Northwest Notes: Baldwin, Exum, Bolomboy, George
The Timberwolves‘ G League affiliate has expressed interest in point guard Wade Baldwin, who cleared waivers earlier today, tweets Darren Wolfson of Eyewitness 5 News. Baldwin would obviously prefer to land another NBA opportunity, but he may have to consider the G League if that doesn’t happen.
The 17th pick in the 2016 draft, Baldwin was waived Monday after just one year in Memphis. The Rockets, Knicks and Pelicans have reportedly expressed interest in the 21-year-old guard, but of those three teams only Houston has an open roster spot. The Wolves have both a roster opening and a two-way slot available if they decide to make an offer to Baldwin.
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Jazz guard Dante Exum explained his decision to have surgery on his separated left shoulder in a video tweeted by the team. Exum had been exploring non-surgical options, but after consulting with team doctors, he opted to have the operation, which is scheduled for Tuesday. “They were saying when I was getting back there could be some strength issues, even still pain as I was returning to play,” Exum said. “I’m only 22 at the moment, and I think whether it be now or later, I think it’d be something I’d want to get fixed.”
- Former Jazz power forward Joel Bolomboy became an unrestricted free agent after clearing waivers today, according to the RealGM transactions page. The 52nd pick in the 2016 draft, Bolomboy spent most of last season in the G League and played just 12 games for Utah.
- Thunder forward Paul George said he felt “nauseous” watching the injury to the Celtics’ Gordon Hayward Tuesday night, relays Royce Young of ESPN. George went through a similar experience in 2014, fracturing the tibia and fibula in his right leg while playing for Team USA in an exhibition game. “It just brought me back to Vegas and when it happened to me, my incident,” George said. “Immediately I felt devastated. I was like nauseous watching it, just going back to that place. Immediately after it happened I texted Gordon. We talked last night. I just tried to give him words of encouragement, just tried to be there for him.” George missed almost an entire season after his injury, returning for the final six games.
Jeremy Lin Injures Knee, Will Be Evaluated Thursday
There is “tremendous concern” about Jeremy Lin‘s right knee after the Nets guard limped off the court in the fourth quarter tonight, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Lin’s knee will be evaluated Thursday in New York.
Lin had “a look of shock on his face” as he went to the floor, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post. He adds that Lin called to the bench and his eyes welled up with “an expression that’s not encouraging.” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said after the game that Lin is having his knee checked and there is “legit concern” about his condition (Twitter link).
The injury occurred on a play where Lin was driving to the basket and was met by two Pacers defenders, according to Kristian Winfield of SB Nation. He landed awkwardly and grabbed his knee while repeatedly saying, “I’m done.”
Lin was limited to 36 games last year in his first season with the Nets because of problems with his left hamstring. He has a player option for next season worth more than $12.5MM, and his decision could be affected if this is a long-term injury.
Heat Notes: Nelson, Hammons, Olynyk, Winslow
Jameer Nelson may seem like an attractive option for a Heat team without a true backup point guard, but that doesn’t mean Miami will try to sign him, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel in a mailbag column. The Nuggets waived Nelson today to open a roster space for Richard Jefferson. If no one claims the 35-year-old and his more than $4.7MM salary before Friday, he will become a free agent and can sign with any organization.
The Heat’s option best option to back up Goran Dragic, according to Winderman, is probably Josh Richardson, who is being used as the starting small forward. Justise Winslow, James Johnson, Dion Waiters and Tyler Johnson can all handle the ball, but none is a traditional point guard.
Winderman states that team president Pat Riley didn’t seem concerned about finding another backup when he was asked about the situation in preseason. “If we didn’t feel comfortable with Tyler and with Josh and also with Dion, then we would have gotten probably, exactly what you’re talking about — a veteran, 10, 12 years in the league, can really play, smart, can run an offense, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera,” Riley said. “But we don’t feel like we need that. And if we did, then it would have been easy for us to acquire that kind of player.”
There’s more news out of Miami:
- A.J. Hammons‘ easier path to being traded may have helped him earn Miami’s final roster spot, Winderman adds in the same piece. DeAndre Liggins, who was waived Saturday, would have provided wing depth and probably would have played more than Hammons, whom Winderman ranks eighth among the team’s bigs. However, because Liggins signed with the Heat during the offseason, league rules wouldn’t have allowed him to be traded until December 15. Hammons, who was acquired in a July trade with Dallas, can be dealt at any time.
- Miami plans to let free agent addition Kelly Olynyk show off his passing skills, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. The Heat signed Olynynk with an eye toward allowing him to expand his game, just as they did with James Johnson. “They’re going to put the ball in my hands more and let me be myself and create plays and facilitate for others,” Olynyk said.
- Rodney McGruder‘s injury means the Heat can’t afford to bring Winslow back slowly, writes Manny Navarro of The Miami Herald. Winslow had surgery in January to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and was limited to 18 games last season. “Obviously we don’t like to see teammates go down – that’s unfortunate – but our mentality is always next man up,” Winslow said. “So, most likely, that’s looking like me. My role is going to be increased earlier in the season. I’ve just got to be ready.”
Celtics Plan To Fill Roster Spot; Hayward Undergoes Surgery
In the wake of Gordon Hayward‘s horrific injury in Tuesday’s season opener, the Celtics plan to use their roster opening to add another player, relays Chris Forsberg of ESPN.
Boston trimmed its roster to 14 players last week, along with a pair of two-way deals. One of those two-way players, Jabari Bird, was added to the active roster before tonight’s game against the Bucks. Until G League camps open, Bird’s time with the Celtics won’t count against the 45 days he is permitted to be in the NBA.
“I think we will at least be actively looking for that roster spot, just because, obviously, the standpoint of the youth, but also because you lose one of your better shooters and more versatile players,” coach Brad Stevens told reporters. “A guy who can put the ball in the basket for you. We’ll see how that works itself out. We haven’t really gotten into it too much because we have our hands full tonight.”
Boston is more than $12MM over the cap and already used its room exception to sign Aron Baynes, so the team can only offer a minimum-salary deal. If Hayward’s injury is determined to be season-ending, the Celtics can apply for an $8.4MM disabled player exception. That money is only usable for free agents, players on waivers or anyone with a single season left on their contract.
Hayward will undergo surgery tonight, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, to fix a dislocated and fractured left tibia. The team hasn’t set a timetable for his return.
Hayward got a huge ovation from Boston fans when a videotaped message from his hospital bed was played before the start of tonight’s game, Forsberg tweeted. “It’s hurting me that I can’t be there,” Hayward told the crowd. “… I want nothing more just to be with my teammates and walk out onto that floor tonight.” (Twitter link)
Guarantee Kicks In For Marcus Georges-Hunt
Timberwolves small forward Marcus Georges-Hunt received a $275K guarantee by staying on the roster through today, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN. His next deadline is January 10, when his $1,312,611 — and all other NBA salaries — will become fully guaranteed.
Georges-Hunt was the only player without a guaranteed contract to win a spot on Minnesota’s roster, surviving the final cut on Saturday. He saw some time in the G League last season and may end up there again.
Georges-Hunt got into five games at the NBA level last year, all with the Magic. Undrafted out of Georgia Tech, he signed with the Celtics for training camp, but was waived before the season began. He got a 10-day contract with the Heat in February, but never appeared in a game, then signed with Orlando in early April.
Carmelo Anthony Talks Phil Jackson, Trade, OKC
In advance of a Thursday night matchup against his old team, Carmelo Anthony spoke this week about the trade that sent him from the Knicks to the Thunder, with both Marc Stein of The New York Times and Fred Kerber of The New York Post passing along the forward’s thoughts. While Anthony says he holds “no grudge” against the Knicks, he acknowledges he wasn’t thrilled with the way Phil Jackson handled his situation earlier this year, calling Jackson’s behavior “hurtful.”
“I was always … going to put my trust in Phil,” Anthony said, per Kerber. “That diminished after a while. I’m out here doing everything I can, and I’m still getting stabbed in the back. I’m not trusting in that anymore. I’m trusting in these guys (teammates) that are out here. Whoever’s out here, this is who I’m dealing with.”
As Anthony explains to Stein, he had a nagging sense that Jackson was trying to force him out of New York, which dampened his devotion to the Knicks. Jackson – who was willing “to trade me for a bag of chips,” according to Carmelo – was eventually ousted as the club’s president of basketball operations. At that point, the Knicks went, in Anthony’s words, “from asking for peanuts to asking for steak” in trade talks.
With Jackson gone and Steve Mills and Scott Perry taking a harder line in trade negotiations, the odds of a deal with the Rockets declined. Still, Anthony felt that bridges had been burned in New York, and remained committed to finding a trade that worked.
“I think at that point it was too far gone,” Anthony said. “I already had in my mind that I wanted to win, that I wanted to move on. We didn’t think it would take as long as it did, but my mind was already made up.”
As for his eventual destination, Anthony admits to Stein that his 10-year-old son Kiran was among those who sold him on Oklahoma City as his new NBA home.
“My son has a basketball mind,” Anthony said. “So I will always throw little topics at him. He was like, ‘Dad, where you getting traded to?’ I told him, ‘I don’t know, where do you think I should go?’ He said: ‘You really want me to give you my opinion? I think you should go to OKC.'”
Gordon Hayward Dislocates, Fractures Left Tibia
OCTOBER 18, 4:53pm: Hayward has been diagnosed with a dislocated and fractured left tibia, and will undergo surgery to repair the injury, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Head coach Brad Stevens said the team is expecting a “full recovery” for Hayward, but declined to speculate on a recovery timeline, tweets Jay King of MassLive.com.
OCTOBER 17, 8:35pm: Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome fractured left ankle less than six minutes into the Celtics‘ regular-season opener against the Cavaliers on Tuesday, the team announced.
Hayward collapsed after an attempted alley-oop off a pass from Kyrie Irving. He landed on the hardwood and his leg collapsed underneath his weight. Players from both teams were distraught as medical personnel put an air cast on Hayward’s leg and took him into the locker room on a stretcher.
A fractured ankle is a preliminary diagnosis as Hayward will likely undergo an MRI to determine the full extent of the injury, per Mannix (via Twitter).
Several players, including LeBron James and Isaiah Thomas, went to the locker room area to see Hayward before he was taken to the hospital, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (Twitter links). Droves of NBA players sent Hayward well wishes over social media, including Thunder forward Paul George, who suffered a gruesome leg fracture during a Team USA scrimmage in August 2014.
Hayward’s injury is devastating for everybody involved as the 27-year-old signed a lucrative four-year, $128MM deal with Boston this offseason. Hayward spent the first seven seasons with the Jazz before signing with the Celtics this offseason. Alongside acquisition Irving and incumbents such as Al Horford, Hayward was expected to help Boston contend for an NBA championship.
Hayward set career highs in PPG (21.9), APG (5.4), RPG (4.7) and field goal percentage (.471%) in 73 games last season with the Jazz. The Butler University product made his first NBA All-Star team last season, too.
While it’s unclear whether or not Hayward’s injury is career-threatening, it seems unlikely that we’ll see him on the court again this season. As Bobby Marks of ESPN notes, in the event of a season-ending injury, the Celtics will be eligible to apply for a disabled player exception worth $8.4MM. That DPE could be used to sign a free agent claim a player off waivers, or trade for a player with one year left on his contract.
Nuggets Waive Jameer Nelson
The Nuggets have waived veteran point guard Jameer Nelson, as expected, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Nelson will clear waivers on Friday, assuming he goes unclaimed. Meanwhile, Denver is expected to use the newly-opened roster spot to officially sign Richard Jefferson.
A 13-year NBA veteran, Nelson has spent the last two and a half seasons in Denver, starting 59 of his 148 games for the team during that stretch. After struggling through the 2015/16 campaign, the 35-year-old bounced back last season, averaging 9.2 PPG and 5.1 APG with a .444/.388/.714 shooting line in 75 contests.
The Nuggets drafted Emmanuel Mudiay with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft and leaned on him as their starting point guard for most of the last two seasons, but Nelson stepped into the starting lineup last season when Mudiay underwhelmed.
With Nelson no longer around to provide veteran stability, Denver will have to lean heavily on Mudiay and 2016 first-rounder Jamal Murray at the point guard spot. Monte Morris, who is on a two-way contract, should also provide some organizational depth at the position, while players like Will Barton and Gary Harris may get an opportunity to handle the ball a little more too.
Nelson had a fully guaranteed $4,736,050 salary for 2017/18, so the Nuggets will have to eat that amount if the veteran clears waivers, which is likely. His salary can’t be stretched.
Heat’s McGruder, White Get Salary Guarantees
The Heat are guaranteeing the 2017/18 salaries for a pair of second-year players, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel, who reports that Rodney McGruder and Okaro White will receive full guarantees for the season.
Both McGruder and White are in their second NBA seasons and have minimum salary contracts worth $1,312,611. Those contracts had only been partially guaranteed for about $453K before today, per Basketball Insiders.
As Basketball Insiders’ data indicates, both players were in line to have their salaries guaranteed if they remained on the roster through the first game of the regular season. We interpreted that as the Heat’s first game, listing an October 18 deadline on our salary guarantees calendar, but Winderman’s report suggests that both players are safe and already in line for their full guarantees.
Although McGruder and White received some good news in relation to their contracts, both players will be unable to play for the Heat in tonight’s season opener. White, who is battling a sprained left shoulder, expects to be back soon, as he tells Winderman. However, McGruder recently underwent surgery to repair a stress fracture in his leg and will likely be sidelined for a few months.
The Heat now have 15 players on fully guaranteed salaries for 2017/18.
Cavs Sign London Perrantes To Two-Way Deal
3:36pm: The Cavaliers have officially signed Perrantes to a two-way contract, the team announced today in a press release.
1:22pm: The Cavaliers are in the midst of finalizing an agreement on a two-way contract with free agent guard London Perrantes, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Once the deal becomes official, Perrantes would join John Holland as the two-way players under contract with Cleveland.
Perrantes, a 6’2″ point guard, averaged 12.7 PPG, 3.8 APG, and 3.0 RPG in his senior year at Virginia last season, along with a solid shooting line of .453/.374/.813. His performance earned him a look from the Heat in Summer League action this year, and a training camp invite from the Spurs.
San Antonio waived Perrantes last week during the roster cutdown period, and he initially appeared to be a good bet to land in Austin as an affiliate player for the Spurs’ G League team. However, a two-way deal with the Cavs will give the rookie a little more financial security. He’ll join the Canton Charge rather than the Austin Spurs once the G League season gets underway.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Two-Way Contracts]
Once Perrantes finalizes his deal with the Cavs, only the Hawks, Rockets, Bucks, Timberwolves, Knicks, and Trail Blazers will still have open two-way slots. Our full list of two-way players can be found right here.