Women’s college basketball schedule, 2023-24

Lawsuit Not About Camby, But Something Deeper

Butch Carter may not be crazy.

Is there method to his seeming madness?The lawsuit that the Toronto coach was, uh, encouraged by the league to dismiss on Tuesday against Marcus Camby had nothing, you understand, to do with Marcus Camby. This is, I understand, about old feuds, old wounds, old scores. But what my minions tell me what it's really about is credibility. And Robert Montgomery Knight. Not necessarily in that order.You see, Carter's recently published book about his life has come under attack from just about everyone associated with Indiana basketball. You'll recall that Carter accused Knight of uttering a racial slur against an unnamed African-American player who people believe to be Isiah Thomas. Just about everyone has denied it happened. Thomas has denied it. So has Cavs coach Randy Wittman, who was a teammate of both Carter and Thomas on that 1979 Indiana team. Countless other Indiana/NBA types, from the Hawks' Alan Henderson to the Celtics' Calbert Cheaney, have leapt to Knight's general defense.Make no mistake: the General has a lot of friends in the NBA. Friends who could, one supposes, make it hard on Butch Carter.So, my spies tell me, Carter felt that Camby's public statements accusing him of being a liar were part of a smear campaign against his credibility. How so? Well, Camby's current agent, Rick Kaplan, used to be the Raptors' public relations man, before he took a job working for ... Isiah Thomas. (Kaplan has, however, since started his own company, 1450 Media, and no longer works with Thomas.)So ... A quid pro quo?Absolutely not, Kaplan insisted on Tuesday."Isiah and Marcus have not talked since August," Kaplan said. "I was present when they talked. Unfortunately, Marcus missed Isiah's golf tournament in Detroit over the summer. So I suspect Isiah might be a little angry with Marcus. And I haven't talked to Isiah since interview day at the All-Star Game last February.But there's additional intrigue. Thomas and Wittman aren't the only ex-Hoosiers that were on that 1979 team. Among the others is Glen Grunwald, who happens to have brought Butch Carter to Toronto. Who happens, now, to be the Raptors' general manager, and Carter's boss.You might see where this is heading.Certainly, if Knight used a racial slur, Grunwald, who was in the room, would have heard it. He is in the impossible position of being able to either confirm Carter's account, and go against Knight, or deny Carter's account, and go against his head coach. In the middle of the playoffs. It's something Grunwald wants no part of. "That's something I don't want to address until after the playoffs," Grunwald said Tuesday. "It's not a productive thing."Understand the stakes here. Carter has his own friends in the organization. Namely, Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. So making a move on Butch Carter could have its own dire consequences for the franchise later. Vince Carter says the one thing he gets a lot of from Butch Carter is criticism. But he doesn't mind. Matter of fact, he wants it."All the time, I mean, he pushes me, pushes me, and he's trying to bring out my potential and I understood that from day one," Vince told me recently. "So, when he comes out and he says whatever he has to say about me in the papers or whatever, it never bothers me, 'cause me -- I understand where he's coming from. Other people might take it one way, but I understand."So while the lawsuit may now be a moot point, the rest of this amazingly complicated story is just getting started, I reckon. Stay tuned.Doubting ThomasNow that Lenny Wilkens has been forcibly removed in Atlanta, Isiah Thomas' name comes up again. As it does in Indiana and New Jersey. And for the first time, I believe it. Before, I didn't think there was any way that Thomas would sign up in an organization where he'd have to share power with anyone. In Atlanta, of course, Stan Kasten is cemented in place as president, and Pete Babcock is a strong GM.But now, I'm told, Thomas would be willing to come in as coach as long as he has the final say on personnel. In other words, as long as he has veto power the next time Kasten wants to bring Isaiah Rider to town. And Thomas is apparently intrigued by the Hawks' potential (close to $20 million) cap room after the 2000-01 season.Just one question from the peanut gallery, though. If it wasn't Wilkens' idea to bring in Rider, why is Wilkens the only guy that lost his job? I have no quarrel with Kasten or Babcock, but shouldn't the entire organization sink or swim together on those kinds of Big Decisions?Around The League

Speaking of Wilkens, he won't be coaching in Washington next season, no matter what you're reading. He's not on Michael Jordan's short list. Well, let me amend that. Wilkens won't be coaching in the District of Columbia. As for Washington state, home of the Seattle Sonics, where Wilkens lives? Well, things have gone from bad to worse for Paul Westphal. Vin Baker is a shell of his former self, and Vernon Maxwell, inexplicably, isn't on the playoff roster. The Sonics claim that it was a mutually-arrived-at decision -- once Westphal told Maxwell that he wasn't certain to get big minutes, Maxwell said he wasn't all that confident in his surgically repaired knee, anyway, so why not put him on the injured list?

Feedback for David So what are your thoughts on this column by David Aldridge? What about some other columns you read on ESPN.Com? We want your feedback, good or bad. Click here to e-mail us your thoughts. Uh, does that sound like the Artist Formerly Known as Mad Max to you?The more likely story: Westphal told Maxwell that Shammond Williams was going to take most of his run in the playoffs, but stay ready. Maxwell's more likely retort: to hell with that, put me on the IR. More likely, because that's exactly what happened in Houston in 1995, when Clyde Drexler replaced Max in the starting lineup during the Rockets' run to a second title.

Mark Cuban really is thinking about bringing Don Nelson back as coach next season. Nellie has apparently convinced him that the whole Shawn Bradley trade-half-the-team thing, or paying $13 million to Erick Strickland, wasn't his call. It was a Pam Ewing, season-long figment of the imagination. And Cuban has allowed himself to become the lightning rod for all things Dallas.

"In terms of players, we have already agreed on some, disagreed on others," Cuban says. "Unlike previous management, I write the checks, I have the final say. All the final decision making and power starts and ends with me." Cuban better make sure Michael Finley's on board for that, though -- he's got an early out after next season.

George Irvine's gradually becoming the front-runner to stay on in Detroit as head coach next season by telling everybody how much he doesn't want the job. "Ambivalence gives him the best possible negotiating position," a friend says, correctly.

With the drawn-out first round, the Suns are increasingly confident that Jason Kidd not only would be available for a Game 5 against the Spurs, but might be back in time for a Game 4.

Denver Nuggets Face Rotation Questions As Training Camp LoomsNBA Insider

Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and the Nuggets:

NBA Insider

Training camp is less than a month away, and the Nuggets have rotation questions to answer before the regular season starts.

Here's our best guess on the rotation in the Oct. 24 season-opener against Oklahoma City at Ball Arena.

Starters

For the first time in a couple of seasons, the Nuggets have an opening in the starting five after Kentavious Caldwell-Pope signed with Orlando in free agency.

Christian Braun is the best bet to complete the starting five, which will once again have a chance to be the league's best unit. The 23-year-old does enough of the stuff that made Caldwell-Pope a perfect fit alongside Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and Nikola Jokic. Braun's on track to be Denver's best perimeter defender who's tasked with guarding the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry. He's also developing into a shooter capable of punishing teams who double team Nikola Jokic after improving his 3-point percentage from 35.4% as a rookie to 38.4% last season.

Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon connects community, cleans out closet with pop-up sale in DenverNBA Insider

For as much was made about Denver's inability, or unwillingness to retain Caldwell-Pope, the starting five should remain an elite unit.

Second unit

Denver's second unit in for a much bigger shakeup. Not only is Braun likely to join the starting lineup, but Reggie Jackson and Justin Holiday, the other reserves to play in the season-ending loss to Minnesota in Game 7 of the second round series, are no longer Nuggets.

Peyton Watson should be the big winner among the reserves. Though he didn't play many meaningful minutes against the Timberwolves, he should start his third NBA season with a little more confidence after playing nearly 19 minutes per game in the regular season.

Veterans Russell Westbrook and Dario Saric were brought in to address the needs at backup point guard and center, respectively. With Westbrook and Watson likely sharing the court, Denver will need some shooting to make sure spacing isn't an issue. Julian Strawther shot just 29.7% from 3 during a rookie year that was disrupted by injury, but he looked confident in Summer League. As long as that continues at training camp, the 22-year-old who shot better than 40% from 3 in his last season at Gonzaga will be the favorite to complete a nine-man rotation. Using Michael Porter Jr. To stagger with the rest of the second unit makes sense given his size and shooting ability.

Third unit

The six remaining players on standard contracts — Jalen Pickett, Vlatko Cancar, DeAndre Jordan, Zeke Nnaji, Hunter Tyson and DaRon Holmes II — do not project to be everyday players. Holmes, Denver's pick with the 22nd overall selection, will miss the entire season after tearing an Achilles tendon in Summer League.

Of the healthy players, Jordan could have the most consistent role against teams with true centers in their second unit, which was the case last season. Pickett is the only other true point guard on the 15-man roster. Cancar will have to prove he's past the torn anterior cruciate ligament that sidelined him for all of last season to earn regular minutes. Zeke Nnaji and Hunter Tyson appear to have the longest road to consistent playing time.

Denver's two-way players — Trey Alexander, PJ Hall and Spencer Jones — can be active for up to 50 regular-season games.

What I'm Thinking

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Game analysis and insights from The Gazette sports staff including columns by Woody Paige and Paul Klee.

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Boston signing Lonnie Walker IV on a training-camp deal shows one of two things.

Either the new collective bargaining agreement went too far, or teams are overreacting to the implications of the second apron. Walker is a 25-year-old wing with explosiveness to spare. He's coming off a season in which he averaged just under 10 points per game while shooting nearly 39% from 3-point range. That should be more than enough for a minimum contract given his combination of age, experience and production. Walker wasn't alone in waiting too long for a deal, either.

Markelle Fultz, Dennis Smith Jr., Evan Fournier, Doug McDermott, Reggie Bullock and Justin Holiday are among the players still without a deal for next season. Holiday was a key rotation player in Denver's second-round series against the Timberwolves, and conventional thought at the time was he may have earned more money in free agency than Denver could offer. That hasn't been the case.

It will take a couple more years to determine whether the NBA did too much or teams just overreacted. Either way, more than a few deserving players are paying the price while it all gets sorted out.

What I'm Following

—Derrick White's championship summer continued in Boulder. The Celtics guard and former Buff was celebrated during halftime of Colorado's season-opening football game against North Dakota State on Thursday. Spencer Dinwiddie, Andre Roberson, KJ Simpson and Tristan da Silva also returned to campus for a CU basketball reunion.

Big reunion at the CUEC today. Former #CUBuffs standouts Derrick White, Spencer Dinwiddie, Andre Roberson, KJ Simpson, Tristan da Silva all in town. Https://t.Co/ztkwSK4r09

— Tyler King (@King_TylerB) August 29, 2024

—Braun and Watson have been back in Denver preparing for the upcoming season for a couple of weeks. The young duo took a night to enjoy the Future and Metro Boomin concert Tuesday at Ball Arena, according to Instagram posts.

—DeAndre Jordan shared a Nuggets Instagram post featuring Marcus Camby in a Denver uniform with the caption "My first teacher!" and a goat emoji. Camby was a veteran with the Clippers during Camby's rookie and sophomore seasons.

—The Grand Rapids Gold released their schedule Tuesday. The Nuggets' G League affiliate's regular season starts Nov. 8 and ends March 29.

The 2024-25 Gold season schedule is set! 🔥 pic.Twitter.Com/pgksZsdGMi

— Grand Rapids Gold (@NBAGrandRapids) September 3, 2024

What I'm Reading

ESPN recently released their NBA staff's predictions for next season's individual awards. Jokic finished second in the preseason vote for Most Valuable Player, while Westbrook got some love for Sixth Man of the Year, while Braun received a vote or two for Most Improved Player.

What They're Saying

Michael Porter Jr. Joined former teammate Austin Rivers' "Off Guard" podcast. The two talked about Porter's offseason travel — which ranged from a mission trip to the Philippines, to Tokyo, to a yacht trip to the South of France — to Porter's "dream" of playing in the Olympics. Toward the end of the podcast, Porter honestly discussed how basketball can become a business even for those obsessed with the sport.

"I love basketball so much I would have played this game for free, as long as I could eat. I loved it. So the money, that was never my goal. My goal was to be, like, take this as far as I could take it, be as good as I could be," Porter said.

"So, man, the money almost, honestly, sometimes makes it a little bit harder to enjoy the game because with a max contract comes a lot of expectations on consistency, you're supposed to be an All-Star, you're supposed to be this, that, whatever they say. Sometimes it can take away a little bit of the joy just because of all the expectations that surround it."

Marcus Camby

“No NBA team this season was a bigger disappointment than the Blazers, yet the Rose Garden was packed, and loud, right to the end,” the Oregonian’s Jason Quick wrote this week in an encomium to the Rose Garden faithful. “You...

Edward Hershey

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