Basketball Wiretap

Kevin Durant Never Felt Comfortable With Suns Offense

Apr 29, 2024 1:53 AM

Kevin Durant reportedly never felt comfortable playing alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the Phoenix Suns' offense, sources told Shams Charania and Doug Haller of The Athletic.

Durant had "persistent issues" with being relegated to the corner with the offense built around pick-and-rolls instead of his strengths.

Teammates and those close to the organization felt like Durant should have voiced his concerns more directly with Frank Vogel.

Kevin Young, now at BYU, was responsible for the Suns' offense. Players questioned the coaching staff's ability to maximize a lineup of Durant, Beal, and Booker.

The Suns are reportedly taking a "hard look" at making full changes to the coaching staff this summer. 

Shams Charania & Doug Haller/The Athletic

Tags: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Suns To Take 'Hard Look' At Coaching Change; James Jones Expected To Remain As GM

Apr 29, 2024 1:42 AM

The Phoenix Suns are expected to take a "hard look" at a full coaching change for the second straight offseason, sources told Shams Charania and Doug Haller of The Athletic.

The Suns will, at the very least, make changes to Frank Vogel's staff.

The Suns were swept by the Timberwolves in the first round.

Vogel said before Game 4 that he has the "full support" of Mat Ishbia.

James Jones is expected to remain as the general manager next season. 

Shams Charania & Doug Haller/The Athletic

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Chris Finch Feared To Have Torn Patellar Tendon In Knee

Apr 29, 2024 1:30 AM

Chris Finch is feared to have a torn patellar tendon in his knee, sources told Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Finch suffered the injury during a collision late in the Timberwolves' win in Game 4.

The Timberwolves swept the Suns in the first round. 

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Tags: Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA, NBA Injury

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Frank Vogel Has 'Full Support' Of Mat Ishbia

Apr 28, 2024 10:46 PM

Frank Vogel said he felt "very" confident that he would return as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns next season.

"I've got full support of [Suns owner Mat] Ishbia," said Vogel before Game 4 on Sunday.

Vogel originally signed a five-year deal in June 2023. 

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Tags: Phoenix Suns, NBA

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Mark Daigneault Wins Coach Of The Year Award

Apr 28, 2024 10:29 PM

Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault won the NBA Coach of the Year award on Sunday night.

Daigneault finished in front of Jamahl Mosley and Chris Finch.

"I've used the word uncommon with this team all year, and the reason I think they're so uncommon is they have incredible ambition," said Daigneault on Sunday night.

Joe Mazzulla and Tom Thibodeau rounded out the top five in voting. 

Tim Bontemps/ESPN

Tags: Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Award

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RealGM Radio: Jared Dubin On The First Round And Anthony Slater On The Warriors (Apr 2024)

Apr 28, 2024 8:38 PM

Host Danny Leroux talks with Jared Dubin of Last Night in Basketball about the playoffs and Anthony Slater of The Athletic about the Warriors.

Dubin and Leroux discuss the Knicks going up 3-1 on the 76ers, a bizarre Clippers/Mavericks series, which teams have been most impressive so far and much more. After that, RealGM Radio debuts the “Exit Interview” as Slater joins to break down what happened to the Warriors this season and where they go from here, including young player development, ownership’s willingness to pay the tax, Klay Thompson’s future and much more.

Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts or via the RSS feed

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, Philadelphia Sixers, NBA, RealGM Radio

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Kawhi Leonard Out For Game 4, Status For Remainder Of Series In Doubt

Apr 28, 2024 1:52 PM

LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will miss Game 4 of his team's first round series against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Clippers coach Ty Lue said he doesn't know when Leonard will play again. Lue said that Leonard can't do all the movements necessary to play in games.

The Clippers star missed Game 1 of the series, as well as several late regular season contests, due to inflammation in his surgically repaired. Leonard returned to play in Games 2 and 3, but clearly wasn't himself on the floor.

The Mavericks lead the series 2-1 before hosting Game 4 on Sunday afternoon. The series will shift back to Los Angeles for Game 5 on Wednesday.

Ohm Youngmisuk/ESPN

Tags: Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Bojan Bogdanovic Playing Through Left Wrist Injury

Apr 28, 2024 12:17 PM

New York Knicks forward Bojan Bogdanovic is playing through ligament damage in his left wrist. Bogdanovic had an MRI, which confirmed the damage to his non-shooting hand/wrist. The veteran forward plans to continue to play for the remainder of the Knicks playoff run, and surgery could be an option in the offseason.

Through three games of the Knicks first round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Bogdanovic has averaged 8.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in 16.7 minutes per game off New York's bench. He's shot just 7-of-24 from the floor, including just 1-of-9 on two-point shots.

The Knicks acquired Bogdanovic from the Detroit Pistons in a trade deadline deal. Bogdanovic averaged 10.4 points in 29 games off New York's bench following the trade.

Mike Scotto/HoopsHype

Tags: Bojan Bogdanovic, New York Knicks, NBA, NBA Injury

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Hornets Interested In Hiring Brock Aller For Front Office Role

Apr 28, 2024 12:10 PM

New Charlotte Hornets president of basketball operations Jeff Peterson is building out his front office staff. One person Peterson has his eyes on New York Knicks executive Brock Aller.

Aller is currently the Knicks vice president of basketball and strategic planning. Aller was one of New York president Leon Rose's first hires when he took over the team's front office.

Aller is considered one of the best in the NBA at managing the salary cap and negotiating team-friendly contracts. It's unclear if he'll leave New York, as the Knicks are expected to do what it takes to keep Aller in the fold.

Ian Begley/SNY

Tags: Charlotte Hornets, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor

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Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard Out For Game 4

Apr 28, 2024 12:01 PM

The Milwaukee Bucks face some long odds as they seek to even up their first round series against the Indiana Pacers. Not only are the Bucks on the road while trailing 2-1 in the series, but Milwaukee will also be without both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

Antetokounmpo is still out as he attempts to recover from a strained calf. Lillard is out due to a strained Achilles that he re-aggravated in the Bucks Game 3 loss.

Indiana now has a chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead before things shift back to Milwaukee for Game 5 on Tuesday.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA, NBA Injury

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Mavs GM Nico Harrison: We're Built For The Next Three Playoff Runs

Tim MacMahon/ESPN

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 27): Magic/Cavs, Thunder/Pelicans, Celtics/Heat, Lakers/Nuggets

RealGM Staff Report

Christian Wood Available For Lakers For Game 4

Dave McMenamin/ESPN

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 26): Pacers/Bucks, Mavericks/Clippers, Wolves/Suns

RealGM Staff Report

Doc Rivers Doubts Giannis Antetokounmpo Will Play In Game 4

Jamal Collier/ESPN

Damian Lillard Has Strained Achilles, Doubtful For Game 4

Shams Charania/The Athletic

Kawhi Leonard Still Experiencing Knee Issues

Ohm Youngmisuk/ESPN

Damian Lillard Aggravates Achilles Injury During Bucks' Loss

Jamal Collier/ESPN

Juwan Howard Joins Nets As Assistant Coach

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Liam McNeeley Commits To UConn

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

NBA, ESPN Reach Deal On Broadcast Rights

John Ourand/Puck News

NBA Has Framework Agreements With ESPN, Amazon For Broadcast Rights

Andrew Marchand/The Athletic

2024 NBA Playoff Snapshots (April 25): Sixers/Knicks, Magic/Cavs, Nuggets/Lakers

RealGM Staff Report

Giannis Antetokounmpo Ruled Out For Game 3

ESPN

Kevin Durant Plans To Play 'Until The Wheels Fall Off'

Baxter Holmes/ESPN

Hollinger & Duncan: Playoffs Week 1: The CRUCIBLE 2024

RealGM Staff Report

Dunc'd On: PHI/NYK, ORL/CLE, LAL/DEN Game 3s

RealGM Staff Report

Mitchell Robinson Exited Game 3 Early, Left Arena In Walking Boot

Jake Fischer/Yahoo Sports

Nikola Jokic: Winning Is A Lifestyle For Us

RealGM Staff Report

Kyshawn George Enters NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN