AROUND the NBA:

[Chicagojk]

Anyone know of this guy? What he a part of the Nico purge?

The Lakers are hiring Jeremy Holsopple as their new head strength and conditioning coach,
@TheSteinLine
has learned.

As Dallas’ athletic performance director, Holsopple was named as the NBA's top strength and conditioning coach in March 2021.

[omahen]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4594...-26-season

Pretty fascinating that the team that almost won the championship last year (Indiana) isn’t even in their top 10 prospects.

Rodney Daingerfield would have comments…

Why would that be fascinating, considering all of the circumstances? Their best player is out for season with achilles and they lost their starting centre. None of the moves they made would inspire true hope that they made adequate replacements to replace those huge losses.

[omahen]

Anyone know of this guy?  What he a part of the Nico purge?

The Lakers are hiring Jeremy Holsopple as their new head strength and conditioning coach,
@TheSteinLine
has learned.

As Dallas’ athletic performance director, Holsopple was named as the NBA's top strength and conditioning coach in March 2021.

Yes, he was part of that "purge". He was frequently mentioned alongside Casey Smith. 

Upsetting Details on Mavericks’ Medical Department Emerge as Nico Harrison’s New Hires Fall Short

Seems he was very respected in his field of work (coach of the year in his field in 2021)

Firings, 'cheerleader energy' and lost trust: What really led to the Luka Doncic trade - ESPN

[Scott41theMavs]

Yes, he was part of that "purge". He was frequently mentioned alongside Casey Smith. 

Upsetting Details on Mavericks’ Medical Department Emerge as Nico Harrison’s New Hires Fall Short

Seems he was very respected in his field of work (coach of the year in his field in 2021)

Firings, 'cheerleader energy' and lost trust: What really led to the Luka Doncic trade - ESPN

After reading the second feature - which I hadn't read until now - I'm team NNT. No Nico tolerance.

He reminds me of Chris Gatling, who got pissy about a promotional deal about the fans being the Mavs' sixth man, because "I'm the sixth man." Except a million times worse. A narcissist and an imbecile.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Why would that be fascinating, considering all of the circumstances? Their best player is out for season with achilles and they lost their starting centre. None of the moves they made would inspire true hope that they made adequate replacements to replace those huge losses.

Makes plenty of sense to me. This is a "gap" year for Indy and Boston.

[michaeltex]

https://dallashoopsjournal.com/p/los-ang...ws-rumors/


Luka wants revenge for Dallas' "fat-shaming" him.

First, Luka's calf injury did not keep him from getting in shape last season. He came in out of shape, got injured in practice (allegedly) on the same leg that bothered him the previous season and never seemed to get himself together until the long layoff before the trade. (side note - was the leg/calf that was injured so much his take-off leg when driving to the basket?)

Secondly, it's a sad commentary on his dedication that it took public shaming to motivate him to get in better physical condition. Although national commentators had been critical of his stamina and body size for a couple years now. It was just more notable coming from Mav "insiders".

Thirdly, despite the criticism, Luka used his size advantageously when playing. He was never the fastest guy or the highest leaper, but his size allowed him to finish through contact. I seem to remember when RC was coaching him that there were comments Luka didn't want to lose weight because he felt it disadvantaged his game. So it will be interesting to see if Luka-lite is still as aggressive driving to the rim or if he settles more for outside scoring.

[Chicagojk]

Wyc Grousbeck will no longer stay on as governor as part of the Boston Celtics' $6.1 billion sale to Bill Chisholm, sources tell me and
@ramonashelburne
. Plan had been for Grousbeck to remain through 2028. Chisholm assumes governor title and the transfer will be finalized soon.


Live look at Cuban

[Chicagojk]

the Denver Nuggets and forward Kessler Edwards have agreed to a deal, league sources told
@hoopshype
. Edwards averaged 4.2 points on 49.6% shooting from the field and 40.7% from 3-point range in 40 games, including 18 starts, for the Dallas Mavericks last season.


*******************************************
Good for him.  He was pretty good here.  May be a solid deep bench guy in Denver for a tad.   Will need to prove to be an average open shooter, but he is big, good athlete, and seemed to understand schemes.    Most of his good moments in Dallas was when we didn't have any centers and he played small ball 5.  Will need to show he can play effectivly on the wings.   

Dallas has been pretty good identifiying two way guys.

[omahen]

the Denver Nuggets and forward Kessler Edwards have agreed to a deal, league sources told
@hoopshype
. Edwards averaged 4.2 points on 49.6% shooting from the field and 40.7% from 3-point range in 40 games, including 18 starts, for the Dallas Mavericks last season.


*******************************************
Good for him.  He was pretty good here.  May be a solid deep bench guy in Denver for a tad.   Will need to prove to be an average open shooter, but he is big, good athlete, and seemed to understand schemes.    Most of his good moments in Dallas was when we didn't have any centers and he played small ball 5.  Will need to show he can play effectivly on the wings.   

Dallas has been pretty good identifiying two way guys.

Currently it is only an exhibit 10 deal, so no guarantee he will make the roster

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/m...84884.html


An NBA scout assesses Miami's chances in the East.

[Chicagojk]

Currently it is only an exhibit 10 deal, so no guarantee he will make the roster

Gotcha.  Yeah that is an uphill battle for him then.

[Chicagojk]

So are we sure this is Lebron's last year in LAL?   I am sure his feelings are hurt a little.   For years he was everyone's north star but he is not that now.  He is still damn good.   I am not sure he is a guy you cant count on for a long regular season or be the "man" in a long playoff series, but that doesn't take anything away from him being really good.   How long can he keep this level of play up?  The concern is that in time he will have a steep decline.  We really haven't seen it yet.   

What type of money is he looking for after next year?  Most of the contenders really don't have money.   Would an extension with the Lakers for 20-25 million be the best option?  Especially if Luka is a top 3 player.  Maybe they extend Reaves and potentially Ayton. Would they have more money to fill in the gaps with another 1-2 good players?  This may be the easiest option for LAL to be a contender, rather than letting James walk and trying to fill in with his role.    Tough to find a guy who can do what Lebron does.

Just something to watch.   It will be a tricky balance by all parties.

[KillerLeft]

So are we sure this is Lebron's last year in LAL?   I am sure his feelings are hurt a little.   For years he was everyone's north star but he is not that now.  He is still damn good.   I am not sure he is a guy you cant count on for a long regular season or be the "man" in a long playoff series, but that doesn't take anything away from him being really good.   How long can he keep this level of play up?  The concern is that in time he will have a steep decline.  We really haven't seen it yet.   

What type of money is he looking for after next year?  Most of the contenders really don't have money.   Would an extension with the Lakers for 20-25 million be the best option?  Especially if Luka is a top 3 player.  Maybe they extend Reaves and potentially Ayton. Would they have more money to fill in the gaps with another 1-2 good players?  This may be the easiest option for LAL to be a contender, rather than letting James walk and trying to fill in with his role.    Tough to find a guy who can do what Lebron does.

Just something to watch.   It will be a tricky balance by all parties.

I think it's absolutely his last year in LA. I think they have decided that, whether he wants to stay or not, hence the decision not to offer the 1+1 he wanted. The question is: will he play somewhere else just to continue playing, or will he choose to retire, as if it's on his own terms?

[omahen]

So are we sure this is Lebron's last year in LAL?   I am sure his feelings are hurt a little.   For years he was everyone's north star but he is not that now.  He is still damn good.   I am not sure he is a guy you cant count on for a long regular season or be the "man" in a long playoff series, but that doesn't take anything away from him being really good.   How long can he keep this level of play up?  The concern is that in time he will have a steep decline.  We really haven't seen it yet.   

What type of money is he looking for after next year?  Most of the contenders really don't have money.   Would an extension with the Lakers for 20-25 million be the best option?  Especially if Luka is a top 3 player.  Maybe they extend Reaves and potentially Ayton. Would they have more money to fill in the gaps with another 1-2 good players?  This may be the easiest option for LAL to be a contender, rather than letting James walk and trying to fill in with his role.    Tough to find a guy who can do what Lebron does.

Just something to watch.   It will be a tricky balance by all parties.

LeBron can't be a number one guy on a contender anymore and as you said, contenders don't really have cap space to sign him for big money. So he can either go wherever he wants for some kind of exception level money or sign for a bad team to just play (any bad team would likely welcome his marketing potential). Miami could carve out near max cap space if they dump Wiggins for expiring contracts, but would Miami be in any better position to contend than Lakers are? So, perhaps he can find a middle ground with Lakers. I think he likes his life in LA. 

LeBron retiring could be an option, but it was rumored he wants a full goodbye season when he decides. I am not sure which team would be willing to go through that circus, if their goal is to be competitive. I think his best option for that would be this season with Lakers. 

I didn't figure out Lakers long term plans yet. There were rumors they want to keep flexibility for 2027, but there is 2026 inbetween, where the only players currently under contract are Luka, Vando, LaRavia, Knecht, Bronny and Thiero. Reaves, Smart and Ayton have player options they will most likely not take, unless they suck big time. Since Lakers don't have bird rights for Ayton and Smart, they will need to resign or replace them using cap space. Lakers could have around 60 mil of cap space in 2026 taking into account Reaves cap hold, unless they change the roster a lot at TDL. There are no really good FA in 2026 and FA in most cases sign more than one year deal (so flexibility for 2027 would be gone). They could use the cap space to trade for players in exchange for air (they will have three FRP available), but it will be very difficult to build a roster with just cap space. I think they should replace Maxi and Vincent for a quality salary that ends in 2027 (easier said than done) and do the same or resign Rui for one more year.  I am optimistic that they do have a plan, I am just not able to understand it. But I am really worried how next season Lakers without LeBron could be better than this season. They will have a lot of holes to fill. 

Resigning LeBron for another year would be a good way for the Lakers to bridge the gap from 2026 to 2027. Not sure if Rui would take only an one year extension, but they might trade him at TDL for a player whos contract ends in 2027.

[omahen]

NHL Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has agreed to buy the Portland Trail Blazers from the estate of Paul G. Allen for a valuation of over $4 billion, sources tell ESPN.

I wonder what direction will Portland take now. Current team has some talent, but it is far from contending.

[omahen]

Its interesting how many teams were sold in last couple of years. Sort of started with Suns and than followed with Mavs, Minny, Boston, Lakers and Portland. Did I forget anyone else? Owners selling high?

[michaeltex]

LeBron can't be a number one guy on a contender anymore and as you said, contenders don't really have cap space to sign him for big money. So he can either go wherever he wants for some kind of exception level money or sign for a bad team to just play (any bad team would likely welcome his marketing potential). Miami could carve out near max cap space if they dump Wiggins for expiring contracts, but would Miami be in any better position to contend than Lakers are? So, perhaps he can find a middle ground with Lakers. I think he likes his life in LA. 

LeBron retiring could be an option, but it was rumored he wants a full goodbye season when he decides. I am not sure which team would be willing to go through that circus, if their goal is to be competitive. I think his best option for that would be this season with Lakers. 

I didn't figure out Lakers long term plans yet. There were rumors they want to keep flexibility for 2027, but there is 2026 inbetween, where the only players currently under contract are Luka, Vando, LaRavia, Knecht, Bronny and Thiero. Reaves, Smart and Ayton have player options they will most likely not take, unless they suck big time. Since Lakers don't have bird rights for Ayton and Smart, they will need to resign or replace them using cap space. Lakers could have around 60 mil of cap space in 2026 taking into account Reaves cap hold, unless they change the roster a lot at TDL. There are no really good FA in 2026 and FA in most cases sign more than one year deal (so flexibility for 2027 would be gone). They could use the cap space to trade for players in exchange for air (they will have three FRP available), but it will be very difficult to build a roster with just cap space. I think they should replace Maxi and Vincent for a quality salary that ends in 2027 (easier said than done) and do the same or resign Rui for one more year.  I am optimistic that they do have a plan, I am just not able to understand it. But I am really worried how next season Lakers without LeBron could be better than this season. They will have a lot of holes to fill. 

Resigning LeBron for another year would be a good way for the Lakers to bridge the gap from 2026 to 2027. Not sure if Rui would take only an one year extension, but they might trade him at TDL for a player whos contract ends in 2027.

I wonder how Luka is going to take having the Lakers limp along while they are trying to resolve LeBron's exit/retirement. Imagine he spends all summer losing weight and trying to be in NBA-level shape then has to endure a season focused on answering the question of "what to do with LeBron" followed by a season trying to rebuild the team after LBJ is gone. Then he'll have to hope things are going well enough that LAL will drop a super max into his bank account.

[omahen]

I wonder how Luka is going to take having the Lakers limp along while they are trying to resolve LeBron's exit/retirement. Imagine he spends all summer losing weight and trying to be in NBA-level shape then has to endure a season focused on answering the question of "what to do with LeBron" followed by a season trying to rebuild the team after LBJ is gone. Then he'll have to hope things are going well enough that LAL will drop a super max into his bank account.

I would assume the plan is already laid out and agreed to between main parties involved. That is what a competent organisation would do and I do believe most NBA FO are competent. These are key questions and I would be extremely surprised if answers to these key questions are not already prepared. Or at least scenarios for different possibilities.

[Chicagojk]

Its interesting how many teams were sold in last couple of years. Sort of started with Suns and than followed with Mavs, Minny, Boston, Lakers and Portland. Did I forget anyone else? Owners selling high?

It is interesting.  Not sure what it means, if anything, but is something I have definately noticed.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://fastbreakjournal.com/boston-celt...-nba-news/


Celtics plan to start Payton Pritchard at PG.