NBA trade, draft and coaching scuttle
Let's start a (newsy) new week with the latest from the league's intel grapevine
This is an unexpectedly momentous travel day in the NBA Finals, with lots suddenly happening around the league to speed up our wait for Wednesday night's Game 3 in Boston.
While the Warriors, Celtics and everyone working the Finals will be making their way across the country, three major news conferences have popped up on Monday’s schedule. Sandwiched between Pat Riley's end-of-the-season address in Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers' introductory gathering for new coach Darvin Ham, Utah unexpectedly called for a third must-see presser, with new(ish) owner Ryan Smith and new CEO Danny Ainge poised to join outgoing coach Quin Snyder on the dais after Sunday's announcement that Snyder is indeed bringing a halt to his eight-season run as Jazz coach as we’ve been discussing here for weeks.
Utah thus joins Charlotte on the short list of NBA teams with a coaching vacancy — with the Hornets closing in on a decision between Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson and New Orleans Pelicans coaching consultant Mike D’Antoni. The NBA Draft is just 17 days away on June 23 ... with free agency to commence a week later on June 30. So there’s a lot happening to generate considerable chatter around the league, necessitating a compilation of the standout stuff I heard over the weekend for your perusal here:
🏀 The Hawks, league sources say …
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