Pacific Notes: Fox, Kings, Suns, Lakers, Warriors
The Kings may be willing to trade both their No. 5 and No. 10 picks to move up in the draft so that they can move up to select De’Aaron Fox, according to Chad Ford of ESPN (link via Sporting News’ Joe Rodgers). Sacramento has apparently become infatuated with Fox and does not believe that he will be available at No. 5, prompting internal discussions about the possibility of trading up.
Here is more from the Pacific division:
- On Wednesday, the Kings will host their fifth pre-draft workout, per the team’s official website. Attendees will be Donovan Mitchell (Louisville), Dominique Hawkins (Kentucky), Caleb Swanigan (Purdue), Cameron Oliver (Nevada), Erik McCree (Louisiana Tech), and Jabari Bird (California).
- Beyond bringing back the Warriors‘ core, “every non-core player might end up elsewhere if the price is too high,” writes Tim Kawakami of The San Jose Mercury News. As Kawakami states, the Dubs have shown in the past “they can be fairly cut-throat in evaluating the middle-to-bottom of their roster.” The Kawakami piece also includes +/- statistics for the Warriors and Cavaliers this postseason, this year’s NBA Finals, and the Finals from a year ago.
- Malik Monk worked out for the Suns on Tuesday, per the team’s official Twitter account.
- Yoan Granvorka will work out for the Suns on Wednesday, according to Sportando (link via Twitter).
- The Lakers worked out point guard Jawun Evans and are considering him at No. 28, Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com reports (link via Twitter). Howard-Cooper adds that Evans is “getting interest in the 20s, including from the Blazers with two in that range.”
Five Key Offseason Questions: Sacramento Kings
The Kings entered the 2016/17 season with playoff aspirations, and flirted with the No. 8 spot for much of the first half, with new head coach Dave Joerger opting to lean on his veterans at the expense of regular minutes for many of the team’s young players. After Rudy Gay went down with an Achilles injury and DeMarcus Cousins was traded to the Pelicans, Sacramento’s rebuild began in earnest, and Joerger will likely make sure his youngsters see more action in 2017/18.
The Cousins trade was widely viewed as a mistake by the Kings at the time, with many pundits arguing that the club dumped the All-NBA center for 25 cents on the dollar. However, Buddy Hield looked good down the stretch, and the Pelicans’ inability to make a late-season run ensured that Sacramento landed a second top-10 pick as a result of the deal. Even if neither Hield nor this year’s No. 10 pick develop into the sort of impact player that Cousins has become, they can be solid building blocks for the new-look Kings.
With the rebuild underway, here are five key questions facing the Kings this offseason:
1. Is the front office stable?
Reports on the Kings’ front office in recent years have suggested that there are too many cooks in the kitchen, with rival teams uncertain of who to call to discuss trades and who has the authority to sign off on moves.
The team’s handling of the Cousins situation reflected that front office uncertainty — the move came shortly after Cousins’ camp was assured he wouldn’t be going anywhere, and reports indicated that Hield was acquired because of owner Vivek Ranadive‘s fondness for him, despite the fact that GM Vlade Divac ostensibly has the final say on basketball decisions.
The Kings solidified their front office a little in April by adding respected veteran exec Scott Perry to the mix as an executive VP of basketball operations. Perry is believed to be taking over some day-to-day duties from Divac, and it’s worth wondering if his presence has contributed to the Kings getting a few more first-round prospects in for workouts this spring than they have in past years.
2. What will the Kings do with their two top-10 picks?
Pelicans Hire Chris Finch As Assistant Coach
JUNE 6: The Pelicans have officially hired Finch as an assistant, the team announced today in a press release.
“I’m very excited to welcome Chris to the Pelicans organization,” Gentry said in a statement. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our coaching staff, and will be an integral part of our program as we move forward.”
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter), New Orleans has also offered a front office role to former assistant coach Phil Weber.
MAY 19: The Pelicans confirmed earlier this week that they won’t replace head coach Alvin Gentry, but it appears some changes are coming to Gentry’s coaching staff. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, New Orleans is close to hiring Nuggets associate head coach Chris Finch as an assistant.
Sources tell Stein that the Pelicans have gone after Finch in the hopes of adding his “offensive brainpower” to their bench. As Stein observes, Finch was partly responsible for Denver’s offensive improvement centered around big man Nikola Jokic, so the Pelicans are hoping adding the veteran coach will allow the club to take full advantage of Anthony Davis‘ and DeMarcus Cousins‘ talents.
Before he joined the Nuggets in 2016, Finch coached Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London and worked for the Rockets organization for the better part of a decade. He was hired as the head coach of Houston’s D-League team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, in 2009, and then joined the Rockets as an assistant in 2011.
Finch was promoted to associate head coach by the Rockets in 2014, and retained that title when he was hired by the Nuggets last year. I would guess he’ll have a similar role in New Orleans if and when he and the Pelicans finalize his new deal.
And-Ones: Oden, Casspi, One-And-Done, Loyd
Sixty teams have been announced for this summer’s The Basketball Tournament, a 64-team, $2MM, winner-take-all competition, writes Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com. While no NBA players will play in the tournament, several ex-NBAers – including Sundiata Gaines, Donte Greene, and former No. 1 pick Greg Oden – will participate, and some current NBA players will be coaches.
Let’s round up a few more items from around the basketball world…
- Omri Casspi, who was formerly represented by Dan Fegan, has changed agents and signed with CAA Sports, per Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Journal (Twitter link). Casspi, whose change in representation was reported last month in the wake of Fegan’s legal troubles, will be a free agent this offseason.
- Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer takes a deep dive into the changes the NBA may eventually make to the current one-and-done system for players coming out of high school, noting that many team execs don’t necessarily agree with commissioner Adam Silver on the matter.
- D-League guard Jordan Loyd is drawing some NBA interest, according to international reporter David Pick, who tweets that Loyd will attend a Nets free agent mini-camp, then will audition for the Clippers and play in Summer League with the Pacers. The 23-year-old averaged 15.1 PPG in 49 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in 2016/17.
- In a pair of pieces for Basketball Insiders, James Blancarte and Spencer Davies identify several potential trade candidates in both the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference.
Poll: Will Warriors Go 16-0 In Postseason?
Two games into last year’s NBA Finals, the Warriors held a 2-0 lead over the Cavaliers and were coming off a dominant Game 2 victory. Even though the series was heading back to Cleveland, the 73-win Warriors were in the driver’s seat to finish off the series and win their second consecutive championship.
Of course, the Cavs had other ideas, and ultimately came back to win the Finals in seven. But last year’s Warriors team, even after setting the league’s all-time record for wins in a season, didn’t look as strong as this year’s version. With Kevin Durant filling Harrison Barnes‘ old role, the 2017 Dubs can beat teams in a variety of different ways, and their talent and versatility has been on full display en route to an incredible 14-0 postseason record.
Last spring’s Finals are a reminder that it’s never safe to count out LeBron James, even when his club is facing a two-game deficit. However, this year’s Warriors look capable of continuing to win as the series heads to Cleveland, and are two games away from becoming the first NBA team to ever go 16-0 in the playoffs. Golden State has already swept Portland, Utah, and San Antonio.
What do you think? Can the Cavs still win a game or two, and perhaps make this series interesting, or will the Warriors cap off another amazing season by making history and posting a 16-0 playoff record?
Place your vote below, and jump into the comments section to share your thoughts!
Will the Warriors go 16-0 in the postseason?
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Yes 53% (655)
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No 47% (577)
Total votes: 1,232
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Mavs Notes: Nowitzki, Draft, Liggins, Powell
Last summer, Dirk Nowitzki signed a two-year deal with the Mavericks that included a team option for 2017/18. The Mavs are due to make a decision on that option before the end of June, but Nowitzki told local reporters today, including Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com (Twitter video link), that he doesn’t know yet what the club plans to do.
According to Nowitzki, team owner Mark Cuban is on vacation, and the two sides will likely sit down and discuss the big man’s contract situation when Cuban returns. While Dallas will certainly keep Nowitzki on the roster, his option is worth $25MM, so the team may be interested in lowering that number.
Here’s more from out of Dallas:
- Nowitzki was also asked today about the Mavericks’ draft plans, and acknowledged that it’s “not a secret” the club would “love” to add a point guard (Twitter link via Sneed).
- After claiming DeAndre Liggins off waivers late in the 2016/17 season, the Mavericks intend to use the summer to get more familiar with the former Cavalier and to evaluate whether he has a spot on the roster going forward. Sneed has the story at Mavs.com, with some quotes from Cuban and head coach Rick Carlisle.
- Given Dwight Powell‘s contract situation, he’s unlikely to draw a whole lot of trade interest anytime soon, which means it makes sense for Dallas to be patient and eventually hope for a payoff on the team’s four-year contract investment, says Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News.
- Former Iowa State wing Deonte Burton is participating in a group workout for the Mavs today, league sources tell Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link).
Ford’s Latest: Celtics, Lakers, Sixers, Suns
ESPN’s Chad Ford has updated his mock draft, publishing the sixth version of 2017’s mock on ESPN.com today (Insider link). According to Ford, Markelle Fultz is the top player on the Celtics‘ board, as expected, but he’s not the only player the team is considering. Sources tell Ford that Lonzo Ball, De’Aaron Fox, Josh Jackson, and Jayson Tatum are also on Boston’s radar, though a strong workout and interview with the C’s will likely seal the deal for Fultz.
Here are several more tidbits of note from Ford’s mock:
- The Lakers are “going out of their way” to downplay the idea that they’ve landed on Lonzo Ball. While that’s partly about controlling the narrative, the team’s front office is also somewhat split on the pick, according to Ford, who says L.A. hasn’t ruled out De’Aaron Fox or Josh Jackson.
- There’s an ongoing debate between the Sixers front office and coaching staff about which player they should take at No. 3, says Ford. If the team opts for the best player available, that probably means selecting Jackson or Fox, despite the fact that Malik Monk or Dennis Smith Jr. would be a better fit.
- The Suns are hoping Ball falls to them at No. 4, but will likely end up picking between Josh Jackson, De’Aaron Fox, and Jayson Tatum, per Ford.
- There’s some talk within the Kings‘ organization about packaging the 5th and 10th overall picks to move up and land Fox, who is viewed as a strong complement to Buddy Hield. However, that would be a steep price to pay, as Ford notes.
- Although the Mavericks have scouted French point guard Frank Ntilikina more than any other team in the NBA, Ford believes it would be hard for Dallas to pass up Dennis Smith Jr. if he’s available at No. 9.
- Former Duke sharpshooter Luke Kennard is drawing interest from teams picking as high as No. 8 (Knicks), and is a strong candidate for Detroit at No. 12, since the Pistons will likely target a shooter if they keep the pick.
2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Boston Celtics
As was the case for all the Eastern teams that looked to knock off the Cavs in the postseason, the Celtics’ year ended on a demoralizing note, but it was a positive season for the franchise on the whole. Landing a No. 1 seed and a No. 1 pick in the same year is virtually unheard of, and will allow Boston to add another core piece to an already talented roster. The team also still has more draft picks and players stashed away, and has the flexibility to add another piece or two in free agency.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Celtics financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:
Guaranteed Salary
- Al Horford ($27,734,405)
- Avery Bradley ($8,808,989)
- Jae Crowder ($6,796,117)
- Isaiah Thomas ($6,261,395)
- Jaylen Brown ($4,956,480)
- Marcus Smart ($4,538,020)
- Terry Rozier ($1,988,520)
- Demetrius Jackson ($650,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.1
- Total: $61,733,926
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Tyler Zeller ($8,000,000)2
- Jordan Mickey ($1,471,382)3
- Demetrius Jackson ($734,750) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.1
- Total: $10,206,132
Restricted Free Agents
- Kelly Olynyk ($4,187,598 qualifying offer / $7,735,033 cap hold)
- Total: $7,735,033
Cap Holds
- Amir Johnson ($15,600,000)
- Jonas Jerebko ($9,500,000)
- No. 1 overall pick ($7,026,240)
- James Young ($2,803,507)
- Guerschon Yabusele ($2,247,480)
- Ante Zizic ($1,645,200)
- Gerald Green ($1,471,382)
- Total: $40,293,809
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: $26,796,789
- The Celtics lucked out when they landed the No. 1 pick, but the cap hold for that selection adds $7MM+ to their team salary, reducing their flexibility a little. For our max cap room calculation, we assumed the C’s will keep their seven guaranteed contracts plus Jackson (whose non-guaranteed portion is cheaper than an empty roster slot), and accounted for cap holds for the No. 1 pick, Yabusele, Zizic, and an empty roster spot. That works out to $74,203,211, which doesn’t leave enough room for a max salary for someone like Gordon Hayward. However, Boston could create more cap space by stashing Yabusele and/or Zizic for another year, or by making a trade.
Footnotes:
- Jackson’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 15.
- Zeller’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 2.
- Mickey’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after either July 1 or July 15 (conflicting information available).
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.
Eastern Draft Notes: Knicks, Smith, Hornets, Bulls
Former North Carolina State point guard Dennis Smith Jr. is in town to work out for the Knicks, according to Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com (Twitter link). Marc Berman of The New York Post tweets that the workout will take place tomorrow.
Smith, who was previously said to have a tentative session lined up with New York, has frequently been mentioned as a potential target for the club at No. 8. By that point, top point guards like Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, and De’Aaron Fox will almost certainly be off the board, but Smith may still be available, and the Knicks are in the market for a point guard of the future.
Here are a few more draft-related notes from around the Eastern Conference:
- The Hornets, who have the No. 11 overall pick, are another team that may be seeking a point guard in this year’s lottery, prompting Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer to examine the potential fit for French prospect Frank Ntilikina. New York (No. 8) and Dallas (No. 9) are viewed as possible landing spots for Ntilikina, but if he’s there when Charlotte picks, the Hornets – who have had trouble securing a reliable backup for Kemba Walker – may have to seriously consider him.
- Donovan Mitchell (Louisville), Kobi Simmons (Arizona), and Milton Doyle (Loyola) were among the prospects the Bulls brought in to participate in a group workout on Monday, per Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). Mitchell could be a target for Chicago at No. 16 if he’s still on the board.
- The Wizards conducted a pre-draft workout on Monday and will hold another one today, according to a pair of announcements from the club. The team worked out Frank Mason III (Kansas), Michael Young (Pittsburgh), Tyler Dorsey (Oregon), Isaac Humphries (Kentucky), Ben Moore (SMU), and Moses Kingsley (Arkansas) on Monday. Tuesday’s participants will be Marcus Keene (Central Michigan), Justin Robinson (Monmouth), Przemek Karnowski (Gonzaga), Kris Jenkins (Villanova), Landen Lucas (Kansas), and Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Florida State).
Atlantic Draft Notes: Dorsey, Dozier, Meeks, Dotson
Oregon shooting guard Tyler Dorsey will work out for the Sixers on Wednesday, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Dorsey is considered second-round material by both DraftExpress, which currently rates him 46th overall, and ESPN.com’s Chad Ford, who pegs him at No. 47. Philadelphia owns four second-round picks.
In other draft-related news around the Atlantic Division:
- South Carolina shooting guard P.J. Dozier was among the prospects worked out by the Raptors on Monday, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Dozier is ranked No. 51 by DraftExpress and No. 56 by Ford. North Carolina center Kennedy Meeks was also present at the workout. Meeks isn’t ranked among DraftExpress’ Top 100 prospects but Ford has him at No. 67. The Raptors have the No. 23 overall pick but don’t own a second-rounder, so this would be a case of doing due diligence or perhaps an indication they’re interested in trading for a second-round pick.
- Georgia point guard J.J. Frazier will be among the prospects the Raptors will work out on Tuesday, Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders tweets.
- Damyean Dotson will work out for the Knicks on Tuesday and the Nets on Wednesday, Scotto reports in another tweet. DraftExpress ranks the Houston swingman at No. 64, while Ford has him slightly higher at 58.
- The Knicks will bring in Meeks on Wednesday, according to Scotto (Twitter link).