Grizzlies Rumors: Gasol, Conley, Temple, Green
Asked today about the report that the Grizzlies are open to listening to trade inquiries on them, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley told reporters, including David Cobb of The Memphis Commercial Appeal, that they’re in wait-and-see mode since those discussions are out of their hands. Conley also confirmed that he received a phone call from owner Robert Pera on Tuesday confirming that the team is listening to offers, as Cobb notes.
“When I signed back a couple years ago, that’s a thought that goes through your head that, ‘Man, I could play in the same place for 14 or 15 years,'” Conley said. “That’d be awesome, and hopefully retire one day as a Grizzly. You also understand that in three, four years a lot can happen and a lot can change. Memphis is all I know. This is my home. I love everybody here and my teammates and the organization. I don’t know any better. This is new grounds for me, so we’ll just see how it plays out.”
Gasol, who also expressed a love for Memphis and said that being traded wouldn’t change how he feels about the city and the fans, was surprised to hear that Conley’s name was being mentioned in trade rumors alongside his own, since the veteran point guard remains under contract for multiple seasons.
“I don’t understand why Mike is in those talks either,” Gasol said, per Cobb. “Mike is one heck of a player, and we’re going to need good players moving forward. I don’t understand why Mike is in this.”
Let’s round up a few more notes on Gasol, Conley, and the Grizzlies…
- Chris Mannix of SI.com writes that the Grizzlies may have waited too long to make Gasol and Conley available, and suggests – based on a survey of NBA team executives – that the duo’s trade value probably won’t be all that high. “Marc, defensively, is pretty limited,” an Eastern scout told Mannix. “Physically, he can’t stay in front of a lot of switches.” A Western exec offered a more optimistic assessment of Conley’s stock: “They could get something for Conley. He’s healthy, and there are a lot of teams desperate for a point guard. They play it right, he could get them a lottery pick.”
- Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian identifies a series of hypothetical trade partners for the Grizzlies in a Gasol or Conley trade, arguing that the Mavericks look like the “cleanest” fit for Conley, since Dennis Smith Jr. and Wesley Matthews‘ expiring contract would be a good starting point. That’s just Herrington’s speculation though.
- Omari Sankofa II of The Athletic takes an in-depth look at the Grizzlies’ trade deadline options, proposing some hypothetical swaps involving Conley and Gasol and identifying Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green as possible trade chips.
- Earlier today, Shams Charania of The Athletic passed along some Grizzlies-related trade rumors, reporting that the team has attempted to engage the Hawks on a deal involving Chandler Parsons and that Green is expected to generate interest around the league.
Charania’s Latest: Wizards, Hornets, Grizzlies, DSJ
As Shams Charania of The Athletic details in his latest round-up of trade rumors from around the NBA, there still aren’t many clear-cut sellers out there, which may limit activity leading up to the February 7 deadline. However, clubs like the Wizards and Magic still haven’t made any decisions one way or the other and could end up being sellers if they’re trending downward a couple weeks from now, says Charania.
The Wizards have made it “adamantly clear” the Bradley Beal isn’t going anywhere, league sources tell Charania. Otto Porter could be more available though, according to Charania, who hears that the Jazz are among the clubs to show interest in Porter.
The Hornets are another team competing for one of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spots and – like the Wizards – have made it clear that they don’t intend to move their star guard. Nonetheless, teams have tested the Hornets on Kemba Walker, says Charania, citing sources who say that the Mavericks recently inquired on Walker and were told Charlotte wants to keep him.
Charania’s article includes many more rumors on the trade market, so let’s round up some of the highlights…
- Despite indicating they’re willing to listen to inquiries on Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, Grizzlies officials told players on Tuesday that the team remains committed to winning and to tune out any trade noise, writes Charania. Elsewhere on the Memphis front, JaMychal Green is expected to attract significant trade interest and the Grizzlies have attempted to engage the Hawks about a Chandler Parsons deal, Charania reports.
- Charania adds the Knicks and Lakers to the list of teams that discussed a possible Dennis Smith Jr. trade with the Mavericks. The Magic are also on that list.
- In addition to discussing deals involving veterans like Kent Bazemore and Dewayne Dedmon, the Hawks may also consider moving younger players such as Taurean Prince and Tyler Dorsey, says Charania.
- According to Charania, the Thunder plan to explore ways to use their traded player exception, which is worth nearly $11MM. Oklahoma City is reportedly seeking a forward who can shoot, though acquiring a player without sending out any salary would increase the club’s tax bill exponentially.
- The Sixers are seeking a wing shooter and a center, sources tell Charania.
- Cavaliers swingman Rodney Hood has emerged as a “targeted” trade asset, according to Charania, who identifies the Pelicans, Thunder, and Bucks as some of the teams that have scoured the market for wing help.
Northwest Notes: Wolves, Nuggets, IT, Rubio
It’s possible that the Timberwolves will stand pat at the trade deadline as they look to push for a playoff spot in the West, but doing so would mean forgoing an opportunity to “leverage existing assets for future gains,” writes Britt Robson of The Athletic. As Robson points out, unless the Wolves have a plan for how to re-sign and incorporate veterans like Derrick Rose, Anthony Tolliver, and Taj Gibson, who are on expiring contracts, it might make sense to explore the trade market for possible deals.
Elsewhere in the Northwest, the Nuggets are another team whose trade deadline outlook remains cloudy, as Nick Kosmider of The Athletic details. The odds of Denver making a major move appear slim, but the club has a number of trade exceptions at its disposal that could be used to acquire a rotation player – perhaps a Wayne Ellington type – without going into the tax. Of course, with Isaiah Thomas potentially on track to return down the stretch, the Nuggets may simply view IT as their de facto deadline acquisition, Kosmider notes.
Here are a few more notes from around the Northwest:
- Speaking of Isaiah Thomas, after a weekend report suggested that the Nuggets were optimistic the point guard would make his debut with the team before the All-Star break, head coach Mike Malone pushed back on the idea that there’s a set timeline, per Sean Keeler of The Denver Post. “Don’t believe everything you read,” Malone said. “I don’t know where these leaks come from, but (with) Isaiah, there’s no timeline. There’s nothing (that has) been set about February, this, that or the other thing. You’ll see him when he’s ready to play.”
- Plagued by injuries at the point guard spot so far in 2019, the Jazz got a boost when Ricky Rubio returned to the rotation on Monday, writes Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune. Dante Exum and Raul Neto remain sidelined, likely until at least next week, but Utah has made a nice run while short-handed, winning eight of 10 games to move into playoff position in the West.
- Derrick Rose played a big part in helping Karl-Anthony Towns get through the Jimmy Butler “mess” earlier in the season, according to Kentucky’s John Calipari, who coached Towns for one season in 2014/15. According to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, Timberwolves team members say that Towns’ locker room presence receded as Butler became more frustrated and unhappy during his final days in Minnesota. “There was a dogfight, and Karl’s not one to get into that. So, he stepped back,” Calipari said. “Things happen. There are power struggles all the time in [the NBA]. If a guy can bully you, he will bully you. And that’s what Jimmy did to Karl. C’mon, that’s the league.”
Darius Garland Withdraws From Vanderbilt To Prepare For Draft
Potential 2019 lottery pick Darius Garland has withdrawn from Vanderbilt after suffering a season-ending knee injury, he announced on Tuesday (via Twitter). According to Garland, he made the decision after “considerable deliberation” with his family and medical staff, and his focus going forward will be on preparing for the draft.
“It was a really hard to decision from sitting down with my family,” Garland said, per Evan Daniels of 247Sports.com. “I talked to coach [Bryce] Drew and the coaching staff and it was the best fit for me because of where I’m placed right now is really unbelievable especially coming off the injury. Just having a chance to play in the league, which I’ve been dreaming about that since I can remember, playing in the NBA, just having that chance I couldn’t turn that down.”
As Daniels observes, Garland and Murray State’s Ja Morant look like the two clear top point guards in the 2019 draft class, and both players figure to be top-10 picks. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony agrees with that assessment, placing Garland seventh in his latest mock draft.
Garland appeared in just five games for Vanderbilt before having his season cut short by his knee issue, but looked good in that limited sample size, averaging 16.2 PPG on .537/.478/.750 shooting. One high-ranking NBA executive tells Daniels that he thinks the knee injury will have “zero” impact on the freshman’s draft stock.
“I think they are being cautious and that’s a good thing,” the exec said. “There’s too much body of work. Anyone that has done their homework, knows what his game and know who he is as a person.”
Jeanie Buss: Luke Walton “Doing A Terrific Job”
There’s a perception in Los Angeles and among many NBA observers that Lakers head coach Luke Walton is on the hot seat, but controlling owner Jeanie Buss said during an appearance on Zach Lowe’s Lowe Post podcast that’s not the case, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com relays. According to Buss, “everyone in the organization” – including top decision-makers Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka – is behind Walton.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure that Luke is successful in his job. That’s our job,” Buss said. “I think he is doing a terrific job. Given the injuries that we’ve had, it’s a challenge and people forget that he has had two of our starters taken away from him and they’ve won really important games on the road, proving what is possible even without LeBron (James)… I think Luke has done an impressive job.”
Buss’s comments don’t come as a real surprise. Even earlier in the season, when Johnson reportedly “admonished” Walton for the Lakers’ slow start out of the gate, the head coach was always said to have the support of Buss, who would ultimately have the final say on any change. Johnson said back in November that no coaching change was planned during the season, and a report last week indicated that the Lakers continued to project support for Walton both publicly and privately.
Walton had the Lakers in position to make the playoffs up until James went down with the groin injury that has now sidelined him for nearly a month. Since then, the team has lost nine of 14 games and slipped to ninth in the Western Conference, albeit just a half-game behind the No. 8 Clippers.
Walton and the Lakers are expected to get some reinforcements soon. As ESPN’s Dave McMenamin outlines, Rajon Rondo is on track to return to the club’s lineup on Thursday vs. Minnesota, filling the hole at point guard created by injuries to Rondo and Lonzo Ball. James is moving closer to a return as well, having participated in five-on-zero play and shooting drills over the weekend, per Walton. However, LeBron isn’t expected to be ready for Thursday’s game.
Selecting The Eastern Conference All-Stars
All-Star weekend is approaching and it’s time to dish out votes for each of the 24 spots. We’ll examine the Eastern Conference today, but be sure to check back later in the week for the All-Star selections from the Western Conference.
East Starters
G Celtics Kyrie Irving
G Sixers Ben Simmons
FC Raptors Kawhi Leonard
FC Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo
FC Sixers Joel Embiid
Embiid and Antetokounmpo are legit MVP candidates and while Leonard has fallen from that status, the former Spur remains a full notch above any other frontcourt player in the conference.
Irving is an easy selection. Bradley Beal has the biggest case to unseat Simmons in the starting lineup. He’s the sole reason the Wizards are in arm’s reach of a playoff spot. Yet, Simmons is simply having a special season. Simmons carries a higher PER (21.1 to 19.3) than Beal. He is responsible for more victories than Beal, according to win shares (5.4 to 3.3), and he bests the 25-year-old shooting guard in nearly all traditional and advanced stats outside of points and three-point shooting.
Simmons is shooting 57.6% from the field, an absurd figure for a player who spends so much time on the perimeter and has nothing that resembles a jump shot. Much of his success can be attributed to talent, more so than to a scheme. Zach Lowe of ESPN.com recently detailed how the Warriors are utilizing Draymond Green with the ball in his hands when opposing defenders are allowing him to be all alone on the perimeter. When a defender sinks back, Green will toss the ball to a shooter around the arch and then sprint toward the shooter in order to screen that player’s man. The defender responsible for Green is left scrambling toward the shooter from closer to the paint and it’s too late; the look is clean. 
Admittedly, the Warriors are on a different level. They are building beach houses while most of the league is negotiating rent. Still, opposing teams are defending Simmons without anything close to the threat of this kind of wizardry.
Teams know exactly what Simmons is going to do and most can’t stop it, akin to how opponents are struggling to contain the Greek Freek in Milwaukee. If Giannis is the Mona Lisa, then Simmons is the Vitruvian Man and 22-year-old should have his artistry on display with the starters in Charlotte.
East Reserves
Nikola Vucevic is having an outstanding season. He joins Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Embiid as the only players averaging 20 and 12. He’s one of five players making at least 50% of his shots while averaging at least one block and a 3-pointer made per game. He’s propping up the Magic to appear like a real playoff contender.
Vucevic and Beal aren’t the only lead singers who are relying on backup dancers as their squads audition for a playoff spot. The Pistons and Hornets would be bottom-feeders if not for Blake Griffin and Kemba Walker on their respective teams, though both players have had highs and lows this season.
The Nets have been great and both Spencer Dinwiddie and D’Angelo Russell deserve consideration for their part in Brooklyn’s feel-good story but neither player makes the cut. I wanted to find a spot for Josh Richardson. He’s been Miami’s most important player, but he’s cooled off during the second quarter of the season.
In terms of talent, Jimmy Butler is among the best in the East. However, he’s missed time because of the weeks-long tantrum he threw in Minnesota, the resulting trade period, and the three minor ailments that have caused him to sit since joining the Sixers.
Kyle Lowry also missed a chunk of time. Same with Al Horford and Victor Oladipo. Injuries are unfortunate but how many players can be named All-Stars while missing close to 20% of their games? I’m designating one spot to this criteria and Oladipo has been the best of the bunch. (It kills me to leave out Lowry, a Philadelphia-native, but being available to play matters, especially when splitting hairs among quality players).
Eric Bledsoe is second on the conference-leading Bucks in win shares. He’s played well as both an isolation player when Milwaukee needed a bucket and within the flow of the offense. On defense, he’s done everything the team has needed and more. Stephen Curry is the only point guard with a higher net rating than Bledsoe this season.
My last spot goes to Pascal Siakam. Stability can be valuable – especially with Lowry and Leonard consistently shuffling in and out of the lineup – and the power forward has produced regardless of whoever has been on the court alongside him.
Siakam’s improvement since last season is remarkable. He can put on his Draymond Green hat and become a facilitator when needed. With his smooth lateral movement, he can be an impactful defender on the perimeter and the Raptors don’t skip a beat when teams switch him onto an agile guard. He does all of this in addition to providing solid interior defense and efficient scoring (shooting 57.1% on the year) while playing the most minutes for a legitimate title contender (at 1,490 minutes played, Siakam has played roughly 100 more minutes than anyone else on the Raptors).
The advanced metrics match the eye test. He’s in the top 10 in the league in Net Rating among those playing 25 minutes per contest. Only seven players in the Eastern Conference rank higher than Siakam in win shares; Only six rank higher in NBA Math’s Total Points Added metric.
Many voters will leave Siakam off their list, as he doesn’t have the track record of other All-Star candidates. He hasn’t proven he can sustain this level of play; he hasn’t put in the time. Regardless of the lack of experience, he’s showcased his worthiness during the first half of the season. With his hustle and grind, his efficiency, and his ability to deliver night after night for the Raptors, he’s proven he deserves to be called an All-Star this season.
Recap of Eastern Conference Reserves
Magic Nikola Vucevic
Wizards Bradley Beal
Pistons Blake Griffin
Hornets Kemba Walker
Pacers Victor Oladipo
Bucks Eric Bledsoe
Raptors Pascal Siakam
Do you agree with the selections above? Are there any changes you would make to the list? What 12 players would you vote into this year’s All-Star game? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!
Images courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Anthony Davis May Miss Additional Time
Anthony Davis is set to a specialist for his injured hand and may miss additional time because of the ailment. According to his agent, Rich Paul, the fear is that he has a fracture in his left index finger, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
Davis injured his hand during the Pelicans-Blazers tilt last Friday and was expected to miss one to two weeks. If a fracture is confirmed, Davis could miss up to a month of action.
The 2018/19 campaign has been deemed a pivotal season for Davis and New Orleans, as the former No. 1 overall pick can become a highly-coveted free agent during the summer of 2020. If the Pelicans get a sense that Davis will walk, the franchise will have to consider trading him this upcoming offseason. Dealing him during the 2019/20 regular season wouldn’t provide another team much time to get Davis acclimated and that could drive down the value that rival teams are willing to give up in exchange for the big man.
New Orleans is currently just 3.5 games behind Utah for the eighth seed in the conference, though they’d also have to jump the Lakers, Kings, and Wolves to surpass the Jazz in the standings.
Nets Notes: Allen, Russell, Trades
There aren’t many “untouchables” in the NBA when it comes to trade talks, though most teams have a few players that it would take a king’s ransom to part with. Jarrett Allen, Caris LeVert, and D’Angelo Russell have earned their place in the Nets‘ long-term outlook and barring an overwhelming return, Michael Scotto of The Athletic doesn’t envision any of the three going anywhere anytime soon.
Before the season, Russell’s inclusion on the list may have seemed silly, but the former No. 2 overall pick is having his best season as a pro and he’s become a key part of the team’s success.
“Everything that we do offensively, he is sort of the lifeblood of us,” Joe Harris said after a recent Nets win. “Everything flows through him. He does a really good job of dictating the pace, getting guys in rhythm, and just doing a really good job on every level. He does a really good job facilitating for others and for himself. Obviously, we’re really lucky to have a player of his caliber on our team.”
Russell will be a restricted free agent after the season. GM Sean Marks has a history of going after other team’s RFAs and this offseason, he’ll likely get a taste of his own medicine with rival teams looking at Russell.
Scotto offers more in his piece for The Athletic. Here are the highlights:
- Ed Davis, who signed a one-year deal last summer, hopes to remain with the Nets long-term, as he tells Scotto. “I’m at a point in my career where I don’t want to keep bouncing around,” Davis said. “This is my fifth team. I’ve got a wife and kids. They like it here. It’s close to home, so hopefully, when the season is over, we can figure something out and make something work.
- The Nets love Allen’s ability to pick up schemes quickly and his coachability, Scotto adds in the same piece. Allen has made highlight reels with his ability to make monstrous blocks but he’s actively working on his offense, including a corner 3-point shot.
- Harris and Rodions Kurucs are unlikely to be traded but if either player was put on the trade block, the Nets would likely garner a first-round pick in return, Scotto speculates. The scribe adds that if there were a re-draft of this year’s rookie class, Kurucs, who was selected with the No. 40 overall pick, would be a first-rounder.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/22/19
Here are Tuesday’s NBA G League assignments and recalls from across the league:
- The Bucks have recalled Christian Wood from the Wisconsin Herd, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Wood scored 34 points and brought down a franchise-record 23 rebounds for the team’s G League affiliate on Jan 19.
- The Hornets have recalled Devonte’ Graham from the Greensboro Swarm, according to the team’s website. Graham has appeared in seven games for the Swarm this season and he’s averaging 22.4 points per game.
Grizzlies Listening To Offers For Gasol, Conley
The Grizzlies will listen to trade offers for Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports. Both players recently met with owner Robert Pera, though neither player has requested a trade.
If the Grizzlies are going to trade either of their cornerstone players, they may insist on including Chandler Parsons in the deal, Marc Stein of The New York Times hears.
Gasol is making roughly $24.1MM while Conley’s deal will pay him approximately $30.5MM this season. Combining either one of those deals with Parsons’ $24.1MM salary in a trade will be no easy task. Stein suggests a three- or four-team deal may be needed if Memphis is going to make a trade on those terms.
Any team acquiring Gasol would likely want assurances that he will stick around beyond this season. It’s unclear what the big man’s preference for a new squad would be. Stein adds that while Memphis is listening to offers, the club’s preference is not to trade Gasol. Wojnarowski notes that Grizzlies could keep both players if the offers are not to their liking, though they are “motivated” to begin building around 2018 No. 4 overall pick Jaren Jackson.
Only the Suns have a worse record than the Grizzlies among Western Conference teams and it’s becoming clearer and clearer that the franchise will be sellers in one way or another at the deadline.