Latest news with #NBAPlayoffs
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Naz Reid Inks Huge $125 Million Contract With Timberwolves
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid signed a five-year, $125 million deal with the team, staying in Minnesota for the foreseeable future. Reid will earn $25 million per season during the deal, though his contract does come as a surprise. The Timberwolves were facing payroll issues since Reid and Julius Randle were set to be free agents. The team faced difficulties committing long-term money to both, though Reid is now secured heading into the season. More NBA news: Austin Reaves Reportedly Reaches Decision on Lakers Contract Extension Reid had a $15 million player option left on his deal that could have made him a free agent in 2026, when teams will have significantly more cap space. Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at... Naz Reid #11 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles the ball against Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in Game Four of the Western Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Chase Center on May 12, 2025 in San Francisco, California. More Photo byThe center could have netted more money if he had accepted his player option and had another season of high-level production, though there was a risk that his value would be negatively impacted. Instead, he chose to stay with the team that drafted him and secure his long-term financial future. More NBA news: Mavericks Fans Erupt in 'Fire Nico Harrison' Chant After Cooper Flagg Pick The former LSU product won the 2023-2024 Sixth Man of the Year. Reid had a career year during last season, averaging 14.2 points per game and six rebounds in 27.5 minutes. Reid is still only 25 years old, leaving the Wolves with the early half of the center's prime. He is an ultra-valuable floor-spacing center who can rebound at a high level and make room for Anthony Edwards to operate in the paint. Reid provides a good change of pace over Gobert, who is a non-shooter that defends well, but operates in the paint on offense. On the other hand, Reid's defense is at replacement level, able to hold his own, although still limited when guarding out on the perimeter and with rim protection. He shot 37.9 percent from the 3-point line on 5.8 attempts per game over the last season, cementing himself as a top shooting big man. Julius Randle's future remains uncertain since he hasn't yet decided on his player option. Since the Timberwolves fell short of the NBA Finals, the team might shake up its roster and move on from Randle. Regardless of what happens with Randle, Reid's future in Minnesota is set. More NBA news: NBA Insider Provides Massive Update on Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors Warriors Pull Off Massive NBA Draft Trade With Suns For more on the Minnesota Timberwolves and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
When is the Thunder's NBA Finals championship parade?
The post When is the Thunder's NBA Finals championship parade? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Following their 103-91 win in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, the Oklahoma City Thunder won their first championship in the OKC era. The Thunder do not claim the Seattle Sonics' history, so this is essentially their first championship in franchise history. The question then becomes, when is the Thunder's championship parade? Advertisement After their NBA Finals win, the Thunder's championship parade is scheduled for Tuesday, June 24 at 10:30 a.m., as per Brandon Rahbar of The Daily Thunder. The Thunder were among the few teams considered contenders for the NBA championship this season. They were the best team in the Western Conference this past season with an overall record of 68-14. They swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. They followed that up with a grueling seven games series in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Denver Nuggets, and then easily dispatched the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals. The Thunder were then challenged again by the Pacers in the NBA Finals, being pushed to a deciding Game 7. The Thunder finished with the best record and the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference during the 2023-24 season as well, but they were eliminated by the Dallas Mavericks in the conference semifinals. It's been 13 years since the Thunder have made it to the NBA Finals. The first time they reached the Finals was in 2012 with the star trio of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden. Advertisement Scott Brooks was the head coach when the Thunder last reached the NBA Finals. His tenure was followed by Billy Donovan who coached the team to five playoff appearances in five seasons, including one conference finals appearance. Donovan was replaced with Mark Daigneault, who has led the team to two playoff appearances in five seasons so far. But one of those seasons includes an NBA championship. Related: Isaiah Hartenstein's son fast asleep on Thunder's NBA Finals podium Related: Thunder guard Alex Caruso forced to give champagne-popping tutorial
Hamilton Spectator
9 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Masai Ujiri live: MLSE president Keith Pelley says it was time for change as Raptors fans voice their displeasure
Raptors president and vice-chair Masai Ujiri is departing in a stunning move for the franchise a day after the draft. Follow our live blog as this story develops. All caps, expletive-laden posts flooded the r/torontoraptors Reddit page, with fans calling the move 'a joke' and a 'disaster.' Other users expressed heartbreak and incredulity that the Raptors would part ways with the boss who pulled off the trade for Kawhi Leonard that helped bring a title to Toronto. 'I just fell to my knees at Tim Hortons,' one fan said of the news in a post on X. Read more from Elissa Mendes here Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announced in a statement Friday that the company has parted ways with Toronto Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri. 'During his 13 seasons with the Raptors, Masai has helped transform the organization on the court and has been an inspirational leader off it,' said MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley. 'He brought an NBA Championship to Toronto and urged us to believe in this city, and ourselves. We are grateful for all he has done and wish him and his family the very best. As we plan for the franchise's future, and its return to the NBA Playoffs, a search for the successor as president of the Raptors, led by CAA Executive Search, will begin immediately.' Ujiri has led the Raptors since returning to Toronto in 2013 and led the franchise to its only NBA championship in 2019. There is no immediate reason for the abrupt departure. Ujiri was as involved as usual in the team's off-season and pre-draft preparations. He had one year left on a contract worth about $15 million per season. Read more from Doug Smith here Edward Rogers actively fought plans to keep Masai Ujiri as head of the Toronto Raptors this summer — saying that he was not worth the amount offered — and then tried to extract an extraordinary benefit for his own company, the Star has learned. To the relief of fans, the ploy by Rogers was unsuccessful, and the Raptors announced on Aug. 5 that Ujiri was staying on in Toronto as vice chairman and president of basketball operations. However, new details have emerged suggesting that behind the scenes Edward Rogers tried to sabotage a high-performing executive with whom he had grown disenchanted — and ultimately failed in his bid because he appeared not to fully understand the governance structure of the NBA franchise. Read more here from Doug Smith and former Star reporter Christine Dobby Ujiri was no stranger to Toronto when he took a reported five-year, $15-million deal to become general manager of the franchise. He had spent three seasons in Toronto as an assistant general manager and director of global scouting before joining the Denver Nuggets front office in 2010 as general manager and vice president of basketball operations. There, he pulled off the blockbuster 2011 Carmelo Anthony trade with the New York Knicks and won NBA Executive of the Year in 2013. Here's a look back at his time with the Raptors. MLSE president & CEO Keith Pelley speaks to the media after Leafs president Brendan Shanahan was ousted in May. Keith Pelley, the president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, will address the media at 1 p.m. ET. The Star will carry the press conference live in this blog. Since Pelley took the role with MLSE in January 2024, the organization has parted ways with Toronto FC and Argonauts president Bill Manning and, more recently, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan. Now, he'll be asked questions about the departure of the longtime Raptors president. This press conference is not being well received in the YouTube chat, which, with about 2,600 live viewers on the Raptors stream, has been left open. Tomato, poop and clown emojis are crowd favourites. 'Boycott Rogers Now' seems to be a rallying cry, while dozens of viewers are booing in the chat. Pelley said him and Ujiri have been talking for the last two to three months about the future of the Raptors and have had a 'number of conversations over that time.' Pelley told Ujiri at the beginning of June that the team would be moving on from him. The decision was made by Pelley and the MLSE board, not Rogers chairman Edward Rogers, Pelley said. The search for a new candidate is beginning immediately with the assistance of the CAA agency, Pelley said. Bobby Webster, currently GM of the team, will 'definitely be a candidate.' MLSE is looking for a 'prominent, successful business leader,' Pelley said, adding that he has no doubt the team will be able to find a capable replacement. 'We will find somebody that unequivocally will have the passion to bring another NBA championship to this city, and that is our goal,' Pelley said. In his opening remarks of a press conference, MLSE CEO Keith Pelley said now was the time to make a change, with a roster in place and front office committed to for years to come. 'Today is not an easy day,' Pelley said. 'Change is never easy.' He credited Ujiri with having a 'monumental impact on the Raptors' and said his legacy will be 'indelibly etched on our city in perpetuity.' so, why now? Pelley said he spoke with Ujiri more than a month ago, and Ujiri asked that a change not happen until after the NBA draft, which concluded on Thursday night. Pressed on why exactly MLSE felt the need to move on from Ujiri, Pelley didn't answer the question. 'The fact that he led the draft shows Masai's integrity and our trust, and the belief that he always and will always have the best interests at heart for the Raptors,' Pelley said. 'There are many factors that came into this decision and the timing was right to make a change.' The press conference with Keith Pelley, CEO of MLSE, has wrapped. Here are the big takeaways:
Hamilton Spectator
9 hours ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Masai Ujiri live: Raptors president out as fans slam ‘huge mistake'; MLSE's Keith Pelley to speak at 1 p.m.
An NBA source has confirmed for The Star that Raptors president and vice-chair Masai Ujiri is departing in a stunning development a day after the draft. Follow our live blog as this story develops. All caps, expletive-laden posts flooded the r/torontoraptors Reddit page, with fans calling the move 'a joke' and a 'disaster.' Other users expressed heartbreak and incredulity that the Raptors would part ways with the boss who pulled off the trade for Kawhi Leonard that helped bring a title to Toronto. 'I just fell to my knees at Tim Hortons,' one fan said of the news in a post on X. Read more from Elissa Mendes here Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment announced in a statement Friday that the company has parted ways with Toronto Raptors president and vice-chairman Masai Ujiri. 'During his 13 seasons with the Raptors, Masai has helped transform the organization on the court and has been an inspirational leader off it,' said MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley. 'He brought an NBA Championship to Toronto and urged us to believe in this city, and ourselves. We are grateful for all he has done and wish him and his family the very best. As we plan for the franchise's future, and its return to the NBA Playoffs, a search for the successor as president of the Raptors, led by CAA Executive Search, will begin immediately.' Ujiri has led the Raptors since returning to Toronto in 2013 and led the franchise to its only NBA championship in 2019. There is no immediate reason for the abrupt departure. Ujiri was as involved as usual in the team's off-season and pre-draft preparations. He had one year left on a contract worth about $15 million per season. Read more from Doug Smith here Edward Rogers actively fought plans to keep Masai Ujiri as head of the Toronto Raptors this summer — saying that he was not worth the amount offered — and then tried to extract an extraordinary benefit for his own company, the Star has learned. To the relief of fans, the ploy by Rogers was unsuccessful, and the Raptors announced on Aug. 5 that Ujiri was staying on in Toronto as vice chairman and president of basketball operations. However, new details have emerged suggesting that behind the scenes Edward Rogers tried to sabotage a high-performing executive with whom he had grown disenchanted — and ultimately failed in his bid because he appeared not to fully understand the governance structure of the NBA franchise. Read more here from Doug Smith and former Star reporter Christine Dobby Ujiri was no stranger to Toronto when he took a reported five-year, $15-million deal to become general manager of the franchise. He had spent three seasons in Toronto as an assistant general manager and director of global scouting before joining the Denver Nuggets front office in 2010 as general manager and vice president of basketball operations. There, he pulled off the blockbuster 2011 Carmelo Anthony trade with the New York Knicks and won NBA Executive of the Year in 2013. Here's a look back at his time with the Raptors. MLSE president & CEO Keith Pelley speaks to the media after Leafs president Brendan Shanahan was ousted in May. Keith Pelley, the president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, will address the media at 1 p.m. ET. The Star will carry the press conference live in this blog. Since Pelley took the role with MLSE in January 2024, the organization has parted ways with Toronto FC and Argonauts president Bill Manning and, more recently, Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan. Now, he'll be asked questions about the departure of the longtime Raptors president.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Heat rumors: Miami's draft plans linked to star Florida guard
The post Heat rumors: Miami's draft plans linked to star Florida guard appeared first on ClutchPoints. With the Miami Heat preparing for the NBA Draft with the first round on Wednesday, there are no doubt many fans who have their picks on who the team should select. While the Heat look to avoid making a mistake in the NBA Draft, the team's recent selections have been anything but that, as the latest report connects a college player staying in-state. Advertisement ClutchPoints' NBA insider Brett Siegel would have Miami taking the University of Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. with the 20th overall pick after the guard led his program to a national title. Especially after missing out on trading for Kevin Durant, the team does need another scoring threat and a point guard, which Clayton fills in. Plus, Siegel would report that the Heat picking the Gator has 'gained momentum among league personnel.' 'The Miami Heat are said to be valuing experienced prospects in the 2025 NBA Draft that can provide an instant impact on the court rather than youthful projects with long-term upside,' Siegel wrote. 'As a result, Walter Clayton Jr., who just led Florida to a national championship, can become the Heat's point guard next to Tyler Herro in the backcourt.' 'After missing out on trading for Durant, Miami needs to prioritize finding scoring threats next to Herro and Bam Adebayo,' Siegel continued. 'Outside of Herro, the Heat don't have other lead playmakers in their backcourt, which makes Clayton a high-upside pick for Pat Riley. Clayton to Miami has gained momentum among league personnel in recent days.' Walter Clayton Jr. fits what the Heat needs Scott Wachter-Imagn Images After the Heat wasn't able to land Durant, as mentioned before, the team could look to the draft in building a foundation from their other first-round picks that have been successful. With the main duo of Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro leading Miami, other first-round picks such as last year's Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Nikola Jovic figure to be a big part next season, with Clayton's traits likely to fit in nicely. Advertisement 'Clayton is a dynamic scorer and finisher with the ball in his hands who doesn't back down from a challenge,' Siegel wrote. 'He may be listed at 6-foot-2, but Clayton never shies away from contact and proved to be one of the best perimeter players off the dribble in the draft when he led the Gators to a title.' At any rate, Miami is looking to improve after finishing with a 37-45 record, which put them 10th in the Eastern Conference before they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Related: Heat's 10 worst NBA Draft day mistakes in history Related: Heat rumors: Miami's final Kevin Durant offer prior to Rockets trade, revealed
