' Ishbia wrote. 'My turn. Phoenix loves Kevin Durant and Kevin Durant loves Phoenix, and we are competing for a championship this year because we have the team to do it.' The billionaire even told reporters in November he expected to sign Durant to a contract extension. Then the Suns fell off the map, missing the playoffs at 36-46 as Durant, Booker and Beal once again struggled to gel under coach Mike Budenholzer, who was fired after the season. Ishbia owned up to the debacle with reporters after the season finale. 'Embarrassing season, right?' Ishbia said. 'Disappointing. Awful. I watch every game like all you guys do and no one's proud of it, no one's happy with it, from me, to the front office, to the coaches and players, to the marketing executives to the security guards. 'It was a failure.' If Ishbia did have one success in 2024-25, it was his popular decision to reduce concessions prices with a new $2 menu. Although they don't currently have their own first-round pick, the Suns do have the 29th selection in this month's NBA Draft.
New York Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
New York Knicks head coaching candidates: Who should replace Tom Thibodeau?
When the New York Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau Tuesday, it came as another reminder of the harsh reality of life as an NBA head coach: Teams often decide that the head coach who got them there isn't the one to get them to the end. The Knicks made that decision after they lost to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, their longest playoff run in 25 years. The next Knicks coach, whoever it is, will be expected to help take the team further, especially after the front office went all-in last offseason with trades for Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. Advertisement So who will be the next Knicks head coach? Here is, in alphabetical order, a list of potential options that could make sense, based on which coaches are currently out of a job or could make the jump from the assistant ranks: Bliss is the lead assistant with one of the league's top organizations, the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he helped devise the team's stout defense. He is already receiving head-coach consideration. Bliss interviewed for the head coaching vacancy in Phoenix, where he was one of the final five candidates. Bliss also has ties to New York, spending time with the Knicks during the Derek Fisher and Jeff Hornacek tenures as a player-development coach. Bliss went back to OKC in 2019 and has since worked his way up the bench. The 47-year-old New Orleans Pelicans assistant had a short but relatively successful run as the Hornets head coach. He won 43 games in his last season there, before Charlotte got blown out in a Play-In game. Those 43 wins are still the most the franchise has had in a season since 2016-17. Borrego has been a candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers jobs in recent years and seemed to almost land the latter one. But he's never been in a position quite like the one he would find himself with the Knicks, aside from three years on the bench working for Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. Bryant, who was on Thibodeau's staff from 2020-24, is currently a finalist for the Suns head coaching job along with Jordan Ott. Bryant's name popping up with the Knicks wouldn't be a shocker. He left New York before this season began for the Cavaliers, where he reunited with All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, with whom he grew close when the two were both in Utah. Bryant has the stamp of approval from the current front office. When he first joined the Knicks five years ago, it was executive vice president William Wesley who pushed for Bryant's hire. Advertisement Brown, who the Sacramento Kings fired shortly into this past season, has won wherever he's gone. A former Gregg Popovich assistant, Brown began his head-coaching career atop the LeBron James Cavaliers, helping the squad to the NBA Finals in 2007. Once James left for Miami, Brown took the job with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he coached a playoff team then famously got fired only five games into the next season, the one when the Lakers acquired Dwight Howard and Steve Nash but failed to meet massive expectations. Brown has since stopped back in Cleveland, been a sidekick to Steve Kerr during the Golden State Warriors' dynasty and helped take the Kings to the playoffs for the first time in 16 years. GO DEEPER Mike Brown's final days with Kings: Disastrous play, tension with star and an awkward firing He spent nearly six full seasons on the bench in Memphis before the Grizzlies fired him with nine games to go this season. Jenkins had a successful run there. He made the playoffs three times and would have this year if he made it through all 82 games. He's still just 40 years old and it wasn't that long ago that he was seen as one of the NBA's brightest young coaches. But Jenkins' time in Memphis ended poorly, even though he got an extension in 2022. The Grizzlies seemed to stagnate this season and there was word that players in the locker room had tuned him out. In some way, Jenkins' circumstances as a coach who helped a franchise build itself up but not get to the final stage mirrors Thibodeau, but sometimes a new place can make for a fresh face and a reboot. Ham is back in Milwaukee as a top assistant coach after leaving the Bucks for the Lakers, where he coached Los Angeles for two seasons. In Year 1, though, the Lakers won only 43 games, and the team went to the Western Conference finals. In Year 2, the Lakers fell in the first round to the Denver Nuggets, the same group that bested them the season before. Los Angeles moved on from Ham, who returned to Milwaukee under head coach Doc Rivers, where he is close with two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. Ham is known best for a commanding voice in the locker room. His Lakers teams finished in the middle of the pack on both offense and defense during his two seasons there. The former Denver Nuggets coach might be the most obvious candidate to replace Thibodeau. He just spent a decade on the sidelines in Denver and won an NBA title there. If the Knicks are looking for someone to take them to the promised land, Malone is the only one with the bona fides already. He's also a native New Yorker whose father, Brendan, was a former Knicks assistant. But there are obviously drawbacks. Malone was fired just three games before the playoffs a few months ago after he and general manager Calvin Booth ended up in an uncomfortable working relationship that ownership found untenable. Malone and Thibodeau have similar styles: Both believe in running their best players for a lot of minutes, both have had their disagreements with front offices and both are rugged coaches with hard-nosed mentalities. Malone won at least 46 games in his final eight seasons with the Nuggets, but he also had the benefit of coaching the best player in the world, Nikola Jokić, for the large duration of that time and there's an argument that the Nuggets should have reached more than just one finals with him. GO DEEPER A surprising Nuggets run ended with a fatal flaw exposed. Fixing it might be tricky Nori has been involved in several coaching searches in recent years while serving as the lead assistant in Minnesota under head coach Chris Finch. He has earned acclaim for his smarts and his mid-game interviews with the Timberwolves, while the franchise has also had two of its most successful seasons during his time there. Advertisement Quinn, a former player in the NBA and overseas, has been an assistant with the Miami Heat for more than a decade. Now, he is beginning to pop-up in coaching searches. He interviewed for the Cavaliers' head-coach opening last summer, but the job eventually went to Kenny Atkinson. Earlier this spring, Quinn met with the Suns. The top assistant in Dallas narrowly missed out on the Detroit Pistons job last spring and was one of the final-five candidates in Phoenix this year. He has a history of vibing with star players, including in Milwaukee, where he was very close with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Sweeney, 41, could get a look in New York if the Knicks decide they are willing to hire a first-time head coach. The LA Clippers assistant, who led the Knicks' from 1996 to 2001, is back on the bench. After all these years, Van Gundy could command another lead job. But he is also highly connected with the Knicks' previous coach, Thibodeau. The two are close. Thibodeau would travel to practices at Providence in the 1980s, when Van Gundy was an assistant there, to learn from that staff. Eventually, Thibodeau joined Van Gundy's team with the Knicks in the 1990s. Like some of these other candidates, going from Thibodeau to Van Gundy would not represent a significant swing. The ultimate wild-card candidate. His credentials are unimpeachable. He won two national championships in 22 years at Villanova and was widely seen as one of the best college coaches before he abruptly retired three years ago. Oh, and by the way, have you heard that Wright coached Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart in college? Wright has been persistently rumored as a candidate for the Knicks every time the job opened over the last decade but he hasn't bitten yet. This time, he could walk into a title-contender stocked with players he already knows and coached. It's almost a movie. There are some question marks, though. Wright has only coached in college, so he would be inexperienced on the NBA level — although he was an assistant with Team USA for the 2019 FIBA World Cup and the 2021 Olympics. (Top photo of Michael Malone: Dylan Buell /Getty Images)
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Disappointing Playoff End May Have Knicks Looking For Roster Flexibility
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 10: Precious Achiuwa #5, Karl-Anthony Towns #32, Jalen Brunson #11 and ... More Miles McBride #2 of the New York Knicks react on the bench during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden on January 10, 2025 in New York City. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New York Knicks 126-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo) The New York Knicks went all-in on an NBA title push this past offseason with separate trades for power forward Karl-Anthony Towns and small forward Mikal Bridges. The end result did produce a postseason finish better than a season ago, but it also collected a second consecutive postseason series defeat to the Indiana Pacers this time coming in the Eastern Conference Finals. Now with an offseason of cap constraints and roster questions ahead, decisions loom on where the Knicks should go this offseason in pursuit of its first NBA title this century. For starters, New York has two unprotected first-round picks in 2026 and 2028 that can be valuable pieces in a potential upgrade via trade. It'll likely have to be attached to an asset on its roster making substantial bank which points to a player like Karl-Anthony Towns. Escaping Future Cap Hell Through A Towns' Trade NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 25: Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks reacts after a dunk ... More in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden on October 25, 2024 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo) Towns showed flashes throughout the playoffs of his scoring upside, but both he and franchise cornerstone Jalen Brunson couldn't put together a positive postseason net rating when on the floor together for New York. The team had its highest net rating with KAT on the floor and Brunson off, and its lowest defensive net rating with both stars present on the court. Over the next two years, Towns has salary numbers into the $50 millions which will constrict free agency movements the Knicks could potentially make as a potential second apron team. Their best chance of any type of flexibility is to move off of him now when his stock is somewhat high to an organization looking to eat cap space. A likely trade partner could be the Charlotte Hornets in a deal centered around power forward Miles Bridges and the upcoming expiring contract of center Jusuf Nurkic. Such a deal would allow New York to move off of Nurkic at the end of next season while potentially dealing Bridges at the same time too if he generates value with a solid Knicks season. Shop Josh Hard and Mitchell Robinson For Additional Frontcourt Depth NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 23: Josh Hart #3 and Mitchell Robinson #23 of the New York Knicks ... More celebrate as the game ends against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on April 23, 2023 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 102-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo) Another move New York could make is trading the contracts of guard Josh Hart and center Mitchell Robinson for a younger big man and a potential depth piece at power forward. Hart is revered by many as the heart and soul of the Knicks due to his hustle and grit as a rebounder and perimeter defender. The downside of his presence comes in the postseason where his shooting woes from deep become too magnificent to overcome. In this year's conference semifinals for the Knicks, Hart shot a woeful 2 for 11 from three-point range through six games and finished the series as a -59 on the floor. With the team now rostering wings in Bridges and O.G. Anunoby that features higher floors as spot-up shooters and defenders, Hart's presence may no longer be needed. Robinson's rebounding was a huge factor for the Knicks against Indiana, but his long-term health concerns may be too big to overcome. He's played a combined 48 games the past two seasons and just averaged around 21 minutes in the 18 postseason matchups played to manage his conditioning and potential injury concerns. Both Hart and Robinson have moveable contracts that could be dealt to a team like the Utah Jazz for the rights of Center Walker Kessler and power forward John Collins. Kessler and Collins give the Knicks an infusion of youth and depth to its frontcourt alongside potential flexibility for its present and future if they decide to move off of Karl-Anthony Towns.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Knicks Players, Coaches Had Major Karl-Anthony Towns Complaints During Season
Knicks Players, Coaches Had Major Karl-Anthony Towns Complaints During Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The New York Knicks traded for Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges last offseason with the hopes that they could, after 26 years, finally make the NBA Finals. Advertisement They got close, falling to the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. While New York had the talent (but not the depth) to keep up with the Pacers, their effort all season had been questioned. While Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Bridges seemed to fit perfectly with Jalen Brunson in Tom Thibodeau's system, Towns was the odd man out, despite his undeniable talents. New York Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau with center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center.© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Towns Showed No Effort on Defense In the postseason, Towns' offensive efficiency and scoring numbers took a slight hit, but it was nothing too serious. However, on defense, he didn't look bought in, which quickly wore down his teammates and coaching staff. Advertisement "Publicly, Knicks players made veiled comments all season about poor communication causing their inconsistencies," reported The Athletic's James Edwards III (subscription required). "Behind the scenes, they and coaches expressed frustration with Towns' defensive habits — less concerned with his talent level and more with his process on that end. Too often, Towns executed incorrect coverages without communicating why he did it. After it became a theme, players worried Towns didn't grasp the importance of the matter." In the postseason, Jalen Duren shot 71.4 percent when guarded by Towns in the first round, and Luke Kornet shot 83.3 percent when guarded by him in the second round. In the Conference Finals, Myles Turner shot only 56 percent from the floor and 31.8 percent from deep, and Towns held him to 0-for-6 shooting from deep, although his interior defense was suspect at best all season long. Advertisement As the Knicks look to retool and make another Finals push next season, KAT is already the odd man out and has already been included in trade rumors. Check out the All Knicks home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Fans React to Timothee Chalamet Announcement During Knicks-Pacers Game 6 Related: New York Knicks Make Tom Thibodeau Decision After Loss to Pacers This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New York Knicks Have Two Scapegoats After Loss to Indiana Pacers
New York Knicks Have Two Scapegoats After Loss to Indiana Pacers originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Before the 2024-25 NBA season, the New York Knicks pulled off two of the biggest trades of the offseason, adding Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets and Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves. Advertisement With their new star-studded roster, the Knicks felt that they could compete for an NBA championship, although they ultimately would lose to the Indiana Pacers in the playoffs for the second season in a row. While Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, and Mikal Bridges were solid in the Eastern Conference Finals, two scapegoats emerged for the Knicks. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0), New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11), center Karl-Anthony Towns (32), and forward Josh Hart (3)© Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart Did Not Live Up to Expectations During the Knicks' playoff run last season, Josh Hart was one of the best players on the roster, grabbing rebounds, hitting timely shots, and playing stellar defense. With the addition of Towns, the Knicks bolstered their star power and were expected to compete, although they ran into a similar situation as last season. Advertisement When New York needed Towns and Hart the most, they were non-factors. Towns averaged 24.4 points and 12.8 rebounds in the regular season while shooting 42 percent from deep, landing him on his third All-NBA team. Hart averaged 13.6 points and 9.6 boards. In the decisive series, Towns averaged 24.8 points on much worse efficiency and played poor defense down the stretch. Hart posted only 8.3 points and had his starting spot taken from him after Game 2 for Mitchell Robinson, who could emerge as the Knicks' starting center next season. After the early playoff exit, there have been calls for New York to trade Towns, and the argument makes sense. If Brunson, Anunoby, and Bridges can shoulder a large scoring load, perhaps an elite defender is better than a streaky shooter who is known for disappearing in the postseason. Advertisement Check out the All Knicks home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Fans React to Timothee Chalamet Announcement During Knicks-Pacers Game 6 Related: Tom Thibodeau Gets Candid About Knicks' Offseason After Playoff Exit This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
