Stein’s Latest: Extensions, Jazz, Cavs, J.R. Smith
Within his latest piece for ESPN.com, NBA insider Marc Stein takes a look around the league to attempt to determine which players entering the final year of their rookie scale contracts are most likely to sign extensions before the October 31 deadline. As Stein points out, the uncertainty surrounding the CBA may make some players or teams reluctant to finalize a new deal that won’t go into effect until next summer, but there are still a few extension candidates worth monitoring.
According to Stein, Jazz center Rudy Gobert is viewed as the most likely candidate to be extended this month — Utah wants to lock up both Gobert and Derrick Favors to long-term deals, recognizing that securing those players could help convince Gordon Hayward to re-sign next summer. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Pistons), Gorgui Dieng (Timberwolves), and Shabazz Muhammad (Timberwolves) are also in play for potential extensions, says Stein.
Here’s more from the ESPN scribe:
- It’s not clear how eager the Thunder will be to get something done with Steven Adams and/or Victor Oladipo before October 31, since the team may be enticed by the possibility of maintaining 2017 cap room, Stein notes. Oklahoma City could take the same approach the Wizards and Pistons did with Bradley Beal and Andre Drummond, respectively, waiting to extend them in order to maximize cap room. Of course, waiting until 2017 would almost certainly mean doing max deals for Adams and/or Oladipo.
- As high as they are on Dennis Schroder‘s potential, the Hawks may want to see how he handles the starting point guard job in Jeff Teague‘s absence before committing to a long-term deal, Stein writes. In that case, an extension this month seems unlikely.
- The Cavaliers had been offering a $10-11MM annual salary to J.R. Smith, and while it’s possible they’ve increased their offer, it hasn’t been enough to entice Smith to sign. Sources tell Stein “it’s only a matter of time” before the free agent guard starts to engage more seriously with other teams.
- While they don’t have the cap room for him at this point, the Celtics‘ reported interest in Smith is genuine, according to Stein, who suggests Boston could explore moving some salary to another team in order to create space for Smith.
- There are whispers that the Cavaliers have “strong interest” in bringing Mario Chalmers aboard when he’s healthy enough to play, per Stein. Chalmers, who remains on the free agent market, continues to recover from Achilles surgery.
- The Jazz don’t appear inclined to add anyone to their roster as a temporary fill-in while Gordon Hayward’s broken finger heals, Stein writes.
2016/17 NBA Over/Unders: Atlantic Division
The 2016/17 NBA regular season will get underway in just a week and a half, which means it’s time to start getting serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign. With the help of the lines from offshore betting site Bovada.lv, we’re going to run through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division, and have you weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic. We’ll kick things off today with the Atlantic division…
Boston Celtics
- 2015/16 record: 48-34
- Over/under for 2016/17: 52.5 wins
- Offseason in review: Added Al Horford, Jaylen Brown. Lost Jared Sullinger, Evan Turner.
(App users, click here for Celtics poll)
Toronto Raptors
- 2015/16 record: 56-26
- Over/under for 2016/17: 50.5 wins
- Offseason in review: Added Jared Sullinger, Jakob Poeltl, Pascal Siakam. Lost Bismack Biyombo, Luis Scola, James Johnson.
(App users, click here for Raptors poll)
New York Knicks
- 2015/16 record: 32-50
- Over/under for 2016/17: 38.5 wins
- Offseason in review: Added Derrick Rose, Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, Brandon Jennings. Lost Arron Afflalo, Robin Lopez, Langston Galloway, Derrick Williams, Jose Calderon.
(App users, click here for Knicks poll)
Philadelphia 76ers
- 2015/16 record: 10-72
- Over/under for 2016/17: 23.5 wins
- Offseason in review: Added Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, Gerald Henderson, Sergio Rodriguez, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. Lost Ish Smith, Carl Landry, Isaiah Canaan, Kendall Marshall.
(App users, click here for Sixers poll)
Brooklyn Nets
- 2015/16 record: 21-61
- Over/under for 2016/17: 20.5 wins
- Offseason in review: Added Jeremy Lin, Trevor Booker, Luis Scola, Greivis Vasquez, Randy Foye, Caris LeVert. Lost Thaddeus Young, Jarrett Jack, Wayne Ellington, Thomas Robinson, Shane Larkin, Donald Sloan, Markel Brown.
(App users, click here for Nets poll)
Bulls Notes: Wade, Canaan, Valentine
After spending his first 13 NBA seasons in Miami, Dwyane Wade made the move to Chicago this offseason, signing a two-year deal with the Bulls. However, it certainly wasn’t the first time the 12-time All-Star considered joining his hometown team. As Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com details, Wade admitted this week that he nearly signed with the Bulls in 2010, but ultimately remained in Miami when it became clear that Chicago could only add two players out of the Wade/LeBron James/Chris Bosh trio.
“I mean, this is a place I wanted to play,” Wade said of Chicago. “It was a place LeBron also loved. We loved the city of Chicago. It’s a great market as well. Obviously, the sunny sun of Miami is great too. We had two great choices. It pretty much boiled down to what we felt we could build. … Chicago was very tempting from a standpoint of what they had on the roster when it came to young talent. But when it came to the point Miami was able to get three players, that changed the whole dynamic of the summer.”
With Wade now less than two weeks away from making his regular-season debut as a Bull, let’s check in on a few more notes on the former Finals MVP and his new team…
- While his experience in Miami perhaps colors his views on the issue, Wade also said this week that he believes super-teams are “great” for the NBA, per Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. “At the end of the day, whether you dislike the Heat or you loved the Heat, you was tuning in to watch the Heat, right?” Wade said. “Same thing with Golden State.”
- Most teams view a championship as the perennial goal, but Wade is being a little more pragmatic about the Bulls’ goals this season, Goodwill writes in another CSNChicago.com piece. “When you’re coming off a season where as an organization you don’t make the playoffs, your goal can’t be winning a championship,” Wade said. “It would be unrealistic to say, ‘Oh, we want to win a championship.’ Of course we do. But it’s so many steps before you get to that.”
- Wade and Rajon Rondo were the Bulls’ most notable free agent additions this summer, but they weren’t the only guards signed by the team. K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune takes a closer look at free agent signee Isaiah Canaan, who is trying to adjust his game to better suit the club.
- Bulls will incorporate yet another new guard this season, in Denzel Valentine, and Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders says that the first-round rookie is an ideal fit for the team.
Andrew Bogut Open To Long-Term Stay With Mavs
Andrew Bogut, traded from the Warriors to the Mavericks over the summer, has yet to play his first regular-season game as a member of his new team. Based on his experience in Dallas so far though, he’s very open to the idea of remaining a Maverick beyond this season. The veteran center tells Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com that he’d love to stay with the Mavs long-term, if he can.
“I’d love to be here,” Bogut said. “The organization is first class. [Mark Cuban is] a great owner. Passionate and wants to win. From everything that I’ve seen, if it remains this way throughout the season, it’s sensational.”
Bogut, who also extensively praised the Dallas-Fort Worth area, cautioned that “things could change throughout the year,” so he’s not getting his signature ready for his next contract with the Mavericks quite yet. Based on his comments, it also sounds like Bogut will wait until next summer to ink his next deal, giving himself a chance to explore the market.
The former first overall pick is eligible for a contract extension as of October 25, but because the Mavs don’t have any cap room available at the moment, he’d only be able to get a small raise on a new deal by signing an extension. There will be no such salary restrictions next July.
While October declarations about future free agency should probably be taken with a grain of salt, Dallas was Bogut’s preferred destination when the Warriors looked to trade him in the offseason. His enthusiasm for the team and the city is also reciprocated by the Mavs. As Howard-Cooper details, head coach Rick Carlisle said he has been “an enormous fan of [Bogut’s] for over a decade.”
“You’re talking about a [Arvydas] Sabonis-, [Bill] Walton-level rim protector, rebounder, passer, play-maker at 7’2″ or whatever his height is,” Carlisle said of Bogut. “I just remember he was such a load to deal with in Milwaukee when he was a central figure in their offense. Not that he’s going to be a central figure [in Dallas], but we want him to be one of the people that creates a real balance when he’s on the floor.”
Bogut is set to earn just over $11MM this season before reaching free agency next offseason at age 32.
Offseason In Review: Detroit Pistons
Over the next several weeks, Hoops Rumors will be breaking down the 2016 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2016/17 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Detroit Pistons.
Free agent signings:
- Andre Drummond: Five years, $127.171MM. Maximum salary contract. Fifth year player option.
- Jon Leuer: Four years, $41MM.
- Boban Marjanovic: Three years, $21MM. Signed to offer sheet; Spurs didn’t match.
- Ish Smith: Three years, $18MM.
Camp invitees:
- Trey Freeman: One year, minimum salary (no guarantee)
- Nikola Jovanovic: One year, minimum salary ($30K guaranteed)
- Ray McCallum: One year, minimum salary (summer contract)
Trades:
- Acquired Cameron Bairstow from the Bulls in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie. Subsequently waived Bairstow.
- Acquired a 2019 second-round pick from the Magic in exchange for Jodie Meeks.
Draft picks:
- 1-18: Henry Ellenson. Signed to rookie contract.
- 2-49: Michael Gbinije. Signed for three years, $2.606MM. Second year partially guaranteed. Third year non-guaranteed.
Departing players:
Other offseason news:
- Reggie Jackson to miss six to eight weeks due to knee and thumb injuries.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Bullock eligible for contract extensions until October 31. Pistons have engaged in extension discussions with both players.
- Reportedly met with Al Horford during free agency.
Check out our salary cap snapshot for the Detroit Pistons right here.
When Stan Van Gundy evaluated the Pistons organization after becoming their head coach and president of basketball operations, one of his first orders of business was to beef up the scouting staff. That wasn’t limited to college and international scouting. He wanted scouts closely monitoring every NBA game and identifying players who could fill a need on his club.
That decision has led to a nearly complete overhaul of the roster, with only two players — center Andre Drummond and starting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — surviving the purge. They added two starters during the last two trade deadlines, acquiring point guard Reggie Jackson from the Thunder and combo forward Tobias Harris from the Magic.
Armed with the evaluations from their scouts, Van Gundy and GM Jeff Bower drew up a shopping list this offseason that included three major items. They wanted a bigger power forward, a backup point guard and a third center who could eventually play a larger role.
Ideally, they would have checked off boxes 1 and 3 with the same player. They were one of a handful of clubs who landed a meeting with coveted free agent Al Horford. The Pistons felt Horford’s defensive versatility and shooting range would complement Drummond’s interior prowess. Alas, Horford opted to go to a club he felt was closer to championship contender and signed with the Celtics.
In the meantime, the Pistons quickly landed one of the point men they coveted in Ish Smith. He was one of three point guards, along with former Piston D.J. Augustin and Ramon Sessions, on the wish list. Detroit’s offense stalled the second half of last season when aging Steve Blake entered the game for Jackson. The Pistons included Brandon Jennings in the Harris deal, leaving them thin at point guard.
According to the Pistons’ analytics, Smith is one of the top pick-and-roll point guards in the league. Detroit relies heavily on pick-and-rolls, making him an ideal backup to Jackson. Smith will have an even bigger role at the start of the season, replacing Jackson in the lineup while Jackson recovers from knee tendinitis and a thumb injury.
“What you want with all of your backups, one of the things you ask is can those guys start,” Van Gundy said. “You can’t look at somebody and say he’s OK as a 16-, 18-minute a game guy because it can quickly become more than that. The fact he has that experience and did well (with the Sixers last season), yeah, that’s a big thing.”
The Pistons surprised some people by handing journeymen Jon Leuer a rich four-year, $41MM deal but they view him as a rotation player who can back up Harris and also play center in smaller lineups. Leuer not only provides more size that last year’s backup, Anthony Tolliver, he’s also more brings more offensive versatility than Tolliver, who was mainly a 3-point shooter.
When Horford struck the Pistons off his list, the deal with Leuer was finalized.
“Once Al made his decision, it was, ‘OK, let’s figure out how we can get this done,’ ” Leuer said. “We actually came to an agreement before he even landed, so it was more of a celebratory lunch than a meeting.”
Detroit went big, really big, to secure the final item on their shopping list. They structured a three-year offer sheet to restricted free agent Boban Marjanovic that they knew the Spurs would almost certainly not match. The 7’3” Marjanovic doesn’t have the agility defensively to play heavy minutes but can be a matchup nightmare for opponents because of his low-post skills. He also provides insurance in case second-string center Aron Baynes opts out of his contract after this season.
Another under-the-radar signing that could pay some dividends was handing Ray McCallum a non-guaranteed contract. McCallum could back up Smith the first month of the season if he wins a preseason battle with fellow point man Lorenzo Brown for a roster spot.
Prior to all those moves, the Pistons were pleased how the draft unfolded. Outside the lottery for a change, the Pistons weren’t expecting to get an immediate contributor at pick No. 18. They did get a pleasant surprise when power forward Henry Ellenson fell into their lap.
Van Gundy was so sure that Ellenson wouldn’t be available at their pick that he barely watched any film on the Marquette University product. The Big East Rookie of the Year will spend this season developing but could push for a rotation spot as early as next season.
The only other order of business this preseason is whether to sign Caldwell-Pope to a rookie-scale extension. There has been no signs in camp thus far that they’re close to an agreement.
If the Pistons had somehow convinced Horford to come their way, they could have been lumped among the next tier of Eastern Conference teams behind the Cavaliers. With the help of those scouts, the Pistons did add much-needed depth by signing some unheralded free agents. Whether that’s enough to get them past the first round of the playoffs this season remains a big question mark.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of Raj Mehta (USA Today Sports Images).
And-Ones: Parsons, CBA, Pierce, Delfino
Chandler Parsons has been lobbying the Grizzlies to give him medical clearance to play but his new team is playing things cautiously, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reports. Parsons is rehabbing from March knee surgery and the Grizzlies don’t want him to have any setbacks when he returns to the court, MacMahon continues. Parsons received a four-year, $94MM contract despite the injury he suffered while playing for the Mavericks last season. “He’s definitely making great progress,” Grizzlies coach David Fizdale told MacMahon. “He’s doing a lot of drills with us right now where he’s not hitting, per se. It’s just very scripted, but he’s moving full speed. … I’d rather have him for 75 games than four and he’s out.”
In other developments around the league:
- Taking care of retired players is a priority in the Collective Bargaining Agreement talks, Cavs superstar LeBron James told Jon Krawczynski and Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. The NBA and its players have agreed that the next CBA will include new league-funded programs to help retired players with education and medical expenses, four people with knowledge of the situation told the AP. In exchange for those programs, and pending full approval from both sides, the split of basketball-related income would remain the same “50-50” deal as it is in the current agreement, the AP story adds. “We’ve all built this league together,” James said told the AP. “No matter how big of a guy you were or if you were the 15th guy on the bench, we all built this league into what it is today. But it’s not just my idea. I’m not taking any credit for that.”
- Paul Pierce isn’t a fan of Kevin Durant‘s decision to join the Warriors, as he discussed on a Sirius XM Radio interview that was relayed by NBA.com. The Clippers forward believes Durant should have stayed with the Thunder, rather than join the franchise that vanquished his former team in the Western Conference playoffs. “I understand when you have great players on losing teams who are tired of losing, struggling in the playoffs every year,” Pierce said. “You’re the lone star. I’ve been in that position. I could have left Boston years ago, but I stuck it out. I just feel like when you’re that close, as a competitor, you don’t go join the team that just put you out.”
- Fortitudo Bologna in Italy is still hopeful of signing ex-NBA swingman Carlos Delfino, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Delfino, 34, last played in the NBA in 2012/13, when he appeared in 67 games for the Rockets.
Atlantic Notes: Anthony, Carroll, Knicks, Celtics
- Raptors small forward DeMarre Carroll is determined to deliver on his sizable contract after his injury-marred first season with the club, according to Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun. Carroll signed a four-year, $60MM contract in the summer of 2015 but appeared in just 26 regular-season games because of knee and foot injuries. He hasn’t had any setbacks this preseason and is eager to return to the form he displayed with the Hawks that made him a coveted free agent, Ganter adds. “To me, I still feel like I’ve got a chip on my shoulder,” he told Ganter. “Really, I’ve got a log on my shoulder. It’s bigger than a chip. I feel like last year I came in and started off thinking I was going to have a great season and then all of a sudden I get injured.”
- The Knicks may send an assistant coach to Los Angeles to keep Derrick Rose up to date on offensive and defensive schemes during his ongoing civil sexual assault trial, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Rose missed his fifth practice since heading to California last week and coach Jeff Hornacek is worried about keeping his starting point guard up to speed, Berman continues. “We’re right now trying to think of if we should send somebody out there with him,’’ Hornacek told Berman. “We haven’t added a lot of new stuff from the time he left. We’re talking to him about the stuff we’re doing. He’s watched the games to try to see it.”
- It’s highly unlikely the Celtics will be able to add Jazz small forward Gordon Hayward, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com opines. Utah’s unwillingness to part with Hayward, who can opt out of his current contract at the end of the season, is the main reason. His trade kicker, and the cost of retaining him long-term, also foster the notion that Hayward isn’t coming to Boston.
Southwest Notes: Nowitzki, Mavs, Pelicans, Forbes
Dirk Nowitzki isn’t thinking about retirement quite yet, but when he does decide to call it a career, he’ll have a standing offer with a team in Germany. As The Dallas Morning News notes, Uli Hoeness, the president of Bayern Munich’s basketball team, told German news outlet Bild that his club would “warmly welcome” Nowitzki if he has interest in an advisor role. Of course, if Nowitzki wants a coaching or front office role after his playing career is over, he should have no shortage of NBA opportunities either, particularly with the Mavericks.
Let’s check in on some other items from around the Southwest division…
- Anthony Davis is about to start his fifth season with the Pelicans, and the franchise doesn’t seem any closer to title contention this year than in past years, writes Colin McGowan of RealGM.com. Davis is locked up for at least four more years, so he’s not going anywhere anytime soon, but McGowan wonders if the franchise big man will start to get restless if the team doesn’t show real signs of improvement soon.
- The Spurs have five players battling for one roster spot, which means Bryn Forbes will have to beat out a handful of other camp invitees to make the team’s 15-man squad. However, as Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News outlines, Forbes’ perimeter shooting makes him an intriguing option for the team.
- Matt Mosley of SportsDayDFW.com believes Harrison Barnes will be a fine addition for the Mavericks as long as he doesn’t get consumed with having to live up to his max contract, and suggests A.J. Hammons should get “plenty of chances” to deliver on his upside.
NBA Considering Possibility Of Expansion?
As the NBA and NBPA work toward finalizing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the league is also reportedly considering the possibility of expansion, according to Kevin Nesgoda of SonicsRising.com. While no NBA teams are expected to relocate anytime soon, the league apparently hasn’t ruled out the possibility of moving into a new (or old) market via expansion.
According to Nesgoda, he asked dozens of media and league sources whether NBA expansion is on the table, and the overwhelming majority suggested the possibility is being discussed. Nothing is certain at this point, but Nesgoda hears that Seattle remains on the league’s radar. Nesgoda identifies Louisville, Pittsburgh, Omaha, Las Vegas, Vancouver, and Mexico City as other cities that could attempt to vie for a franchise if given the opportunity.
The possibility of expansion is an interesting one for the NBA, particularly if there’s a city with an NBA-ready arena prepared to make a play for a team. Unlike Major League Baseball, where teams play nearly every day, the NBA could conceivably function with an odd number of teams, so adding a single franchise would be realistic. That scenario would dilute the league-wide talent pool slightly, but not significantly enough to have a real impact on the quality of play.
As Nesgoda cautions, there are still plenty of roadblocks between NBA expansion becoming a reality in Seattle or another city, even if the league were to open up bidding. A potential ownership group would require the land, the funding, and the approval for an NBA arena in order to be taken seriously as a potential location for a franchise. Still, it’s something worth keeping an eye on as the league and the players’ union negotiate a new CBA deal.
Sixers Notes: Point Guards, McConnell, B. Brown
Although they’ll be missing No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons to start the season, the Sixers are still a team worth keeping an eye on this fall. Former top pick Joel Embiid is set to finally make his NBA regular-season debut, as is top international prospect Dario Saric. The club also remains on the lookout for a potential trade involving Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel, though that may happen closer to the deadline.
Here’s the latest out of Philadelphia as the Sixers prepare for the regular season:
- Asked today about the Sixers’ point guard situation with Jerryd Bayless sidelined, head coach Brett Brown said the team is “obviously looking at the market place.” Does that mean Philadelphia is exploring possible trades or signings to add depth at the position? Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer examines that question.
- As long as Bayless remains out of action and the Sixers don’t make any notable additions, T.J. McConnell appears to be the favorite to start at the point when the season gets underway, Pompey writes in a separate piece. McConnell doesn’t have a guaranteed salary, but his spot in the rotation makes him a near-lock to earn a spot on Philadelphia’s 15-man roster.
- With a new management group in place in Philadelphia, there has been speculation that 2016/17 could be a make-or-break year for the club’s head coach. However, in an interview with Kurt Helin of Pro Basketball Talk, Brown said he feels “so aligned with Jerry and Bryan [Colangelo] and what we’re trying to achieve.” Brown, who has three years remaining on his contract, added that he and the Colangelos are “on the same page,” and that the franchise is heading in a positive direction.