Veteran guard Chris Paul is not on the rosters of the Thunder or Spurs, yet his influence is evident as the two clubs meet in the Western Conference finals, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
During the 2019/20 season in Oklahoma City, Paul mentored then-rookie Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He provided similar leadership last year in San Antonio, helping a young Spurs group learn the nuances of the game.
“He helped the young guys, including myself, really understand the game at a different level,” Spurs forward Keldon Johnson said. “He’s a winning basketball player, and I can see how he contributed to winning here as well.”
Trail Blazers
New majority owner Tom Dundon has initiated several cost-cutting moves in Portland, sparking fan anxiety about a possible relocation. To assess those worries, The Oregonian’s Bill Oram spoke with executives and supporters of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, another Dundon property.
The feedback pointed to Dundon’s commitment to his teams’ current markets. He has pledged $800 million for development around the Hurricanes’ home, the Lenovo Center, and signed a 20-year lease extension in 2023. “If he bought (the Hurricanes) with a plan to leave, he could have tried to execute on that,” Hurricanes CEO Brian Fork said. “But he did the opposite of that and sort of doubled down in this market.”
Jazz
The Jazz secured the No. 2 overall pick in next month’s draft. Team president of basketball operations Austin Ainge, who represented the club at the lottery, told Kevin Reynolds of the Salt Lake Tribune he hopes this is Utah’s final trip to the lottery “for a long time.”
Nuggets
The defending champion Nuggets hold selections Nos. 26 and 49. Vinny Benedetto of the Denver Gazette reports Denver is evaluating a range of prospects projected to be available late in the first round and midway through the second.
Additional draft workouts and interviews are expected to guide the team’s final board as the June event approaches.
Source: Hoops Rumors
