Central Notes: Bulls, G. Robinson, Pacers, Cavs
When the Bulls completed the Jimmy Butler blockbuster last June and embarked on a full-scale rebuild, team management expected to end up with a top-five pick in the 2018 draft. However, the rebuild appears to be advancing faster than anticipated, reducing Chicago’s chances of securing a premium pick — the team is currently tied for seventh in our Reverse Standings. K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune examines how the Bulls’ relative success this season could affect the team’s long-term plans.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- The Pacers provided an injury update this week on swingman Glenn Robinson III after he practiced with the club for the first time since September. Robinson, who underwent ankle surgery in the fall, is “still a ways away,” according to head coach Nate McMillan, but there’s a small chance he’ll play before the All-Star break, tweets Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports.
- Indiana center Myles Turner is getting close to returning from an injury of his own, but Pacers fans shouldn’t expect him to slide into the starting lineup alongside Domantas Sabonis, writes Mark Montieth of Pacers.com. Turner will likely come off the bench at first, then reclaim his starting spot from Sabonis once he gets his legs back under him, since McMillan has no interest in having both players in the starting lineup.
- The Cavaliers have been linked to several trade targets in recent weeks, but which one will they acquire? Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post can’t pick just one, so he outlines four hypothetical trades that the Cavs should make to save their season. Bontemps’ proposed deals with the Kings, Pistons, Hawks, and Nets would result in four of five new starters in Cleveland’s lineup, leaving only LeBron James.
- Earlier today, we identified several trade candidates from Central teams.
Joe Prunty To Coach Bucks For Rest Of Season
Bucks interim head coach Joe Prunty will remain in his role for at least the rest of the 2017/18 season, the team announced today in a press release. Prunty, a veteran assistant who was promoted after Jason Kidd‘s dismissal, won his first game as Milwaukee’s head coach on Monday.
[RELATED: Bucks fire Jason Kidd]
“We believe that Joe is the right person to lead our team and help us achieve our goals,” general manager Jon Horst said in a statement. “He has the knowledge and experience, along with the respect of our players and staff, to get the job done. Joe and his staff will be evaluated and considered as part of our widespread offseason search for our next head coach.”
Given the talent on the Bucks’ roster, along with the presence of MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, the club’s permanent head coaching job is expected to be a coveted one this spring. While Prunty will be considered, he’ll likely face stiff competition — Monty Williams and David Fizdale are among the former NBA head coaches already mentioned this week as potential candidates.
Meanwhile, the Bucks announced in today’s press release that they’ve also made a chance to their staff, hiring former NBA big man Vin Baker as an assistant coach. Baker, previously a member of FOX Sports Wisconsin’s broadcast team, had been an “active participant” in Bucks practices, according to Matt Velazquez of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who tweets that the four-time All-Star has been working with frontcourt players like Jabari Parker.
Fantasy Hoops: Love, Hernangomez, Murray
Isaiah Thomas‘ return has had its highlights and lowlights. His season began with an efficient 17-point showing, but he followed up his Cavaliers debut by making just four of his next 22 shots from behind the arc. Thomas is shooting 39.1% from the field since putting on a Cavs uniform and it’s clear that he’s not 100% recovered from his hip injury. 
IT’s presence on the court has caused Kevin Love‘s fantasy stock to take a hit. The power forward is scoring 1.27 points per possession and has a 26.6% usage rate when Thomas is not on the floor this season, per NBAWowy. When the two players share the floor, Love’s numbers drop to 1.07 and 19.2%, respectively.
Cleveland is sliding down the standings and one would think the duo’s struggles on defense may force the team to send Thomas to the bench in order to stagger their minutes. That’s not happening yet — for now, Jae Crowder is the only player being pulled from the starting lineup by coach Tyronn Lue. Love will shift to power forward, and as long as he continues to share the court with the ball-dominant point guard, I’m not confident that Love’s fantasy stock will improve in the immediate future.
The potential addition of George Hill, who remains a fantasy asset despite Sacramento’s odd veteran rest plan, could push Thomas to the bench, though the deal to acquire him is far from a sure thing. Hill hasn’t been good on defense this season, but he has shown in the past that he’s more than capable of being a plus defender. He’s also not a player who needs the ball to make an impact, so he would mesh well with Love.
Again, the Hill trade is not imminent. Cleveland is looking to get better defensively either by making internal changes or by acquiring a defensive-minded player like Hill or DeAndre Jordan. An improved defense would mean fewer offensive possessions for everyone on the team and that might counteract any boost that Love gets from a reduction in court time with IT.
Of course, reports that Love was a target during a tense team meeting are also worth considering, though it sounds like he was far from the only Cav who was questioned behind closed doors. If there’s more to the rumors than the team is letting on, the Cavs could ostensibly demote Love to the bench and reduce his minutes — or they could deal him. A Love trade appears very unlikely at the moment, as does a demotion to the pine, but this has been another peculiar season for Cleveland. Would anything short of a LeBron James trade really be that surprising?
- The Jazz are reportedly among the teams that have shown interest in Willy Hernangomez, and if the Knicks deal him to Utah or any team, his stock would drastically rise. Pick him up now as a speculative stash, as the trade deadline is less than two weeks away.
- Pick up Clippers big man Montrezl Harrell. In the five games DeAndre Jordan missed, the Louisville product put up 15.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 58.7% from the field. Jordan, who has been the subject of trade rumors, returned on Thursday and Harrell remained productive, knocking down four of seven shots while grabbing seven rebounds.
- If Dejounte Murray is somehow available, as he is in over 64% of ESPN leagues, scoop him up. He’s the Spurs‘ new starting point guard and has the potential to produce top results every night, as he did in his 19-point, 7-steal, 10-rebound performance against the Cavs earlier this week.
Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.
Missed an earlier edition of Fantasy Hoops? Check out the entire series here.
Statistics are current through Friday morning. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Rockets Plan To Re-Sign Bobby Brown After Deadline
The Rockets waived Bobby Brown earlier in January, but the team hopes to re-sign him to its roster after the trade deadline passes, tweets Marc Stein of The New York Times. According to international basketball reporter David Pick (via Twitter), Brown flirted with the idea of signing with Barcelona, but now plans to reach a new deal with Houston after the deadline.
Brown’s previous contract was set to become fully guaranteed on January 10, so the Rockets decided to cut the veteran guard to maintain a little cap and roster flexibility. They’re currently carrying 14 players on standard NBA contracts, leaving one open roster spot. If Houston takes on an extra player in a deadline trade, it would complicate Brown’s return, but assuming the team still has an opening after February 8, it sounds like he’ll claim that spot.
Brown, 33, has spent parts of the last two seasons in Houston, playing sparingly. In 45 total games (5.3 MPG) with the Rockets, the well-traveled guard has averaged 2.5 PPG on .356/.333/.750 shooting.
Despite Brown’s modest contributions on the court, he’s viewed as a strong presence in the Rockets’ locker room. Accoridng to reports, he was one of the players – along with James Harden and Trevor Ariza – who was very involved in recruiting Chris Paul to Houston during the 2017 offseason.
Seven Central Trade Candidates To Watch
The NBA trade deadline is less than two weeks away, and there’s no shortage of players around the league who could change teams. With that in mind, we’re taking a closer look at some of those top trade candidates, breaking them down by division.
While our focus will be primarily on teams expected to be sellers at the deadline, our lists may also include some players on contenders who could be used as trade chips when those teams look to make upgrades.
So far, we’ve covered the Southeast, Southwest, Atlantic, and Northwest. We’re examining the Central Division today, so let’s dive in and identify seven players who could be on the move on or before February 8…
Nikola Mirotic, PF (Bulls): A potential fit for the Jazz or Pistons, among other teams, Mirotic is a player whose trade potential we’ve discussed at length over the last couple months, so we won’t spend long revisiting it. Still, it’s worth reiterating what a terrific job Mirotic has done of boosting his own value this season — his 17.0 PPG, .475 FG%, .429 3PT%, and 6.5 RPG all blow away his previous career highs, albeit in a small sample (23 games). If he can continue playing anywhere close to that level, he’ll be a strong value at $12.5MM next season, and may even net the Bulls the first-round pick they’re reportedly seeking.- Robin Lopez, C (Bulls): Compared to Mirotic, Lopez has flown under the radar this season as a trade candidate, but he finds himself in a pretty similar situation (minus the preseason scrimmage dust-up). The veteran center has a $13.79MM cap hit for this season, followed by one more guaranteed year worth $14.36MM, so he offers a little team control without necessitating a long-term commitment. A solid defender in the middle, Lopez has been his usual productive self this season, averaging a career-high 12.9 PPG with a .536 FG%. If big-name centers like DeAndre Jordan and Hassan Whiteside stay put at the deadline, Lopez would be a decent Plan B or C for a club seeking a frontcourt upgrade.
- Reggie Jackson, PG (Pistons): The Pistons reportedly explored potential Jackson trades last season, then did so again in the offseason. The veteran point guard hasn’t been mentioned in any legit trade rumors since opening night, but he’s still a subject of frequent speculation, since the Pistons are known to be surveying the trade market and Jackson’s contract makes him a logical outgoing piece in any major move. That contract – along with Jackson’s ongoing injury issues – will likely hurt his value until he shows he’s capable of once again being the sort of player he was during his first full season in Detroit (18.8 PPG, 6.2 APG). Nonetheless, there could be teams out there interested in an opportunity to buy low.
- Stanley Johnson, SF (Pistons): The eighth overall pick in the 2015 draft, Johnson has provided solid defense during his three NBA seasons in Detroit, but doesn’t offer much on the other end of the court — for his career, he’s shooting just 36.4% from the floor and 29.7% from outside. Still just 21 years old, Johnson has tantalizing upside and will remain on his rookie contract through 2019. He’s averaging a career-high 27.4 minutes per game for the Pistons this season in 35 contests (23 starts), but the team has reportedly been willing to discuss him in trade talks. Assuming Detroit’s asking price isn’t unreasonable, Johnson should be a prime target for a few rebuilding teams, especially if any of those clubs believe they could improve the young forward’s jump shot.
- Tristan Thompson, C (Cavaliers): The Cavaliers have several players who could be traded before this year’s deadline, and some are more likely to be dealt than Thompson. Channing Frye‘s expiring contract looks like a lock to be used in a trade, and there’s a good chance Iman Shumpert will be on the move as well. Still, those players are essentially just trade chips due to their cap figures — Thompson’s case is a bit more interesting, since he could actually provide multiyear value to a team in need of frontcourt help. Thompson is overpaid, with two years and $36MM left on his contract after this season, but he’s still only 26 years old and has more on-court value than a lot of bigs being paid at a similar rate (think Joakim Noah, Timofey Mozgov, Bismack Biyombo, and Ian Mahinmi). With Thompson playing fewer minutes than ever in Cleveland this season, his trade stock is at an all-time low, meaning the Cavs might even be willing to attach another asset or two in a deal.
- John Henson, C (Bucks): When Greg Monroe headed to Phoenix earlier this season in the Eric Bledsoe deal, the Bucks were probably hoping that second-year big man Thon Maker would take on a more substantial role. Although Maker’s minutes have increased, his production has slipped, and Milwaukee has had to rely more on Henson at center. The 27-year-old has been up to the task, averaging a respectable 8.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 1.5 BPG with a career-best .587 FG%. Still, Henson’s skill-set is somewhat limited — he’s a decent piece off the bench, but he’s probably not the center the Bucks want on the court in crunch time in the playoffs. Henson’s $11.4MM cap hit makes him a candidate to be moved if the Bucks trade for another center, and while he has has two more guaranteed years left on his deal, his declining annual cap hits are at least a little team-friendly.
- Jabari Parker, F (Bucks): A trade package that includes Henson and rookie scale players like D.J. Wilson and Rashad Vaughn is likely the Bucks‘ preference, but if the opportunity to land an impact big man arises and offering Parker is required to get it done, the team will have to seriously consider it. It’s been a long time since Milwaukee had Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Khris Middleton healthy and in the lineup at the same time, so the chance to get a look at that trio down the stretch this season may be too intriguing for the franchise to pass up. Still, Parker is expected to get much more expensive in a few months when he reaches restricted free agency, and the Bucks already have nearly $106MM on their books for 2018/19. If the team plans to re-sign the former second overall pick, perhaps moving another contract to stay out of the tax, then he’ll stay put at the deadline. But if there are any doubts about Parker’s long-term future in Milwaukee, gauging his value on the trade market makes sense.
Here are a few more potential Central trade candidates to monitor:
- Jerian Grant, PG (Bulls): Grant still has a year and a half left on his rookie contract and the Bulls are reportedly gauging interest in him. Given his modest upside though, Grant is unlikely to bring back a significant return.
- Luke Kennard, SG (Pistons): If the Pistons target a big fish, Kennard may have to be up for discussion. I don’t expect him to be moved though.
- Matthew Dellavedova, G / Mirza Teletovic, PF (Bucks): While Henson is more likely to be the player included in a Bucks trade to make the salaries work, Dellavedova’s and Teletovic’s cap hits ($9.6MM and $10.5MM, respectively) could also be useful. It won’t be easy to move either contract though.
- J.R. Smith, SG (Cavaliers): Smith has been a mess since signing a lucrative four-year contract in the 2016 offseason. Dumping his contract probably isn’t viable at this point for the Cavaliers, but I’m sure they’ll explore it.
- Al Jefferson, F/C (Pacers): Another beneficiary of 2016’s league-wide spending spree, Jefferson is overpaid and underused. However, his $10MM salary for 2018/19 is only partially guaranteed for $4MM — that figure could be reduced further if he’s stretched, so he represents an expiring contract of sorts. The Pacers actually have a few contracts structured this way, but Jefferson is the only player on such a deal who isn’t a key rotation piece.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Update On Jason Kidd’s Dismissal From Bucks
The Bucks made a surprising move on Monday, firing head coach Jason Kidd despite the team being the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Milwaukee sported a disappointing 23-22 record at the time of Kidd’s firing, good enough for postseason contention but below expectations.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks’ young superstar, appears to have made every effort to help Kidd keep his job. The 2017/18 All-Star reportedly phoned his former coach before the firing and said he would contact ownership or his own agent to change the team’s decision. In his first public comments, Antetokounmpo praised Kidd but expressed disappointment that their private conversation became public, per ESPN.
Antetokounmpo, 23, said he understands that he cannot control what moves the Bucks make in terms of coaching and roster construction. He also said he understands all decisions are made with the intention of improving the team.
“That’s in the hands of the front office,” Antetokounmpo said. “Whatever they think or they can do to make this team better and make this team a championship-level team — it can happen. If it’s me being traded or the coach being fired or whatever move they think is the right move to make this a championship-level team, I think is the right move for it to happen.”
After a rough finish to last season, Kidd’s future with the Bucks was reportedly on thin ice. Mark Feldmann of The Journal Times writes that Kidd had strained relationships with several players — including some issues with Antetokounmpo — and lost the support of ownership. A far cry from 2014 when Kidd left the big market Nets to take the helm of a small market team searching for an identity.
Kidd’s future as a coach is currently a mystery. On Thursday, Kidd made his first public comments since he was fired as he proclaimed Milwaukee’s future is bright.
“I would like to thank Milwaukee Bucks fans, ownership, staff and most of all the players for the last four years,” he tweeted. “It has been an honor and a pleasure to be your head coach. The future is bright for Milwaukee.”
Joe Prunty, an assistant on Kidd’s staff, was named the interim coach. Numerous candidates have been linked to the Bucks’ coaching gig, but it is possible Prunty is hired full-time after the season.
Nets Notes: Dinwiddie, Harris, Carroll
Spencer Dinwiddie has gone from afterthought to the Nets‘ most impactful player over the course of a calendar year. The 24-year-old was toiling in the G League last year until a phone call from Nets changed the course of his career, Dan Feldman of NBC Sports writes.
The Nets’ offer was not significant financially, but Dinwiddie recognized that he may not see another opportunity in the NBA for a long time, if ever.
“It’s very easy to be forgotten about in this league. There’s a lot of good players all over the world that, whatever reason, didn’t hit off right off the bat, and their careers paid the price for it,” Dinwiddie said. “I was told that there was no other opportunity. There was no other option. So, obviously I wanted to be in the NBA. So, I signed.”
Dinwiddie is averaging 13.4 PPG and 6.4 APG in 47 games (37 games) with Brooklyn; an opportunity that arose after injuries depleted the roster. With the trade deadline approaching, Dinwiddie’s play makes him an intriguing trade candidate. However, Dinwiddie said to WFAN’s Evan Roberts that he wants to stay in Brooklyn long term, Anthony Puccio and Net Income of Nets Daily relay.
“Honestly, my very first impression of Brooklyn was the culture of development. I thought they were very invested in the guys they chose to be a part of that,” Dinwiddie said
Check out other Nets news below:
- Joe Harris, a free agent after this season, has turned his three-point shooting and scoring ability into a valuable commodity as the deadline approaches, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Harris has been a poster child for the Nets’ development strategy, but the team runs the risk of losing him for nothing after the season. Brooklyn will have to make a tough decision on Harris, who said he is not worried about his future.
- After joining the Nets in the offseason as a salary dump from the Raptors, DeMarre Carroll has enjoyed a career season in Brooklyn, averaging 13.0 PPG, and a team-high 6.7 RPG and 1.9 APG. As the deadline nears, the Nets could turn a profit on a player who they took from Toronto just to acquire a first-round pick, Lewis writes.
LeBron, Curry Finalize Teams For NBA All-Star Game
Stephen Curry and LeBron James have finalized their teams for the 2018 NBA All-Star game.
Team LeBron’s starting lineup includes James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins and Kyrie Irving. James’ reserves will be comprised of Bradley Beal, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Victor Oladipo, Kristaps Porzingis and John Wall.
Team Curry’s starting lineup includes Curry, James Harden, DeMar DeRozan, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid. Curry’s reserves will be Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green, Kyle Lowry, Klay Thompson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Al Horford.
While James’ team includes just one current teammate (Love), he selected his former teammate Irving to start the game. It will be the first time James and Irving are on the same team since Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals.
“To be able to team up back with Kyrie is always special, along with Kevin Love,” James said after the rosters were finalized (via NBA on TNT). “For us to have another weekend to bring back the memories that we had when we were all together [is special].”
James’ team will also reunite Durant and Westbrook for the second time in as many All-Star weekends. Both men suited up for the Western Conference last season but were on the court for a combined 82 seconds, per ESPN’s Royce Young.
Meanwhile, Curry’s team boasts two of his Warriors teammates in Green and Thompson. While James’ team has the size advantage, Curry’s team has more shooters. All told, Curry said he is happy with his picks, particularly the four men he will start with.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/25/18
Here are Thursday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Hawks have assigned Tyler Cavanaugh and Isaiah Taylor to their G League affiliate in Erie, the team announced in a press release. Taylor and Cavanaugh have both appeared in 30+ games for the Hawks.
- The Bucks have recalled forward D.J. Wilson from their G League affiliate in Wisconsin to join the NBA squad, the team announced on Twitter.
- The Knicks recalled guard Damyean Dotson from their Westchester affiliate, the team tweeted. Dotson has appeared in 20 NBA games during his rookie season.
- The Lakers have recalled rookie big man Thomas Bryant and Croatian center Ivica Zubac from the G League, the club announced today. Bryant (20 games) and Zubac (eight games) have seen a bulk of their action in the G League this season.
Knicks Notes: Beasley, Walker, Noah
Michael Beasley has enjoyed a renaissance season of sorts for the Knicks this year. The soon-to-be 30-year-old is on a one-year minimum deal and has already begun to think of his future beyond the 2017/18 season, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes.
Beasley has bounced around to six different teams in his career. Prior to the Knicks’ loss to the Warriors earlier this week, Kevin Durant — Beasley’s former high school teammate — raved about Beasley’s skill set and said he would like to team with him in Golden State. Instead, Beasley said that he is focused on the Knicks and settling down in one place for the rest of his career.
“One thing I do think about it is me being tired of moving — having a long-time home,’’ Beasley added. “I don’t want to move anymore.’’
In 41 games (seven starts), Beasley has averaged 12.8 PPG and 5.0 RPG for New York. As the Knicks prepare for the February 8 trade deadline, the team’s moves, or lack thereof, could be an indicator of where Beasley fits into future plans.
Check out other Knicks news and notes below:
- Joakim Noah has taken a leave from the team, citing personal reasons, and is expected to miss the Knicks’ next two games, Berman relays in a separate story. With Kristaps Porzingis and Kyle O’Quinn missing the Knicks’ contest against the Warriors on Tuesday, Noah only played briefly in the fourth quarter. Noah has appeared in just seven games this season as the Knicks have managed a surplus of players at the center position.
- While acquiring Kemba Walker would be an instant upgrade, the Knicks should not swing a trade if it means giving up young talent or draft picks, Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders writes. Walker, a New York native, has enjoyed some historical performances at Madison Square Garden; he was also one of just four players in 2016/17 to average at least 23 points, five assists, and three treys made per game. But Walker alone does not solve New York’s issues and is therefore not worth a significant package of picks and talent, Beer opines.