Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look back at the original reporting and analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- I interviewed Cincinnati guard Sean Kilpatrick, a second-round prospect in the June draft.
- Alex Lee rolled out the second edition of his 2014 mock draft.
- The Blazers will have ample opportunity to show LaMarcus Aldridge what they’re capable of this summer, Chuck Myron writes.
- I looked at the offseason ahead of the Nets and their possible options as they look to improve with no financial flexibility.
- Chuck previewed the Wizards’ offseason.
- Eddie Scarito asked readers who they think the Cavs will take No. 1 overall. Joel Embiid was the winner.
- Hoops Rumors readers say that advancing to the second round is a fair expectation for Steve Kerr in his first year as Warriors’ head coach.
Northwest Notes: Love, Joerger, Wolves
Former NBA player Jalen Rose is preaching patience when it comes to the Wolves and Kevin Love, writes Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press. “If you’re Minnesota, you have the asset, and between now and the trade deadline, teams are going to get more desperate,” Rose said. “But (don’t) allow it to turn into a Dwight Howard situation where he leaves and you don’t get anything.” More out of the Northwest Division..
- Grizzlies owner Robert Pera never should have given the Wolves permission to talk to Dave Joerger if he was going to play hardball on compensation, opines Sam Amick of USA Today (on Twitter).
- One source tells Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link) that the Wolves value a second-round draft pick at $2MM. That could explain why they were so reluctant to part with one in order to land Joerger.
- Bill Ingram of Basketball Insiders wonders if it’s time for the Thunder to trade guard Russell Westbrook. The dynamic athlete has been the primary fingerpointing target for OKC’s struggles due to his poor shot selection. When the Thunder were without Westbrook this season because of his knee injury, Reggie Jackson guided them to a 19-6 record.
Latest On Grizzlies, Dave Joerger
Earlier this afternoon, we got a bit of surprising news when Dave Joerger told the Wolves that he’ll be staying put in Memphis. Joerger appears to be staying put and General Manager Chris Wallace could conceivably stay as well, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The Grizzlies’ search for the next GM will include Wallace as a candidate.
Wallace is in the mix, but he’ll have a lot of people to beat out. It’ll be a broad search for the next GM and it’s one that will include Magic assistant GM Matt Lloyd as a candidate, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.
In a Twitter Q&A with fans, Pera revealed that he hadn’t spoken to Joerger one-on-one until this weekend (link). The owner added that Joerger is a “great coach.” Pera went on to say that Joerger will “definitely” be manning the sidelines next season (link via Sam Amick of USA Today).
Dave Joerger To Stay With Grizzlies
Dave Joerger has decided to stay in Memphis and forgo the opportunity with the Wolves, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Joerger, the Grizzlies, and the Wolves have been trying all weekend to settle their differences (link), but it sounds like they were unable to come an agreement on a compensation package.
It’s a surprising twist since the ouster of CEO Jason Levien and assistant GM Stu Lash seemed to signal a complete overhaul of the club’s front office operations and coaching staff. Joerger met with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor for over two hours on Saturday and was said to be the frontrunner for the position. Team president Flip Saunders has a history with Joerger and saw a lot of himself in the young coach.
The Grizzlies seemed poised to go after another big name coach – possibly the Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau or former coach Lionel Hollins – but it sounds like they’ll be keeping things status quo instead. With Joerger out of the running for the Wolves’ gig, Minnesota may turn their attention to fellow candidate and owner Glen Taylor favorite Sam Mitchell.
Draft Notes: Heat, Celtics, Magic
With the draft roughly one month away, let’s keep track of today’s latest news here..
- Jordan Adams will work out for the Heat on Thursday, a source told Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The shooting guard out of UCLA is currently slated to go to the Heat at No. 26 in DraftExpress’ mock.
- The Celtics will host Kyle Anderson and DeAndre Daniels for a workout on June 3rd, a source tells Goodman (Twitter link). Anderson will also workout for the Hawks on Thursday (link).
- The Magic will workout Oklahoma State star Marcus Smart tomorrow, tweets Goodman. Orlando will also meet with Duke’s Rodney Hood (link). Earlier this month, I talked with the shooting guard about his NBA goals and where he sees himself going in the draft.
- The Heat will host a draft workout on Tuesday that will include P.J. Hairston, Cleathony Early, and Daniels, a source tells Goodman (link).
Week In Review: 5/19/14 – 5/25/14
We knew that the Grizzlies would potentially face serious changes this offseason on the court, but earlier this week, their front office was totally overhauled. CEO Jason Levien and assistant GM Stu Lash were ousted by owner Robert Pera on Monday. General Manager Chris Wallace, who has been without real power since Levien’s arrival, was re-installed as the chief decision maker for the time being. The changes probably won’t stop there. More on that and the rest of the week that was..
- There appears to be mutual interest between the Grizzlies and coach Dave Joerger in parting ways. The Wolves have interest in Joerger. Minnesota owner Glen Taylor, meanwhile, prefers Sam Mitchell.
- The Cavs won the lottery.
- Memphis may be eyeing Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.
- The Cavs are making noises that they aren’t going to offer Kyrie Irving “max money’’ this summer via a long-term extension.
- Teammates doubt that LeBron James will leave the Heat.
- Both Grant Hill and Yao Ming are reportedly lining up investor groups to try and purchase the Clippers. Yao denied the report while Hill has partnered with billionaire investors and longtime Southern California residents Tony Ressler and Bruce Karsh.
- Wolves owner Glen Taylor is insistent that he won’t trade Kevin Love before the draft.
- Donald Sterling gave his wife Shelly Sterling the OK to sell the Clippers, but the NBA is not on board with their proposal. Mrs. Sterling wants to stay on as a minority owner. Sterling’s hearing is set for June 3rd.
- The Jazz and Cavs have interviews planned with Alvin Gentry.
- Nuggets president Josh Kroenke came out and said that Brian Shaw will not be the next coach of the Knicks.
- The Lakers spoke with Byron Scott.
- Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak interviewed Mike Dunleavy.
- The Cavs are unlikely to land LeBron without making some upgrades.
- The Celtics are willing to trade for a star without securing an extension.
- The Cavs will likely explore sign-and-trade possibilities for Luol Deng.
- The buzz is back.
- Tyronn Lue is scheduled to interview for the Cavaliers vacant head coaching position late next week.
- The city of Sacramento approved the Kings’ new arena plan.
- A report indicated that Francisco Garcia is planning to opt out of his contract with the Rockets and seek a new, multiyear deal. However, the swingman says he hasn’t made up his mind yet.
- Kevin Ollie signed a new deal with UConn, so he won’t be coming to the NBA anytime soon.
- The Cavs are interested in Billy Donovan, Fred Hoiberg, and Tom Izzo.
- Bucks GM John Hammond and assistant GM David Morway appear likely to stay for at least one more year.
- The Magic are a team “to watch out for” with the Warriors becoming more open to trading David Lee.
- The Pistons will interview Stu Jackson for their vacant GM role.
- Michael Carter-Williams headlines the All-Rookie team.
- Chinese league MVP Lester Hudson has caught the eye of the Pacers.
- Bobby Brown signed a three-year deal in China.
And-Ones: Draft, Celtics, Pistons
Joel Embiid‘s medical worries make it a risk for the Sixers to select the talented Kansas big man with the third pick, opines Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pompey acknowledges that if healthy, Embiid might turn out to be the best player in the draft, but Philadelphia would be safer selecting Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh if Embiid is still available when they pick.
More from around the league:
- Each of the three former Michigan players who are draft prospects took a different approach to the combine week and each emerged with an upward trend, writes Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press. Guard Nik Stauskas is a lottery candidate while Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III could be first round picks.
- Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald makes the case for the Celtics selecting Marcus Smart with the sixth overall pick in this June’s NBA Draft.
- Now that the Hornets own the Pistons first round pick, Detroit’s focus will turn to finding productive players in the second round, writes Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press. Ellis looks at some of the franchise’s past second round successes and breaks down which players might be available with the 38th overall pick.
- The Pelicans gave away too much in the trade for Jrue Holiday last year, opines Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune. This puts added pressure on the team to get production out of Pierre Jackson next season, who is in essence this year’s draft choice for the team, notes Smith.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Western Notes: Van Gundy, Jazz, Blazers
The Grizzlies might have interest in hiring Jeff Van Gundy to be their coach and head of basketball operations in a deal similar to the one that Stan Van Gundy received from the Pistons, writes Marc Stein of ESPN.com. This would be in the event that current coach Dave Joerger takes the Timberwolves coaching position, an occurrence that Stein’s sources classify as an “inevitability.” The article also notes that team owner Robert Pera doesn’t want Joerger back no matter what happens with Minnesota.
More from out west:
- Alvin Gentry and Adrian Griffin are at the top of the list of candidates the Jazz are considering to become their next head coach, writes Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune.
- With only two roster spots potentially open, Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey will have to get creative if he wants to upgrade his roster this offseason, writes John Canzano of The Oregonian. Olshey will also have to decide if C.J. McCollum is a rotation player, and to convince LaMarcus Aldridge to re-sign with the team when he becomes a free agent after next season, notes Canzano.
- The Lakers had a large presence at the BDA Sports pre-draft workouts of Aaron Gordon and Zach Lavine, writes Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times. The Lakers have the seventh overall selection in this year’s NBA Draft. Gordon is currently projected to be a top-ten pick, and LaVine is projected as a middle of the first round selection.
- What the Jazz need most in the draft is to find a “generational star,” writes Gordon Monson of The Salt Lake Tribune. The article looks at the team’s draft options with the fifth overall pick.
- With all the turmoil in their front office, the next coach the Grizzlies hire will need to bring some stability to the franchise, writes Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal.
Eastern Notes: Heat, Hornets, Knicks
The Heat are facing some major uncertainty next season, writes Andrew Keh of the New York Times. Of course, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh all have early termination options, but a number of other players including Ray Allen and Mario Chalmers will be free agents. Guard Norris Cole is the only player on the books next season.
More from the East:
- Phil Jackson has three great candidates to choose from to fill the Knicks head coaching vacancy, writes William C. Rhoden of The New York Times. Rhoden believes that the team would be better served by hiring either Lionel Hollins, Mark Jackson, or Derek Fisher, than by hiring a “marionette” for Jackson. The article examines the strengths of each of the candidates, and why they would be a good fit in New York.
- The Hornets are coming off a 43-39 record and a playoff appearance this season. The team owns two first round draft picks and will have roughly $13MM in salary cap room to pursue free agents or trades. Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer looks at 30 potential moves the franchise could make this offseason.
- Tom Moore of Calkins Media examines a number of options the Sixers will have on draft night, including moving up from the third overall pick.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Poll: Who Will The Cavs Select First Overall?
The Cavaliers have won the NBA Draft lottery and secured the first overall pick for the third time in four seasons. The team finished with a record of 33-49 and jumped over eight other teams to secure the top selection. Cleveland possessed only a 1.7 percent chance of landing the first pick and only a 6.1 percent chance of landing in the top three, but still took home the prize.
Winning the draft lottery is hardly a guarantee of future success, as no team with the No. 1 overall pick has won the NBA title since 1998, per Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight. But if the pick is used wisely, it certainly won’t be a detriment to the Cavs rebuilding efforts.
The team has met with mixed results the last two times it has selected a player with the first overall pick. In 2011 the team chose Kyrie Irving. Irving has had his share of locker room issues. The team isn’t sure if they will be able to sign Irving to an extension when he is eligible this summer, and they risk losing him after next season. But his on court numbers have been excellent. This season, in 71 games, Irving averaged 20.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 6.1 APG. Last season’s number one overall selection, Anthony Bennett hasn’t fared as well thus far. In his rookie year, Bennett averaged 4.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 0.3 APG.
Who the team selects this year will have a major impact on the future of the franchise. Here are the top possibilities:
- Joel Embiid (C): With Spencer Hawes set to become an unrestricted free agent, the only other centers on the roster are currently Anderson Varejao and Tyler Zeller. Embiid averaged 11.2 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 2.6 BPG in 23.1 minutes per game during his freshman year. The seven-footer out of Kansas would normally be a lock for the top selection, but worries about the lingering effects of a stress fracture in his back have raised concerns. These are understandable when considering the short shelf life and injury woes that have struck big men in recent years. If healthy though, Embiid has the potential to be a star at a position lacking top shelf talent. You can check out our full prospect profile for Embiid here.
- Andrew Wiggins (SF/SG): The Cavs have Dion Waiters already at shooting guard, so taking Wiggins would push Waiters to the bench, allow the team to move him in a trade, or Wiggins could slot in at small forward where there should be an opening with Luol Deng unlikely to re-sign with the team. In his freshman season at Kansas, Wiggins averaged 17.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, and 1.2 SPG in 32.6 minutes per contest. He is a gifted athlete and has a wealth of potential, but Wiggins has also shown a tendency to disappear in games. That’s not a desirable trait from the first overall pick, but Wiggins’ upside might be higher than any in the draft. You can read our full profile of Wiggins here.
- Jabari Parker (SF/PF): Perhaps the most polished and NBA-ready player in the entire draft. Parker led the Blue Devils in scoring and rebounding, averaging 19.1 PPG and 8.7 RPG while shooting 47.3% from the floor. Parker’s NBA position has been questioned, which is his biggest negative. He has the offensive game to be a small forward, but defensively he may not be quick enough to guard NBA threes, and is too small to be a full time power forward. He also might not have as much upside as the other players on this list, but he also carries the lowest risk. Parker’s full prospect profile can be viewed here.
- Dante Exum (PG): Exum is a long shot to go as the top pick, but I mention him because he has the potential to rise up draft boards quickly as more teams get a look at him in pre-draft workouts. His potential may just be intriguing enough for Cleveland to take a risk. If the Cavs were looking to trade Irving, then Exum would certainly be discussed. Exum could also slot in as a shooting guard, which could aid the team in moving Waiters, or Exum could begin his career as a backup for both guard positions as he learns the game. Our full profile on Exum can be seen here.