NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/5/2018
Here are Friday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
7:08pm:
- The Hawks have recalled DeAndre’ Bembry from their G League affiliate, the team announced in a press release. The forward averaged 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in three starts with the Erie BayHawks.
- The Grizzlies made the call to bring Ivan Rabb back to the big league club, the team has announced on its website. The 20-year-old rookie has averaged 15.2 points and 9.4 rebounds through 18 games with the affiliate Hustle.
12:52pm:
- Bulls power forward Cristiano Felicio signed a four-year, $32MM deal in July, but he has been seeing more action in the G League than the NBA as of late. The club announced today (via Twitter) that Felicio has been assigned to the Windy City Bulls for the fifth time in the last month. The 25-year-old figures to suit up for Chicago’s affiliate in tonight’s game against Fort Wayne before being recalled to the NBA.
- The Magic have re-assigned Khem Birch and Wesley Iwundu to the G League, the team announced today (Twitter link). The duo will get a chance to play for the Lakeland Magic tonight as they host Santa Cruz.
- Justin Jackson and Georgios Papagiannis have been sent to the Reno Bighorns by the Kings, tweets James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area. Sacramento’s affiliate hosts Northern Arizona tonight.
Sixers Sign James Young To Two-Way Deal
5:46pm: The signing is official, the team announced in a press release.
7:41am: After opening up a two-way contract slot on Thursday, the Sixers are expected to fill it soon. According to Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days, Philadelphia plans to sign former first-round pick James Young to a two-way deal.
Young, the 17th overall pick in the 2014 draft, spent the first three years of his NBA career in Boston, but had his fourth-year option declined by the Celtics and became a free agent last summer. After catching on briefly with the Bucks, the 22-year-old was waived during the preseason and headed to the G League to play for Milwaukee’s affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd.
While Young’s career NBA numbers aren’t impressive (2.3 PPG in 89 games), he has looked good in the G League this season. In 20 games for the Herd, the former Celtic has posted 22.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 3.0 APG, with a .443/.371/.765 shooting line.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Two-Way Contracts]
The Sixers waived one of their two-way players, Jacob Pullen, on Thursday, creating an opening. The team will have to officially sign Young sometime before January 15, which is the last day teams can add players on two-way contracts. If he finalizes his two-way deal today, Young will be eligible to appear in the NBA for about 25 days, a prorated portion of the standard 45-day limit.
Heat Notes: Frontcourt, Waiters, Patience
This time last season, Heat president Pat Riley made the decision to stand pat with a veteran core and it paid off in the form of one of the most impressive in-season turnarounds in recent memory. You can imagine, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel suggests, that Miami’s success so far in 2017/18 has muted trade talk at this point in the season.
The Heat, 20-17 and currently seventh in the East, sit well situated to nab a playoff spot. It’s plausible to even consider that they could gain the 1.5 games necessary to catch the Wizards who currently sit fourth in the conference if all breaks right down the stretch.
While Riley may not be content with a team whose long-term ceiling seems to fall short of genuine contention, there’s no indication that the organization won’t remain patient for the time being.
There’s more from South Beach:
- The Heat have found success starting seven-footers Hassan Whiteside and Kelly Olynyk together and aren’t about to abandon the unconventional approach, even in the throes of the small ball era. “Right now, we’re going with it,” head coach Erik Spoelstra told Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. “There’ll be minutes that they’ll play together. There’s certain part of that combination that I really like and other parts that have to get better. […] And I don’t necessarily look at Kelly as seven-footer. He has versatility that’s much different than a normal seven-footer.“
- Plagued by a lingering sprained ankle, Heat guard Dion Waiters is pursuing a second opinion on how to treat the injury, an Associated Press report says. Waiters considered surgery when he initially hurt the ankle last March and may consider it again. The 26-year-old has already missed seven games this season, making it unlikely that he reaches the 70-game threshold required for a contract bonus to kick in.
- A hypothetical trade scenario that would involved sending Hassan Whiteside to the Grizzlies in exchange for Marc Gasol is an intriguing one, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel says in a question-and-answer feature with readers, but the dicey history between Gasol and former Heat assistant coach David Fizdale could be a red flag.
Fantasy Hoops: Chriss, Green, Capela, LaVine
Hope everyone is enjoying 2018 thus far. Check out some fantasy basketball notes to start your year off right:
Marquese Chriss has started to pick up steam. Over his last four games, he’s averaging 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.5 blocks per game while hitting nearly three shots from behind the arc per contest and making nearly 56.8% of his shots from the field. He’s available in approximately 70% of ESPN leagues, but that figure should be much lower. Scoop him if he’s available in yours.- James Harden, who will miss at least the next two weeks, led all players in points per game during the month of December with 33.6 per contest. While he’s out, take a look at newly signed Gerald Green. Over the past week, Green is averaging 21.0 points per game while nailing 21 of his 35 attempts from behind the arc. That kind of efficiency won’t continue, but the volume makes him a solid fill-in for those with an available bench spot.
- Another Rockets player to watch during Harden’s absence is Clint Capela. The big man is seeing a slight uptick in attempts (11.0 per game vs 8.9) since Harden hit the sidelines in addition to producing at his usual useful rates in the rebounds, blocks, and field goal percentage categories.
- Zach LaVine is nearing his debut for the Bulls. Check to see if he is available in your league, as he is in nearly 46% of ESPN leagues.
- Kristaps Porzingis had some interesting comments following a recent loss, telling ESPN’s Ian Begley that he was tired. It’s a situation worth monitoring as the Knicks could opt to hold the big man out more frequently in order to help keep him fresh.
And-Ones: Non-Guaranteed Deals, Maker, Morris
The Rockets‘ release of Bobby Brown today may be the first in a series of roster moves made by NBA teams before Sunday night. Sunday (January 7) is the last day for clubs to waive a player on a non-guaranteed contract to avoid having that player’s salary become fully guaranteed for the season.
We’ve compiled our own list of players on non-guaranteed contracts to keep an eye on, but over at ESPN.com, Bobby Marks goes one step further, running through each team in an Insider-only piece and assessing each non-guaranteed player’s chances of surviving the cut. As Marks details, some of the players on non-guaranteed salaries, such as Spencer Dinwiddie in Brooklyn, are in no danger of being cut. But others, like Bucks swingman DeAndre Liggins, may be holding their breath until that deadline passes.
Here are a few more odds and ends from across the NBA:
- Thon Maker‘s brother Matur Maker will bypass college and enter his name into the 2018 NBA draft pool, according to reports from Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com and Evan Daniels of 247Sports.com. The younger Maker almost certainly won’t be a lottery pick like his brother in Milwaukee, but he’s hoping to make a similar prep-to-pro leap. He plans on hiring an agent in the spring, guardian and mentor Ed Smith tells Daniels.
- Earlier today, we passed along word that former Suns guard Mike James was being eyed by China’s Guangdong Southern Tigers as a potential replacement for Edwin Jackson. However, as Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays, it appears Guangdong will sign another ex-NBA guard, Darius Morris, rather than James.
- While you could make a case for several other players, including Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, there’s no question that Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma and Warriors big man Jordan Bell have been two of the biggest steals from the 2017 draft. Mike Schmitz of ESPN (Insider link) examines what lessons NBA front offices and scouts can learn from Kuzma and Bell.
Hoops Rumors Glossary: Ted Stepien Rule
While a rule like the Gilbert Arenas provision can flatter its namesake, the late Ted Stepien, former owner of the Cavaliers, may have preferred not to go down in history as the reference point for the Ted Stepien rule. Stepien owned the Cavs in the early 1980s, and made a number of trades that left the franchise without first-round picks for several years. As a result, the NBA eventually instituted a rule that prohibited teams from trading out of the first round for consecutive future seasons.
Because the Stepien rule applies only to future draft picks, teams are still permitted to trade their first-rounders every year if they so choose, but they can’t trade out of the first round for back-to-back future seasons. For instance, since the Rockets have traded their 2018 first-round pick to Atlanta, they aren’t allowed to trade their 2019 first-rounder. Following the 2018 draft though, the Rockets will regain the right to trade that 2019 first-round pick, since their ’18 first-rounder will no longer be considered a future pick.
The Stepien rule does allow a team to trade consecutive future first-round picks if the team has acquired a first-rounder from another team for either of those years. So if Houston were to trade for a new 2018 first-rounder, that would give the Rockets the flexibility to move their 2019 pick without having to wait until after the 2018 draft.
Teams are permitted to include protection on draft picks. This can create complications related to the Stepien rule, which prevents teams from trading a first-round pick if there’s any chance at all that it will leave a team without a first-rounder for two straight years. For example, the Raptors have traded a lottery-protected 2018 first-round pick to Brooklyn. That traded 2018 pick is protected through 2023, and as long as there’s still a chance it won’t convey immediately, the Raptors are prevented from unconditionally trading any of their next few first-round picks — their 2020 first-rounder is trade-eligible, but only conditionally.
[RELATED: Trade restrictions on future draft picks by team]
Teams will have to consider the Stepien rule over the next few weeks as they mull trading draft picks in deals for immediate help. Miami, for instance, is one of the teams most significantly impacted by the Stepien rule at the moment. As part of their Goran Dragic deal with the Suns, the Heat will send their 2018 and 2021 first-round picks to Phoenix, so the Stepien rule currently prevents them from also trading their first-rounders in 2019, 2020, or 2022 — moving any of those selections would leave the team without first-round picks in consecutive future seasons.
Here are a few more rules related to trading draft picks:
- For salary-matching purposes, a traded draft pick counts as $0 until the player signs a contract.
- The “Seven Year Rule” prohibits teams from trading draft picks more than seven years in advance. For instance, during the 2017/18 season, a 2024 draft pick could be traded, but a 2025 pick could not be dealt.
- A team can add protection to a pick it has acquired as long as there wasn’t already protection on the pick. For example, when the Celtics flipped the Nets’ 2018 first-round pick to the Cavaliers, Boston could have tried to include top-three protection on the pick.
Note: This is a Hoops Rumors Glossary entry. Our glossary posts will explain specific rules relating to trades, free agency, or other aspects of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Larry Coon’s Salary Cap FAQ was used in the creation of this post.
An earlier version of this post was published in 2012 by Luke Adams.
Paul George Talks Free Agency, Thunder, L.A.
While many players are hesitant to discuss trade requests that went public, Paul George hasn’t shied away from the topic as his Thunder visited Los Angeles, explaining earlier this week why he didn’t regret that his desire to play for the Lakers became known.
Both before and after OKC’s matchup with the Lakers on Wednesday night, George went into a little more detail on his upcoming free agency, his current team, and his hometown city. Here are a few of the star forward’s noteworthy comments from the last couple days:
On his 2018 free agency and the Thunder’s chance to re-sign him (via ESPN):
“This summer will be huge. I’ve got a lot to think about. If we’re trending, if we’re going in the right direction, if I feel there is something that we’re building, and there’s a foundation — it would be kind of clueless, just stupid on my behalf to up and leave.”
On not needing to win a title with the Thunder this season in order to seriously consider re-signing:
“I’m very conscious that we’re only together for a year so far, and we continue to go in an upward trend. It’s best to stick with what we have and work on building. So, I wouldn’t say it’s championship or bust, or championship and I’m out. It’s all about building. If I like where we’re building or the level that we’re going at, it would be stupid to walk away from that.”
On the adjustments he, Carmelo Anthony, and Russell Westbrook have had to make:
“The biggest change was myself, Melo, telling Russ he has to be who he is. All of us were kind of afraid to step on toes, deferring. I felt at times Russ was looking to get others involved when sometimes he has shots that he has to take, and it was throwing everybody out of rhythm. Now he knows that we got his back. We trust him, he trusts us. We got a rhythm. We’ve all been shooting the ball well lately. We’re in a group, we’re relaxed, we’re comfortable out there.”
On being transparent this week about his love for Los Angeles (via Royce Young):
“The fact of the matter is I’m from here and I love being here but that has nothing to do with my decision with where I’m going to be playing at the end of the day.”
International Notes: Randle, M. James, Bargnani
When former Knicks and Sixers guard Chasson Randle signed with Spanish team Real Madrid back in October, his deal included an opt-out clause that gave the team the chance to part ways with him before the end of the 2017/18 campaign. However, according to international basketball reporter David Pick (via Twitter), Real Madrid intends to waive that opt-out and retain Randle for the rest of the season.
Randle, who appeared in 26 NBA games last season for the Knicks and Sixers, hasn’t had a major role for a Real Madrid squad that features several other former NBA players – including Rudy Fernandez, Anthony Randolph, and Gustavo Ayon – as well as the potential No. 1 pick of the 2018 draft (Luka Doncic). Still, the club has apparently liked what it has seen from the former Stanford guard, and will keep him around for now.
Here are a couple more notes from around the international basketball scene:
- Having been waived by the Suns last month, Mike James may be headed back overseas to resume his playing career. Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports that the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association are considering James as a potential replacement for French guard Edwin Jackson.
- Former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani, who last appeared in the NBA for the Nets in 2015/16, played for Baskonia in Spain last season, but hasn’t caught on with another team so far this year. As Sportando relays, Bargnani published a Facebook post explaining that he’s not currently looking to continue his playing career, despite being healthy. While Bargnani’s message stops short of announcing his retirement, it remains unclear whether or not the 32-year-old will return to the court at some point.
2018 Free Agent Stock Watch: Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are committed to a core that hasn’t been able to get the franchise over the hump and likely won’t be able to do so as key components of the rotation age out of their primes.
Much of the organization’s most recent woes can be attributed to injuries and health-related struggles but week-by-week that plucky, purple-shirt-guy-inspired squad that pushed the Heat to seven games in the first-round of the 2016 postseason seems like a distant memory.
Making matters worse for Hornets fans is that there isn’t exactly help in sight. The club projects to break camp close to $20MM over the salary cap and the contracts set to come off their books don’t represent much relief.
Michael Carter-Williams, PG, 26 (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $2.7MM deal in 2017
Desperate for a reliable backup point guard, the Hornets tried their luck on a former Rookie of the Year. Still just 26 years old, Carter-Williams was an intriguing option to be had for the minimum but bringing him back after a (thus far) career-worst shooting year is a different story. In theory Carter-Williams can fill the stat sheet if given an opportunity, but it’s hard to imagine he’s moved the needle enough at this point in the season to convince the front office to bring him back.
Johnny O’Bryant, PF, 24 (Up) – Signed to a two-year, $1.7MM deal in 2017
The Hornets, in need of healthy bodies to round out their rotation, have plugged O’Bryant into a bigger role of late and the forward has done a respectable job of producing in the time that he’s been given. If Charlotte continues to struggle in 2018, expect the organization to feature their younger players more often. That’s a perfect recipe for O’Bryant to make his case as one of the few in-house growth opportunities the franchise has available.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Pacific Notes: Ball, Rivers, Reno Bighorns
The Lakers have struggled in the absence of Lonzo Ball but the first-year guard whose playing style has already impacted the young team’s pace and flow could be back in the lineup as early as Friday, Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum SportsNet tweets.
While it’s not definitive that Ball will return, it’s the tentative plan barring any setbacks. Ball has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since December 23 and the Lakers have gone 0-and-6 in his absence.
The rookie fell at a time just as his shooting stroke had started to heat up. In 33.8 minutes per game for the Lakers, Ball has posted 10.0 points, 6.9 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game.
There’s more from the Pacific Division tonight:
- A foot injury suffered last week has kept Austin Rivers out of action for the Clippers. Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times tweets that the guard has undergone testing and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
- The Kings plan to relocate their G League affiliate closer to Sacramento, Adam Johnson of Two Ways, 10 Days writes. Although the team hasn’t commented on such a move, one option for the franchise currently based out of Reno, Nevada is Stockton, California, 50 miles away from the big league squad.