Michael C. Wright: LA Clippers coaching associate Cameron Hodges will be joining Ime Udoka’s staff in Houston. Hodges worked with Udoka in both Philadelphia and San Antonio ..read more

Tim Reynolds: Victor Wembanyama’s Mets 92 team just made the French finals. Series starts Saturday and could go until June 20 — two days before the NBA Draft ..read more

In order to prevent injury, he could have sat the season out, trained privately and still gone No. 1 on draft night. However, Wembanyama made it clear that he wanted to play basketball. And with Metropolitans 92 on the cusp of the French Pro A Finals entering Friday’s game against his former club, ASVEL, Wembanyama, under Alquier’s supervision, hasn’t missed a game this season in 57 appearances across all competitions since September. Wembanyama’s offseason move to Metropolitans 92, which finished third the previous season, had quite a bit to do with keeping him healthy. He’d spent the past ye ..read more

Wembanyama’s agents, Bouna Ndiaye and Jeremy Medjana, took a longer view. The move to Metropolitans, a non-EuroLeague team that played only a domestic schedule, allowed for fewer games, more practice and recovery time, and paired Wembanyama with coach Vincent Collet, who also coaches the French national team. It also enabled the 19-year-old to bring a dedicated body man along for the ride. “Bouna came to me and asked if I wanted to work with Victor,” Alquier told ESPN. “After that, the decision was made ..read more

Wembanyama lifts weights regularly, but with a focus on building strength over time, not adding significant bulk. The goal has never been for him to bulk up, particularly not while his frame is still developing naturally. “He’s adding some weight normally, but not 10 pounds, or 20 pounds every month,” Alquier said. “That could be difficult for his motor control, his knees, his joints. We try to build it as best as we can ..read more

Jovan Buha: I think the Lakers are going to retain him. Obviously, their preference would be to sign him to the four-year, $54 million deal. I’ve heard that there are going to be multiple suitors out there in talking with people around the league. You mentioned Orlando and Houston. I’ve heard San Antonio could be a dark horse team that will try to poach Austin from the Lakers. Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype What’s the buzz on Twitter? James Plowright @British_Buzz A mix of Austin Reaves, Terance Mann and Quentin Grimes. You can count me as a fan of Ben Sheppard, he’s a 1st rounder for m ..read more

Jovan Buha: I think the Lakers are going to retain him. Obviously, their preference would be to sign him to the four-year, $54 million deal. I’ve heard that there are going to be multiple suitors out there in talking with people around the league. You mentioned Orlando and Houston. I’ve heard San Antonio could be a dark horse team that will try to poach Austin from the Lakers ..read more

The Spurs finished $14 million under the $111.29 million salary floor, with a team payroll of roughly $97.1 million. By finishing under that threshold, San Antonio guaranteed that its players will be paid out the difference — based on rules laid out in the current collective bargaining agreement — with a full share worth more than $700,000, according to league sources ..read more

Rod Boone: It’s official: #Hornets will make their first ever appearance in the California Classic Summer League in July. Golden State, the Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Sacramento and San Antonio Spurs will also be part of the action. Games run from July 3-5 ..read more

Law Murray: The last time an 8-seed made the NBA Finals was 1999 (Knicks), the same year former ABA franchise San Antonio Spurs made (and won) their first NBA Finals Now, 8-seed Miami make NBA Finals and meets former ABA franchise Denver Nuggets, who are making their first NBA Finals ..read more