Pacers To Waive Damien Wilkins
2:45pm: The Pacers have officially requested release waivers on Wilkins, thus ending his stint with the team, the organization announced in a press release.
12:57pm: The Pacers have decided to waive Damien Wilkins, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical. The 37-year-old forward had a $2,116,995 guarantee that would have kicked in if he were kept on the roster past today.
Wilkins had been out of the league for four seasons before earning a roster spot with Indiana in the preseason. He was first signed by the SuperSonics in 2004 and played for six NBA teams throughout his career.
Wilkins averaged 1.7 points and 8.0 minutes of playing time in 19 games with the Pacers and made his only start of the season last night.
Luke Walton Talks Criticism That He Lost Lakers’ Confidence
The Lakers enter play on Sunday losers of their last nine games and owners of the worst record in the Western Conference at 11-27. The outspoken LaVar Ball, father of Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, voiced his opinion recently that head coach Luke Walton has lost the team’s confidence and that he needs to be replaced.
Walton, who is in his second season as head coach, spoke to reporters, including Bill Oram of the Orange County Register (via Twitter), and addressed Ball’s comments. Despite Ball’s criticism, Walton said he knows the organization is on his side.
“I know they have my back,” Walton said. “My concerns are coaching our team, prepping for games, and working with what gives us the best chance to win. I know our front office and organization has my back and they will do whatever they have to do on their end of it. I’m not spending my time trying to figure out what they’re all doing about it. I just know they’ll take care of it.”
Ramona Shelburne of ESPN tweets that Walton’s job status is “not even a conversation.”
This is not the first time Walton has had to address comments from his rookie’s father. In late November, Ball said that the Lakers do not know how to coach his son and that he is the only one who can do it effectively. While Walton called the situation “not ideal” for the team, he said it does not bother him as long as his relationship with the Lakers’ starting point guard is not impacted.
“I’m fine with it, it doesn’t bother me,” he said. “My only concern with any of it is for Zo. As long as Zo is fine with it and Zo can come in and play and it doesn’t affect mine and his relationship, then it doesn’t bother me at all.”
Shortly after Walton spoke, Lonzo addressed his father’s comments and disagreed with the assessment that Walton has lost the team’s confidence (via Bill Oram on Twitter). When asked about his relationship with the head coach and if he likes Walton, Lonzo said he would “play for anybody.”
Moving forward, the outspoken elder Ball figures to create more headlines with his vocal opinions of his son, the Lakers franchise, and the current head coach. Walton was asked if he’s worried that Ball’s criticisms may influence the Lakers’ decisions in the future.
“I would hope not,” Walton said.
Cavaliers Notes: Jordan, Rose, Thomas, Crowder
Trading for Clippers center DeAndre Jordan might be the answer to the Cavaliers’ defensive woes, writes Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com. Although they have a 26-13 record, defense has been a problem all season for Cleveland, which is allowing 107.2 points per game and ranks 28th in the league in defensive efficiency. One of the issues is the lack of a shot blocker in the middle, which Jordan would immediately solve.
There were reports last month that the Cavs “quietly explored” the possibility of trading for Jordan, who has spent the past decade with the Clippers. He has a player option worth slightly more than $24MM for next year, and L.A. may want to get some value for him now rather than risk losing him in free agency.
Pluto notes that Tristan Thompson at $16.4MM and Channing Frye at $7.4MM would provide a workable salary match for Jordan, and said sources have told him the Clippers would “strongly consider” the deal if Cleveland includes the Nets’ unprotected first-rounder for this year’s draft. However, the Cavs don’t plan to part with that asset given LeBron James‘ uncertain future. Pluto suggests an offer of Thompson, Frye and the Cavs’ draft pick, which falls at No. 25 in our latest Reverse Standings.
There’s more today out of Cleveland:
- Depth at point guard is the most valuable thing Derrick Rose will provide when he returns from his ankle injury, Pluto adds in the same story. Coach Tyronn Lue would like to reduce the minutes for Dwyane Wade, and Rose may take some of his playing time.
- In just two games since returning from a hip injury, Isaiah Thomas is having a profound effect on the Cavaliers’ offense, notes Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Thomas came off the bench Tuesday, scoring 17 points in 19 minutes, then added 19 points in 22 minutes in his first start with the team Saturday as Cleveland scored a season-high 131 points in a win at Orlando. “I’m able to push the pace a little more, get the ball out of Bron’s hands and show the defense something different that they haven’t seen all year,” Thomas said. “I think with me being out there it definitely gives us another level that we can reach.”
- After being acquired as part of the Kyrie Irving trade, Jae Crowder is enjoying his surroundings with older, more accomplished teammates in Cleveland, relays Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe [subscription account].
Lakers Notes: Ball, Walton, Randle, Caldwell-Pope
Lonzo Ball‘s father is creating headlines in Los Angeles this morning with comments about Lakers coach Luke Walton, relays Jeff Goodman of ESPN. Lavar Ball claims Walton has lost control of the team and that Lakers players would like to see him replaced.
“You can see they’re not playing for Luke no more,” he said. “Luke doesn’t have control of the team no more. They don’t want to play for him. … Nobody wants to play for him. I can see it. No high-fives when they come out of the game. People don’t know why they’re in the game. He’s too young. He’s too young. … He ain’t connecting with them anymore. You can look at every player, he’s not connecting with not one player.”
LaVar Ball also expressed confidence that LeBron James is heading to the Lakers next season, saying he wants to win a title in Los Angeles so he can surpass Michael Jordan.
There’s more news out of L.A.:
- Ball’s comments came shortly after a report from Ohm Youngmisuk on ESPN Now that Walton believes he still has the support of Lakers management. Majority owner Jeanie Buss recently offered her backing on social media with an “InLukeWeTrust” hashtag, and Walton is confident that the organization is standing behind him during a nine-game losing streak. “As I preach to my players that control what you can control in life, that has to be my philosophy as a coach as well,” Walton said. “… [Team president Magic Johnson and GM Rob Pelinka] have been great, they have been supportive. They obviously understand where we are at as a team and what we are trying to do and what the big picture is… [Buss] has been incredible. I’ve talked with her a lot during the season. She has been around this game for a long time. She knows when to be supportive and she has been really great to work with.”
- The chance to take a shot at James in free agency can’t come soon enough for the Lakers, writes Frank Isola of The New York Daily News, who says this season is unraveling both on the court and behind the scenes. Players expressed frustration with the play of Julius Randle during a recent team meeting, but he was inserted into the starting lineup for the following game, which Isola suggests was mandated by the front office in an effort to increase his trade value. He adds that such a move damages the coach’s standing in the locker room.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will be released from a detention center Monday and will have his travel restrictions lifted, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN. Caldwell-Pope has been barred from leaving California while serving a 25-day sentence for a probation violation and has missed four of the team’s last five road games.
Bucks Waive DeAndre Liggins
JANUARY 7, 10:46am: Milwaukee has officially requested waivers on Liggins, the team announced on its website.
JANUARY 6, 8:30pm: The Bucks plan to waive guard DeAndre Liggins before Sunday’s deadline to guarantee his salary for the season, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Liggins played 31 games for Milwaukee and had his greatest impact on defense, Wojnarowski notes. He averaged 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds in 15.5 minutes per night.
The move not only opens a roster spot, it will put the Bucks $5.1MM below the luxury tax, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). Liggins’ contract will carry a $757,427 cap hit once the waiver becomes official. Milwaukee also has trade exceptions valued at $5MM and $3.4MM.
The Bucks acquired Liggins in October when they claimed him off waivers from the Heat. Since last April, the 29-year-old has spent time with the Cavaliers, Mavericks, Rockets, Clippers, Hawks, Heat and Bucks.
A two-time G League Defensive Player of the Year, Liggins had his best NBA season last year in Cleveland, averaging 2.4 points in 61 games.
Bulls To Guarantee David Nwaba’s Contract
Bulls guard David Nwaba will receive a guaranteed contract for the rest of the season, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Nwaba, who was claimed off waivers from the Lakers in July, has shown improvement in his second NBA season, averaging 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds in 28 games. He is making $1,312,611 this season and will be a restricted free agent this summer.
Nwaba is so secure in his spot in Chicago’s rotation that he didn’t realize that 4pm today is the deadline to waive players before their contracts become fully guaranteed, relays K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.
“I’m not really concerned about that. I actually didn’t even know it was Sunday,” Nwaba said. “I just work hard, compete and see what I can do to help teams win games.”
Knicks’ Willy Hernangomez Attracting Trade Interest
Several teams have contacted the Knicks about backup center Willy Hernangomez, according to Ian Begley on ESPN Now.
Playing time has been an issue all season for Hernangomez as Enes Kanter took over as the starting center after being acquired from Oklahoma City, leaving Kyle O’Quinn, Joakim Noah and Hernangomez to compete for the remaining minutes.
Hernangomez has only played in three of the Knicks’ last 16 games and has appeared in just 17 all season. He is averaging 9.7 minutes per night, roughly half of his playing time as a rookie last year. The teams reaching out to the Knicks believe Hernangomez still has potential based on his performance last season, when he averaged 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
The Knicks don’t want to part with Hernangomez unless they receive a “prime talent” in return, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. He adds that no concrete offers have been received, but the teams making inquiries have a history of pursuing European players. New York would prefer to deal O’Quinn, who is expected to opt out this summer, but has only received “mild interest” from contenders about him.
A deal has been considered likely for some time as New York tries to solve its overabundance of centers. Hernangomez has the easiest contract to absorb, making $1,544,951 this season with a non-guaranteed $1,676,735 for 2018/19. O’Quinn is earning a little more than $4MM this year with a $4,256,250 player option for next season, while Noah is virtually untradable with two years and nearly $38MM left on his deal.
Jarrett Jack To Have Contract Guaranteed
Knicks point guard Jarrett Jack will have his contract guaranteed for the remainder of the season, tweets Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders.
Signed shortly before the beginning of training camp, Jack has taken over as New York’s starting point guard and is averaging 7.2 points and 5.9 assists in 37 games. He has also been a mentor to first-round pick Frank Ntilikina.
The Knicks are the eighth team for the 34-year-old, who is in his 13th NBA season. He has bounced back from a torn ACL he suffered with the Nets in 2015/16.
Nets To Guarantee Spencer Dinwiddie’s Contract
Point guard Spencer Dinwiddie, in the midst of a breakout season with the Nets, will have his contract guaranteed for the rest of the year, tweets Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders.
Dinwiddie has been a bargain on his $1,524,305 salary, taking over the starting point guard role and nearly doubling his numbers from last season with 13.0 points and 6.4 assists per game.
The 24-year-old also has a non-guaranteed deal for next season worth $1,656,092. Today marks the deadline for teams to waive players before their salaries become fully guaranteed on Wednesday.
Bucks To Sign Xavier Munford To Two-Way Deal
The Bucks will sign guard Xavier Munford to a two-way contract, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical. Munford is currently playing for the organization’s G League affiliate, where he is averaging 24 points per game.
Milwaukee already has both of its two-way slots filled with Joel Bolomboy and Sean Kilpatrick, so at least one more move will have to be made before Munford can be added. Either player could be released or have his contract converted to a standard NBA deal as the Bucks plan to open a roster spot by waiving guard DeAndre Liggins on Sunday.
Munford signed with the Bucks in early October, but was waived a week later. He has extensive experience in the G League since going undrafted in 2014, but his only time in the NBA was 14 games with the Grizzlies during the 2015/16 season.