2017 NBA Award Picks: Sixth Man Of The Year
With the 2016/17 NBA regular season in the books, we’re making our picks for the year’s major awards. The Hoops Rumors writing team has weighed in with our selections below, but we also want to know which players, coaches, and executives you think are most deserving of the hardware this season, so jump into the comments section below to share your thoughts.
We’re keeping things going today with the award for Sixth Man of the Year. Here are our picks:
Chris Crouse: Lou Williams (Lakers/Rockets)
The league’s MVP may be the only award race that’s tighter than the Sixth Man of the Year’s. Eric Gordon had an excellent debut season before cooling off in the second half. James Johnson breathed life into Miami after the team was decimated by injuries. Andre Iguodala held down the second unit of 67-win team. Zach Randolph gave the Grizzlies firepower off the bench where they didn’t have very much else to count on.
Yet, Williams stands out. The 2014/15 Sixth Man of the Year scored 17.5 PPG this season while sporting a career-high 21.4 PER. He had a true shooting percentage of .609 during his 58 games in Los Angeles. His numbers dipped after he was sent to the Rockets at the trade deadline, but he remained a key contributor in Houston, scoring the second-most points per game on the team after the All-Star break. There were plenty of great options off the bench this season, but Williams gets my vote for the best of the bunch.
Dana Gauruder: Lou Williams (Lakers/Rockets)
Williams was so effective off the bench for the going-nowhere Lakers that he got himself traded to a contender. He’s been in the league since 2005/06 and averaged a career high 17.5 points. Williams’ perimeter shooting cooled off after joining the Rockets but he makes them that much more dangerous in the postseason.
Arthur Hill: Eric Gordon (Rockets)
Ever since James Harden arrived in Houston, the Rockets have struggled to score when he’s not in the game. The franchise has been searching for years for a guard who can put pressure on opposing defenses while Harden is resting. They struck gold last summer when Gordon agreed to a four-year, $53MM deal. Gordon shook off his long history of injuries and played 75 games, the most since his rookie season, while averaging 16.3 points per night and shooting 37% from 3-point range. His stats alone make him worthy of the Sixth Man award, but his impact on the Rockets has been even greater.
Luke Adams: James Johnson (Heat)
Players like Williams and Gordon fit the mold of a traditional Sixth Man of the Year as second-unit scorers capable of changing games and single-handedly keeping an offense afloat when the starters get some rest. But Johnson’s all-around play on both ends of the floor was game-changing during the Heat’s 30-11 second-half run.
Always an intriguing part-time player, Johnson finally put it all together this season in Miami, scoring (12.8 PPG), passing (3.6 APG), and shooting (.341 FG%) at career-best rates. Most impressively, he showed the ability to guard virtually anyone on an opponent’s roster, one through five, averaging more than a block and a steal per game while maintaining that invaluable versatility.
Austin Kent: Zach Randolph (Grizzlies)
The decision to bump 35-year-old Randolph to the second unit paid off for the Grizzlies and the veteran’s 15th NBA season will go down as one of his most efficient on a per-minute basis. In just over 24 minutes per game, Randolph averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds, all while playing a vital role in keeping Memphis in the Western Conference playoff picture.
Sure, Z-Bo isn’t doing anything he hasn’t already done for ages, but the fact that he’s now doing it off the pine makes him the scariest bench player in the game. His stats are comparable with any other elite reserve, his team is a winner, and he’s the only backup that’s obviously more intimidating to check than the guy who starts ahead of him.
Who is your pick for Sixth Man of the Year? Share your choices and your thoughts in the comments section below!
Previously:
April 13: Executive of the Year
April 14: Coach of the Year
April 17: Most Improved Player
Still to come:
April 19: Defensive Player of the Year
April 20: Rookie of the Year
April 21: Most Valuable Player
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jordan Bell To Enter Draft, Sign With Agent
APRIL 18, 12:20pm: As expected, Bell announced today that he has decided to enter the draft and hire an agent (link via RiseLongBeach.com).
APRIL 17, 12:00pm: According to a tweet from Bell, he has not yet made the decision to enter the draft and sign with an agent. Charania has a solid track record and hasn’t changed his initial story, so I’d still expect the Oregon big man to go pro, but it’s worth noting that it’s not official yet.
8:16am: Oregon power forward Jordan Bell has elected to put his name in the 2017 NBA draft pool and will sign with an agent, forgoing his remaining NCAA eligibility, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical. According to Charania, Bell held meeting with agents in the past week and finalized his decision over the weekend.
Bell, 22, saw his stock rise after a terrific NCAA tournament performance, in which he recorded double-doubles in four of five games for the Ducks. After averaging 10.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 2.1 BPG during the regular season, Bell increased those marks to 12.6 PPG, 13.2 RPG, and 3.2 BPG in the tournament, helping to lead Oregon to a spot in the Final Four.
Currently, the 6’9″ junior ranks 39th on Chad Ford’s big board at ESPN and 41st on DraftExpress’ top 100. In his analysis, Ford suggests that Bell looked like a possible second-round pick a month ago, but after his strong showing during Oregon’s Final Four run, there’s speculation that his defensive upside could make him a late first-round pick.
Bell joins teammates Dillon Brooks and Tyler Dorsey as Oregon underclassmen going pro this year. Here’s our full list of early entrants so far.
Doc Rivers Hoping To Retain Clippers’ Core
The Clippers are down 1-0 to the Jazz in their first round playoff series, and there has been speculation that if L.A. can’t get by Utah, a significant roster overhaul could be around the corner. However, head coach and president of basketball operations Doc Rivers tells Sam Amick of USA Today that he’d like to keep the Clippers’ core intact, even with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and J.J. Redick facing potential unrestricted free agency.
“Here’s my argument to (the question of the roster will be worth going deeper into the tax to keep intact),” Rivers said. “Let’s say we don’t win this year — which I think we will, (but) let’s say we don’t. Do you give up on a 50-win team that has proven that they’re really close, or do you hang in there and keep trying to maybe make changes around (the core)?
“I always use Utah as a great (example). Thank God Karl Malone and (John) Stockton didn’t listen to people, you know what I mean? They fell (in the playoffs), and kept trying and kept trying. And finally, late in their careers, they finally broke through to the Finals. They didn’t win it (all). But you know, that’s the pursuit. I just think it’s so easy to (say), ‘Hey, they should break up,’ from the outside. And I think that’s such an easy opinion.”
As we noted this week, the Clippers were one of two teams to finish the 2016/17 in luxury tax territory, and that was with Paul, Griffin, and Redick on their old deals. The trio combined to earn about $50MM this season, but that number could increase beyond $65MM in 2017/18 for CP3 and Griffin alone, without even taking into consideration a raise for Redick as well. In total, Amick estimates that the Clippers’ team salary could increase to the $140MM range if they bring everyone back, which would mean a tax bill of more than $55MM.
Even though Rivers is the GM in Los Angeles, team owner Steve Ballmer will have the final say on roster moves if they significantly increase the money he’ll owe his players in the coming years, as Amick observes. And if the Clippers don’t make a deep playoff run this spring, there’s no guarantee that Rivers and Ballmer will see eye to eye on the team’s strategy going forward, despite the trust that the franchise’s owner has in his head coach.
A new long-term deal for Paul appears likely, but the Clippers will face some interesting decisions in the next few months, and will be a team worth watching this summer.
Chimezie Metu Returning To USC
Sophomore big man Chimezie Metu would have had a good chance to be drafted if he had decided to go pro this year, but rather than entering the draft, he’ll return to USC for his junior season, the school confirmed on Monday, per Joey Kaufman of The Orange County Register. Metu announced the decision on Monday, publishing an Instagram photo with the caption “Year 3 coming soon…”
Metu, a 6’11” center, enjoyed a breakout season for USC in 2016/17, averaging 14.8 PPG, 7.8 RPG, and 1.5 BPG. Although he’ll return to school for at least one more year, Metu is already considered a top-50 prospect by draft experts. He ranks 38th on DraftExpress’ big board, and 44th on ESPN’s.
According to ESPN’s Chad Ford, Metu’s lack of strength, particularly in his lower body, is a cause for concern for some NBA scouts. However, if he’s able to add strength and weight to his frame in the coming year, he’s a potential first-round pick next summer. DraftExpress currently has the 20-year-old going 15th overall in its 2018 mock draft.
Metu’s return will be a boon for the Trojans, who won a game last month in the NCAA tournament, and could start next season as a top-25 program.
Poll: 2017 All-NBA First Team
Russell Westbrook‘s full-season triple-double was the most impressive statistical achievement of the 2016/17 regular season, but the NBA’s stars put up astounding numbers across the board this year, making All-NBA decisions tougher than ever. No matter which 15 players earn spots on the three All-NBA teams for 2017, worthy candidates will miss the cut.
Still, we want you to do your best to identify which 15 players are the most deserving of All-NBA recognition this year. Over the next few days, we’ll be running a handful of polls to let you make your selections for this year’s All-NBA teams.
We’re starting today with the First Team. Polls for the guards, forwards, and center are below — you’ll have the opportunity to pick two players apiece in the guard and forward polls. We’ll leave today’s polls open for about 24 hours, at which point we’ll name the players with the most votes to our All-NBA First Team and move on to voting for the Second Team.
Vote for your All-NBA picks below, and then take to the comments section to explain your reasoning. And if there are a player not listed below that you believe deserves All-NBA consideration, be sure to mention him in the comments section too — if I agree, I’ll make sure he’s included in our Second and Third Team polls.
Guards:
Note: This poll was reset after a top candidate was initially omitted. If you voted early in our original poll, feel free to vote again.
Who are your All-NBA First Team guards?
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Russell Westbrook 42% (819)
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James Harden 36% (707)
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Stephen Curry 7% (127)
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Isaiah Thomas 5% (97)
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John Wall 3% (52)
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Kyrie Irving 2% (33)
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Damian Lillard 1% (23)
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DeMar DeRozan 1% (18)
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Klay Thompson 1% (14)
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Kemba Walker 1% (11)
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Chris Paul 1% (10)
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Bradley Beal 0% (9)
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C.J. McCollum 0% (9)
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Goran Dragic 0% (8)
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Mike Conley 0% (6)
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Kyle Lowry 0% (0)
Total votes: 1,943
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA First team guards.
Forwards:
Who are your All-NBA First Team forwards?
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LeBron James 37% (947)
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Kawhi Leonard 34% (861)
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Giannis Antetokounmpo 16% (398)
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Kevin Durant 5% (130)
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Gordon Hayward 2% (51)
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Jimmy Butler 2% (50)
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Draymond Green 2% (50)
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Paul George 2% (47)
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Kevin Love 0% (11)
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Paul Millsap 0% (6)
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Blake Griffin 0% (3)
Total votes: 2,554
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA First team forwards.
Centers:
Who is your All-NBA First Team center?
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Anthony Davis 37% (473)
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Karl-Anthony Towns 19% (248)
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Rudy Gobert 17% (223)
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DeMarcus Cousins 9% (112)
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Nikola Jokic 5% (70)
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Marc Gasol 5% (60)
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Hassan Whiteside 4% (48)
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DeAndre Jordan 3% (37)
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Brook Lopez 1% (12)
Total votes: 1,283
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA First team center.
Rodions Kurucs Enters 2017 NBA Draft
Latvian forward Rodions Kurucs has declared for the 2017 NBA draft as an early entrant, according to agent Arturs Kalnitis (via Twitter). The 1998-born prospect will have until June 13 to reverse course and withdraw his name, though he appears likely to remain in the draft pool based on expert projections.
A 6’8″ wing for Barcelona 2 in Spain, Kurucs is the 21st-best prospect on DraftExpress’ big board, and comes in at No. 33 on Chad Ford’s board at ESPN.com. According to Ford, Kurucs remains a “major work in progress,” since he still doesn’t play a ton in Spain. However, the 19-year-old has displayed good athleticism and length, as well as solid shooting range.
Assuming Kurucs remains in this year’s draft, he’s a candidate to be drafted-and-stashed by a team in the second half of the first round, writes Ford. Teams with multiple first-round picks, in particular, could be landing spots for the Latvian — in Ford’s most recent mock draft, he had Kurucs coming off the board at No. 24 to the Magic, with Orlando’s second first-rounder.
Our full list of early entrants for this year’s draft can be found right here.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 4/17/17
Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Raptors have recalled Bruno Caboclo and Pascal Siakam from the Raptors 905, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Siakam is one of the many 2016 first-round picks who saw action in the D-League this season, as Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors previously detailed.
Draft Notes: Dozier, McIntosh, Key
P.J. Dozier is staying the draft and signing an agent, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports. Dozier had previously said he would test the draft waters. Wojnarowski notes that the South Carolina product is considered a second-round prospect who will contribute on the defensive end before being able to produce offensively.
Here’s more on the upcoming draft:
- Illinois State’s MiKyle McIntosh will declare for the draft, but will not hire an agent, according to Jon Rothstein of FanRag Sports. McIntosh will graduate this fall and should he return to college, he’ll be eligible to transfer to any school without having to sit out a year.
- Alabama’s Braxton Key has declared for the draft, but won’t hire an agent, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Key is not ranked in Givony’s Top 100.
- William Lee will test the draft waters, Drew Champlin of Alabama.com relays. “UAB has provided me with an unbelievable opportunity to play college basketball against some of the best players and teams in the nation,” Lee said in a UAB release. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA, and this decision allows me to safely see where I am projected at this point in my career without jeopardizing my last year of eligibility.”
Andre Iguodala Likely To Remain With Warriors
Andre Iguodala will be a free agent this offseason, but he’s unlikely to leave Golden State, according to Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group. A source tells the scribe that the real question is how many years will Iguodala’s next deal with the Warriors run.
A new contract for Iguodala will have to wait until other dominos fall in the Bay Area this offseason. The Warriors could face cap issues as they try to re-sign Kevin Durant. Kawakami notes that they would have to get creative in order to open up the necessary cap space for a Durant max deal and those efforts may include renouncing the rights to Iguodala and Shaun Livingston. Taking that route would forfeit Iguodala’s Bird Rights, something that would limit the amount they can offer the 2015 NBA Finals MVP.
If Durant is willing to take merely a 20% raise on his 2016/17 salary, the team would not have to fit him into cap space and they could retain the bird rights of its other players, Kawakami notes. Durant could sign another two-year deal with a starting salary of approximately $31.8MM, which would contain another opt-out after the first season. That amount would come in roughly $4MM less than the maximum he could receive, so it’s not a given that the team takes this path.
Durant doesn’t plan on leaving Golden State and he hasn’t given much thought to his contract situation. Regardless of what happens with his option this summer, he wants the team to stay together.
“I haven’t thought about it, but obviously you want to keep this group together,” Durant said. “We want to see how far we can go with this thing. I’m sure once the season’s over with, we’ll figure that stuff out everybody. I’m sure it’ll all work out for the best.”
Kawakami adds that Golden State’s plan all along was to keep this core together for years to come and the franchise won’t change course anytime soon.
Suns Plan To Keep GM Ryan McDonough Through 2017/18 Season
The Suns will keep Ryan McDonough on as GM through the 2017/18 season, sources tell Marc Stein and Chris Haynes of ESPN.com. McDonough’s contract is set to expire next offseason.
Drafting Devin Booker is widely regarded as McDonough’s best move, Stein notes. The scribe adds that Phoenix may be in for a busy offseason, citing the team’s surplus of backcourt talent and the draft, which is heavy on point guards. The Suns have a 19.9% chance at landing the No. 1 overall pick, as Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors recently detailed.
Phoenix had the second-worst record in the league this season, as our Reverse Standings show. The team has gone 134-160 since McDonough took over GM duties.