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Suns’ Williams voted NBA Coach of the Year
Monty Williams now has the honor that his Phoenix Suns players have been clamoring that he receive for two years: NBA’S Coach of the Year.
The 50-year-old Williams won the award on Monday after leading the Suns to a franchise-record 64 wins during the regular season. They were NBA’S best team by far, finishing with eight more wins than any other team.
Williams joins Cotton Fitzsimmons (1988-89) and Mike D’antoni (2004-05) as coaches who have won the award with the Suns.
The runner-up to New York’s Tom Thibodeau last season, Williams was the runaway winner this time. He received 81 of 100 first-place votes from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, finishing with 458 points.
Memphis’ Taylor Jenkins was second with 17 first-place votes and 270 points. Miami’s Erik Spoelstra and Boston’s Ime Udoka also received a first-place vote.
Warriors coach Kerr out with COVID-19, Brown steps in
Warriors coach Steve Kerr tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday evening and will be replaced by associate head coach Mike Brown on the bench for Golden State in Game 4 of
the Western Conference semifinals against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Kerr, 56, had been regularly wearing a mask at team headquarters in recent days.
The Warriors said Kerr had just received his result approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes before tipoff at Chase Center. Brown on Sunday reached agreement to become coach of the Sacramento Kings but will stay with the Warriors through their postseason run.
Sharks re-sign Barabanov, Megna to 2-year deals
The San Jose Sharks have locked up two of their potential free agents early in
the offseason, agreeing to two-year deals with forward Alexander
Barabanov and defenseman Jaycob
Megna.
Interim general manager Joe Will announced the deals on Monday as the Sharks placed a priority on retaining two players who were set to hit the open market in July.
Barabanov’s deal is worth a reported $5 million over two years and Megna’s is worth a reported $1.625 million.
The 27-year-old Barabanov spent most of the season on San Jose’s top two lines, playing mostly with center Tomas Hertl. He had 10 goals and 29 assists in 70 games in his second season in the NHL.
Islanders fire coach Trotz after missing playoffs
Barry Trotz was fired as coach of the New York Islanders on Monday, with general manager Lou Lamoriello saying he felt the team needed a new voice.
Trotz lost his job after four seasons with the Islanders and the first without a playoff appearance. The 59-year-old who ranks among the most successful coaches in NHL history and won the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018 guided the Islanders to the Eastern Conference final each of the previous two years before losing to eventual champion Tampa Bay.