Sixers Notes: Anderson, Okafor, Bogut, Splitter
When word broke that the 76ers would likely end up receiving a pair of second-round picks from the Mavericks in the Nerlens Noel trade, rather than a first-rounder, critics were quick to rule the deal a misstep for GM Bryan Colangelo and the Sixers. However, in the view of Mavs GM Donnie Nelson, the draft compensation isn’t even the most important part of the package heading to Philadelphia — Nelson thinks Justin Anderson is that centerpiece.
“Look, they had an extremely difficult situation,” Nelson said of the Sixers, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com. “They were overstocked at the center position. You’re looking at basically the possibility of a couple-month rental, and so I think they did the best that they could with the situation they had. It was really a need position for us, and it was taking the best possible deal they could get. They like Justin Anderson a lot. He is the critical piece, and it was hard for us to give them that piece.”
David Murphy of The Philadelphia Daily News agrees with Nelson’s sentiment, writing – even before the Mavs GM spoke to reporters – that the success of the deal from the Sixers’ perspective figures to hinge on the development of Anderson.
Here’s more on the Sixers, who announced earlier today that Ben Simmons will be out for the rest of the season:
- The trade market for Jahlil Okafor leading up to the deadline was “much more broad” than the market for Noel, but the right deal didn’t present itself, per Colangelo (Twitter links via Jake Fischer of SI.com). The Sixers GM hinted that the team will probably revisit trade talks involving Okafor at a later date.
- Andrew Bogut won’t be with the Sixers for at least a week while dealing with personal issues, but that doesn’t preclude the two sides from negotiating a buyout during that time, says Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter links). A buyout is considered likely, so Bogut may never end up reporting to Philadelphia.
- Colangelo said today that Tiago Splitter is hoping to get back onto the court this season and the Sixers will help him rehab, but the big man – acquired from the Hawks this week – isn’t part of the club’s long term plans (Twitter links via Fischer and Pompey). Splitter will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
- Colangelo said today that Ersan Ilyasova will be seeking a long-term deal in free agency this summer, but wasn’t part of the Sixers’ long-term plans, which was why the club felt compelled to move him this week (Twitter link via Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly.com).
- Joel Embiid wasn’t thrilled with the cagey way in which the Sixers handled updates on his knee injury, as Tom Moore of The Burlington County Times writes. “I was told I was going to kind of miss two or three weeks, so I wasn’t happy with the way it was handled,” said Embiid, who was announced as day-to-day when he first went down. “I thought keeping my name out there was going to literally have people think about me all the time instead of just saying when I was going to be back.”
Pelicans Sign Jarrett Jack To 10-Day Deal
12:33pm: The Pelicans have officially signed Jack to a 10-day contract, the team announced today (via Twitter).
9:56am: The Pelicans will add a veteran point guard to fill the final opening on their roster, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, who reports that Jarrett Jack has agreed to sign a 10-day contract with the team.
Jack, 33, was one of a handful of free agent guards to audition for the Pelicans this week in the wake of the team’s DeMarcus Cousins acquisition, which sent three guards – Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, and Langston Galloway – to Sacramento. Hollis Thompson and Jack have earned 10-day contracts with New Orleans, while Mario Chalmers, Quinn Cook, and Reggie Williams also worked out for the club this week.
After averaging 12.8 PPG and 7.4 APG through 32 games with the Nets last season, Jack suffered a torn ACL in January, cutting his season short. As a free agent this past summer, the Georgia Tech alum signed with the Hawks, but he was waived when his knee injury lingered into the preseason. It appears he’s fully healthy now.
Jack’s signing will give the Pelicans a full 15-man roster for now, with 13 of those players on guaranteed full-season contracts.
Hawks Suspend Dennis Schroder For One Game
The Hawks have suspended Dennis Schroder for one game without pay for a failure to report to the team on time following the All-Star break, the team announced today in a press release. Schroder will sit out tonight’s game against the Heat.
“Dennis has played an important role for our team and been a significant contributor to our success this season,” head coach Mike Budenholzer said in a statement. “We are disappointed that he did not return to the team on time and we have discussed this with him. We look forward to him rejoining the team in Orlando tomorrow night.”
Schroder, who signed a lucrative new $62MM contract with the Hawks in the fall won’t see that extension go into effect until 2017/18. As such, his lost pay will represent 1/110th of his more modest $2.709MM salary for 2016/17, which works out to about $24.6K.
Schroder said today that his late arrival was a result of visa issues, as Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution details (via Twitter).
DeMarcus Cousins Talks Vlade, Ranadive, Pelicans
During his introductory press conference as a Pelican on Wednesday, DeMarcus Cousins told reporters that the toughest part about the way he was traded by the Kings was Sacramento’s “dishonesty.” As has been widely reported, the Kings publicly and privately insisted Cousins wouldn’t be traded in the weeks and months leading up to the moment that they agreed to send him to the Pelicans.
In an interview with Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated, Cousins went a step further, suggesting that he views Kings GM Vlade Divac and owner Vivek Ranadive “cowards,” according to Spears. Here are a few of the highlights from Cousins’ candid conversation on the deal and his move from Sacramento to New Orleans:
On whether he wants to talk to Divac or Ranadive:
“Nah. For what? It was a coward move, so I’m pretty sure I will get a coward response. For what? And I’ve seen this happen before. I’ve been there through all same types … I was there with [coach] Mike Malone’s [firing]. I’ve seen how they operate. I know what kind of answer I will get anyway. So, what is the point?”
On when the Kings last told him that he wouldn’t be traded:
“A week before the trade. The sick part about it is that Vlade came in my house with my agent [Jarinn Akana]. We sat in my theater and just talked. That was maybe three weeks ago. We sat there and [he] told me what moves he wanted to make. All of that. I just didn’t understand. … I got a text from the owner right before I went to All-Star. He was asking me about a player, how I felt about him and making a move. The owner! When it happened, I was just in shock. I didn’t understand.”
On whether it will be hard to trust a GM or owner again:
“I’ve always had that issue. I’ve had personal conversations with my agent about that and the whole situation anyway. He tried to steer me in their direction. And I’m like, ‘Nah, I can see through that s—t.’ I’ve always had my doubts. When it comes to that, I’m usually 90%. I knew it. But it was just told to me [no trade] so much.”
On why he still loves Sacramento:
“It’s bigger than basketball. It’s bigger than the Kings organization. It’s bigger than that. The relationships I built out there, I’m more hurt by that. Being away from those relationships and the community, I’m more hurt by that because of the dishonesty and all that s—t with the organization.”
On whether the Pelicans will have a legit shot to keep him for the long term:
“Yeah. I said in the press conference, ‘I’m all in.’ I’m not here to B.S. or waste time. I’m here to win. Whatever the system is, I’m dialed in. I’m all in. I’m not here to waste time.”
Hawks Sign Lamar Patterson, Ryan Kelly
FEBRUARY 24, 10:25am: The Hawks have formally signed both Patterson and Kelly to multiyear contracts, according to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Consitution (via Twitter). Vivlamore notes that the deals have team options, so they’re likely only guaranteed for this season.
FEBRUARY 23, 7:15pm: The Hawks will fill their two open roster spots by signing Lamar Patterson and Ryan Kelly for the rest of the season, writes Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Patterson played four games with the Hawks this year, but he recently returned to the D-League after his second 10-day contract expired. The 25-year-old shooting guard appeared in 35 games for Atlanta last season, but spent much of the year in the D-League. He was drafted by the Bucks in the second round in 2014 and traded to the Hawks the next day.
Kelly played nine games for Atlanta this season before being waived January 9th. He has been playing for the D-League’s Maine franchise. The 25-year-old power forward spent his first three NBA seasons with the Lakers.
Sixers Rule Ben Simmons Out For Season
The Sixers have formally announced that Ben Simmons won’t play this season. General manager Bryan Colangelo informed reporters today of the club’s decision, per Jake Fischer of SI.com (Twitter link).
A report on Thursday out of Philadelphia had suggested that Simmons’ season was in jeopardy after the result of a CT scan showed disappointing progress. According to Fischer (Twitter link), Colangelo said today that the most recent scan indicated that there’s “not full healing in the bone.” The next scan will occur in one month.
The organization has been very cautious with its No. 1 overall pick since he fractured a bone in his right foot in training camp. The original prognosis suggested Simmons had a chance to return with three months, but his NBA debut will instead be postponed until the 2017/18 season. According to Colangeo, the Sixers “will talk about” having Simmons on their Summer League team, depending on his status (Twitter link via Fischer).
Simmons is the third top pick for the Sixers to sit out his entire rookie season in the last four years. Nerlens Noel missed his entire rookie year in 2013/14 due to a torn ACL, while foot problems sidelined Joel Embiid for his first two NBA seasons. Embiid has also been out of action as of late with a knee problem, though Colangelo – who called the injury a bone bruise – said today that the injury is “progressing well.” Embiid is expected to miss at least the next four games.
Chris Bosh Joins TNT, Won’t Attempt Comeback This Season
Veteran Heat big man Chris Bosh has signed on with TNT as a studio analyst, the network announced on Thursday. As Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel details, Bosh will appear on TNT for five consecutive Mondays as an analyst, starting next week.
“We’re thrilled to have Chris make appearances with our Players Only studio team and we look forward to incorporating his fresh take and informed perspective into this new TNT series,” said Turner Sports executive VP Craig Barry in a statement. “Chris is still deeply connected with today’s NBA players and his insights into the game will further enhance the experience for our viewers.”
Bosh’s work for TNT is the strongest signal to date that his efforts to return to the court will be put on hold. Having missed more than a year due to blood-clot issues, Bosh hasn’t given up on the idea of making a comeback, but if it happens, it appears it won’t happen this season, given his new TV commitment.
As Winderman writes, the Heat have contended that Bosh’s health concerns make him medically unfit to continue his playing career. The team is expected to move forward in the coming weeks with the process of removing his contract from its cap — a doctor jointly approved by the NBA and the NBPA would have to rule Bosh medically unfit to play for the Heat to remove that salary. In that scenario, Bosh would still be paid the rest of the money left on his deal, but Miami would open up a significant chunk of cap room for the next few seasons.
Bosh currently isn’t in basketball shape, and suggested in a January interview with The Associated Press that he’s “getting the taste of retirement,” so there’s no guarantee he renews his comeback efforts next season. The 32-year-old did hire a new agent – Rob Pelinka – in 2016, but Pelinka’s ability to find Bosh opportunities outside of basketball was one factor in that decision. Of course, with Pelinka set to become the new Lakers GM, he will no longer be able to represent Bosh.
Thunder Notes: Perkins, 15th Man, Roberson
After completing a three-for-two trade with the Bulls on Thursday, the Thunder now have a roster spot open, and they’re expected to be active in the buyout market, reports ESPN’s Royce Young (Twitter link). Although Oklahoma City hasn’t been linked to notable released players or buyout candidates like Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut, the team will certainly be looking for “impact players,” says Young (Twitter link).
As Young observes, if the Thunder don’t land a top target, Kendrick Perkins could be a Plan B for the team. The former OKC big man said last week that he’d love to return to the team, and GM Sam Presti didn’t rule out that scenario on Thursday, though he didn’t make any commitments either, per Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman.
“Perk’s been here,” Presti said. “The door is always open to our former players, and so he’s part of the family. Him being here, I understand that, but I don’t want to speculate on who might be the 15th.”
Here’s more on the Thunder:
- After trading Cameron Payne to Chicago, the Thunder feel “pretty comfortable” with Semaj Christon and Victor Oladipo as backup options behind Russell Westbrook, but Presti didn’t rule out the possibility of using the open roster spot to add another point guard, writes Dawson.
- The Bulls wanted to acquire Andre Roberson from Oklahoma City in Thursday’s trade, but the Thunder are committed to re-signing him in restricted free agency this summer, tweets Royce Young. Still, Roberson’s future remains somewhat uncertain, writes Erik Horne of The Oklahoman.
- In a separate piece for The Oklahoman, Horne examines what the acquisitions of Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott mean for the Thunder this season and beyond.
2017 NBA Trade Deadline Recap
The 2017 NBA trade deadline itself turned out to be a little underwhelming, with no big-name players moved in the last few minutes before 2:00pm CT, and teams like the Celtics, Cavaliers, Pacers, and Pistons standing pat. However, a couple notable players were on the move today, and a few interesting names – including one All-NBA center – were traded in the days leading up to February 23.
Here’s a recap of 2017’s deadline deals, starting with the moves completed today…
(Note: The Rockets’ acquisition of Lou Williams, which wasn’t made official until today, will be considered a February 23 trade. Additionally, not all the deals below have been officially finalized yet, so for now our recap is based on what has been reported.)
Trades completed on deadline day:
- Raptors acquire P.J. Tucker
- Suns acquire Jared Sullinger, Raptors’ 2017 second-round pick, Raptors’ 2018 second-round pick, and cash ($1MM).
- Thunder acquire Taj Gibson, Doug McDermott, and Bulls’ 2018 second-round pick.
- Bulls acquire Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne, and Anthony Morrow.
- Nuggets acquire Roy Hibbert.
- Bucks acquire Nuggets’ 2019 second-round pick (top-55 protected).
- Lakers acquire Tyler Ennis and draft rights to Brad Newley.
- Rockets acquire Marcelo Huertas.
- Suns acquire Mike Scott, draft rights to Cenk Akyol, and cash ($500K).
- Hawks acquire Suns’ 2017 second-round pick (top-55 protected).
- Nets acquire K.J. McDaniels.
- Rockets acquire cash ($75K).
- Mavericks acquire Nerlens Noel.
- Sixers acquire Justin Anderson, Andrew Bogut, and Mavericks’ 2017 first-round pick (top-18 protected).
- Sixers will get Mavs’ second-round picks in 2017 (56-60 protected) and 2018 (56-60 protected) if first-rounder doesn’t convey.
- Rockets acquire Lou Williams.
- Lakers acquire Corey Brewer and Rockets’ 2017 first-round pick.
Trades completed in the 10 days leading up to the deadline:
- Hawks acquire Ersan Ilyasova.
- Sixers acquire Tiago Splitter, Heat’s 2017 second-round pick (top-40 protected), and the right to swap Warriors’ 2017 second-round pick for Hawks’ second-round pick.
- Wizards acquire Bojan Bogdanovic and Chris McCullough.
- Nets acquire Andrew Nicholson, Marcus Thornton, and Wizards’ 2017 first-round pick (top-14 protected).
- Pelicans acquire DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi.
- Kings acquire Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Pelicans’ 2017 first-round pick (top-three protected), and Sixers’ 2017 second-round pick.
- Raptors acquire Serge Ibaka.
- Magic acquire Terrence Ross and less favorable of Raptors’ and Clippers’ 2017 first-round picks.
- Hornets acquire Chris Andersen and cash.
- Cavaliers acquire Hornets’ 2017 second-round pick (top-55 protected).
- Trail Blazers acquire Jusuf Nurkic and Grizzlies’ 2017 first-round pick (top-five protected).
- Nuggets acquire Mason Plumlee, less favorable of Kings’ and Trail Blazers’ 2018 second-round picks, and cash ($2.85MM).
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/23/17
Here are today’s D-League assignments and recalls:
- The Knicks recalled Maurice Ndour and Marshall Plumlee from their Westchester affiliate, the team tweeted.
- The Raptors brought Bruno Caboclo, Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam up from Raptors 905 this morning (Twitter link). All three were sent back down later in the day (Twitter link).
- The Suns recalled slam dunk contest runner-up Derrick Jones Jr. from Northern Arizona (Twitter link).
- The Pistons called up Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije from their affiliate in Grand Rapids, tweets Rod Beard of The Detroit News.