Central Notes: Valentine, Pistons, Markkanen
After a disappointing first season in which he wasn’t heavily utilized as a playmaker, Denzel Valentine is eager to show the Bulls what he’s capable of. The famously versatile forward out of Michigan State told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times that his role in 2016/17 was to mostly just be a spot-up shooter.
With so much turnover on the Bulls roster over the summer, Valentine could get his opportunity to flash the rest of his skills and potentially even earn a role as a starter with the young franchise, although head coach Fred Hoiberg has implied that his lineups will be determined through preseason.
The 23-year-old averaged 5.1 points per game last season but underwent surgery on his left ankle at the start of the summer. The second-year Bulls forward is still working his way back into shape.
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Count Pistons president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy among those who believes that getting rid of the NBA Draft altogether would address the tanking issue, Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports.
- The Pistons have assigned assistant coach Aaron Gray the task of focusing on the skill development of big men, Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press writes. Rex Walters, formerly the head coach of the Grand Rapids Drive, will hold a similar role with the backcourt.
- The Bulls will be cautious with seventh-overall pick Lauri Markkanen‘s injured back. The club won’t rush the first-year big man back to the court, Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago writes.
Lottery Notes: Player Movement, The Wheel, Value
The recently announced lottery changes will have an impact on tanking but it may be a minor one, Zach Lowe of ESPN writes. To fully rid the league of intentional losing, far more aggressive steps would need to be taken.
Essentially, Lowe writes, increasing the freedom of movement that players have could be fair but doing so could come in several drastic forms from cutting the length of rookie contracts to trashing the max salary. Those, of course, could come with their own set of negative consequences and may not necessarily be worth it.
The current reform, said to be an incremental step, will dissuade terrible teams from shamelessly losing games late in the season but it may hurt small market teams if it impedes them drafting stars. Without access to drafting those stars, the smaller market franchises would have an even tougher time trying to lure free agents.
There’s more regarding the lottery reform:
- The NBA’s new lottery rules don’t do enough to deter tanking, Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman writes. The scribe suggests that teams will still lose games on purposes, regardless of the new flattened odds, because getting a pick “anywhere near the top” is sufficient. He advocates for The Wheel as an alternative.
- The new lottery changes will do nothing to stop tanking, a Cleveland.com report suggests. Teams will still compete to be one of the three-worst clubs since they now have an equal shot at landing the top pick.
- Using a combination of probabilities and the estimated value each pick in 2019 lottery might have in addition to their salary, Kevin Pelton of ESPN makes a case for small market teams actually benefiting from the lottery reform. Pelton says that an under-discussed component of picking high in the draft is the salary that rookies are owed under the new CBA.
Four Teams Without G League Affiliates For 2017/18
The NBA G League – known as the D-League before a sponsorship deal was struck with Gatorade – continues to expand as the 2017/18 season approaches. A record-high 26 NBA teams will have direct, one-to-one relationships with G League squads this season, with most NBA clubs owning and operating their own affiliates.
That leaves just four teams without affiliates for the 2017/18 season. That doesn’t mean those four clubs aren’t allowed to assign players to the G League — the flexible assignment rule allows teams without an affiliate to assign players to other G League teams. Still, those clubs are at a disadvantage in a handful of ways.
NBA teams that control their own affiliates have hand-picked coaches to help develop their young players, and can ensure that the same systems are taught in both the NBA and the G League. When a team without an affiliate assigns a player to the G League, that player could end up with a different squad each time and won’t have the same sort of support system. Last season, for instance, Pelicans rookie Cheick Diallo spent time with the Austin Spurs, Greensboro Swarm, and Long Island Nets on various assignments.
Additionally, teams without a G League squad won’t have the opportunity to designate affiliate players when the regular season begins. Those affiliate players aren’t technically under control of an NBA team, but they often stick with a club’s G League squad after spending the preseason with that club.
Here are the four NBA teams without a G League affiliate for the 2017/18 season:
Denver Nuggets
- Candidates for assignment: Malik Beasley spent some time in the G League last season and could do so again in 2017/18. 2017 first-rounder Tyler Lydon may also see some G League action, since Denver has a pretty deep roster and may not have room for him in the rotation.
- Two-way players: Torrey Craig, SF; Monte Morris, PG
- Timeline for affiliate: A report from October 2016 suggested the Nuggets were eying a possible G League affiliate for the 2017/18 season, but it didn’t happen. It’s clearly on the club’s radar, and I’d be surprised if Denver doesn’t have an affiliate in place within the next couple years.
New Orleans Pelicans
- Candidates for assignment: As noted above, Diallo was a regular in the G League last year. He’s still raw and could see assignments again this season. Rookie guard Frank Jackson may also see G League action if he doesn’t crack the backcourt rotation in New Orleans.
- Two-way players: Charles Cooke, SG; Jalen Jones, G/F
- Timeline for affiliate: The Pelicans have reportedly narrowed their search for a G League home to two cities: Shreveport, Louisiana and Pensacola, Florida. The plan is to get a G League franchise in place for the 2018/19 season.
Portland Trail Blazers
- Candidates for assignment: The Blazers added a pair of rookies in this year’s draft, snagging Zach Collins and Caleb Swanigan. Both guys have the potential to make an impact in year one, but could be sent to the G League if they don’t earn regular minutes out of the gate. Jake Layman is also a candidate to return to the G League this year.
- Two-way players: C.J. Wilcox, SG
- Timeline for affiliate: There have been no clear indications that the Blazers will have an affiliate ready to go for 2018/19. It’s hard to imagine the franchise will remain on the sidelines for too much longer though.
Washington Wizards
- Candidates for assignment: If players like Sheldon Mac, Carrick Felix, or Daniel Ochefu make the opening night roster, they’ll be candidates for G League stints. Otherwise, this is a roster heavy on veterans — Chris McCullough might be the only other viable option for an assignment.
- Two-way players: Devin Robinson, SF; Michael Young, F
- Timeline for affiliate: The Wizards intend to set up a very local affiliate in time for the 2018/19 season, according to a June report.
Atlantic Notes: Hardaway, Celtics, Knicks, Raptors
Few contracts signed during the 2017 offseason drew as much criticism as the offer sheet Tim Hardaway Jr. inked with the Knicks, which the Hawks decided not to match. The four-year, $71MM investment in a player who has averaged 11.0 career PPG raised eyebrows around the NBA, but Hardaway said today that he couldn’t care less about league observers questioning his deal (link via Ian Begley of ESPN.com).
“People need to move on, move forward with that,” Hardaway said of his new contract with the Knicks. “That’s in the past right now. We’ve got to get ready for the season. And if they’re still harping on that, then their mind is somewhere else. I’m focused on the team, I’m here to win. And I know my teammates and the coaching staff, everybody that’s in that front office has that faith and trust in me that I’m going go out there and do everything I can to help the team win.”
Here’s more from around the Atlantic division:
- In explaining why he was willing to include the Nets‘ 2018 first-round pick in his trade offer for Kyrie Irving, Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said he felt he owed it to veterans like Gordon Hayward and Al Horford to cash in some of the club’s assets for a star (video link via CSNNE.com). Hayward and Horford have chosen Boston in free agency over the last two years, and are ready to contend for a spot in the Finals.
- Speaking of Irving, he’s among the new Celtics who are appreciative of the team’s philosophy on rest and recovery in between games, as Taylor C. Snow of Celtics.com details in an interesting piece.
- Now that the Knicks are all-in on rebuilding, there are some reasons to be excited about basketball in New York, argues Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders. Hamilton identifies rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina as a player who has the potential to be a diamond in the rough for the Knicks.
- While Raptors head coach Dwane Casey would ideally love to have eight or 10 “seasoned veterans” in his rotation, the club will be relying on youngsters like Jakob Poeltl and Pascal Siakam to play major roles this season, and they feel like they’re ready, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star.
Poll: Dallas Mavericks’ 2017/18 Win Total
After finishing below .500 last season for the first time since the 1999/2000 campaign, the Mavericks recognized that they’re no longer among the league’s bona fide contenders and committed to a rebuild.
That means the club essentially sat out of free agency — Dallas’ own free agents, Dirk Nowitzki and Nerlens Noel, were the only players to get more than the minimum salary from the team this offseason, and neither of them got more than $5MM in guaranteed money.
Of course, the Mavericks’ primary summer addition was Dennis Smith Jr., who has generated some buzz as a Rookie of the Year candidate. Still, it may be unfair to expect too much from Smith. Outside of a few transcendent talents, first-year players often struggle to make an impact right away, and the rookie point guard will be just 19 years old on opening night. He may develop into an All-Star caliber player down the road, but he’s unlikely to be fully formed out of the gate.
Given their limited upgrades, the Mavericks aren’t expected to significantly improve upon last year’s 33-49 record. Offshore betting site Bovada has the club’s over/under at 35.5 wins for 2017/18.
What do you think? Are you more bullish on the Mavs’ chances to pick up a few extra victories this season, or will the team continue to pile up losses in a tough Western Conference? Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!
How many games will the Mavericks win in 2017/18?
-
Under 35.5 55% (305)
-
Over 35.5 45% (250)
Total votes: 555
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Previous over/under voting results:
Western Conference:
- Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
- Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
- San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
- Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
- Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
- Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
- Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
- New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
- Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)
Eastern Conference:
- Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
- Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
- Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
- Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
- Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
- Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
- Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
- Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)
Warriors Notes: Young, Bell, Jones, Green
The Warriors became the first team to make a roster move after a preseason game, waiving guards Antonius Cleveland and Alex Hamilton. Anthony Slater of The Athletic shares a few more observations about Saturday’s loss to the Nuggets:
- Free agent addition Nick Young has a lot of rust to shake off after not playing since March 17. Golden State is counting on Young to provide scoring off the bench, but he has a new offense to learn and didn’t report to camp in top condition. Slater called Young’s performance “sluggish” in the preseason opener as he sometimes seemed lost in transition and was short of breath as play went on for several possessions without a stoppage. “He’s not shot the ball well in camp,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “He came in a little bit heavy. As he rounds into shape, he’s going to shoot it better.” Young said earlier this week that he “feels like I’m in everyone’s way,” and that was evident Saturday as Kerr, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala all took time to explain principles of the offense to him during the game.
- Kerr gave Jordan Bell some unexpected minutes in the third quarter, letting him play alongside the Warriors’ All-Stars. Bell looked like a rookie at times, but also showed promise on the defensive end. Bell gave himself a C grade for his first NBA experience, saying, “Couple people scored on me that shouldn’t have.”
- Damian Jones missed last year’s training camp and preseason while recovering from a torn pectoral muscle. The second-year center was never able to catch up, playing just 10 games with the Warriors, so he says this feels like his rookie season. Slater notes that Jones might be the team’s best athlete but tends to be overly aggressive on defense, which showed Saturday with three fouls in 11 minutes. “His ability to play vertically defensively without fouling should be a real strength,” Kerr said. “But he came down and swiped down. Little things like that, he has to work on.”
- Green received a surprise Saturday when former Pistons star Ben Wallace showed up to present his Defensive Player of the Year Award. “That was a good one,” said Green, who grew up in Michigan and was a big fan of Wallace as a child. “That was a great feeling. A guy I looked up to growing up.”
Weekly Mailbag: 9/25/17 – 10/1/17
We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.
Did the Warriors’ level of concern in defending their title go up significantly with the Dwyane Wade signing? — Philip Malan, via Twitter
It’s hard to say if the Warriors are concerned about anything with so much talent on their roster, but Cleveland has been able to put together a very good offseason after a disastrous start. Wade adds more championship experience and figures to be energized after a wasted year in Chicago. It hasn’t been that long since he and LeBron James dominated the league in Miami, and their chemistry should redevelop quickly. The Cavaliers now have ridiculous depth on the wing that will be needed if they get into another Finals battle with Golden State. If Derrick Rose is playing as well as reports out of Cleveland indicate, the Cavs’ chances are as good as anyone’s to dethrone the champs.
Do you think LeBron will stay put next season now that his best buddy Dwayne Wade has joined the Cavs? — Greg Dizon
LeBron’s intentions will likely remain a mystery until he announces them next July. Having Wade on board can only help Cleveland’s chances, but he will be a free agent in nine months as well, so he and James could leave in a package deal. Or they could stay in Cleveland and try to recruit Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony to form the “Banana Boat” squad that James talked about two years ago. The future remains unpredictable in Cleveland, and Wade’s presence doesn’t change that equation.
Do my Spurs have a chance to compete with the power teams that are now in the Western Conference? Do we need another superstar looking into free agency next year? — greecosuave1
San Antonio seemed to stand still this summer as the rest of the West got better — Rudy Gay was their only significant addition — so it’s easy to forget how good this team is. The Spurs won 61 games last season and extended their playoff streak to 20 years. Kawhi Leonard will still be an elite two-way player when he returns from a quadriceps injury, and there’s a very good supporting cast around him. By spring, San Antonio will be in its usual spot as a top contender and a threat to the NBA title. Looking ahead, Tony Parker‘s $15.45MM contract will come off the books after this season, and LaMarcus Aldridge, Danny Green, Joffrey Lauvergne and Gay all have player options, which could free up close to $43MM. So expect the Spurs to be aggressive on the free agent market in a year where there will be plenty of big names to chase.
New York Notes: Noah, Ntilikina, Zeller, Whitehead
The Knicks may finally be getting the version of Joakim Noah they thought they signed last summer, writes Howie Kussoy of The New York Post. After agreeing to a four-year, $72MM contract, Noah had a disastrous first season in New York, marked by poor play, a 20-game suspension for using a banned substance and a left knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery in February.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek said Noah’s performance in training camp has been a pleasant surprise. “Coming off those injuries, literally, I’m shocked of how well he’s played just because I didn’t think he was gonna be ready this early,” Hornacek said. “I’m extremely happy with how he’s playing. He’s playing the right way. He sets great screens, he rolls hard, which opens up other things for guys if he doesn’t get it. He’s been finishing with driving layups. He’s been playing great. He wants to come back and show everybody what kind of player he is and he’s worked hard to do that over the summer.”
Noah still has 11 games left on his suspension, so he won’t be available until mid-November. Hornacek plans to use him on a limited basis in the preseason to make sure the knee is fully recovered.
There’s more news from New York:
- First-round pick Frank Ntilikina has performed well enough in camp to convince Hornacek that he has a bright NBA future, Kussoy relays in a separate piece. The French point was drafted because former team president Phil Jackson liked his potential fit in the triangle offense, but Hornacek says he has adjusted well to the new, faster-paced approach. “The guys are already talking about him and the plays that he’s making,” Hornacek said. “When you have the respect of those older guys, you’re doing something right.”
- Nets coach Kenny Atkinson is confident that his centers can exceed expectations, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Brooklyn traded for Timofey Mozgov, drafted Jarrett Allen and signed Tyler Zeller over the summer to form a center by committee. Zeller, who had a productive year in 2014/15, can’t understand why the Celtics cut his playing time over the past two seasons before waiving him in July. “It was one of those things I was trying to figure out all year,” he said. “They had a great year, so I can’t say they made the wrong decision. But at the same time, I wish I was a part of it. I felt like I could’ve contributed more.”
- Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead will keep Andy Miller as his agent, tweets Adam Zagoria of Zagsblog. Miller’s ASM agency has been tied to the college basketball scandal uncovered this week and is the target of a $13.5MM arbitration claim filed by Clippers center Willie Reed.
Lakers Notes: Ball, Kuzma, Blue, Bogut
Lonzo Ball‘s NBA debut brought an electric atmosphere to Saturday’s preseason opener, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. The second overall pick had a rough shooting night, going 2 for 9 from the field and finishing with five points, but he contributed eight assists, seven rebounds and two steals and showed a sell-out crowd his triple-double potential. “He is so unselfish that sometimes he has good shots for himself and he tries to get someone else a shot,” said Lakers coach Luke Walton. “We want him taking those. We are looking for him to be a little more aggressive to score the ball, especially early on. I thought he was great the way he was moving around out there and getting people involved.”
There’s more news out of Los Angeles:
- Fellow first-rounder Kyle Kuzma had no shooting problems, sinking 9 of 12 shots and scoring 19 points. The 27th pick out of Utah sparked the Lakers’ offense in the third quarter with four buckets in 91 seconds and showed the same explosiveness he displayed during summer league. “It’s not so much 100 miles per hour like you’d think it is,” Kuzma told Joey Ramirez of NBA.com about the adjustment to the pro game. “It’s really pace, stop and go — I definitely learned a lot out there just in that one game.”
- Reigning G League MVP Vander Blue is trying to use every advantage as he competes for a roster spot, Ramirez writes in a separate story. Blue has been showing up to practice three hours early each day and scouted all his potential teammates on video before camp began. Blue has been a productive G League player over the past three years, but has just five NBA games on his resume since leaving Marquette in 2013.
- Andrew Bogut has resolved his visa issues and is ready to join the Lakers, the veteran center tweeted. Bogut agreed to a one-year, minimum-salary deal with L.A. in mid-September but hasn’t been able to come to the United States because of the visa problem. Bogut is eager to prove that he is fully recovered from a fractured tibia that ended his season in March.
Warriors Waive Cleveland, Hamilton
The Warriors made a pair of roster moves after Saturday’s preseason opener, waiving Antonius Cleveland and Alex Hamilton, the team announced via Twitter.
Both will be eligible to join the Warriors’ G League team if they are not claimed on waivers. Golden State had the maximum 20 players in camp, so two open spots are now available.
Cleveland is a 6’6″ guard out of Southeast Missouri State. He played for Portland’s entry in the Las Vegas Summer League, then signed with the Warriors in mid-August. He played five minutes Saturday night and scored eight points.
Hamilton is a 6’4″ guard who completed his senior season at Louisiana Tech in 2016. He played for Golden State’s G League affiliate last season after a brief stay in Poland. He scored two points in two minutes in the season opener.