Hoops Links: Anthony, Ingram, Tucker
Every Sunday, we link to some of the very best work from around the basketball blogosphere. Do you have a link to a great basketball blog post – either your own or someone else’s – that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Then you should send it to us at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s rundown …
- The Jump Ball explains what’s behind Brandon Ingram‘s success.
- The Hardwood Nation wonders if a coaching change may soon happen in Chicago.
- New York Sports Guys relays a familiar take on Carmelo Anthony.
- Raptors Rapture offers a trade proposal idea for P.J. Tucker.
- Daily Knicks thinks Ricky Rubio is perfect for New York.
- Orlando Pinstriped Post runs down the Magic’s road woes.
- Liberty Ballers surmises the health of a key player is more important than wins right now.
- Blazer’s Edge is baffled by Portland’s struggles.
- Fear The Sword breaks down the Cavs’ pick-and-roll defense.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Will at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Heat Notes: Johnson, Draft, Bench
It is unclear how long Tyler Johnson will be out after suffering a strained left shoulder, and if he misses two more games the Heat would be allowed to add another player, Ira Winderman of Sun Sentinel relays. This is the same shoulder that bothered Johnson last season and held him out of more than half of last season’s games. He is listed as day-to-day and missed Saturday’s game. With Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, Josh McRoberts and Chris Bosh also unavailable to the team, the Heat last week were granted a roster exemption to add Okaro White on a 10-day contract, as Winderman notes. Guard Briante Weber is a name to watch, Winderman writes, if the Heat get another spot.
Here is more out of Miami:
- James Johnson, whom Miami signed to a one-year pact over the summer, has developed into an asset off the bench with improved 3-point shooting, passing ability and consistency, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. Johnson should see plenty of interest from teams after reducing his body fat and becoming more athletic, which has led to the standout season, Jackson adds.
- Despite the injuries, the Heat are evidently not playing for a lottery spot and have been rolling lately. A significant reason for Miami’s three-game winning streak is the play on both ends of the court by guard Dion Waiters, as Winderman notes (video link). With making the playoffs still unlikely, Winderman surmises that the Heat at least offered a glimpse at what could have been or, perhaps, into the future.
Pacific Notes: Gay, Joerger, Griffin, Warriors
Rudy Gay will have surgery Monday to fix a torn Achilles tendon, the Kings announced on their website. The procedure will be performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, and Gay will be out for the remainder of the season. The injury may affect the free agent market, as Gay had planned to opt out of his $14,263,566 deal for next season.
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Garrett Temple has taken Gay’s spot in the starting lineup for now, but long-term decisions may not be made until next month, according to Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. If the Kings continue losing and slip out of the playoff race, coach Dave Joerger may elect to give more minutes to younger players. Rookie guard Malachi Richardson was used in the first half Saturday for the first time all season. “Just be a buncha different dudes running in and out of there,” Joerger said. “Trying to find something that fits as you go through it.”
- Blake Griffin plans to be ready for the Clippers game Tuesday at Philadelphia, relays Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Griffin has missed 17 games since undergoing minor knee surgery December 20th. “It’s as close as I can be, I think,” Griffin said Saturday. “It was good to get some contact in yesterday. So it’s good to get some like real work in besides just running and shooting. It’s kind of up to them.”
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr is using seven low-salaried big men in a rotation at center, writes Anthony Slater of The San Jose Mercury News. Zaza Pachulia, David West, JaVale McGee, Kevon Looney, James Michael McAdoo, Anderson Varejao and Damian Jones are all getting minutes at the position, depending on the matchup.
Northwest Notes: Arthur, Nuggets, Rubio, Hill
The Nuggets plan to monitor the minutes for Darrell Arthur for the rest of the season, writes Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post. That will include games and practices as Arthur deals with soreness related to a lateral release knee procedure he had during the offseason. Arthur recently had the knee drained and may have to do that several more times before the season ends. “He had two hard practices in London and his knee swelled up because of it.” said coach Michael Malone. “So I have to protect him from himself, and, obviously, if we want him in games we have to limit his practice time so we can get him in the game as much as possible. So that’s just something we have to keep our eye on, and I have to trust and listen to our medical staff so we’re making sure we put Darrell in the best position possible.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- It’s important for the Nuggets to make the playoffs this season, contends Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post. The team currently holds the eighth seed at 18-24, one game better than the Trail Blazers. There’s little to be gained from another late lottery draft pick, Kiszla argues, saying that playoff experience would be valuable for the team’s young core.
- The Ricky Rubio trade rumors show that the Timberwolves‘ point guard is undervalued, writes Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders. Rubio is one of the top defenders in the league at his position and is an asset on offense even with his shooting limitations because of his vision and passing, Blancarte argues. Plus he is signed through 2018/19 at an average salary of $14.25MM, which is a good value for a starter.
- Jazz point guard George Hill put up 30 points, six rebounds and five assists Saturday night in his first game against the Pacers since they traded him last summer. Hill told Nate Taylor of the Indianapolis Star that he wasn’t trying to send a message to his former team. “No, no statement needed,” Hill said. “I was making shots and making plays and just trying to win and do the best I can to get everyone involved and have fun out there. I’m probably my biggest critic. It’s always good to get a win and play well at the same time.”
Bulls Shopping Rajon Rondo, Nikola Mirotic
A disappointing first half of the season has led the Bulls to put Rajon Rondo and Nikola Mirotic on the trade market, reports Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
However, a source adds that Chicago’s front office isn’t getting the type of offers it wants for either player.
Rondo was briefly benched and then relegated to the second unit after signing a two-year deal worth nearly $27MM over the summer. He is averaging 6.6 points and 6.7 assists in 36 games thiss season, barely half of his numbers in Sacramento a year ago. Rondo could be an attractive trade piece because only $3MM of his salary for next season is guaranteed as we outlined in our Trade Candidate series.
Mirotic is making nearly $5.8MM in the final season of his contract. He is averaging 9.3 points per game and shooting 39% from the field, and has widely been considered a disappointment since signing with Chicago three years ago.
Jimmy Butler has reportedly expressed disappointment to the front office about the current roster, but a source says he doesn’t want to betray his teammates by singling anybody out.
“I take everything personal,’’ Butler said after Friday’s loss to Atlanta. “I hate losing. I’ll leave it at that. Losing is something I don’t accept, we shouldn’t accept. We gotta go out and be better.”
Central Notes: Wade, R. Jackson, Parker, Cavaliers
Fiscal realities will probably keep Dwyane Wade in Chicago past this season, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Wade has a player option on next year’s $23.8MM salary, an amount that Winderman doesn’t think he’ll get from any other organization at age 35. If the Bulls opt to rebuild, the columnist believes Wade would consider taking an $8MM mid-level exception to team up with one of his close friends, either LeBron James in Cleveland, Chris Paul in Los Angeles or Carmelo Anthony in New York. A return to Miami is unlikely next season, Winderman states, but could be conceivable for 2018/19.
There’s more news from the Central Division:
- Trading Reggie Jackson isn’t the right answer for the Pistons, argues Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News. A rumor made the rounds Friday that Detroit was considering a deal with Minnesota involving Jackson and Ricky Rubio. Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy contacted Jackson and assured him it wasn’t true. Wojnowski states that it would be a mistake for the team to trade its floor leader after investing so heavily in him two years ago. “If he traded me, I told him it was news to me,” Jackson said. “I appreciated the text, just let me know I’m his guy. But I don’t really pay attention much to it.”
- The Bucks held Jabari Parker out of the starting lineup Saturday as punishment for talking to the media about locker room conversations, discloses Chris Haynes of ESPN.com. Parker made comments on a team meeting earlier this week, which is a violation of team rules. “I spoke up for the first time, and it didn’t go my way,” he told the media. “I was getting thrashed, but hey, as long as I give them another perspective, I did my job.”
- The Cavaliers‘ need for a backup point guard was on display in Saturday’s nationally televised loss to the Spurs, writes Joe Vardon of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. In the overtime defeat, the Cavs were outscored 17-2 to start the second quarter and 12-1 at the beginning of the fourth quarter.
Knicks Notes: Jackson, Anthony, Hernangomez, Rose
The tactics that Phil Jackson used as a coach don’t work well for an executive, writes Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. Isola contends that the Knicks president has been playing mind games with Carmelo Anthony in the media, possibly trying to get him to waive his no-trade clause. Anthony turned that around this week by speculating that he might agree to a trade if the Knicks ask him to, putting the decision back on Jackson. Isola also questions how long owner James Dolan is willing to watch an executive publicly criticize his best player. He notes that the Knicks are 5-14 since Jackson’s December 6th interview when he accused Anthony of slowing down the offense. After another disappointing loss Saturday night in which his last-second 3-pointer rimmed out, Anthony said he tries not to concern himself with off-court issues. “I’m done kinda worrying about that,” he said. “My only focus is the guys in the locker room.”
There’s more today out of New York:
- It might be time for Anthony and the Knicks to part ways, writes George Willis of The New York Post. Willis believes an Anthony deal might be necessary considering the current state of the team, which is now 19-26 and three games out of the final playoff spot. Anthony met with Jackson earlier this week to discuss a column by Jackson confidant Charley Rosen suggesting that Anthony was no longer useful in New York. Willis notes that Anthony would get an additional $9.9MM over two seasons if he gets traded and lists the Cavaliers, Clippers and Celtics as possible destinations.
- The Knicks believe they found a steal in rookie Willy Hernangomez, writes Fred Kerber of The New York Post. Hernangomez has been drawing comparisons to Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, his teammate on the Spanish National Team. “When I heard that, I felt great because it means they see what I can do,” Hernangomez said. “I try to work hard every day, and when I have the chance to be on the court, I do my best. For me, I feel very happy when they compare me to Marc Gasol.” Henangomez is averaging 5.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 36 games. The Knicks acquired his rights in a draft-day trade in 2015 after the Sixers took him with the 35th pick.
- Point guard Derrick Rose isn’t getting foul calls on his drives to the basket the way he used to in Chicago, writes Brian Heyman for Newsday.
Magic Sign Anthony Brown To 10-Day Deal
JANUARY 22: The signing is official, according to a tweet from the team.
JANUARY 20: The Orlando Magic are lining up a 10-day contract for Anthony Brown, reports Marc Stein of ESPN (Twitter link). Currently playing for the Erie BayHawks at the D-League showcase in Ontario, Brown would be the first player to receive a call-up from the four-day scouting event.
Brown, 24, has played in parts of two NBA seasons with the Lakers and Pelicans. The former Stanford Cardinal appeared in nine games with New Orleans earlier this season, totaling 34 points and 26 rebounds. Brown has excelled in the D-League, averaging 21.7 points through 15 games with the BayHawks.
Brown is a logical fit with the Magic, whose struggles on offense this season have been well-documented. Brown would provide depth at the two and three, where Orlando is missing Evan Fournier and Jodie Meeks due to injury. The team also has an open spot on its 15-man roster, so no corresponding move would be required.
D’Angelo Russell Out One To Two Weeks
A right MCL sprain and right calf strain will sideline Lakers’ point guard D’Angelo Russell for one to two weeks, writes Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com.
The injuries were confirmed today when Russell underwent an MRI. Doctors will re-evaluate his condition in one week.
Russell was hurt Friday after stepping on Julius Randle‘s foot in a game against the Pacers. He walked to the bench under his own power and later called it “just a little pain.”
“I don’t think it’s as bad as I initially thought,” coach Luke Walton said. “I saw him go down and I was pretty worried for him, but he said he feels all right when I checked on him at halftime.”
Russell is averaging 14.3 points, 4.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 34 games.
Sixers Cautious With Joel Embiid’s Injury
The Sixers aren’t releasing much information about Friday’s injury to rookie center Joel Embiid, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Embiid suffered a bruise on his left knee in the third quarter of a game with the Trail Blazers. He returned for part of the fourth quarter before being pulled with 8:50 left to play.
Before tonight’s game in Atlanta, the Sixers said they weren’t sure when Embiid will play again. It could be when they return home Tuesday or he could be held out longer. Embiid wasn’t scheduled to make the trip to Atlanta because it was the second game of a back-to-back.
“I don’t know,” coach Brett Brown said when asked when Embiid might return to action. “Like I say, I think we will learn more when we get back to Philadelphia.”
Pompey states that it appeared Embiid may have hyperextended his knee, which could put him out for about a week. An X-ray on the knee was taken Friday.
Teammate Nerlens Noel said Embiid was moving well after Friday’s game and expressed confidence that he won’t be out long.
“He’s good,” Noel said. “I think it was more about precautionary to leave him out [for the final 8:50 Friday]. He told me even before the game ended that he felt all right. … They just got to take care of him.”
Embiid’s history makes any injury worrisome. He missed his first two NBA seasons while trying to recover from a twice-broken bone in his right foot.