Julius Randle Hoping To Remain With Lakers Long-Term
Julius Randle was “upset and angry” earlier this season when he didn’t receive an extension offer from the Lakers, Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com relays. The franchise wanted to keep its cap sheet clean, even if Randle was willing to give a hometown discount. While the team’s rumored plan to pursue proven superstars this summer initially irked the big man, he’s taking it much better nowadays.
“Oh, man, it came to a certain point where I was just numb to it,” Randle said of the rumors linking stars like LeBron James and Paul George to the Lakers.
The team may have to let Randle walk if they are going to sign both superstars, but the power forward would enjoy sticking around, especially if James decides to join Magic Johnson’s squad.
“It would definitely be interesting because we are building something. We really see our young core developing, so it would definitely be something interesting,” Randle said of the possibility of playing with James. “I played with [Kobe Bryant]. … What you learn from Bean as far as mentality and just the little things, his work ethic, I would love to play with Bron and learn the same things.
“[Learning and soaking in] what makes him so great, what does he do that makes him so great and how does he make everybody else so great. He has made a living off of making teammates better. So you have a guy like that, it makes a lot of things easier, I would say.”
Randle, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, is currently playing some of the best basketball in his career. He stuffed the stat sheet on Sunday against the Cavs, posting 36 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, and two blocks — if the Lakers are simply going to let him walk, it won’t be an easy decision.
“I haven’t talked to a lot of other coaches about him, but what he’s doing right now, he has to be on everyone’s radar,” coach Luke Walton said. “He’s playing unbelievable basketball. He’s a matchup nightmare for teams; he’s versatile. This is just me guessing, but I would imagine most teams are pretty impressed with what he’s doing.”
ESPN’s Bobby Marks (in the same story) pegs Randle’s market value in the $12-14MM-per-year range. While the former No. 7 overall pick will undoubtedly look for a raise on his current salary, which is approximately $4.2MM, it sounds like money won’t be the only factor in his decision-making process this summer.
“It would be tough to say no to L.A., honestly,” Randle said when asked how much he wants to remain a Laker. “It is the place that drafted me. I would love to be here. I have to do what is best for the family and hopefully, they want me here as well.”
Celtics Notes: Smart, Irving, Brown, Rozier, Theis
The Celtics continue to hold their breath as they wait for Marcus Smart to receive a second opinion on his right thumb injury. Postponed due to a snowstorm, Smart’s appointment to get his injury reassessed is now set for Thursday, per Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald.
As Murphy details, there’s a belief that Smart tore a ligament in his thumb — if it’s a full tear, surgery would likely be required, with the recovery potentially taking three or four months. If it’s only a partial tear, Smart may try to play through the injury. Appearing today on the Zolak & Bertrand radio show in Boston, head coach Brad Stevens downplayed the idea of a quick return for Smart, though he acknowledged there’s a variety of potential outcomes, as ESPN’s Chris Forsberg writes.
“He told me today that he’s going to take a couple of days, see what it feels like early next week, get all of the different doctors’ opinions [then] sit down early next week and weigh his options,” Stevens said. “There could be a slight chance that he’s back sooner rather than later, but I’d say that it’s not going to be any time too soon. And there’s a chance that he would not be back [this season].”
Given how much better the Celtics play defensively with Smart in the lineup, the diagnosis will be a critical one. As the club waits for more details on Smart’s thumb, let’s round up a few more C’s notes…
- Joking that he might have to sign himself to a 10-day contract to help plug the holes in the Celtics’ lineup, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said he thinks Kyrie Irving is “going to be fine,” writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. However, a league source tells Himmelsbach that it “doesn’t look good” for Smart.
- Stevens said today that Irving underwent an MRI on his sore knee and “everything looked great” (Twitter link via Murphy). There’s even a chance he’ll play on Friday, according to the team (Twitter link). The club also announced today that Jaylen Brown is “clearly better,” but won’t travel with the C’s on this weekend’s road trip.
- Ainge tells Himmelsbach that the slew of injuries to Celtics regulars will give the healthy players a chance to shine: “I’ve seen many times where players that were not thought very highly of get an opportunity and make a name for themselves. So over these next couple weeks, there will be some guys that have those opportunities. We’ve seen players throughout the years that have responded, so this is a chance for some of our players to step up and see how much they can contribute to winning.”
- Terry Rozier is one of the Celtics who figures to play a starring role with Irving, Smart, and others on the shelf. ESPN’s Chris Forsberg takes an in-depth look at the man known as “Scary Terry.”
- Daniel Theis is scheduled to have surgery on his torn meniscus on Thursday, tweets A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Stevens confirmed today that Theis will be out for the rest of the season, tweets Himmelsbach.
Clippers Sign Sean Kilpatrick To Second 10-Day Deal
4:06pm: The Clippers have made their second 10-day agreement with Kilpatrick official, per the NBA’s transactions log. Kilpatrick will be under contract through next Friday, March 23.
9:38am: The Clippers will sign shooting guard Sean Kilpatrick to another 10-day contract, tweets Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times. The first 10-day deal for the 28-year-old expired overnight.
Kilpatrick has seen a combined 15 minutes of playing time in two games since coming to L.A. He was signed to provide backcourt depth while the Clippers ponder whether to sign one of their two-way players, Tyrone Wallace or C.J. Williams, to an NBA contract.
Kilpatrick has also played for the Nets and Bucks this season. He is averaging 4.3 points in a combined 41 games.
Northwest Notes: Exum, Blazers, Grant, Butler
With Dante Exum just about ready to make his 2017/18 debut, Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune takes a look at what the Jazz should expect from the former No. 5 pick down the stretch. While Exum’s role will likely hinge on how he plays in his first couple games back, he has looked good in practice, according to head coach Quin Snyder (link via Eric Woodyard of The Deseret News).
As Jones notes, Utah could initially have Exum share ball-handling duties with Donovan Mitchell or Joe Ingles when he’s on the court if he’s not 100% ready to run the team’s offense. However, all indications are that the Jazz have confidence in the fourth-year guard and view him as a piece of their future.
Exum will be eligible for restricted free agency this offseason, and given how injuries have hampered his development, a big-time payday seems unlikely. That could work out well for the Jazz, who “certainly” would like to keep him on the roster long-term, writes Jones.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- After signing Wade Baldwin to a rest-of-season contract earlier this week, the Trail Blazers remain $232K below the luxury tax line, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). That means Portland can fill its 15th roster spot with another veteran without becoming a taxpaying team, which is good news if the Blazers want to add depth for the postseason.
- In his second season with the Thunder, Jerami Grant has been able to focus on his close-range game rather than being relied upon to space the floor. As Erik Horne of The Oklahoman details, Grant is enjoying his best offensive season as a result, averaging 10.6 PPG on .576/.355/.605 shooting since Andre Roberson went down in January. The 24-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time this summer, so he has shown signs of improvement at the right moment.
- Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau said that Jimmy Butler is “moving along pretty well” in his rehabilitation from knee surgery, according to Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune. Minnesota’s star forward isn’t jumping yet, but has been running on an antigravity treadmill, Zgoda adds. A February report on Butler’s recovery timetable estimated that he’d miss four to six weeks — we’ll reach the three-week mark this Sunday.
Pelicans Notes: G League Team, Holiday, Davis
A report way back in March of 2017 indicated that the Pelicans planned on launching a G League affiliate of their own for the 2018/19 season. Since then, there have been a handful of updates on the franchise’s hunt for an appropriate spot for that affiliate to play, with an offseason report suggesting the decision would likely come down to Shreveport, Lousiana vs. Pensacola, Florida.
However, during a recent radio appearance, Pelicans GM Dell Demps said that the club’s plans for a G League team are on hold for now, as Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days relays.
“Right now, we’ve put things on pause,” Demps said. “We’re trying to, you know, find the right situation, and the right city for the team to play is essential. Currently right now, you know, we use the G League and we’ve been using other teams that have G League teams and right now we just put things on pause until we can find the right home for us. … It will come in the future, it’s just we haven’t narrowed down the specific spot yet.”
With Shreveport’s City Council having voted against financing an arena, Pensacola looked like the odds-on favorite to host the Pelicans’ new G League squad, but based on Demps’ comments, it sounds as if the team’s search is ongoing.
The Wizards are set to launch a G League affiliate of their own in 2018/19, which will bring the list of NBAGL teams to 27 — currently, the Pelicans, Trail Blazers, and Nuggets are the only clubs without an affiliate in place or a concrete plan in place to add one.
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- Jrue Holiday has cashed in on another one of the incentives in his contract, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets. By appearing in 66 games this season, Holiday triggered a $255K bonus to go along with the separate $255K bonus he earned earlier in the season for surpassing the 2,075-minute threshold.
- In spite of DeMarcus Cousins‘ season-ending injury, this season has been a major success so far for the Pelicans, quieting speculation about the possibility of Anthony Davis‘ eventual departure. Frank Urbina of HoopsHype takes a closer look at how that discussion may resurface in future seasons, noting that losing Davis could even jeopardize the Pelicans’ long-term future in New Orleans.
- The Pelicans reportedly intend to fill their open roster spot by signing Larry Drew II, as we detailed earlier today.
Hawks Sign Antonius Cleveland To Multi-Year Deal
MARCH 14: Now that his second 10-day contract has expired, Cleveland has finalized his new multi-year deal with the Hawks, the team announced today in a press release.
Atlanta now has 13 players on guaranteed rest-of-season contracts, with Damion Lee and Jaylen Morris on 10-day deals.
MARCH 12: The Hawks are prepared to offer a multi-year deal to Antonius Cleveland that would include a guarantee for the remainder of the season, league sources told ESPN’s Chris Haynes (Twitter link).
Cleveland’s second 10-day deal is set to expire overnight on Tuesday. A plan was already in the works when Cleveland signed the second 10-day contract to extend the relationship for the rest of this season and beyond.
Cleveland, a 6’6” shooting guard, has yet to play for the Hawks. He saw action in 13 games as a two-way player with the Mavericks earlier this season, averaging 0.8 PPG in 6.2 MPG.
He went undrafted out of Southeast Missouri State last summer and inked a training camp deal with the Warriors before getting the two-way offer from Dallas.
Klay Thompson To Miss Time With Thumb Injury
Having already ruled out Stephen Curry through at least next Monday, the Warriors will also be without the other half of their starting backcourt for the next several games. According to Chris Haynes of ESPN (Twitter link), Klay Thompson suffered a fractured right thumb during Sunday’s loss to Minnesota and will be re-evaluated next Thursday, March 22.
Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic first reported that Klay’s injury – initially ruled a sprained right thumb – may be more serious than first believed. As The Athletic scribe detailed, there was a “growing concern” in Golden State that the injury could take weeks to heal.
However, Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports tweets that Thompson is expected to return before the end of the month. Sam Amick of USA Today corroborates that account, tweeting that the Dubs are confident the veteran sharpshooter will be able to get back on the court not long after he’s re-evaluated next week — the injury isn’t expected to linger, Amick adds.
While Thompson should be ready to go well before the postseason gets underway, the Warriors have been hit hard by the injury bug as of late. Besides Thompson and Curry, Patrick McCaw is sidelined, leaving little depth in the backcourt. Draymond Green, who is battling various knee, shoulder, and elbow ailments, won’t play on Wednesday either. And David West, Jordan Bell, Andre Iguodala, and Nick Young have also been dealing with nagging injuries.
Like the No. 2 Celtics in the East, the Warriors to focus on getting as many players as possible healthy for the playoffs, putting their quest for the conference’s top seed on the back burner. Golden State is currently two games back of the No. 1 Rockets in that race.
The Warriors’ next three games are against lottery teams, so their depleted lineup shouldn’t have much impact on the playoff race. However, the Spurs, fighting for their playoff lives, will host Golden State next Monday and will certainly be happy to avoid seeing Thompson and Curry.
Follow NFL Free Agency At Pro Football Rumors
NFL free agency officially kicks off today! To keep up with all of the madness, stay tuned to Pro Football Rumors and follow PFR on Twitter, @pfrumors.
On Tuesday, some of the biggest names in this year’s crop came off of the board, including Kirk Cousins, Sammy Watkins, Allen Robinson, and Dion Lewis. However, there are still tons of difference makers left.
Pro Football Rumors has every bit of news covered with the up-to-the-second coverage and analysis you’ve come to expect from the Trade Rumors family. Whether you’re keeping track of your favorite NFL team’s moves or just getting an early jump on your fantasy football research, PFR is a must-follow, particularly during this time of year.
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Grizzlies Sign Briante Weber To 10-Day Deal
MARCH 14: The Grizzlies have officially signed Weber to a 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release. The deal will run through next Friday, March 23.
In order to create room on the roster for Weber, Memphis waived Xavier Rathan-Mayes, whose 10-day contract had been set to expire tonight. We had previously noted that Rathan-Mayes wouldn’t be getting a second 10-day pact from the Grizzlies.
MARCH 13: The Grizzlies have agreed to a deal with Briante Weber, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The contract will be a 10-day pact.
Weber appeared in 13 games for the Rockets earlier this season, playing under a two-way deal. The point guard saw 118 minutes of action and scored 7.9 points per contest. After the Rockets waived him, he caught on with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the G League.
This will be Weber’s second stint with Memphis, as he played seven games with the club during the 2015/16 season. He has also spent time with the Warriors, Heat and, Hornets. For his career, he has 40 games (four starts) under his belt and nearly 500 minutes worth of court time.
Injury Notes: Curry, Leonard, Porzingis, George
The Warriors will hold Stephen Curry out of action for another week while he recovers from a “tweaked” right ankle, the team announced in a tweet. Curry is making progress with his rehab, according to the Warriors, and will be re-evaluated March 20. That means he will miss at least four more games. Curry has been sidelined since Thursday when he hurt the ankle while being fouled on a layup attempt against the Spurs.
There’s more injury-related news from around the NBA:
- Kawhi Leonard hasn’t received medical clearance to start playing again, relays Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich remains in daily contact with Leonard and says the team is being careful not to bring him back before he’s fully ready. “He’s got to be cleared by his medical staff that he’s seeing. And until he gets cleared, we can’t make a decision on when he’s coming back,” Popovich said. “So once he gets cleared, then he and I can sit down and talk and see what we think about an appropriate time to come back. But that clearance has to be obtained first.” An earlier report indicated that Leonard might play tomorrow, but San Antonio has ruled that out.
- Kristaps Porzingis was “shocked” when doctors told him he had torn his left ACL, relays Marc Berman of The New York Post. Making his first public comments since the injury, the Knicks forward vowed to return to his All-Star level, but isn’t sure when he might start playing again. “I can’t give you anything,’’ Porzingis said. “I have no idea. You should ask the doctor, maybe. And he would tell you something. And myself, I’m just going day by day really, and we’ll see where is the comeback at. There is no timetable for now. It’s pretty far off to put a timetable out there.’’
- Paul George left last night’s game with a groin injury, but doesn’t expect to miss any time, according to Royce Young of ESPN. George will be re-evaluated today before the Thunder decide whether he can play Friday.
- X-rays were negative on Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis, who left Tuesday’s game in Philadelphia with a sprained left ankle. He will undergo an MRI when the team returns home.
- The Lakers are listing Kyle Kuzma as questionable for tonight’s game after he sprained his right ankle Tuesday, tweets Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. X-rays taken last night were negative.
- Larry Nance Jr. left Tuesday’s game early after he tweaked his right hamstring, relays ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (Twitter link). The Cavaliers center said he’s “absolutely fine” and plans to play tomorrow in Portland.