Warriors Talking To Quinn Cook About Long-Term Deal
The Warriors are negotiating a long-term contract with two-way player Quinn Cook, tweets Chris Haynes of ESPN. It would be fully guaranteed for the rest of this season, along with next season, adds Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated (Twitter link).
Cook has to be signed to a regular NBA contract by April 10 to be eligible for the postseason. The move has been expected based on his outstanding play in the wake of two injuries that sidelined Stephen Curry. Cook is averaging 8.9 points in 29 games and shooting ,429 from 3-point range. He is expected to be the team’s starting point guard for the first round of the playoffs while Curry continues to heal.
It’s a breakthrough performance for the 25-year-old, who has struggled to earn a spot in the league since going undrafted out of Duke in 2015. His only previous NBA experience came last season when he played five games for the Mavericks and nine for the Pelicans.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr has begun talking about Cook as though he’ll be on the postseason roster, relays Mark Medina of The San Jose Mercury News (Twitter link). “This is what we’ve come to expect from Quinn.” Kerr said after Tuesday’s win at Oklahoma City. “He’s probably not going to be a 30-point guy in the playoffs.”
Golden State has a full roster, so a move will have to be made before Cook’s new contract can be finalized. The most likely candidate to be waived is veteran forward Omri Casspi, whose veteran’s minimum contract expires at the end of the season. Casspi is dealing with pain in his right ankle, Haynes tweets, and did not accompany the Warriors on their current road trip.
Zhaire Smith To Test 2018 NBA Draft Waters
Texas Tech swingman Zhaire Smith has decided to go through the NBA draft process for 2018, he announced today (via Twitter). Smith won’t sign with an agent, giving him the option of withdrawing his name by the NCAA’s May 30 deadline and returning to school for the 2018/19 season.
“I am excited to say that I am going to enter my name in NBA Draft without an agent,” Smith wrote. “I would like to see where I stand after my freshman year. I would like to thank coach [Chris] Beard, my parents, and the best fans in college basketball.”
Smith, 18, had a solid freshman year for the Red Raiders, averaging 11.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.1 BPG, and 1.1 SPG with a shooting line of .556/.450/.717.
Describing Smith as “long-armed and explosive,” ESPN’s Jonathan Givony recently wrote that the youngster was originally viewed as more of a 2019 draft candidate. That could still ultimately be the case if Smith withdraws from this year’s draft and plays out his sophomore year with Texas Tech. However, he would be one of the best athletes in this year’s class and is considered a potential first-round pick — Givony ranks him 17th overall on ESPN’s big board.
Southeast Notes: Olynyk, Hornets, Hawks
Kelly Olynyk is poised to cash in a pair of bonuses included in the contract he signed with the Heat last summer, as Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets. Olynyk’s deal, which included a base salary of about $10.61MM for 2017/18, featured a $400K bonus if Miami secured a playoff berth — the team clinched its postseason spot on Tuesday night.
In addition to that $400K, Olynyk is also in line to receive another $1MM for reaching a minutes-played incentive. His contract called for a $1MM bonus if he played at least 1,700 minutes this season, and he’s currently at 1,698. Barring a season-ending injury very early in tonight’s game against Atlanta, Olynyk should easily surpass that 1,700-minute threshold.
Here are a few more items from out of the Southeast division:
- Assuming Mitch Kupchak accepts the Hornets‘ offer to become the team’s new general manager, he’ll have a busy summer ahead of him, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer, who says that the franchise’s rebuild can’t be put on hold. Determining whether to retain head coach Steve Clifford and then finding a way to get out from under one or two long-term contracts would be atop Kupchak’s to-do list, Bonnell observes.
- ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) takes a look at the Hornets‘ upcoming offseason as well, noting that Kemba Walker‘s future is a major question looming over the organization. Marks also identifies Jeremy Lamb as a possible trade candidate, since his salary is modest enough that teams wouldn’t view his contract as a negative asset.
- The Hawks have been the NBA’s least effective team in terms of post-up offense this season, prompting Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype to explore a few players worth targeting in free agency if Atlanta wants to improve that aspect of its roster.
Injury Notes: Gallinari, Ball, Nowitzki, Kanter
Both Los Angeles teams may be without key players for the rest of the season, according to various reports. For the Clippers, Danilo Gallinari is once again back on the shelf. Having recently returned from an 18-game absence due to a hand injury, Gallinari re-aggravated that hand injury during a fall in Sunday’s game against Indiana.
According to Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times, the Clippers are simply calling Gallinari’s injury a sore right hand for now, and the forward will travel with the club for Thursday’s game in Utah. However, the club doesn’t expect to get Gallinari back during the regular season after his latest setback, Turner says.
Meanwhile, the Lakers will “most likely” be without rookie point guard Lonzo Ball for Wednesday’s game against San Antonio, per head coach Luke Walton. As Bill Oram of The Orange County Register details, Walton acknowledged that a left knee contusion could keep Ball sidelined for the rest of the season. “Could he play?” Walton said. “Probably, but with six games left we’re not going to put him back out there when his knee’s hurting like that. Wait until he’s all the way healthy – if that happens.”
Here are more injury updates from across the NBA:
- Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek isn’t sure whether Enes Kanter – who is dealing with a back injury – will return to the court this season, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. If Kanter doesn’t make it back, it’s possible he has played his last game as a Knick, since he can opt out of his contract this offseason. However, the veteran center is considered a good bet to exercise that option.
- Dirk Nowitzki didn’t accompany the Mavericks on their final road trip of the season as he battles a left ankle impingement, per Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. While Nowitzki could still join the team on the road trip or play in the regular season finale in Dallas, the lottery-bound Mavs may play it safe with the franchise icon and hold him out for their final four games. Nowitzki has said he hopes to play one more year in 2018/19.
- Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist, the team announced in a press release. The procedure brought Whitehead’s second NBA season to an early end. He appeared in just 16 NBA contests this year after playing 73 in his rookie season.
Draft Updates: Washington, Wilkes, Happ, Konate
Kentucky forward PJ Washington will test the draft waters after his freshman year, he announced on Tuesday (via Twitter). In his statement, Washington stressed that he loves the Kentucky program and isn’t in a hurry to decide on going pro, but was encouraged by coach John Calipari to get feedback on where he stands.
In the view of ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Washington is the No. 47 prospect in this year’s class, which would give him a good chance of being drafted this spring. The 6’7″ forward is coming off a freshman season in which he averaged 10.8 PPG and 5.7 RPG for the Wildcats.
Here are a few more of the latest draft updates:
- UCLA forward Kris Wilkes will enter the 2018 NBA draft without hiring an agent, he tells Jon Rothstein of FanRag Sports (Twitter link). The No. 68 prospect on ESPN’s big board, Wilkes posted 13.7 PPG and 4.9 RPG as a freshman for the Bruins in 2017/18.
- The University of Wisconsin announced on Tuesday (via Twitter) that junior big man Ethan Happ will test the draft waters. “The underclassmen rule allows Ethan and others to participate in workouts with teams and potentially the NBA combine,” coach Greg Gard said of the junior forward/center, the 77th player on ESPN’s top 100. “This experience will be invaluable for him and will ultimately make him a better player.”
- West Virginia forward Sagaba Konate will also test the draft waters, per a report from The Associated Press. In his sophomore year, Konate averaged 10.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and an impressive 3.2 BPG in just 25.4 minutes per contest.
- Iowa redshirt sophomore Isaiah Moss has declared for the 2018 NBA draft but won’t hire an agent, retaining his NCAA eligibility for now, the program announced in a press release. The 6’5″ guard averaged 11.1 PPG on .420/.386/.879 shooting in 2017/18. Like other underclassmen who aren’t hiring an agent, Moss will have until May 30 to withdraw his name in order to retain his NCAA eligibility.
Damian Lillard Injures Left Ankle
Damian Lillard rolled his left ankle during the fourth quarter of the Trail Blazers’ loss to the Mavericks on Tuesday night, and while he was able to finish the game, Portland’s star point guard said the ankle became more painful and more swollen later in the night, per Jason Quick of NBC Sports Northwest. According to Quick, Lillard had to be transported from the locker room to the team bus on a cart after the game.
Although the injury may not compromise Lillard’s playoff availability, it’s unclear whether he’ll be ready to go for Thursday’s game in Houston, or if the Blazers will play it safe and hold him out of some or all of the club’s final four regular season contests.
“I think I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but I’m going to be smart about it,” Lillard said, according to Quick. “It’s the end of the season, we are going into the playoffs, so I have to be smart that one thing doesn’t turn into another.”
As Lillard notes, the 48-30 Blazers have clinched a playoff spot. The team also has a fairly strong hold on the No. 3 seed in the West, though that position could be jeopardized by a few losses to finish the season — the Jazz and Spurs are both still within reach of the No. 3 spot, with matching 45-33 records. As such, the Blazers can’t afford to take their foot off the gas pedal quite yet.
We’ll pass along updates on Lillard’s recovery timetable as they become available.
Northwest Notes: Butler, Lyles, Neto, Jokic/Millsap
With four crucial games left in the regular season, Timberwolves star Jimmy Butler said he is “this close” to returning following practice on Tuesday, per Dave Campbell of The Associated Press. Minnesota’s next game is against the Nuggets on Thursday and it’s possible Butler will be available.
The Timberwolves have been without Butler since February 23, when he tore his meniscus and underwent surgery sidelining him for an estimated four-to-six weeks. In 56 games before the injury, Butler was arguably Minnesota’s best two-way asset as he played his usual strong defense while averaging 22.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 5.0 APG.
Just 2.5 games separate the seventh-place Timberwolves and the 10th-place Clippers with four games to go. Having a healthy Butler back in the lineup for this crucial stretch would provide a huge boost to the team’s playoff hopes.
Check out more Northwest Division notes below:
- Former Jazz player Trey Lyles, now with the Nuggets, did not have many kind words about his former team. Jody Genessy of The Deseret News passes along some of Lyles’ comments, made during an appearance on teammate Richard Jefferson‘s Road Trippin’ Podcast. Lyles was critical of head coach Quin Snyder and expressed a general distaste for his tenure in Utah.
- Jazz point guard Raul Neto has made significant progress on his fractured wrist, tweets Tony Jones of the Salt Lake City Tribune. No firm decision has been made, but it’s possible that Neto plays in tomorrow’s game against the Lakers, Jones adds.
- Having both Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic in the lineup healthy and producing has been a tremendous boost for the Nuggets, Gina Mizell of the Denver Post writes. “They’re my safety blanket,” head coach Michael Malone said. “If one of those two are in the game at all times, we have somebody to play through and to kind of calm things down when they’re not going our way.”
Cavaliers Notes: James, Lue, Korver
LeBron James is in the midst of his best statistical year to date in his 15th NBA season. And, as the regular season comes to an end, James is in prime position to play all 82 games for the first time his career.
Despite James’ outstanding season, he insists that playing in all 82 games is a media-driven narrative and not something he set out to do, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com relays. The Cavaliers’ star said he simply wants to put himself and the team in the best position and if healthy, he feels he can achieve that goal.
“My plan is to play one game at a time and see how I feel after that game . . . I didn’t come into the season, saying, ‘OK, we’re going to play 82 games this season,’ but my plan is to be as healthy as I can, work on my body, train my body every day to be available for my teammates every game and if that allows me to play tonight, as I am, then let’s go,” James said.
James, 32, is averaging 27.4 PPG, 9.1 APG, and 8.7 RPG through 77 games with five games left.
Check out more Cavaliers notes below:
- A lot has been made of how James’ strong presence in Cleveland makes him a coach-type figure. Ken Berger of Bleacher Report delves into James’ basketball IQ and how in tune the superstar is with his team and coaching staff. While James is a vocal leader, he is not trying to undermine his coaches when he’s on the court. “That’s just who I am,” James said. “I feel like I’m an extension of our coaching staff. I take their commands and try to give them to our players out there on the floor. Just trying to see the game in multiple ways.”
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Head coach Tyronn Lue has been away from the Cavs for health reasons, but has recently returned to the team. Dave McMenamin of ESPN tweets that Lue, who is expected to resume his head coaching duties soon, was at Cleveland’s shootaround on Tuesday.
- Sharpshooter Kyle Korver, who hadn’t played since March 19 due to injuries and the death of his brother, returned to the team for Tuesday’s win against the Raptors, tweets Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 4/3/18
Here are Tuesday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Knicks have recalled rookie guard Damyean Dotson from the G League, the team announced today (via Twitter). It figures to be the last time this season that Dotson is recalled, since the Westchester Knicks – New York’s affiliate – saw their season come to an end on Monday night. Dotson posted 20 points and five boards in the 92-80 loss to the Raptors 905.
Bulls’ Denzel Valentine Out For Season
Bulls guard Denzel Valentine will miss the rest of the season to undergo an arthroscopic debridement on his left knee, the team announced on Tuesday. Valentine will go under the knife tomorrow.
The Michigan State product made some major progress this season. After appearing in 57 games with the Bulls last season, Valentine played in 77 games (37 starts) this season while exactly doubling his offensive output from 5.1 to 10.2 PPG. All of Valentine’s numbers improved drastically as he played for the rebuilding Bulls.
Valentine, 24, joins Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine on the sideline as Chicago players to wrap up their 2017/18 campaign early due to injury.