Barstool NBA Notebook: Coaching Searches, Pop Out For Game 5, Bogut To Australia
This is a new daily series I plan on launching with half the league in the offseason. The NBA offseason tends to be one of the more wild one at the professional level, so this will be your cheat sheet to see what’s going on. This will be everything from coaching changes and interviews, contract deals, trades, etc. We’ll avoid game recaps, but rather focus on the other aspects to the league and game. You’ll be able to find it all right here. If there’s something you want changed with this set up or any ideas, let me know @barstoolreags
Pelicans pick up Alvin Gentry’s option for next year
Good for the Pelicans and even better news for Gentry, who is one of the most well-liked and respected guys in the league. The Pelicans were a weird team this year as they sort of defied what everyone is doing across the NBA. They wanted to beat you with size and playing through two of the best bigs in the league in Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. Then Cousins went down with that disgusting season-ending injury and the team sort of rallied around Anthony Davis, who should be in MVP talk despite not being the favorite to win it. They made the playoffs as the six seed and swept the Blazers, but as Woj reported, the option was picked up before that series happened. This was Gentry’s third season with the Pelicans and first winning season in New Orleans. They are currently waiting to play the winner of the Warriors/Spurs.
Andrew Bogut signs deal back in Australia
The former No. 1 pick is heading back home to Australia to play for the Syndey Kings. Bogut was signed with the Lakers back in September before being waived in October. He decided to sign back in his native country of Australia to be with his pregnant wife and at 33 he still should have a few years in him in the NBL. Personally I can’t wait for that Breakers/Kings game and I’m not quite sure why. Bogut had a good NBA career though one that probably didn’t live up to the hype of being the No. 1 pick back in 2005. However, he was an All-NBA player in 2010, a starter on the 2015 Golden State title team and a starter on that 2016 team that set a regular season record before his injury really cost the Warriors in the NBA Finals.
Gregg Popovich won’t coach Game 5
This is now the third game in a row that Pop will miss following the death of his wife Erin. For the third straight game, Ettore Messina will be the interim head coach. The Warriors currently lead the Spurs 3-1 as the series moves back to Golden State. It’s no surprise and no one is blaming Pop that he’s missing these games, but hopefully we see him on the sidelines soon. The game tonight tips off at 10:30 as the Warriors will try to move on to play New Orleans.
Suns spoke to Jason Kidd and Vinny Del Negro about open head coaching job
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This is, uh, something and that’s not a compliment. The Suns are in a unique positions as they are in rebuild mode but have possibly two legs up. They have a guy in Devin Booker. They have the most ping pong balls to land Deandre Ayton. If you have those two young guys to build around, that all of a sudden becomes an intriguing job to take. That’s not one that should be taken by Kidd or Del Negro. Kidd was essentially run out of Milwaukee as the players sort of revolted against him and Del Negro has been out of coaching since 2013. The Suns need to make a correct hire here as they’ve gone through Alvin Gentry, Lindsay Hunter, Jeff Hornacek, Earl Watson and Jay Triano since the 2012-13 season. They need to bring in a coach who can work with a rebuild and focuses on development of players. This would be an ideal position for Ettore Messina or Ime Udoka of the Spurs.
Jusuf Nurkic wants to resign with the Blazers
I’ve talked about the Blazers before and how they are in a weird spot. There’s the rumor that Terry Stotts could lose his job, which would be a dumb decision. However, the roster is in a weird spot due to cap space and makeup. That said, one of the more important players to the Blazers is Jusuf Nurkic, who was traded to them about midway through last season. He’s a restricted free agent and has made it known he wants to come back to Portland.
Here’s the one problem with Nurkic. He was taken advantage of in the series against New Orleans. He couldn’t guard Davis in those midrange pick and pops and this season the Blazers actually were a better offensive team with him off the court. Now, not everyone is Anthony Davis nor can most people in the league stop Anthony Davis. But, if you’re going to pony up a decent amount of money to a guy like Nurkic, you need him to bring one or the other whether it’s improving that midrange defense or being more consistent offensively. Remember, the Blazers also have Zach Collins while Meyers Leonard is also tied up for a combined $22 million the next two seasons.
Mike Budenholzer prefers the Knicks:
There are numerous reports out there that Mike Budenholzer, the current head coach of the Hawks, prefers to take the Knicks job if offered to him. As a Knicks fan, YES!* I put the asterisk there because it depends if they have to trade something in order to land him since he’s still under contract with the Hawks. Personally, the Knicks shouldn’t be trading any picks, especially for a coach. While the Knicks should be in rebuild mode, the front office doesn’t necessarily play that way as they go out and compete in every game. That’s something the Hawks aren’t necessarily doing and Budenholzer – who is from the Spurs organization originally – prefers to be able to coach to win. Once Kristpas comes back from injury, you at least have a young core of him, Frankie and whoever you draft in this year’s top-10. Budenholzer has been with the Hawks since 2013-14 and won 60 games in his second season in Atlanta. If you’re a Knicks fan the top-3 you should want for coaches is Budenholzer-Fizdale-Stackhouse.