Donald Higney

The Detroit Pistons appear interested in hiring Minnesota Timberwolves head executive Tim Connelly as president of basketball operations, sources told The Athletic's James L.

Washington Wizards wing Bilal Coulibaly isn't impressed by Pascal Siakam's game.At the end of April, Coulibaly said the Indiana Pacers forward was the easiest star to guard when asked by French publication RMC Sport. On Monday, the 19-year-old didn't back down from his comments."I stand by it. ... I watch the films, I know what he was about to do when he was going left, spinning around, going right," Coulibaly told "Run It Back." "I was like, yeah, he was the easiest superstar to guard." .@MichelleDBeadle: "You said that Pascal Siakam was overrated...Do you stand by that?"#Wizards Bilal Coulibaly: "I stand by it." pic.twitter/3F32d721Mt— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) May 13, 2024 The Wizards youngster wouldn't reveal who else he considers easy to guard.Coulibaly played Siakam twice while the two-time All-Star was a member of the Toronto Raptors. Siakam averaged 30.5 points on 65.8% true shooting, nine assists, and 8.5 rebounds in those contests, his most against any team this season, according to TSN's Keerthika Uthayakumar.The Raptors traded Siakam to the Pacers in January. Indiana is tied with the New York Knicks at two games apiece in the second round.Coulibaly averaged 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in his rookie campaign. The Wizards were awarded the second overall pick in June's NBA draft after finishing 15-67.

Kentucky will host former coach John Calipari and his new school, Arkansas, at Rupp Arena for the only matchup between the SEC rivals in the 2024-25 season. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kentucky Men's Basketball (@kentuckymbb) The date for the matchup hasn't been announced.Calipari left Kentucky after 15 seasons to take Arkansas' coaching vacancy following Eric Musselman's departure for USC. The 65-year-old ranks second in wins in Wildcats history (533) and helped lead the program to a national championship in 2012.Kentucky hired BYU head coach Mark Pope to fill Calipari's absence. Some of Calipari's former players and committed prospects for next season have followed him to Arkansas. Center Zvonimir Ivisic and wing Adou Thiero played for him last season, while recruits Karter Knox, Boogie Fland, and Billy Richmond flipped their commitments to the Razorbacks. Two more players have transferred from other schools: Jonas Aidoo from Tennessee and former FAU star Johnell Davis.Kentucky has also been active in the transfer portal, securing commitments from Amari Williams (Drexel), Lamont Butler (San Diego State), Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), Andrew Carr (Wake Forest), Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State), Koby Brea (Dayton), and Kerr Kriisa (West Virginia).

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert received a $75,000 fine for "making an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture that questions the integrity of the league and its game officials," the NBA announced Tuesday.

The Brooklyn Nets will retire Vince Carter's No. 15 jersey next season.His number will be joined by former backcourt mate Jason Kidd, who helped reveal the news in a video to Carter. It’s official: We’re raising @mrvincecarter15’s jersey to the rafters next season.And we invited a pair of Nets legends to assist with the announcement.🔗 https://t.co/IkjyKxMU3n pic.twitter/qi1khzBK39— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) May 15, 2024 The announcement comes just months before Carter's induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August. The Nets will be the first franchise to retire his number.Carter played four and a half seasons with the then-New Jersey Nets. The franchise acquired him from the Toronto Raptors in December 2004 for a package including Alonzo Mourning, Aaron Williams, Eric Williams, and two first-round picks.Carter made the All-Star Game in his first three campaigns with the Nets. The franchise reached the playoffs three times with Carter on the roster, including back-to-back second-round appearances in 2006 and 2007.The Nets traded Carter to the Orlando Magic in 2009.Over his Nets tenure, Carter averaged 23.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell is expected to miss Wednesday's do-or-die Game 5 against the Boston Celtics due to a calf strain, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania and Joe Vardon.Mitchell missed the team's Game 4 loss on Monday due to the injury.More to come.

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell will miss Wednesday's do-or-die Game 5 against the Boston Celtics due to a calf strain.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley is expected to return from a calf strain for Thursday's must-win Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania.Conley missed the team's Game 5 loss.More to come.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley is expected to return from a calf strain for Thursday's must-win Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania

The Toronto Raptors are likely to trade veteran swingman Bruce Brown around June's NBA draft after picking up his $23-million team option, league sources told Doug Smith of the Toronto Star