Western Notes: Leonard, Hood, Bender, Bjelica
Kawhi Leonard‘s long-awaited season debut will likely take place on Tuesday. The Spurs All-Star forward is listed as probable for Tuesday’s road game against Dallas, ESPN’s Michael C. Wright relays. Leonard has endured a longer-than-expected recovery period from right quadriceps tendinopathy. He averaged a career-high 25.5 PPG last season and led his club to the Western Conference finals.
In other developments around the Western Conference:
- Jazz shooting guard Rodney Hood hopes to return to action Wednesday, Tony Jones of the Salt Lake Tribune tweets. Hood, averaging a career-best 17.7 PPG, has been sidelined seven games with a left ankle injury.
- Suns second-year power forward Dragan Bender will have to earn his way back into the regular rotation, as Scott Bordow of the Arizona Republic reports. Bender has totaled just 12 points and 11 rebounds over the last seven games while shooting 20% from the field, as his playing time has diminished. “I don’t think competition is bad especially when you’re a young player and you’re not guaranteed minutes,” coach Jay Triano said of the lottery pick. “He has to play better. … If you want to say Dragan is not playing well enough to be on the court right now, that’s fine. I want it to be competition.”
- Timberwolves power forward Nemanja Bjelica has missed the last nine games with a foot injury and it’s still uncertain when he’ll return. Coach Tom Thibodeau provided an update on his status to Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Jerry Zgoda (Twitter link) and other media members. “We don’t want to put a timetable on it,” Thibodeau said. “We thought it would be sooner, but when he’s healthy, he’s healthy. We don’t want to go back and forth with it. He has ramped it up conditioning-wise, so that’s a good sign.”
Cavaliers Notes: Thompson, James, Wade, Korver
Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson could return to action as soon as Tuesday but he’s lost his starting job, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Joe Vardon. Thompson has missed 19 games with a strained left calf. Kevin Love was moved to center in his absence and coach Tyronn Lue wants Love to remain there. Lue also told reporters that Channing Frye would stay in the rotation, which could also cut into Thompson’s playing time, Vardon notes. Lue said that the staff needs to “figure out how we got to use him,” referring to Thompson. At least publicly, Thompson doesn’t want to make waves about his role. “If I don’t play, that’s fine,” Thompson told Vardon and other media members. “As long as we’re winning I’m going to cheer my teammates on. If I play two minutes, three minutes, 20 minutes, it don’t matter to me. As long as we win.”
In other news regarding the Cavs:
- LeBron James‘ ability to defy the aging curve has been a rare and remarkable feat, as ESPN.com’s Kevin Pelton details. His true shooting percentage of 65.8% this season is a career high, boosted by another career-best, his 3-point shooting (41.7%). That’s likely to decline as the season continues but he’s also taking more shots within three feet of the basket and converting a career-best 5.3 layups per game, Pelton continues. Additionally, he’s posting a career best in defensive block rate, something else that normally declines with age, Pelton notes. However, his overall defensive value has declined and his athleticism will also start to dip in his mid-30s, which could eventually become an issue for James, Pelton adds.
- Combo guard Dwyane Wade knew from the beginning of the season he was more suited to a sixth man role with the club, USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt writes. Wade is averaging 12.3 PPG, 4.0 APG and 3.8 RPG when he comes off the bench this season and Zillgitt points out that the Cavs have a net efficiency rating of plus-10.8 with Wade on the court as a reserve. “I knew for me to be successful and for me to come to this team and bring what I can to this team, the starting unit just wasn’t a unit for me,” he told Zillgitt. “So, I decided to go to the unit that was for me.”
- Handing shooting guard Kyle Korver a contract extension over the summer drew criticism but now seems like a wise investment, Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer opines. Korver, 36, signed a three-year, $22MM contract. He’s shooting 43.3% from long range and leads the team in plus-minus rating.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/11/17
Here are Monday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:
- The Nets assigned guard Isaiah Whitehead to their Long Island affiliate, according to the G League team’s Twitter feed. Whitehead has averaged 22.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 3.3 APG in three G League games this season. He has also appeared in nine games for the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 7.0 PPG, 2.0 RP and 1.7 APG in 12.1 MPG.
Marcus Morris Likely Out For Extended Period
Celtics forward Marcus Morris is expected to miss extended time due to a left knee injury, Shams Charania of The Vertical tweets.
Morris played 25 minutes against the Spurs on Friday after missing the previous game against the Mavs but was sidelined for Boston’s back-to-back on Sunday and Monday. Morris’ debut with the Celtics was delayed by eight games due to left knee soreness and the issue has lingered even though coach Brad Stevens has been careful with Morris’ minutes.
Morris has not played more than 28 minutes in any of the 16 games he’s been able to take the court. He’s averaging 12.1 PPG and 5.5 RPG. Last season with Detroit, Morris started 79 games and averaged 14.0 PPG and 4.6 RPG. Stevens had said on Sunday that Morris would be re-evaluated when the team returns home on Tuesday, according to the team’s official Twitter feed.
Morris was acquired from the Pistons this summer in a deal that sent shooting guard Avery Bradley to Detroit, a move that helped to facilitate the signing of free agent forward Gordon Hayward.
With Morris out, rookie Jayson Tatum will continue to play major minutes. Rookie Semi Ojeleye and Euro import Daniel Theis will also see an uptick in playing time.
Cody Zeller To Undergo Surgery, Miss Six Weeks
Hornets center Cody Zeller will undergo surgery to repair torn meniscus in his left knee on Tuesday, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets, citing league sources. Zeller is expected to miss six weeks, Wojnarowski adds.
Zeller injured the knee last week against the Warriors. Zeller was relegated a second-unit role this season with the addition of Dwight Howard but had been productive, averaging 7.2 PPG and 5.5 RPG. In his absence, Frank Kaminsky and Johnny O’Bryant will likely share minutes behind Howard. Kaminsky has missed two games with an ankle sprain but is expected to play Monday.
Zeller, 25, has long-term security but it remains to be seen whether the knee injury will have a lingering effect. He’s making $12.6MM this season and his contract runs through the 2020/21 season.
If the Hornets want to add a big man, they could sign a free agent to a pro-rated, non-guaranteed minimum deal and remain below the luxury tax line, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets. The Hornets have a roster spot open and are $1.8MM below the tax line, Marks notes.
And-Ones: Ball Brothers, Seattle, Mexico, World Cup
LiAngelo Ball and LaMelo Ball may end up playing together in Lithuania, according to Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony of ESPN, who report that the Ball brothers are in “serious discussions” with Prienu Vytautas. The Lithuanian team intends to decide within the next day or two whether to officially sign Lonzo Ball‘s two younger brothers, sources tell Wojnarowski and Givony.
LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball, who are looking to play together for a professional team after officially hiring an agent and forgoing their NCAA eligibility, likely wouldn’t get a chance to play many minutes in the Lithuanian (LKL) league, per ESPN’s report. According to Wojnarowski and Givony, the Ball brothers would likely see more action – perhaps 20 to 25 minutes per game – in the less competitive Baltic League. As Givony tweets, the pay for the Balls would almost certainly be minimal, and the small Lithuanian town of Prienai would hardly be a “glamorous” place to continue their careers.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- TNT’s David Aldridge is the latest reporter to examine the possibility of the NBA returning to Seattle. While the city looks like a good bet to be awarded an NHL franchise, the NBA and its team owners are less gung-ho about the idea of expansion, according to Aldridge, who notes that team owners wouldn’t want to further split the money from the league’s $24 billion TV deal.
- In a separate – and interesting – piece for NBA.com, Aldridge takes an in-depth look at the range of emotions experienced by NBA head coaches who get fired.
- With the NBA making a concerted effort to grow its brand in Mexico, this season’s G League All-Star Game will be replaced by a contest that pits G League All-Stars against the Mexican national team, per The Associated Press.
- FIBA officially announced on Monday that the 2023 Basketball World Cup will be staged in multiple countries, with Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines earning hosting rights..
Matt Barnes To Retire
Veteran NBA forward Matt Barnes appears set to call it a career. While it’s not quite an official announcement, Barnes published an Instagram post today in which he reminisced about his “cool 15-year run” in the NBA and indicated that he’s ready to move on to the next chapter in his life.
“You telling me I can dress like this for business meetings & make more money off the court than I made ON??” Barnes wrote. “And spend more time with my kids??!!”
Barnes, 37, entered the NBA as a second-round pick in 2002. After failing to earn a roster spot in his first professional season, Barnes joined the Clippers in 2003/04, then bounced to the Kings, Knicks, and Sixers over the next few years before breaking out for the Warriors in 2006/07.
Barnes’ time in the NBA, which also included stints with the Suns, Magic, Lakers, and Grizzlies, amounted to 929 regular season games, plus another 95 postseason contests. After averaging 8.2 PPG and 4.6 RPG over the course of his career, Barnes went out on top in 2017 — he joined the Warriors down the stretch and earned the first NBA championship of his career this past spring. Assuming Barnes doesn’t come out of retirement at some point, a cameo in Game 2 of this year’s Finals will go down as his last NBA appearance.
Although it’s not clear what the next stage of Barnes’ life holds, today’s Instagram post – which references “business meetings” and includes the hashtag #BillionaireBy50 – suggests that he’ll focus on business interests rather than looking to become an NBA coach, executive, or analyst.
Mavs Notes: State Of The Team, Curry, Smith Jr.
Through 27 games, the Mavericks have a 7-20 record, which is identical to the team’s mark through its first 27 games a year ago. Last season’s Mavs played nearly .500 ball the rest of the way, finishing 33-49, but owner Mark Cuban believes this year’s squad is better positioned going forward, as Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News details.
“[We’re] not where we want to be, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s not a train,” Cuban said on Sunday. “We’re playing better. It’s sort of like where the T-Wolves (Sunday’s opponent) were last year. We’re competitive. We’re getting leads against good teams. We just haven’t figured out how to close out games. We’ve come a long way.”
The Mavs have dealt with some injury issues so far this season, and Cuban pointed to the club’s tough schedule as another reason why Dallas has won just seven games. Despite the underwhelming on-court results, Cuban is staying positive: “As our young guys get older, they’ll learn. It’s not like anybody’s regressing.”
Here’s more on the Mavs:
- As Sefko writes, Cuban’s comments on the state of the Mavs included a nod to the fans that want to see the team continue losing in order to get a top pick in the 2018 draft. “For fans that want to see us get better, the opportunity is going to be there,” Cuban said. “For fans that want Team Tank to get a draft pick, the league is a lot more balanced this year in both conferences.”
- Head coach Rick Carlisle said last month that there wouldn’t be an update on Seth Curry‘s health until December 11. So what’s today’s update? Curry will remain sidelined for at least another week, per Carlisle (Twitter link via Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com).
- Carlisle also addressed Dennis Smith Jr.‘s left hip strain, suggesting that getting the rookie point guard back to 100% is the Mavs’ “No. 1 priority (Twitter links via Sneed). Smith will miss Tuesday’s game against San Antonio and there’s currently no timetable for his return.
Magic Johnson: Lakers Could Preserve Cap Room For 2019
Having spent the 2017 offseason clearing long-term salary from their books and signing new players to one-year deals, the Lakers haven’t hid the fact that they’re looking to make a huge splash in free agency in 2018. However, during an appearance on Spectrum Sportsnet’s “Connected With” series, president of basketball operations Magic Johnson suggested that the Lakers could save a portion of their cap room for 2019 if the club is unable to land two stars in 2018, per Harrison Faigen of Lakers Nation.
“We have cap space for probably two max guys, but that’s not to say we’ll use both of them,” Johnson said. “We want to if we can, but we have a Plan A and we have Plan B. Say we only get one of those guys, then we’ll make a decision on not to use the cap space. We can do that and save it for the class that’s coming the next year. We’re not going to give money away just because we have the cap space. I’m not about that.”
Although the Lakers have set themselves up to create a huge chunk of cap room for 2018, the team still has nearly $50MM in guaranteed salary on its books for next season, so additional moves would be required to clear enough room for two maximum-salary players. Waiving Luol Deng and trading Jordan Clarkson would likely do the trick for the Lakers, but if the team recognizes that it won’t be able to land two stars in free agency, it might make sense to hang onto Deng and Clarkson a little longer, potentially jettisoning them down the road.
Having been fined earlier this year for tampering with Paul George and the Pacers, Johnson won’t make the mistake of again discussing specific targets for the summer of 2018, but he pointed to the Celtics’ acquisition of Kyrie Irving as an example of a star player helping to take a young team to another level. That’s the sort of player Johnson and the Lakers will be targeting in free agency, with George, LeBron James, and DeMarcus Cousins among the stars likely to be on the club’s shopping list.
If the Lakers can’t land a player or two of that caliber, it would be smart to maintain flexibility for the summer of 2019. As Faigen notes in his piece at Lakers Nation, contracts like Deng’s and Timofey Mozgov‘s were the result of the 2016 Lakers using up all their cap room on non-stars, so that’s not a mistake the club’s new management group wants to repeat.
Wolves Notes: Garnett, Rotation, Jones, Patton
Kevin Garnett was the greatest player in Timberwolves history, but it seems unlikely that he’ll get involved with the franchise during his post-playing career unless something changes with the team’s ownership situation. Garnett said as much back in April, when he suggested that he could see himself returning to the Wolves at some point, but criticized current owner Glen Taylor in the process.
Asked more recently by Shlomo Sprung of Awful Announcing about the possibility of rejoining the Timberwolves in an ownership or management capacity, Garnett again expressed interest in the idea, but once again indicated that he wouldn’t want to coexist with Taylor.
“I don’t want to be partners with Glen, and I wouldn’t want to be partners with Glen in Minnesota,” Garnett said. “I would love to be part of a group that buys him out and kind of removes him and go forward.”
With Taylor showing little interest in selling his controlling share of the franchise, a reunion with Garnett appears to be unrealistic at this point. Here’s more from out of Minnesota:
- During his time in Chicago, Tom Thibodeau earned a reputation for leaning heavily on his starters, perhaps to a fault. Despite receiving some criticism for that approach, Thibodeau is taking a similar approach in Minnesota, indicating this weekend that he’s comfortable sticking with an eight-man rotation, per Kent Youngblood of The Star Tribune. Jimmy Butler is tied for third in the NBA in minutes per game, while Andrew Wiggins is sixth and Karl-Anthony Towns is also in the top 20.
- Backup point guard Tyus Jones is one of those eight Timberwolves currently in the rotation, and when he replaced Jeff Teague in the starting lineup for three games, he averaged 40.0 MPG. He spoke to Youngblood about Thibodeau’s lineup habits, along with a few other topics.
- Rookie center Justin Patton made his professional debut on Friday with the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota’s G League affiliate. While Patton played well, he’s on a minutes limit, and is expected to remain in the G League for several weeks, Youngblood writes for The Star Tribune. “We want to make sure he can handle playing a certain amount of minutes in a game there,” Thibodeau said. “Basically it’s three, four weeks of games and practices. That sort of thing.”