Former Rebels coach Bayno welcomes job with Raptors
Bill Bayno has found a new home. And it’s north of the border.
The former UNLV coach has left Rick Adelman’s staff with the Minnesota Timberwolves to join coach Dwane Casey as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Bayno, 51, said Saturday at the Thomas & Mack Center, where the Raptors were playing in the NBA Summer League. “I learned so much from Rick, most of all how to be calm and patient. But with so much uncertainty there with his wife’s health and new management and this opportunity coming along, it was time to move on.”
Bayno, who coached the Rebels from 1995 to 2000, was an assistant for the Portland Trail Blazers before joining the Timberwolves in 2011. Toronto hired him Thursday, and he said even though the Raptors are retooling their roster, they have talent.
“I love DeMar (DeRozan),” Bayno said of the Raptors’ swingman. “I’m also excited about (6-foot-11-inch center Jonas) Valanciunas. We’re going to add some players, and Dwane’s got these guys playing hard. I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Bayno said he still follows the Rebels and keeps in contact with coach Dave Rice, who was on his staff at UNLV.
“You’ve got to get players to be successful, and he’s done a great job,” Bayno said. “He got Anthony Bennett, and he wound up the No. 1 pick in the draft. I’m very proud of what Dave’s doing.”
■ ROOKIE INJURIES — Two rookie first-round draft picks won’t play in the summer league because of injuries suffered during practice.
Dallas Mavericks point guard Shane Larkin broke his right ankle Friday and is expected to miss three months. Golden State Warriors guard Nemanja Nedovic sprained his right ankle Thursday and will return to his native Serbia today.
■ NEW FLOORS — New floors have been installed at Cox Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack Center for the summer league. The league previously used UNLV’s courts.
“The NBA had some concerns about players slipping on the stickers we used to cover up the UNLV logos,” said Albert Hall, the summer league’s vice president of business operations. “The only solution was dedicated floors.”
The courts are owned by the summer league and the NBA and, according to Hall, cost “six figures.” They will be stored at Horner Sports Flooring of Milwaukee, which constructed them.
■ WARRIORS WIN — Golden State defeated the Washington Wizards 56-52 on Saturday for its ninth straight summer league victory, dating to 2010. It went 5-0 last year to win the unofficial title.
Kent Bazemore scored 21 points to lead Golden State, which next plays at 5:30 p.m. Monday against the Sacramento Kings at the Thomas & Mack.
Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.
