Jazz Waive Henry Sims
The Jazz have gotten one step closer to finalizing their regular-season roster, announcing today in a press release that they’ve waived center Henry Sims. The deal Sims signed with Utah included a partial guarantee of $75K, which will remain on the team’s cap. The rest of his salary was non-guaranteed.
Sims is the fourth player cut within the last week by the Jazz, who have reduced their roster from 20 players to 16. Having waived Sims, Eric Dawson, Quincy Ford, and Marcus Paige, Utah now has to remove one more player from its roster before opening night in order to reach the regular-season limit of 15 players.
Although there are two players left on the Jazz’s roster with non-guaranteed salaries, one of those two, Jeff Withey, has long appeared to be a good bet to make the team. That leaves Chris Johnson as the most likely candidate to be the odd man out in Utah.
As for Sims, he saw a little NBA action in 2015/16 with the Nets, but spent most of the season with the D-League’s Grand Rapids Drive, recording 15.7 PPG and 8.9 RPG in 40 games. As Chris Reichert of Upside and Motor tweets, Sims’ D-League rights are currently held by Utah’s affiliate, the Salt Lake City Stars, so he’ll probably land with that squad, assuming he clears waivers.
Community Shootaround: Potential CBA Changes
Following the Clippers’ game in Sacramento on Tuesday night, NBPA president Chris Paul caught a flight to New York to participate in Wednesday’s meeting between the league and the players’ union, according to ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter). The sitdown was the latest indication that the two sides are making progress on negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.
There’s plenty of optimism that the NBA and NBPA will strike a deal well before the opt-out deadline of December 15, and while we don’t know exactly what changes will be made to the CBA, we’ve gotten some hints. We’re not expecting any massive, game-changing alterations to the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, but it seems as if plenty of smaller changes will be implemented to attempt to improve the game.
The league’s rookie scale system is expected to be adjusted so that it aligns more with salary cap increases, rather than increasing at a fixed rate. Veteran contract extensions are expected to be tweaked to make them more appealing to players, giving teams a better chance to lock up potential free agents before they reach the open market. The NBA’s draft and D-League are among the other areas expected to receive attention in CBA talks.
As Howard Beck details in a piece this week at Bleacher Report, the NBA also hopes to include a mechanism in the new CBA to prevent another massive spike in the salary cap, since this year’s $24MM+ increase was viewed as problematic. According to Beck, some team executive believe a new CBA might also adjust the maximum salary concept, making it a little harder for clubs to collect multiple superstars.
For today’s Community Shootaround, we’re asking this: What one change would you like to see the NBA and NBPA make to the CBA? Do you consider it crucial to address one of the areas mentioned above, or is there another are you believe the two sides should be focused on?
Weigh in below in the comments section with your thoughts on the subject, and feel free to get creative in your answers. Got an off-the-wall idea for NBA draft lottery reform or a new-look salary cap? Share it below, even if it’s unlikely to be implemented in the next CBA.
Sixers Notes: Embiid, Okafor, Noel, Henderson
The Sixers’ logjam at center has been the story surrounding the team for most of the offseason, but with the regular season just a few days away, the team hasn’t made a move to address its crowded frontcourt depth chart. With Joel Embiid looking good in preseason action and finally prepared to make his NBA debut, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer revisits the situation. As Pompey notes, in the short term, there should be enough minutes to go around, since Embiid’s playing time will be limited and Nerlens Noel‘s groin strain continues to keep him sidelined. When Noel returns, however, it’s expected to be an issue.
If the Sixers don’t make a trade anytime soon, there’s a good chance we’ll see two of Embiid, Noel, and Jahlil Okafor on the court at the same time, and one league executive suggests to Pompey that a pairing of Embiid and Okafor isn’t ideal. Noel and Okafor weren’t particularly effective playing together last year either, so the executive says the most effective duo would likely be Noel and Embiid: “Nerlens can guard the fours and keep Embiid around the rim. And on the offensive end, Embiid can step out more and Nerlens can be more around the basket. … It would be an athletic and great defensive combination.”
As the Sixers figure out how to manage their rotation up front, here’s more from out of Philadelphia:
- John Smallwood of The Philadelphia Daily News makes a case for why the Sixers should trade Noel as quickly as possible.
- In a separate piece for The Daily News, Smallwood identifies four potential trade targets that the Sixers should consider after they make their final roster cuts. Brandon Knights, Shabazz Muhammad, Sam Dekker, and Kyle Anderson are the players that Smallwood believes could be good fits for Philadelphia.
- Head coach Brett Brown is pleased with the team’s offseason addition of Gerald Henderson, who will start at shooting guard and provide much-needed veteran leadership, writes Bob Cooney of The Philadelphia Daily News. As Brown points out, many of the Sixers’ veteran leaders in recent years have been players who didn’t get many minutes, so having someone like Henderson – who will play regularly – provides a different sort of value.
And-Ones: Rose, Crawford, Rudez
Derrick Rose‘s civil trial concluded today and the eight-member jury found Rose and his two friends not liable for damages stemming from an alleged sexual assault. The Knicks excused Rose from team activities during the trial and he will likely rejoin them later this week, A. Sherrod Blakely of Comcast Sportsnet writes. However, there is no definite timetable for Rose to return to the lineup, as the team doesn’t want to rush him back and risk injury.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Grand Rapids Drive, the D-League affiliate of the Pistons, has acquired the rights to Jordan Crawford from the Mad Ants in exchange for the No. 6 overall pick in the D-League draft, Chris Reichert of Upside Motor reports (Twitter links). Reichert adds that Crawford will actually play for the Drive to begin the season.
- Damjan Rudez is likely to make the Magic’s opening night roster, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel notes. Coach Frank Vogel, who coached Rudez during his time in Indiana, lobbied for the team to invite the big man to training camp. “There’s so many spread fours out there that are making big bucks,” Vogel said. “[We had] an opportunity maybe to get him without paying a huge contract, but you get the same value as some of these Channing Frye, Ryan Anderson types.” Orlando has 13 players with guaranteed deals and 16 total player under contract, as the team’s depth chart at Roster Resource indicates.
- The Wizards are impressed by Andrew Nicholson‘s game so far during the preseason, Candace Buckner of The Washington Post writes. “He gets buckets,” Thornton said of Nicholson. “You throw it down to him, 90 to 95 percent of the time it’s going to be a foul or a bucket. We joke around about that every day. We call him a ‘walking bucket.’” Coach Scott Brooks called Nicholson “very fundamental sound” and added that the big man simply isn’t going to make many mistakes. The 26-year-old power forward signed a four-year, $26MM deal with the team during the offseason.
Injury Notes: Beverley, Davis, Williams
Patrick Beverley has missed the past four preseason games with knee irritation and a source tells Calvin Walkins of ESPN.com that he may have surgery on his left knee. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders tweets that the injury is not severe and Beverley is seeking a second opinion, as team doctors are not exactly sure what is wrong with the knee. Beverley was penciled in as the starter for the Rockets and in his absence, coach Mike D’Antoni has played James Harden at the point guard position.
Here’s more injury news from around the league:
- The Pelicans believe Anthony Davis will be available to play on opening night and the team is strongly considering letting him play in the team’s final preseason game on Thursday night, Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein of ESPN.com pass along. Davis practiced today without any issue with his injured ankle, the pair of ESPN scribes relay.
- Marvin Williams has a non-displaced fracture in his left middle finger, according to the Hornets‘ Twitter feed. He will remain out until at least next Tuesday, at which time he will be reevaluated.
- Aron Baynes suffered a broken nose during Tuesday’s practice and he underwent surgery on it shortly after, according to a Pistons‘ press release. Baynes will not play in tonight’s preseason game.
Thunder Waive Reggie Williams
The Thunder have waived Reggie Williams, according to Marc J. Spears of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Williams signed with OKC on Tuesday and $50K of his minimum salary arrangement was guaranteed. It’s possible that Williams will play for the team’s D-League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, as Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders speculates on Twitter.
Williams last played in the NBA in 2015, where he latched onto the Spurs during the middle of the season. He previously played with the Thunder, signing a 10-day contract with the team during the 2013/14 campaign. The forward only saw a total of 17 minutes of action and OKC didn’t re-sign him once the deal expired.
The Thunder entered the day with 20 players under contract, as the team’s depth chart at Roster Resource shows. They will have to make at least four more cuts to set its opening night roster.
Wolves Keeping Ricky Rubio For Now
The Wolves are turning away trade offers for Ricky Rubio until they see how Kris Dunn performs, Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical reports. Coach Tom Thibodeau doesn’t anticipate Dunn taking over as the starting point guard position until approximately 20 games into the season, Wojnarowski adds. Until then, Rubio will be the team’s starter and remain on the roster, barring a substantial offer.
Several teams have expressed interest in Rubio, with the Kings being the most determined to land the 25-year-old. Sacramento has been looking to acquire a young point guard to lead the team for some time. It’s not clear what the Kings are willing to offer, but the team was engaged in serious trade talks with the Thunder on a deal that would have sent Rudy Gay to Oklahoma City in exchange for Cameron Payne. Those talks broke down after Payne injured his foot last month, sources tell Wojnarowski.
Thibodeau is determined to win games and make the playoffs this season. Such thinking could factor into what transactions the franchise makes this year.
Rubio, who has three years and slightly under $43MM left on his contract, has been solid during his time in Minnesota. Yet, Dunn has a much higher upside and it’s only a matter of time before Rubio takes a backseat to the rookie, as I discussed in Minnesota’s Offseason In Review.
Kings Waive Lamar Patterson
The Kings have waived Lamar Patterson, according to a team press release. Sacramento entered the day with 18 players under contract, as the team’s depth chart at Roster Resource indicates, so the franchise has at least two more cuts to make before it can set its opening night roster,
The swingman out of the University of Pittsburg played in four preseason games with the Kings, averaging 5.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. He shot 45.5% from the field, including 33.3% from behind the arc.
The Bucks drafted Patterson with the 48th overall selection in the 2014 draft and dealt his rights to the Hawks on draft night. He played overseas during the 2014/15 season before signing with Atlanta during the 2015 offseason. He spent much of the 2015/16 season playing in the D-League and the Hawks waived him in July.
Kings Notes: Lawson, Cousins, Team Chemistry
There are no lingering issues between the Kings and Ty Lawson in regards to Saturday’s missed flight, according to the point guard, as Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee relays (Twitter links). Lawson said it was a “personal” matter and added that he hadn’t been told that he would be fined for the incident.
Here’s more out of Sacramento:
- Lawson’s teammates are supportive of him and they are ready to move past the incident, James Ham of Comcast Sportsnet writes. “It’s a family situation, this is a family and when you say family in the huddle, you don’t just mean it, you’ve got to show it,” new addition Matt Barnes said. “He’s going through stuff right now off the court. I reached out to him because I’ve been through everything off the court personally. We’ve been talking a lot lately and this is something we’re going to help him get through because he’s a very important member of this team. Family is most important for us and we realize that sometimes it’s bigger than basketball.”
- The Kings are a work-in-progress and there was a noticeable disconnect with the team during Tuesday’s preseason loss to the Clippers, as Ham writes in a separate piece. Ham notes that the defensive effort wasn’t consistent and players were quick to take contested shots rather than find the open man. Despite the issues, DeMarcus Cousins remains optimistic about the team. “I think we took a step back tonight, but I think we’re on the right path, that’s the positive thing about it,” Cousins said. “We’re going to be as good as we decide to be.”
- Cousins continues to stress that it will take time for the Kings to come together, as Ham passes along in that same piece. “Patience would be very important,” Cousins said. “Especially for me. But it’s going to be a process. It’s a new system. A new group of guys. I mean, it’s tough for me. I can be honest, it’s tough for me. It’s going to be a process.”
Bucks Pick Up Jabari Parker’s 2017/18 Option
The Bucks have exercised the fourth-year option on Jabari Parker‘s contract, per the team’s website. Parker will make slightly more than $6.78MM next season.
The decision to pick up Parker’s option was always expected. He projects to play a huge role for the team this season and he will be eligible for an extension with Milwaukee next summer.
The 2014 No. 2 overall pick has averaged 13.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per game over the first two years of his career. He’s appeared in 101 games over those seasons, starting 97 of those contests. During five preseason games this season, he is averaging a team-high 16.8 points.