Celtics Rumors: Sullinger, Iverson, Holmes, Smart
Rookie scale extension candidate Jared Sullinger has dropped a noticeable amount of weight in preparation for next season, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. The 6’9″ forward averaged 13.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game last season, but he isn’t guaranteed playing time in the Celtics’ crowded frontcourt. He will have to compete with the newly acquired Amir Johnson and David Lee, along with holdovers Kelly Olynyk, Tyler Zeller and Jonas Jerebko. It was reported in March that if Sullinger receives an extension, it could come with a weight clause.
There’s more news out of Boston:
- Colton Iverson has officially signed with the Turkish team Pinar Karsiyaka, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The Colorado State product, whose rights were sent from Indiana to Boston in a 2013 draft-night trade, spent last season with Baskonia in Spain.
- The Celtics had interest in inviting Texas forward Jonathan Holmes to training camp, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. However, because Boston had a wealth of forwards and too many guaranteed contracts, Holmes decided to pursue other options. He landed a partially guaranteed deal with the Lakers.
- With about six weeks left until training camp, Marcus Smart is going through two-a-day exercises to try to rehab two dislocated fingers on his right hand, Washburn writes in the same piece. His agent says Smart is hoping to resume basketball activities within two weeks.
Northwest Notes: Tskitishvili, Wolves, Exum
Ater being out of the league for nearly a decade, former Nuggets player Nikoloz Tskitishvili is interested in making a comeback, according to Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post. At 32, Tskitishvili insists he’s a better player now than when he quickly passed through the league after being the No. 5 overall pick in the 2002 draft. Tskitishvili spent three seasons in Denver, averaging 3.2 points and 1.9 rebounds in 143 games while shooting about 30%. He wants to atone for his past failings and attended the summer league in Las Vegas hoping to find someone to give him a chance. “I’m 100 times better than I was,” he said. “It’s just very difficult for teams to understand that, because they are looking at the number, the age. If you ask me, this is the best shape I’ve ever been in and the best I’ve been playing in my career.”
There’s more news out of the Northwest Division:
- The Wolves hold a trade exception worth more than $6.3MM that will expire next Sunday, tweets former Nets executive Bobby Marks. Minnesota is in a tough position because the team is hard capped and has 16 guaranteed contracts, Marks notes. The trade exception was created in last summer’s deal that sent Kevin Love to Cleveland.
- Wolves coach/executive Flip Saunders likes the veteran leadership that newly acquired Andre Miller and Tayshaun Prince will bring, along with Kevin Garnett (Twitter link). He also notes that Garnett and Prince were once regulars on the All-Defensive team, calling it a “Defensive Culture for Pups to see.”
- Utah’s season won’t be destroyed by the loss of Dante Exum, writes Brad Rock of The Deseret News. He points out that the Jazz have a capable backup in Trey Burke, who has started 111 games during his career, along with nearly $7MM in cap room to pursue other options. Utah already has Bryce Cotton on its roster and signed Raul Neto in July. The team also has been rumored to have interest in Washington’s Garrett Temple.
Sixers Rumors: Embiid, Surgery, Richardson
Joel Embiid’s latest setback doesn’t signal the end of his career, writes Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders. Embiid is scheduled for a bone graft on his right foot Tuesday that is expected to wipe out his entire 2015/16 season. The third pick of the 2014 draft will go through his first two NBA seasons without stepping onto the court, but Hamilton argues that doesn’t mean the young center won’t ever rebound from the injury. With rookie Jahlil Okafor added to the Sixers’ frontcourt, Hamilton says the team can afford to take its time with Embiid’s rehab. He also contends the organization made the right move by selecting Embiid in 2014 despite the injury risk.
There’s more out of Philadelphia:
- Embiid’s surgery was supposed to take place “in the next 7-10 days,” according to a July 11th press release issued by the Sixers, notes Tom Moore of Calkins Media. The team hasn’t explained what caused the delay or released where the procedure will occur, though a source who spoke with John Gonzalez of CSNPhilly.com said the holdup was partly because Embiid was still coming to grips with the need for a surgery and that he and his camp wanted more time to go over the situation and pick a surgeon. Moore also points out that Embiid’s recovery time was originally estimated at five to nine months after his June 2014 surgery, in which two screws were implanted into his navicular bone. Embiid was never able to return to game action or even participate in a five-on-five scrimmage.
- Jason Richardson was open to re-signing in Philadelphia before committing to a new deal with Atlanta, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The 34-year-old free agent is expected to sign a non-guaranteed deal with the Hawks on Monday. After missing two years with a cartilage tear in his left kneecap, Richardson returned late last season to play in 19 contests with the Sixers, averaging 9.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21.9 minutes. “For me, [this season] gave me hope and determination to come back from the injury that I did without really any practice time,” Richardson said, “and to be on the court, that gave me a lot of hope for my future. I can play a few more years in this league.”
Nets Rumors: Sloan, Prokhorov, Reed
Brooklyn’s signing of Donald Sloan could turn out to be a small gamble that pays off big, according to NetsDaily.com. Sloan has bounced around the league during his six-year career, but he showed promise in limited playing time with the Pacers last season, starting a career-high 21 games. His toughness on the court, combined with his ball-handling abilities, could earn him a spot in the Nets’ backcourt. Sloan signed a one-year minimum deal with Brooklyn last week and will make just $50,000 if he is waived before the season starts. The website notes that the addition of Sloan provides another obstacle for rookie Ryan Boatright to make the team.
There’s more news out of Brooklyn:
- The extension given to Bruce Ratner and Forest City Enterprises to resolve their debt to Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov could be a signal that a deal is coming soon, NetsDaily speculates in the same story. Payment of the $31.3MM debt has been delayed for a month, marking the second time the deadline has been extended. The website notes the “general belief” is that Prokhorov would like to buy out Ratner’s stake in the Nets and Barclays Center. “The team is obviously on the auction block, and my guess is they are extending this agreement because there might be a deal close at hand,” said stock analyst Paul E. Adornato of BMO Capital Markets Inc. “What this tells me is that there could be a larger deal for the sale of the team and the sale of the arena.” It is uncertain whether Prokhorov will keep the team for long if he obtains full control.
- Willie Reed was able to parlay an impressive summer league game into a contract with the Nets, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. Playing for Miami’s entry in the Orlando Summer League, Reed posted 17 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes against Brooklyn, impressing the organization that cut him in training camp last season. “I obviously knew some of the guys who were there [for Brooklyn], the young core, and I was upset that I was the only person who was waived last year,” Reed said. “But I understand that this is a business. … I just tried to get better throughout the D-League season, and I was able to become the No. 1 D-League prospect and become really consistent. … It all worked out; I had a great game against them and a great summer league.”
Heat Rumors: Wright, Chalmers, Winslow
The Heat are talking to free agent forward Dorell Wright, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, but have not made an offer. If Wright agrees to a minimum deal in Miami, Jackson believes he would become the favorite for the final roster spot, ahead of James Ennis, whose $845K contract is not guaranteed until opening night. Wright, 29, spent his first six NBA seasons with the Heat and is reportedly interested in returning, although he is also talking to other teams. He played last year with the Trail Blazers, averaging 4.6 points in 48 games.
There’s more this morning out of Miami:
- Mario Chalmers is trying to remain calm as trade winds swirl around him, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Chalmers has spent his entire seven-year career in Miami, but there has been talk that he and his $4.3MM salary could be moved to lessen the Heat’s luxury tax penalties. Recent speculation has him possibly going to the Lakers as a reserve shooting guard or to the Sixers as a short-term point guard, according to Winderman. “I haven’t spoken to anybody,” Chalmers said. “When I had my exit meeting with [team president] Pat [Riley], he said the only way he would trade me was if he had to.”
- Justise Winslow plans to use his drop in the draft as inspiration, Winderman writes in a separate story. Winslow surprisingly slipped to the 10th pick after being projected as a possible top five selection. He is currently going through the NBA’s “Generation Next” program, which helps players under age 20 transition to the league. “When the draft was over, it is what it is,” Winslow said of being picked 10th. “That’s the way I feel about it. But, for me, I use that at motivation.”
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/15/15
JaVale McGee has shown flashes of becoming an impact player in the NBA. When the former No. 18 overall pick agreed to a buyout with the Sixers last spring, he failed to generate much interest as a free agent. His lack of development, along with his health concerns, were major reasons why teams weren’t champing at the bit to sign the center.
The Mavs finally signed McGee earlier this week. Dallas previously had serious concerns about the center’s health, but it has apparently cleared that hurdle, as the Mavs remain confident that his injured leg will heal in time for the 27-year-old to join the team in training camp.
McGee’s deal, which covers two seasons, is only guaranteed for $250K, with another $250K becoming guaranteed if he remains on the roster past September 29th. Dallas currently has 20 players under contract, as our Roster Counts page shows, but it needs to trim that down to 15 by opening night. The Mavs have 15 players with fully guaranteed deals on the roster and opening up a regular season roster spot for McGee will be especially difficult, as the team only has six players who are eligible to be traded prior to the season.
Dallas has shown a willingness to eat guaranteed money in the past, waiving Bernard James and Gal Mekel last fall despite their fully guaranteed salaries. Even if McGee makes the roster, he will face competition for minutes at the center spot. Samuel Dalembert and trade acquisition Zaza Pachulia are likely to see significant minutes. The team presumably will prioritize getting free agent signee Salah Mejri on the court to give the 2011 FIBA African Championship MVP a chance at locking down the team’s open starting center spot.
If McGee can defy the long odds of becoming the team’s starter at the five, or at least crack the rotation, he could put himself in great position to remain relevant in the NBA and potentially raise his stock for the summer of 2017, when he could become a 29-year-old free agent. Dallas is a franchise that has a history of rehabilitating player values, as I illustrated in the Free Agent Stock Watch of Wesley Matthews. The team employs Rick Carlisle, who is one of the best coaches in the league and has demonstrated he can get the most out of players.
So here’s the topic of the day: Will JaVale McGee make an impact on the Mavs? Can a good environment in Dallas rehabilitate his value? Will he even make the team?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to reading what you have to say.
Note: Since these Shootarounds are meant to be guided by you the reader, we certainly welcome your input on the topics we present. If there is something you’d like to see pop up here for a discussion, shoot me a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com or hit me up on Twitter at @CW_Crouse to submit topics or ideas for what we should present in future posts.
Atlantic Notes: Embiid, Afflalo, Hollis-Jefferson
Joel Embiid will undergo a second surgery on his right foot is expected to miss the entire 2015/16 season. The center will make slightly more than $9.05MM over his first two seasons, presumably without ever playing an NBA game, and Darren Rovell of ESPN.com reports that the Sixers will not be reimbursed for any of Embiid’s salary via the league’s insurance plan.
Every team has the contracts of its five highest salaried players included on the policy, so Embiid’s contract is insured. However, the big man’s right foot was excluded from the policy because it was a pre-existing injury. The Cameroon native originally injured his foot prior to being drafted by the Sixers. Embiid’s contract contains a team option after each of the next two seasons. It’ll be interesting to see if Philadelphia is willing to shell out over $4.8MM during the 2016/17 season and then $6.1MM during the 2017/18 season to see if Embiid can get onto the court.
Here’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Arron Afflalo, who signed a two-year, $16MM deal with the Knicks last month, believes he can be a great oncourt complement to Carmelo Anthony, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. “Just being able to shoot, ready to shoot, creating space for him,’’ Afflalo said of the ways he wants to complement Anthony. “I want to be a guy who can draw some attention and the guy has to leave him and make the game easy for him. More importantly, helping him with leadership, mentoring the younger guys, keeping everyone consistent and hungry and focused. Now he’s got another guy who will be on board with him for leadership. I think it will help him.’’
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson believes he can be a leader on the Nets, Robert Windrem of NetsDaily writes. “Basketball, you got to show that you can be out there,” this year’s No. 23 overall pick said. “Show that you can do those things. If you show those things, no matter who you are, no matter how old you are, people follow good things and I feel with that, on top of that, I got a good smile. and I got a good personality. that they will follow and I’m willing to do what it takes to help, make it easier for everybody. So it should be a smooth transition, I believe.”
Western Notes: Morris, McGee, Grizzlies
Markieff Morris made it clear that he wants out of Phoenix and although his teammates would like him back next season, they understand the forward’s situation, Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic writes.
“If he stays with us, we’d definitely love to have him,” said Brandon Knight, who signed a five-year, $70MM deal with the Suns this offseason. “Great player. I’m looking forward to playing with him. But if not, it’s a business. Like I said, I just want Markieff to be happy. That’s the main thing. I love him as a player. I love his game. So as of now, I’m excited to play for him.”
Here’s more out of the Western Conference:
- JaVale McGee has a chance to rejuvenate his career in Dallas, as we discussed in tonight’s Community Shootaround, and Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders wonders if McGee can have the same type of career turnaround that Jermaine O’Neal enjoyed after being traded to the Pacers. O’Neal spent his first four years playing for a Blazers team that didn’t give him the best chance to succeed before coming to Indiana and developing into a legitimate MVP candidate. Hamilton argues that while the idea of McGee becoming a crucial part of a successful Mavs‘ season may sound ludicrous, the idea of O’Neal leading a title contender after sitting on Portland’s bench was just as absurd.
- Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders believes the Grizzlies‘ offseason moves are being overlooked and the team quietly had one of the best summers in the league. Memphis was able to re-sign Marc Gasol, bring in Brandan Wright via free agency and add Matt Barnes via trade. Taylor expects this season to be a critical point regarding the team’s future. Barnes, Jeff Green, Mike Conley, Courtney Lee and Beno Udrih will all play major roles this season and will all be unrestricted free agents during the summer of 2016.
Blazers Notes: Offseason Changes, Future Goals
The Blazers could have attempted to keep their core intact after LaMarcus Aldridge made it clear he was going to leave in free agency, but the team believed that it wouldn’t have been in the best interest for the franchise long-term, Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com writes.
“Our goal was to bring LaMarcus back,” GM Neil Olshey said. “We were in the mix. He chose to take his career in another direction. But what we weren’t going to do was compound a negative situation and make it worse by signing long-term contracts and taking away flexibility for a team that, quite honestly, wasn’t going to be good enough. You have to be honest with yourself when you put a team together and you have to understand that was a group that got beat 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs with LaMarcus Aldridge, so it’s not reasonable to assume that that group as constructed, with no cap flexibility to bring in other players, was going to be capable of competing at a high enough level to justify giving up a future that can be a lot brighter as long as people understand it’s not going to happen overnight.”
The team’s core already begun to unravel prior to Aldridge’s agreement to sign with the Spurs. Portland let Wes Matthews, who agreed to sign with the Mavs, and Robin Lopez, who ended up inking a deal with the Knicks, leave in free agency and traded Nicolas Batum to the Hornets for an exciting young prospect in Noah Vonleh and a potential starting wing in Gerald Henderson.
Here’s more from Portland:
- Allen Crabbe, who readers of Hoops Rumors chose 10th in our re-picking of the 2013 draft, believes people are counting the Blazers out as contenders for the playoffs next season, but the guard feels like the team can prove the cynics wrong, Howard-Cooper writes in the same piece. “We lost four of our five starters, so I’m pretty sure they are [counting us out]. But it’s good to have a chip on your shoulder going into the season. A lot of people may take you lightly in games. It just gives us more motivation to go out there and practice harder, get ready for games and play as a team and just deal with that,” Crabbe said.
- Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum are the team’s only true offensive threats, but the lack of proven playmakers will allow Portland’s young talent a chance to develop, Mike Richman of The Oregonian writes. “I think it’s an opportunity for a lot of these players coming in to expand their games offensively in particular,” coach Terry Stotts said. “You look at [Al]-Farouq [Aminu] and Moe [Harkless], they have a chance to become ball handlers, facilitators much in the way that we used Nic Batum.”
Hoops Rumors Weekly Mailbag 8/9/15-8/15/15
In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:
“Where do you see Markieff Morris ending up?” — Stu
This is an extremely difficult situation that the Suns have been placed in, and there is no easy answer to this quandary. If Morris had demanded to be dealt immediately after his twin brother was traded, then Phoenix would have had a much better chance of flipping Markieff for ample value, as teams were still in the midst of filling out their rosters, and more franchises would have had available cap space to play with. As it stands now, other teams around the league are well aware of that the Suns need to move the forward, and that limits Ryan McDonough‘s bargaining power significantly.
At this point I don’t think Morris is on the Suns’ opening night roster, unless some serious fence-mending is done by both parties. Thankfully for Phoenix, Mirza Teletovic is on hand to step into the rotation in Morris’ place, which is a nice insurance policy in case the team is unable to deal or placate the young forward. As for potential landing spots, the most likely candidates include the Celtics, Raptors, and possibly the Lakers. Speculation indicated that the Suns had expressed interest in the Pelicans’ Ryan Anderson, but it’s not known if New Orleans would be amenable to a swap, especially given Morris’ reputation as a locker room disruption and his legal issues. I do expect Morris to eventually be dealt, but it will likely be for below market value. Even so, it could become a case of addition by subtraction for the Suns.
“I’m not sold on D’Angelo Russell becoming a star player for the Lakers. Do you think Los Angeles will regret passing on Jahlil Okafor or Emmanuel Mudiay?“ — Deon
Actually, I do think Russell will turn into something special in the league, though I don’t necessarily see him becoming a superstar playmaker like Russell Westbrook or Chris Paul. Having said that, I think if Los Angeles regrets passing on anyone it would be Okafor, since there are far more elite guards entering the NBA than there are big men with star potential. Okafor’s game isn’t without holes, and he and Julius Randle on the same court defensively would have been ugly for the team, but he certainly has the talent to become a franchise centerpiece. I’m also a fan of Mudiay, but he’s a wildcard thanks to his limited track record and decision to play in China last season. I wouldn’t have pulled the trigger on him at No. 2 if I were making decisions for the Lakers, especially with Russell and Okafor available at that slot.
With the NBA becoming more and more reliant on guard play, selecting a talented playmaker like Russell was a wise move. Plus, with the propensity for big men to get injured nowadays, going with a backcourt player is also a safer route. While I do expect Russell to have a challenging rookie season, he was a solid pick by the team, and the Lakers’ fanbase should come to love him in no time at all.
“What happens with the Cavs and Tristan Thompson? If he re-signs for a max salary deal, is he worth that amount?” — Keith
I do believe the two sides will reach an agreement on a deal prior to training camp beginning. The team wants him back, and perhaps more importantly, so does LeBron James. The complication involved is the luxury tax hit that will be attached to Thompson’s deal, a penalty that could end up being in the $35MM range. Spending approximately $50MM for a backup forward, even one as effective as Thompson, is probably a tough pill for owner Dan Gilbert to swallow. But with the Cavs looking to hang a championship banner, Gilbert almost has no other choice but to pony up. The only real alternative here is for Thompson to sign his qualifying offer, worth nearly $6.778MM, and then hit the market next offseason as an unrestricted free agent. For many players, the opportunity to play for a contender and then enter free agency just as the salary cap is primed to explode would be a dream come true. But Thompson reportedly wants the security of a long-term pact prior to the season tipping off, and has indicated he won’t re-sign with the Cavs if he is forced to go the qualifying offer route.
As for Thompson’s worth, he is indeed a valuable part of Cleveland’s rotation, as well as a solid insurance policy in the event Kevin Love is injured. But is he worth a starting salary of $16,407,500, which is the maximum amount for a player of his experience? I’m sure his agent, Rich Paul, would argue that Thompson is. Me, I’d have to say no. Thompson is a big part of the team, but that is also a huge chunk of cap space to dedicate to a player who averaged 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per game. Even with the expected jump in player salaries beginning next season thanks to the bulging cap, the economics of a max salary deal for Thompson are a bit hard to fathom. I think the Cavs will argue that point to Paul and Thompson, and in the end they will likely compromise somewhere in the $12MM-$14MM range annually.
“With the new NBA schedule reducing the number of back to back games, does this set up the Spurs to be the favorites to win the NBA title this season?” — Jeffrey
It certainly won’t hurt their chances, but it should also help a number of contending teams just as much, if not more. San Antonio rests its players regularly anyway, much to the chagrin of the league and its broadcast partners, so it’s not as big a game-changer for Popovich’s crew as one might think. The reduction in back to backs should actually help teams like the Cavaliers, Grizzlies, Clippers, and Heat more than the Spurs. Those squads all rely quite heavily on their star players, and aren’t necessarily very deep teams rotation-wise, though Miami has made strides in that area this offseason. Giving players like LeBron or Dwyane Wade more recovery time between contests will not only keep them fresher for the playoffs, it should help improve their overall effectiveness on a night to night basis. I still think the better answer for the league would be to reduce the overall amount of regular season games. Eighty-two is far too many, and I think the NBA’s product suffers as a result. But with all that new TV money set to roll in, I doubt that change will occur.
That’s all the space that I have for this week’s edition. Once again, thanks to all those who submitted their questions, and please keep them coming. I’ll be back next Saturday with more responses.