Welcome to Around the Realm, where we look at news from around the NBA. Wednesday morning was a wild morning full of big NBA news, starting with some players who could be missing time in the playoffs.
Kawhi Leonard is out indefinitely with a knee injury
Brian Windhorst first reported that Kawhi might miss tonight’s Game 5, and the Shams Charania reported that it might be a more serious injury.
Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss Game 5 against the Jazz tonight with a knee injury suffered in game 4, sources tell @ramonashelburne & me. His status for rest of series is in doubt as well.
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) June 16, 2021
Clippers fear All-NBA star Kawhi Leonard has suffered an ACL injury, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. He is out indefinitely.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2021
Chris Paul in COVID protocols
Chris Paul’s status moving forward is also in question as he had been placed in the league’s health and safety protocols.
Paul’s status for the start of the Western Conference finals is currently up in the air, sources say.
Noteworthy: Depending on the medical circumstance, an isolation period could be shorter for a vaccinated individual. https://t.co/62r5bWzLOh
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2021
Paul reportedly has received the vaccine, but the vaccine doesn’t fully prevent someone from contracting the virus (although it does lessen symptoms and severity). It’s unknown when Paul could be cleared, but the Suns have a few days off already as they wait for the Jazz and Clippers series to finish.
Stan Van Gundy fired
In a bit of a surprise, the New Orleans Pelicans fired Stan Van Gundy this morning. It was well known that he was clashing with some of the players on the roster, but it was surprising that SVG didn’t get one more year to try to figure it out.
In search for a replacement, Pelicans are expected to circle back among some candidates from a year ago, including assistants Jacque Vaughn and Ime Udoka (Brooklyn), Charles Lee (Milwaukee) and Jason Kidd (Lakers), sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/sAduFLcEiG
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2021
Scott Brooks out in Washington
Washington and coach Scott Brooks couldn't come to an agreement on a new deal and are agreeing to part ways, sources tell ESPN. Brooks' deal expired after the playoffs.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 16, 2021
Brooks’ contract was up at the end of the season, so he wasn’t fired by the Wizards, he just won’t be back next year.
Donnie Nelson out in Dallas
After Monday’s incredible article in the Athletic about the Mavericks front office dysfunction, Donnie Nelson is no longer with the Dallas Mavericks.
Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson and the franchise have decided to part ways, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2021
Nelson has earned a pretty solid reputation around the league and this departure comes as a bit of a surprise, although it makes more sense after Monday’s report.
2 coaches let go today, they say things come in 3’s. Luke Walton gone today? oh my!
(One can dream)
They’d probably fire Luke Walton just to hire Scott Brooks.
Opinions vary on Brooks, but I doubt there’s much argument about which would do a better job in Sacramento.
Well, Monte is a fan of the uninspiring upgrades!
Damn, I hate to see any player sidelined and unable to play, especially at playoff time. All of that hard work, and blam, you’re out. Hopefully, CP3 got his vaccinations already, and will be able to play in the WCF.
It looks like there’s going to be a long list of quality coaches available, all of whom are more qualified and capable than ours. I know that they announced that Walton was staying, but maybe McNair or Ranadive have a crush on one of the suddenly unemployed guys.
“Kings fans, make some noise for your new coach, Stan Van Gundy!”
I heard Kinkos are hiring.
Did the entire league decide to do a collective news dump today? I can’t keep up with all of the news coming out.
Real bummer to see how many stars have been injured this season. I wish the league would push the schedule back to Christmas for the upcoming season just to give everyone an extended break after the crazy 2 seasons we’ve just gone through. The league is better when teams are healthy and competing.
https://twitter.com/JustEsBaraheni/status/1405232723296407552?s=20
It’s happening! Joe Dumars, move over.
Well, have to say I kinda hoped Bob would stick around and cause further chaos, but good on the Mavs for walking away from Cuban’s Wormtongue.
I think you meant to say Bulgaris. It’s the active ingredient in Greek yogurt.
Wait, that guy had a job in an NBA front office? Dear lord.
The NBA had itself a Red Wedding today. And more’s likely to come hard to imagine Budenholzer staying on if Durant finishes off the Bucks. I really hope not, but these playoffs might knock out another star or two Embiid and Harden shouldn’t be out there as it is. And then Voulgaris** mess could contribute to further shakeups with the Mavs and rumor has it the Bucks could push hard to steal away Rick Carlisle. The Clips might second guess the Ty Lue choice; someone’s gonna make a run for Nate McMillan. The pandamonium will not stop.*
*Except for the SS Walton, which will continue to float on undisturbed waters in spite of every reason to sink it.
**Who was apparently fired just as I posted this.
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1405233734446682119?s=20
Try to keep up, folks!

Rik beat me to it, that Euro broadband is much faster than our third world version.
Try to keep up, Otis!
It’s fiber optic internet.
Come on, that’s not a real thing!
I’m paying for it, so it must be real.
Literally the only thing that makes anything real.
Haven’t had this rapid a sequence of notifications on my phone since the season was suspended last year.
With all this NBA twitter activity this morning, Luke Walton must have been fired, right?
Don’t be silly, he was only given an ownership stake.
Maybe he finally convinced Vivek to let him plan a European Heritage Night at G1C.
Heil yes!
Yes! Because behind my family’s Spanish crest that is hanging on my wall is a swastika.
Because every person who cares for their European heritage is a fascist.
You guys are deep.
Greg didn’t even post the most impactful Kings news of the day! Vivek’s guy is available and willing!
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1405192137478524930
Vivek could hire him as Consulting Head Coach, responsible only to Vivek!
Cal is Vivek’s true coaching crush…prepare yourselves.
Because Vivek can’t tell the difference between coaching and recruiting.
Vivek would give him a Gruden-esque contract. Which would be only fitting, since we’re just a step below the Raiders in the “garbage franchise run by a succession of garbage owners” department.
The Raiders made the Wildcard game in 2016.
What’s going on? There hasn’t been any news for over 20 minutes now.
It must be after sunset by now in The Netherlands. Are you sure your optical internet still works after dark?
Stop being jealous. You have a first class power grid in Texas.
https://twitter.com/blaireerskine/status/1404667994521968640?s=21
Honestly…
“A power grid is, uhh, it means different things to different people…”
SAID THE POWER GRID SPOKESMORON
Are we certain Texas isn’t just a giant performance art of the worst way to run a state?
Hold my beer.
Florida
Last I looked, which was this morning, Californians were flocking to Texas and Florida.
Why would they go to such “horribly mismanaged” states?
No mirrors where you live I assume.
I live in Oregon, and all things considered, we’re doing all right. ð¤·ï¸
We actually kicked out the legislator who helped armed lunatics try to storm the state capitol.
Sure and kept the mayor who allowed insurrectionists who destroyed private property for a month to go free.
Don’t look at me, I didn’t vote for Tear Gas Ted. ð¤·ï¸
Does saying that actually make you feel better about January 6?
Just being consistent in the current rhetoric. Or is that confusing?
If you think knucklehead vandalism is the same as invading the United States Capitol to stop the count of a presidential election, then I believe the confusion is yours.
Did you prosecute any people burning the buildings.
Most of the BLM protests were peaceful. Most of the violent ones were provoked by cops shooting people with gas and rubber bullets.
https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/news-and-ideas/black-lives-matter-protesters-were-overwhelmingly-peaceful-our-research-finds
I seem to remember there were power grid issues in Oregon, too. Oh, and Cali is running like a fine-tuned machine.
Cognitive dissonance becomes you. Literally.
Occasionally Blaire makes a video that absolutely hits it out of the park. This is one of those.
Way to go, Texas.
Texas is one of the dumbest states in the US. Imagine not being part of the North American Power Grid because muh freedom. Then having one of your senators (trigger warning)
Happy Picard Day, Rik!
https://twitter.com/StarTrek/status/1405204911768342530?s=20
It’s not NBA news, but you didn’t specify.
Loki’s been messing with Starfleet too, huh?
I’m surprised more people don’t comment on the Qool-aid crowd stealing from and besmirching the name of Trek’s best antagonist.
I mean, he was basically a troll who literally created his own reality, so there’s some parallels there.
They gave this dumpster fire another season? Is Vivek an executive producer?
If I say water’s wet, will you say it’s dry to be contrarian?
Depends on the state of matter of the water. Ice is not wet unless it melts. Steam is not wet unless it condenses. In both cases, it has to return to its fluid form.
Interesting fact. In researching this answer, I found that water can reach a plasma state. Never knew that.
As for Picard. They jumped the cosmic shark and went full woke. Turned Picard into a eunuch. Same for Discovery. Way to destroy a franchise. Not that there was much more to build there. Let it die and come up with something original.
And.. drumroll… Joerger not being serious mentioned as a candidate for any job
surprise surprise
Only in Kings land is he revered. Anywhere else, he’s an insubordinate prickly personality who did a relatively mediocre job in his two stints
This comment must be in response to all those Joerger mentions today in the thread. So timely.
Ahhh, is that why he’s lead assistant under one of the best, in Doc Rivers, on the #1 seed 76ers?
How about a friendly wager? Joerger will be a head coach on an NBA playoff team before Luke Walton’s next stint.
That’s hardly a fair wager. Walton will be the Kings’ coach FOREVER.
I am glad we agree he was an upgrade for the Kings and better than the current HC! 😉
Joerger isn’t revered. He’s just not as incompetent as the current nincompoop.
Apparently, he’s too “prickly” to hire, kinda like Tom Thibodeau.
Joerger has a coaching job with the 76ers
Errr…how do you know who’s being considered for any job openings? It’s been merely hours or days since these jobs have opened up.
Oh, and there’s this, from Sam Amick and Chams Sharania:
Obviously, it means nothing until he gets another HC job. But I have no doubt he’ll get another HC job eventually.
And the guy isn’t revered. It was just a dumb firing, same as Michael Malone.
But….he was mean to our guys!!
I hope Portland takes a chaunce on Billups.
I want to see 100 downvotes for this trash.
Brandon Williams’ burner revealed.
Possibly Walton’s burner.
Literally rent-free
In other news….looks like we finally have a plan for what is going to replace ARCO/Sleep Train Arena:
https://twitter.com/CecilioAPadilla/status/1405273888137703426
Retaining Luke Walton was such an uninspiring move. Late season momentum is vastly overrated considering they played the Thunder 3x, was way inconsistent. Franchise & McNair had an opportunity to prove jolt the franchise with renewed energy with a new coach but decided to disappoint
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