NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/20/17
Here are Wednesday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:
- The Bucks have sent 2017 first-rounder D.J. Wilson on his second G League assignment of the year, the team announced today in a press release. Wilson will get a chance to suit up for the Wisconsin Herd tonight against the Grand Rapids Drive.
- Rookie guard Terrance Ferguson has been recalled from the G League by the Thunder, according to a press release from the team. Assigned to the Oklahoma City Blue on Tuesday, Ferguson recorded 11 points and six boards for the Thunder’s G League affiliate last night.
- The Rockets have recalled rookie big man Zhou Qi from the G League, tweets Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Zhou struggled on Tuesday for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, posting just six points on 2-of-11 shooting in 24 minutes.
Central Notes: Kilpatrick, Parker, Thomas, Leuer
Prior to signing a two-way contract with the Bucks earlier this week, Sean Kilpatrick had never been under contract with Milwaukee, but his arrival still felt like something of a reunion, as Matt Velazquez of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. Kilpatrick played for the Bucks’ Summer League team in 2015, and developed relationships with players and coaches who are still in the organization.
“As soon as I walked in it was like, basically, ‘Welcome back.’ It feels like home here. All the guys are receptive towards me,” Kilpatrick said. “When my agent called me and gave me the options, I said, ‘There’s no way I can turn a situation like this down.’ … [The Bucks] didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger when it came to me, so I think with me being here, I think it’s something I didn’t want to pass up at all.”
After playing on a standard NBA contract in Brooklyn, Kilpatrick will begin his tenure with the Bucks as a two-way player. Still, we’ve already seen multiple players around the NBA this season parlay two-way contracts into full-fledged roster spots. A strong showing for the Bucks – and the Wisconsin Herd – could result in Kilpatrick following a similar path.
Here’s more from around the Central division:
- Jabari Parker practiced on Tuesday with the Bucks‘ G League affiliate for the second straight day as he continues to work his way back from an ACL tear. According to Rich Rovito of The Associated Press, Parker said he’s “holding up really good” and suggested he can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The former second overall pick is still on track to return in February.
- With Isaiah Thomas‘ 2017/18 debut getting close, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com takes a look at how inserting Thomas into the lineup will impact the Cavaliers going forward, and how Thomas will have to adjust to his new team.
- The recovery timetable for Pistons big man Jon Leuer continues to be pushed back, writes Rod Beard of The Detroit News. Leuer, who had a joint lubrication injection earlier this month to help heal his injured left ankle, had another setback recently, prompting the club to slow down his rehab process once again, according to head coach Stan Van Gundy.
Another Roster Decision Looming For Suns?
It was just a couple weeks ago that the Suns were forced to make a roster decision — in order to make room on their 15-man squad to convert Mike James‘ two-way contract into a standard NBA deal, the team had to trade or waive another player. Ultimately, Phoenix opted to waive Derrick Jones to open up that roster spot.
In that case, the Suns’ decision was fairly simple — Jones’ salary was non-guaranteed and he had only appeared briefly in six games all season. He didn’t have a key role in Phoenix, and his upside wasn’t so substantial that he was a crucial part of the team’s long-term plans. It made sense that he’d be the man out.
Now though, another roster decision may be approaching for the Suns, and this one may not be quite as simple.
With four players on the shelf due to injuries, the Suns were recently granted a hardship exception, giving them an extra roster spot, and used it to sign point guard Isaiah Canaan. Since joining the club, Canaan has played a crucial role in a pair of Suns wins, averaging an impressive 16.0 PPG with 6.5 APG and a .600/.600/.917 shooting line in his two games.
Obviously, that sample size is extremely small. It’s entirely possible that Canaan will struggle in his next couple games and the Suns will simply opt to let him go when their hardship exception expires and Booker – or another player – is ready to return. Still, Canaan is making a strong case for a permanent spot on the roster, and if he keeps it up, the Suns would have to trade or waive another player to get back down to 15 players.
Players with modest salaries or non-guaranteed contracts are generally the most vulnerable in this sort of situation, but after waiving Jones, Phoenix doesn’t have any other players on non-guaranteed deals. And most of the team’s lowest-paid players are promising youngsters that the club wouldn’t want to waive — that list includes Davon Reed, Tyler Ulis, Booker, Marquese Chriss, T.J. Warren, Troy Daniels, Alex Len, Dragan Bender, and Josh Jackson, in ascending salary order.
The Suns’ roster also features high-priced veterans like Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight, Tyson Chandler, and Jared Dudley, plus injured big man Alan Williams, whose $6MM salary puts him squarely between the pricier vets and the inexpensive young players. Knight, Chandler, and Dudley all have significant guarantees beyond this season, Monroe has been playing too well to simply be cut, and waiving Williams – who has yet to play a single game since signing a three-year deal in the offseason, doesn’t seem logical either.
So who’s left? Only James, whose minutes have been significantly reduced during the past two games since Canaan arrived.
Since the Suns won’t have much leverage to push for a trade in the coming days, waiving a player seems more likely. Phoenix’s decision might ultimately come down to the point guard whose impressive play on a two-way deal earned him a full-fledged roster spot earlier this month vs. the point guard who has had only played two games (albeit two very good games) for the team so far. We may soon find out whether Canaan has made a strong enough impression to win that battle.
Cavaliers ‘Sniffing Around’ DeAndre Jordan
The Cavaliers are keeping a close eye on the DeAndre Jordan situation in Los Angeles, and have “quietly explored” the possibility of a deal, league sources tell Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net. Amico cautions that the Cavs haven’t aggressively pursued Jordan, with one source suggesting that the club is simply “sniffing around” the idea.
This is the second time this week that a report has linked the Cavaliers to Jordan. On Tuesday, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders wrote that the veteran center’s future in Los Angeles is “anything but clear,” adding that the Cavs may be willing to offer Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, and a first-round pick.
Sources informed Kyler that the Cavs were only open to discussing their own first-round pick in trade talks, rather than the Nets’ 2018 first-rounder, which is consistent with what we’ve heard elsewhere. Sean Deveney of The Sporting News reported last week that the Cavs aren’t believed to have put that Brooklyn pick on the table at all so far.
The Clippers, who lost Chris Paul in the summer and have been hit hard by injuries this season, currently have an 11-18 record and have been slowly slipping out of playoff contention in the Western Conference. There’s still time for the club to turn things around, but if the losses continue to pile up, there’s an expectation that the front office will at least consider trading Jordan, who can opt out of his contract at season’s end.
It’s worth noting that after operating without an agent for a couple years, Jordan recently hired Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management. Jordan may have simply made the move with an eye toward his upcoming free agency, but an agent can get involved in trade discussions as well, acting as a facilitator if a potential suitor wants to assess its chances of locking up a trade target long-term.
In addition to the Cavs, the Bucks have also been linked to Jordan.
Latest On Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas is expected to participate in full-court, five-on-five practices in the coming days for the first time since he joined the Cavaliers in the summer, reports Dave McMenamin of ESPN. According to McMenamin, the Cavs are hoping to have Thomas scrimmage with their G League affiliate, the Canton Charge.
As McMenamin details, the Cavaliers currently have practices scheduled on Saturday and Sunday, in advance of their Christmas Day matchup against the Warriors on Monday. It sounds like Thomas will participate in those practices, but even before then, the team wants to have him scrimmage with the Charge. It’s not clear whether Thomas will head to Canton, or whether some G League players will come to the Cavs’ practice facility, McMenamin notes.
Regardless of the specifics, Thomas is clearly getting close to making his debut for the Cavs after rehabbing his hip injury for several months. A recent report indicated that the veteran point guard is eyeing an early-January return, while Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net hears that the club has been targeting a three-game road trip later this month, which ends in Utah on December 30.
The Cavs haven’t confirmed an official timetable for Thomas, but it certainly seems like he has a good chance of getting back on the court within the next couple weeks. A team source tells McMenamin that that the final determination for Thomas’ return date will be a joint decision, with Thomas, the front office, and the medical staff all involved.
When Thomas does get on the court, he figures to be eased into action, and it will be interesting to see how his return affects other Cavs players. Jose Calderon looks like the most likely candidate to have his role reduced, but the club has played terrific ball with Calderon in the starting lineup. Getting a playmaker like Thomas in their lineup may ultimately allow the Cavs to dial back LeBron James‘ workload to some extent — James is currently averaging 37.3 MPG, second-most in the NBA.
Pacific Notes: Curry, Wilson, Williams, Lakers
Warriors point guard Stephen Curry suffered a sprained right ankle earlier this month, but a medical reevaluation on Tuesday revealed he has made significant progress in his recovery, the team announced. Curry is scheduled to begin modified on-court workouts in the coming days and will be reevaluated in a week, the press release noted.
The Warriors have played well in Curry’s absence, winning all five games since he suffered the injury. Even without their former two-time NBA Most Valuable Player award recipient, the Warriors remain a potent threat, led by the likes of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. However, replacing Curry’s production in the lineup is no small feat. In 23 games this season, Curry has averaged 26.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, and 5.1 RPG.
Read up on other news out of the Pacific Division below:
- A pair of two-way deals with Jamil Wilson and C.J. Williams didn’t seem like major moves at the time of their signings, but both men have played considerable roles for the Clippers, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times writes. Two-way players are not permitted to spend more than 45 days with the NBA team but both Wilson and Williams have been burning through those days, providing an impact for a struggling Clippers team.
- While Wilson has been impressive for the Clippers, he could be on the chopping block by the end of the week as the Clippers may elect to sign a new two-way player once his 45 days are up, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter).
- The Lakers elected to go in a completely new direction last season and Kobe Bryant‘s former agent turned general manager, Rob Pelinka, was at the forefront of that change. With young talent in abundance and ample resources, Pelinka feels the team can soon lure the right players to the city of angels, USA TODAY’s Sam Amick writes. “We have as much cap flexibility, or cap health, as any team in the league. We know that this is a destination city for players to want to be in,” Pelinka said. “We have a legacy with our franchise that really can’t be duplicated, and we’ve got a pass-first, ball-sharing point guard (in Lonzo Ball), which players want to play with. So I think the culmination of all those forces is, like you said, we feel like we’ve become a destination again. Now it’s going to be Magic’s job, and my job with Jeanie’s guidance to complete the puzzle with the right pieces as we move forward.”
- Isaiah Canaan has been a revelation for the Suns in Devin Booker‘s absence, but the team would need to create a roster spot for him once Booker returns, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter).
Atlantic Notes: Hornacek, Okafor, Nets, Miles
After an entire season of uncertainty under former Knicks team president Phil Jackson, head coach Jeff Hornacek has the freedom to coach his team without interference, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes.
Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis said that without Jackson in the way, Hornacek — and even the team itself — feels more relaxed and capable of running the offense and defense efficiently. Last season, it was widely reported that Jackson insisted that Hornacek run a triangle offense; at one point, Jackson reportedly sat in on Knicks practices to make sure the offense was being implemented.
“He just has more freedom,’’ Porzingis said of the Knicks’ head coach. “He’s running the stuff he wants to run. He’s more comfortable and balanced. You also feel that confidence from [the coaching staff] in what they’re doing. Players always feel that. There’s a difference between last year, definitely.”
Entering play on Tuesday, the Knicks sport a record of 16-14, tied with the Wizards for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Offseason predictions were that the Knicks would not sniff the postseason picture but a strong start has propelled the team into playoff discussion.
“It’s a positive vibe at the Garden,” Porzingis said. “We’re having fun, playing hard. It’s different without [Anthony]. He was here a long time. My first two years we didn’t make the playoffs. We were supposed to make the playoffs. It’s different. We as a young team, expectations are not as high. If we keep playing at this level, the playoffs are realistic for us.”
Check out other Atlantic Division news below:
- Jahlil Okafor got his wish when he was traded to the Nets, ending a troubled tenure with the Sixers. However, the big man is not in NBA game shape and head coach Kenny Atkinson said Okafor would not see regular action until his conditioning improves, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “That’s why I’m happy I’m here with the actual NBA coaching staff that’s taking care of me every day,” Okafor said of leaving the Sixers. “When I was in Philly I was figuring it out on my own. I had my own trainer [Rick Lewis] that I’ve been working with since eighth grade working me out. But it’s a different level when you’re actually working with an NBA staff.”
- In a lengthy, in-depth feature, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer examines the Nets‘ rebuild after a disastrous 2012 trade involving future Hall-of-Famers and valuable draft picks that changed the future of the team.
- Offseason free agent signee C.J. Miles has been an impactful player for the Raptors this season, but he could provide the team with even more value, Blake Murphy of The Athletic writes (subscription required and recommended).
Mark Cuban Not Interested In Owning NFL Team
The Carolina Panthers are up for sale and while many with interest in owning an NFL franchise will line up to try and take the reins of the team, don’t expect Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to be among them.
“Not interested at all in any NFL franchise,” Cuban tells Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. The Shark Tank star later added, “Why would I buy an NFL team if I think the league is in decline?”
In order to buy an NFL team, Cuban would be required to sell the Mavericks (per NFL rules). That’s not something that’s likely to happen anytime soon.
“There’s no team I would want other than the Mavericks, certainly no football team in the universe,” Cuban said. “There’s not even a close second.”
“I love the Mavs. I love Dallas. I mean, Charlotte’s a great city, but there’s nothing I don’t like here — other than losing right now. I would never turn my back on the city of Dallas.”
Cuban has been critical of the NFL’s future with regard to players’ safety and he believes buying a team would go against his strong stance on the sport.
“Like I’ve always said, Dallas has given me so much. And what am I going to say to my son and his friends or my daughter and her friends: ‘Oh, yeah: Football’s dangerous for you, but I bought a football team…I know I’m a hypocrite from time to time, but I really, really, really try not to be,” Cuban added.
Thunder Notes: Patterson, Anthony, Westbrook
The Thunder may be better off sending Carmelo Anthony to the bench unit, Erik Horne of The Oklahoman contends. Horne notes that the offense often becomes stagnant with the team’s stars holding onto the ball too long and inserting Patrick Patterson in the starting lineup could be the solution to the team’s problems.
Patterson, who joined OKC during the offseason on a three-year, $16.4MM deal, prides himself on making quick decisions with the rock.
“Being able to decide as soon as I catch the ball if I want to drive or pass is something I’ve been carrying along for years,” Patterson said.
The power forward is averaging 1.29 seconds per touch this season, which is the second-lowest mark on the team, according to Horne.
In theory, adding Patterson in the starting five makes sense, though there isn’t much data on the potential new starting lineup. The Russell Westbrook–Andre Roberson–Paul George–Steven Adams-Patterson lineup has only played eight minutes this season and while it yielded a slight positive in net rating, it’s unclear how successful the lineup could be over the long-term. Factor in the potential negative chemistry consequences from changing a future Hall of Famer’s role and the potential retooling of the rotation appears even riskier.
Coach Billy Donovan wouldn’t rule out making that kind of move, but said that Patterson is “in a pretty good routine and role right now.”
Here’s more from Oklahoma City:
- Donovan believes the Thunder’s chemistry is just fine but he acknowledges that the offense will require more ball movement if they are going to climb up in the standings, as Ken Berger of Bleacher Report relays. “They’re willing to work and they’re willing to sacrifice and they know that they have to change,” Donovan said of the team’s three stars. “And I think that change sometimes is difficult. It’s difficult, it’s challenging, it’s new. … But I think for the way we need to play to maximize our team, we’re going to have to move the ball, share the ball, and that’s been a little bit different for most of these guys.”
- GM Sam Presti may have felt pressure to surround Westbrook with stars so that he would be more likely to ink an extension. While it worked, as Westbrook agreed to add five years to his pact, one anonymous league executive believes the team did more than it had to, as Berger passes along in the same piece.“I think they messed with the chemistry too much,” the Western Conference executive said. “They probably would’ve been fine with just George and Westbrook and some role players.”
Thunder Not Entertaining Paul George Trades
The Thunder acquired Paul George and Carmelo Anthony and expected to compete with the Rockets and Warriors atop the Western Conference. Instead, the team is struggling to stay above .500. Yet, despite the underwhelming results, Oklahoma City is still showing no indication that George is on the table in trade talks, Bleacher Report’s Ken Berger hears.
Berger adds that the Thunder understood the risks of acquiring George, who can become a free agent this summer, and they weren’t delusional about his chances of committing to the team long-term.
George gave the Pacers insight into his thinking about his upcoming free agency, something that spurred to the franchise to listen to trade offers. It’s possible that he informs the Thunder that he likely won’t be sticking around should he come to that conclusion, though the situations are dissimilar.
“Well, I think this is a different scenario because it’s our only year together as far as we’re on one-year contracts,” George tells Berger. “I want to put everything into this and see where that takes us. I’m not giving up; I’m not giving in. I want to give this thing everything I have and we’ll see where it goes.”
While George remains open to staying in OKC beyond 2018, it appears the short-term success will play a role in his future decision making.
“We all enjoy playing with one another,” George explained. “This could possibly be me being here for multiple years. But … I’m not going to just throw it in and be like, ‘No, I’m done with this.’ We’ve got a long, long, long season ahead of us. And I’m committed to that.”
One anonymous Western Conference league executive believes George is simply putting on a face to the media.
“George has got to be frustrated,” the executive said. “You can tell by the way he’s playing. He’s not playing with any enthusiasm, not playing with any spunk. He’s kind of playing like a second or third wheel out there.”
The executive was critical of the team’s ball movement and chemistry, adding that the three stars simply do not play well together.
“It’s a three-man circus,” the executive said. “…You can tell by watching them play, it’s out of sync. There’s no rhyme or rhythm to how they play.”