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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Sacramento Kings Make Coaching Decision on Friday
Sacramento Kings Make Coaching Decision on Friday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Sacramento Kings are at somewhat of a crossroads regarding their roster. They're just good enough to contend for a spot in the NBA Playoffs or NBA Play-In Tournament, but not good enough to compete to win the Western Conference. Advertisement On the flip side, they're also not bad enough to bottom all the way out and rebuild. And if we know anything about owner Vivek Ranadive, he'll keep trying to contend. Sacramento Kings make coaching move on Friday The Kings have already been busy in their offseason, naming Scott Perry as the new general manager. The Kings elected to part ways with Mike Brown just after Christmas this season and installed Doug Christie as the interim head coach. He was later named the full-time head coach. Christie played for the Kings from 2000-2005 and his impact was felt as soon as he was traded there. He helped the Kings to the best record in the NBA in the 2000-01 season. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team once and the All-Defensive Second Team three times during his tenure with the Sacramento Kings. Advertisement Christie made a pair of moves Friday, adding Chris Darnell, the head coach of the Canton Charge of the G League, to his coaching staff, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes. That wasn't all. James Ham of reported that Mike Miller will also be joining Christie's staff as an assistant. Miller has a history with Perry. While Perry was the general manager of the New York Knicks in 2019-20, Miller was an assistant and at one point, the interim head coach. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phoenix Suns Have Devin Booker Trade Verdict Amid Kevin Durant Drama
This past season was one that Phoenix Suns fans will never forget, for all of the wrong reasons. They missed out on even a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament a year after being swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Advertisement It looked as though the Suns were ready to make one last push toward one of those play-in spots, but an injury to Durant's ankle put any hopes of that to rest. Phoenix Suns stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images Phoenix Suns have Devin Booker trade verdict amid Kevin Durant drama Around the trade deadline, it was rumored that the Suns were shopping Durant and that a deal was nearly in place that would've sent him to Golden State. According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, while the Suns will likely continue to shop Durant, they're unlikely to move Devin Booker when he appeared on the PHNX Suns Podcast. "I think teams still look at Devin Booker not being available,' Stein said. 'I think the Suns and Devin Booker have both made it pretty clear they want to carry on together. So, I think—now, look—will a team or two or three test that resolve? Probably. I mean, teams love to make those calls even after the Suns might say [no]…. Advertisement 'I think Mat Ishbia has been pretty clear that the Suns do not want to move Devin Booker. But will that ultimately scare teams off? I guess we'll see.' Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant dunks against Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George during a game at Wells Fargo Center. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images The Suns just installed Brian Gregory as the new general manager, with former general manager James Jones moving into a senior advisory position. Gregory has a close relationship with owner Mat Ishbia. Gregory was an assistant coach at Michigan State during the 2000 National Championship with Ishbia. Durant would be the best way to recoup assets they sent out to acquire him and Bradley Beal over the past few seasons. Phoenix Suns Have Devin Booker Trade Verdict Amid Kevin Durant Drama first appeared on Athlon Sports on May 22, 2025
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bulls Big Man Zach Collins Says Nikola Vucevic 'Could Be More Selfish'
The Chicago Bulls' offseason is already underway while the best NBA teams battle through the first round of the playoffs. That's a bitter pill to swallow, but there were a few bright spots during the season. One of them was Zach Collins, the 27-year-old center the Bulls acquired from the San Antonio Spurs when they traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal that also netted the Bulls Kevin Huerter and Tre Jones. Collins was pressed into a starter's role for eight games following injuries to Jalen Smith and the Bulls' incumbent starter, Nikola Vucevic. In a recent interview with NBA Insider Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson of Scoop B Radio, Collins talked about playing with Vooch, comparing him to Jusuf Nurkic, and how he believes his veteran teammate could be a little more selfish on the floor. Getty 'I played with [Jusuf] Nurkić in Portland and he was also a very skilled big man but more of a brute. But Vooch is more of a footwork-footwork-footwork-touch and plays below the rim, but he's very crafty and super smart. He could be more selfish than he is but he plays the right way and he's definitely unique.' Advertisement Quite honestly, I'm not sure how many Bulls fans would want to see Vucevic play more selfishly–especially on the defensive end where he often elects to give minimal effort and only seems to care about defensive rebounding. But that's another story altogether. Collins is on the books for just under $18 million for next season. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent to begin the 2026-27 NBA season. That makes Collins a potentially valuable expiring contract for a trade. I can see a scenario where Collins could be a valuable backup option on a strong team. The Bulls fell short in the NBA Play-In Tournament losing to the Miami Heat. Advertisement With the team now squarely in the draft lottery conversation, fans are already looking ahead. The Bulls have a slim 1.7% chance of winning the No. 1 pick, but securing any top-four selection could provide a much-needed infusion of talent. Whether it's a star in the making or a player who can anchor a larger trade package, the outcome of the lottery could directly impact Collins' future in Chicago. We'll see which direction the team's front office heads. I know Bulls fans, there probably isn't a ton of faith in that concept. Chicago's offseason promises to be one of the most scrutinized in recent years. While the front office has been notoriously slow to pivot from the current core, the combination of player contracts, aging stars, and a middling record may finally force real changes. Collins could be part of those plans, either as trade bait or as a cost-effective depth piece for a restructured roster. Related: Chicago Bulls Must Trade Nikola Vucevic in the Offseason, And This is the Perfect Move Related: Nike Dropped a Jordan 6 Rings Graphic Tee and It Goes With Almost Everything
New York Post
19-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Trae Young trolls Knicks fans during Thunder-Nuggets Game 7
Trae Young just had to try to antagonize Knicks fans while he was off watching Game 7 between the Thunder and Nuggets, taking a dig at the fanbase's passion in a post on X on Sunday afternoon. The Hawks' star has long embraced the villain role against the Knicks, dating back to the 2021 playoffs when Atlanta knocked the Knicks out off the back of Young's play in the series, and since then, he has faced the wrath of fans whether he's playing at Madison Square Garden or not. And he seemed to happily take a shot at Knicks fans when he suggested on Sunday that the fans in Oklahoma City were louder than those at MSG. 3 Hawks guard Trae Young reacts on the court in the second half. The New York Knicks defeat the Atlanta Hawks 119-110 at Madison Square Garden. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST 'Hot take but not.. OKC fans are louder than Knick fans. Happy Sunday!' he wrote on the social media platform. While Young may be trying to insert himself into the conversation long after his Hawks were bounced from the playoffs, the Knicks and their fans seem to have much bigger things on their minds with the team's first trip to the conference finals since 2000 on the horizon. 3 Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) celebrates after scoring against the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter during game seven of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images The streets around Madison Square Garden turned into wall-to-wall pandemonium after Friday's Game 6 win over the Celtics to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference finals and a date with the Pacers. Young's season ended in April when the Hawks were eliminated from the postseason in the NBA Play-In Tournament with losses to the Magic and Heat. The short-lived postseason appearance for Atlanta also included Young being ejected from the game in the loss to the Magic. 3 Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11, celebrates with the fans after hitting a 3-point shot in the fourth quarter. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Knicks fans will get the chance to prove Young wrong when their series with the Pacers begins on Wednesday in Midtown Manhattan. The Knicks will host Game 1 and Game 2 at Madison Square Garden, where the atmosphere is expected to be electric.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA Experts Disrespect Detroit Pistons in Prediction Before Knicks Series
With the regular season over, some teams still await to hear which team they will face in first round of the NBA Playoffs. Other teams, like the Detroit Pistons, have the privilege of knowing which team they'll face and have almost a full week to prepare. Advertisement The Pistons' turnaround is one of historic proportions. After finishing 14-68 and last in the Eastern Conference a year ago, the Pistons improved by 30 wins to go 44-38 and avoid the NBA Play-In Tournament. The improvement of 30 wins ranks seventh among the largest single-season turnarounds in NBA history. Apr 10, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) defends against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the second half at Little Caesars Arena.© David Reginek-Imagn Images NBA Experts disrespect Detroit Pistons The turnaround started when they hired J.B. Bickerstaff after being fired from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cade Cunningham was the catalyst on the floor. He averaged 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.1 assists this season. He was favored for the Most Improved Player of the Year award for much of the season until the odds shifted in favor of Atlanta's Dyson Daniels late in the season. Advertisement The Pistons also owned this matchup this season. In four games, they went 3-1. In those games, Cunningham averaged 30.8 points, 8.3 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game. Despite those factors, it wasn't enough for ESPN's experts to pick against the Knicks, as all 10 picked New York to win the series. Four predicted the Knicks would win in seven games, three in six games, and three in five games. The Pistons have a few edges on the Knicks. The first is on defense. The Pistons finished the year No. 9 in defensive efficiency. The second is on the boards. Detroit was the No. 8 team in total rebounds, while the Knicks were No. 23. New York is a -430 favorite to defeat Detroit, which is an implied probability of 81.13%. Who would you take?
