Fultz, Fox Headline Official NBA Draft Combine List
The NBA issued an official announcement today confirming 67 participants for this year’s draft combine in Chicago, and while many of the very best prospects won’t be in attendance, a couple notable names headline the field. Point guards Markelle Fultz and De’Aaron Fox are expected to attend, per the league.
Many top prospects in recent years have skipped the draft combine, having determined that making an appearance there was unlikely to improve their stocks. That turned out to be true for both Ben Simmons and Karl-Anthony Towns, recent No. 1 overall picks who didn’t attend the combine.
As such, it was no surprise when reports indicated that Lonzo Ball and seven other top-10 prospects wouldn’t be present next week in Chicago. However, Fultz is considered a consensus top-two player in the 2017 class, and Fox isn’t far behind, on the heels of a strong showing in the NCAA tournament.
For the full list of participants, check out the NBA’s press release (linked above) or the full list at DraftExpress.com, which also includes details on which players are expected to participate in five-on-five action at the combine.
The combine will run from May 9 to May 14, after which NCAA early entrants testing the waters will have 10 days to decide whether or not to stay in the draft.
Latest On Steve Kerr
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr remains out indefinitely, and is extremely unlikely to return to the team’s bench before the end of Golden State’s series against the Jazz, reports Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Mike Brown will continue to coach the Warriors in the interim.
According to Shelburne, Kerr is seeing a specialist at Duke University Medical Center on Friday and is receiving treatment aimed at alleviating the symptoms that have been ailing him as of late. Kerr, who underwent surgery on his back two years ago, continues to experience the effects of complications from that procedure, including severe headaches, nausea, and dizziness.
While the Warriors would love to see Kerr back on the sideline, the team’s players are moving forward with the expectation that Brown will be the head coach for the rest of the playoffs, as we heard earlier this week.
As Shelburne tweets, Kerr was adamant during his first leave of absence last season that he didn’t want to return to the Warriors until he was healed and ready to coach full-time. That’s even more important this time around, Shelburne notes.
2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers have three players who are perennial All-NBA candidates, and have racked up at least 51 victories in each of the last five seasons. However, they’ve also only won two playoff series during that stretch — that’s why, with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin headed toward potential free agency, there are so many calls for Los Angeles to blow things up this offseason. A full-scale rebuild seems unlikely, since the Clippers won’t want to lose their top free agents for nothing, and sign-and-trades are difficult to pull off under the current CBA. Still, changes of some sort are looming in the wake of another postseason disappointment.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Clippers financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:
Guaranteed Salary
- DeAndre Jordan ($22,642,350)
- Jamal Crawford ($14,246,988)
- Austin Rivers ($11,825,000)
- Wesley Johnson ($5,881,260)
- Brice Johnson ($1,331,160)
- Diamond Stone ($1,312,611)
- Paul Pierce ($1,096,080) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.1
- Carlos Delfino ($650,000) — Waived via stretch provision
- Jordan Farmar ($510,921) — Waived via stretch provision
- Miroslav Raduljica ($252,043) — Waived via stretch provision
- Total: $59,748,413
Player Options / Early Termination Options
- Chris Paul ($24,268,959) (ETO)
- Blake Griffin ($21,373,952) (ETO)
- Luc Mbah a Moute ($2,302,135) (PO)
- Marreese Speights ($2,116,955) (PO)
- Total: $50,062,001
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Paul Pierce ($2,583,760) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.1
- Total: $2,583,760
Restricted Free Agents
- None
Cap Holds
- Chris Paul ($34,303,241) — If early termination option is exercised
- Blake Griffin ($30,211,259) — If early termination option is exercised2
- J.J. Redick ($14,017,250)
- Luc Mbah a Moute ($2,863,900) — If player option is declined
- Alan Anderson ($1,471,382)
- Brandon Bass ($1,471,382)
- Raymond Felton ($1,471,382)
- Marreese Speights ($1,471,382) — If player option is declined
- Total: $87,281,178
Trade Exceptions
- C.J. Wilcox TPE ($1,209,600) — Expires 7/15/17
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: $36,357,897
- Determining the Clippers’ maximum cap space is a less interesting exercise than it is for most other teams, since there’s very little chance the Clips will part ways with all their free-agents-to-be in an effort to create cap room. Still, it’s worth noting that if the club renounces those free agents and exceptions, keeps its six guaranteed salaries, and accounts for six empty roster spots, that would result in a $64,642,103 team salary. A new deal for Paul would eat up most of that room, and if the Clippers are able to retain Griffin as well, that would send team salary way over the cap.
Footnotes:
- Pierce’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after June 30.
- Griffin’s cap hold can’t exceed his maximum salary, which is currently projected to be $30,300,000.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.
Tony Parker Out For Postseason
MAY 5: The Spurs announced today (via Twitter) that Parker underwent successful surgery to repair his ruptured left quadriceps tendon. The club will determine a recovery timetable for the veteran guard at a later date.
MAY 4: Tony Parker has a ruptured left quadriceps tendon and will miss the rest of the postseason, the team announced via Twitter.
The extent of the injury was confirmed by an MRI this morning in San Antonio. Parker is expected require surgery, and a timeline for his recovery “will be determined at a later date,” according to the Spurs.
The recovery time for an operation of this type is usually 6 to 8 months, according to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News, which would jeopardize Parker’s availability for the start of next season.
Parker suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s victory over the Rockets. He landed awkwardly without contact and had to be carried off the court by teammates.
Parker missed 19 regular season games and San Antonio had a 15-4 record without him, notes Ben Gulliver of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). Patty Mills is expected to move into the starting lineup in Parker’s absence and Kawhi Leonard will take on a larger role in running the offense.
Parker, 34, is in his 16th NBA season, all with the Spurs. He has one year remaining on his current contract at more than $15.45MM.
Knicks Notes: Carmelo, Trade Scenarios, Ntilikina
The Clippers have been frequently cited as a potential destination for Carmelo Anthony, assuming the Knicks forward is willing to waive his no-trade clause. But after another early playoff exit, Doc Rivers‘ club will have some major decisions to face even before determining whether an Anthony trade is possible.
As Marc Berman of The New York Post writes, the belief around the NBA right now is that the Clippers will make every effort to lock up Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to new deals, but may not push quite as hard to retain veteran sharpshooter J.J. Redick. If that’s the case, Berman writes, then several NBA executives believe there’s only one trade scenario involving Carmelo and the Clippers that would make sense — signing-and-trading Redick along with Austin Rivers and perhaps Wesley Johnson in exchange for Anthony and maybe one of the Knicks’ two second-round picks.
The math for that hypothetical swap would work, depending on Redick’s new contract, and one NBA executive suggests to Berman that “it’s really the only thing that makes sense.” Another exec believes it would be a good trade for the Knicks, who would get a reliable shooter in Redick and a good sixth man in Rivers. Whether the Clippers, Knicks, and Carmelo could all get on the same page on such a deal remains to be seen, however.
Here’s more on the Knicks:
- In a piece for Basketball Insiders, Tommy Beer runs through a number of possible trade scenarios involving Anthony, including theoretical proposals for long-shot suitors like the Trail Blazers, Bucks, and Pistons.
- We heard earlier this week that GM Steve Mills was overseas scouting French point guard Frank Ntilikina, and international basketball reporter David Pick reiterates (via Twitter) that the Knicks are fond of the 18-year-old prospect. Knicks scout Makhtar N’Diaye, in particular, likes Ntilikina, according to Pick.
- While Ntilikina should still be on the board if New York picks seventh overall, the Knicks would likely be eyeing different prospects if they get some lottery luck and move into the top three. MSG Network analyst and former NBA forward Wally Szczerbiak spoke to Berman (link via New York Post) about some of the top players on draft boards who have a chance to land with the Knicks.
Draft Notes: Lottery, Fox, Tatum, J. Jackson
While this year’s draft class features a clear-cut top two in Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, the consensus rankings breaks down after that, says ESPN’s Chad Ford (Insider link). As Ford explains, some teams would likely target Kansas forward Josh Jackson with the No. 3 pick, but others – like the Sixers, Magic, Timberwolves, and Knicks – may be more inclined to nab Kentucky sharpshooter Malik Monk once Fultz and Ball are off the board.
Jackson or Monk come in at No. 3 for most of the lottery teams, Ford writes that Dennis Smith Jr. might be the best fit for the Nuggets after the two top point guards. Meanwhile, Ford also suggests that Ball could be a better fit than Fultz for some teams near the top of the lottery, including the Lakers, who “appear to be enamored” with the UCLA product.
Here are a few more draft-related notes worth rounding up:
- Most of this year’s top 10 prospects won’t be in Chicago next week for the NBA’s draft combine, but De’Aaron Fox is expected to attend, a source tells Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Outside of Fox, Markelle Fultz is the only other top prospect whose combine intentions haven’t been reported, though it would be a surprise if Fultz participated.
- Duke prospect Jayson Tatum isn’t getting any real buzz as a candidate to be picked first overall, but in an appearance on The Sidelines podcast with Evan Daniels, Tatum made the case for why he should be.
- North Carolina’s Justin Jackson has officially gone pro, forgoing his remaining NCAA eligibility by hiring agent Jim Tanner, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Twitter link). Jackson is viewed as a potential lottery pick.
Hawks To Retain Wilcox; Budenholzer To Relinquish President Title
MAY 5, 8:32am: Speaking to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Hawks owner Tony Ressler has confirmed the changes reported below. According to Ressler, Wilcox will serve as a special advisor to team ownership going forward, and the search has begun for a new general manager to head the basketball operations department.
MAY 4, 4:21pm: Although a report on Wednesday indicated that the Hawks were set to part ways with Wes Wilcox, the general manager will remain with the franchise in a high-ranking front office role after all, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. However, Atlanta’s front office will still be undergoing some changes.
According to Wojnarowski, Mike Budenholzer will relinquish his title as the Hawks’ president of basketball operations. Budenholzer will remain the club’s head coach, and will still have a say in personnel decisions, but he will no longer oversee the basketball operations department. Instead, Atlanta will seek out a new president of basketball operations, per Wojnarowski.
Since June 30, 2015, Budenholzer had been the team’s president of basketball operations, in addition to the head coach. In that faculty, Budenholzer had the final say in all basketball matters. Budenholzer has been the Hawks’ head coach since the end of 2013 playoffs. Prior to taking the head coaching job in Atlanta, Coach Bud was an assistant coach under Gregg Popovich with the Spurs.
As we discussed on Wednesday, there are now only four men in the NBA who possess both head coach and president of basketball operations titles: Doc Rivers with the Clippers, Stan Van Gundy in Detroit, Tom Thibodeau with the Timberwolves, and Popovich in San Antonio.
The Hawks just completed a 43-39 season, in which they finished as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and were eliminated in the first round by the Wizards. Atlanta has made the playoffs in ten consecutive seasons.
On Tuesday, the Magic began their interview process for president of basketball operations, with names such as Kevin McHale and Cavaliers GM David Griffin topping their wish list. Orlando is the only team besides Atlanta currently seeking a president of basketball operations. In the coming days, it will likely become apparent whether the Hawks will pursue the Magic’s candidates for their own vacant post.
Minority owner Grant Hill will play a key role in the search process, but has currently shown no interest in moving to operations full-time, Woj reports.
Joshua Fischman contributed to this story. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Southeast Notes: Heat, Plumlee, Hawks
Despite seemingly messy breakups with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade and missing the playoffs this season, the Heat are not concerned with difficulties of luring free agents to South Beach, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes. As Jackson notes, Bosh and the Heat seem to be on good terms despite the controversial circumstances surrounding the former All-Star’s battles with blood clots, which prompted to Heat to not play him this season. Also, an associate of Wade tells Jackson the Miami legend is open to playing for the team again in the future.
However, the team’s ultimate calling card may be its coach, Erik Spoelstra. In addition to coaching the Heat to two NBA titles during his tenure, Spoelstra has created a culture that allows players to thrive. Heat forward James Johnson explained to Jackson that “consistency” is the coach’s strength.
“When I say consistency, I [mean] it’s doing the same thing, not giving you the same minutes every game, but consistently getting on you enough, praising you a little bit, holding me to my word,” Johnson said. “When you get a consistent coach you look up to like coach Spo, it makes things easier.”
Miami’s culture includes rigorous training, which Jackson says will deter certain veteran players who do not want to add mileage to their bodies. As Spoelstra has said, the Heat are “not for everybody.”
Here is more news from the Southeast Division:
- The Hornets announced earlier this week that center Miles Plumlee underwent successful arthroscopic debridement on his right knee. The expected recovery for the 28-year-old center is six to eight weeks, so he should be good to go this fall. Plumlee was sent to Charlotte as part of a February deal that included Spencer Hawes and Roy Hibbert going to the Bucks. In 13 games with the Hornets, Plumlee posted totals of 2.4 PPG and 3.2 RPG.
- Former Hawks general manager Wes Wilcox was seemingly let go by Atlanta earlier this week, but will remain with the team in a different capacity. However, before that move was announced, Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Wilcox had been “in contact with other NBA teams and at least one college about other positions.”
- Meanwhile, Mike Budenholzer will not retain his title as the Hawks’ president of basketball operations and will instead report — along with Wilcox — to whomever the Hawks hire to oversee basketball operations, per Vivlamore.
Pacific Notes: McGee, Lakers, Clippers, Kings
JaVale McGee has been an enigma — more often a punchline for on-court gaffes than receiving praise for his athletic ability — during his nine-year NBA career, which has included stints with five different organizations. However, the 7’0″ center has put his skill set together to be a productive part of the Warriors‘ early run the playoffs, Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated writes.
In his first postseason with the Warriors, McGee is averaging 8.2 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and shooting the basketball at an efficient .760 clip. As McGee explains to Spears, the perception of him being a distraction has fueled him to work harder to disprove detractors: “I haven’t done [anything]. Nothing at all. I have the same perception of guys doing bad stuff, getting DUIs and things like that. I have nothing like that. It’s frustrating knowing how hard you work,” McGee said. “That is just the misconception of what people see. It’s just a testimony to keep working hard, stay positive and eventually things will work out for you.”
The Warriors swept the Trail Blazers in the opening round and currently hold a 1-0 lead over the Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals. McGee’s energy and production have been a huge reason for the team’s postseason success.
Here are additional news tidbits from the Pacific Division:
- The Lakers saw two key departures from the organization this week. Tim DiFrancesco, the team’s strength and conditioning coach the last six seasons, has resigned, according to ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. In a separate update, Holmes wrote that Yuju Lee, the Lakers’ director of basketball analytics, left the team after four seasons in lieu of accepting a demotion. These departures are another change for a Lakers team that saw a significant overhaul when Magic Johnson took over as president of basketball operations in late February.
- Several NBA.com writers discussed several potential directions the Clippers may go in now that they have been eliminated from the postseason. The collection of scribes discuss Blake Griffin‘s potential plans in free agency, Chris Paul‘s future, and injuries decimating the team.
- After the Kings missed their 11th consecutive postseason, Keith P. Smith of RealGM analyzes the team’s various needs ahead of the 2017/18 offseason. Sacramento’s offseason objectives will include acquiring a point guard, trying to replace the departed DeMarcus Cousins, and figuring out Rudy Gay‘s contract situation where the oft-injured forward holds a player option for next season.
Bucks Plan To Retain Snell; Parker Making Progress
The Bucks plan to retain restricted free agent Tony Snell, Bucks general manager John Hammond said Thursday, according to The Associated Press (link via The Star Tribune).
“He’s an outstanding guy and a guy we want to have as part of our team moving forward,” Hammond said of Snell. “He’s about the right things. I think Tony wants to be here. We’re hoping to bring him back. We’re planning on him being with us next season.”
Since Snell will be a restricted free agent, Milwaukee can match any offer sheet he signs this offseason. In his first season with the Bucks, Snell started all 80 games in which he played, averaging career highs in points (8.5), field goal percentage (45.5), and minutes (29.2). He also became a three-point threat, converting 40.6% of his 4.4 three-point attempts per game.
Hammond also indicated that Jabari Parker is recovering promisingly from a torn ACL in his left knee and the medical staff hopes he can return for next season’s All-Star break. While Hammond certainly considers Parker a key part of the Bucks’ long-term future and referred to his progress as “amazing,” the forward’s eligibility for a contract extension this offseason could be complicated by his second torn ACL in three NBA seasons. Parker averaged 20.1 PPG and 6.2 RPG on 49.0% shooting in 51 games this season (33.9 MPG) before going down.
The general manager also spoke about Greg Monroe, who has until the night of the NBA draft on June 22 to decide whether he will exercise his $17.8MM player option for the 2017/2018 campaign. As the Bucks GM explains, the team wants to give Monroe some space to weigh that option decision: “At this time, it is a time to let Greg settle in and let him make the decision he feels is best for him.”
Despite averaging a career low in minutes per game and coming off the bench for all 81 games he played, Monroe enjoyed a productive season, averaging 11.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, and shooting 53.4%. Monroe signed with the Bucks during the 2015 offseason after playing five seasons for the Pistons.