Joakim Noah’s Suspension To Begin On Wednesday
Joakim Noah will serve the first game of his 20-game suspension on Wednesday night, according to Ian Begley of ESPN.com, who reports (via Twitter) that an independent, NBA-approved doctor has medically cleared Noah. The veteran Knicks center received his suspension two games ago, but wasn’t eligible to begin serving it until he was deemed physically able to play.
[RELATED: Joakim Noah receives 20-game suspension]
Had it not been for the suspension, the Knicks likely would’ve been happy to let Noah take the rest of the season to recover from his left knee injury, shutting him down for now and focusing on getting him healthy for next season. In that scenario though, the 32-year-old would have had to serve all 20 games in 2017/18. By receiving medical clearance now, Noah will be able to serve eight games this season, leaving 12 for the fall.
Noah, who received his ban for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program, said this week that the substance for which he tested positive was intended to help with his rehab, but was not approved by the Knicks.
Pacers Waive Rodney Stuckey
11:31am: The Pacers have officially waived Stuckey, the team announced today in a press release.
9:38am: The Pacers are waiving injured guard Rodney Stuckey, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (via Twitter). The news comes on the heels of Stuckey suffering a left patellar tendon strain, which is expected to sideline him for four to six weeks.
Stuckey’s contract situation was a motivating factor for the Pacers here, since he had an unusual option for the 2017/18 season. In most cases, player options represent guaranteed money (unless the player opts out), but Stuckey’s $7MM player option for next year was more of a mutual option. As Charania notes, by waiving the veteran guard prior to April 10, Indiana won’t be on the hook for any of his salary for 2017/18.
While Stuckey should be ready to return to action by the end of April or start of May, he’s unlikely to land with another team this season, so he could get a head start on free agency for next year, assuming he clears waivers. If he’s formally waived today, the former first-round pick would clear waivers on Friday.
Stuckey, who will turn 31 next month, is coming off perhaps his worst NBA season. In 39 games, he averaged 7.2 PPG and shot just 37.3% from the field — both marks are career-lows. Even if he had stayed healthy, Stuckey may have been a candidate to be cut before season’s end, in order to get the Pacers off the hook for next year’s salary.
With Stuckey headed to the waiver wire, the Pacers will open up a spot on their roster at a time when they could use some added depth. Regular rotation players Al Jefferson and Glenn Robinson III are also on the shelf with injuries as Indiana makes a late-season push to clinch a playoff spot. The team will have the opportunity to add someone new to its roster on either a 10-day contract or a rest-of-season deal.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Mavs Re-Sign Jarrod Uthoff, Part With Manny Harris
10:55am: The Mavericks have officially announced their new deal with Uthoff. It’s a multiyear pact, according to the team, which probably means next season will be non-guaranteed, as I speculated below.
10:14am: Two players on their second 10-day contracts with the Mavericks saw those deals expire overnight, and one of the two will be sticking with the club. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein (via Twitter), the Mavs intend to sign Jarrod Uthoff to a rest-of-season contract. However, Manny Harris will return to Dallas’ D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends.
Uthoff, who will turn 24 this spring, saw very limited action in just two games with the Mavericks, and has yet to score his first NBA point. Still, the team apparently liked what it saw from Uthoff in practice and wants to keep him in Dallas. Although Stein doesn’t offer any specific contract details, I imagine Uthoff’s new contract will include a non-guaranteed salary for 2017/18, giving the Mavs to keep the 6’9″ forward at the minimum salary next season.
As for Harris, the 27-year-old saw a little more action than Uthoff during his 20 days in Dallas, averaging 2.0 PPG and 2.3 RPG in four contests (6.3 MPG). His return to the D-League will be a boost for the Legends — he had been averaging 26.0 PPG and 7.6 RPG for the Mavs’ affiliate.
With Uthoff returning and Harris on his way out, the Mavs will have one open spot on their 15-man roster, so they could take a flier on another 10-day prospect.
Paul George: Pacers Have ‘No Sense Of Urgency’
Having lost a winnable home game to the lottery-bound Timberwolves on Tuesday night, the Pacers have slipped to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, and are just two games ahead of the No. 9 Bulls as they look to secure a playoff spot. The team’s latest performance was a frustrating one for star forward Paul George, who expressed his displeasure in comments after the game, as Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star details.
“There’s no urgency, no sense of urgency, no winning pride,” George said (Twitter link). “This locker room is just not pissed off enough.”
“We should have a professional approach, man, and defend our home court, especially to a team that’s not even in the playoffs,” George added. “That’s what it comes down to. As a team, we’ve got to have a grit and we’ve got to own up, man up.”
George, who also suggested he didn’t get the ball enough late in the loss to the Wolves, is hardly the only player to publicly express frustration with his team’s performance this year. However, given the 26-year-old’s contract situation, any comments to that effect will be given extra scrutiny.
After this season, George has just one year left on his contract with the Pacers, and reports have suggested that the Lakers have piqued his interest as a possible free agent destination. Pacers president Larry Bird has indicated – both publicly and privately – that he’ll do all he can to keep George in Indiana, but if the 2016/17 campaign ends poorly for the team, trade speculation figures to run rampant this summer.
The Pacers have a challenging stretch of games on tap as they look to lock down a postseason berth. They’ll be back in action tonight in Memphis, then will play the Raptors, Cavaliers, and Raptors again. Assuming they’re still hanging onto a playoff spot after that stretch, the Pacers will be in a decent position to finish strong, with games against the Bucks, Magic, Sixers, and Hawks to close the regular season.
How Pau Gasol Is Fitting In With The Spurs
The Spurs signed Pau Gasol to a two-year, $30MM deal over the summer and he began the year in the starting lineup, something he’s done at every stop during his career. Yet, since coming back from a hand injury in February, he’s come off the bench. That’s not something that bothers the big man; he’s more concerned with winning.
“Right now we’re the second-best record in the league and we’re in a good spot,” Gasol said (via Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press). “That was the key reason why I came here.”
His 3-point range is giving the Spurs exactly what they need as they get set for another playoff run. He’s taking more shots from behind the arc (making 53,5% of them) than he has during any season in his entire career. “I’m trying to survive in this league that is evolving continuously,” Gasol said recently. Gasol’s ability to shoot from long-range has allowed LaMarcus Aldridge to thrive from inside the arc, Krawczynski notes.
Gregg Popovich didn’t intend for Gasol to play away from the basketball as much. “We didn’t sit him down and say now Pau, part of your role is going to be [shooting 3s],” Popovich said. “But it’s sort of evolved with the spacing and the way we do things with LaMarcus out there. It just evolved that way. He’s been successful at it so we just kind of let it roll.”
Gasol’s contract contains a player option for the 2017/18 campaign, meaning the Spaniard ostensibly could become a free agent again this offseason. However, it was previously reported that he intends to opt in and stay with the team. “My intention is to continue here, and to be here as long as I can,” Gasol said earlier this season.
The former No. 3 overall pick has been a great fit in San Antonio. He’s helped the team claim a record of 57-16, which is the second-best mark in the league.
The only team with a better record: the Warriors. The Spurs are one of two franchises that Golden State has not beaten this season (the Wizards are the other team, though the Warriors host them next weekend). The Spurs won the first two meetings and they’ll play again on Wednesday night. If San Antonio makes it three straight against the defending Western Conference champs, Gasol may not get much attention, but he’ll deserve credit for how he’s altered his game for the betterment of the team.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 3/28/17
Check out Tuesday’s D-League assignment and recalls from around the league:
- The Raptors have assigned Bruno Caboclo, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet to the Raptors 905, per the team’s Twitter feed. Toronto has since recalled Van Fleet (Twitter feed).
- The Knicks have assigned Maurice Ndour, Marshall Plumlee and Chasson Randle to the Westchester Knicks, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Each of the three players saw one minute of NBA action on Monday in New York’s win over Detroit.
- The Bulls have assigned Cameron Payne to the Windy City Bulls, according to a team press release. Payne, who was sent to Chicago in the Taj Gibson deal, has seen 140 minutes with the NBA club since arriving in town.
Central Notes: Jackson, Korver, Jefferson
Pistons executive/coach Stan Van Gundy said he was his call to sit Reggie Jackson over the last couple games, as Rod Beard of the Detroit News tweets. “It has strictly been my call all the way. Reggie wants to be out there,” Van Gundy said. Earlier today, it was reported that the team may shut Jackson down for the remainder of the season.
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- Kyle Korver will miss at least the next two games for the Cavaliers. He could miss more time, but he definitely wants to return before the end of the regular season, Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal relays. “No, no, I don’t want to do that at all,” Korver said when asked about missing the rest of the season. “I’m hopeful just a few days here to completely shut down and not trying to test it out and see how it feels today. Take a few days and let it totally calm down and see where we’re at.”
- Al Jefferson will be sidelined for at least two weeks as he recovers from a sprained left ankle, according to the Pacers‘ website. Jefferson suffered the injury against the Sixers on Sunday.
- Glenn Robinson III will remain out for at least another week with a left calf strain, the Pacers add in the same press release. He’ll be re-evaluated at the end of next week.
Front Office Shakeups Ahead?
Disappointing seasons could lead to front office changes for at least five teams this summer, writes Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
The most obvious team headed for a shakeup is Sacramento, which reportedly wants to position someone above GM Vlade Divac and may have interest in former Sixers GM Sam Hinkie, despite an official statement denying it. There are also ongoing rumors of a rift between Vivek Ranadive and the minority ownership, which has grown frustrated with the way the team has been managed.
Kyler notes that Ken Catanella was hired as an assistant GM last summer, but wasn’t given the power that many expected him to have.
Change may also be coming to these organizations:
- Orlando — The Magic seem ready to replace GM Rob Hennigan, with Pistons executive and former Orlando player Pat Garrity as the leading candidate to be offered the job. The Magic had hoped to be playoff contenders after signing Bismack Biyombo and trading for Serge Ibaka, but the new combination never worked out. Orlando is 14th in the East at 27-47, and Ibaka was shipped to Toronto last month. Kyler cites league sources who say several of the Magic’s lower level executives are expecting changes and have started contacting other organizations.
- New Orleans — A recent report said coach Alvin Gentry and GM Dell Demps could both be fired without significant progress by the end of the season. Demps may have bought himself more timee with the DeMarcus Cousins trade, but the Pelicans have reached the playoffs just twice during his seven years at the helm. Louisiana native Joe Dumars is close to ownership and is reportedly being considered as a replacement.
- Phoenix — The Suns will miss the playoffs for the seventh consecutive year, and many believe that owner Robert Sarver wants to turn things around quickly. Ryan McDonough has amassed an impressive group of young talent in his four years as GM, but that may not be enough to convince Sarver to keep him.
- Atlanta — It’s unlikely that coach/executive Mike Budenholzer or GM Wes Wilcox gets replaced, but several staff additions are expected. The Hawks have been shaken by the loss of free agent Al Horford last season and the possible exit of Paul Millsap this summer, along with a late-season losing streak that may knock them out of the playoffs. More voices may be brought on to help Budenholzer and Wilcox with the decision-making process.
Rodney Stuckey To Miss 4-6 Weeks
Rodney Stuckey is expected to miss 4-6 weeks because of a left patellar tendon strain, according to the Pacers‘ website. The shooting guard suffered the strain against the Sixers on Sunday.
The timeline means Stuckey will certainly miss the remainder of the regular season and he’ll likely miss the first round of the playoffs. Indiana enters the day owning the seventh seed in the conference, though Atlanta and Milwaukee, the two teams ahead of them in the standings (via tiebreakers) also share a 37-36 record. All three teams are only two games of the Heat, who currently own the conference’s eighth spot. The Bulls, Pistons and Hornets are sitting outside the playoffs as of now, but they are all within four games of Indiana. Depending on how the Pacers finish the season, Stuckey may not see the court again until the 2017/18 season.
The team is paying him $7MM this season and he has a player option worth $7MM for next year.
Before suffering the strain, Stuckey was battling a knee injury. He’s only been able to play 39 contests for the Pacers this season. He’s averaging 7.2 points per game while shooting 37.3% from the field and sporting a 9.5 player efficiency rating.
Fantasy Hoops: Hawks, Jazz, Matchups
Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition both during championship week and in daily fantasy. Check back weekly for more analysis.
Band-Aids In Atlanta
Right as the league enters a crucial stretch for playoff spots and seeding, the Hawks get ravished with injuries. Being undermanned has caused Atlanta drop seven straight games and fall out of contention for a top-4 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Help may be on the way. Kent Bazemore is planning to re-join the team on Wednesday night against the Sixers. For those of you in your fantasy championships (Congrats!), I’d wait to see Bazemore’s workload before adding him. However, if sees 20-30 minutes and doesn’t suffer any setbacks, he’s becomes quite valuable.
Tim Hardaway Jr. will see his value drop upon Bazemore’s return and even more so when injured swingman Thabo Sefolosha is able to see the court. The shooting guard has seen 32.9 minutes per game in the month of March and he’s averaged 20.1 points and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 48.9% from the field since the calendar turned. He’ll still deliver quality production once everyone is healthy, just don’t expect the gaudy stat lines we’ve seen recently.
Paul Millsap will be sidelined until at least Sunday’s tilt with the Nets and it’s not certain that he’ll be back then. The power forward was enjoying an excellent season, averaging 18.1 points and 7.7 rebounds while adding 1.3 steals and a block per contest. In his absence, Ersan Ilyasova has started and he’s produced in the points and rebounds categories, averaging 11.8 and 9.0 respectively over his five starts. The 37.7% shooting is troubling, but if field goal percentage is not a concern, he makes a solid waiver-wire pickup or cheap play in daily fantasy.
One more player to keep an eye on is Taurean Prince. He played 38 minutes against the Nets on Sunday, contributing 17 points, six rebounds, three steals, and a block. He’s a nice play against the Suns tonight, but when Bazemore and Sefolosha return, he may not have much of role.
Here’s more fantasy notes and analysis from around the league:
- Gordon Hayward is nursing a left quad injury and if can’t play this week, Rodney Hood could be a nice fantasy option. Hood scored 20 points on 16 shots and added six rebounds and three assists against the Pelicans on Monday. Joe Ingles also belongs on the fantasy radar while Hayward is sidelined. Later this week, the Jazz will take on the Kings (a team that has the fifth-worst defensive rating since the All-Star break) and the Wizards, (sixth-worst defensive rating since the break).
- The Wizards are also giving the third-most points and second-most made 3-pointers while allowing the second-best field goal percentage to the opposing shooting guards over their last 10 games. Washington takes on the Lakers tonight before playing the Clippers, Jazz, and Warriors later in the week.
- The Wolves are having a hard time containing opposing shooting guards over the last 10 games, allowing them to make 51% of their shots (worst mark in the league).
- The Knicks are doing something right. Over their last 10 games, no team has allowed fewer points per contest to the shooting guard position. New York has allowed opposing twos to shoot just 35.6% from the field over that stretch, which is the stingiest mark in the league.
- The Pacers have been a particularly terrible match-up for opposing point guards lately. Over their last 10 games, they’ve given up just 16.4 points (stingiest in the league) to the position. Indiana has also allowed opposing ones to make 38.6% of their shots, which is the second-best mark in the league (behind only the Spurs).
Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.
Statistics are current through Tuesday afternoon.