Southwest Notes: Parker, Pelicans, Conley
Recently relegated reserve guard Tony Parker will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but the veteran is eager to remain with the Spurs if they’ll have him, Jabari Young of The San Antonio Express News writes.
“My priority is to stay here. I want to stay here for sure,” Parker said before pausing and adding that it’s ultimately Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich‘s decision.
In 28 games for the Spurs this season, Parker has averaged 8.1 points and 3.9 assists. Recently, however, Parker has ceded his starting role to 21-year-old Dejounte Murray. As a starter, Parker averaged 23.8 minutes per game. In seven games off the bench, that’s dropped to 17.4 and his other stat totals have predictably dropped too.
As Young writes, when Parker’s three-year, $43MM deal expires, the 35-year-old could attract the attention of other teams potentially looking to add veteran support. In 2016, the Sixers made a hefty offer to Manu Ginobili.
There’s more out of the Southwest Division:
- Veteran Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley made the decision to undergo season-ending heel surgery to correct an issue that he’s been struggling with for some time now, Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes. “I’ve had this for three years. All the way back three years ago one of the doctors said eventually you’ll need to have this heel shaved down,” Conley said “I didn’t want to do it. I wanted to exhaust every option before going to that extent.”
- Teams around the league have realized that Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis isn’t available, but that doesn’t mean circumstances won’t change if the franchise eventually shakes up its front office, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News writes.
- Don’t tell Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry how to manage his team’s minutes. Gentry, in his third-year at the helm of the franchise, told William Guillory of The Times-Picayune that he plays his stars big minutes out of necessity.
New York Notes: Trade Chips, Marks, Baker
The Knicks are sellers ahead of the February 8 trade deadline, Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News writes, with their eyes set on the 2019 free agent class rather than anything short-term. He broke down several players who could be shed in the team’s pursuit of draft assets and cap flexibility.
Bondy writes that the Knicks would love to deal Joakim Noah but, as has been discussed ad nauseam, such a deal isn’t likely to come to fruition. Neither, Bondy says, is a trade involving Enes Kanter, the 25-year-old whose comeback season and $18MM contract make him likely to remain in the Big Apple.
A more realistic bet to be traded is Willy Hernangomez, whose age, contract and potential would be more appealing than, say, Noah.
Other players like Courtney Lee and Michael Beasley are likely to remain with the Knicks, Bondy says — the former because he’s a consistent producer on the young squad and the latter because there hasn’t been much interest outside of the Knicks organization itself.
There’s more out of Brooklyn and New York this evening:
- The Nets won’t rule out dealing some of their veteran players, Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes, but general manager Sean Marks isn’t rushing out to unload them either. “At the end of the day, if we’ve invested a lot of sweat equity in guys, I’d like that to be fruitful for the Nets organization,” he said. Wings DeMarre Carroll and Joe Harris have been said to be viable assets as the deadline approaches.
- Injured Knicks guard Ron Baker will have to choose whether or not to undergo surgery on his shoulder, says Marc Berman of The New York Post. One specialist recommended such a procedure that would sideline Baker for three-to-six months.
- In case you hadn’t guessed by now, Joakim Noah and Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek “pretty much hate each other,” Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News tweets.
Pelicans No Longer Finalizing 10-Day Deal With Terrence Jones
7:35pm: The Pels have changed course and are no longer pursuing a deal with Jones, Charania tweets. They’ll leave their roster spots open for now.
6:06pm: The Pelicans are finalizing a 10-day deal with Terrence Jones, Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports tweets. Jones, of course, suited up in 51 games for the team last season before he was waived in February.
Jones, just 26 years old, averaged 11.5 points and 5.9 rebounds per game for the Pels in 2016/17 but failed to stick with the franchise. He later inked a 10-day pact with the Bucks in March of 2017 but didn’t stick there either.
Last summer Jones signed a contract in China, hoping to parlay that into another NBA gig but only lasted three weeks with the team before he was kicked out of a practice and eventually waived.
Prior to his signing in China, Jones himself admitted to making immature decisions in his life. While the ensuing result of his tenure abroad doesn’t inspire confidence that he’s completely matured, it’s not hard to understand why he remains an intriguing NBA project.
Jones’ per-36 numbers have always been rather appealing fluctuating at or near 16 points and nine rebounds every year but his rookie campaign with the Rockets.
The Pels will hold all the leverage with Jones this time around, effectively given the chance to audition him for 10 days to gauge his maturity level. After missing out on Greg Monroe, who committed to the Celtics earlier today, Jones will slot into a center position left vacant by the injured DeMarcus Cousins.
When Monroe was available, the Pels were willing to float a starting nod but it’s unclear whether that will apply to Jones as well, given that he doesn’t have Moose’s track record.
Southeast Notes: Whiteside, Vucevic, Ilyasova
The Heat have been aggressive on the trade market, but don’t expect them to deal Hassan Whiteside without a significant haul coming back in return, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News writes. The franchise knows all too well how much of a role the 28-year-old has played in the team’s emergence as a defensive force.
Head coach Erik Spoelstra has reined in his inconsistent big man’s minutes this year, a luxury he can afford with other options like Kelly Olynyk and Bam Adebayo on the roster.
Despite the decreased workload, Whiteside is as efficient as ever, posting 14.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in just 25.8 minutes of action. Those are per-36 rates of 20.0 and 16.4, respectively, up from 18.8 and 15.6 per-36 in 2016/17.
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- A pair of rotation players returned to practice for the Magic, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel tweets, but neither Nikola Vucevic or Jonathan Isaac are particularly close to suiting up in-game. Robbins clarified in a subsequent tweet that they participated in full contact practice.
- Veteran Ersan Ilyasova could be the Hawks‘ most realistically attractive trade chip, Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal Constitution writes. The 30-year-old sharpshooting forward is an asset on defense and, conveniently, has an expiring contract.
- The Heat can never truly be ruled out when it comes to teams willing to make a bold trade, but president Pat Riley has been wise to let head coach Erik Spoelstra channel every thing he can out of their current roster, Dave Hyde of The Sun Sentinel writes.
Central Notes: Frye, Brown, Thomas
The Cavaliers entertained the thought of trading center Channing Frye in a package for George Hill last month. Now that full-time starter Kevin Love is out long-term, however, the club would be wise to hold off, Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoops Hype writes.
Frye didn’t waste time stepping in to fill the void for the Cavaliers. In his first taste of action sans Love, the veteran posted 20 points and added six rebounds in just 21 minutes of action.
The 34-year-old brings more than just leadership to the Cavaliers locker room, his ability to knock down threes and generally play both inside and out will make him extra valuable until Love returns.
“Well, we know what Channing brings to the game,” Cavaliers teammate LeBron James told Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. “He adds spacing with his ability to shoot the ball for one, and he attracts the defense. But his ability to finish in the paint as well helps us out.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- No charges will be filed against Bucks rookie Sterling Brown, Ashley Luthern of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes. Per Luthern, Brown had been arrested on a tentative misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer. Brown has averaged 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds in 35 games for the Bucks this season.
- The first-round pick headed to Chicago in the Nikola Mirotic trade is top-5 protected in 2018, top-8 protected in 2019, top-10 protected in 2020, and top-9 protected in 2021, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets. If the Bulls, somehow, still haven’t received the pick by 2021, it will turn into second-rounders in both 2022 and 2023.
- He’s been back for 12 games, but Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas still isn’t 100%. “I’m not confident out there as I usually am,” he told Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. “It’s a process getting confidence back mentally and physically in your body and doing the things you used to be able to do. And my body’s not allowing me to do that yet.”
Malcolm Brogdon Expected To Miss 6-8 Weeks
After leaving Thursday’s game with a quad injury, Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon is expected to miss the next six to eight weeks, the club announced today in a press release. According to the team, a medical exam revealed that Brogdon had partially torn his left quadricep tendon.
In 46 games for Milwaukee this season, Brogdon has averaged 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Lately the club has utilized the reigning Rookie of the Year as their primary backup point guard behind mid-season acquisition Eric Bledsoe.
While Brogdon’s departure may create opportunities for fellow bench guards Matthew Dellavedova and Jason Terry, easing the blow of his absence will be the return of forward Jabari Parker. Parker, of course, has been sidelined with an ACL injury since the 2016/17 season.
The estimated timetable for Brogdon’s recovery would put the guard back in the lineup in mid-to-late March, with more than enough time to play himself back into game shape prior to the beginning of the playoffs.
Rodney Stuckey Hopes To Play 2-3 More NBA Seasons
Veteran NBA guard Rodney Stuckey is sitting out the 2017/18 NBA campaign, but sounds prepared to attempt a comeback next season, as Jayda Evans of The Seattle Times details.
Stuckey, who suffered hamstring injuries and a strained patella tendon during the 2016/17 season, was waived by the Pacers last March. While a September report suggested he had visits lined up with multiple NBA teams, Stuckey ultimately opted to take some time off from basketball. According to Evans, the absence has allowed the veteran guard to fully recover from his injuries, coach at his old high school, and be present for the birth of his fourth child.
Despite his hiatus, Stuckey – who will turn 32 this April – believes he’s still capable of playing in the NBA and doesn’t sound ready to call it a career quite yet.
“I definitely have a lot of time left in my body,” Stuckey said. “It was just important for me mentally and physically to give my body a rest. I can get back after it next year, and I know I can play another two to three years. Hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to do that and then still feel young and be able to run around with my own kids in retirement.”
The 15th overall pick in the 2007 draft, Stuckey has appeared in 651 total regular season games for the Pistons and Pacers, averaging 12.6 PPG and 3.6 APG in 10 NBA seasons. In 39 games with the Pacers in 2016/17, Stuckey established new career lows in PPG (7.2) and FG% (.373), though health issues contributed to his struggles.
Seven Pacific Trade Candidates To Watch
The NBA trade deadline is less than one week 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, Northwest, and Central. We’re wrapping things up today by examining the Pacific Division, so let’s dive in and identify seven players who could be on the move on or before February 8…
DeAndre Jordan, C (Clippers): It’s a virtual lock that no trade completed between now and next Thursday will feature a bigger name than Blake Griffin, who was dealt to Detroit on Monday. Still, his former frontcourt partner in Los Angeles is no slouch — Jordan has an All-Star appearance and three All-NBA nods on his résumé. The numbers that Jordan has posted this season suggest he’s not the same dominant rim protector he has been in past years. For instance, his 1.0 BPG average is his lowest mark since 2009/10, back when he was playing nearly half the minutes he is now. Still, the 29-year-old remains an elite rebounder and is leading the NBA in field goal percentage for a sixth consecutive year. He could be a game-changing addition for a team in need of a center. The only roadblock will be his contract situation, as his $24MM+ player option for 2018/19 raises some questions. Will he be a rental, opting out this summer in search of a max deal? Or will a dearth of teams with cap room prompt him to exercise that $24MM option? Uncertainty about Jordan’s looming decision could influence what a team is willing to offer for him.- Lou Williams, SG (Clippers): While Jordan’s contract situation is somewhat tricky, potential suitors for Williams know exactly what they’re getting, as Lou Will’s $7MM cap hit is very team-friendly, and his contract will simply expire this summer. That means he’ll probably be a rental, but any team acquiring him would also land his Bird rights, creating some flexibility to re-sign him in the offseason. Even if he only spends a few months with a new team, Williams is worth investing in. He’s putting up career-high numbers nearly across the board, averaging 23.5 PPG and 5.2 APG to go along with a .443/.390/.895 shooting line. If the Clippers are looking to move some multiyear money, they could look to attach a player like Wesley Johnson, Austin Rivers, or even Danilo Gallinari to Williams in a trade.
- George Hill, PG (Kings): Hill put up some of the best numbers of his career in 2016/17, but his age (31) and injury history prevented him from landing a mega-deal as a free agent. Even so, the $40MM in guaranteed money that Hill received this past offseason – including a $20MM cap hit for 2017/18 – may stand in the way of the Kings completing a deal. The Cavaliers still look to me like the best fit for the veteran point guard, but Kevin Love‘s hand injury complicates matters, since suddenly Channing Frye and his expiring contract don’t look so expendable for Cleveland — Sacramento would likely be unwilling to take back more than one expensive multiyear contract in exchange for Hill.
- Jordan Clarkson, G (Lakers): If the Lakers truly want to land two maximum-salary free agents this offseason, they’ll almost certainly have to trade Clarkson and his $12.5MM annual salary by July. It might make more sense to hang onto him until the summer to see if their ambitious free agency plan is realistic, but if the Lakers get an appealing offer for the veteran guard now, they probably won’t wait. For Rob Pelinka and Magic Johnson, an “appealing” offer may include an expiring contract and a draft pick, though it seems unlikely that any team covets Clarkson to that extent. Given his relatively modest production (14.7 PPG, 3.3 APG, .316 3PT%), he’s probably overpriced, with a guaranteed contract that runs through 2019/20.
- Julius Randle, PF (Lakers): The seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft, Randle is still just 23 years old, and has played some of his best ball in recent weeks. Since entering the Lakers‘ starting lineup on December 29, Randle is averaging 16.3 PPG and 9.2 RPG with a .554 FG% in 17 games. It seems as if the former Kentucky standout should be a part of Los Angeles’ long-term plans, but that may only happen if the club doesn’t land its top free agent targets. Randle will be a restricted free agent this summer, and it would make some sense for the Lakers to keep him around — his qualifying offer could simply be renounced if they secure commitments from a top free agent or two. If they don’t get those commitments, Randle would be a great Plan B. Still, if L.A. wants to avoid the risk of losing the fourth-year big man for nothing in the offseason, an opportunistic team – perhaps the Mavericks? – could swoop in and make a play for him at the deadline, securing his Bird rights and the right of first refusal before he reaches the RFA market.
- Alex Len, C (Suns): After buying out Greg Monroe, there’s no real urgency for the Suns to trade Len or Tyson Chandler, who figure to split time at center going forward. Still, a case can be made for moving either player — Len is on an expiring contract and the 35-year-old Chandler probably won’t be a part of Phoenix’s next playoff team. Of the two, Len looks to me like the more viable trade candidate. Chandler’s veteran presence is valued in the Suns’ locker room, and his pricey multiyear contract will be difficult to move. Len, on the other hand, is just 24 years old, and is having the best season of his five-year NBA career, with 8.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and a .558 FG%. If the Suns don’t expect him to be part of the team’s long-term plans, they should shop him. The only problem? Len would lose his Bird rights if he’s dealt, which gives him veto rights. So even if Phoenix gets an offer it likes, the club may not be able to complete a deal.
- Patrick McCaw, SG (Warriors): The Warriors envisioned McCaw as eventually slotting into an Andre Iguodala-type role with the franchise, but he’s struggling through an up-and-down sophomore season, averaging just 3.9 PPG and knocking down 25% of his three-point attempts. He’s only 22 years old, so Golden State isn’t giving up on him yet, but if the team has any concerns about its bench production this season, dangling McCaw in trade talks would make sense, as Tim Kawakami of The Athletic suggested this week. The second-year shooting guard is eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, but shouldn’t get too expensive, based on this year’s performance. For a team that believes in his potential, acquiring him now and securing the right of first refusal for his free agency could be worthwhile.
Here are a few more potential Pacific trade candidates to monitor:
- Avery Bradley, G (Clippers): The Clippers can’t aggregate Bradley’s salary with another player’s salary in a trade after acquiring him this week, but he’s trade-eligible. We’ll see if the Clips view him as a long-term piece.
- Larry Nance Jr., PF (Lakers): Nance is a surprising trade candidate, but ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported last month that his name has come up in the Lakers‘ discussions. Of course, the club would rather move Luol Deng or Brook Lopez, but their unwieldy contracts will make that very challenging.
- The rest of the Kings’ veterans: Hill has been involved in the most trade rumors, but for the right offer, the rebuilding Kings would also be willing to move Zach Randolph, Kosta Koufos, Vince Carter, or Garrett Temple.
- Skal Labissiere, PF (Kings): In addition to shopping their veterans, the Kings reportedly made Labissiere and Malachi Richardson available. I’d be a little surprised if Sacramento trades either player.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Bucks Rumors: O’Quinn, Dellavedova, Vaughn
With Jabari Parker‘s return to the court set for Friday night, we relayed several Bucks-related notes and rumors on Thursday, including a couple related to Parker and the contract extension discussions he had with the team last fall. Today, we’ve got a few more Bucks items to pass along, courtesy of Michael Scotto of The Athletic. Let’s dive in…
- Acquiring frontcourt help continues to be the top priority for the Bucks, according to Scotto. While Clippers center DeAndre Jordan is known to be among the team’s targets, Milwaukee is also eyeing more modest trade candidates, such as Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon and Knicks big man Kyle O’Quinn, league sources tell Scotto.
- Although the Bucks expressed trade interest in O’Quinn, the Knicks “aren’t desperate” to deal him for just a second-round pick, says Scotto.
- Matthew Dellavedova is one of the players the Bucks have made available in their search for frontcourt reinforcements, per Scotto.
- The Bucks are also “heavily” shopping Rashad Vaughn after turning down his 2018/19 team option, according to Scotto. Vaughn, who is on a $1.89MM expiring contract, would be easier to move than Dellavedova or some other Bucks on multiyear deals, but he wouldn’t net much of a return.
LeBron James Calls Warriors Rumor ‘Nonsense’
Asked today about a report that suggested he’d be open to talking to the Warriors as a free agent this offseason, LeBron James dismissed the rumor, calling it “nonsense,” according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
“It’s nonsense, and it’s a non-story,” James told reporters, including Vardon. “I think it’s a discredit to what I’m trying to do here. It’s a discredit to my teammates and the coaching staff here. … My only focus right now is trying to figure out how we can become a championship-caliber team in these next few months.”
As I noted on Thursday when we relayed the ESPN report, the notion that James would be open to talking to the Warriors isn’t outrageous, but it does seem pretty far-fetched that he would ever seriously consider joining his Western Conference rivals. According to Vardon, James has confided to people close to him that he would never join the Dubs, recognizing the negative impact it would have on his legacy.
After telling reporters today that he never said he would sit down with the Warriors or any other team in free agency, James cautioned against buying into rumors on his free agency that don’t come directly from him.
“I’m here, I’m right here, I’m right now and this is my present and this is where I’m at,” James said of Cleveland and the Cavs. “If you don’t hear something coming from my voice, then it’s not true. I don’t give a damn how close they are, I don’t care if it’s my kids, or my wife or whatever. If it’s not from me, it’s not true, so.”
While James’ vociferous denials are convincing, Haynes is a very good reporter and wouldn’t run a story of this magnitude without solid sources, so it’s worth considering why it surfaced at this point — and who might have leaked it. The Ringer’s Bill Simmons tweeted out one theory on Thursday.