Dub Hub: Draymond Green calls out Timberwolves, believes ‘series is over’ for them

Rounding up all Warriors and NBA related news for Wednesday, May 15th.

In today’s Dub Hub:

• Draymond Green explains why he thinks the series between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves is “over”
• Warriors executives explain the meaning behind their new WNBA team name, the Valkyries
• JJ Redick, James Borrego, and Sam Cassell are the leading candidates for the Lakers head coaching vacancy, according to The Athletic

Draymond Green shared his insight on yesterday’s postseason matchups during his return to Inside the NBA on Tuesday night. At halftime of the Game 5 matchup between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Golden State Warriors star had some very pointed comments towards the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, as he matched up with this year’s league MVP, Nikola Jokic.

Jokic finished the night with a dominant performance of 40 points, 13 assists, and seven rebounds as the Nuggets cruised to a 112-97 Game 5 victory. After Minnesota began the series up 2-0, Denver won three straight to now lead the series 3-2. Following the game, Green made note of the Timberwolves’ lack of belief in themselves, taking that as a sign that the series could be over after Game 6.

For more on this and other news around the NBA, here is our latest news round-up for Wednesday, May 15th:

Warriors News:

Draymond Green believes the Nuggets-Timberwolves series is over

What is a Valkyrie? Explaining Golden State’s new WNBA team name | NBC Sports Bay Area

The club drew on inspiration from the NBA team to create synergy between the two teams, which are both owned by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber.

“We looked at a variety of team names, and we sort of landed in the Warriors-inspired space,” said Amanda Chin, Golden State Warriors SVP of Marketing. “For anybody who doesn’t know, a Valkyrie is a woman warrior. This is a host of women warriors who are responsible for granting an honorable afterlife for the bravest warriors.”

Warriors’ pivotal Kerr-over-Jackson decision hits 10th anniversary | NBC Sports Bay Area

When Van Gundy signed with the Detroit Pistons, the Warriors locked onto Kerr. He was curious about the reasons for the dismissal of Jackson. They were curious about his coaching principles.

Kerr was prepared. He diagrammed his coaching blueprint with a PowerPoint presentation that, according to Joe Lacob, “blew our socks off.” Kerr opted out of New York and into Golden State. The coaching search was over.

“Steve Kerr and Bob Myers together is my dream team,” Joe Lacob said during Kerr’s introduction in Oakland a few days later. “That is a dream team.”

The odds on 49ers’ Nick Sorensen, Klay Thompson’s Warriors return and more | The Athletic

These are absolutely not the same set of circumstances that have always led to Stephen Curry and Draymond Green signing deals for as many years as possible — and led to previous Klay long-term deals, too. Klay’s in a different place and the Warriors are absolutely in a different place.

But I’m ticking these odds up to 55 percent (and almost went higher but decided to err on the cautious side) because both sides have had some time to think through this, and I sense that some of the edginess has been smoothed out. I think the Warriors will make a good offer. I think Klay will feel a powerful pull to remain in the Bay Area and alongside Curry.

It still will take some negotiating. Klay will still listen to outside offers. But the odds are that this will get done.

Top Women’s College Basketball prospect Paige Bueckers loves the new Golden State Valkyries colorway

NBA News:

Nikola Jokic scores 40 points in Game 5 as Nuggets take 3-2 series lead over the Timberwolves

JJ Redick, James Borrego, Sam Cassell emerge as early top targets for Lakers’ coaching job: Sources | The Athletic

As the Los Angeles Lakers begin contacting head coaching candidates and scheduling interviews this week, JJ Redick, James Borrego and Sam Cassell have emerged as the franchise’s initial leading targets, league sources told The Athletic.

The franchise’s next coach will be tasked with guiding both the end of the LeBron James–Anthony Davis era — potentially a two-year window — and then the next era of Lakers basketball led by Davis. Los Angeles is looking for a coach who can grow with the franchise for years to come, according to team and league sources, placing a premium on maximizing Davis’ greatness, the current returning players and the element of high-level player development.

As one source briefed on the situation said, “This should be more of a hire about AD than LeBron.”

Anthony Edwards, Wolves fully confident down 3-2 to Nuggets | ESPN

This time, the Wolves’ 22-year-old star was engaging a Nuggets locker room attendant, bringing up a conversation the two had after Game 2, when Minnesota had jumped to a seemingly commanding 2-0 series lead.

“You jinxed us,” Edwards said with a sly smile.

“I liked our chances,” the locker room attendant chirped back. “What do you expect me to say, Ant?”

Edwards nodded and delivered a response containing the same confidence with his Wolves down 3-2 that the attendant had when the defending champions were down 0-2 more than a week ago.

“See you Game 7,” Edwards replied.

In case you missed it at Golden State of Mind:

Steve Kerr wins Rudy Tomjanovich Award

On Tuesday, the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA) honored Kerr with the 2023-24 Rudy Tomjanovich Award, named after the former coach of the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers. In a press release, the PBWA said that the award, “honors an NBA coach for his cooperation with the media and fans, as well as his excellence on the court.”

The award has been around since the 2010-11 season (though it took a two-year hiatus during the pandemic), and Kerr is the first three-time winner, also being honored in 2014-15 (his first year with the Warriors) and 2017-18. Only one other coach has won the award multiple times: Doc Rivers, who was honored in 2011-12 with the Boston Celtics, and again in 2018-19 with the Los Angeles Clippers. Last year the award was won by former Warriors assistant coach and current Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown.

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