logo
Hawks GM Saleh Names Former Pelicans GM Graham as Vice President of Basketball Operations

Hawks GM Saleh Names Former Pelicans GM Graham as Vice President of Basketball Operations

Al Arabiya2 days ago

Onsi Saleh, Atlanta Hawks general manager, has strengthened his front office staff by appointing Bryson Graham, former New Orleans Pelicans general manager, as senior vice president of basketball operations.
Saleh also appointed Peter Dinwiddie, former Philadelphia 76ers executive vice president, as senior vice president of strategy and analytics on Wednesday. Saleh was appointed general manager on April 21 after Landry Fields was fired. The front office restructuring occurred after the Hawks finished 40–42 this season and missed the playoffs after going 0–2 in the play-in tournament.
'We are fortunate to be able to add Bryson and Peter to our leadership team,' Saleh said in a statement released by the Hawks. 'Bryson is widely regarded as one of the league's top young talent evaluators, and Peter is one of the most strategic minds in the NBA. Ownership has empowered me to build a robust and dynamic front office, and adding two extremely talented, experienced, and respected executives in Bryson and Peter is a home run for our group.'
Graham spent 15 seasons with the Pelicans, including the 2024–25 season as general manager. He rose through the team's front office after being hired as an intern in the 2010–11 season and then served as player development director, director of college scouting, and assistant general manager, among other positions.
Before serving as the 76ers vice president of basketball operations, Dinwiddie spent 14 seasons with the Indiana Pacers, including as the senior vice president of basketball operations.
The Hawks have two first-round picks in the NBA draft on June 25 at No. 13 and No. 22.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Pirates' Santana Suspended 4 Games by MLB for a Confrontation With a Fan, But Is Appealing Decision
Pirates' Santana Suspended 4 Games by MLB for a Confrontation With a Fan, But Is Appealing Decision

Al Arabiya

time32 minutes ago

  • Al Arabiya

Pirates' Santana Suspended 4 Games by MLB for a Confrontation With a Fan, But Is Appealing Decision

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dennis Santana was suspended four games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball on Friday, a day after he was involved in an altercation with a fan. Santana is appealing the decision by the league and can continue to play while the situation is being reviewed. During the second game of the Pirates' doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, Santana was in the bullpen when he was seen at one point leaping and swiping at the person. 'You guys know me – I'm a calm demeanor type of person,' Santana said after the game through an interpreter. 'I've never had any issues for any of the teams I've played for. This guy crossed the line a few times.' Santana declined to disclose what the fan said. 'He crossed the line and I'd like to leave it at that,' he said. 'I've never had anything like this happen in my eight years in baseball.' Santana can be seen in videos posted on social media pointing out the fan to a police officer before jumping and swinging at the person who's in the front row above Pittsburgh's bullpen at Comerica Park. After jumping at the fan, Santana was escorted away by Pirates bullpen personnel and held back by a teammate. He entered the game in the ninth inning and pitched to one batter before the game was delayed by rain. The Pirates won 8–4. Pittsburgh hosted Texas on Friday night.

Wisconsin, NIL Collective Sue Miami, Allege Tampering and NIL Inducements to Land Football Player
Wisconsin, NIL Collective Sue Miami, Allege Tampering and NIL Inducements to Land Football Player

Al Arabiya

timean hour ago

  • Al Arabiya

Wisconsin, NIL Collective Sue Miami, Allege Tampering and NIL Inducements to Land Football Player

The University of Wisconsin and its NIL collective VC Connect filed a joint lawsuit on Friday against the University of Miami, alleging it knowingly induced one of the Badgers' football players to abandon a lucrative name, image, and likeness (NIL) contract to play for Florida this upcoming season. The 23-page suit, which was filed in state court in Wisconsin and obtained by The Associated Press, could have a wider impact on future NIL deals across college athletics. The player in question in the filing is referred to only as 'Student-Athlete A.' But the case summary describes facts that line up with the situation involving cornerback Xavier Lucas, who last December announced his plans to enter the transfer portal. Shortly afterward, Darren Heitner, who has been representing Lucas, indicated that Wisconsin was refusing to put Lucas' name in the portal and that it was hindering his ability to talk with other schools. In January, Heitner announced that Lucas would be playing for Miami this fall. The situation is fallout from the rapid changes engulfing college athletics–specifically a combination of two things: Athletes went to court and won the ability to transfer with much more freedom, and the 2021 NCAA decision clearing the way for them to strike NIL endorsement deals now worth millions of dollars. That has changed the recruiting landscape and forced the issue of contracts and signed commitments to the fore. 'Indeed, student-athletes' newfound NIL rights will be rendered meaningless if third parties are allowed to induce student-athletes to abandon their contractual commitments,' a portion of the lawsuit reads. Wisconsin said in January that it had credible information that Miami and Lucas made impermissible contact with each other before the former Badgers' cornerback decided to transfer. Wisconsin and VC Connect allege that the inducement for Lucas to attend Miami happened within days of him entering his NIL agreement to play for the Badgers and that they incurred substantial monetary and reputational harm. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and a declaration that Miami's conduct directed toward 'Student-Athlete A' constituted tampering. A message left with the University of Miami seeking comment was not immediately returned. In a text message Friday, Heitner declined to comment on the lawsuit, but he said that Lucas still plans to attend Miami and play football. Wisconsin said it had the support of its leadership and the Big Ten Conference in filing the lawsuit, noting its commitment to ensuring integrity and fundamental fairness in the evolving landscape of college athletics. 'While we reluctantly bring this case, we stand by our position that respecting and enforcing contractual obligations is essential to maintaining a level playing field,' the statement said. 'In addition to our legal action, we will continue to be proactive to protect the interests of our student-athletes, our program, and the broader collegiate athletics community.' Lucas, who is from Pompano Beach, Florida, had 12 tackles, an interception, and a sack as a freshman for Wisconsin last season. Heitner said that Lucas hasn't received any money from Wisconsin and therefore owes no money to the school. Heitner also argued that Wisconsin had violated an NCAA bylaw by not entering Lucas into the transfer database within two business days of the player's request. Wisconsin issued a statement at the time saying it hadn't put Lucas' name in the portal because he had entered a two-year binding NIL agreement. In April, the surprise transfers of brothers Nico and Madden Iamaleava from Tennessee to UCLA prompted fresh questions about contracts and buyouts. Nico Iamaleava, who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, walked away from a reported $2.4 million NIL contract. Arkansas freshman quarterback Madden Iamaleava entered the portal after spring practices wrapped up. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek released a statement indicating he would support efforts by the Razorbacks' NIL collective to enforce buyout clauses in athlete contracts. Iamaleava reportedly had a contract valued at $500,000 upon signing with Arkansas.

Rafael Devers Explains Why He Is Willing To Play First Base For The Giants But Not The Red Sox
Rafael Devers Explains Why He Is Willing To Play First Base For The Giants But Not The Red Sox

Al Arabiya

timean hour ago

  • Al Arabiya

Rafael Devers Explains Why He Is Willing To Play First Base For The Giants But Not The Red Sox

Rafael Devers had a consistent mantra when he addressed the Boston media for the first time since his surprising trade from the Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants five days ago. 'The past is in the past,' Devers said repeatedly Friday when asked about his time with the Red Sox and why the relationship deteriorated so much this season that the team traded him less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023. Devers did give one piece of insight when asked what he would tell Red Sox fans about why he is willing to play first base in San Francisco if he is asked after refusing to do so with the Red Sox when asked last month. 'I would say that I have put some good numbers up over in Boston,' he said through an interpreter. 'I think that I do feel that I have earned some respect. If they would have asked me at the beginning of spring training, yes I would have played (first).' Devers's relationship with the Red Sox began to deteriorate when the team signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training and asked Devers to move to designated hitter; he balked before agreeing to the switch. When first baseman Triston Casas sustained a season-ending knee injury, the Red Sox approached Devers about playing the field, and he declined, saying the front office should do their jobs and look for another player. A day after Devers's comments to the media about playing first, Red Sox owner John Henry, team president Sam Kennedy, and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow flew to Kansas City to meet with Devers and manager Alex Cora. Devers's stance didn't change, and he was eventually traded to San Francisco. He said he wouldn't have done anything differently in his time in Boston. 'I put up good numbers over there,' he said. 'I always gave my 100 percent.' The Giants were happy to acquire Devers after striking out in their bid to sign a big bat for the middle of the lineup in free agency. Devers went 3 for 11 with two walks and an RBI in his first three games with San Francisco as a designated hitter. He has started working out at first base and said he would be happy to play there as soon as he feels comfortable. 'Like I said in the past, that is not a position that you're going to learn how to play overnight,' he said. 'I just have to continue that practice there.' Devers said he is as happy as he has been in years in his first few days with the Giants and enjoyed the opportunity to see some of his friends on the Red Sox on Thursday night when the team arrived in town. 'It's been a few hectic days,' he said. 'A long week it feels like. But I saw my friends yesterday, so I was happy to be able to see them. I'm very happy.' Devers said he didn't have anything good or bad to say about Cora but said he would talk to him on the field this weekend when he had the chance. Devers was 20 when he made his major league debut with the Red Sox in 2017. He helped the Red Sox win the 2018 World Series and led the team in RBIs for five consecutive seasons from 2020–24. He has finished in the top 20 in voting for AL MVP five times. The Giants have lacked slugging since Barry Bonds hit 45 home runs in 2004; they are the only team in the majors who have not had a batter hit 30 home runs since then. Devers has hit at least 30 home runs three times. Devers is not the first Red Sox All-Star to be traded away: The team sent Mookie Betts to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the 2020 season in a salary dump – just a year after he won the AL MVP award and led Boston to a franchise-record 108 wins and its fourth World Series title since 2004.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store