West Notes: Spurs, Trail Blazers, Lakers

Spurs

Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said the Spurs’ culture is likely what is getting them through the Josh Primo drama.

“Character is always one of the first words that comes out of the Spurs organization,” Budenholzer said, via Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News. “In tough times, your character shows. You want to have people with character.”

• Spurs coach Gregg Popovich once explained the Spurs’ philosophy to Hoops Wire this way: “We draft guys who have gotten over themselves.”
• Popovich said he is impressed with undrafted rookie Jordan Hall‘s point guard approach. Hall is 6-foot-8. “He’s got great size (6-foot-8) for a point guard, “Popovich said, via Orsborn. “He’s got a really high IQ on the court and is a pleasant guy. He just needs minutes (in G League).”

Trail Blazers

Former Blazers coach Terry Stotts gave some insight in how many coaches approach the NBA draft, saying he didn’t get very involved during his time in Portland. Stotts made his comments in a Twitter space interview with NBA.com’s John Schumann, Ben Taylor and Mo Dakhil.

“I did have input on trades and free agency because I knew those players. When it came to the draft, I personally did not want to have any input on the draft. The scouting department and general manager spend their entire years knowing players from not just that year, but from previous years,” Stotts said, via Jeremy Brener of Blazers Edge. “So, I personally did not want to have any input on the draft because that was their domain, that was their expertise, and they deserve all the credit for drafting the players, knowing how we play, what needs we may have, things like that.

“But I never really got involved into a draft decision until it maybe got down to the, you know, it’s we’re coming down to two or three guys, ‘What do you think?’ But beyond that I just I felt I had something to give and I did in trades and free agency but not so much the draft.”

• Rookie shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured finger. Sharpe is considered day-today, the team announced.

Lakers

• Some around the NBA apparently think LeBron James‘ tweet showing support of Kyrie Irving was James’ way of trying to nudge the Lakers to acquire the Nets star. You can read that full post on Hoops Wire here.
• The Lakers entered Friday night still weighing on how best to make changes, and when to try to make them. You can read that full post on Hoops Wire here.