And-Ones: Robinson, BIG3, Caboclo, Landry
Mitchell Robinson, who had considered leaving school to prepare for the 2018 NBA draft, has decided to play this season at Western Kentucky, reports Chad Bishop of WBKO in Bowling Green, Ky. The 7-foot center, who is ranked 14th in the DraftExpress mock draft for next year, is a freshman and will be immediately eligible to play. Robinson committed to Texas A&M in 2015, but changed his mind after A&M assistant Rick Stansbury left to become head coach at WKU. Robinson, 19, was considering overseas offers before deciding to remain in college.
There’s more basketball news today:
- Trilogy wrapped up a perfect season and claimed the first BIG3 title Saturday with a win over the 3 Headed Monsters, writes Adi Joseph of USA Today. Rashad McCants, the first pick in the league’s draft, scored the final five points in a 51-46 victory. McCants, who spent most of his five-year career with the Timberwolves, remains angry about the premature end of his time in the NBA. “Most importantly it’s just shutting the book on a career that never really reached full potential,” McCants said. “The years of a potential prime are vanished without a trace because of a few upper-level executives that decided to make my life a living hell. Ice Cube brought me in with a chance to reinvent myself.”
- Raptors forward Bruno Caboclo has been removed from the Brazilian National Team after refusing to enter a game in the AmeriCup tournament, relays Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. “Bruno Caboclo committed an act of indiscipline refusing to enter on the court when the coach requested him to do that,” said team manager Renato Lamas. “We cannot allow any player to commit any act of indiscipline while wearing the jersey of the Brazilian National Team.”
- Carl Landry, who spent time with five teams during his nine years in the NBA, will play for China next season, tweets international basketball writer David Pick. Landry, who will turn 34 next month, will join the Jilin Tigers. His last NBA experience came in 2015/16 when he played 36 games for the Sixers.
Southwest Notes: Noel, Green, Allen, Nene
By accepting a $4.1MM qualifying offer, Mavericks center Nerlens Noel has created a financial drama that will last through the season, writes Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. He decided to take the one-year deal after consulting with his new agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, whom Noel just hired this week. It was an unexpected end to negotiations for the third-year big man, who reportedly turned down a four-year, $70MM offer earlier this summer.
Noel is betting that he can get something close to the max as an unrestricted free agent next year, but Townsend notes that he is also taking a serious risk after missing the entire 2013/14 season after knee ligament surgery. He has played 75, 67 and 51 in the three seasons since then. By refusing the original offer, Noel cost himself about $11.5MM this season and will need a new deal starting at about $20MM to make up the difference.
- Noel’s decision gives the Mavericks about $12MM in unexpected cap space, according to Kevin Pelton of ESPN [insider account]. Only the Bulls and Sixers have more, although the Suns could surpass Dallas if Alex Len also accepts a qualifying offer. The Mavericks will be in position to help facilitate trades and acquire assets throughout the season. They may also benefit next summer from Noel’s small cap hold, which is estimated at about $8MM. Noel finished just one start short of the cutoff for “starter criteria,” which is 41 starts or 2,000 minutes in the previous season. His qualifying offer would have been $5.85MM if he had met that standard.
- The Grizzlies are willing to go above the $2.8MM qualifying offer to re-sign restricted free agent JaMychal Green, but won’t meet the price he wants, according to Chris Harrington of The Commercial Appeal. He adds that Tony Allen won’t be returning to Memphis, even after free agent addition Ben McLemore suffered a broken foot. Harrington thinks a return to Boston would be the best move for Allen.
- Memphis still has one two-way contract remaining, and Harrington advocates giving it to someone with professional experience rather than an undrafted rookie. His choice is 23-year-old Vince Hunter, a 6’8″ power forward who played with the Grizzlies’ summer league team and has experience in the G League and overseas.
- After re-signing with the Rockets this summer, veteran center Nene is eager to see new addition Chris Paul join James Harden in the backcourt, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype. “It will be an unbelievable experience to play with James and Chris,” he said. “James is the best offensive player in the game and Chris is an amazing ball player as well. They can score from anywhere on the court and they both have a basketball IQ that’s off the charts.”
Latest On The Kyrie Irving Trade
The Cavaliers and Celtics are still talking in an effort to complete the four-player deal that would send Kyrie Irving from Cleveland to Boston. While neither side has commented publicly on the reported snag, sources indicate the Cavs are seeking another asset because a physical on Friday showed that Isaiah Thomas‘ injured hip is in worse shape than they believed, while the Celtics are resisting the request.
Several writers are offering their perspectives on the trade this morning:
- If the Celtics do add another asset, it probably won’t be very significant, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE. He notes that Boston was in a similar situation when it acquired Jeff Green from the Thunder in February of 2012. Green needed heart surgery 10 months later, and the Celtics petitioned the league for more compensation, claiming that Oklahoma City wasn’t forthcoming about Green’s condition. Former commissioner David Stern awarded Boston a second-round pick, which is what Blakely believes the Celtics would be willing to surrender to wrap up the Irving deal.
- Thomas was very upset about being traded away from the Celtics, writes Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. The two-time All-Star played a major role in bringing free agent Gordon Hayward to Boston and had planned a long-term future there. Pluto states it would be a “miserable situation” if he has to return to the Celtics now. However, some executives that Pluto discussed the deal with expressed concerns of a potential clash in Cleveland, fearing that Thomas’ “alpha dog” persona may not be a good fit on a team where LeBron James is the unquestioned leader.
- The Cavaliers’ decision to hold up the deal is the latest indication of dysfunction in Cleveland, charges D.J. Bean of CSNNE. The franchise has been through a tumultuous summer, with GM David Griffin not being re-signed, then Chauncey Billups turning down a job to run the team. The front office chaos has played out against persistent rumors that James may be leaving town as a free agent next summer. Like Blakely, Bean thinks the Celtics will probably throw in a minimal asset to complete the trade.
Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Fultz, Covington, Doyle
The Celtics are unhappy that the Cavaliers are asking for more compensation in the Kyrie Irving trade and may be planning a hard-line response, tweets Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. The Celtics front office believes it was fully honest about the condition of Isaiah Thomas when the teams discussed his injured hip prior to completing the deal. The Cavaliers seem to think that Thomas is months away from returning to action, according to Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link), who also speculates that Boston could offer to include Terry Rozier to get the trade completed. (Twitter link).
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- A pair of Sixers players are vowing to be ready when training camp opens next month. Markelle Fultz, the top pick in the draft, told Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly that he is optimistic after suffering a lateral sprain to his left ankle during the Las Vegas Summer League (Twitter link). Robert Covington, who was shut down for the season in late March with a slight tear of his lateral meniscus, also expects to be fully healed by camp (Twitter link).
- Rookie point guard Milton Doyle is confident that he can earn a roster spot in Brooklyn, according to a story on NetsDaily. A first team all-Missouri Valley Conference player last season at Loyola, Chicago, Doyle signed a training camp deal with the Nets in early August. He caught the eyes of team officials by averaging 10.5 points per game during summer league play, but he may be ticketed for the G League.
- Phil Jackson’s reign as president of the Knicks didn’t turn out the way he hoped, but New York Liberty president Isiah Thomas doesn’t think Jackson harmed his legacy, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. “Believe me, Phil, myself, Donnie Walsh, Larry Brown, Lenny [Wilkins], all of us go back and try to figure out, man what did we do wrong?,’’ Thomas said. “If we can do it all over again, what would we do different? That’s the thing we love in New York. It brings out the best in you as a person because you really get pushed to the wall in terms of trying to figure out how to win and put it together and satisfy the fan base. That’s why we all want to crack that egg.” Thomas also praised Carmelo Anthony for the way he handled a string of negative comments from Jackson.
Community Shootaround: Sweetening The Deal
Though the Cavaliers haven’t confirmed it, a report tonight says they won’t approve the trade of Kyrie Irving to the Celtics unless Boston throws in at least one more asset.
The sticking point is the condition of Isaiah Thomas‘ hip, which Cleveland officials contend is worse than they expected after seeing the results of Friday’s physical. The Cavs are believed to want another player or an extra draft pick included to compensate them for the time Thomas might miss, while sources say the Celtics insist they were honest about Thomas in trade talks and will resist any effort to sweeten the deal.
At this stage, both teams have incentives to get the trade done. Cleveland has been getting positive reviews for the package it was able to get for Irving, who put the franchise in a difficult position by demanding a trade. The Cavs picked up Thomas, who has been an All-Star the past two seasons, along with Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Nets’ unprotected first-rounder for next year. If the deal is called off, Cleveland would have to resume efforts to trade Irving less than a month from camp and would be hard pressed to obtain four similar assets.
The Celtics may have burned their bridges with Thomas (as did some of their fans who set his jersey on fire on social media), who has been greatly underpaid for his production during his two and a half seasons in Boston. There’s no way to know how long Thomas might be sidelined, potentially leaving the Celtics shorthanded in the backcourt for an extended stretch. Plus, Thomas will be a free agent next summer and may see the collapsed deal as a sign that he’s not appreciated in Boston. Crowder would also be returning to an uncomfortable situation, although he’s under contract through 2019/20.
Considering both teams’ situations and their desire to be the top seed in the East, should the Celtics sweeten the trade if the Cavaliers demand it, and how much should they agree to? Please leave your responses in the space below. We look forward to what you have to say.
Nerlens Noel May Face Similar Market in 2018
Mavericks center Nerlens Noel will take his chances as an unrestricted free agent next summer after accepting the team’s $4.1 MM qualifying offer for this season. There were conflicting reports about whether Dallas ever offered a four-year deal in the $70MM range, but regardless, the third-year big man is committed to one more season with the Mavs for less than he made last year.
The lack of interest is partially the plight of being a restricted free agent, but ESPN’s Kevin Pelton [Insider account] isn’t sure Noel will get the max offer he wants in 2018.
There will be fewer teams with money to spend, as Pelton identifies just six franchises that appear to have the cap room to extend a max offer. One of those is the Lakers, who figure to have their eyes on bigger prizes than Noel. The Pacers with Myles Turner and the Jazz with Rudy Gobert won’t be spending money on another center, and the Sixers don’t figure to bring Noel back to town.
That leaves just the Hawks, who could have more than $30MM available if Dewayne Dedmon and Mike Muscala both turn down their player options, and the Bulls, who seem destined to have more than $40MM and might be ready for a new direction in the middle.
Pelton notes that it has been a particularly rough summer for free agent centers, with Pau Gasol getting the largest contract by re-signing with the Spurs for $49MM over three years. With many teams de-emphasizing the position and others already set, unrestricted free agency won’t gurantee Noel the payday he wants.
Cavaliers To Request Extra Compensation From Celtics
7:57pm: Celtics officials believe they were “completely transparent” regarding Thomas’ physical condition and will “strongly resist” adding to the deal, tweets Chris Mannix of The Vertical.
6:51pm: The Cavaliers are refusing to comment on Wojnarowski’s report, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Two sources told him the team is “still in the review process” and hasn’t determined whether to ask Boston for additional assets to complete the deal.
6:00pm: The Cavaliers plan to ask for “further compensation” before agreeing to complete the Kyrie Irving deal with the Celtics, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Sources tell him that Cavs officials could threaten to veto the trade unless additions are made.
The decision was made after Cleveland’s front office reviewed the results of a physical that Isaiah Thomas underwent on Friday. Thomas is dealing with a hip injury that he aggravated in the playoffs and may not be ready for the start of the upcoming season.
It hasn’t been reported what the Cavaliers plan to ask for, but speculation revolves around the many first- and second-round picks that Boston has accumulated in recent years. The teams discussed Thomas’ condition, sources tell Wojnarowski, but Cleveland could argue that the Celtics weren’t completely forthcoming about the extent of the injury or the likelihood that he might miss the beginning of the season. Celtics president Danny Ainge admitted this week that Thomas’ injury had “some” influence on the decision to trade him.
Under league rules, the deadline to take physicals is Wednesday at 10 a.m. Eastern for all players involved in the trade, with the deadline for passing physicals set for 24 hours later. That gives the Cavaliers and Celtics until Thursday morning to finalize the deal, although that could be extended if both sides agree to do so.
Thomas’ injury, a strain of the right hip, forced him to miss two games during the regular season. It became an issue again in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals and sidelined him for the rest of the playoffs.
Both teams would face awkward situations if the deal falls apart, Wojnarowski notes. Irving had requested a trade out of Cleveland, and the Cavs would have a difficult time finding an offer better than Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and the Nets’ unprotected first-rounder for next year. The Celtics, meanwhile, would have to repair relations with three players who were traded away, and may have to find a new point guard if Thomas’ injury keeps him sidelined for an extended time.
Celtics Have Picks To Offer To Complete Irving Deal
The Celtics have plenty of draft picks available if Cleveland asks for another asset to complete the Kyrie Irving trade. The deal is currently on hold as the Cavaliers review the results of Isaiah Thomas‘ physical, and Brian Kalbrosky of HoopsHype examines some options for resolving the impasse.
Boston owns the Grizzlies’ 2019 first-rounder, which could be very valuable if Memphis decides to start rebuilding a team that is already showing some age. The pick is protected from spots 1-8 in 2019, 1-6 in 2020, then becomes fully unprotected in 2021. It’s a selection that could have as much value as the Nets’ pick that the Celtics just agreed to send to Cleveland.
Boston also has the Lakers’ first-rounder for next year, but only if it falls in the 2-5 range. If not, the Celtics will get the better of the Kings’ or Sixers’ first-rounders in 2019, unless it falls first overall. Another deal brought Boston the rights to a future Clippers’ first-rounder, which is lottery protected in both 2019 and 2020. If it doesn’t convey in either of those years, it will become a second-round pick in 2022.
In addition, the Celtics own all their future first-rounders and a wealth of second-rounders that they have collected over the years.
The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor tweets that Boston officials have been worried about Thomas’ hip becoming an issue since the trade was completed, and he believes an extra draft pick for Cleveland is the most likely outcome.
Boston has a competitive interest in having the trade go through, notes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe, because having an injured Thomas on the Cavaliers at the start of the season would give the Celtics an easier path to the top seed (Twitter link).
Hoops Rumors Originals: 8/19/17 – 8/26/17
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:
- Here are the decisions on 2018/19 rookie scale team options.
- Here are the cap, tax, and FA implications of the Celtics/Cavs blockbuster.
- Who are the 2018 NBA Free Agents by Team?
- Arthur Hill discussed LeBron James, the Lakers, and why teams let their players risk injuries in international tournaments in his weekly Sunday mailbag. Submit your questions via Twitter (@HoopsRumors) or by sending us an email (hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com).
- 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:
- Is the Joakim Noah signing the main reason Phil Jackson got fired?
- If found guilty, how should the Lakers be punished for tampering?
- Which team got the better of the blockbuster Kyrie Irving/Isaiah Thomas trade? We have a community shootaround and a poll.
- Who will be the Warriors‘ top challenger this season?
- Where will Carmelo Anthony begin the season?
- Who will win the 2017/18 Rookie of the Year award?
Northwest Notes: McDermott, Thunder, Nelson, Blazers
As Doug McDermott prepares for his first full season with the Thunder, he knows that he will have to improve, writes Nick Gallo of NBA.com. “I try to add something each summer because I don’t want to stay the same player,” McDermott said. “I feel like I can still get a lot better.”
McDermott will need to be a more dynamic threat. The forward must take better advantage of post-up opportunities, as he did in high school and college. “I’m just more than a spot-up shooter. I know I can move without the ball, and I think that just puts more pressure on them, and it can open up more things for everyone out there,” McDermott explained.
“The way the league is trending, it’s getting smaller with a lot of small ball and guys that can really spread the floor regardless of their position. I feel like I’m just a basketball player,” McDermott added. “I’m excited after talking with Coach Donovan. We’ve got a great facility here, and it’s a great city, too, so I plan on bouncing around a little bit, having some fun, but also coming here ready to work.”
Here’s more from the Northwest division:
- Of all the teams trading for superstar players this offseason, the Thunder gave up the least in return, argues Berry Tramel of NewsOK.com. Tramel looks at the Paul George trade, as well as the deals involving Chris Paul, Jimmy Butler, and Kyrie Irving, and the scribe pronounces that the Thunder traded away the least value.
- Mike Jensen of Philly.com profiles Nuggets veteran point guard Jameer Nelson, focusing on what it takes to thrive in the NBA at Nelson’s advanced age of 35 years old. Nelson’s boxing training has helped him stay in peak physical condition. “He’s in better shape than the first five years I trained him,’’ Nelson’s trainer said, adding that Nelson picked up boxing part “like it was walking.”
- The Trail Blazers have named Jesse Ellis the new Director of Player Health and Performance. “The addition of Jesse is another step toward developing the finest health and performance staff in the NBA,” said general manager Neil Olshey.