Doc Rivers: Blake Griffin was never going to be traded

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Blake-Griffin-1.jpg?fit=600%2C338

Despite being dogged by rumors virtually all summer, Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers insists that Blake Griffin was never going to be traded.

Griffin was linked all over the place, including prominently with the Boston Celtics, but Rivers repeatedly shot all that down and continues to do so.

“We knew none of it was true,” Rivers said, via ESPN’s Chris Forsberg. “We figured that was one of you guys starting these rumors here in Boston. I was trying to find out who it was.”

It really doesn’t sound like anything was ever particularly close on the Griffin front. It’s likely true that the Clippers didn’t want to move the big man, but the fact that executives worry about his health may have been another thing holding up any potential deal.

Basketball – Larry Brown Sports
http://wp.me/p59zQO-8aF
#Going, #Blake, #Griffin, #Never, #Rivers, #Traded - #Basketball

Serge Ibaka: ‘I never asked to be traded’ from Oklahoma City

http://i0.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/serge-ibaka-1.jpg?fit=580%2C364

The prevailing narrative surrounding Serge Ibaka this summer seems to be one of a disgruntled big man who was bothered by a marginalized role and wanted out of Oklahoma City, either via trade or via free agency next summer. But Ibaka insists that this wasn’t the case.

In a feature for Sports Illustrated on Tuesday, Ibaka opened up about his wild offseason and put to rest rumors that he was unhappy with the Thunder.

“I never asked to be traded, even though there was a lot of media conjecture that I was unhappy with my role,” Ibaka wrote. “I had an exit meeting with [head coach] Billy Donovan and [general manager] Sam Presti after the season, and both went well. But this is still a business, everybody has to do what’s best for them, and I let my agent deal with the business side of things.

“I just focus on basketball,” Ibaka continued. “I’m not the kind of guy who’s going to go in and ask for a trade, and I would have been happy staying with the Thunder. Playing in the NBA was my dream, and I’d be happy playing anywhere.”

Ibaka was traded to the Orlando Magic on Draft Night 2016, leading to rumors of his discontent in Oklahoma City, which were only stoked by comments made by his agent, Andy Miller.

While Ibaka may never have specifically asked for a trade, the Thunder still had to leverage against the possibility of the three-time All-Defensive First Teamer leaving for nothing in 2017, especially given the (as it turned out, justified) uncertainty at the time regarding Kevin Durant’s free agency.

The 26-year-old will now try to start anew on a Magic team where there could be a lot of competition in the frontcourt next season among him, Bismack Biyombo, Aaron Gordon, and Nikola Vucevic.

H/T NBA Reddit

Basketball – Larry Brown Sports
http://wp.me/p59zQO-7bR
#I, #Asked, #City, #From, #Ibaka, #Never, #Oklahoma, #Serge, #Traded - #Basketball

Alistair Overeem: Brock Lesnar will never return to UFC

http://i1.wp.com/www.truesportsfan.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/brock-lesnar.jpg?fit=600%2C344

Brock Lesnar failed two drug tests prior to his win over Mark Hunt at UFC 200 and is facing a possible one-year suspension, but the heavyweight said recently he will not rule out fighting in the UFC again.

Alistair Overeem doesn’t see any way that will happen.

Overeem, who beat Lesnar in Brock’s last fight before his recent comeback, was asked by TMZ this week if he believes he could beat Lesnar again. His message was pretty clear.

“I don’t think he’s coming back, first (of all),” Overeem said. “Second, I mean he … never mind.”

It would be hard for Lesnar to return to the Octagon at this point. How would Dana White explain to this guy that he let Brock come back after all that? Even if Lesnar didn’t test positive, there’s a possibility the WWE was only allowing him to return to the UFC for one fight. Now that he is facing a possible one-year ban from mixed martial arts, a return seems even less likely.

MMA – Larry Brown Sports
http://wp.me/p59zQO-7ao
#Alistair, #Brock, #Lesnar, #Never, #Overeem, #Return - #MMA