Mavs Serious Contenders To Sign Jrue Holiday, Justin Holiday
The Mavericks have emerged as serious contenders to sign point guard Jrue Holiday in free agency, according to Jake Fischer of SI.com (Twitter links). Fischer reports that Dallas is also a contender to sign free-agent-to-be swingman Justin Holiday, which would allow the Holiday brothers to play on the same team.
A report in early March quoted Justin Holiday as saying that it would be a “dream come true” to play with his younger brother Jrue. With both players set to hit the free agent market this summer, it appears they’ll get a chance to make that dream a reality, though there’s certainly no guarantee that a team making a strong offer to one brother will want to add the other as well.
The Mavs, however, would make some sense as a destination for both Holidays. Dallas has long been in the market for a point guard in the future, having struck out on top free agents at the position – including Mike Conley in 2016 – for the last last several years. Jrue Holiday would be a nice addition to the Mavs’ backcourt, while Justin could help fill a hole created in the team’s rotation when Justin Anderson was traded to Philadelphia.
[RELATED: 2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Dallas Mavericks]
It remains to be seen whether the Mavs will have the cap room necessary to accommodate both Holidays, though the club could get creative to make some space. Currently, Dallas has about $60MM in guaranteed salary on its books for 2017/18, which doesn’t include Nerlens Noel‘s cap hold worth nearly $11MM, Dirk Nowitzki‘s team option worth $25MM, or a handful of other non-guaranteed salaries.
The Pelicans are expected to aggressively try to retain Jrue Holiday, so the Mavs will have some competition from at least one division rival for the veteran point guard.
Woj’s Latest: Celtics, Griffin, CP3, LeBron, Snell
The Celtics are expected to be the Clippers‘ biggest threat for Blake Griffin this summer, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, who discussed 2017 free agency on a podcast with Bobby Marks. Wojnarowski suggests that Griffin and Gordon Hayward are expected to be the Celtics’ top two targets next month, adding that if Hayward leaves the Jazz, it would be a “tortured” decision.
As for the Clippers, Wojnarowski doesn’t see a scenario in which the club is able to bring back Griffin, Chris Paul, and J.J. Redick. And while Redick is probably the most likely of the three to change teams, Woj thinks there’s a “real chance” the Clippers would move on from from Paul if the two sides can’t come to a quick agreement when free agency begins. Wojnarowski names the Spurs, Heat, Lakers, and Rockets as teams that could get involved in the CP3 sweepstakes if the veteran point guard seriously considers leaving the Clips.
Here are some of the other highlights from Wojnarowski’s conversation with Marks:
- The Cavaliers aren’t necessarily assuming it’s a given that LeBron James will re-sign with them in 2018. A move out west – possibly to the Lakers or Clippers – a year from now is “very much in play” for LeBron, according to Wojnarowski.
- Wojnarowski suggests that Tony Snell may be a popular restricted free agent this summer, since teams may feel like they can put pressure on the Bucks, who won’t want to approach tax territory. An annual salary in the $11-13MM range is within range for Snell, says Wojnarowski.
- During a discussion of possible Nets RFA targets, Wojnarowski mentions Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and notes that the Pistons don’t really want to max him out. However, the idea of losing KCP for nothing would likely be even less appealing to Detroit.
- While the Lakers haven’t necessarily made any decisions yet, they’re “looking hard” at Josh Jackson with the No. 2 pick. Wojnarowski observes that there are a lot of voices in the team’s front office, so Jackson has support from some execs.
- Wojnarowski and Marks dismiss the idea that the Kings would trade the fifth and 10th overall picks to move up to No. 3 to nab a top point guard. However, they acknowledge that Sacramento packaging the No. 5 pick with something a little less valuable in order to trade up wouldn’t be unrealistic.
CSKA Moscow Attempting To Retain Milos Teodosic
Euroleague star Milos Teodosic said way back in September 2016 that he was looking forward to exploring his NBA opportunities in the summer of 2017, but his current team won’t let him go without a fight. According to Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops, CSKA Moscow is offering Teodosic a new three-year contract worth 12 million euros.
In 29 Euroleague games this season, Teodosic averaged 16.1 PPG and a team-high 6.8 APG while making 38.1% of his three-point attempts. His play helped CSKA Moscow earn a VTB League championship and a spot in the Euroleague Final Four, where the team finished third behind Fenerbache (Turkey) and Olympiacos (Greece). Teodosic’s performance also attracted plenty of NBA interest.
The Nets have been frequently cited throughout the last year as a likely suitor for Teodosic, and various reports have named the Jazz, Kings, Heat, and Nuggets as other NBA clubs that could be in the mix for the point guard’s services.
CSKA’s alleged offer to Teodosic is based on a net figure, since European teams often pay the taxes on player contracts, Varlas notes. So, taking into account the money he’d pay in taxes and the conversion from euros to U.S. dollars, Teodosic would require a substantial offer from an NBA team to make a move stateside worth his while financially.
As Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays, Teodosic recently suggested that he wants to rest and take his time deciding on his future, but CSKA Moscow will push for a decision soon. “We will try to build a stronger team and that’s why we are waiting Teodosic’s answer as soon as possible,” CSKA president Andrey Vatutin said this week, per Varlas.
Nuggets GM Talks Draft, Free Agency, Jokic
With the NBA draft right around the corner, Nuggets general manager Tim Connelly appeared on Altitude Sports Radio on Tuesday (SoundCloud link) and spoke to Vic Lombardi about his team’s plan for the upcoming offseason. Connelly, who suggested that he’d like the free agent period to happen before the draft, discussed the Nuggets’ approach to both of those major events on the NBA’s offseason calendar.
The interview includes a handful of interesting comments from Connelly about the Nuggets’ roster-building process, competing with the Warriors, Danilo Gallinari‘s status, and other topics. The conversation is worth checking out in full, but here are a few highlights from the Denver GM:
On the Nuggets’ approach to the draft:
“We have a handful more workouts, we’re bringing a bunch more guys at the end of this week, then watch a bunch of tape and work the phones. A large part of the analysis is done, we just have make sure our order makes sense and get a better sense of what’s going to happen before us and after us in the draft. … Anything certainly can happen, we always try to be aggressive. There’s a couple guys we’d be pretty motivated to move up for, but it’s difficult to get to certain areas of this draft. We like to make a lot of calls and see if we can’t shake up a little bit.”
On the Nuggets’ approach to free agency:
“I think we will dive in for a couple guys. Certainly our own guys are extremely important and they’re going to take priority, but there’s two or three guys I think we’ll be extremely aggressive with. What we don’t want to do is sign guys to sign guys, and don’t want to overpay for role players. There are a couple guys we think may be difference makers for us and we’ll make a good pitch to those guys. If that doesn’t work out, then we’ll essentially step back a little bit and let the market develop.”
On how the free agent process will work for the Nuggets:
“It really depends. It can take shape numerous ways. If I have a direct relationship, I’ll just reach out to the player. As you know, I’m always not the most serious guy so it would probably be through humor and gauge their interest. Sometimes, an agent will reach out to us. This offseason, it’s been encouraging, we’ve had a handful of agents reach out to us and say, ‘My guy would really like to play with Nikola Jokic.’ I think that speaks well to our future. When guys want to play with someone, it’s encouraging.”
Central Notes: Pistons, Bucks, Wade, Pacers
A pair of Michigan prospects are among the players to work out for the Pistons this week, with both Derrick Walton Jr. and Zak Irvin getting a look from the club. Walton was part of a Tuesday workout group that also included Tony Bradley (UNC), Melo Trimble (Maryland), Davon Reed (Miami), Peter Jok (Iowa), and Luke Fischer (Marquette) (Twitter links via Rod Beard of The Detroit News and Keith Langlois of Pistons.com).
Meanwhile, Irvin’s pre-draft workout will take place today, as the Pistons audition a group that also features Tyler Lydon (Syracuse), Marcus Keene (Central Michigan), Bryce Alford (UCLA), Derek Willis (Kentucky), and T.J. Cline (Richmond), per Langlois (Twitter link).
As Detroit weighs its draft options, let’s round up a few more items from around the Central division…
- The Bucks, who have the 17th overall pick in this year’s draft, brought in former Texas center Jarrett Allen on Tuesday and will get a look at ex-Kentucky big man Bam Adebayo today, according to a pair of press releases from the team. Milwaukee is also taking a look at a handful of other prospects today, though Antone Warren (Antelope Valley), Hassan Martin (Rhode Island), Sebastian Saiz (Ole Miss), Jack Gibbs (Davidson), and Dallas Moore (North Florida) aren’t viewed as first-round candidates.
- During an appearance on CSN Chicago’s SportsTalk Live, K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune (video link) discussed Dwyane Wade‘s player option, Wade’s potential role as a sixth man for the Bulls, Nikola Mirotic‘s restricted free agency, and more.
- The Pacers are working out Dylan Ennis (Oregon), Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State), Amile Jefferson (Duke), Zach LeDay (Virginia Tech), Paul Watson Jr. (Fresno State), and Nigel Williams-Goss (Gonzaga) today, the team announced in a press release.
Sixers Exercise Team Option On Robert Covington
The Sixers have exercised their team option for the 2017/18 season on Robert Covington, the team announced today in a press release. A decision on the option had been due later this month.
[RELATED: NBA Team Option Decisions For 2017/18]
The move is a formality that has little impact on Philadelphia’s offseason plans, since Covington’s salary remains non-guaranteed even after his option has been exercised. According to Basketball Insiders’ data, $53,547 of Covington’s $1,577,230 salary for next season will become guaranteed on August 9, but the rest of his salary won’t be fully guaranteed until January.
Although Covington doesn’t really receive any more security with today’s transaction, there’s little doubt that the Sixers will eventually guarantee his ’17/18 salary. The four-year veteran, who is still on a minimum salary contract, has been a key contributor in Philadelphia’s rotation for the last few years. In 2016/17, he averaged 12.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.9 SPG, and 2.0 3PT, while playing solid perimeter defense.
Covington will be extension-eligible during the coming season, as he enters the final year of his contract. If he plays out his final year without working out a new deal with the Sixers, the 26-year-old is on track to reach unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2018.
Official List Of Early Entrants For 2017 NBA Draft
The NBA has officially announced that 73 early entrant prospects will be eligible to be selected in the 2017 NBA draft next week. Although the number of early entrants (73) is larger than the number of picks in the draft (60), the list of early entrants is still significantly smaller than it was at the entry deadline in April. At that point, 182 early entrants had declared for the draft. More than 100 have withdrawn since then after testing the waters.
Here’s the complete list of early entrant prospects for the 2017 NBA draft:
College underclassmen:
- Bam Adebayo, F/C, Kentucky (freshman)
- Jarrett Allen, C, Texas (freshman)
- Ike Anigbogu, C, UCLA (freshman)
- OG Anunoby, SF, Indiana (sophomore)
- Dwayne Bacon, SF, Florida State (sophomore)
- Lonzo Ball, PG, UCLA (freshman)
- Jordan Bell, PF, Oregon (junior)
- James Blackmon Jr., SG, Indiana (junior)
- Antonio Blakeney, SG, LSU (sophomore)
- Tony Bradley, C, UNC (freshman)
- Isaiah Briscoe, G, Kentucky (sophomore)
- Dillon Brooks, F, Oregon (junior)
- Thomas Bryant, C, Indiana (sophomore)
- Clandell Cetoute, F, Thiel College (junior)
- John Collins, PF, Wake Forest (sophomore)
- Zach Collins, PF, Gonzaga (freshman)
- Chance Comanche, F/C, Arizona (sophomore)
- Tyler Dorsey, SG, Oregon (sophomore)
- P.J. Dozier, SG, South Carolina (sophomore)
- Jawun Evans, PG, Oklahoma State (sophomore)
- Tony Farmer, SF, Lee College (sophomore)
- De’Aaron Fox, PG, Kentucky (freshman)
- Markelle Fultz, PG, Washington (freshman)
- Harry Giles, PF, Duke (freshman)
- Isaac Humphries, C, Kentucky (sophomore)
- Tre Hunter, G, Mt. San Jacinto College (junior)
- Jonathan Isaac, SF, Florida State (freshman)
- Frank Jackson, PG, Duke (freshman)
- Josh Jackson, SF, Kansas (freshman)
- Justin Jackson, SF, UNC (junior)
- Jaylen Johnson, PF, Louisville (junior)
- Ted Kapita, F/C, North Carolina State (freshman)
- Marcus Keene, PG, Central Michigan (junior)
- Luke Kennard, SG, Duke (sophomore)
- Kyle Kuzma, PF, Utah (junior)
- T.J. Leaf, PF, UCLA (freshman)
- Tyler Lydon, F, Syracuse (sophomore)
- Lauri Markkanen, PF, Arizona (freshman)
- Eric Mika, F/C, BYU (sophomore)
- Donovan Mitchell, SG, Louisville (sophomore)
- Malik Monk, G, Kentucky (freshman)
- Johnathan Motley, PF, Baylor (junior)
- Austin Nichols, PF, Virginia (junior)
- Semi Ojeleye, SF, SMU (junior)
- Cameron Oliver, PF, Nevada (sophomore)
- Justin Patton, C, Creighton (freshman)
- L.J. Peak, SF, Georgetown (junior)
- Ivan Rabb, PF, California (sophomore)
- Xavier Rathan-Mayes, G, Florida State (junior)
- Devin Robinson, SF, Florida (junior)
- Josh Robinson, G, Austin Peay (junior)
- Kobi Simmons, PG, Arizona (freshman)
- Dennis Smith Jr., PG, N.C. State (freshman)
- Edmond Sumner, PG, Xavier (sophomore)
- Caleb Swanigan, PF, Purdue (sophomore)
- Jayson Tatum, SF, Duke (freshman)
- Matt Taylor, G, New Mexico State (junior)
- Trevor Thompson, C, Ohio State (junior)
- Melo Trimble, PG, Maryland (junior)
- Craig Victor, PF, LSU (junior)
- Antone Warren, C, Antelope Valley CC (sophomore)
- Nigel Williams-Goss, PG, Gonzaga (junior)
- D.J. Wilson, PF, Michigan (sophomore)
International:
- Simon Birgander, F/C, Clavijo (Spain)
- Luka Bozic, SF, Zagreb (Croatia)
- Vlatko Cancar, SF, Mega Leks (Serbia)
- Wesley Alves da Silva, SF, Paulistano (Brazil)
- George de Paula, PG, Paulistano (Brazil)
- Isaiah Hartenstein, PF, Zalgiris (Lithuania)
- Jonathan Jeanne, C, Nancy (France)
- Alpha Kaba, F/C, Mega Leks (Serbia)
- Tidjane Keita, SF, Cegep de Thetford (Canada)
- Frank Ntilikina, PG, Strasbourg (France)
The NBA’s official list of early entrants doesn’t include junior forward Darin Johnson of CSU-Northridge or sophomore guard Maverick Rowan of North Carolina State. Those players were listed on the league’s initial list of early entrants, and weren’t named among the players who withdrew last month. It appears that Johnson and Rowan pulled out of the draft after the NCAA’s withdrawal deadline in May, but before the NBA’s withdrawal deadline on Monday, which would cost them their NCAA eligibility going forward.
For details on which prospects originally declared for the draft, then withdrew their names, be sure to check out our previous unofficial early entrant list.
Lakers Scheduling Second Workout With Lonzo Ball
10:50pm: Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet (via Twitter) reports that Markelle Fultz will work out for the Lakers on Thursday and while there’s no official date, Ball will have a second workout.
10:30pm: After completing a pre-draft workout with UCLA product Lonzo Ball last week, team president Magic Johnson is in the process of scheduling a second workout with the standout guard, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).
Ball worked out for the Lakers last Wednesday and reports coming out of the session were mixed. For his part, the 19-year-old Ball relayed a positive message after running drills and enjoying a meal with Lakers brass the night before.
“They said they want me to come in, if I get picked, and be a leader,” Ball said (via NBA.com). “Play with a lot of pace. The stuff they were saying was very positive, and it kind of fits my game.”
However, a report from Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report claimed that while Ball’s workout was fine, he did not “blow away” the Lakers with his performance. In a separate report from Mark Medina of The Orange County Register, the Lakers were reportedly concerned with Ball’s conditioning.
The Lakers have long been connected to the California native; in addition to being a local product, Ball’s outspoken father, LaVar Ball, has said that his son would only work out and play for the Lakers. While the general consensus remains that the team will utilize its second overall pick on Ball, a series of reports have suggested that his performance has not set that in stone.
Ball posted numbers of 14.6 PPG, 7.6 APG and 6.0 RPG through 36 games in his lone season at UCLA.
Lacob: Warriors Will Do ‘Whatever It Takes’ To Keep Curry
The NBA Finals are in the books and the Warriors captured their second title in three years; now the attention turns to keeping the championship-winning core intact and it starts with two-time NBA Most Valuable Player, Stephen Curry.
Curry, 29, will see the four-year, $44MM pact he signed prior to the 2012/13 campaign expire this offseason and he will hit unrestricted free agency. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, Curry qualifies as a designated veteran player, making him eligible for the maximum deal worth approximately $205MM over five years. Despite the lofty commitment, Warriors owner Joe Lacob told Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News that retaining Curry is the top priority.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes to keep Steph here and happy,” Lacob said. “I know he wants to be here and we want him here. I do not anticipate any issues with him staying.”
In his first season teaming with Kevin Durant, Curry enjoyed another strong season, averaging 25.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, and shooting a career-low — yet still impressive — 41.1% from three-point range in 79 games. Curry carried over the strong performance into the postseason, averaging 28.1 PPG and shooting 48.4% from the field in 17 games.
It remains to be seen how exactly the Warriors will manage their cap to accommodate a substantial raise for Curry — and perhaps for Durant, who holds a $27MM option for next season and is eligible for a max deal himself. However, the Warriors’ success with their longtime point guard and Curry’s team-friendly pact the last four years should result in the team giving him as much as he wants.
Warriors Likely To Decline Championship Visit To White House
It has not been a full day since the Warriors captured their second NBA title in three seasons but the attention has quickly steered to the team’s possible visit to the White House. Traditionally, American sports team that capture their respective league’s championship are extended an offer to visit the president in Washington — but the controversy surrounding the current Trump administration will likely prevent that.
There have been reports that the Warriors may unanimously reject an offer, citing issues with president Donald Trump and his administration. Sam Amick of USA TODAY spoke with Warriors sixth man Andre Iguodala about a potential visit and he provided an entertaining response.
“Maybe (Trump) doesn’t (invite us) and we don’t go, or we don’t say anything and make a big deal of it, and he doesn’t make a big deal of it and we go our separate ways,” Iguodala said. “Y’all might write about it. I might call him and say, ‘If they ask, just say our schedules conflicted.’ And then if y’all write something, we’ll say, ‘Fake News.’ ”
Aside from Iguodala, Warriors coach Steve Kerr, two-time MVP Stephen Curry, and several other Warriors have been critical of the president. However, issues with politics has not prevented other White House visits — Trump welcomed the 2017 Super Bowl champion Patriots earlier this year and just this week, welcomed the 2016 NCAA champion Clemson football team.
The Warriors previously visited the White House and then-president Barack Obama after winning the 2014/15 NBA championship. There has been no official word from the Warriors or the White House, and while a lot can change, it’s highly unlikely the Warriors will meet the current commander-in-chief.