Tag: Bill Duffy

On this day: Celtics defeat Lakers 123-108 in Game 5 of the ’87 Finals; Bill Duffy passes

On this day in 1987, the Boston Celtics took Game 5 of the 1987 NBA Finals 123-108 against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Bill Duffy left us.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, in Game 5 of the 1987 NBA Finals, five Celtics players scored 20 points or more (tying an NBA record at the time) as the Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-108.

Point guard Dennis Johnson led all Celtics with 25 points and 11 assists, legendary forward Larry Bird added 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Hall of Fame big man Kevin McHale 22 points and 14 boards. Shooting guard (and former team president) Danny Ainge had 21 points and 6 assists, while center luminary Robert Parish had 21 points and 7 rebounds.

Boston would improve their series record to two wins to Los Angeles’ three, a series the Celtics would eventually lose in six games.

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On this day: Celtics defeat Lakers 123-108 in Game 5 of the ’87 Finals; Bill Duffy passes

On this day in 1987, the Boston Celtics took Game 5 of the 1987 NBA Finals 123-108 against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Bill Duffy left us.

On this day in Boston Celtics history, in Game 5 of the 1987 NBA Finals, five Celtics players scored 20 points or more (tying an NBA record at the time) as the Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-108.

Point guard Dennis Johnson led all Celtics with 25 points and 11 assists, legendary forward Larry Bird added 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Hall of Fame big man Kevin McHale 22 points and 14 boards. Shooting guard (and former team president) Danny Ainge had 21 points and 6 assists, while center luminary Robert Parish had 21 points and 7 rebounds.

Boston would improve their series record to two wins to Los Angeles’ three, a series the Celtics would eventually lose in six games.

The Phoenix Suns matched the Indiana …

The Phoenix Suns matched the Indiana Pacers’ four-year, $133 million offer sheet for restricted free agent center Deandre Ayton, clearing the way for him to return to the franchise, his agents, Bill Duffy and Nima Namakian, told ESPN on Thursday night. The Suns had until 11:59 p.m. ET on Saturday to match the largest offer sheet in the history of the NBA, but matched it immediately and ended the Pacers’ pursuit of Ayton.

Pacers, Deandre Ayton agree to max offer sheet

Adrian Wojnarowski: RFA center Deandre Ayton has agreed to a four-year, $133M maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Nima Namakian (Innovate Sports) and Bill Duffy (BDA Sports + WME Sports) tell ESPN. The Phoenix Suns have 48 hours …

What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Evan Sidery @esidery
With the Deandre Ayton chase, seems pretty apparent Myles Turner is gettable in trade discussions. And who knows if Turner would even want to stay with the Pacers anymore. – 4:13 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Just as a note: If the Suns choose to match the Pacers offer sheet for Deandre Ayton, the Pacers can’t then reverse the waivers of the players they let go.
If you renounce free agents, you can reverse those renouncements if an offer sheet is matched. You can’t reverse waivers. – 4:09 PM
NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA
“[The Suns] are not eliminated but it certainly does complicate a lot of things here with Durant.”
—@Bobby Marks on the Suns matching Deandre Ayton’s offer sheet with the Pacers pic.twitter.com/4p9HU8AOAg – 4:08 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Report: Suns expected to match Deandre Ayton max offer sheet nba.nbcsports.com/2022/07/14/rep… – 4:07 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
The Pacers are waiving guard Duane Washington and waiving and stretching the three players who arrived in the Boston trade for Malcolm Brogdon: Malik Fitts, Juwan Morgan and Nik Stauskas, sources tell ESPN. That’ll create the cap space to sign Ayton to the max offer sheet. – 4:07 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
My expectation, which is just plain obvious, is that the #Suns will match the #Pacers’ max offer sheet for Deandre Ayton. Can’t let a former No. 1 pick walk for nothing. – 3:59 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
#Pacers still have to clear cap space for #Suns star Deandre Ayton. I wrote about that this morning. indystar.com/story/sports/n… – 3:57 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
With Ayton off table in Durant talks, not sure why a Phoenix offer built around Mikal Bridges/Cam Johnson/picks would be better than hypothetical Heat offer of Herro, Lowry, picks, other non-Bam and non-Butler assets. We’ll see if Durant cheerfully accepts trade to another city. – 3:57 PM
Evan Sidery @esidery
For those wondering, if the Suns match, the Pacers wouldn’t be able to discuss a potential trade for Deandre Ayton again until July 15, 2023.
If Indiana truly wants Ayton, time is ticking on trying to figure out a sign-and-trade with Phoenix. – 3:56 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
I know Bismack Biyombo played well last year and all, but he can’t be the starting center on a title team, right?
I’ve never understood the “meh” feelings towards Ayton. Just sign the man and compete for a title again. – 3:56 PM
Brady Hawk @BradyHawk305
Durant labels Suns or Heat as landing spots
Suns now in awkward position with Ayton news
That leaves…one? – 3:54 PM
Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
So a Pacers roster with Deandre Ayton, Myles Turner, Benedict Mathurin, Tyrese Halliburton and Buddy Hield is what? – 3:53 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
NEW from @Anthony Chiang and me: Heat needs help in Durant, Mitchell pursuits. And Ayton decision today potentially alters Suns’ Durant efforts, which can only help Heat (at least slightly) if Durant gets his way on trade destinations: miamiherald.com/sports/nba/mia… – 3:49 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
So far, Suns haven’t shown an interest in negotiating a sign-and-trade on Ayton with the Pacers, but the expectation remains that Phoenix will match the record-$133M offer sheet once it’s signed, sources tell ESPN. Suns could trade Ayton as soon as Jan. 15 once sheet is matched. – 3:48 PM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
(1) would be crazy for the Suns to let Ayton walk for nothing. (2) nothing we’ve heard so far indicates that they’ll match, but who knows. – 3:45 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
CORRECTION: One big detail, #Suns star Deandre Ayton is SIGNING a max offer sheet with the #Pacers today, per league sources. BUT the clock doesn’t start for that until midnight. So between now and then Phoenix and Indiana can still do a sign-and-trade. Sorry for the confusion! – 3:44 PM
Scott Agness @ScottAgness
Noteworthy, too, how Jalen Smith was drafted by the Suns, didn’t feel valued or have much of an opportunity. Pacers provided that and he turned down larger offers to stay.
Suns didn’t want to offer Ayton a max and so now he *may* be headed to Indy.
He turns 24 next Saturday. – 3:43 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Since the Pacers don’t technically have the space yet for the Ayton sheet, it does seem like there’s an element of “work out a sign-and-trade” or else going on here. – 3:39 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Largest offer sheet in NBA history:
1. Deandre Ayton, $133M
2. Otto Porter, $107M pic.twitter.com/6zlNCLHAwZ – 3:36 PM

James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Ayton could just sign it and put the suns in a bad spot. If they match it, it’s not like they’ll bench him. I guess it comes down to how badly he doesn’t want to go back to Phoenix. Not doing a S&T puts him in jeopardy of going back, obviously. – 3:29 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Report: Indiana #Pacers, Deandre Ayton agree to 4-year, $133M max offer sheet; Phoenix #Suns have 48 hours to match https://t.co/6D0AZzlqgf via @azcentral pic.twitter.com/z9V6F1GUSB – 3:29 PM

Ira Winderman @IraHeatBeat
So if Deandre Ayton in for Pacers then Myles Turner even more available? – 3:28 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
the Ayton offer sheet signing doesnt officially process until midnight ET, from @Bobby Marks on NBA Today, leaving ~7.5 hour moratorium to get a sign & trade done. pic.twitter.com/9RZAg4kOgl – 3:28 PM

Kurt Helin @basketballtalk
Report: Suns RFA Deandre Ayton signing max offer sheet with Pacers nba.nbcsports.com/2022/07/14/rep… – 3:28 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
ICYMI: @YourManDevine wrote about why the Pacers and Deandre Ayton make perfect sense
theringer.com/2022/7/13/2320… – 3:27 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
It’s kind of wild that before Ayton, the biggest offer sheet in NBA history belonged to Otto Porter (four years, $107 million with the Nets). – 3:26 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
I don’t think the Suns can get Kevin Durant without either including DeAndre Ayton or spinning him off for more assets, which they can’t do this offseason if he has indeed signed an offer sheet.
But if they do pull it off? CP3-Booker-KD-Ayton is the instant title favorite. – 3:24 PM
Matt Williams @StatsWilliams
Deandre Ayton has shot at least 60% from the field while attempting 10+ shots per game in each of the last 2 seasons.
Prior to Ayton, the last player to do that in consecutive seasons was Shaquille O’Neal in 2004-05 and 2005-06. – 3:23 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
I can confirm that the #Pacers and #Suns star Deandre Ayton have agreed to a four-year, $133 million max offer sheet, per league source. @Adrian Wojnarowski was first.
It’s the largest offer sheet in league history. Phoenix has two days to match. —> https://t.co/PfJGt66qJ5
📸 me pic.twitter.com/bdCoTdyc7A – 3:21 PM

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
RE: Ayton: #1 picks who bounced after Year 4 or sooner, last 30 years
– Shaquille O’Neal (1992)
– Chris Webber (1993)
– Joe Smith (1995)
– Elton Brand (1999)
– Kenyon Martin (2000)
– Kwame Brown (2001)
– Anthony Bennett (2013)
– Andrew Wiggins (2014)
– Markelle Fultz (2017) – 3:19 PM
Ryan Ward @RyanWardLA
Basically how the Pacers viewed things in this situation with Deandre Ayton over Myles Turner… pic.twitter.com/tslCTYBroJ – 3:17 PM

Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
I need details on this offer sheet. Is Indiana paying Ayton a 50% lump sum? How bad is the poison pill? Are there any other strange incentives? Who’s serving the Suns the papers? Are they hiding in a Thomas and Mack Center supply closet to delay the start of the 48-hour clock? – 3:17 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
I wonder if Phoenix tried to do a S&T for Turner and Indy just said “nah. We’ll just throw the bag at him and if you do match, we’re fine with Myles. If you don’t, someone else will give us something good for Turner and we get ayton.” – 3:16 PM
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
If the Pacers ultimately wind up getting DeAndre Ayton on this offer sheet, I would expect Myles Turner to be reasonably available on the trade market, and if Phoenix didn’t want to trade for him, that suggests to me that his value around the league is fairly low at the moment. – 3:16 PM
Christos Tsaltas @Tsaltas46
DeAndre Ayton is headed to Indiana to join the Pacers. Phoenix Suns don’t seem willing to match the offer sheet. Pacers did their best in this case and they’re ready to add a top-level center to their young core. Pacers gonna be a problem. #Pacers
sdna.gr/mpasket/984895… – 3:15 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Deandre Ayton without Booker or CP3 in the last 2 seasons:
19.0 PPG
10.6 RPG
63.9 FG%
Legit star when he gets touches. pic.twitter.com/64aGo4G5pQ – 3:13 PM

CJ Holmes @CjHolmes22
I don’t understand why the Suns don’t value Deandre Ayton. – 3:13 PM
Justin Garcia @tmjgarcia
Now that Ayton has signed the offer sheet he can’t be in a sign-and-trade (seemingly killing a Durant trade), can’t be traded to the Pacers at all this season and can veto trades after his 1/15/23 eligible trade date.
The Suns absolutely have to match this and retain the asset. – 3:13 PM
Dan Favale @danfavale
there is no decision for the suns here, btw.
*if* ayton has signed an offer sheet with the pacers, you match it and figure out the rest later. end of story. – 3:13 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
Myles Turner seeing that Deandre Ayton offer sheet pic.twitter.com/cmmHeDm2To – 3:11 PM

Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
My guess, based on common sense and not reporting, is that the Suns are going to match Ayton’s offer sheet.
My other guess is that the Suns probably could have had Myles Turner. That they don’t means they either prefer Ayton or really distrust Turner’s medicals. – 3:11 PM
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
if the Suns match the Deandre Ayton offer sheet, they will go $15 million into the luxury tax.
the oracle knew this day would come. pic.twitter.com/6ZDzB38KFP – 3:10 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Jalen Smith gave @PHNX_Suns his thoughts on his new opportunity with the Pacers, the support he still receives from the Suns and a potential reunion with Deandre Ayton: bit.ly/3yxM7PK – 3:09 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Deandre Ayton, Pacers agree to four-year, $133 million offer sheet, per report; Suns have 48 hours to match
cbssports.com/nba/news/deand… – 3:08 PM
Evan Sidery @esidery
The Pacers are pushing their chips all-in on Tyrese Haliburton’s ascension to stardom with a max offer sheet submitted for Deandre Ayton.
Haliburton and Ayton would instantly form one of the NBA’s most lethal pick-and-roll tandems (via @basketbllnews): basketballnews.com/stories/nba-tr… – 3:07 PM
Quinton Mayo @RealQuintonMayo
Ayton’s offer sheet surpasses the four-year, $107 million deal signed by Otto Porter Jr. with the Brooklyn Nets in 2017 — a deal the Washington Wizards ultimately matched.
– @Adrian Wojnarowski – 3:06 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Woj reports in his article that the Suns never even made Deandre Ayton an offer. Good lord. – 3:05 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
#Pacers extend max offer sheet to #Suns star, restricted free agent Deandre Ayton, per report indystar.com/story/sports/n… via @indystar – 3:05 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
The Suns need to match that Deandre Ayton offer. No if ands or buts about it. Kevin Durant deal is still not impossible, but it’ll probably be on the back burner now. Just can’t let him walk for nothing – 3:05 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Full story on restricted free agent C Deandre Ayton agreeing to largest offer sheet in NBA history with Pacers — four years, $133 million, his agents Bill Duffy and Nima Namakian tell ESPN: es.pn/3z7C5X2 – 3:04 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
If I were the Suns I’d bite the bullet and match on Ayton, even though I don’t think he’s worth the money. When you’re a championship contender you can’t just lose someone who really helps you for nothing. – 3:03 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Suns can’t do a sign-and-trade, I believe, now that Ayton signed the offer sheet. So … does Indy move Turner if ayton is a pacer? Do they go two bigs, again? – 3:03 PM
Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA
Finally movement with Ayton!
It’s very interesting that IND went the offer sheet route for a few reasons:
1 IND has been reluctant to do offer sheets in the past, preferring S&T.
2 Ayton can’t be a S&T to IND now bc he signed offer sheet
3 IND cleared more cap space somehow – 3:01 PM
Evan Sidery @esidery
This is a historic moment for the Pacers, who have tended to be very conservative in free agency.
Indiana just offered Deandre Ayton their first max contract since Paul George’s extension in 2013. – 3:00 PM
Alexis Morgan @alexismorgan
Two Bahamians on one team would be 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 @Buddy Hield @Deandre Ayton 🇧🇸🇧🇸🇧🇸🇧🇸🇧🇸 – 2:59 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
RFA center Deandre Ayton has agreed to a four-year, $133M maximum offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, his agents Nima Namakian (Innovate Sports) and Bill Duffy (BDA Sports + WME Sports) tell ESPN. The Phoenix Suns have 48 hours to match the largest offer sheet in NBA history. – 2:57 PM
James Boyd @RomeovilleKid
The #Pacers don’t have enough cap space to extend a max offer sheet to #Suns star Deandre Ayton, but there are ways for them to get there. indystar.com/story/sports/n… – 10:48 AM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Jalen Smith’s tenure in Phoenix didn’t end the way anyone wanted, but he, the Suns and the Pacers seem better off. At Summer League, Stix spoke to @PHNX_Suns about his future in Indy, the support he still gets from the Suns and Deandre Ayton: https://t.co/0pLxds3Fa6 pic.twitter.com/CNGipiECES – 10:03 AM

More on this storyline

 

Evan Sidery: The Pacers view Deandre Ayton and Tyrese Haliburton as the centerpieces to their rebuild, who want to play together (via @Adrian Wojnarowski): “Deandre Ayton loved the idea of playing with Tyrese Haliburton.” pic.twitter.com/5FxTGYAI6i -via Twitter @esidery / July 14, 2022

 

Namakian of Innovate Sports and Duffy …

Namakian of Innovate Sports and Duffy of BDA Sports and WME had insisted to the Suns that they could find a maximum contract offer for Ayton in the marketplace, and are now delivering it with the offer sheet. The Suns had never made Ayton an offer, suggesting that they didn’t value him as a max player. If they don’t match the sheet, they Suns will lose the No. 1 overall pick without compensation.

Ayton’s offer sheet surpasses the …

Ayton’s offer sheet surpasses the four-year, $107 million deal signed by Otto Porter Jr. with the Brooklyn Nets in 2017 — a deal the Washington Wizards ultimately matched. Sign-and-trade deals are longer allowed once Ayton signs the offer sheet with Indiana. If the Suns do match the offer sheet, they can’t trade Ayton anywhere until at least Jan. 15 — and can’t trade him to Indiana for a year.