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The New Orleans Pelicans have had to change their lineup all season because of injury and availability from their roster. Sunday's game was not a change to their roster, but their coaching staff, as head coach Willie Green, could not coach the team against the Charlotte Hornets for personal reasons.
Associate head coach James Borrego is coaching in place of Green. Borrego formerly was the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets from 2018 to 2022 before joining the Pelicans as an assistant coach in 2023. Sunday's game against Charlotte is Green's first game this season he will not coach for the Pelicans.
Pelicans Head Coach Willie Green will miss tonight’s game against the Charlotte Hornets due to personal reasons.
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 30, 2025
Pelicans Associate Head Coach James Borrego will assume head coaching duties for tonight’s game.
Expectations were high for New Orleans coming into this season. Green navigated his team to the playoffs in two of his first three seasons as the head coach, winning 49 games last season, the second-most in franchise history. The Pelicans acquired former all-star Dejounte Murray to pair with Zion Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram.
The four players never played a single regular season game together, with Murray fracturing his hand in the season opener and Williamson suffering a hamstring injury that sidelined him for 27 straight games. New Orleans traded Ingram to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown, and two future first-round picks.
Zion with a triple-double in last night's win pic.twitter.com/CxqOCkmsum
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 12, 2025
The Pelicans have employed 42 different starting lineups this season, and they currently have the second-worst record in the Western Conference. They, in all likelihood, will have a top pick in this year's NBA Draft, hoping to pair a young star with Zion Williamson to build for the future.
More must-reads:
- Lakers insider updates LeBron James' immediate future
- Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo still mulling exit from Bucks
- The 'NBA playoff point-per-game leaders' quiz
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Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo's future with Bucks is still uncertain
The Milwaukee Bucks were one of the most active teams in the early days of the NBA offseason. From signing Myles Turner to moving on from Damian Lillard, Doc Rivers' team didn't rest on its laurels early on. And while the front office has gone to great lengths to shut down all rumors of Giannis Antetokounmpo's discontent, ESPN insider Shams Charania reported they're not in the clear yet. On Monday's edition of "Get Up," Charania pointed out that Antetokounmpo is still considering all his options. "We're standing here, it's Aug. 4. Sources tell me there's still nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee or whether he will be leaving," Charania said. "And so, he's going to continue to evaluate his future." He added that Giannis might still decide that the doesn't want to be there and force his way out this offseason, which would be a huge blow for a team that just waived-and-stretched the $113 million left on Lillard's contract. "They did that because they wanted to show Giannis, we're doing everything in our power to keep you here. But Giannis Antetokounmpo is the ultimate decider whether he feels this roster is good enough," Charania added. Giannis has always talked about winning the right way and staying loyal to the organization, but he's also been visibly frustrated with the early playoff exits and has been open about his desire to win another championship. He might want to give this new core a chance to show him that it can compete at the highest level. But if they get off to another slow start to the season, he may want to reconsider his options.
Three potential landing spots for disgruntled Bills RB James Cook
Superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys aren't the only ones involved in a contract dispute. Buffalo Bills star running back James Cook is seeking a pay raise as he heads into the final year of his rookie contract. When asked Sunday why he wasn't practicing, Cook responded: "Business." ESPN insider Adam Schefter noted on Monday the hold-in by Cook, the 2022 second-round pick (63rd overall) who is unhappy with his contract situation. For now, Cook's future with the Bills is in question, so let's look at three teams that should be lighting up general manager Brandon Beane's phone in an attempt to pry him from Buffalo. Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles must continue to add weapons around second-year QB Caleb Williams. Per NFL.com, Chicago ranked 25th in the league in rushing yards (102 per game) and 29th in yards per carry (four) last season, which is not good enough to support a young QB. RB D'Andre Swift (253 carries, 959 yards rushing, 3.8 yards per carry) is a solid option but was inefficient last season in the workhorse role. Cook, who rushed for 1,009 yards last season (4.9 per carry), is an efficient runner who could balance this offense. Chicago has the draft capital and salary-cap space (roughly $13M, per Over The Cap) to get a deal done, particularly if it were to send Swift back the other way. Arizona Cardinals Their offense could reach new heights with a dynamic running back like Cook. James Conner, who rushed for a career-high 1,094 yards last season, has been a solid lead runner in Arizona over the past four years, but the 30-year-old could use help. Conner is a power back. Speedster Cook would bring a different style and create an explosive one-two punch with QB Kyler Murray. Per Over The Cap, Arizona has roughly $35M in cap space and all its own draft picks to get a deal done. It's a move it must consider to compete in the loaded NFC West. Minnesota Vikings What better way is there to aid rookie QB J.J. McCarthy than by trading for a high-end running back? Minnesota has perhaps the best receiving groups in the NFL, so improving the run game could make this offense unstoppable. Running back Aaron Jones will turn 31 on Dec. 2, so Cook — who will turn 26 on Sept. 25 — would be an upgrade. Free-agent RB Dalvin Cook, who has a similar running style to James, his brother, rushed for 1,173 yards with the Vikings in 2022. The Vikings have draft picks to make a solid offer, and while their cap space will get tight in 2026, they can find ways to wiggle their way around it. Perhaps Buffalo would be interested in Jones being a part of the deal to help its backfield in the short term.
Knee operation: Kirby Dach not yet back on his feet
Two years ago to the day, Canadiens fans were optimistic about Kirby Dach’s future in Montreal: the 6’4 forward had just collected 38 points in 58 games – in his first campaign in Quebec – and many wondered whether Dach had a better chance of establishing himself as a first NHL center than captain Nick Suzuki. The past 730 days have proven otherwise, but that’s not the point this morning. Since joining the Canadiens, Dach has earned a reputation as a fragile player. Virus, shoulder, upper body (concussion?), lower body, knee(ACL and MCL), knee again… Let’s just say that injuries haven’t spared Dach since he arrived in Montreal. In fact, injuries haven’t spared Dach since he started playing hockey. He has never played more than 70 games in a single season, and has only broken the 60-game barrier three times in nine junior or pro seasons. Last February, Dach underwent a second operation on his right knee in the space of 18 months. Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes may tell us that Kirby Dach is fine,but we still have our doubts. Especially whenyou consider that, with the Canadiens’ recent additions and departures, Kirby Dach is still the team’s second center on the organizational chart. content-ads]Last week, I wondered where Kirby was ? We’ve seen plenty of Habs players skating at the CN Complex this summer, but not Kirby Dach. And I had to work like a monk to catch a glimpse of him in a video filmed at Nick Suzuki’s wedding! Yesterday, I was told that Kirby Dach was spending the summer in Edmonton with Kaiden Guhle – Dach is from Saskatchewan and Guhle is from Alberta – and that Dach was still in rehab. I repeat: five months after his most recent knee operation and some 40 days before the start of practice camp, Kirby Dach is still not recovered and ready to play. Good informants spotted him in an Edmonton gym doing squats with loads that look like the ones I used to take when I went to Econofitness, not the ones an NHL player uses [content-ads]This explains it: when he came to Montreal for his captain’s wedding, Kirby Dach couldn’t – or wouldn’t – skate with his teammates in Brossard. It’s worth noting that Dach is also very quiet on social networks – his last post was in November 2024 – probably in an effort to be forgotten… to go unnoticed. Spending the summer in Alberta, rather than in Montreal (with his chums at Osheaga), makes sense, when you think about it…Let’s just say that the chances of Dach starting his season at the same time as everyone else in two months’ time are pretty slim, which is cause for concern for those hoping to see the Canadiens in the playoffs in 2026. Yes, the Kirby Dach problem would be solved if a guy like Mason MacTavish-good offensively, defensively, physically and in the face-off circle-came to Montreal, but let’s just say that the odds of that happening this summer are very low. And you can’t make plans with very improbable things![spacer title=’Prolongation’]Matthew Tkachuk, who was injured last winter while throwing down the gloves at the 4 Nations tournament, underwent surgery last month (hernia and adductor). According to the latest information from Elliotte Friedman, Tkachuk could return to action just before the Olympic Games. Let’s hope Kirby Dach doesn’t have to wait as long as Tkachuk.
Matt LaFleur sheds light on concerning Tucker Kraft situation
The Green Bay Packers continued work on the field on Saturday, with tens of thousands of fans in attendance watching amid the annual Family Night. However, one notable player who was not able to make it to the field and practice was tight end Tucker Kraft. The former South Dakota State Jackrabbits star is nursing a lower-body injury, forcing the Packers to take it easy on the tight end and keep him on the shelf rather than risk aggravation of the issue. Speaking to the media, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur opened up about Kraft’s status, via Green Bay reporter Rob Demovsky of ESPN. “MLF said Tucker Kraft has been dealing with a groin injury and powering through it for the last two days but they decided to give him a couple days off.” Kraft is expected to be among the major targets in the Packers’ passing attack in his third year in the pros. Selected in the third round (78th overall) by the Packers in the 2023 NFL draft, the 24-year-old Kraft is looking to surpass his production in 2024, when he posted 707 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on 50 receptions.
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