Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week..
- Chuck Myron recapped all the happenings of buyout season.
- Eddie Scarito fielded your questions in this week’s mailbag.
- Chuck looked at the financial impact of the deals that went down in the Northwest Division. You can check out the full list of the divisional posts here.
- Eddie looked at the players with player options for 2015/16.
- I asked Hoops Rumors readers if the Celtics will make the playoffs. Nearly 60% of you said that they’d fall short.
- Chris Crouse asked Hoops Rumors readers whether they think Kevin Love will stay with the Cavs.
- Here’s how you can follow Hoops Rumors on social media and on your RSS feed.
- If you missed out on this week’s chat, check out the transcript.
Heat Re-Sign Michael Beasley
The Heat have re-signed Michael Beasley to second 10-day contract, according to a team press release. The forward’s first 10-day contract with Miami ended Saturday night after the team’s win over the Kings. Given how the Jared Karnes client has performed, it was widely expected that he would get another contract from Miami.
In six games with the Heat so far this season, Beasley has shot 44.6% from the field and averaged 10.5 points during 23.7 minutes per game. While those aren’t spectacular numbers, the Heat could use all the offense they can get as they rank 28th in the league in offense, scoring only 94.5 points per game.
The deal will continue the former No. 2 overall pick’s third stint with the team. The team drafted him in 2008 but traded him in a salary shedding deal that cleared the way for Miami to sign LeBron James and Chris Bosh in 2010. Beasley joined forces with James and Bosh last season, but the team didn’t offer him a chance to return last offseason.
Beasley, who came into the league as Miami’s No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, has appeared in 415 career NBA games (199 starts) and averaged 13.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 24.8 minutes per game while shooting 45% from the field.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Week In Review: 3/2/15 – 3/8/15
A look back at the week that was..
- After months of speculation about where he would land, Ray Allen let the world know that he won’t be playing this season.
- That didn’t stop everyone from calling, however. The Blazers, after losing guard Wesley Matthews for the season due to a torn Achilles’ tendon, called the agent for the 39-year-old to gauge his interest. They were turned down.
- The Nuggets fired head coach Brian Shaw. In his time in Denver, Shaw coached the team to a record of 56-85.
- The Celtics and JaVale McGee appeared to be on the verge of an agreement, but things fell apart when the C’s wanted a team option on the second year of the deal and McGee’s camp wanted it to be a player option. Teams that are still interested in signing McGee also include the Rockets, Raptors, and Heat.
- The Clippers signed free agent guard Nate Robinson to a 10-day deal. In 33 games for the Nuggets this season, Robinson averaged 5.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 14.1 minutes per contest.
- Alexey Shved plans on staying in the NBA next season and isn’t plotting a return overseas.
- Shaw would “absolutely” be “very interested” in coaching the Magic if that job were to become available, according to a source close to the former Nuggets coach.
- Goran Dragic hasn’t been in Miami long, but he already knows that he wants to stay long-term.
- The Suns and center Earl Barron reached agreement on a second 10-day deal.
- Talk continues to swirl around the prospective sales of the Nets and Hawks.
- The Celtics are planning to target marquee free agents this summer, with Kevin Love atop their list, followed by Greg Monroe.
- Jordan Hamilton got a second 10-day contract from the Clippers.
- Steve Nash hasn’t made any formal pronouncements regarding the end of his career, but he’s under no illusions that he’ll be coming back to the NBA.
- The Nuggets are expected to target Mike D’Antoni, Vinny Del Negro, and other notable names for their head coaching job.
- Jimmy Butler will be out for a while because of a left elbow injury.
- The Clippers were considering signing free agent Andre Emmett.
- An attorney for the NBPA has strongly indicated that the union will want the minimum age requirement to enter the NBA lowered in the next round of collective bargaining.
- The Jazz have informed draft-and-stash prospect Ante Tomic that they’re willing to pay the buyout of his contract with FC Barcelona Bàsquet.
- The Nets would have had to take Martell Webster if they’d traded Jarrett Jack to the Wizards at the deadline, and the deal would have involved the teams swapping future first-round picks.
- In addition to signing Bryce Cotton to another 10-day deal, the Jazz announced the signing of forward Jerrelle Benimon to a 10-day pact.
- The Mavs signed Bernard James for the rest of the season.
- The Hawks signed Jarell Eddie to a 10-day deal.
- The Pelicans signed guard Elliot Williams to a 10-day contract.
- Dwight Buycks has signed with the Thunder’s D-League team.
- The Celtics have made it clear they have interest in keeping soon-to-be free agent Jonas Jerebko beyond the season.
- The Grizzlies signed JaMychal Green to a multiyear pact.
- The Timberwolves claimed Justin Hamilton off of waivers from the Pelicans. Minnesota waived Glenn Robinson III in order to clear the required roster spot.
- The 76ers claimed Robinson off waivers.
- The Delaware 87ers, the Sixers’ D-League affiliate, acquired Jordan McRae.
- The Heat and Henry Walker agreed to a second 10-day pact.
- The Pistons signed Quincy Miller to another 10-day deal.
Knicks Notes: Trades, Draft Pick, Prospects
The Knicks are looking to see what they could possibly get if they trade their draft pick, writes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Technically, New York cannot trade its pick due to the Ted Stepien Rule, but the team can make arrangements to trade a player that it selects with the pick ahead of time. The Knicks are 12-49 on the season and, as our Reverse Standings indicate, they are in a good position to nab an elite prospect in the 2015 draft.
Here’s more from New York:
- The Knicks might make such a trade because of soon-to-be 31-year-old Carmelo Anthony, Begley adds. This option might be more palatable than wasting another season or two of Anthony’s prime by waiting for a 19-year-old prospect to develop. If New York can lure a marquee free agent to the city and trade the player it drafts for a more established talent, the team could challenge the 2007/08 Celtics for best single-season turnaround in NBA history, although that is just my speculation. Boston won 66 games that season after only winning 24 games during the 2006/07 season. It’s highly improbable that the Knicks reach 24 win this season, so the team could approach the record even if it has a less successful campaign next year than the Celtics did during their championship season.
- The team has had either had a front-office member or scout at approximately 20 of the past 30 Kentucky practices and games, league sources tell Begley for the same piece. It could be a sign that New York has interest in Karl-Anthony Towns, who ranks fourth in our latest Prospect Power Rankings. Begley speculates that it could also mean the team is doing its homework on Willie Cauley-Stein, who comes in at sixth place on our list.
- The Knicks should take a page from the Pacers’ book on running an organization, opines Marc Berman of the New York Post. Berman applauds president of basketball operations Larry Bird’s approach and compares the two franchises. Both teams are without their star players but the difference is that the team in Indiana has stepped up, while turmoil has surrounded the Knicks during their time learning Phil Jackson‘s triangle offense.
Will Kevin Love Stay In Cleveland?
In a clash of Eastern Conference powers, the Hawks beat the Cavs on Friday night by a score of 106-97. Kevin Love, who took 11 shots from behind the arc in the loss but only amassed 14 points, seems to be uneasy about his role on the team, as he tells Chris Hayes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. “I heard some people calling me that but I know I’m not a stretch-four,” Love said. “I’m a post player who can shoot. Right now I’m just doing what I’m called to do. For good, bad or indifferent, I’m playing my role and doing what’s asked of me.”
Hayes’ article prompted Grantland’s Bill Simmons to ask where Kevin Love is going to live in Boston next season and suggest rental properties in the area (Twitter links). While Simmons, who is a well-known Celtics fan, was obviously being frivolous and a bit partial, he points a spotlight on Love’s situation. The 26-year old is experiencing one of his worst seasons as a pro. Love has been playing a good chuck of his minutes away from the basket, causing his rebounding numbers to drop to 10.2 per game, his worst mark since his rookie year. He isn’t getting many post up opportunities and it has hurt his offense. He is only scoring 16.9 points per game, the lowest amount since the 2009/10 season.
Although the Celtics are planning to target Love in the offseason, along with other marquee free agents, it doesn’t mean the power forward will be heading to Boston if he does decide to leave town. There will be no shortage of suitors for the UCLA product. Los Angeles and New York are both projected to have cap room for at least one maximum level salary contract and they both would likely get meetings with Love should he hit the open market. The Suns could potentially be another team to enter the Love sweepstakes. After clearing nearly $12.4MM from next season’s payroll with the trades at this year’s deadline, Phoenix will only have about $41MM in commitments for 2015/16 against a projected $68MM salary cap, which as Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors notes, is more than enough to dangle a maximum salary contract offer at a free agent.
Love’s first season as a Cavalier has been a roller coaster ride. When he was traded to the Cleveland for a package of players, including No. 1 overall pick Andrew Wiggins, he undoubtedly knew the team’s philosophy would be centered around LeBron James and even incumbent star Kyrie Irving. Yet, Love probably didn’t believe he would be relegated to such a complementary role that he is currently playing.
None of this means he will leave Cleveland. Love has a player option worth slightly more than $16.744MM next season and it was reported about two months ago that he plans to opt in. However, a lot can change between January and the end of the league year, and how successful the Cavs are this season will likely have an impact on his decision. Winning cures many ails. If Cleveland takes home the Larry O’Brien trophy, I’d speculate that Love stays put and embraces his role on a championship team. Anything less will certainly probe more questions about Love’s future and how much he is willing to sacrifice for a team that’s not playing in June.
Do you believe Kevin Love will be a Cavalier next season?
Will Kevin Love Stay In Cleveland Next Season?
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No 54% (759)
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Yes 46% (649)
Total votes: 1,408
Southwest Notes: Rondo, Pelicans, Howard
Rajon Rondo is still open to re-signing with the Mavs, writes Marc J, Spears of Yahoo! Sports. “It’s a player’s organization. Players first, from our plane, the way we travel. I don’t take that for granted. We eat good. We stay at the best hotels. Of course, it’s the NBA. But this organization has the best. They have PlayStation in the lockers. I don’t play games, but it’s nice to know I got a PlayStation. TVs in your own locker. I heard about it – [Brandon Bass] and J-Terry [Jason Terry] told me – but seeing it and experiencing it,” Rondo said. “I love it here. I don’t dislike anything. I’m not uncomfortable. Of course, the system is different, but I’ve been here for two months. It’s going to take time. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.”
Here’s more from the Southwest Division:
- The Grizzlies are leading the division with a record of 44-18 and Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times believes that Memphis’ style of play is key to the team’s success. Playing defense has been the Grizzlies’ calling card for the past few seasons. This year, Memphis has the best defense in the league, allowing only 95.6 points per game.
- The Pelicans are a half game behind the Thunder for the eighth seed in the Western Conference and Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune wonders whether the team has the right mentality to make the playoffs. Coach Monty Williams is a proponent of a relaxed, one game at a time approach, but Smith believes the team needs to look at the big picture and take every game with a little more urgency.
- Dwight Howard has begun his on-court rehabilitation, which is the next step in coming back from his knee injury, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. “He’s starting to do a combination of treadmill/floor stuff, which is a good sign, but they’re going slow. They want to make sure they have a handle on it. It’s bothered him really all year,” coach Kevin McHale said. The Rockets are 43-20, which currently puts the team in third place in the conference. The Rockets have a nine game lead over the Pelicans, the conference’s ninth place team, so rushing Howard back for the sake of winning regular season games shouldn’t be a priority.
Celtics Notes: Olynyk, Rondo, Jerebko
Kelly Olynyk has only accumulated a total of eight points and four rebounds in his two games played since returning from an ankle injury that kept him off the court for over a month, but the 23-year-old’s return to the lineup has helped Boston win both games. The Celtics have a chance to make the playoffs despite heavy roster turnover, as Zach Links of Hoops Rumors examines in his latest poll. The team currently sits two games behind Miami for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Here’s more from Boston:
- The Celtics may have won the Rajon Rondo trade, opines Jimmy Toscano of CSNNE.com. In the transaction, Boston received a first-round pick as well as Jameer Nelson, Brandan Wright, and Jae Crowder. Boston acquired another first-rounder when it shipped Wright to the Suns less than a month later. Nelson was traded to Denver for Nate Robinson, who the team subsequently waived, but Crowder has been able to carve out a role on the team. Rondo has struggled in Dallas and re-signing the point guard doesn’t seem like as much of a sure thing as it previously did after he clashed with coach Rick Carlisle.
- Boston’s strategy this summer is to swing for the fences and try to hit a home run in free agency and Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald agrees with it. Bulpett recalls the past moves made by President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge and believes if he can land one marquee player in free agency, all the roster turnover will be worth it.
- Jonas Jerebko has been a great pickup for the Celtics, writes Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. In seven games since arriving in Boston in the Tayshaun Prince trade, the forward has averaged 8.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in only 17.0 minutes per game. The team has previously made it clear that it would like to keep Jerebko, who is in the final season of a four-year, $18MM pact, on the roster long-term.
Sixers Claim Glenn Robinson III
11:59pm: The move is official, the Sixers announced.
4:27pm: The Sixers have claimed Glenn Robinson III off waivers, Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops reports (Twitter link). Robinson had been waived by the Timberwolves on Thursday to make room on the roster for Justin Hamilton, who himself had been claimed off waivers by Minnesota. Philadelphia currently has 14 players on its roster, so no additional move would be required to add Robinson to the team. The Sixers will assume responsibility for the remainder of the $507,336 salary owed to the rookie this season.
This isn’t the first waiver claim that the Sixers have made recently. Philadelphia had claimed Thomas Robinson off waivers from the Nuggets back in February, in a move that was reportedly made to spite Brooklyn, who had designs on inking Robinson to a 10-day pact.
The 21-year-old out of Michigan was selected with the No. 40 overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2014 NBA draft. Robinson appeared in 25 games for Minnesota this season, averaging 1.2 points and 0.6 rebounds in 4.3 minutes per contest.
Western Notes: Clippers, Lin, Nuggets
The Clippers‘ desire to find a veteran who could play right away led to today’s signing of Nate Robinson, according to Rowan Kavner of NBA.com. Robinson, who agreed to a 10-day contract, is expected to ease the loss of Jamal Crawford, who is sidelined with a calf contusion. “We looked at a lot of different guys,” coach Doc Rivers said. “We looked at another three, we almost brought in a two, there’s a four out there we could’ve brought in. At the end of the day, I just said, ‘Who’s the best player of the group?’ (The staff) said Nate, and I said, ‘Let’s sign Nate,’ and I know Nate.”
There’s much more from the Western Conference:
- There were reports this week that Blake Griffin could rejoin the Clippers for Sunday’s game against the Warriors, but that now appears doubtful, Kavner reports in a separate story. Sunday marks the four-week anniversary of the first game Griffin missed with a staph infection in his elbow, roughly the time he was expected to be out of action. But he hasn’t received clearance to play yet from team doctors.
- The emergence of Jordan Clarkson virtually ensures a break-up between Jeremy Lin and the Lakers, writes Mike Bresnahan of The Los Angeles Times. Clarkson’s rise has meant less playing time for Lin, who will become a free agent this summer. Clarkson, a rookie, will earn just slightly more than $845K next season, making him a low-cost solution at point guard. “I’m not going to answer any of those free agency questions until after the season,” Lin said after Friday’s loss to Memphis. “I’ll discuss that later.”
- Mike D’Antoni might be the answer to reviving fast-paced basketball in Denver, opines Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post. D’Antoni, 63, became famous for his up-tempo style during his time as coach of the Suns, Knicks and Lakers. He said he would love to get back into coaching after a year away from the game and would have strong interest in the Nuggets’ job. “You get addicted,” he said. “There’s some really good basketball being played in the league right now, from Golden State to Atlanta.”
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Hardaway, Draft
Sixers fans should expect a more competitive team next season, opines Tom Moore of Calkins Media. After two straight years of tanking and collecting assets, Moore sees the 2015/16 season as a “modified” tanking situation, forecasting something in the neighborhood of 25 to 29 victories. Philadelphia should make several lineup improvements during the offseason. Rookie center Joel Embiid, who hasn’t played this season after undergoing foot surgery, is expected to be healthy, and Philadelphia will have its own pick plus Miami’s and maybe others in June’s draft. The Sixers could also have up to $40MM in available cap space, although GM Sam Hinkie hasn’t committed to using it.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Nuggets were interested in Glenn Robinson III, who was claimed today off waivers by the Sixers, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. Robinson had been waived Thursday by the Timberwolves to create room for Justin Hamilton, whom Minnesota claimed on waivers.
- Tim Hardaway Jr., who was mentioned in trade talks prior to the deadline, has struggled during his second season in the NBA. When discussing the future of the slumping Knicks sophomore, coach Derek Fisher said, “Well, he is under contract for next year,” Fred Kerber of The New York Post relays. Fisher then expanded on Hardaway’s growth, adding, “Timmy has a great deal of potential as a young guard. He is showing more skill in handling the basketball and playing defense. Every guy on every team thinks he can score and there are plenty of guys who are willing to shoot the ball every time they get it. How many guys are willing to play defense every night and be the type of guy that’s going to do some of the dirty work? Tim is turning the corner in that area.”
- The Knicks may choose between two Kentucky players if they get an early pick in June’s draft, writes Frank Isola of New York Daily News. Mark Warkentien, the Knicks’ top scout, has reportedly attended nearly a dozen Kentucky practices, presumably for a closer look at Wildcats big men Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein. The Knicks currently occupy the top spot in Hoops Rumors’ reverse standings.
Eddie Scarito contributed to this post.