Andre Roberson Out For The Season With Ruptured Patellar Tendon
JANUARY 28, 6:48pm: The Thunder have announced via press release that Roberson underwent successful surgery. He’ll miss the remainder of the season, as had been previously reported.
JANUARY 28, 10:38am: The Thunder have confirmed that Roberson ruptured his left patellar tendon and will require surgery that will sideline him for the rest of the season, tweets Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman.
JANUARY 27, 6:58pm: Thunder coach Billy Donovan has confirmed that Roberson suffered a patellar tendon injury, Young tweets, adding that further evaluation will take place when the team returns to Oklahoma City.
JANUARY 27, 6:22pm: A preliminary medical report says Thunder swingman Andre Roberson has a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee after being carried off the floor in today’s game at Detroit, tweets ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He adds that more tests are being conducted to determine the severity of the damage (Twitter link).
Roberson’s injury occurred in the third quarter when he appeared to hurt himself while jumping and took a hard landing. He was carried off the court on a stretcher. Roberson missed some games recently with patellar tendinitis in the knee, notes Royce Young of ESPN (Twitter link). Young adds that Roberson was a likely first-team All-Defense selection and would have been considered for Defensive Player of The Year (Twitter link).
Roberson has appeared in 39 games this season and was shooting a career-best 53% from the floor coming into today while averaging 5.0 points per night. He is making a little less than $9.26MM this year and is signed for $10MM next season and $10.74MM in 2019/20.
With the trade deadline February 8, the Thunder have 12 days to decide if they want to make a move to get another defensive specialist to replace Roberson for the rest of this season. Young notes that the Thunder weren’t expected to be active on the trade market, but today’s injury might change their thinking (Twitter link).
Southwest Notes: Evans, Parsons, Cousins
A Grizzlies beat writer says that he wouldn’t be surprised if Tyreke Evans is moved to the Celtics. Bear in mind that Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal says himself that the rumblings aren’t confirmed but it’s not the first time that Evans’ name has come up in trade speculation this season.
Evans has thrived for the Grizzlies this season after inking a one-year, prove it deal following an injury plagued tenure with the Pelicans. The 28-year-old has averaged 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 45 games for Memphis, making him one of the most appealing assets readily available to contenders ahead of the deadline.
It’s unclear what the Grizzlies could get back in exchange for the versatile wing but the Celtics are in possession of Memphis’ 2019 first-round pick.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- In an equally unconfirmed but intriguing tweet, Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal notes that he’s heard the Grizzlies have approached Chandler Parsons‘ people about injury retirement. The 29-year-old forward quickly denied the notion and his agent issued a more formal rejection shortly thereafter.
- Injured center DeMarcus Cousins has expressed a desire to remain around the Pelicans as he works his way back from a torn Achilles, William Guillory of The New Orleans Times-Picayune writes. “I told him, ‘The first month, you’re going to want to pull your hair out,‘” teammate Anthony Davis said. “It’s tough, especially when you’re team is playing and you’re not able to do anything. That’s the toughest part. With me, I just tried to be around the team as much as possible to stay involved and feel like I’m still involved.“
- While this is 25-year-old rookie Maxi Kleber‘s first season alongside Mavs legend Dirk Nowitzki, he actually met the future Hall of Famer over ten years ago. Kleber spoke about Nowitzki’s influence in their native Germany in a recent radio interview (h/t The Dallas Morning News)
Pacific Notes: Booker, Jackson, Lakers, Kings
The Suns played Devin Booker at point guard on Friday against Knicks, a different look for the team’s standout scorer. However, Phoenix’s interim coach Jay Triano believes that Booker at point guard can work, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle writes.
Triano cited Rockets superstar James Harden and his ability to both score and make plays on the court.
“The idea came from how the Rockets are playing offensively, how efficient they are,” Triano said. “(Harden’s) move to the point guard spot is one of the things we looked at when we thought about having him play that position.”
Booker is having a standout season for Phoenix, averaging 24.5 PPG, 4.6 APG, and 4.5 RPG in 39 games.
Check out other Pacific Division news below:
- Suns forward Josh Jackson is outspoken for a 20-year-old rookie but he backs up his words and opinions by showing improvement, Scott Bordow of Arizona Central Sports writes. While Jackson’s remarks about his teammates can be interpreted a certain way from a distance, he does what he needs to do to improve, Bordow writes.
- The Lakers have been in a rebuild mode for several seasons as they have gone through numerous head coaches, front office hires, and roster changes. However, Mark Heisler of the Orange County Register writes that the Lakers are not cut out to be in a rebuild mode but rather to shortcut through the phase in an attempt to compete.
- Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee answered several reader questions pertaining to possible trades and the Kings‘ future.
Atlantic Notes: Smart, Sixers, Hornacek, Longstaff, Knicks
Celtics guard Marcus Smart will miss two weeks after he suffered a hand laceration after he punched a picture frame in frustration. Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald has more information on Smart’s injury and how the 23-year-old could face discipline from the team.
Per Bulpett, Smart’s story about the incident taking place inside a Beverly Hills hotel room checks out. Smart was reportedly frustrated over a social media post of a female acquaintance, which has since been deleted.
A source tells Bulpett that it is within the organization’s right to issue a fine and/or a suspension to Smart due to the incident. However, head coach Brad Stevens downplayed the situation and said the matter will be handled “internally.” In 46 games (10 starts) this season, Smart is averaging 10.1 PPG and 4.7 APG.
Check out other Atlantic Division news and notes below:
- Mike Schmitz of ESPN Insider (Subscription required and recommended) writes that while the Sixers possess an impressive young core headlined by Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, their future franchise star may be 22-year-old Australian Jonah Bolden. Bolden was Philadelphia’s second-round pick (36th overall) in the 2017 NBA Draft; he currently suits up for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League
- While the Knicks went 3-4 on their recent road trip, head coach Jeff Hornacek took several positives out of the stretch, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. With the trade deadline approaching, several Knicks may be on the move, but Hornacek was pleased with Lance Thomas‘ defense, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke‘s tenacity, and Enes Kanter‘s toughness.
- With the deadline close, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News writes that the organization should learn from former president Phil Jackson‘s past mistakes. Instead of trying for a quick attempt at competing with a patchwork roster, the team should stick with its build-and-grow approach.
- The Knicks cut ties with assistant coach Josh Longstaff (a personal favorite of Kristaps Porzingis) in the offseason and he is now finding G League success as the head coach of the Erie Bayhawks, Bondy writes in a separate story.
Northwest Notes: Roberson, Millsap, Lillard
The Thunder have limited options in trying to replace Andre Roberson through trades, writes Kevin Pelton of ESPN. Oklahoma City lost its best wing defender Saturday when Roberson was carried off the court in Detroit with a ruptured patellar tendon. Terrance Ferguson and Alex Abrines are potential replacements on the roster, but both have deficiencies in their games and neither can match Roberson’s defensive prowess. Josh Huestis has similar skills to Roberson, but only shoots 28.4% from 3-point range.
Offseason deals for Paul George and Carmelo Anthony pushed the team over the luxury tax, with a projected $20MM payment due this season. Also, OKC doesn’t have a first-round pick available to trade until 2024. Pelton suggests trying to improve the offense by getting a lower-salary guard like Brooklyn’s Joe Harris, who is making a little more than $1.5MM on an expiring contract, or possibly dealing Abrines for Atlanta’s Marco Belinelli, who has a $6.6MM expiring deal.
There’s more news from the Northwest Division:
- The Thunder have a pair of trade exceptions available, posts Bobby Marks on ESPN Now. However, they are only valued at $2.55M and $1.49M, so the team’s options with those exceptions will be limited.
- Nuggets forward Paul Millsap remains on schedule to return from wrist surgery after the All-Star break, according to Gina Mizell of The Denver Post. Millsap hasn’t played since mid-November because of a torn ligament in his left wrist, but he is able to participate in shooting, ball handling and catching drills and work on conditioning. “There are good days and bad days,” coach Mike Malone said. “He’s a little sore right now from that ramping up his on-court activity, but he’s fired up. He’s working hard.” Millsap, who signed a three-year, $90MM contract over the summer, was averaging 15.3 points and 6.2 rebounds before being sidelined.
- Damian Lillard‘s recent meeting with Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen could be the first step in seeking a trade, speculates John Canzano of The Oregonian. Lillard met with Allen without the knowledge of coach Terry Stotts or GM Neil Olshey. They reportedly discussed the state of the team, but Canzano thinks Lillard may have demanded a roster upgrade and given himself leeway to ask for a trade if it doesn’t happen before next year’s deadline.
Weekly Mailbag: 1/22/18 – 1/28/18
We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.
With the injury to DeMarcus Cousins, would the Pelicans be in the market for Nikola Mirotic? — Drew Keys
Mirotic wants to go to a contender, which the Pelicans are, and the Bulls want a first-rounder in return, which the Pelicans have, so a deal is certainly possible. He’s averaging 17.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game — not “Boogie” levels of course, but it’s probably as good as New Orleans is going to find at a reasonable cost. Mirotic is making $12.5MM this season, with a team option for the same amount next year. That option doesn’t have to be exercised until June 29, so the Pelicans should have a much clearer picture of Cousins’ recovery status by then. New Orleans still plans to be a buyer at the deadline and Mirotic would figure to be on their radar. The main concern is that a team outside the playoff picture like Utah can offer the Bulls a better draft pick.
What is keeping teams like Detroit, Denver, Indiana or New Orleans from trading their first-rounder for Tyreke Evans? — Chad B.
Most deadline deals don’t get done until the last minute because teams are waiting to see if the offers improve. The Grizzlies are almost certain to trade Evans, who has been a huge bargain this year at $3.29MM, especially after the news that Mike Conley will miss the rest of the season, eliminating any hope of the playoffs. Memphis is already over the cap for next season and doesn’t have Bird rights on Evans. The mid-level exception is available, but Evans is sure to get better offers on the open market. All four teams you mention would be excellent fits for Evans, although New Orleans will be concentrating on front-line help after losing Cousins. Keep an eye on the Wizards, Celtics and Sixers as well, as they all could use a scoring boost off the bench. The question is whether anyone will give up a first-rounder for a player who could be a half-season rental. Memphis could have a lot of offers to sort through over the next 11 days.
Do you think Aaron Gordon could be the guy the Celtics need right now? They could absorb his contract via the Disabled Player Exception. — Nicolas Galipeau
The Celtics would love to add Gordon, but the Magic aren’t eager to part with him. Gordon will become a restricted free agent in July after failing to reach an agreement on an extension, but don’t assume the Magic are done with him. He has taken a major step forward this season, averaging 18.4 points and 8.3 rebounds per night, and Orlando will likely match any offer he gets in free agency. The Celtics have a March 10 deadline to use the $8.4MM DPE, and their best options probably aren’t available yet. Look for Boston to be active after the trade deadline when buyout season begins.
Heat Notes: Ellington, Trade Deadline, Jones, Whiteside
For the second straight season, the Heat will face a difficult decision regarding Wayne Ellington, writes Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Ellington, who is averaging a career-best 11.5 points per game and ranks fourth in the league in made 3-pointers, is headed toward free agency again after signing a one-year deal with the team last summer.
The Heat have 11 players already under contract for next season, with $119.1MM in committed salary, well over the $101MM cap and close to the $123MM tax threshold, so the options with Ellington are limited. They can re-sign him and accept the tax, which seems unlikely because they aren’t title contenders, they can let Ellington sign elsewhere and lose a key rotation piece or they can try to trade someone else to clear cap room like they did last summer with Josh McRoberts.
- With the trade deadline 11 days away, the Heat will only consider deals if they can obtain an All-Star level player, Jackson relays in the same story. Miami leads the Southeast Division and is fourth in the East at 28-21 and wouldn’t make a lateral move if it continues to play well. The Hornets may try to move guard Kemba Walker, but Jackson doesn’t see him as a good fit because of Goran Dragic‘s presence on the roster and Charlotte’s desire to get rid of another big contract in any Walker deal.
- The Heat face a decision soon on rookie forward Derrick Jones, who has six NBA days remaining on his two-way contract, Jackson adds. The front office has discussed converting his deal into a standard contract after the deadline and giving him the roster spot currently occupied by A.J. Hammons, who has spent the season in the G League.
- By signing Kelly Olynyk and drafting Bam Adebayo during the offseason, the Heat may have made center Hassan Whiteside expendable in a trade, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Whiteside is playing just 26 minutes per night, compared to 24 for Olynyk and 20 for Adebayo, and the Heat are showing they can be successful without him on the court. Whiteside tops the Miami payroll at nearly $23.8MM and Winderman lists a few salary matches in potential trades, including Kevin Love, Harrison Barnes, C.J. McCollum and Marc Gasol.
Southwest Notes: Cousins, Pelicans, Conley, Gay
The season-ending injury to DeMarcus Cousins hasn’t changed the Pelicans‘ plans to add talent by the February 8 trade deadline, according to Scott Kushner of The Advocate. The loss of Cousins, who was averaging 25.5 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, leaves a big hole in the lineup and New Orleans will be aggressive on the trade market to try to compensate for his absence.
The Pelicans, who hold a three-game lead over the ninth-place Clippers, don’t plan to change their approach on the court without Cousins. They will continue to push the pace and emphasize ball movement, with Anthony Davis sliding from power forward to center except in rare occasions when he is on the floor with Omer Asik.
“There’s a whole lot of season left,” Jrue Holiday said. “There’s still half the season left. So, people have to step up and we’ve got to come together even more.”
There’s more this morning from the Southwest Division:
- The injury to Cousins may alter the Pelicans‘ future in several ways, Kushner writes in a separate story. The immediate and most obvious decision is whether to trade for another big man, with Enes Kanter, Brook Lopez and DeAndre Jordan among the possible names who might be available. The next choice is how to handle Cousins’ free agency this summer. Sources tell Kushner that New Orleans was planning to offer a max deal worth about $175MM over five years, but that’s far from certain now with Cousins projected to be sidelined for six to 10 months, then facing an uncertain future once he recovers. The injury may also affect the status of GM Dell Demps and coach Alvin Gentry, who were both on shaky ground coming into the season. They appeared to be safe with the Cousins-Davis tandem meshing well and the Pelicans on their way to a playoff appearance, but a late-season collapse could signal the end for both in New Orleans.
- Grizzlies point Mike Conley, who will have season-ending heel surgery, had been considering the procedure for a long time before he and the team decided it was necessary about a week ago, relays Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “He always knew he could have done this. He wanted to avoid it,” said his father and agent, Mike Conley Sr. “It wasn’t like he saw somebody and they said he needed to do it. He didn’t want to be out four or five months this season if he could avoid it. But he’ll be back at top shape in five months.”
- The Spurs expect injured forward Rudy Gay to return after the All-Star break, according to Jabari Young of The San Antonio Express-News. Gay, who has missed the past 15 games with bursitis in his heel, was hoping to start playing again next week, but after consulting with doctors the decision was made to be cautious.
L.A. Notes: Ball, Nance, Williams, Jordan
The Lakers are expecting Lonzo Ball to return soon from his injured left knee, possibly before the end of the current road trip, writes Bill Oram of The Orange County Register. The injury, which has officially been classified as a sprained MCL, took place January 13.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if within a couple days, a week, whatever it is, they say he’s ready to start practicing again,” coach Luke Walton said. “But we’re still training and approaching it as if it’s long-term.”
Ball joined the team at the end of today’s practice, but spent most of the time getting treatment on the knee, lifting weights and working on his shot. Walton said that once Ball goes through a full practice and feels fine the next day, he can start playing again.
There’s more NBA news out of Los Angeles:
- Lakers forward Larry Nance Jr. was slightly surprised to hear his name brought up in trade rumors for the first time in his career. Appearing on a podcast with Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, Nance said he realizes it’s part of life in the NBA. “At the end of the day, it’s a business,” he said. “If something like that were to happen, if I were to get traded to a different team, it would be a team that would value me. I try to look at it like that, just as an opportunity.”
- Clippers guard Lou Williams was passed over for the All-Star Game for a second time today when commissioner Adam Silver picked Oklahoma City’s Paul George to replace the injured DeMarcus Cousins. Williams, averaging a career-best 23.6 points per game after being traded to L.A. last summer, offered his reaction on social media, first tweeting, “What’s crazier than 1 snub??? 2,” then offering a more philosophical response. “Y’all talking to a guy that’s been coming off the bench 7 plus years,” he wrote. “Lol i ain’t hurt about no all star snub. It’s dope to be in the conversation. I wanted it just to represent the underdogs. Not for validation.” (Twitter link)
- There’s no guarantee DeAndre Jordan will be with the Clippers past the February 8 trade deadline, but if does leave, it will be with the franchise record for games played, writes Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Jordan set the mark of 716 Friday night in Memphis. “It’s been a long journey,” he said. “Coming here when I was 19 and not playing hardly at all my first year, it’s been a cool ride though. They stuck with me and let me grow into a better player and person. Making history is always great, whatever you’re doing.”
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/27/18
Here’s the G League activity from Saturday:
10:43pm:
- The Warriors recalled center Damian Jones from their Santa Cruz affiliate, the team announced on its website. Jones is averaging 15.5 points and leading the G League by shooting 68.1% from the floor.
2:55pm:
- The Raptors assigned Alfonzo McKinnie to their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905, in advance of today’s game against the Wisconsin Herd, the G League affiliate announced in a press release. McKinnie has averaged 1.3 points per game in 10 contests with the Raptors so far this season.
- The Nets have recalled Isaiah Whitehead from the Long Island Nets in anticipation of tonight’s game at Minnesota, reports Brian Lewis of the New York Post. Whitehead is averaging 17.5 points per game in the G League so far this season.
- Damyean Dotson has been assigned to the Knicks’ G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks, according to an official tweet from the team. Dotson has averaged 17.9 points per game in 11 games with Westchester this season.
- The Suns have recalled Davon Reed from their G League affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns, as reported by an official tweet from the team. Reed has only played in one game for the Suns so far this season.