Kings Notes: Hill, Giles, Draft Picks, Sampson
George Hill didn’t need words to express his frustration after Saturday’s loss to the Bucks, writes James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area. Hill used emojis — 26 dark red “pouting face” symbols” — in a tweet he sent out shortly after the game. Hill played just 18 minutes last night and was part of the starting lineup that was pulled after three minutes when it fell into a 14-0 hole.
The adjustment to Sacramento has been difficult for the 31-year-old point guard, who signed a three-year, $57MM deal over the summer. Through 21 games, he is averaging 8.9 points and 2.4 assists in 25.6 minutes while sharing time with rookies De’Aaron Fox and Frank Mason. He’s taking five fewer shots per night than he did last season in Utah.
Barring a trade, Hill is committed to the Kings through at least the end of next season. His contract includes a non-guaranteed $18MM for 2019/20.
There’s more today out of Sacramento:
- Kings fans shouldn’t count on seeing Harry Giles play this season, writes Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. The organization is being very careful with the rookie out of Duke, who has a long history of medical problems with both knees. Team doctors will evaluate him next month, which will mark two years since his last ACL surgery, and determine the best course for further rehab. The Kings want to see how he responds to increased activity in practice before thinking about playing him, and Jones believes that probably means keeping him sidelined for the rest of the year.
- The Kings might be tempted to take on another team’s unwanted contract to pick up a draft pick for next summer, but they would have to consider the long-term implications of such a move, Jones writes in the same story. Sacramento’s first-rounder for 2019 will go to either Philadelphia or Boston. While Sacramento might like to add to its youth movement, it doesn’t want to take on an expensive, long-term deal that would drain future cap room. The team is counting on having market flexibility when its youngsters start to mature, which is why Zach Randolph was only signed for two seasons and Hill’s contract has a third-year buyout.
- Injuries and foul trouble gave two-way player JaKarr Sampson a rare chance to play Saturday, Jones notes in a separate story. In just his third game of the season, the 24-year-old small forward logged 24 minutes and impressed the coaching staff with his energy and enthusiasm.
Derrick Rose Wants To Rejoin Cavaliers
Derrick Rose is ready to return to the Cavaliers, reports Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. The veteran point guard expressed that sentiment to GM Koby Altman this week, and the team is expected to address the situation today.
Rose left the team 11 days ago, reportedly frustrated over his latest injury, a sprained left ankle that has kept him out of action since November 9. He told management he needed some time to contemplate his future in the NBA after a long string of physical problems.
Rose’s decision was influenced at least partially by the $80MM still remaining on a 13-year, $185MM endorsement contract he signed with Adidas in 2012. He signed with Cleveland for the veterans’ minimum of $1,471,382 and doesn’t want to give up that extra income by quitting the game.
The Cavs may welcome Rose back, but that doesn’t mean he will go back to his former role. The team won its 11th straight game Saturday night and has found a successful combination with Jose Calderon starting at point guard and Dwyane Wade serving as the backup. Calderon isn’t getting typical playing time for a starter — he was on the court just 14 minutes last night — but the team is 7-1 with him in the starting lineup and coach Tyronn Lue will be reluctant to shake up a rotation that is working. Isaiah Thomas is expected to return from his hip injury sometime this month and take over the starting spot, which could leave Rose without any defined role.
Lloyd says Rose will have to work to rebuild trust in the locker room after walking away from the team. After disappearing on the Knicks for a game last season, Rose may be getting the reputation of someone who isn’t fully committed to basketball.
Embiid Bonus Could Affect Sixers’ Cap Space
Joel Embiid‘s strong start could lead to a bonus that would affect the Sixers’ ability to compete on the free agent market next summer, writes Bobby Marks of ESPN.
The second-year center signed a five-year extension over the summer that has a base value of $146MM, but could rise as high as $178MM if he reaches certain benchmarks. That includes a hefty bonus if he is named Most Valuable Player or earns first-team All-NBA honors this season. Embiid, who came into tonight averaging 22.9 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, is certainly a candidate to make the All-NBA team at center, especially with the injury to Rudy Gobert and the move of Anthony Davis to power forward.
The bonus would raise Embiid’s cap hit from $25.3MM to $30.3MM for 2018/19 and would cost Philadelphia $5MM in cap space for each subsequent year of the contract. The Sixers have nearly $32MM in projected cap room right now, not counting $1.6MM team options for T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes, so $5MM could affect their ability to offer a full max contract.
Emiid’s contract also contains a minutes clause that could boost his future earnings. He can make his contract fully guaranteed starting in 2020/21 or 2021/22 if he plays at least 1,650 minutes in three consecutive years or three out of four starting with this season. He has accumulated 532 minutes in 18 games, putting him on pace to reach that figure for this year.
Marks passes on a few other tidbits related to contract incentives:
- The punch from Bobby Portis that hospitalized Nikola Mirotic has cost the Bulls forward $1MM in bonuses. Mirotic had four benchmarks valued at $250K each, and although each was unlikely, he needed to play 65 games to be eligible and he has already missed 20.
- Nets guard Jeremy Lin, who played just one game this season before needing knee surgery, missed a chance to earn several bonuses worth $750K.
- Nuggets forward Paul Millsap has a $500K incentive for making the All-Star team, which is impossible after wrist surgery that will keep him sidelined until after the February 18 game. Millsap had been an All-Star the past four seasons in the East. He also would receive a $150K bonus for playing 65 games and averaging seven rebounds per 36 minutes, but that’s out of reach because of the injury. He can still get $150K if the Nuggets make the playoffs, but for now his cap hit for next season will be cut from $29.7MM to $29.2MM.
- Gobert took the biggest hit because of injury, which could cost him up to $2MM. The Jazz center, who is not expected back until the middle of the month because of a bone bruise in his right knee, had a pair of $250K incentives based on 67 games played, along with a $500K bonus for being named first team All-Defense and $1MM for making the All-Star game.
- Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon needs his scoring and rebounding averages to total more than 16 to collect a $900K bonus. He was at 11.1 PPG and 7.8 RPG before his recent injury.
- The Trail Blazers could see a smaller luxury tax bill if Maurice Harkless continues to struggle with his three-point shot. Currently shooting 24.3% from distance, Harkless needs to reach 35% at the end of the season to get a $500K bonus. If he falls short, Portland’s tax bill will dip from $4.3MM to $3.5MM.
Thunder Notes: Donovan, Westbrook, Roberson, George
The bumpy start continues in Oklahoma City as coach Billy Donovan tries to mesh Paul George and Carmelo Anthony into a cohesive unit with Russell Westbrook, writes Erik Horne of The Oklahoman. Although they are all exceptional scorers, there are concerns that they don’t fit well together, and so far Westbrook [.400] and Anthony [.422] are posting their worst field goal percentages since they were rookies. Donovan continues to experiment with different combinations off the bench as the Thunder have stumbled to a 9-12 start.
“He has a style that he knows works, and we’re all in with Billy on it,” George said. “But again, he’s good with wanting what’s best for us and wanting what’s gonna make us comfortable out there.”
There’s more out of Oklahoma City:
- Horne offers grades for all the Thunder players through the first quarter of the season in a separate story, and the reigning MVP only gets a B-minus. Westbrook has adjusted his game to accommodate George and Anthony and is still searching for the right balance between taking over games and setting up his teammates, Horne says. Anthony also gets a B-minus, while George receives an A.
- A change in the starting lineup might be the answer to OKC’s early-season slump, suggests Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman. He proposes replacing defensive specialist Andre Roberson with a better shooter such as Alex Abrines or Terrance Ferguson to create more spacing for the first unit. Donovan increased Ferguson’s minutes this week and gave Dakari Johnson a shot in Wednesday’s loss to Orlando, but he doesn’t seem ready to change the pairing of Westbrook, George, Anthony, Roberson and Steven Adams that has started every game this season. “I think that what happens in these situations is sometimes people look for the change for the sake of change because it looks like you’re doing something,” Donovan said. “I’ve always been a big believer of pinpointing what the issues and the challenges are that we’ve got to overcome.”
- Magic coach Frank Vogel, who coached George in Indiana, described his former star as “selfless” in trying to make the union with Westbrook and Anthony successful, relays John Denton of NBA.com. He said the Thunder will benefit from George’s defensive abilities, which he described as “Allen Iverson’s instincts in Scottie Pippen’s body.’’
Community Shootaround: Best Fit For DeAndre Jordan
DeAndre Jordan is the hottest new name on the trade market, put there by the Clippers’ poor start, a slew of injuries to teammates and his body language as the season continues to crumble.
A Friday night report from Gery Woelfel says the Bucks are aggressively pursuing Jordan, with L.A. asking for John Henson, Malcolm Brogdon and Khris Middleton in return. Milwaukee may not be willing to part with all three, but it’s easy to see why the Bucks would like to add Jordan’s elite interior defense. They would become serious challengers to the Cavaliers and Celtics with a team built around Jordan, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Eric Bledsoe and Jabari Parker once he returns from from a torn ACL, which is expected in February.
But the Bucks aren’t the only team trying to acquire Jordan, Woelfel reports, as the Raptors, Wizards and Timberwolves have all expressed interest. Haley O’Shaughnessy of the Ringer sees Washington as a prime location, proposing a trade that would send Marcin Gortat, Jason Smith, Tomas Satoransky and a 2019 unprotected first-rounder to L.A. in return.
The other two locations are a tougher fit, as Toronto would probably want to unload center Jonas Valanciunas, who still has two more seasons and more than $34MM left on his current deal. Jordan would be an awkward match beside Karl-Anthony Towns in Minnesota and his addition would mean less playing time for Taj Gibson, who just signed with the Wolves this summer.
Another rumor, addressed last week by Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, has the Cavaliers getting involved with a package of Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert and possibly the unprotected pick from the Nets. A league source told Vardon the Cavs would likely consider such a deal if they thought it would help them beat the Warriors.
Publicly, the Clippers are downplaying talk of rebuilding, but the prospect becomes more real as they sink in the standings. L.A. is 4-13 since a 4-0 start and currently sits in 10th place in the West, two and a half games out of a playoff spot. Patrick Beverley is out for the year, Blake Griffin is sidelined for two months and Danilo Gallinari and Milos Teodosic haven’t returned from early-season injuries. Jordan has a player option for next season worth $24,119,025 and could opt for unrestricted free agency if he thinks the Clippers’ best days are over.
We want to hear your opinion. If the Clippers decide to move Jordan, where would be the best fit and what should they ask for in return? Please leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Southwest Notes: Davis, Noel, Carlisle, Paul
Anthony Davis will undergo further examination on his groin injury when the Pelicans return to New Orleans tomorrow, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. He will be held out of tonight’s game in Portland.
Davis suffered the injury Friday night in Utah, collapsing under the basket while going after a rebound. He had to be helped off the court and later used crutches as he left the locker room. He was still on crutches as he arrived at the Moda Center tonight, according to Mike Richman of The Oregonian (Twitter link).
Davis has been among the league’s top young stars since being taken with the first pick in the 2012 draft, but durability has been a persistent problem. He appeared in 75 games last season, which marked the first time he was able to play in more than 70.
There’s more news from the Southwest Division:
- Mavericks center Nerlens Noel didn’t get off the bench for the fourth straight game today, but he got some attention in the media dining area, relays Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Noel stopped in for a hot dog at lunchtime, which is an unusual act for a player in uniform. He explained that he got hungry during the afternoon game and needed “fuel” in case he was called on in the second half. Whether it was an innocent gesture or an act of protest, it’s clear that Noel is unhappy being stuck on the bench. “I’m doing everything I need to, staying in shape, continuing to work on my game and working on the little things,” Noel said. “It’s frustrating at times. But I think I got laser focus right now for what I want to do and where I want to be. I’m anxious to play. When that comes, it comes.” But when asked if he expects that to happen in Dallas, he replied, “I honestly have no idea.”
- Today’s win was number 700 for Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle, Sefko notes in a separate story, which underscores how long he has been with the organization. He spent two seasons as head coach in Detroit and four years in Indiana before coming to Dallas at the start of 2008/09. “It means I’ve been very fortunate to have three great owners and a lot of great players,” Carlisle said. “I’ve never been one to count that kind of stuff. As time goes on, I count those things even less.”
- Rockets guard Chris Paul and forward Luc Mbah a Moute will make their first trip back to Staples Center tomorrow since leaving the Clippers over the offseason, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Both say their emotions will be lessened because they are facing the Lakers instead of their former team.
‘Positive’ Talks With Derrick Rose, Who Might Return Soon
The Cavaliers are reporting “positive” communication with Derrick Rose and he may return to the team soon, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
Coach Tyronn Lue and GM Koby Altman both confirmed there has been recent contact with Rose, but didn’t offer any other information. Lue referred questions on the topic to Altman, who promised more information on Sunday.
Rose, who hasn’t played since November 9 because of an injured ankle, left the team 10 days ago to contemplate his future in the NBA. He is reportedly frustrated over a series of injuries that have plagued him over the last several years.
Rose, who agreed to a veterans’ minimum contract in July, played just seven games before the ankle problem struck. He averaged 14.3 points per night, but Cleveland didn’t start winning consistently until he left the lineup.
There’s no guarantee that Rose will have a spot in the rotation if he does return, especially with Isaiah Thomas expected back from his hip injury later this month. Dwyane Wade had taken over point guard duties with the reserves.
LeBron James said earlier today that he hasn’t been in contact with Rose since he left.
“Whenever he’s ready to tell us or whatever, we’re ready for that,” James said. “You don’t ever fast track someone’s process of what they may be going through. When they’re ready to talk about it or ready to bring it to the forefront, as his teammates we’ll be ready for it.”
Southeast Notes: Plumlee, Cavanaugh, Magic, Wall
With Dewayne Dedmon and John Collins sidelined by injuries, Miles Plumlee made his first start today since joining the Hawks, notes Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Plumlee, who was part of Atlanta’s return from the Hornets in this summer’s Dwight Howard trade, had to overcome a right quad injury last month. He had played just two games for Atlanta before today’s start, which saw him post six points and seven rebounds in 19 minutes.
Plumlee, who is making $12.5MM this season and each of the next two, may get an extended chance to show what he can do as a starter. Dedmon is projected to miss three to six weeks with a left tibia stress reaction, while Collins will be out at least two weeks with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. Plumlee was a full-time starter for the Suns during his second season in the league in 2013/14, but has been used mainly in a reserve role since.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Rookie power forward Tyler Cavanaugh may also see more playing time in the absence of Dedmon and Collins, Cunningham adds in the same story. The 23-year-old, who signed a two-way deal with the Hawks in early November, is mainly a stretch four, but was used in a lineup today with a point guard and three wings. Cunningham expects that alignment to continue until the front line is at full strength.
- The Magic may need to consider trades to address their problems on defense, suggests Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando has been the worst defensive team in the league since November 11 based on points per possession and has lost 10 of 11 games in that span. Robbins points out that Jonathan Isaac‘s injury has been part of the problem, but adds that Elfrid Payton, Evan Fournier, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic all have issues on that end of the court.
- Wizards guard John Wall provided an update on his injured left knee Friday, but isn’t sure when he’ll be able to play again, relays Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. He had platelet-rich plasma treatment and viscosupplementation injections in the knee last weekend and is waiting for a medical report on how he is responding. Wall, who also this season has endured a sprained shoulder, sprained ankle, swollen knee, migraines and an illness that required an IV, said he tries to avoid missing games. “I’m the type of guy who likes to play through things,” he said. “It just got to the point where it was affecting my play. I tried to get through it as much as I could, but then everyone was like you have to care of it and think about the long-term, not just the short-term.”
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/2/17
Here are Saturday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:
3:58pm:
- The Grizzlies have recalled rookie big man Ivan Rabb from the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, according to an official press release. Rabb has only played one minute for the Grizzlies so far this season.
12:53pm:
- After being assigned to the Erie BayHawks back on November 26, the Hawks have recalled guard Tyler Dorsey back to the team for this afternoon’s game against the Nets, per an official press release from the team. In seven games with the BayHawks, Dorsey is averaging 17.4 PPG.
- According to a team press release, rookie center Ante Zizic has been recalled back to the Cavaliers a day after being assigned to the G League’s Canton Charge. Zizic scored 19 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for the Charge in last night’s game against the Long Island Nets.
- The Lakers have assigned center Ivica Zubac to the South Bay Lakers, its G League affiliate, the team announced today. In two games with South Bay this season, Zubac has averaged 21.0 PPG and 10.0 RPG. He is expected to play tonight against the Agua Caliente Clippers.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 11/25/17 – 12/2/17
Every week, the writers here at Hoops Rumors strive to create interesting original content to complement our news feed. Here are those segments and features from the last 7 days:
- We answered your questions in our Weekly Mailbag, including potential trades involving two recent lottery picks – the Sixers’ Jahlil Okafor and the Lakers’ Julius Randle.
- In our Community Shootaround series, we asked:
- Who do you believe is going to be the next head coach to lose his job?
- Is Anthony Davis‘ tendency to attract injury going to become a long-term problem for the Pelicans?
- We continued to revisit some of our Hoops Rumors Glossary entries, this week focusing on additional free agent signing exceptions.
- We took a look at some important dates to remember this month, including a few salary guarantee dates, the NBA’s annual Christmas Day line-up, and a change in wavier order.
- We analyzed the stock of the Clippers’ 2018 free agents.
- We took a look at our top five restricted free agents for the 2018 offseason, two of whom are former lottery selections still out with injuries.
- As part of our Fantasy Hoops content, we analyzed how James Harden‘s play is making him the early favorite for MVP, among other fantasy analysis and notes.
- We asked you to weigh in on a poll asking which team has the best backcourt duo in the NBA.