Good morning, maybe the Spurs can’t have it all
That and much, much more in Monday’s NBA newsletter.
Good morning. Thank you to Ricky O’Donnell for newslettering in my absence! Let’s basketball.
THE SPURS CAN’T HAVE IT ALL: Apparently Kawhi Leonard will not be the latest superstar to leave money on the table for the benefit of Peter Holt and Co. in San Antonio. Woj reports that Kawhi wants a max extension and the Spurs are balking. If a deal isn’t reached by Friday, Leonard will be a restricted free agent on July 1, 2015.
THE END OF NASH: Paul Flannery urges you to remember how much Steve Nash changed the NBA for the better. Here’s a timeline showing how it all went wrong.
HOLY WAR FOR REAL: The Triangle’s Holy War continues! Charley Rosen published Phil Jackson’s personal scouting reports on 10 of his own Knicks players, Jeff Van Gundy rolled his eyes at the credit the Triangle gets for the Bulls and Lakers titles under Jackson and Rosen declares JVG to be full of crap.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT: Harvey Araton makes a stellar point about the whole Robert Sarver vs. Pop thing: the Suns’ franchisee might want to apologize for forcing season ticket holders to buy seats for meaningless preseason games in the first place.
OOH, BACK STORY: Jeff McDonald with a valuable piece on Gregg Popovich’s early years in small town Indiana.
OOFVILLE: In a piece purportedly about the lack of progress on extension negotiations, a Cleveland beat writer let an anonymous league source WHO WAS DEFINITELY NOT THE PLAYER’S AGENT OR MOTHER compare Tristan Thompson to Horace Grant. The reason Tristan Thompson is not Horace Grant is that Horace Grant was good.
SO LONG, JUB JUB: The Timberwolves are buying out J.J. Barea three years after signing him to a contract just about everyone knew was a bad idea. Stein says he’s hoping to go back to the Mavericks.
DANG, GORDON HAYWARD: That’s a very long three-pointer!
NEAT: Sam Smith has a book coming out that explains Michael Jordan’s career from the perspective of other NBA players. Here’s an excerpt on Jordan’s NBA debut.
NOT GOOD: Victor Oladipo will miss a month with a facial fracture. The Magic’s already slim hopes of making the playoffs get worse.
T-MAC’S BACKRUB TOUR: By the looks of it, Tracy McGrady gives great backrubs. Hall of Famer?
SO LIFELIKE: If you suck bad enough in franchise mode in NBA 2K15, you can play in front of zero fans. Sam Hinkie is giving the developers of 2K15 the side eye right now.
I KNEW IT: Robin Lopez is secretly a 90-year-old man.
BECOMING: LeBron on his new sports show for kids.
SHUMP, I NEED TO KNOW MORE: This is old cheese, but since I was on vacation I’m bringing it back around. Iman Shumpert, there is a clock in your hat. Please tell us more.
YEAH, SPORTS! The great Bob Ryan implores everyone to love sports. I’m there!
THE RAPTORS AT 20: Eric Koreen with a terrific look back at the history of the Raptors.
WHIMSY: Why yes, the preview for The Avengers: Age of Ultron does match up with Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” I will never let go, Cap. I’ll never let go.
Happy Monday. One day left, y’all. See you next time.
