Suns send guard home after tweet
Team brass, which is hearing offers for Bledsoe, also adjusts its coaching staff
Phoenix guard Eric Bledsoe was sent home Monday, a day after the Suns fired coach Earl Watson and replaced him on an interim basis with Jay Triano.
About the time that word of Watson’s firing was leaking out, Bledsoe sent a tweet Sunday that read “Don’t wanna be here.”
McDonough said he’s already received calls from teams about Bledsoe’s availability, adding that Bledsoe had asked to be traded before the season.
McDonough also acknowledged his relationship with Watson “wasn’t great” and that it is “time for a new voice, a new direction.”
The Suns also fired assistant coaches Nate Bjorkgren, Jason Fraser and Mehmet Okur. Tyrone Corbin was elevated to lead assistant.
“We had a number of meetings over the summer about some of the changes we would have liked to see in terms of style of play and player development and accountability — all those things that go into winning and helping players develop and improve,” McDonough said Monday about his expectations with Watson. “Unfortunately, we didn’t see those changes.”
Change came in the form of a victory Monday night, though, as Devin Booker’s 22 points sparked the Suns to a 117-115 home victory over Sacramento.
Wade heads to bench
When he signed with the Cavaliers, Dwyane Wade promised his ego wouldn’t get in the way.
It wasn’t just talk. Struggling through three games, Wade approached Cleveland coach Tyronn Lue and asked to be taken out of the starting lineup because he thought it would help the team.
“I just decided, earlier than later, just to get to the unit where I’d be more comfortable in and can probably be better with this team in that lineup,” Wade said after Monday’s practice. “Why wait? Three games in, why wait?”
With Wade headed to Cleveland’s second unit, J.R. Smith will return to the starting lineup.
Wade, who signed a oneyear, veteran’s minimum contract with Cleveland, is averaging just 5.7 points and shooting 28 percent.
World Peace returns
Metta World Peace has joined the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA G League affiliate as a player development coach.
The veteran NBA forward was added to the South Bay Lakers’ staff Monday.
World Peace played 16 NBA seasons for six franchises, including six years with the Lakers from 200910 and 2015-17. While he hasn’t publicly retired, the forward formerly known as Ron Artest will assist South Bay Lakers coach Coby Karl.
Game highlights
BUCKS 103, HORNETS 94 >> Giannis Antetokounmpo had 32 points and 14 rebounds for Milwaukee, which scored the final nine points in its victory over Charlotte.
Antetokounmpo has scored at least 30 points in each of the first four games.
Frank Kaminsky had 18 points to lead the Hornets.
76ERS 97, PISTONS 86 >> Ben Simmons had 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, and Joel Embiid scored 30 points for Philadelphia, which beat Detroit for its first victory of the season.
Andre Drummond had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons. GRIZZLIES 98, ROCKETS 90 >> Marc Gasol scored 26 points for Memphis, which has won its first three games for the first time since the 2014-15 season when the team got off to a 6-0 start.
Eric Gordon led Houston with 27 points.
HEAT 104, HAWKS 93 >> Josh Richardson scored 21 points and Wayne Ellington made six 3-pointers in the second quarter to spark Miami past Atlanta.
Kent Bazemore and Taurean Prince each scored 20 for the Hawks.
SPURS 101, RAPTORS 97 >> LaMarcus Aldridge scored 20 points and Dejounte Murray had 16 points and 15 rebounds to lead San Antonio over Toronto.
Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker didn’t play for the Spurs, who won despite committing 20 turovers.
DeMar DeRozan had 28 points for the Raptors. WIZARDS 109, NUGGETS 104 >> Bradley Beal scored 20 points for Washington, which had all five starters reach double figures in its victory over Denver.