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The seven-game suspension cost Butler a total of about $2.4 million in salary, and the two-game suspension cost Butler about $700,000 in additional salary. The National Basketball Players Association is expected to file a grievance to dispute the suspensions, with the fine money held in escrow until a resolution is reached. This process could take up to a year, but could result in Butler getting some of the lost salary back.
Caitlin Clark is officially a proud girlfriend. The Indiana Fever superstar Clark had a post to her Instagram Story this week congratulating her boyfriend Connor McCaffery on his big new job in basketball. McCaffery was just formally hired as an assistant coach for the Butler University men’s basketball program. “yayy!! so happy for you,” wrote Clark, along with a heart emoji.
That consistency has enabled the Butler University product to be in his 14th season. Most don’t even make it past their rookie contract. Hayward was drafted ninth overall in the 2010 draft by the Jazz, then spent his first seven seasons in Utah. I asked Hayward something many have wondered. If you were still available one spot later, at pick 10, did you get an indication from the Indiana Pacers, who then selected Paul George? “I was told they were taking me,” he replied. “So you never know what's going to happen, but that's what I was told. And looking back, it would have been amazing to play for your hometown team, the team you grew up watching and dreaming about. “But at the same time, I think it was good to not be here. There's too many distractions, too many friends, and you're just getting pulled in too many directions. So it's great that I went to Utah and got a chance to be away and all that.”
Ronald Nored will soon be returning to Indianapolis. The Pacers are finalizing a contract agreement with the former Butler University guard to be an assistant coach on Rick Carlisle’s staff, league sources told Fieldhouse Files. There has been ongoing dialogue for almost two weeks.
Rose denies those rumors in his book and says he even bought Butler a $15,000 watch once as a gift to show the swingman he supported him. I always was cool with Jimmy, no matter what they were saying in the media. I was always cool with all my teammates. That’s what it is having teammates. I never had a problem with Jimmy. No confrontation, no argument or anything. In fact, when Jimmy had his trade stuff come up in Minnesota, he was confiding in me and I was counseling him, understanding what he was going through, how it wasn’t right. People always wanted to make it something between me and Jimmy in Chicago, wanting to see us go at it…Nah, nothing like that with me and Jimmy…Remember, I did buy him that watch that time with the Bulls. Just to show, “Bro, I ain’t whatever they may be saying.” It was light love for a teammate. I think it cost like $15,000. When you’re the veteran, sometimes you have to spoil your teammates.
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Mack played three seasons at Butler University, all of them under current Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens. “He’s obviously one of my favorites,” Stevens said. “It’s been fun to watch him over the last few weeks and throughout the course of his career. I think he’s always a guy that I’ve always admired for his work ethic and his ability to do whatever it takes to give his team the best chance to win. I can’t say enough good things about him.”
Without hesitation, the former Butler University standout responded with, “Aaron Rodgers. Can’t stand Tom Brady.” Although his answer will likely make Boston sports fans’ blood boil, they can take solace in his explanation for the choice. “I’m a Colts fan. I can’t stand him just because he plays for the Patriots,” Hayward noted. “I think he’s a good quarterback. It’s just loyalty.”
“I don’t speak to the rumor mill or anything else. I’m made pretty clear I’m going to be here. I’ve been asked about that quite a bit. And I’ll keep saying the same thing. I’m going to be here until the Celtics decide they want to move in another direction,” Brad Stevens, an Indiana native who led Butler University to a pair of national title runner-up finishes, told reporters prior to tonight’s game at Brooklyn.
Because of his success at Butler University, including leading the Bulldogs to consecutive national title games in 2010 and 2011, Brad Stevens has been linked to potential college openings since he took the Celtics job four years ago. But with college openings beginning to pop up as that season concludes, Stevens maintained Wednesday that he has no interest in leaving the Celtics and is committed to Boston long-term. “Nobody calls,” Stevens said, referring to universities with job openings. “The only thing people usually call me for is to ask questions about candidates. Everybody has a pretty good idea of where I stand, and I think ultimately I’m going to be here. I think that’s pretty well known.”
Celtics coach Brad Stevens, remaining true to family-centric beliefs he imparts to his players, left the team yesterday, missing last night’s game to be with a former Butler University player. The Celts didn’t say anything beyond that and the fact that assistant coach Jay Larranaga would run the team against the Bulls, but it quickly became clear the player is Andrew Smith, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma two years ago this month.
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Chris Forsberg: From the Celtics: coach Brad Stevens traveled to Indiana to visit a former Butler University player of his and will miss tonight's game against the Chicago Bulls... Celtics assistant Jay Larranaga will serve as head coach tonight in Chicago.
The Bulls didn't give Butler a fourth-year extension in the fall, meaning he'll become a restricted free agent at season's end. Chicago says it has no intentions of letting Butler go, but he's going to cost them a lot more money next summer than he would have in October. He's averaging 22 points a night, shooting 49 percent from the floor, obliterating his previous highs in those categories. He's currently third in the league in Offensive Win Shares, eighth in Defensive Win Shares, according to basketball-reference.com.
Perhaps that edge might come from Butler, a junior college product who eventually wound up in the NBA by way of blue-collar Marquette. “I’m from Tomball [Texas]. I’m not even supposed to be in the NBA, let alone be a star player. I just want to be wanted, I just want to play hard,” he said after his third-straight game of at least 18 points on at least 60 percent shooting. “A star player, a role player, a bench player, whatever it takes." When asked about his humility, he said, "I have to be because I’m from Tomball, and nobody with a mic in front of my face can tell me where that is.”
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