NBA Rumors Round-Up
NBA Rumors: Cousins Take Shot at Thomas?
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated16 Oct 2023
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Cousins was asked how tough the transition is when a team changes point guards.
Gone is Isaiah Thomas, replaced by Darren Collison and Ramon Sessions. Ray McCallum is the only holdover from last season at the point.
Cousins indicated no problems with the change.
“It’s been incredible, it’s been incredible,” Cousins said. “It’s been a smooth transition. The ball is moving a lot better. It’s not stuck in one place. It’s not being overdribbled by anybody on the floor.”
I’m sure a certain guard in Phoenix will read that quote with great interest.
There may be some unknown beef between DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas.
Thomas, who left the Sacramento Kings over the offseason to sign with the Phoenix Suns, expressed disappointment that he couldn’t return to the team and told Basketball Insiders that the front office “didn’t appreciate me as much as they should.”
However, it sounds like Cousins isn’t too upset that Thomas is gone.
These comments were clearly directed at his former floor general, and it seems they were unprompted. Rather than just praising his new teammates or discussing the adjustment to having new point guards, he decided to take a shot at Thomas for overdribbling.
As if November 7 – the first time the Kings and Suns play – wasn’t already interesting enough, this adds to the bad blood between Thomas and his former team.
Bucks general manager John Hammond indicated initial discussions are taking place between the team and Knight’s agent, Arn Tellem.
He’s a piece we want here,” Bucks coach Jason Kidd said Wednesday, referring to Knight. “You talk about his work ethic, the way he approaches the game, he’s a professional, on and off the court.
“I’m not here to get in the way of anyone’s success. I want everyone to have the ultimate goal of winning and being financially set. Our job as coaches is to help them achieve that goal.”
The Bucks and Brandon Knight’s camp have until Oct. 31 to agree to an extension and, according to GM John Hammond, negotiations are in progress.
If Knight doesn’t ink a contract extension, he will become a restricted free agent next offseason, allowing Milwaukee to match any offer sheet he receives.
Knight told reporters that he’s not focusing on the extension talks, and that he’s determined to continue improving and emerging as a leader for the Bucks.
Last season, Knight averaged 17.9 points and 4.9 assists in his first season in Milwaukee.
Knight has said that he believes he’s at his best when he’s playing point guard, but it sounds like Jason Kidd may play him off the ball as well throughout this season.
“I know this game is probably not going to be the healthiest thing for me if I try to stretch it out as much as a possibly can,” Webster told The Post Thursday. “So I intend to really give everything I got for these last three years of my contract and probably walk away from this game so I can be healthy.”
Webster, 27, will be 30 years old when the four-year, $22 million contract he signed with Wizards last summer expires. Webster turned pro after high school so he is already entering his 10th NBA season.
“I’ve always wanted to retire young,” Webster said. “I love this game and I respect this game, but I only want to be in it as long as I can be effective and as long as I can feel comfortable.”
Webster entered the league back in 2005 and plans to retire when he’s 30 years old.
Injuries are why Webster will likely walk away from the game earlier than expected, since he’s had three back surgeries in four years. These issues have significantly limited him, particularly last postseason when he played through pain with a herniated disc in his lower back.
Over the last two years, Webster has emerged as a key contributor and leader for Washington. He averaged 9.7 points last season, and averaged a career-high 11.4 points the year before.
When he’s done playing basketball, Webster may turn to a music career. He recorded a 13-track rap album that he plans to release in December, and also filmed a music video recently.
“People have different vices and for me it’s music and film,” Webster told The Post. “I can’t get enough of it.”
