SH Blog: NBPA Names Executive Director, Blake Griffin Has Fracture in Back

Monday, July 28 was a monumental day in the NBA. As written by our Chris Bernucca, Donald Sterling lost the Los Angeles Clippers via legal decision.

That wasn’t the only news to shake up the league’s power structure.

The NBA Players Association finally named a replacement to the embattled Billy Hunter. Unlike the response to the Sterling ruling, the optimism involved in this decision wasn’t quite as unanimous.

The NBPA ousted Hunter from his position as executive director on February 16, 2013. In the 17 months since, that seat has remained vacant.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that Michele Roberts has been elected to fill his seat.

The NBPA has elected Washington, D.C. attorney Michele Roberts as its executive director, source tells Yahoo Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 29, 2014

Roberts is the first female to hold the position. Here is her bio page from the law firm of Skadden Arps.

Roberts isn’t a household name or a recognizable face, but she is someone who had enough support to be elected. She brings a change-of-pace to a Players Association that could be nearing a vital reconstruction of the CBA.

With the most recent CBA breeding mixed results, her job won’t be an easy one. On the slate will be the ever-increasing salary cap and the owners’ attempts at preventing collusion, which played prominent roles in what resulted in a lockout.

While the general consensus seems to be that Roberts was a good selection, the support isn’t unanimous. The most notable and outspoken opposition is Jerry Stackhouse, who spent 18 years as an NBA player.

He pulled no punches.

Jerry Stackhouse says vote is being “rammed down our throats.” Says Exec committee recommended Michele Roberts, but not sure they have votes

— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 29, 2014

Tell us how you really feel.

Clearly, Roberts had enough votes to get elected. This seemingly disappointed Stackhouse, who felt the process was rushed and not as methodical as it should’ve been.

That’s a concerning stance to take considering its been 17 months since Hunter was removed. Whether Stackhouse is speaking for a group of people or just for himself, the NBPA and its executive committee haven’t been the strongest unit in recent years.

Whether this ends up working out for the players in the long-run is unclear. The resolution is better than not having anyone in the position at all.

Whether it’s liked or not, Roberts is the new executive director of the NBPA.

Blake Griffin Has Small Fracture in Back

The Los Angeles Clippers received wonderful news on Monday, July 28 when a judge ruled against Donald Sterling and all but guaranteed the sale of the organization to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. In the same day, the Clippers received potentially devastating, but supposedly harmless news.

Star power forward Blake Griffin made waves when he announced that he’s pulling out of the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. All but a lock to make Team USA, the MVP candidate would’ve been one of the stars of the show in Spain.

According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles, Griffin removed himself from the event because of a small fracture in his back.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin withdrew last week from Team USA training camp for the FIBA World Cup because he was advised by doctors to give a small fracture in his back more time to heal before the start of the next NBA season, sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com.

Griffin is expected to make a full recovery from the injury, which sources say was suffered during the playoffs. However, doctors advised him to sit out international competition this summer for precautionary reasons.

A stunning turn of events.

Griffin is fresh off of a season in which he finished third in the MVP voting behind Kevin Durant and LeBron James, per NBA.com. He averaged a career-high 24.1 points during the regular season and a career-best 23.5 points during the playoffs, when he apparently suffered the injury.

The question on everyone’s mind is simple: is the injury serious enough to impact Griffin’s availability for the 2014-15 season?

Most importantly, could this be a lingering issue that hurts his career longevity?

Griffin isn’t a back-to-the-basket player, per se, but he’s developed into a far more complete offensive weapon in. In 2013-14, he went to the post more than ever before, using that approach to keep the opposition honest.

Shelburne reports that Griffin is expected to make a full recovery, but this is concerning news. His explosiveness could be limited, but the real issue would be if he’s unable to attack in the half court as a high and low-post threat.

Part of what made Griffin an MVP candidate was his ability to do more than just dunk. He evolved into one of the best big men in the game and carried the Clippers while Chris Paul and J.J. Redick missed significant time due to injury.

All the NBA community and Clippers fans can ask for is a full and speedy recovery.

Around The League

• The Minnesota Timberwolves added some very necessary depth on Monday, July 28. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the T-Wolves signed veteran point guard Mo Williams to a one-year deal worth $3.75 million. Williams, a career 38.5 percent shooter from distance, will join a team that ranked No. 26 in 3-point field goal percentage in 2013-14.
• Per Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Memphis Grizzlies have appointed a new Vice President of Player Personnel. “The Memphis Grizzlies reached agreement with Ed Stefanski to become Vice President/Player Personnel, league sources tell Yahoo.” It’s yet another shakeup to a constantly changing front office.