Chris Paul Would Seriously Consider Spurs If He Leaves L.A.
Two teams that have battled for top seeds in the West in recent years may battle for one of this summer’s top free agents next month. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Chris Paul intends to seriously consider signing with the Spurs in the event that he leaves the Clippers in free agency.
As much as Paul enjoys Los Angeles, he’s “intrigued” by the idea of teaming up with Kawhi Leonard and playing for Gregg Popovich, and potentially making the deep playoff run that hasn’t materialized with the Clippers, Stein reports. According to the ESPN report, the Spurs are “increasingly considered a lock” to meet with CP3 face to face once free agency officially gets underway on July 1, despite the fact that the team currently doesn’t have the cap room necessary to sign him.
Meanwhile, the Clippers have already begun to consider roster and organizational changes aimed at convincing Paul to re-sign, sources tell Stein. Stein adds that L.A.’s recent push to lure Jerry West from the Warriors is one example of the type of move the team hopes will convince Paul to return, though Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link) hears that West is staying with Golden State and met with the Clips as a courtesy.
We had already heard about the mutual interest between Paul and the Spurs, and Stein had reported earlier that the Clippers viewed San Antonio as a serious threat, so today’s report isn’t exactly a bombshell. The interest between Paul and the Spurs certainly appears real, but the Clips are still viewed as the favorite to re-sign the veteran point guard, who could use San Antonio’s interest as leverage in an effort to get the full max.
Five Key Offseason Questions: Philadelphia 76ers
In year one post-Sam Hinkie, the Sixers managed to increase the excitement surrounding the team without substantially improving the on-court product. The club never expected to push for the playoffs, but rather, it looked to give its young nucleus a chance to work together and grow for the future. Injuries to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid robbed Philadelphia of that opportunity, though in a small sample size Embiid provided the franchise with hope for the future.
Here are five questions facing the Sixers as they enter the offseason…
1. Should the front office offer Embiid an extension this summer?
Embiid dominated in limited minutes this season, flashing potential as a franchise-saving big man. He scored 20.2 points per contest with a player efficiency rating of 24.1, figures that are only matched by six other rookies who played at least 25 minutes per game. Everyone else on that list is currently in the Hall of Fame, though on average, they each played around four times as many minutes in their rookie season than Embiid did.
Embiid’s talent is clear, but will he ever be able to play a full 82-game season? That’s something that will be baked into contract negotiations over the next year. He’s eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer and it’ll be interesting to see whether he opts for long-term security or bets on his health during the final year of his rookie contract.
2. What should the Sixers do with Jahlil Okafor?
Okafor seems to be perpetually on the trade block. The Sixers made a conscious effort to showcase him on multiple occasions this season with the hope of enticing a suitor, and he was nearly dealt to Portland after the team sat him for several games. The Pelicans were also linked to the Duke product, as were the Pacers. The Bulls appeared interested in bringing the Chicago native home, but no deal materialized.
Okafor’s place in the league seems to be in question. He hasn’t taken any drastic steps forward on defense and his offense appears to have plateaued. However, as we’ve seen throughout history, some players simply need a change of scenery and that’s likely the case with Okafor, as I suggested in his Trade Candidate piece earlier this season.
Game 2 Return A Possibility For Steve Kerr
Although Warriors head coach Steve Kerr wasn’t healthy enough to return to the team’s bench for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, there’s still a chance he’ll be back before the end of the series. According to an ESPN report from Ramona Shelburne, Chris Haynes, and Marc Spears, there’s “some optimism” that Kerr could coach Golden State in Game 2 on Sunday.
Team sources tell ESPN that Kerr had a “bad day” on Wednesday, eliminating the possibility of him coaching the Warriors in Game 1. While acting head coach Mike Brown wanted Kerr to make a game-time decision on coaching Game 1, Kerr felt it was important to string together several good days of health before returning to the team’s bench.
Kerr implied earlier this week that he might make a definitive decision on his status if he was unable to coach Game 1, but the Warriors’ brass wants to remain patient, and is open to having the club’s head coach return later in the series if possible. GM Bob Myers told ESPN that Golden State is “not closing the door” on Kerr’s return in the Finals.
While Kerr’s back troubles have sidelined him for a good chunk of this year’s playoffs, he told Tim Kawakami of The San Jose Mercury News this week that he definitely intends to continue his coaching career, and is optimistic he’ll be ready to go in the fall if he’s not able to come back in the Finals.
Mutual Interest Between Amir Johnson, Raptors
Two years after leaving Toronto, Amir Johnson will be back on the free agent market this summer, and a reunion with his old team isn’t out of the question. According to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, there’s mutual interest between the Raptors and Johnson, as the big man nears free agency.
Johnson, 30, appeared in 80 games (77 starts) for the Celtics in 2016/17, averaging 6.5 PPG and 4.6 RPG with a .576/.409/.670 shooting line. While the veteran power forward was a solid role player for Boston, he likely won’t be back with the club next season. The Celtics figure to bring draft-and-stash prospects Ante Zizic and Guerschon Yabusele stateside and use the savings created on Johnson’s $12MM expiring contract to pursue an impact player.
Although a handful of teams have already expressed interest in Johnson, according to a source who spoke to Deveney, the idea of a reunion with the Raptors is an interesting one. Toronto will likely attempt to retain Serge Ibaka, who is headed for unrestricted free agency next month. But doing so may mean parting ways with Patrick Patterson, another free agent — Johnson could be a cheaper alternative to Patterson.
Assuming the Raptors stay over the cap as they attempt to re-sign players from a free agent group that also includes Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker, they’d have the mid-level exception and the bi-annual exception to spend on outside additions. Those exceptions will be worth about $8.41MM and $3.29MM, respectively.
Adam Silver Talks Age Limit, Tanking, Knicks, Expansion
The league plans on discussing the current one-and-done rule with the NBA Players Association over the next year with the hope of raising the minimum age for draft-eligible players from 19 to 20, Greg Logan of Newsday relays.
“This year, the projection is that we’re going to have 20 one-and-done players coming and actually being drafted. When we first changed the minimum age from 18 to 19, the following year in 2006, we had two one-and-done players. So my sense is that it’s not working for anyone,” Silver said.
Silver added that teams believe players coming to the professional ranks from college after just one season aren’t as well-prepared as they should be. The league and the union agreed to table this issue in order to finalize the CBA this past winter.
Silver also addressed Phil Jackson‘s comments about Carmelo Anthony. Jackson previously said Anthony, who holds a no-trade clause, may be “better off somewhere else.” The players union took exception with the Zen Master’s statement, but Silver said no punishment for the Knicks executive is forthcoming.
“We did not consider disciplining Phil Jackson for those comments about potentially trading Carmelo,” Silver said. “The view of the league is that it’s not reciprocal. Players can’t trade themselves. Teams can trade players. So there’s never been a history of fining a team or disciplining a team executive for talking about trading a player.”
The commissioner also spoke about several other issues, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com passes along. Here are more highlights from his press conference:
- Silver addressed the NBA’s resting issue, calling for owners to be more involved in the team’s decision to rest players. Silver recognized that the league needs to reduce the amount of back-to-back and added that playing less than 82 games will not be considered. “It’s not 82 games, it’s not the length of the season, it’s the time between the games and that there’s a direct correlation between fatigue and injury on the part of the players,” Silver said.
- The commissioner acknowledged that the league has a tanking issue and suggested that changes could be on the horizon. “We’re not at the point where we’re going to have relegation to the Gatorade [Development] League and the way they do in Europe [with soccer],” Silver said. “That would stop it, but we’re not prepared to do that. But I think there’s more we can do to disincentivize teams from that behavior.”
- The league currently has no plans for expansion. “From my standpoint, for the league, you want ultimately a league where 30 teams are in a position where they can ultimately compete for championships and also be economically viable,” Silver said. “From an economic standpoint, we are doing better than we did historically, but we’re still not at a point where we have 30 teams that are profitable. … I also have to look at the potential for dilution of the existing talent we have before we expand. I have no doubt at some point we’ll turn back to it, but at least in my last discussions with our owners on this, most of them said let’s keep focusing on the health of these 30 teams and the quality of the competition. When we feel we’re in a better place with the 30 teams we have, maybe at that point we can look to expand.”
Former NBA Player Ben Gordon Arrested
Ben Gordon was arrested early this morning in Los Angeles for pulling multiple fire alarms in his apartment building, according to TMZ Sports. The publication claims Gordon was locked out of his apartment and decided to pull many of the alarms.
Gordon was taken into custody when the police and fire department arrived to find that there was no fire. He’s being charged with falsely activating a fire alarm, which is a misdemeanor in California.
The 34-year-old shooting guard played for the Mavericks’ D-League affiliate this past season in an attempt to draw NBA interest. He last played in the NBA during the 2014/15 campaign with the Magic.
Cavaliers Notes: Williams, James, Griffin
After spending most of his career as a No. 1 option, Deron Williams has taken a reduced role on the Cavaliers. It’s been an adjustment, but one that he’s willing to take on because of his teammates, as Fred Kerber of the New York Post passes along.
“You’re playing with the best player in the world, arguably the best point guard in the game [Kyrie Irving],” Williams said. “Superstars. It’s a team that was already established. They won it last year, so for me it was an adjustment. It was an adjustment coming over here [after being waived by the Mavericks in February] and learning to play where I did not have the ball in my hands for the whole game, didn’t know if I was going to play 20 minutes or 10 or 15. But after settling in and knowing what they need, it’s become easier.”
Here’s more from Cleveland as the franchise looks to repeat:
- Most people within the Cavaliers‘ organization feel that GM David Griffin will return to the team next season, Sam Amico of Amico Hoops writes. Milwaukee has interest in adding Griffin to the same role, but Cleveland won’t allow him to interview until its season is over.
- Irving knows LeBron James will be the clear leader of the Cavaliers while LBJ remains in his prime and he’s willing to wait for his turn to take over the team, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com relays. “Whenever that time comes and it’s my time to be the leader of the franchise, then I’ll be well-prepared. But for now, I’m cool with just being — I’m very, very cool with being — a great guy on a great team,” the point guard said.
- James and Irving have a special bond and James believes the two of them will never end up like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal—players who squabbled over roles and egos—McMenamin adds in the same piece. “He’s 25. He’s got at least 10 more years. I don’t. So I want to give him the blueprint and see what he [can] do with it,” James said. “You know, no matter if we’re teammates for the rest of his career or for the rest of my career, listen, it won’t be because we didn’t want to play with each other no more. It will never be that.”
- Five of the players on the Cavaliers‘ roster were acquired via trade, The Vertical’s Bobby Marks notes in a piece that examines how each player came to the organization. Kevin Love, Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith, Channing Frye and Kyle Korver all arrived in Cleveland in deals from other teams.
Visit Pro Hockey Rumors For NHL Offseason Coverage.
Just over two weeks remain before we find out the expansion protection lists for all 30 NHL teams and things are already starting to heat up.
Who will be the latest victim of Chicago’s cap problems? Will Anaheim be able to protect all of their young defensive depth, or be forced to take a last minute deal? Which goaltender will be the starter in Vegas next season?
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2017 Offseason Salary Cap Digest: Detroit Pistons
Poised to continue building on a 2015/16 season that saw them record 44 wins and land their first playoff berth in seven years, the Pistons instead regressed, falling out of the postseason picture with a 37-45 record. Reggie Jackson was plagued by injuries and was ineffective for much of the season, while Andre Drummond‘s free throw woes continued to make him a liability in late-game situations. Now, the Pistons are virtually capped-out and will have to figure out how to improve a roster that could use reinforcements in several different areas.
Here’s where things currently stand for the Pistons financially, as we continue our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series for 2017:
Guaranteed Salary
- Andre Drummond ($23,775,506)
- Tobias Harris ($16,000,000)
- Reggie Jackson ($16,000,000)
- Jon Leuer ($10,497,319)
- Boban Marjanovic ($7,000,000)
- Ish Smith ($6,000,000)
- Josh Smith ($5,331,729) — Waived via stretch provision.
- Marcus Morris ($5,000,000)
- Stanley Johnson ($3,097,800)
- Henry Ellenson ($1,780,800)
- Michael Gbinije ($500,000) — Partial guarantee. Non-guaranteed portion noted below.1
- Total: $94,983,154
Player Options
- Aron Baynes ($6,500,000)
- Total: $6,500,000
Team Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- Darrun Hilliard ($1,471,382)2
- Michael Gbinije ($812,611) — Partial guarantee. Guaranteed portion noted above.1
- Total: $2,283,993
Restricted Free Agents
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($4,958,374 qualifying offer / $9,195,798 cap hold)
- Reggie Bullock ($3,313,542 qualifying offer / $5,639,110 cap hold)
- Total: $14,834,908
Cap Holds
- Aron Baynes ($8,450,000) — If player option is declined
- No. 12 overall pick ($2,759,280)
- Beno Udrih ($1,471,382)
- Total: $12,680,662
Projected Salary Cap: $101,000,000
Maximum Cap Room: $1,626,336
- Taking into account their nine guaranteed salaries and cap charges for a first-round pick and two empty roster spots, the Pistons have a team salary of $99,373,664. That would involve renouncing Caldwell-Pope, Baynes, and Bullock, and still doesn’t create any real cap room, making it an unlikely scenario. So unless they make a cost-cutting trade or two, the Pistons will be an over-the-cap team this offseason.
Footnotes:
- Gbinije’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 15.
- Hilliard’s salary becomes fully guaranteed after July 1.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and The Vertical was used in the creation of this post.
Latest On Bucks’ GM Search
Milwaukee will begin formal interviews for its open GM position on Monday, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports.
The team has been granted permission to speak with Blazer assistant GM Bill Branch, Heat assistant GM Adam Simon, and Pistons assistant GM Pat Garrity, according to Wojnarowski.
The scribe adds that the Bucks have reached out to the Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon about the opening. Hammon has been working under coach Gregg Popovich for three seasons.
Milwaukee previously reached out to Indiana and gained permission to speak with the team’s VP of basketball operations Peter Dinwiddie. Wojnarowski adds that the franchise also has permission to speak with Denver assistant GM Arturas Karnisovas, Grizzlies VP of player personnel Ed Stefanski and Hawks special advisor Wes Wilcox.
Justin Zanik, who is currently running the team as its assistant GM, remains a strong candidate for the position. Zanik is gathering “significant support” inside and outside the organization, Wojnarowski writes. He joined the team with the expectation that he would be the GM-in-waiting once John Hammond‘s contract expired. Hammond recently left the franchise to become Orlando’s GM.