Pistons president doesn’t give timeline on coaching search, rebuild

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Detroit Pistons Owner Tom Gores, right, and President of Basketball Operations Trajan Langdon pose after addressing the NBA basketball media, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

DETROIT — There is still plenty of uncertainty and mystery surrounding the Detroit Pistons.

The organization is coming off the worst NBA season in franchise history and is once again searching for a new coach. There’s no clearcut path to success and their roster — beyond Cade Cunningham — is a series of question marks.

One thing owner Tom Gores seems sure about is that he has finally found the right front office executive to lead the franchise. He considers Trajan Langdon not only his president of basketball operations, but his CEO.

“After assessing everything, I really felt the best choice for the organization was a fresh start,” Gores said Friday when the organization officially introduced Langdon. “Our mistakes in the past has nothing to do with just one person. We needed a fresh start and we needed Trajan to lead with a fresh start.”

Langdon, who was previously general manager of the New Orleans Pelicans, replaced former GM Troy Weaver as the franchise’s lead executive. Head coach Monty Williams was dismissed this week with five years and $65 million remaining on his contract.

READ: NBA: Detroit Pistons fire coach Monty Williams after one season

Former Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff, Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney, Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori and Pelicans assistant James Borrego are just some of the candidates who are expected to interview for the head coaching job. With the draft coming up next week and free agency starting on June 30, Langdon isn’t sure when a new coach will be in place.

“I can’t give you a timeline,” Langdon said of his coaching search.

Langdon inherits an extremely young roster — the Pistons finished the season with 11 players 25 or younger. Development will be a high priority for the next coach after a disastrous 14-68 campaign.

“As much as we want to win,” Gores said, “we want to develop these young players.”

The best of the bunch is Cunningham, who averaged 22.7 points and 7.5 assists this past season. He’s eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason.

READ: NBA: Pistons hire Trajan Langdon as basketball operations president

The 48-year-old Langdon said he’ll try to take some pressure off Cunningham by upgrading his supporting cast.

The Pistons could have more than $60 million in cap space to make improvements. With many teams looking to shed salary due to the tax aprons in the new collective bargaining agreement, Langdon is willing to make trades that will help in the short and long term.

“One thing we are looking for with the cap space we do have is bringing in contracts maybe from other teams and gathering assets as well,” Langdon said. “Hopefully, with the players that come in, they can bolster the growth (of the younger players). If we can interweave those two things, that would make our summer successful.”

That’s as much as Langdon, who has been on the job for three weeks, can offer now to a fan base weary of rebuilding. The Pistons haven’t won a playoff series since 2008.

“I don’t think there’s a timeframe for us to get to the playoffs,” he said.

Gores hired Langdon not only for his basketball knowledge but for his overall leadership qualities. Langdon has been given full authority to run the organization’s day-to-day operations. One of the previous criticisms about its structure was that too many people had Gores’ ear.



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“I’m extremely confident that this partnership with Trajan is going to work, that it is going to turn our franchise around,” Gores said.

Josh Giddey didn’t want to come off bench, prompting trade

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Josh Giddey #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder smiles as he runs up court during the first half against the San Antonio Spurs at Paycom Center on April 10, 2024 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Joshua Gateley/Getty Images/AFP

CHICAGO — The Bulls and Thunder finalized a deal sending Josh Giddey to Chicago and Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City on Friday, with the Thunder granting the 21-year-old Giddey’s trade request after he resisted the team’s plans to use him off the bench.

Giddey, a 6-foot-8 point guard from Australia, gets a fresh start after a challenging season in which his numbers dropped and he lost his starting job in the NBA playoffs.

In a statement, Thunder general manager Sam Presti said he told Giddey after the season that the team envisioned using him as as a reserve in 2024-25 “to maximize his many talents and deploy our team more efficiently over 48 minutes.”

“As we laid out to Josh how he could lean into his strengths and ultimately optimize our current roster and talent, it was hard to for him to envision, and conversations turned to him inquiring about potential opportunities elsewhere,” Presti said. “As always was the case, Josh demonstrated the utmost professionalism throughout the discussions.”

The Thunder went 57-25 to earn the top seed in the Western Conference and lost to Dallas in the conference semifinals.

READ: Thunder trade guard Josh Giddey to Bulls for Alex Caruso

Giddey was frequently booed on the road this season after an anonymous social media user accused him of having an improper relationship with an underage girl, leading to investigations by police in Newport Beach, California, and the NBA.

Newport Beach police completed their investigation in January and said detectives were “unable to corroborate any criminal activity.” The NBA also later dropped its investigation.

Giddey was the No. 6 overall pick in 2021 and he made the All-Rookie second team. He is a member of Australia’s national team that will play at the Paris Olympics this summer. He is an exceptional passer and his size makes him a solid rebounder.

Giddey averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists in his second season, but those numbers dropped to 12.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 2023-24.

Giddey’s play improved the second half of this season after the Thunder traded for Gordon Hayward. In April regular-season games, Giddey averaged 16.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists while shooting 57.2% from the field.

Giddey’s playing time was reduced in the playoffs. He opened the second-round series against Dallas as a starter before being moved to a reserve role for the first time in his NBA career.

The 30-year-old Caruso, who plays point guard and shooting guard, was undrafted in 2016 and played for the Thunder’s G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, in 2016-17. He established himself as a defensive presence in four years with the Los Angeles Lakers and then three years with the Bulls.

He has career averages of 6.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists. He averaged a career-high 10.1 points this past season. He was on the all-defense first team in 2023 and the second team in 2024.

“Alex Caruso is a player we have always highly valued and followed,” Presti said. “He is the quintessential Thunder player; he is an exceptional competitor and teammate with a multi-dimensional skillset.”



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The Thunder also have Cason Wallace, a second-team All-Rookie selection this past season, at point guard.

Carlo Paalam ‘feeling better’ ahead of Paris Olympics

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FILE–The Philippines’ Carlo Paalam and Britain’s Galal Yafai fight during their men’s fly (48-52kg) boxing final bout during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo on August 7, 2021. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / POOL / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—Coming off an injury, Carlo Paalam is “feeling better” ahead of the Paris Olympics.

“Right now, it’s feeling better because I can really move it now,” said Paalam in Filipino, pertaining to his shoulder.

“Unlike before when it’s hard for me just even to change my clothes, now, by God’s grace, I’m adjusting with the help of my PTs (physical therapists) and coaches.”

READ: Paalam, Petecio relish being PH flag bearers for Paris Olympics

Paalam injured his shoulder last March which forced him to withdraw in the Round of 16 of the World Qualification Tournament.

The 25-year-old Paalam returned to action in June in the second World Boxing Olympic Qualification where he earned his ticket to the Paris Games following a unanimous decision win over India’s Sachin Sachin in the semifinal of the men’s 57kg division.

Although, Paalam is still not 100 percent, the injury doesn’t seem to be much of a concern for him as he goes for an Olympic gold three years after claiming silver at the Tokyo Olympics.

READ: Carlo Paalam hurries to be 100 percent battle-ready for Paris Olympics

“There’s some parts where it hurts sometimes but it’s very minimal,” he said.

“Sometimes I don’t feel it but I just enjoy it. This is a fight and I can manage it.”

Paalam is one of five Filipino boxers who will be competing at the Paris Games. Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial, who won silver and bronze medals in Tokyo, Hergie Bacyadan and Aira Villegas complete the Philippine boxing team in Paris.



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VNL 2024: USA posts second straight win ahead of Japan clash

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USA’s Micah Christenson during the VNL in Manila.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — On the eve of their thrilling match against fellow fan-favorite Japan, Micah Christenson was pleased that Team USA has found its groove in Manila after staving off Germany, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 25-23, in the VNL on Saturday at Mall of Asia Arena.

It was another day at the office for Christenso, leading the Americans and dishing out 29 excellent sets while Matt Anderson and TJ Defalco combined for 43 points. The United States nothced its second straight win to improve to a 5-6 record tied with 10th seed Argentina. 

“It was great. I think we hung on. We cooled out a couple of close sets. It’s a good feeling to be able to win and still learn,” said the American setter, who also scored three points. “It’s easy to learn when you lose but I think we’re gonna go back from this game with the smile on our faces that we’re able to get it done even if it was a little bit ugly.”

READ: VNL 2024: With Final 8 chances slim, Team USA turns focus to Olympics

The Germans tried to force a decider, leading the fourth set with a 23-22 advantage after Lukas Maase’s quick attack. Anderson tied it at 23-all with a kill before back-to-back winning blocks by Defalco and Jeffrey Jendryk.

Despite the great responsibility of leading the Olympic-bound USA, the American skipper isn’t afraid of taking risks and embracing great challenges.

“I feel like that pressure is created by yourself at some point as well you can create pressure. For me, I’m a Christian I believe in God and I know I get a lot of freedom from my faith in God,” Christenson said. “When I’m out there I feel free to make different decisions and take a little bit of risks because I know where my identity lies and that love is always gonna be there.”

READ: VNL 2024: USA star Taylor Averill wants to come back, explore PH

Anderson led the Americans with 23 points off 20 kills and three aces. Defalco delivered 20 points, while middle blockers Jendryk and David Smith had four blocks each to finish with 10 and nine points, respectively.

Christenson hopes to save the best for last in front of their Filipino fans as USA ends its maiden Manila stint against Japan on Sunday at 7 p.m.

“Just try to get a little bit better than today. We were starting to get on this road where we’re taking steps in the right direction and we’re gonna just try to take another step in the right direction tomorrow and enjoy also the moment, I’m assuming when I was told it’s a full stadium here,” he said.
“Hopefully, we get a little bit of support I know Japan is very popular but we’re gonna try to do our best for everybody.”

Germany dropped to a 4-7 record before facing Iran on Sunday. Gyorgy Grozer led the Germans’ gallant stand with 16 points. Maase and Tobias Krick scored 12 points, while Moritz Reichert added 10.



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Conor McGregor withdrew from UFC 303 due to broken toe

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Conor McGregor poses for photographers during a photo call for the the film ‘Road House’ in London, Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP)

LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor posted on Instagram on Friday that a broken toe was the reason he had to pull out of his headline UFC 303 bout against Michael Chandler after previously not specifying the injury.

“We had a lapse in concentration and engaged in a training session without wearing the full protective gear and I hit the toe off the elbow and broke the toe clean,” McGregor posted.

“It needs a few weeks that’s it. I couldn’t justify to my team, or fans, that I make the walk hindered again. That walk has been seen. This next walk has got to be, and it will be, 100% Conor McGregor. The fans deserve it and we are getting close.”

READ: Conor McGregor says he will return to UFC after injury recovery

Light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira will face top-ranked challenger Jiri Prochazka in the June 29 main event in Las Vegas in place of the McGregor-Chandler match.

McGregor said he would return to the octagon “Chandler or not.”

He took the X, formerly known as Twitter, to say that Chandler is getting paid 10 times the amount he would have received if he had fought someone else.

“For those saying he could have fought 2 or 3 times by now etc.,” McGregor posted, “He’d need 10 to break even with this cheque.”



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Alex Eala advances to WTA Veneto Open quarterfinals

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Filipino tennis player Alex Eala in the WTA Veneto Open. -VENETO OPEN/RAFA NADAL ACADEMY

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala entered the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Veneto Open quarterfinal after dominating home bet Georgia Pedone, 6-3, 6-3, on Thursday (Manila time) in Gaiba, Italy.

The 19-year-old Filipino netter is making her first quarterfinal appearance in the WTA Tour, where she suffered early exits in her previous outings.

It took an hour and 23 minutes for Eala to beat Pedone to move to the farthest she had reached in the WTA.

READ: Alex Eala vows to come back stronger after Miami Open exit

Eala is facing former World No. 5 Sara Errani early Saturday morning (Manila time) as she hopes to continue her dream run.

“First WTA Quarterfinal! Fully focused for the next round!” Eala wrote.

The World No. 169 Eala opened her campaign in Italy with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Carole Monnet of France.

The Rafael Nadal Academy product faces a 37-year-old veteran in World No.91 Errani, whom she upset in the qualifiers of the Miami Open with a 6-3, 6-1 win last March 18.



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Paalam, Petecio relish being PH flag bearers for Paris Olympics

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Boxers Nesthy Petecio (left) and Carlo Paalam won silver medals in the last Olympics. —PDI FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines—What’s better than representing your country in sports? Carrying its banner in the biggest sporting event in the world.

Just ask Filipino boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, who were announced as the Philippines’ flag bearers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

However, with honor comes surprise and that’s exactly what Petecio felt when she heard the news that she will be the country’s representative in the most popular sporting event’s opening in France.

READ: Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio to carry PH flag in Paris Olympics

“To be honest, I didn’t expect it,” Petecio said during the Philippine Airlines’ exclusive dinner for Paris Olympians at Century Park Hotel in Manila on Wednesday.

“In my mind, I thought they would take EJ (Obiena) or Carlos Yulo as flag bearers so I was surprised. I’m blessed and thankful that I was picked as one of the people who will represent the Philippines as a flag bearer.”

Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino made the announcement official earlier this week.

READ: Carlo Paalam says national anthem is best heard in moment of triumph

After basing off athletes’ performance in the previous Tokyo Olympics in 2022, Tolentino and the POC decided to make Petecio and Paalam the flag bearers for the Paris edition of the quadrennial sporting event.

It’s safe to say that upon hearing the news, Paalam was ecstatic and excited to represent the country to open the Paris Olympics.

“I’m so happy because we won’t just bring our surnames but we’ll also bring the Philippines; the Philippine flag so I’m so thankful and happy,” said Paalam in Filipino.

“We’ll also be fighting for more than ourselves. It’s better to hear that we’re fighting on our platform if we win [for the Philippines],” he added.



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In the Tokyo edition of the Olympics, Kiyomi Watanabe and Eumir Marcial were selected as the country’s flag bearers.

Ranran Abdilla, Honey Grace Cordero eye BVR Sipalay glory

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Ranran Abdilla. –BVR PHOTO

SIPALAY CITY – National team mainstay Ranran Abdilla and young star Honey Grace Cordero seek to rule the Beach Volleyball Republic on Tour Sipalay City leg for a second straight season with different partners starting Saturday at Poblacion Beach here.

Abdilla will now have Alas teammate AJ Pareja as his partner, while Cordero will tandem with fellow National University stalwart Kat Epa.

Last year, Abdilla won with Rancel Varga as his partner via a five-match sweep, while Cordero won the 2023 championship with a perfect 5-0 record with sand court veteran Roma Joy Doromal.

READ; BVR on Tour: Ranran Abdilla, Rancel Varga win back-to-back titles

Australia’s New South Wales Phoenix stalwarts Luca Rocker-Graham and Killian Donovan will add spice to the men’s competition.

Cordero, a proud native of Silay City, headlines a bevy of Negrense standouts who are no strangers to the BVR on Tour.

The Negros tandem Bea Tan and Bianca Lizares, paired for the first time, hope to wow their provincemates will their vast experience on the sand.

One of the BVR founders, Tan is an alumna from University of St. La Salle in high school, while Lizares, a former Palarong Pambansa MVP who has been competing in the tour since 2018, is a product of St. John’s Institute.

READ: BVR on Tour: Candon, Sipalay legs set for June

Far Eastern University’s Melody Pons, younger sister of former BVR champion now PVL player Bernadeth, hails from Talisay City, and seeks to perform well at home with Gerzel Petallo.

Other Negrense stars vying for the crown are Pontevedra’s Erjane Magdato and Perper Cosas, UNO-R’s Edrilyn Garbajosa and Kyla Gallego and two teams from Sipalay, the pairs of Kimberly Babe Deuyan and Trisha Gene Geneblaza, and Japttia Rose Arquiro and Princess Kyle Judilla.

Completing the women’s cast are the pair of Strong Group Athletics’ Gen Eslapor, a national team standout, her younger sister Euri, and the tandem of UST’s UAAP champions Sofiah Pagara and Khy Progella.

Alas B’s Varga and Lerry Francisco, UST’s Aldwin Gupiteo and Dom Gabito, Far Eastern University’s Kyle Retiza and Mikko Espartero, La Salle’s Andre Espejo and Chris Hernandez, Air Force’s Pol Salvador and Edwin Tolentino, Cebu’s Samlet Booc and Michael Marabe, and two Sipalay pairs, Ivan Sanao and John Lloyd Guntan, and Johnrel Talita and John Joseph Mirasol are also vying for the men’s crown.



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The BVR delegation arrived here Thursday.

USA star Taylor Averill wants to come back, explore PH

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USA star Taylor Averill goes up for a hit during a VNL 2024 Week 3 game in Manila. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Taylor Averill hopes to come back to Manila but not for the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).

The USA star wants to explore the Philippines — which he said is his new favorite country —more, once he gets some free time.

“I wish we had more time to explore. I mean, I’ll definitely be coming back. The people here are incredible,” said Averill after scoring 11 points in their 25-21, 18-25, 25-21, 22-25, 15-9 win over Brazil on Thursday evening at Mall of Asia Arena.

READ: VNL 2024: Team USA’s Erik Shoji lauds ‘awesome’ Filipino fans

Averill has been expressing his love for the Philippines on his Instagram reels. 

He loves the food, accommodation, the playing venue, and most especially the Filipinos, who have been very nice and supportive.

“We play volleyball and in the US, for the men, we don’t get so much love and to come to a country like the Philippines and I feel so loved by the people here,” he said. “It makes it really special and I think a lot of us embrace that as well.”

Following a tough five-set loss to Iran on Wednesday, the Americans bounced back and completed a fifth-set win buoyed by “USA! USA!” chants during the match.

READ: VNL: Micah Christenson, USA grateful for fans’ support in loss

“It’s the best. You need it. It’s the seventh player on the floor. It really changes the momentum and it helps a lot and we’re so grateful to have the support of the Philippines,” said Averill.

“This is the best environment, playing one of the best teams in the world. I’m so proud of the way we bounced back from yesterday’s loss. We showed a lot of resilience and I’ve probably said it a thousand times, I love the Philippines. Like, to have so much support when games are really close, to have the fans really cheering in our favor, I think it helped a lot,” he added.

Amid their busy schedule including the Paris Olympics, Averill has one wish before leaving the Philippines.



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“Hopefully, we can go to a Jollibee’s soon. That’s what I’m hoping to do,” he said.

Family says no public memorial for Jerry West

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FILE – Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame three times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, died Wednesday morning. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

LOS ANGELES — There will be no public memorial for NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West.

“We will honor Jerry’s wishes and mourn his passing privately,” his family said in a statement released Thursday by the Los Angeles Clippers.

West was working as a consultant for the Clippers when he died June 12 at age 86.

READ: Jerry West conflicted about the honor of being NBA logo inspiration

He was born in the West Virginia hamlet of Chelyan and starred at West Virginia University from 1957-60 before becoming the second overall pick in the NBA draft by the Minneapolis Lakers. The team relocated to Los Angeles and he became a 14-time All-Star and won the 1972 NBA championship with the Lakers.

“Jerry’s heart never left West Virginia,” the statement said.

The family said West can be honored through donations to four different funds at WVU: the Jerry West Academic Scholarship, the Jerry and Karen West Basketball Scholarship, the Jerry West Scholarship and the university’s children’s hospital building fund.

It was signed by his widow, Karen, and West’s five sons: David, Michael, Mark, Ryan and Jonnie, along with their spouses and children.



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