NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 1/2/17
Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:
7:40pm:
- The Kings have sent rookies Skal Labissiere and Georgios Papagiannis to their D-League affiliate in Reno, tweets Jason Jones. The two had most recently played sparingly for Sacramento on New Year’s Eve.
12:27pm:
- Forward Joel Bolomboy is headed back to the Salt Lake City Stars, according to a press release issued by the Jazz. In Bolomboy’s last game for Utah’s D-League affiliate, on Friday, he posted 18 points and 12 boards to help lead the Stars to a double-overtime win.
- The Celtics have recalled a pair of players, Jordan Mickey and Demetrius Jackson, from the D-League, the team announced today (via Twitter). The duo could be active tomorrow for the C’s, depending on the health of a few Boston players.
- The Spurs have recalled rookie guard Bryn Forbes from Austin, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News. Forbes has played well for the NBADL Spurs this season, averaging 23.4 PPG in seven games.
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Knicks, Nets
Ersan Ilyasova, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, expressed an interest in sticking with the Sixers beyond this season, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. While it is not unusual to hear of a player set to be a free agent speak highly of his current team, Ilyasova’s comments are noteworthy because his presence seems to be a good fit for both sides with Sixers management expressing a desire to re-sign him, as Pompey adds. Ilyasova has been a positive player in the locker room and has averaged 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds, shooting 40.1 percent on three-pointers, since being acquired in a trade from the Thunder on November 1st, Pompey notes.
Here is more from around the Atlantic Division:
- There is some concern that the Knicks are overusing Kristaps Porzingis, who was out of Monday’s game because of Achilles soreness, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Berman spoke with a league scout who feared the Knicks are “draining” the young star.
- Nets coach Kenny Atkinson is particularly high on Isaiah Whitehead because of the young guard’s 3-point shot, passing prowess and defense, NetsDaily passes along in a look at Brooklyn’s batch of prospects.
Latest On Donatas Motiejunas
The Pelicans are still in talks with center Donatas Motiejunas on finalizing a deal, New Orleans coach Alvin Gentry confirmed to reporters, including John Reid of The Times Picayune. It was reported Sunday that the Pelicans were nearing an agreement with the 7-footer.
”We’re talking and we’re in negotiations,” Gentry said.
The deal is expected to be a one-year pact at the veteran’s minimum, and the deal was expected to be done by Tuesday. That would be a large pay cut for Motiejunas, who has been without a team since restricted free agency began in July. He went five months without an offer before agreeing to an offer sheet with the Nets in early December. That deal was matched by the Rockets, who later waived him following Motiejunas’ physical.
There is a strong chance, assuming Motiejunas is healthy, that the big man will have a shot at a role with decent playing time in New Orleans because centers Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca have been removed from the rotation. Motiejunas was limited by back problems last season and averaged 6.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 37 games with the Rockets.
Raptors Notes: Millsap, Patterson, Trades
The topic of whether or not the Raptors should trade for the Hawks’ Paul Millsap is currently a hot one because Millsap would help fill Toronto’s biggest weakness at power forward and rebounding. It is unclear whether the Raptors are willing to take on the gamble of acquiring Millsap, Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun writes. While the move makes sense on paper, there is no guarantee that Millsap would put the Raptors over the top or that he would re-sign with Toronto next summer, Wolstat adds. What’s more, other teams may have more enticing offers for Atlanta, Wolstat points out. Rachel Nichols of ESPN.com (video link) argues that Millsap would fill a hole for the Raptors, flourish in the pick-and-roll and bolster the Raptors’ defense. On the other side, however, Nichols cautions that the Hawks would likely want a significant return for Millsap, who as Nichols adds, has indicated he will likely opt out of his contract. Still, the Raptors have too good of a team not to add its one missing link in the hopes of a finals appearance, Nichols surmises.
Here is more out of Toronto:
- With Patrick Patterson out with a knee strain injury, the unlikely duo of Jakob Poeltl and Lucas Nogueira stepped up Sunday night, Mike Ganter of The National Post relays. It is unclear when Patterson will return, but he has been ruled day-to-day, signaling that the injury does not appear to be serious.
- The Raptors have been “sniffing” around, specifically at big men, but are reluctant to part with their nucleus unless the player they are acquiring is a game-changer, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders tweets.
Community Shootaround: MVP Race Check-In
The NBA season is nearing its halfway mark, which means it’s worth checking in on what’s shaping up to be perhaps the most interesting MVP race the league has seen in years. Multiple young players have made the leap to superstardom this season, while others who have been stars for years have taken their games to a new level so far in 2016/17.
Two of those young players that have taken a leap this season likely won’t receive a ton of MVP votes, given their teams’ middling performances. But Anthony Davis is blowing away his career highs in PPG and RPG, with 29.2 and 11.7, respectively, while also contributing a league-leading 2.6 BPG. Giannis Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, is doing a little of everything for the Bucks, with an eye-popping stat line of 23.8 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.0 SPG, 2.0 BPG, and a .536 FG% in 32 games. Davis and Antetokounmpo are 23 and 22 years old, respectively, so even if they don’t get serious MVP consideration this season, they’ll have plenty more chances to compete for the award in the future.
Two former MVP winners have been as good as ever this season for the two teams expected to meet again in the Finals. In the East, LeBron James had been expected to play a slightly lesser role during the regular season in order to make sure he’s fresh for the playoffs, but the veteran forward has actually seen his MPG increase to 37.1, and his numbers this year are the best they’ve been since his return to Cleveland — 25.6 PPG, 8.7 APG, 7.9 RPG, and a .511 FG%, including 38.4% on three-pointers.
In the West, Kevin Durant has been the best player on a Warriors team that already featured three All-NBA stars, including last year’s MVP. While Stephen Curry‘s production has dipped a little, Durant’s efficiency has gone through the roof — he’s shooting a career-best 53.7% from the field, and has also emerged as a solid rim protecter and rebounder for a team lacking a traditional impact center. His 8.9 RPG and 1.6 BPG are career highs.
At this point though, the MVP race may come down to two of Durant’s former teammates. James Harden, who is coming off an astonishing 53-point, 17-assist, 16-rebound showing on New Year’s Eve, has led the league in assists with 12.0 per game, and has also averaged 28.5 PPG and 8.1 RPG for an overachieving Rockets team that won 15 of 17 games in December.
In a season full of incredible statistical achievements though, it has been Russell Westbrook who has arguably put off the most impressive stat line so far. Through 34 games, the Thunder point guard continues to average a triple-double, having scored a league-leading 30.9 PPG to go along with 10.7 APG and 10.5 RPG. As has been mentioned often this season, Westbrook would be the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double if he can keep up the pace.
With so many worth candidates this season, including a few I didn’t mention, who do you like so far in the NBA’s MVP race? Do you expect one player to take hold of the race in the second half, or will it be a toss-up at season’s end? Jump into the comments section below to weigh in with your thoughts!
Central Notes: Rondo, Hoiberg, McRae, Jefferson
A Sunday report indicated that Rajon Rondo would likely seek a trade from the Bulls if he remains on the bench going forward, and it doesn’t appear the team intends to insert him back into the starting lineup. As Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com details, head coach Fred Hoiberg hedged a little during his conversation with reporters today, but it sounds like Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant will handle point guard duties for now, with Rondo on the bench.
Hoiberg gave Rondo credit for handling his demotion with professionalism, and the head coach suggested he’s open to changing his plans depending on how things play out. Still, unless Rondo gets a regular spot in the rotation back within the next few days, it seems as if the Bulls and the veteran point guard may be heading for a separation. Rondo is already a trade candidate, and if Chicago can’t find a taker, there’s a chance he’ll become a release candidate later in the season as well — his salary for 2017/18 is only partially guaranteed for $3MM, and that cap hit could be spread out over multiple seasons.
Here’s more from around the Central division:
- The Bulls haven’t yet engaged in buyout talks or trade talks for Rondo, but the former All-Star is unlikely to stay upbeat if he rides the pine for long, says Goodwill in another CSNChicago.com piece. As Goodwill writes, the Rondo situation is just one of many potential problems in Chicago, as the team finds itself at a crossroads.
- In the wake of last week’s report that Hoiberg’s seat is getting hotter, Tom Ziller of SBNation.com argues that firing the head coach would be a short-sighted and ill-advised move for the Bulls.
- Jordan McRae, one of two Cavaliers players on a non-guaranteed contract, had played sparingly for the team this season and hadn’t scored double-digit points in a game until Saturday, when he got a rare start and went off for 20 points. Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com has the details on McRae’s performance, which the Cavs will have to take into account as they decide whether to keep the 25-year-old on the roster.
- Al Jefferson, who signed a three-year deal with the Pacers in July, viewed Indiana as an ideal fit and has been proven right so far, according to Jordan J. Wilson of The Indianapolis Star.
Latest On Paul Millsap
The NBA’s 2017 rumor mill got off to an interesting start on Sunday, with an ESPN report suggesting that the Hawks are listening to offers on Paul Millsap, among other players. Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution takes a closer look at that report today, noting that Atlanta is indeed doing its due diligence on Millsap, along with Kyle Korver, Thabo Sefolosha, Tiago Splitter, and Kris Humphries. However, just because the team is willing to listen, that doesn’t mean a deal is imminent or even likely. Atlanta hasn’t put Millsap on the trade block, per Vivlamore.
Vivlamore also addressed a separate report from ESPN, which indicated that Millsap has already decided to opt out of his contract and become a free agent in 2017. That report is simply “not true,” according to Vivlamore, who heard from a source on Sunday that no decision has been made on that front. It’s certainly likely that Millsap will turn down his player option and explore the open market, but a serious injury or another unexpected factor could impact that decision, Vivlamore writes.
Here’s more on Millsap, as rumors begin to swirl in Atlanta:
- The Hawks‘ asking price for Millsap will be high, and will likely outweigh what suitors are willing to give up for a player on an expiring contract, says Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (Twitter links). Kyler expects there to be plenty of trade talk surrounding Hawks players like Millsap and Korver, but he isn’t anticipating a ton of action by the deadline.
- Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders identifies the Raptors, Trail Blazers, and Nuggets as a few teams that would make sense as trade partners for Atlanta if the Hawks get serious about moving Millsap.
- Within his latest mailbag, Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel discusses the possibility of the Heat making a play for Millsap via trade or free agency.
Pistons Notes: Jackson, Baynes, S. Johnson
The Pistons have lost seven of their last nine games, having slipped from 14-13 in mid-December to 16-20 now. However, the team’s second-half performance on Sunday in a win over the Heat was a strong one. As Keith Langlois of Pistons.com details, head coach Stan Van Gundy says his club can be “two totally different teams” depending on the night, and the team that showed up in the second half on Sunday is the one that he wants to see more regularly. Langlois points to a few encouraging signs for the team, including Reggie Jackson‘s improved play, and identifies a few other areas that still need to be addressed.
Here’s more from out of Detroit:
- The Pistons may be without their backup center for the next little while, after Aron Baynes left Sunday’s game with a sprained ankle, per Aaron McMann of MLive.com. It remains to be seen how serious the injury is, but if Baynes has to miss time, Detroit will likely either use Jon Leuer at center or insert Boban Marjanovic into the rotation.
- Stanley Johnson, who has returned to the Pistons’ rotation after falling out of it earlier in the season, is seeing his patience and extra work paying off, McMann writes in a separate MLive.com piece. Last month, a report suggested that the team had resisted trade overtures for 2015’s eighth overall pick.
- With the season nearing its halfway point and the Pistons currently in 11th in the Eastern Conference, the team needs a quick fix to get back in contention, writes Rod Beard of The Detroit News. While Van Gundy has said he isn’t looking at the trade market at the moment, that might change if the club doesn’t start showing more signs of life in the coming weeks, Beard writes.
Alec Burks Expected To Return On Monday
Jazz shooting guard Alec Burks is expected to make his 2016/17 debut on Monday night when Utah faces the Nets in Brooklyn, league sources tell Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link). According to Jones, Burks will be on a minutes restriction upon returning to Utah’s lineup.
The 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Burks is in his sixth year with the Jazz, though his career has been plagued by injuries so far. Outside of a career year in 2013/14, when he averaged 14.0 PPG in 78 games, Burks has never played more than 64 games in a season, and has been limited to just 58 since signing a contract extension in October 2014.
Having missed most of the 2015/16 campaign with ankle and leg injuries, Burks was ruled out indefinitely at the start of 2016/17 after he underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his left ankle.
With Burks set to return, it will be interesting to see how he fits into a Jazz rotation that features Rodney Hood and offseason signee Joe Johnson. With Dante Exum and George Hill sidelined, there should be enough minutes to go around in the backcourt for now, but if and when everyone gets healthy, there may be a bit of a logjam.
Burks is one of just two players on the Jazz – along with Rudy Gobert – who is on a guaranteed contract through at least the 2018/19 season, though that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s safe for the long term in Utah. Last month, ESPN’s Zach Lowe identified Burks as a possible trade candidate, noting that Utah has plenty of key players up for new deals soon, and probably can’t afford to keep everyone.
Lakers Notes: Trades, Development, Calderon
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak indicated in mid-December that he expects to look at trade opportunities that arise before February’s deadline, but that he would be fine with standing pat and not making an in-season move. According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link), that seems to be the team’s private stance as well as its public one. Kyler suggests that the Lakers aren’t “overly interested in change,” and if they make a major trade, it’s more likely to happen during the offseason than at the deadline.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Kupchak has been staying patient with the development of some of the Lakers’ promising young players, and he’s pleased with what he has seen so far, writes Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News.
- After missing some time with a hamstring problem, veteran point guard Jose Calderon returned to the Lakers’ active roster in late December. However, he has received a few DNP-CDs in a row, and head coach Luke Walton says it has been “tricky” to integrate Calderon into the lineup. Medina has the details and the quotes in another Daily News report.
- The Lakers have lost 15 of 17 games since the start of December, prompting Bill Oram of The Orange County Register to suggest that the team’s lack of fight may stem from an absence of on-court leadership on the young roster.