And-Ones: Awards, Super Teams, Pelicans, Lawson
After his superstar player, James Harden, fell short of capturing the NBA Most Valuable Player award, Daryl Morey feels the league could do away with awards, the Rockets general manager said to Ben Golliver of The Crossover.
“I don’t know if this is a good process,” Morey said. “The ones that are decided by players or executives or media, they all have their strengths and weaknesses. I honestly don’t think there’s a good process. You could argue for eliminating the awards altogether. I don’t really see a good way to do it that doesn’t have major issues. I like clean answers. If there’s not going to be a set criteria and there’s going to be issues with how it’s structured, for me it might be better to not have it.”
Morey made frequent mention to the “criteria” used to select the NBA MVP. Whether it be personal success, a historically great season, or team performance, Morey believes it doesn’t lead to a uniform result. For instance, Stephen Curry won the MVP over Harden because the Warriors had a better record, and if the same guidelines were used, Harden should have won the award over Russell Westbrook this year.
In any case, Morey’s comments have been received negatively by most of the basketball world and players are still scheduled to be rewarded with hardware for having outstanding seasons.
Below you can find additional news from around the basketball world:
- Tom Haberstroh of ESPN examines nine different NBA teams that could be future super teams in a lengthy piece that well worth the read. Haberstroh compares super teams from years’ past, including the 2008 Celtics, 2011 Heat, and the 2014 Warriors and explains how teams can follow their blueprints to success.
- For ESPN Insider (subscription required and recommended), Kevin Pelton hands out grades to Western Conference teams for their transactions and transgressions this offseason.
- While an expansion with new teams added to the NBA is unlikely, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders writes that relocation of current teams is more plausible. Kyler specifically mentions the Pelicans and how they could end up moving from New Orleans.
- Free agent point guard Ty Lawson has signed with veteran agent Larry Fox, per Liz Mullen of SportsBusiness Daily (via Twitter). Hoops Rumors previously noted that Fox was representing Lawson, who seemed bound for China at one point this offseason.
Nuggets Notes: Booth, Beasley, Sponsor
Earlier today, the Nuggets agreed to terms with Calvin Booth, making the former decade-long NBA veteran the team’s assistant general manager, according to
Booth played for seven teams during his 10-year NBA career, which included a stint with the Wizards while current Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly worked there, Krawczynski notes. It has been a season of turnover in the Denver front office as several notable hirings, promotions, and departures transpired.
Owner Josh Kroenke promoted Arturas Karnisovas to general manager and Connelly to president in mid-June; the Magic lured Pete D’Alessandro out of Denver; and the Pelicans hired assistant coach Chris Finch away to serve in the same capacity.
The Nuggets are a young team with a bright future and the clear direction has been to set up for the future with solid talent and an incumbent front office staff.
Below are additional tidbits surrounding the Nuggets:
- The Nuggets announced a three-year partnership with Western Union to feature the company’s logo on the team’s uniform, Nick Kosmider of the Denver Post writes. With the deal, Western Union becomes the 11th company to be featured on an NBA team’s uniform. Per Kosmider’s report, the Nuggets also said another major announcement is coming next week, which could be related to Nike’s new deal with the league.
- Nuggets guard Malik Beasley joined The Hoops Hype Podcast with Alex Kennedy to discuss his career, summer league play, the team’s offseason moves and more.
Knicks Notes: Carmelo, Irving, Sessions
Wielding a no-trade clause, Carmelo Anthony can dictate his future: He can play out the remainder of his contract with the Knicks or waive the NTC in a potential trade elsewhere. The Rockets, who have NBA MVP runner-up James Harden and free agent acquisition Chris Paul in the fold, remain Anthony’s preferred destination, with the Cavaliers no longer a real priority. As Marc Berman of the New York Post writes, Anthony’s preference is handcuffing the Knicks as a potential trade with the Rockets may have too many hurdles to accomplish a trade of Anthony and receiving quality assets in return.
Berman notes that Anthony has yet to publicly speak on the trade rumors, but since he’s scheduled to appear at Coppin State for The Basketball Tournament, Anthony will likely speak in some form soon. Until then, the multiple time All-Star’s mindset is anybody’s guess; the only thing known is the reports citing his desire to play in Houston with his close friends. Even playing for ex-Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, who Anthony feuded with in New York and now coaches the Rockets, would not be an issue. D’Antoni’s brother, Dan, a former Knicks assistant coach, spoke to the Post about his brother and the Knicks star joining forces again.
“There were a lot of things that went wrong, but Carmelo is a heckuva player,’’ D’Antoni said. “All I’m saying is Mike’s a good person. He understands people change, things change. Two things you can’t deny: Mike’s a helluva coach. Carmelo is a very good player. If those two see eye-to-eye, Mike and I are always optimistic things are meant to be. The next day is going to be better than the day before.”
It’s unclear when and if a trade is consummated this offseason but Anthony will remain a fixture in trade rumors.
Below you can read other news and notes around the Knicks:
- In the same piece, Berman notes that the Knicks’ signing of veteran point guard Ramon Sessions last week was because he connects better with Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis better than Derrick Rose did. Sessions is expected to provide a veteran presence and mentor the team’s first round pick, Frank Ntilikina, during the season and be another veteran if Melo stays.
- In a separate piece, Berman of the Post profiles Sessions’ career, revealing that the aforementioned Dan D’Antoni lobbied for the team to acquire him a decade ago. A decade into his career, Sessions will bring an unselfishness with the basketball that the team lacked with the score-first mentality of Rose last season.
- While Kyrie Irving and his name value would generate excitement in New York City, the Knicks should avoid mortgaging their future to acquire him, Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders and Dan Favale of Bleacher Report both write in separate articles. The sentiment from both scribes is similar: trading away future first round picks, this year’s first rounder, and current budding star like Willy Hernangomez will only handcuff the team forward. Also, as Beer mentions, Porzingis will likely not pass up a max deal in New York whereas Irving can hit the market in two years and is no sure bet remain with the Knicks if he gets there.
Wolves Not Offering Wiggins For Kyrie, Focused On Extension
Details of the Timberwolves’ reported offer for Kyrie Irving aren’t known, but Andrew Wiggins isn’t part of Minnesota’s proposal, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link). Wolfson adds that for the Wolves to have a real shot at acquiring Irving, their offer would need to include Wiggins “and more.”
The No. 1 overall pick in 2014, Wiggins was initially drafted by the Cavaliers before being sent to Minnesota for Kevin Love, and Sam Amico of Amico Hoops hears that the fourth-year forward wouldn’t be opposed to a return to Cleveland.
However, according to Wolfson (Twitter link), the Cavs would want “something of substance” in addition to Wiggins if they were to send Irving to the Wolves. A deal between the two sides isn’t at all close, and given Minnesota’s reluctance to offer Wiggins – let alone additional pieces – it looks like a long shot at this point.
Assuming Wiggins remains in Minnesota, as expected, there’s a good chance he and the Wolves end up working out a contract extension this offseason. Owner Glen Taylor confirmed over the weekend that the team is discussing a five-year max deal with its young forward, and Wolfson has another update today from Taylor.
According to the Wolves’ owner (Twitter link), Minnesota has formally put an extension offer on the table for Wiggins, whose agent is due to be in town later this month. In the case of a five-year, maximum salary deal, not a lot of negotiating is required, so it sounds as if the two sides have a chance to get something done within the next few weeks.
Magic Waive Patricio Garino
A day after waiving Marcus Georges-Hunt, the Magic have reduced their roster count again, announcing today in a press release that they’ve also parted ways with Argentinian swingman Patricio Garino. Garino will become an unrestricted free agent on Thursday, assuming he clears waivers.
Like Georges-Hunt, Garino inked a multiyear deal with the Magic near the end of the 2016/17 season with a non-guaranteed salary for 2017/18. That gave Orlando the opportunity to keep those players through the summer and decide in camp whether either would have a role on the regular season roster. However, the Magic’s new management group opted to waive both Garino and Georges-Hunt early.
After going undrafted out of George Washington a year ago, Garino played for the Magic in Summer League last July, then joined the Spurs for training camp. The 24-year-old didn’t earn a spot on San Antonio’s regular season squad, but spent most of the year with the club’s G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs. He averaged 11.2 PPG and 3.4 RPG in Austin, with a .430 3PT%.
Because Garino’s full $1,312,611 salary was non-guaranteed, Orlando won’t be on the hook for any of that money.
Warriors Re-Sign JaVale McGee
AUGUST 1: The Warriors have issued a press release officially announcing their new deal with McGee.
JULY 27: The Warriors have reached an agreement with JaVale McGee to bring the center back to Golden State, Chris Haynes of ESPN.com reports. The deal will be for one season, though the salary details have not yet trickled out.
Retaining McGee will likely be the franchise’s last significant move after it was able to bring back nearly every piece of its latest championship team. Golden State now has 15 players with guaranteed deals on the books.
McGee excelled as a role player for the Warriors last season, shooting a career-best 65.2% from the field and sporting an electric 25.2 player efficiency rating. In addition to Golden State, the center spent time in Denver, Philadelphia, and Dallas since being selected by Washington with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2008 draft.
While McGee could earn up to 120% of the minimum salary via his Non-Bird rights, another minimum deal appears likely. It won’t come cheap for the Warriors, who are deep into tax territory and will pay at least $2.50 per dollar in tax penalties on McGee’s new deal.
Beyoncé Interested In Buying Stake In Rockets?
Pop star Beyoncé Knowles-Carter is mulling the possibility of investing in the Rockets, reports Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg. The club announced just over two weeks ago that team owner Leslie Alexander was putting the franchise up for sale.
Beyoncé is a Houston native, making her connection to the Rockets a logical one. If she were to invest in the franchise, she wouldn’t be the first person in her family to have owned a portion of an NBA team. Her husband Jay-Z previously had a small stake in the Nets before selling his share of the team in order to launch his Roc Nation agency. Elsewhere in the NBA, Justin Timberlake owns a piece of his hometown Grizzlies.
As Sochnick details, Forbes placed Beyoncé second on its 2017 list of highest-paid celebrities and estimated her net worth at $350MM. While that’s a significant sum, it will fall well short of the Rockets’ eventual sale price, which should easily exceed $1 billion and could approach $2 billion. As such, if Beyoncé were to get involved in a bid for the team, it would have to be as a minority investor.
The Rockets have generated “a bevy of global interest” among potential buyers since Alexander made his decision to sell the team, per Soshnick. While a handful of would-be investors have expressed public interest in buying the franchise, it doesn’t appear there’s a frontrunner yet.
Mavericks Sign Gian Clavell
AUGUST 1: The Mavs have officially signed Clavell, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 22: The Mavericks have reached an agreement with undrafted guard Gian Clavell, tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPN. He will receive a minimum deal with a partial guarantee.
Clavell will sign an exhibit 10 deal, which can be converted to a two-way contract if the Mavericks desire, according to Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days (Twitter link). Clavell can also be designated as an affiliate player, which means he would spend the entire season in the G-League.
Clavell, 23, was named Mountain West Player of the Year this season at Colorado State, averaging 20.4 points and 6.3 rebounds per game with the Rams. Clavell also has extensive international experience with the Puerto Rican National Team.
He played for Miami during the summer league.
Wolves Sign Anthony Brown To Two-Way Deal
AUGUST 1: The Timberwolves have officially announced their two-way deal with Brown, issuing a press release to confirm the signing.
JULY 25: The Timberwolves have reached an agreement on a two-way contract with free agent guard Anthony Brown, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). As our two-way tracker shows, it’s the first deal of its kind for Minnesota.
Brown, 24, was selected 34th overall in the 2015 draft by the Lakers and spent the 2015/16 campaign in L.A. However, Brown was a surprise cut last fall before the start of the regular season, failing to earn a spot on the Lakers’ 15-man roster when the team opted to keep a couple non-guaranteed players instead.
Brown had subsequent stints with the Pelicans and Magic, but spent most of the 2016/17 season with the G League’s Erie BayHawks, averaging 20.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 3.1 APG. He also posted an impressive .467 3PT%, making a greater percentage of three-pointers than two-point shots.
For more details on what two-way contracts are and how they work, be sure to check out our FAQ.
Joe Dumars Joins ISE Agency
Former Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars has joined sports agency Independent Sports & Entertainment, according to a press release. ISE, which went through an acrimonious split with president of basketball Dan Fegan earlier this year, has hired Dumars to fill Fegan’s old position.
“Joe’s arrival at ISE marks the tone for the future of our basketball practice and business,” ISE president and CEO Hank Ratner said in a statement. “He’s experienced on both sides of the negotiating table, has served as a role model and mentor for players at all levels and understands the preparation and dedication required to excel as a player and then make a successful post-career transition. A decorated NBA player and front office executive with relationships across the globe and an impeccable reputation as a leader and man of great integrity, we are proud to have Joe join ISE.”
Dumars, who stepped down from his role in Detroit in 2014, helped lead the Pistons to a 595–536 (.527) regular-season record, 73 postseason wins, and an NBA championship in 2004, and was named Executive of the Year in 2003.
In recent years, Dumars has been linked most frequently to the Pelicans’ front office, and was also a candidate for the Hawks when they sought a new GM this spring. However, his new role will be for a player agency rather than for an NBA franchise. In a statement of his own, Dumars suggested that he’s looking forward to working with NBA players in a “much more impactful and meaningful way.”
As for Fegan, ISE’s former president of basketball filed a $30MM lawsuit against Ratner earlier this summer for fraud and contractual interference, alleging that Ratner and ISE “orchestrated a Machiavellian conspiracy, to steal [Fegan’s] clients and destroy his reputation.” ISE responded with a statement calling Fegan’s lawsuit a “publicity stunt.” The agency previously alleged that Fegan was operating a side business while working for ISE.