Latest On Joakim Noah’s Future In Chicago
The Bulls are facing life without Joakim Noah for the short term, and maybe for the long term, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Noah will be out of action for the next four to six months after being diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder Saturday. He will also become an unrestricted free agent this summer for the first time in his career, leaving his future in Chicago in doubt.
Even though the nine-year veteran’s role with the team has been reduced this season — and the Bulls have an 8-2 record in games he has missed — Johnson relayed that Noah’s teammates were somber as they struggled with the news. “It’s tough to lose a guy like Jo,” Jimmy Butler said. “He does so much for us. Forget basketball. You hate to see that happen to a good person. He’s down, as he should be. He wants to play for this team.”
The injury should alert GM Gar Forman and vice president of basketball operations John Paxson that it’s time to shake up the roster, contends Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. The loss of Noah diminishes the Bulls as a contender this season, and Friedell believes it’s time to focus on the future. That includes finding a taker for Pau Gasol, who has a player option for next season and is expected to enter free agency this summer.
Noah’s injury likely means more playing time for promising rookie Bobby Portis, but that won’t solve the Bulls’ more pressing problems, according to Bradford Doolittle of ESPN.com (Insider only). While Portis can expect to become part of the rotation, Doolittle cautions that it’s not clear how he fits in. Starting him alongside Gasol creates a poor defensive lineup, as does bringing him off the bench with Nikola Mirotic. Starting Taj Gibson next to Gasol leads to a problem with floor spacing. Doolittle also believes defensive woes will end the experiment of starting Mirotic at small forward.
On top of that, Butler and Derrick Rose are playing hurt, and nobody is certain when Mike Dunleavy Jr. will return from his back troubles. Doolittle writes that some of those concerns could have been alleviated by trading Noah for help at the wing. He says the Bulls need to hold onto Gasol to be a factor in this year’s playoffs, while Mirotic and Portis have team-friendly contracts that Chicago’s front office would probably prefer to keep.
A different view comes from Sam Smith of Bulls.com, who argues that it’s too early to write off Noah’s future in Chicago. Smith thinks the injury presents an opportunity for both sides to hammer out a short-term extension with less competition from other teams.
Pelicans Rumors: Gentry, Demps, Davis, Loomis
The Pelicans are trying to save a season in which nothing has gone as planned, writes Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. After earning a playoff spot last season and bringing in new coach Alvin Gentry’s up-tempo approach, New Orleans expected to take the next step. Instead, the team got off to a terrible start and is currently 13-26, four games out of the eighth seed in the West. “We get into too many close games where it wasn’t decided because the team made a play; it was decided because we didn’t execute or had a mental breakdown defensively,” Gentry said. “When you’re in close games, you’ve got to be able to execute down the stretch.”
There’s more tonight from New Orleans:
- GM Dell Demps hinted that deals could be coming before next month’s deadline, according to Justin Verrier of ESPN.com. Making his first comments since the season began, Demps made it clear the front office is unhappy with the on-court performance. “People always ask about trades: ‘Are you gonna make a trade? Are you gonna do something for the short term?'” Demps said. “I say, ‘We have to do what makes sense.’ We can’t just make a trade just to make a trade, get rid of a guy and bring back lesser talent, or that’s going to make the team deficient. So we’re looking right now. But we got to be smart, we got to make sure that we’re looking at the right things.” Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson will become free agents this summer, but Demps said he believes the value of expiring contracts has declined over the past decade.
- Part of the problem is Anthony Davis‘ inability to become a leader, contends Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report. The columnist says that despite Davis’ flashy statistics, he hasn’t exhibited the intangibles to lead a team. Ding adds that at age 22 and in his fourth season in the NBA, it’s time for Davis to figure out that part of the game.
- Mickey Loomis insists he can handle his dual roles with the Pelicans and the NFL’s Saints, writes Evan Woodbery of The Times-Picayune. Loomis serves as head of basketball operations for the Pelicans and executive vice president and GM of the NFL team. “I’ve said to you guys that my role with the Pelicans is probably a little overblown,” Loomis said. “We’ve got a general manager and a head coach there that we’ve got a lot of confidence in to get that ship righted.”
Lakers Rumors: Bryant, Scott, Nance Jr.
Kobe Bryant will not be part of the 2016 Olympic team, tweets Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News. Bryant, who is retiring after this season, said he wants his final game to be in a Lakers uniform. He won gold medals in 2008 and 2012, but decided he’ll leave 2016 to the younger players, saying, “I think it’s their time.” Bryant added that he has no interest in broadcasting once his career is finished (Twitter link).
There’s more Lakers news out of Los Angeles:
- Coach Byron Scott may be ready to give more responsibility to the younger Lakers, Medina writes. That means the first-round picks from the last two seasons, Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell, could be called on to close out games along with rookies Larry Nance Jr. and Anthony Brown and second-year combo guard Jordan Clarkson. “It’s all about getting these young guys to continue to develop,” Scott said. “Then the winning part comes into that as well. We’ve been in a bunch of games. Now we have to get to the point where these guys learn how to close these games out.”
- Nance has been the most surprising of the youthful Lakers, according to Mike Bresnahan of The Los Angeles Times. The 27th overall pick in last year’s draft, Nance has made an impression with his leaping ability and outside shooting. “When it is all said and done and we look at their careers, Larry Nance Jr. may be the more advanced out of all these players,” TNT analyst Reggie Miller said this week. “He has the most energy.”
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 1/16/16
Job security is a rare thing for NBA coaches, as Hoops Rumors’ Chuck Myron examined earlier this week. Eight of the 30 teams have changed coaches since the end of last season, and every underachieving team lives with the understanding that its coach could be on the way out.
The Nets‘ Lionel Hollins was the most recent victim, getting fired on Sunday after a 10-27 start. He became the second coach to lose his job this season, following the Rockets‘ Kevin McHale, who was replaced in November following a 4-7 start, even though he led his team to the Western Conference Finals last season.
The Bulls’ Tom Thibodeau and the Pelicans’ Monty Williams were both dismissed during the offseason despite guiding their teams to the playoffs. Other coaches fired over the summer were the Thunder’s Scott Brooks and interim coaches James Borrego in Orlando and Melvin Hunt in Denver. The Wolves turned to Sam Mitchell as their new coach after the death of Flip Saunders in September.
This brings me to the question for today: Which NBA team should be next to make a coaching change?
Philadelphia, the team with the league’s worst record, gave Brett Brown a two-year contract extension in December, so he seems safe. Twelve of the teams in the Eastern Conference are within 2 1/2 games of a playoff spot, so any changes there seem unlikely. That leaves the Nets and the Bucks, who are a disappointing 17-25 and whose coach, Jason Kidd, is on a medical leave of absence after undergoing hip surgery.
Out West, Byron Scott has been on the hot seat as the Lakers have sunk to the bottom of the conference. Jeff Hornacek’s Suns have lost 12 of their last 13 and are now 13-28. The Pelicans got off to a terrible start under new coach Alvin Gentry and are 13-26. George Karl has been through a controversy-filled first season in Sacramento, and the Kings are currently outside the playoffs at 16-23.
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
Heat Rumors: Stokes, Udrih, Wade
The Heat have recalled Jarnell Stokes from their D-League affiliate in Sioux Falls, the team announced today. The center/forward has appeared in 14 games over four trips to the D-League, averaging 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds. He has scored at least 20 points nine times and has recorded seven double-doubles. Stokes, who was part of the November 10th trade that also brought Beno Udrih to Miami and sent Mario Chalmers and James Ennis to Memphis, could be a player to watch, writes Ethan J. Skolnick of The Miami Herald. He hasn’t appeared in a game yet for the Heat, but injuries to Josh McRoberts and Chris Andersen could provide an opportunity. However, an illness will force Stokes to miss Sunday’s game at Oklahoma City, tweets Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Stokes is expected to join the Heat when they return home Tuesday.
There’s more news out of South Beach:
- Many Heat fans are complaining about the loss of Chalmers, even though Udrih has arguably put up better numbers since the trade, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. The 33-year-old point guard is averaging more assists per 36 minutes, fewer turnovers and has a slightly better shooting percentage than Chalmers since they switched teams. Udrih takes a philosophical approach toward a journeyman NBA existence that has seen him land with seven teams in 11 seasons. “The contracts I have had have been easy to trade,” he said. “Sometimes I was thrown into a trade; sometimes I was traded because the other team wanted me.”
- Dwyane Wade, who will be a free agent again this summer, ranks among the most productive 34-year-olds in league history, Jackson writes in a separate story. Wade is averaging 18.4 points through 38 games this season, third best among active players who have reached age 34 and the 26th-highest mark of all time. Wade inked a one-year, $20MM deal last summer.
Grizzlies Rumors: Adams, Ennis, Barnes
The Grizzlies shouldn’t write off Jordan Adams as another draft failure despite his knee surgery this week, contends Chris Herrington of The Commercial Appeal. Adams has only appeared in two games for Memphis this season after averaging 3.1 points and 0.9 rebounds in 30 games during his rookie season of 2014/15. While admitting the Grizzlies have a spotty record in drafting and player development, Herrington argues that it’s too early to give up on Adams considering that he’s only 21, still on a rookie contract and has been promising when he has played. Adams is likely to be out of action six to eight weeks, meaning he will rejoin the team before the season ends. However, Herrington notes that the injury has left his role for next season in question.
There’s more news out of Memphis:
- James Ennis hasn’t seen much playing time with the Grizzlies, but he’s too much of a bargain to get rid of, Herrington argues in the same piece. Ennis came to Memphis from Miami in a November 10th deal, but has appeared in only seven NBA games and has made eight trips to the D-League. However, he is signed for next season at a little more than $980K, and Herrington says that value made it a wise decision to keep him over Ryan Hollins last week when Memphis signed Elliot Williams to a 10-day contract. Herrington also speculates that Hollins could be brought back after Williams’ deal expires Sunday.
- Matt Barnes hasn’t changed his mind about Knicks coach Derek Fisher in the wake of the October incident that led to a two-game suspension for Barnes, writes Ian Begley of ESPN.com. The former friends haven’t been on speaking terms since an alleged physical confrontation October 3rd at the home of Barnes’ estranged wife, and Barnes said he plans to keep it that way when the Grizzlies host the Knicks tonight. “I just don’t like him, plain and simple. He knows I don’t like him,” Barnes said. “Don’t say nothing to me, I don’t plan on saying nothing to him. Don’t try to shake my hand. There’s none of that. There’s nothing there. There never will be. Just stay away from me basically.”
Western Notes: O’Brien, Suns, Towns
J.J. O’Brien‘s gamble on the D-League has paid off, according to Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune. The 6’7″ forward signed a 10-day contract with the Jazz today and will be available for tonight’s game with the Lakers. O’Brien played for Utah’s summer league team and earned an invitation to training camp. After being cut, he decided to join the franchise’s D-League affiliate in Idaho rather than seek a larger contract with an overseas team. He averaged 9.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 24 games with the Stampede. “I had a pretty good confidence in myself that I could get to this level,” he said. “It’s the ultimate dream to get here. The best way to do that is to be here playing in the D-League.”
There’s more from the Western Conference:
- GM Ryan McDonough is remaining positive about the Suns‘ future, even as losses pile up, writes Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. Phoenix has dropped 12 of its last 13 contests, but is still on the edge of the playoff race, trailing eighth seed Utah by just five games. The team’s performance in the next few weeks will determine McDonough’s course of action. “Over the next month or so,” he said, “we’ll evaluate where we are and what our options are and be realistic about who we are as a team and what we can do this year as we get closer to the trade deadline.”
- Karl-Anthony Towns may have landed with a struggling franchise, but he’s very happy to be in Minnesota, writes John Krawczynski of the Associated Press. The top pick in the 2015 draft has made an immediate impact, averaging 15.7 points and 9.4 rebounds over the first half of the season and putting himself in the race for Rookie of the Year honors. He also feels comfortable in Minneapolis, even though the Wolves are off to a 12-28 start. “I think I’m more and more a part of this community every day,” Towns said. “I love it here. I love absolutely everything here.”
Hoops Rumors Originals 1/10/16-1/16/16
Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week…
- If you missed the week’s live chat, you can view the transcript here.
- Zach Links highlighted some of the better basketball blogs around in his weekly installment of Hoops Links.
- Chuck Myron examined Kevin Martin as a trade candidate and Dana Gauruder looked at Taj Gibson.
- Will Joseph answered reader questions in our Weekly Mailbag.
- If you missed any of our daily reader-driven discussions, be sure to check out the Community Shootaround archives.
- Here’s how you can follow Hoops Rumors on social media and RSS feeds.
- You can keep track of where your favorite team currently stands in relation to the 2016 NBA Draft lottery with our reverse standings tracker.
- We reviewed our commenting policy. Play nice everyone.
- Chuck looked at the coaching turnover the Nets have undergone since Mikhail Prokhorov purchased the franchise.
- Chuck also broke down different scenarios involving the protections attached to 2016 first-round picks that have already been traded.
- Here’s how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.
- You can stay up to date on all the 10-day deals handed out with our 10-day contract tracker.
Jazz Sign J.J. O’Brien To 10-Day Contract
The Jazz signed small forward J.J. O’Brien to a 10-day contract, the team announced via press release. O’Brien was with the Idaho Stampede, Utah’s D-League affiliate. The Jazz now have 15 players on the roster.
O’Brien averaged 9.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game with the Stampede in 24 appearances.O’Brien’s familiarity with Utah’s system likely factored into the Jazz signing him, Jody Genessy of the Deseret News tweets. The Jazz waived O’Brien in October after he saw little action in the preseason.
The Jazz signed O’Brien to a minimum salary training camp deal in August. O’Brien, 23, went undrafted last June out of San Diego State and has yet to make his NBA regular season debut. In his NCAA career, O’Brien averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
Southeast Notes: Whiteside, Zeller, Horford
Hassan Whiteside is set to become a free agent this summer and he conceded he factors that in a bit when determining whether or not to play through certain injuries, Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post details in a Q&A with the Heat center. When asked if he weighs his upcoming free agency into his decision-making regarding the fine line between resting and playing through injuries, Whiteside told Lieser, “It has something to do with it, but I’m not really thinking about that too much. I’m just trying to think of now.” Whiteside is battling tendinitis in his right knee, but he has missed only two of the Heat’s 40 games this season.
Here’s more from around the Southeast Division:
- Speaking of Whiteside, who is one of the league’s top big men, the 26-year-old said he will be looking to sign with a team that will give him the best opportunity to secure a championship, Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders relays. “I want to go to a team that’s about winning,” Whiteside said. “[A team] that has a good understanding of what it takes to win and a good city with a good fan base.”
- Cody Zeller, on whom the Hornets exercised their 2016/17 rookie scale team option in November, has a decent shot to secure the role of Charlotte’s center of the future, Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer opines. Zeller is thriving as the team’s center because of his unusual quickness at the position, Fowler writes. Adding to the idea that Zeller will be the team’s center for the long haul, Fowler surmises that Al Jefferson, who is out with a knee injury and is set to be a free agent this summer, likely won’t be back with the team next season.
- There will be shortage of teams to compete with for the services of Al Horford, a 2016 free agent, but the Hawks remain as good a bet as any to re-sign him because of their solid management structure and recent success, Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders writes.