Sixers consider axing Colangelo: report
OAKLAND, Calif. — The NBA will not discipline Cleveland forward Kevin Love for leaving the bench area during an altercation at the end of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
A person familiar with the decision said Friday the league ruled that Love left the bench to argue a flagrant foul call against teammate Tristan Thompson and not to join the altercation. He then retreated to the bench area immediately, so he did not deserve
The Philadelphia 76ers are seriously considering firing Bryan Colangelo for BurnerGate (sure, let’s call it that), according to ESPN, as its investigation is now zeroing in on the president of basketball operation’s wife.
After a report by the Ringer linked Colangelo to five Twitter accounts — some of which bashed current players like Joel Embiid while defending the NBA executive’s job performance and, uh, shirt collars — Twitter sleuths started to dig even deeper, noting that the accounts had been actively punishment. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not announced a ruling.
Yahoo Sports first reported the decision.
There has been no ruling yet on possible discipline for Thompson, ejected for committing a flagrant 2 foul against Golden State’s Shaun Livingston. He then shoved the ball into Draymond Green’s face before leaving the court.
Cavs guard George Hill said it would be “petty” if it warranted a suspension. The Warriors weren’t concerned about how the league would rule.
“I thought it was unnecessary when he shoved the ball in Draymond’s face,” guard Klay Thompson said. “That was very uncalled for, especially if two guys are just talking. That’s not the way to play. But honestly, I don’t care if he plays or not.”
Thompson was fined $25,000 and his foul reduced to a flagrant 1. tweeting during some of Colangelo’s press conferences.
Colangelo denied sending any of the tweets — even stating “someone’s out to get me” — but did admit one of the accounts, which only followed other ones, belonged to him. However, he reportedly told Sixers ownership and management that his wife, Barbara Bottini, may have been involved.
League sources told ESPN that the Sixers would still find Colangelo at fault even if it was someone close to him who was responsible for the alleged burner accounts. An outside law firm is conducting the probe, which included Colangelo handing over his cell phones, the report said.
This scandal comes at a particularly awful time as the Sixers, who advanced as far as the Eastern Conference semifinals, will be trying to recruit top free agents like LeBron James and Paul George.
After The Ringer story broke, Embiid went on a “liking” spree, favoriting tweets that were critical of him from the Twitter accounts. But the Philly star said afterward that he would believe Colangelo “until proven otherwise.” CLEVELAND GOLDEN ST. Warriors 124, Cavs 114 Sun. at Warriors at 8 p.m. June 6 at Cavs at 9 p.m. June 8 at Cavs at 9 p.m. June 11 at Warriors* at 9 p.m. June 14 at Cavs* at 9 p.m. June 17 at Warriors* at 8 p.m.
“If true though, that would be really bad,” Embiid told ESPN on Tuesday night.
On Thursday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said they were still trying to figure out “what’s going on” during his annual NBA Finals press conference.
“You have to separate sort of the chatter and sort of what either fans or, frankly, the media are saying from the facts,” Silver said.
“And the first thing we have to do here is determine what the actual facts are in this circumstance.”