NBA Southeast

Atlanta Hawks head coach Nate McMillan has "strongly considered resigning from his position" amid a tumultuous and disappointing season that has reportedly included tension with star guard Trae Young.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported the news Friday after speaking with anonymous league sources, though he added that a resignation from McMillan does not appear to be "imminent."

Hawks CEO Steve Koonin swiftly denied Charania's report during an appearance on 92.9 The Game in Atlanta.

Hawks CEO Steve Koonin on @DukesandBell929 this afternoon called this story “trash journalism… This is made up stuff. I am literally calling Shams out. It is just hack journalism. Hack.” https://t.co/rYIHvpHgTY

— Mike Conti (@MikeConti929) December 30, 2022

McMillan also responded to the report, saying he would consider retiring after the season, per Pat Benson of Sports Illustrated

Nate McMillan responds to Shams Charania article. Says he will consider retiring after the season. pic.twitter.com/riSJPs11VP

— Pat Benson (@Pat_Benson_Jr) December 30, 2022

Earlier this month, Charania and Sam Amick detailed a "miscommunication" regarding a missed Dec. 2 shootaround by Young.

At the time, McMillan "asked [Young] whether he would participate in shootaround, receive treatment during walk-through and play in the game against the Nuggets."

Young, however, wanted to make a decision later in the day after receiving treatment on his shoulder. McMillan then gave him the option of either coming off the bench or not showing up against the Denver Nuggets. Young chose to not play.

McMillan took over for Lloyd Pierce during the 2020-21 season after Atlanta got off to a 14-20 start. He turned the team around and guided the Hawks to a 27-11 finish. Atlanta excelled in the playoffs as well, upsetting the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in the second round and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2014-15.

However, the Hawks have been a middling team ever since. They went 43-39 last year and quickly bowed out of the playoffs to the Miami Heat in the first round. This season's team is just 17-18 despite adding star guard Dejounte Murray from the San Antonio Spurs via a trade.

Young has struggled, shooting only 31.6 percent from three-point range. John Collins, who once appeared to be a franchise cornerstone, has been the subject of numerous trade rumors. Atlanta has the No. 21 net rating in the league at minus-1.0, per NBA.com, and the team has lost eight of its last 12.

All is certainly not lost, especially with more than half of the season remaining and the team sporting one of the league's most talented backcourts in Young and Murray.

But the latest report raises more concern regarding possible trouble behind the scenes as the Hawks search for the winning formula that propelled them to the Eastern Conference Finals just two years ago.

Miami Heat star Bam Adebayo will miss Monday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a non-COVID-19 illness.

The 6'9" center was initially listed as questionable due to a right shoulder sprain.

Adebayo is averaging a career-high 20.8 points along with 9.8 rebounds and 0.6 blocks.

His value to the team is evident in how much the offense falls off when he's on the bench. Miami has a 112.2 offensive rating with the 2019-20 All-Star on the court and a 102.1 offensive rating when he's out, per NBA.com.

Compounding matters, the Heat confirmed their backup center, Dewayne Dedmon, is dealing with a foot injury that will keep him out of the lineup against Minnesota.

Karl-Anthony Towns is out for the Timberwolves with a right calf strain, but they'll still have Rudy Gobert at their disposal inside. It will presumably be Orlando Robinson's duty to neutralize the 7'1" Frenchman.

Gobert had four points and didn't attempt a field goal when Minnesota earned a 105-101 win over Miami on Nov. 21. He might find life a lot easier in the return game.

The Heat have dropped two straight games, putting them ninth in the Eastern Conference at 16-17. Avoiding a third successive defeat might be difficult without Adebayo.

Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields is replacing Travis Schlenk as the team's president of basketball operations.

Schlenk, who's pivoting to an advisory role, cited personal reasons for his decision:

Throughout this season, Tony and I have had multiple, honest conversations about some of the personal things I've been going through and how I've been feeling, and I appreciate the counsel he has provided me as well as the opportunity he gave me six seasons ago to be a first-time general manager. As we enter a new year, the timing feels right for me to take a step back, reflect and prioritize my family.

The move comes as the Hawks are off to a disappointing 16-15 start that has them seventh in the Eastern Conference. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski referenced what could be Fields' first big piece of business in his new position:

Schlenk has multiple years left on his contract, and will remain in the organization working with owner Tony Ressler, sources said. Fields was promoted to GM in June and will step up and take on a larger role now. Hawks are 16-15 and remain engaged in trade talks on John Collins. https://t.co/6RySqItJgO

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 21, 2022

Fields has had a rapid ascension in the front office. He was only just promoted from assistant general manager to GM in June, and now he'll be running the show.

The 34-year-old is inheriting what appears to be a difficult challenge.

Schlenk did well to accelerate the Hawks' rebuild. Their run to the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals doesn't happen without the arrivals of Bogdan Bogdanović and Danilo Gallinari.

The downside of the playoff run was that it significantly raised expectations for the organization and gave the front office the wrong idea about the roster it had.

In the aftermath of the 2021 postseason, John Collins got a five-year, $125 million extension and Kevin Huerter got a four-year, $65 million deal. Huerter has already been shipped out to the Sacramento Kings, and Collins is the source of trade speculation as well.

The Dejounte Murray trade also reflected the increased pressure Schlenk felt to atone for a first-round exit in 2021-22. You give up three first-round draft picks for a player when you think you've found the final piece of the puzzle.

Murray is averaging 20.6 points and 6.1 assists through 26 games, but the trade isn't working out as planned with the team out of the top six in the East. And the front office is now without the kind of assets that could land another difference-maker on the squad.

You also have the reported tension between star guard Trae Young and head coach Nate McMillan. On top of being active prior to the Feb. 9 trade deadline, Fields could plausibly be looking for a new coach before the end of this season.

Even if Wednesday's move was something Schlenk had been considering for some time, he's stepping down at an opportune time for himself.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro is on a historic heater.

After making nine three-pointers on Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Herro scored a career-high 41 points on 10-of-15 shooting from three-point range in Thursday's 111-108 win over the Houston Rockets.

Per ESPN Stats & Info, Herro is the only player in NBA history to make at least nine three-pointers in two games on consecutive days. He is the third player ever to make at least nine threes in back-to-back games, joining Stephen Curry and James Harden.

Herro's 19 three-pointers are the most by a Heat player in a two-game span.

Tyler Herro has been on a heater.

In addition to a career-high 41 points tonight, Herro has made 19 three-point FG over his last two games, the most in a 2-game span in Heat franchise history. pic.twitter.com/LoJph6wzsL

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 16, 2022

The Heat have needed all of Herro's scoring in the past two games. He made the go-ahead shot with five seconds remaining to give them a 110-108 win over the Thunder. They had to hold on for a three-point win over a Rockets team that is tied with the San Antonio Spurs for the worst record in the Western Conference (9-19).

Scoring has been a huge problem for Miami so far this season. Head coach Erik Spoelstra's team ranks 27th in offensive rating (109.8) and 29th in points per game (108.0).

Injuries have played a role in the Heat's issues. Herro missed eight games in November with an ankle issue. Jimmy Butler has sat out 11 games already.

Since Herro returned to the lineup on Nov. 23, he's averaging 22.5 points on 43.9 percent three-point shooting, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists. The Heat have gone 8-4 in those 12 games and are back to .500 for the first time since Nov. 14.

Herro will look to keep his recent hot streak going on Saturday when the Heat take on the San Antonio Spurs to wrap up their four-game road trip.

LeBron James' jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals is up for auction.

Sotheby's has listed the official No. 6 jersey that James wore in the Miami Heat's 95-88 victory over the San Antonio Spurs to clinch their second consecutive NBA championship.

James finished the game with 37 points and 12 rebounds. He averaged 25.3 points, 10.9 rebounds and 7.0 assists in the series and won Finals MVP for the second straight year.

The listing estimates the jersey could sell for between $3 million and $5 million.

"This game ranks as one of the most important performances of LeBron's career, during what has been widely debated as his greatest NBA season," Sotheby's officials told TMZ Sports.

Per StatMuse, James' 37 points are tied with Tom Heinsohn for the fourth-most in an NBA Finals Game 7. It's also the most points scored by a winning player in Game 7 of the Finals.

According to Sotheby's, the jersey is in "excellent condition consistent with use." It also comes with a photomatching certificate.

The 2013 Finals between the Heat and Spurs is best remembered for the sequence at the end of regulation in Game 6.

With Miami down 3-2 in the series and trailing by three in the final seconds, Ray Allen's three-pointer tied the score at 95 and forced overtime. The Heat prevailed 103-100 to force the decisive Game 7.

Two of the NBA's most talked about trade candidates for the past several years are back in the news.

Per Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer, the Indiana Pacers are considered a "team to keep an eye on" if the Atlanta Hawks decide to move John Collins.

Fischer also noted the Pacers are suggesting to opposing teams they are "open" to extension talks with Myles Turner.

The two moves wouldn't necessarily be connected to each other. Fischer noted the Pacers are telling inquiring teams they are looking for a power forward who can play with Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin.

Collins would also be attractive to a team like Indiana because of his contract. The 25-year-old is signed through the 2024-25 season with a player option for 2025-26. He will make $51.92 million in the next two seasons combined after the 2022-23 campaign.

Turner, on the other hand, is in the final season of his deal, and his performance this season could be pricing him out of the Pacers' comfort zone. The eight-year veteran is averaging a career-high 17.6 points per game and is shooting 43.2 percent from three-point range.

Pacers governor Herb Simon has historically been very risk-averse. ESPN's Brian Windhorst said during the offseason Simon was reluctant to give an offer sheet to Deandre Ayton because he "doesn't like hurting his partners—his fellow owners."

Ayton did sign a four-year, $133 million offer sheet with the Pacers that the Phoenix Suns wound up matching to retain the 24-year-old center.

According to Fischer, some rival executives believe the Pacers are saying they are open to extension talks with Turner in an attempt to get opposing teams to increase their trade offers.

Collins and Turner have seemingly been on the trade block for as long they have been in the NBA. Turner said on The Woj Pod that the Los Angeles Lakers should take a "hard look" at trading for him.

The Pacers are playing well enough right now that it could be hard for them to justify moving Turner if they want to make the playoffs. They are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 15-14 record.

The Hawks are only one game behind the Pacers, but there have been some cracks in the foundation. Trae Young and coach Nate McMillan had a public spat over Young not attending a game against the Denver Nuggets that he wasn't going to play in due to a shoulder injury.

If the Hawks decide this version of their roster isn't working, it could mean that Collins finally gets traded after years of speculation about his future.

The NBA fined Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young $25,000 for throwing the ball into the crowd at the conclusion of Sunday's 123-122 overtime win over the Chicago Bulls.

After AJ Griffin's buzzer-beater, Young celebrated by heaving the ball toward the fans at State Farm Arena.

HAWKS GAME WINNER WITH 0.5 SECONDS LEFT 😱🤯 https://t.co/mOIZZHHKby

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 12, 2022

Young reacted to the fine:

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Sorry to the hawks fan(s) who got a chance to touch the game winning ball.
Didn’t know I couldn’t do that.

Can’t Celebrate shit anymore🥱😴

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) December 12, 2022

The result snapped a three-game losing skid for Atlanta and moved the team's record to 14-13.

Young struggled in the contest. He shot 5-of-18 from the field for 19 points, though he added 14 assists for his 13th double-double of the season.

Beyond being a pittance for a player earning $37.1 million this season, the fine is the least of the Hawks' problems at the moment.

The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick reported on Dec. 4 that Young and head coach Nate McMillan were experiencing some friction behind the scenes. The report added the Hawks "have held multiple team meetings early this season to resolve various conflicts."

That led to wider scrutiny of Young given his status as the franchise cornerstone.

Through all of the drama, Atlanta is still sixth in the Eastern Conference and only three games back of the fourth-place Cleveland Cavaliers. Perhaps an emotional victory like the one Sunday represented the team turning the corner.

The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly uninterested in taking on Joe Harris' contract in John Collins trade talks with the Brooklyn Nets.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported the Nets are among several teams that have reached out to Atlanta as the Collins market takes shape.

The Hawks have been actively shopping Collins, though they may have a tough time landing significant value in return since he still has three-plus years remaining on the five-year, $125 million deal that he signed in 2021.

Collins, who is currently out of the lineup with an ankle sprain, is averaging only 12.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game while shooting a career-low 48.4 percent from the field. His scoring average has now dipped in three consecutive seasons, and his 21.9 percent mark from three-point range ranks among the worst in the sport.

The Nets have righted the ship from their miserable start to the season, winning seven of their last eight games to move up to the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. Collins would help fill a need for talent at the big spots, though he still wouldn't provide true rim protection that Brooklyn desperately lacks.

Harris, who missed most of last season with an ankle injury, is in the worst shooting slump of his career. He's knocking down only 37.4 percent of his threes, his worst mark since he was a bit player shuffling back and forth between Cleveland and the G League early in his career.

Not known as a quality defender, Harris' positive impact essentially evaporates when he's not shooting the ball well. The Nets owe the 31-year-old $19.9 million in 2023-24, the final year of his four-year, $75 million contract. It's unsurprising that Atlanta would balk at taking on Harris, but the Nets could entice a third team willing to take him on.

The NBA trade market should begin to heat up Dec. 15, which is the date when most players who signed contracts during the offseason can be traded.

The Miami Heat are "expected to have a re-energized pursuit" of the Phoenix Suns' Jae Crowder, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

Charania also reported the Suns discussed a possible three-team trade that would've sent Crowder to the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Atlanta Hawks have also shown interest in the 32-year-old forward.

Crowder has yet to suit up for Phoenix this season. ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported in September he requested a trade when the team told him he might be falling out of the starting rotation.

Even though Cameron Johnson's knee injury created a void at power forward, Crowder has remained away from the Suns. As a result, a trade may be inevitable.

In October, Yahoo Sports' Jake Fischer reported some officials within the Heat "have even expressed confidence Miami is Crowder's preferred destination."

However, Ian Begley of SNY reported in November the Suns could request Max Strus to be included in the trade package, which might be too high an asking price for Miami.

There's also the fact the Heat would need to match Crowder's $10.2 million salary. That's easier said than done when they have seven players—Strus included—making less than $5 million this season.

Crowder has a lot of value for a contending team. He's a 34.6 percent career three-point shooter and has the ability to guard both forward positions.

Miami has already seen firsthand what he can provide. In 20 appearances with the team in 2019-20, he averaged 11.9 points and 5.4 rebounds while hitting 44.5 percent of his three-pointers in the regular season.

As Charania's report laid out, though, there's plenty of competition for Crowder, and unless he arranges a buyout with the Suns, Phoenix has the final say on where he winds up next.

Atlanta Hawks star guard Dejounte Murray is potentially facing two weeks on the sidelines because of a left ankle sprain, according to Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic.

That will leave the Hawks further short-handed, with John Collins (ankle) and De'Andre Hunter (hip) also dealing with injuries.

Murray, 26, went to Atlanta last offseason in a trade that sent Danilo Gallinari, the Hawks' first-round picks in 2025 and 2027, the Charlotte Hornets' 2023 protected first-rounder and pick-swap rights in 2026 to the San Antonio Spurs.

The returns have been positive for Atlanta. Murray is averaging 20.8 points, 6.2 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 45.2 percent from the field and 36.6 percent from three.

Only Trae Young is averaging more points (27.2) and assists (9.5) per game on the team, giving the Hawks a complementary backcourt as Murray takes some of the playmaking and defensive pressure off Young.

The Hawks have had an adjustment period nonetheless, going just 13-12, good for fifth in the deep Eastern Conference.

Bogdan Bogdanović's season debut last week should provide a boost, however, especially given the team's injury status.

But even while other drama persists in Atlanta—from the potential for a fallout between Young and head coach Nate McMillan after last week's conflict, to the latest round of rumors that Collins may be on the trade block, yet again—Murray and Young have settled in well next to each other.

That's important for the team's long-term success, though Murray's absence will make the next two weeks an uphill climb for these Hawks. Bogdanović likely will return to the starting lineup, while both Justin and Aaron Holiday should see a bump in minutes.