Grousbeck said he wants to sell the team in steps, with the majority tranche sold by the winter of 2025, and then retain control until the rest is sold off in 2028. That may prove tricky, especially as NBA commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this year the league may choose to avoid stepped transactions after the current Minnesota Timberwolves saga gets settled. Multiple industry sources pointed out that any prospective owner likely would not want to spend billions of dollars only to wait to take over.
Grousbeck said he wants to sell the team in steps, with…
November 12, 2024 | 2:00 pm EST Update
I could certainly see the Bucks doing some kind of deal, if not more than one, before the Feb. 6 deadline. But in terms of the big stuff that comes with their team’s calculus — Giannis, Dame, Doc and Khris — I don’t see anything changing. For those asking about whether Rivers could be on the hot seat, let’s not forget the Bucks paid him approximately $40 million on a three-and-a-half-year deal less than a year ago. What’s more, Horst is facing pressure because of how these past few seasons have gone, and league sources are skeptical he’d be given the leeway to make another coaching change this soon.
What does the start of this year feel like for you compared to last year? It’s your second year versus your first, and the expectations have obviously changed. Darko Rajakovic: That’s really good perspective. Really good question, because last year we had some new faces to the organization. In the summer losing Fred VanVleet, adding Dennis Schröder, having some of the guys that were here for a longer time. New coach, getting players used to that system. It was really trying to find a balance of how to move the needle offensively with the ball movement, playing together, while at the same time competing and trying to win. We entered the season with the mission to really compete for the playoffs. And then when everything started changing, when we decided to go into the rebuild, the mentality changed.
Darko Rajakovic: This year the focus is very clear. We need to develop young guys. We need to develop our roster. The main thing, the most important thing, is being dedicated to the process of the development — individually and as a team. And this year for us, process has to be more important than the outcome of some of those games. That’s not saying that you’re not competing. That’s not saying that we don’t want to win. I think it’s completely opposite. As you can see, we are undermanned, but we are really competing and staying in all of those games against really good teams.
After the Sacramento game, one of your players came to speak to the media and said, ‘Darko just said there are no moral victories.’ But you watch how the team’s playing, to be as competitive as you’re being in the circumstances, and they feel like moral victories. So how do you message that to your players? Darko Rajakovic: I want my players to be focused one game at a time, not to worry about the previous game, not to worry about the next game. I want my players to be worried (about and) take advantage of every situation and every possession that we have offensively and defensively. And (I want them) to compete at the highest possible level and with the idea and ambition to walk into every game with the confidence that we are going to compete and do everything we can to win. If we win, it’s awesome. If we don’t win, then it has to be a learning opportunity for us, and we have to continue grinding for more. I will never allow our guys to go into games and just not worry about winning because winning is so important. We’ve got to learn what it takes to compete in those 36 minutes, to extend to 40 minutes, 40 to become 45 until we start putting full 48-minute games (together).
Anthony Slater: Steph Curry on the 8-2 Warriors “It’s good momentum. Not trying to ride the emotional roller coaster of people trying to declare who we are as a team…We remember last year how we had a good start (6-1) and then the wheels fell off a little bit.” pic.x.com/owCmUEuuGD
Rylan Stiles: The Oklahoma City Thunder has assigned forward/center Malevy Leons to the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League. The Blue tip off their season at the top of the hour
Anthony Chiang: The Pistons have listed Jalen Duren (ankle sprain) as questionable and Isaiah Stewart (ankle sprain) as probable for tonight’s game vs. Heat. Duren and Stewart combined for 11 offensive rebounds vs. Heat in teams’ first matchup of the season in Miami on Oct. 28.
Jason Beede: “He’s doing well. Slowly progressing,” #Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said about center Wendell Carter Jr. when I asked for an update. Carter will miss his 5th game in a row tonight vs. Charlotte due to left foot plantar fasciitis.
November 12, 2024 | 12:08 pm EST Update
Jose Alvarado expected to miss six weeks
Shams Charania: Another injury blow to New Orleans: Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado is expected to miss six weeks due to a hamstring injury, sources told ESPN. New Orleans is now without Alvarado, Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum and Jordan Hawkins.
