Northwest Notes: Mitchell, Harkless, Cunningham
The Timberwolves should not bring back interim coach Sam Mitchell, Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune opines. Mitchell’s dour personality doesn’t mesh with the team’s enthusiastic young stars and he’s not among the top 15 available candidates, Souhan continues. Tom Thibodeau, Luke Walton and Scott Brooks are among the potential candidates that the team should look at, Souhan adds.
In other news around the Northwest Division:
- Small forward Maurice Harkless has emerged as a starter for the Trail Blazers, according to Mike Richman of The Oregonian. With Harkless in the lineup, Al-Farouq Aminu has shifted to power forward with Noah Vonleh moving to a reserve role. The pairing of Harkless and Aminu gives Portland more defensive versatility, as Harkless told Richman. “I think it just changes the dynamic,” Harkless said. “Defensively, we can pretty much switch everything one through four. Offensively, it creates an advantage for me or Al-Farouq, whoever the big guy is guarding.”
- Jared Cunningham has returned to the Jazz’s D-League affiliate, the Idaho Stampede, Chris Reichert of Upside & Motor tweets. The 24-year-old shooting guard has lived a nomadic existence this season. He appeared in 40 games with the Cavaliers, was waived by the Magic after they acquired him as part of the Channing Frye swap, then signed with the Stampede. He also signed a 10-day contract with the Bucks in mid-March but Milwaukee declined to offer him another 10-day deal.
- Nuggets shooting guard Gary Harris has responded to coach Michael Malone’s challenge to become a much bigger factor in his second season, Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post writes. Harris solidified himself as the team’s starting shooting guard in a make-or-break season to prove himself, Dempsey continues. Harris has reached double digits in 23 of his last 25 games, shedding his label as a defensive specialist. “Just being more aggressive on the offensive and defensive end,” Harris told Dempsey. “Just getting back into it. Instead of just being labeled as a defender, being an all-around player.”
And-Ones: Mavericks, LeVert, Porzingis
Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle is juggling his big-man rotation on a game-by-game basis, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reports. Dwight Powell, Zaza Pachulia, Salah Mejri and Dirk Nowitzki are taking turns at center, depending upon the opponent, though it’s tougher to play Nowitzki there in smaller lineups with forward Chandler Parsons out for the season, MacMahon adds. Pachulia and Mejri shared the load on Friday when the team faced Detroit and its All-Star center, Andre Drummond. “We need everybody,” Carlisle told MacMahon and other members of the gathered media. “Going forward, we’re a walking adjustment. We’re going to have to adjust to whatever situation we’re up against.”
In other news around the league:
- Michigan senior combo guard Caris LeVert has hired Roc Nation Sports as his representative, he revealed on his Twitter feed. Roc Nation, founded by rap star Jay Z, also represents Kevin Durant, Justise Winslow and Wilson Chandler. LeVert has dropped to No. 33 on ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s Big Board and No. 43 on Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress Top 100 prospect list after an injury-marred season.
- Knicks rookie power forward Kristaps Porzingis should be shut down the rest of the season, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News opines. Porzingis, who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, must be handled with care because he’s a franchise-altering talent, Isola continues. Selecting Porzingis in the lottery is the only home run that Phil Jackson has hit as team president, Isola adds.
- Spurs veteran power forward David West isn’t sure if he will exercise his $1.55MM player option for next season, according to Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News. West will not make a decision until after the season, Young adds. “I have no idea,” he told Young. “I really just want to see what my body tells me when it’s all said and done. I think that’s the best way to put it.”
Eastern Rumors: Johnson, Magic, Butler
Pistons rookie forward Stanley Johnson fired back at Kevin Durant after the Thunder superstar small forward ripped ex-teammate Reggie Jackson for his antics during Detroit’s win over Oklahoma City this week, Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press writes. Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was furious about what he felt was excessive celebration by Jackson, and Durant, who was rested for the game, concurred with Westbrook when interviewed by a media throng on Thursday. Durant then dismissed Detroit as a lightweight team. “I wanted to play against Detroit, for sure, but you know, it’s Detroit,” Durant said. “Who cares about Detroit?” Johnson felt Durant “disrespected our whole team” while promising to Ellis and other Pistons beat writers, “No one is scared of playing against him on this side of town. Next year we have two games scheduled, and I know, for me, it’s circled on my schedule from now on.”
In other doings around the Eastern Conference:
- The Magic will need to rely on trades and free agency to make improvements this summer, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel opines. Orlando has been stuck in a holding pattern in recent seasons, not losing enough games to get a top pick without lottery luck, yet failing to make the postseason, a trend that has continued this season in Schmitz’s view. The draft has become a means to supplement the Magic’s core talent, while the focus is on landing free agents to lead the young team or trading some of those assets for a veteran, Schmitz adds.
- Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler is playing some point guard with Derrick Rose battling injuries and E’Twaun Moore on a minutes restriction, reports K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Butler was thrust into that role against the Rockets on Thursday when Rose left the game with an elbow injury and will continue to receive minutes at that spot if Rose has to miss games, Johnson adds. “Jimmy was terrific with the ball, made a lot of great plays to get guys baskets and also a lot of hockey assists, where he just would pass the ball, get it moving, then we would make the extra one [for] an open look,” Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg told Johnson and the assembled media.
- The Knicks will lean on their younger players the rest of the season, including a backcourt of rookie Jerian Grant and Langston Galloway, according to Fred Kerber of the New York Post. Grant made his first start while Galloway had a team-high 18 points in a win over the Nets on Friday. “If things are going well with the young guys, we’ll keep extending their minutes, giving them as much time as possible,” interim coach Kurt Rambis told Kerber and other members of the New York media. “And [the veterans] were all OK with that.”
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/1/16
Stories of unhappiness continue to emerge from Washington, and coach Randy Wittman seems most likely to pay the price. It has been a disappointing season for the Wizards, who entered tonight 10th in the Eastern Conference, three games out of a playoff spot at 36-39. With seven games remaining, they would need to leapfrog both the Pacers and Bulls just to earn a place in the postseason.
Much more was expected from a team that went 46-36 a year ago and won a playoff series. Injuries have been part of the problem, but the real reasons for the Wizards’ poor showing go much deeper, as J. Michel of CSN Mid-Atlantic details. The team is making too many poor decisions on the court, Michael writes, and there has been constant feuding between veterans and younger players. There are also charges that the backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal can be too stubborn and difficult to approach during games.
Another problem Michael addresses is communication, especially on defense where he says the team does a poor job of switching on screens. Much of the blame for that falls on Wittman, who Michael says is slow to make in-game adjustments and who has seen his authority questioned publicly several times this season.
Wittman had a dispute with Marcin Gortat in November when he criticized the center for finishing a game with just one rebound. Gortat went months without talking to his coach about the incident, and hard feelings persist between them. Michael claims they have had a “checkered” relationship since Gortat first arrived in Washington in 2013.
Wittman guided poor teams in Cleveland and Minnesota before being promoted to head coach of the Wizards midway through the 2011/12 season. His overall record in Washington is 173-197, and Washington’s back-to-back playoff appearances are the only two winning seasons of his career. He has one year remaining on his contract, but next season only carries a partial guarantee.
That brings us to the topic for tonight. Should the Wizards fire Wittman once the season is over, and who should replace him if they do? There are plenty of proven coaches on the market right now. David Blatt, Tom Thibodeau, Kevin McHale and Monty Williams all guided teams into the playoffs last season. If the Wizards believe they have a real shot at Kevin Durant in free agency, maybe former Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks should get some consideration. Or should the Wizards concentrate on the college ranks and try to duplicate the success that Billy Donovan has brought to the Thunder?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
And-Ones: Porzingis, Smart, Terry, D-League
The Knicks‘ Kristaps Porzingis could be the rare young player who affects decisions in the free agent market, The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski claims. In a video response to a reader’s question, Wojnarowski said Porzingis has a clear path toward becoming an All-Star. “Elite free agents generally aren’t as interested in young talent as they are veteran, winning talent in its prime,” Wojnarowski said. “But Kristaps Porzingis of the Knicks is an exception. He’s far more and will be far more intriguing to free agents than say, the Lakers’ young core.”
There’s more from around the world of basketball:
- Heat assistant coach Keith Smart is trying to overcome a rare form of skin cancer and rejoin the team on the bench, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Chris Quinn has moved from behind the bench to take Smart’s place while he undergoes treatment, and Smart said he doesn’t want to disrupt the chemistry of the coaching staff when he returns. He credits the Heat for keeping him involved during his absence. “This team has been great,” Smart said. “The organization has been great. [Coach Erik Spoelstra] is incredible, managing this team and also communicating with me almost on a daily basis or every other day, just to make sure that I’m doing OK.”
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban believes Rockets guard Jason Terry has the personality to succeed as a college coach, according to Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Terry interviewed Thursday to be the next head coach at Alabama-Birmingham. “I could see Jet being a coach,” Cuban said. “He knows the game, he’s intense, he communicates well. And guys would relate to him.” Cuban added that the former Maverick can have a job with Dallas whenever he wants one.
- The addition of three new teams to the D-League next season will bring a few complications, writes Adam Johnson of D-League Digest. The Windy City Bulls, Greensboro Swarm and Long Island Nets will be launched for 2016/17 as more NBA teams decide to have direct D-League affiliates. Johnson notes that the extra teams will require an expansion draft and will complicate the way the league handles its draft picks.
- The Thunder have recalled Mitch McGary from their Oklahoma City Blue affiliate in the D-League, the team announced. McGary is averaging 14.7 points and 8.8 rebounds in 26 games with the Blue.
- The Kings have recalled Eric Moreland and Duje Dukan from Reno of the D-League (Twitter link).
Central Notes: Hoiberg, Gibson, Vaughn, Pacers
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg has job security despite the team’s disappointing season, claims Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. In a video response to readers’ questions, Wojnarowski says GM Gar Forman and VP of basketball operations John Paxson “could not wait” to hire Hoiberg away from Iowa State last summer, claiming the front office and the coach knew the move was coming months before it was made. Hoiberg still has four years and $20MM left on his contract, and the Bulls are unlikely to absorb that much salary, especially after firing former coach Tom Thibodeau with $9MM left on his deal. Wojnarowski believes Forman and Paxson have no choice but to build a roster that fits with Hoiberg’s style, as their future is now tied to his success or failure.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Hoiberg has a strong defender in Bulls power forward Taj Gibson, who says the coach’s critics need to “shut up,” relays K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. “Everybody tries to discredit this man, and it’s rough,” Gibson said. “He’s a rookie coach taking on a veteran group. Give him some slack, man. It’s hard enough as it is to come in. You have the whole city of Chicago on your back. It’s tough. But I think he’s learning, doing a good job, staying with us. And I’m riding with him no matter what.”
- Bucks rookie shooting guard Rashad Vaughn is getting his first NBA start tonight, according to Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Coach Jason Kidd gave Vaughn the opportunity partly to keep Tyler Ennis with the reserve unit, but also because of Vaughn’s improved play of late. “Being sent down to the D-League and being asked to play minutes, he’s been a positive since he’s been back,” Kidd said.
- There’s plenty of blame to go around for the Pacers‘ late-season collapse, writes Gregg Doyel of The Indianapolis Star. He claims the root of the problem goes back to president of basketball operations Larry Bird’s decision to make Indiana a smaller, faster team with Paul George starting at power forward. George resisted the move and has been a poor leader in general, Doyel claims. Coach Frank Vogel also gets blasted by Doyel, who notes that the Pacers have lost a league-high 20 games that they’ve led during the fourth quarter.
Blazers Notes: Henderson, Leonard, Harkless
Gerald Henderson has enjoyed his first season in Portland and wouldn’t mind seeing it turn into a long-term relationship, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Henderson quickly assumed a leadership role with the Blazers after being traded there from Charlotte last offseason. Even though he’s had to accept a reserve spot, Henderson says he’s happy being a “big-minute player.” He will be among at least six Portland free agents this summer, so a return isn’t certain despite apparent interest on both sides. “If they want me back and we can come up with a contract that makes sense, then I’d love to come back here,” Henderson said. “This has been a great year. I was just telling the guys; this has probably been one of the most fun teams I’ve been on. This has been one of my most fun years. Because we’ve really worked for this. We’ve really earned this. It’s a tight group, a great group of guys.”
There’s more out of the Pacific Northwest:
- Meyers Leonard is also hoping to stay in Portland, Freeman writes in a separate story. The Blazers’ back-up big man is out for the season with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He will have surgery soon and faces a six- to eight-month rehab process. Leonard will be a restricted free agent this summer after turning down a contract extension in October, and the injury could limit the offers he gets from other teams. He hopes to be ready in time for training camp. “I believe that I can be a key piece of the future,” Leonard said. “Obviously, [I was] drafted with Damian Lillard. Been here with [coach] Terry [Stotts]. And I think that [GM] Neil [Olshey], the guys, coaches, understand what I bring.”
- Also headed for free agency is small forward Moe Harkless, who moved into the starting lineup in the wake of Leonard’s injury, relates Mike Richman of The Oregonian. Harkless, who is averaging 13 points and 5.8 rebounds per game since the change was made, was acquired from Orlando in an offseason deal. “I just got to be ready to be out there,” Harkless said of his new role. “Before I was just not really being out [on the floor] at crucial times in the game, but now I just got to stay ready and be ready to go.” He is making nearly $2.9MM in the final year of his contract.
Suns Notes: Morris, Bogdanovic, Booker
A lack of “trust” was the issue that made Markieff Morris want to leave Phoenix, relays Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic. Morris had been unhappy with the Suns since his brother Marcus Morris was traded to the Pistons last offseason. Markieff Morris finally got his wish to go elsewhere at the trade deadline when Phoenix shipped him to Washington. “I always felt free to play,” Markieff Morris said of his time with the Suns. “It was just tough to do certain things with no trust and play for people that you really don’t trust.” He refused to identify who it was that he didn’t trust but said he’s happy to be with the Wizards.
There’s more news out of Phoenix:
- The Suns appear serious about adding Bogdan Bogdanovic to the team next season, according to Adam Green of ArizonaSports.com. Bogdanovic has played overseas since Phoenix selected him in the first round of the 2014 draft. He spent this season with Fenerbahce Ulker, averaging 10.8 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in the Euroleague. “We’re going to go meet with Bogdan after the season; he does have ways to get out of his contract with Fenerbahce and come to the NBA,” Suns GM Ryan McDonough said of the 6’6″ swingman. “We’ll present a plan for him about how we kind of envision his role with the Suns.”
- Rookie Devin Booker has been the best part of another nonplayoff season in Phoenix, writes Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic. The 13th overall pick in last year’s draft, Booker has been such a surprise that he might change the Suns’ long-term planning. Bickley speculates that Phoenix may make renewed efforts to trade point guard Eric Bledsoe or go back to a three-guard lineup. Booker remained patient as he waited for his opportunity with the Suns to arrive. “At the beginning of the season, I wasn’t playing at all,” he said. “I used that as motivation to stay in the gym, work on my game, attack what people thought were my weaknesses. … It’s unfortunate that a couple of injuries happened, but that opened up my opportunity to play. And once I got that chance, I never wanted to come off the bench or play limited minutes again. I would’ve never thought this would’ve come at such a young age. But this has always been my ultimate goal.”
And-Ones: Terry, Russell, Allen, Rodriguez
Jason Terry has confirmed that he talked to Alabama-Birmingham about its coaching vacancy, but he cautions that doesn’t mean his NBA career is over, according to Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston. The Rockets‘ veteran point guard interviewed with UAB on Thursday in Houston, where school officials are gathered for the Final Four. The 38-year-old said the interview doesn’t mean he’s decided to retire when this season is over. “No, I’m focused on the playoffs, and there has been no offer made,” he said, “but I have to keep all my options open when it comes to my post-playing career.” Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com tweets that Terry wants to play two more seasons if UAB doesn’t hire him.
There’s more news from the basketball world:
- Some in the Lakers organization fear that the video controversy surrouding D’Angelo Russell will obstruct the team’s efforts in free agency this summer, writes Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding, though a prominent agent who spoke with Sean Deveney of The Sporting News scoffed at that notion.
- Stanford small forward Rosco Allen will enter this year’s draft but won’t immediately hire an agent, according to Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). The school and Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress list him as a senior, but his Stanford bio also notes that he received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA for the 2013/14 season, so presumably he has a year of eligibility remaining. He’d get to use that year if he pulls out of the draft by May 25th and doesn’t hire an agent. Givony lists Allen as 69th-best among seniors, but Chad Ford of ESPN.com has him outside his rankings.
- Four-year NBA veteran Sergio Rodriguez is again considering a return to the league, as international journalist David Pick hears (Twitter link). The point guard was thinking along those lines last year, when he ultimately wound up staying with Real Madrid, the Spanish team he’s played for since his NBA tenure ended in 2010. Conversely, Rodriguez’s Madrid teammate, Rockets draft-and-stash player Sergio Llull, isn’t giving any thought to joining the NBA, as he said in an appearance on Radio Marca (translation via HoopsHype).
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
UConn SF Daniel Hamilton To Test Draft Waters
Connecticut sophomore small forward Daniel Hamilton will enter the draft without an agent, the school announced, also confirming previous reports that shooting guard Rodney Purvis and center Amida Brimah will do the same. All three are eligible to return to the Huskies if they pull out by May 25th and refrain from hiring agents. Hamilton, like the others, seems to have only an outside chance, at best, to be drafted this year if he stays in, as he’s only 131st in Chad Ford’s ESPN Insider rankings. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress considers him a 2017 prospect, listing him at No. 54 in his 2017 mock draft.
Hamilton arrived at UConn with plenty of promise at No. 17 in the Recruiting Services Consensus Index, just one spot behind eventual NBA 2015 No. 2 draft pick D’Angelo Russell. Givony lists Hamilton as a shooting guard while Ford calls him a two-guard, so it appears Hamilton is solidly in the swingman category. The 20-year-old has the 6’8″ height and rebounding acumen to play up front, having grabbed 8.9 boards per game this season, but he displayed the ball-distribution skills of a guard, posting 4.7 assists per contest, though he did average 2.4 turnovers.
His outside shot could use work, as he made just 33.1% of his 3-point attempts and notched 12.5 points per outing. Hamilton had double-doubles in all three American Athletic Conference Tournament games and Connecticut’s first-round NCAA Tournament victory, and he came close in an 11-point, eight-rebound, six-assist effort in the team’s second-round loss to Kansas.