Cavaliers Notes: Thomas, Crowder, Calderon, Draft Picks
New Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas will begin working with doctors and the team’s training staff on Tuesday, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Thomas, whose lingering hip injury held up his trade from the Celtics for more than a week, says he is “fully committed” to playing for the Cavs this season. Several sources told Vardon that the team will take Thomas’ return to the court slowly, but he is expected to return to an All-Star level at some point.
Dr. James Rosneck, a hip specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, will oversee Thomas’ rehab work with help from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Parker, who serves as the Cavaliers’ lead doctor. The team plans to gauge how Thomas responds after a week and then a month of the process before creating a timetable for his return. He suffered a partially torn labrum in his right hip in a March game, then aggravated the injury in the Eastern Conference Finals.
There’s more today out of Cleveland:
- A source with experience in similar hip problems suggests Thomas may not be able to play until January or possibly after the All-Star break, relays Jason Lloyd of the Athletic. Lloyd notes that the injury hasn’t healed enough for Thomas to begin running.
- Jae Crowder plays the same position as LeBron James, but the Cavs don’t view him as a backup, Vardon adds in the same story. Coach Tyronn Lue is developing lineups with James and Crowder on the court together, assuming the new addition remains in Cleveland. Crowder’s versatility, combined with team-friendly salaries of $6.8MM, $7.3MM and $7.8MM over the next three years, could make him a valuable piece in a future trade.
- Free agent addition Jose Calderon started working out in Cleveland more than a week ago, Vardon notes. The 36-year-old could be facing an increased role as the primary backup to Derrick Rose if Thomas is out for several months.
- It didn’t take long for the Cavs to get calls about the Nets’ unprotected first-rounder for next year, Vardon shares in the same piece. With its own pick as another possible trade chip and several second-rounders and trade exceptions available, the Cavaliers’ front office believes the team is in good position to deal for another title chase or for a rebuild if James leaves in free agency next summer.
Five Key Stories: 8/26/17 – 9/2/17
Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the past week at Hoops Rumors:
After hitting a snag over the condition of Isaiah Thomas‘ injured hip, the deal to send Kyrie Irving from the Cavaliers to the Celtics was finalized. Boston agreed to include Miami’s 2020 second-round pick to settle a dispute over whether Cleveland was made fully aware of Thomas’ condition.
Another trade this week saw the Pelicans send Quincy Pondexter to the Bulls along with a 2018 second-rounder and cash in exchange for Ater Majok, a 2011 draftee currently playing in Lebanon. New Orleans made the deal to free up cap room to seek a replacement for Solomon Hill, who will be sidelined for part of the season after surgery to repair a torn hamstring.
The Lakers received a $500K fine for violating NBA anti-tampering rules. After an independent investigation, the league determined there was “prohibited expression of interest” in Paul George by Lakers GM Rob Pelinka during a conversation with George’s agent, Aaron Mintz. The actions came while George, who is widely expected to sign with L.A. next summer, was still a member of the Pacers.
The Bucks waived Spencer Hawes, just before the August 31 deadline to stretch his salary. The veteran center had one season left on his contract at $6MM, and league rules allow deals to be stretched for twice the remaining length, plus one year. That means Milwaukee will pay Hawes $2MM for each of the next three seasons, saving $4MM in cap room for 2017/18.
The Trail Blazers extended the contract of president of basketball operations Neil Olshey. Portland exercised two contract options to retain Olshey through 2020, and the sides agreed to an extra year that will keep him in place through 2021. Olshey has been in the position since 2012.
Ten more stories:
- Bulls guard Cameron Payne will be out of action until at least late November after undergoing surgery on his right foot.
- Pelicans guard Frank Jackson is expected to miss three to four months after foot surgery this week.
- The Magic agreed to a training camp deal with former Connecticut guard Rodney Purvis. Orlando also signed G League veteran Kalin Lucas.
- Ex-Syracuse guard Andrew White agreed to a partially guaranteed one-year deal with the Celtics. Boston also signed former Georgetown standout T.J. Peak.
- The Sixers signed former Warriors forward James McAdoo to a two-way deal.
- Former Celtics and Raptors power forward Jared Sullinger had a workout with the Nets.
- Josh Smith was among several veterans who worked out for the Pelicans. Chase Budinger and Martell Webster were also part of the group.
- The Sixers chose longtime power forward Elton Brand as GM of their G League affiliate.
- The Bucks seem interested in re-signing guard Jason Terry, who will turn 40 this month.
- Shooting guard Rodney Hood began extension talks with the Jazz.
Rodney Stuckey Will Visit Several NBA Teams
Rodney Stuckey, who was waived by the Pacers in late March, has visits scheduled with several teams after the holiday weekend, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical.
The veteran swingman suffered a left patellar tendon strain that would have sidelined him for the rest of the regular season. Because his contract contained a mutual option, Indiana saved $7MM for the upcoming season by moving him off the roster before April 10.
Stuckey has recovered from the injury and has been “fully healthy” and training throughout the summer, Charania adds.
Stuckey, 31, also battled knee problems last season and was limited to 39 games, averaging 7.2 points and 2.2 rebounds per night in a reserve role. His best seasons came in Detroit, where he spent seven years before signing with the Pacers in 2014.
David Adelman To Join Nuggets’ Staff
Magic assistant coach David Adelman will become part of Michael Malone’s staff in Denver, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The son of former NBA coach Rick Adelman, he spent just one year in Orlando. Adelman broke into the league in 2011 as a player development coach on his father’s staff in Minnesota and remained with the Wolves through the 2015/16 season.
Adelman will probably serve as offensive coordinator with the Nuggets, tweets Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 8/26/17 – 9/2/17
Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team compiles original content to complement our news feed. Enjoy our favorite segments and features from the past seven days:
- We looked at players whose draft rights are held by teams in the Atlantic, Central, Southeast, Northwest, Pacific and Southwest divisions.
- Luke Adams examined the NBA’s rules for stretching salaries of waived players ahead of the August 31 deadline.
- Check out our free Trade Rumors app available for IOS and Android.
- Here are the questions we asked you in our Community Shootaround discussions and polls this week:
- How much extra should the Celtics have been willing to give to complete the Kyrie Irving trade?
- Should the NBA consider changes to its buyout rules?
- Can the Warriors top their projected win total of 66.5 games? Can the Celtics win more than 55.5?
- What role will Derrick Rose have with the Cavaliers?
Cleanthony Early Headed To Greece
Former Knick Cleanthony Early has agreed to a deal with AEK Athens, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN.
Early, 27, spent part of last season with the Santa Cruz Warriors in the G League after being waived by New York in October. He appeared in 16 games, averaging 9.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per night.
A second-round pick out of Wichita State in 2014, the 6’8″ small forward spent his first two NBA seasons with the Knicks. He averaged 4.3 points in 56 combined games and was in the G League for much of that time.
Early’s career suffered a setback in December of 2015 when he was shot in the right knee during a robbery.
Community Shootaround: The Importance Of Derrick Rose
Isaiah Thomas‘ hip injury has cast doubts on when he will be able to contribute to the Cavaliers this upcoming season. LeBron James and head coach Tyronn Lue reportedly “cooled” on the acquisition of Thomas after learning that he may miss the start of the regular season and possibly be out until after the All-Star break, according to The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor.
Thomas himself has a more positive outlook. Speaking to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski before the Celtics and Cavaliers completed their blockbuster trade, Thomas proclaimed he is “not damaged” and promised he would return to last year’s form — where he averaged an Eastern Conference-best 28.9 PPG.
“There’s never been an indication that I wouldn’t be back, and there’s never been an indication that this is something messing up my career,” he said. “Maybe I am not going to be back as soon this season as everyone wants me to be, but I’m going to be back, and I’m going to be the same player again. No doctor has told me anything different than that.”
If Thomas misses that much time, Cleveland’s signing of former NBA Most Valuable Player, Derrick Rose, becomes that much more important. Rose, 28, spent 2016/17 with the Knicks and while off court issues plagued most of his season, he was a productive asset, averaging 18.0 PPG and 4.4 APG. Hindered by injury for most of his career, Rose underwent surgery for a torn meniscus — his fourth knee surgery — in April but is expected to be ready for training camp.
Cleveland signed Rose to a one-year, $2.1MM deal — the veteran’s minimum. The same player who spent the last two years saying he will seek a maximum contract (which would have been worth approximately $150MM) will make less in 2017/18 than Ron Baker — his backup in New York last season. Yet, much like his new teammate Thomas, Rose is confident about what he will do in a Cavs uniform.
“When I get on a good team and I’m still hooping the same way, what are you going to say then?” Rose said to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. “The only thing that you’ll can say is that I can still play.”
If Rose can still play at the level of last season, Cleveland will have a more than adequate stopgap if Thomas is not ready to begin the year. Conversely, unless Rose somehow recaptures his 2011 MVP form, he will be a significant downgrade from the departed Kyrie Irving.
Either way, Rose will have the opportunity to prove with his play that he’s worth more than the undrafted rookie who was his backup in free agency.
With all of that said: Do you think Rose will be a key part of the Cavaliers next season? If he plays well in Thomas’ absence, should he retain the starters role? Will his body be able to hold up? Will Thomas come back healthy and keep Rose on the bench?
More Notes On Tampering Investigation
As we discussed yesterday, the Lakers were fined $500K by the NBA for tampering with 2018 free agent Paul George. Sports Illustrated’s Michael McCann quickly explored the penalty in detail, noting that the league in general has a “decidedly low-bar” for the prohibited act.
Considering the wording of the league’s constitution, there is no specific means of contact that’s permissible or not. Teams are, the constitution says, “forbidden from any kind of attempt to persuade” either individuals or team personnel, emphasis mine.
Another troublesome point of ambiguity McMann highlights is the fact that there need not be any proof that the tampering attempt actually swayed the individual, it’s solely the attempt that the league is concerned about.
All told, the Lakers have little choice but to pony up the cash for the fine but McMann doesn’t think that the penalty will dissuade teams from repeating the behavior in the future.
That’s not all we have about tampering this evening:
- If you’ve heard the Pat Riley Heat/Knicks tampering example offered up as a precedent for the Lakers’ recent situation, note that there is one critical difference. Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets that the $1MM the Heat paid the Knicks in 1995 was a settlement and not a league-enforced penalty.
- The Lakers may have bought themselves a year of contact with LeBron James‘s agent ahead of the 2018 free agency period, Dave McMenamin of ESPN writes, and all it cost them was the $18MM they committed to another Rich Paul client, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
- Don’t expect Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard to put up a fuss about the league’s ruling on the tampering investigation. “We accept the league’s findings,” he told Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times.
- …do expect the Indiana media. Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star suggests that the relatively small fine is but a slap on the wrist for a Lakers franchise worth $3B. The scribe offers alternative penalties that he says would have had more of an impact.
Southwest Division: Pelicans, Hayes, Grizzlies
The Pelicans have an interest in Iman Shumpert, Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders writes. The news comes a week after there were conflicting reports about the swingman requesting a deal.
Regardless of whether Shumpert has specifically sought a move or not, the Cavaliers can afford to lose him after trading for Jae Crowder in the now-official Kyrie Irving deal. Shumpert, an acute perimeter defender, represents a need of the Pelicans franchise given their dearth of healthy wings.
Just what a deal between the two franchises would entail, however, is a different story. Considering that both Cleveland and the Pelicans are over the cap, the Cavs would need to take back salary equal to Shumpert’s $10.3MM deal and that’s where things get tricky.
Given Cleveland’s mandate to win now while maintaining a modicum of agility and flexibility should LeBron James leave next summer, it’s unlikely that the club would accept what the Pelicans could offer under the cap.
Neither the $25.9MM guaranteed to E’Twaun Moore through 2019/20 nor the prospect of adding Pelicans center Omer Asik to the frontcourt mix are presumed to inspire much enthusiasm in Koby Altman‘s front office, leaving us little choice but to speculate that the Pelicans will need to fill their perimeter holes elsewhere.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Former Rockets big man Chuck Hayes will re-join the franchise as a scout, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes. Hayes, who played 11 years in the NBA, held a similar position with the Nuggets in 2016/17.
- The Pelicans were limited in what they could do to their roster this offseason, Shaun Powell of NBA.com. The team will have to hope that the superstar duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins is enough to lead them to the postseason.
- The Grizzlies added speed and playmaking in the form of Mario Chalmers, Ben McLemore and Tyreke Evans, Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal writes. The franchise hopes that the additions can help help the club keep up with today’s NBA style.
Central Notes: Osman, Payne, Crowder
The Cavaliers are in win now mode, in case you haven’t heard, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t still have a handful of young players who will be hard at work this season trying to carve out long-term roles for themselves.
Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report recently broke down some of the team’s young talent, including draft-and-stash prospect Cedi Osman who signed with the Cavaliers ready to suit up for 2017/18. Likened to a 6’8″ Matthew Dellavedova, Osman could hustle his way into a role in Cleveland’s rotation.
The feature also sheds light on big men Edy Tavares and Ante Zizic. The former, he writes, could be the first cut should the Cavaliers need to free up a roster spot. Zizic, on the other hand, could establish himself as a high-motor rebounder in the mold of Steven Adams.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- The Bulls may have changed their outlook on Cameron Payne‘s role with the franchise, and not for the better. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times writes that one source close to the team seemed particularly bearish. “We knew the second practice [after he was acquired] that he couldn’t play at [an NBA] level,” the source told Cowley. “The only reason it took two practices was because we thought maybe it was nerves in the first one.”
- The Bulls have named Shawn Respert their new Director of Player Development among various other executive-level changes, a press release on the team’s official site states.
- While Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas were the big names trading places, the fate of the blockbuster trade between the Cavaliers and Celtics could come down to how well Jae Crowder fares in Cleveland, Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders writes.