L.A. Notes: Harris, Expiring Contracts, Magic Johnson
The Clippers acknowledge the decision to trade away Tobias Harris was difficult, but they believe it was necessary to build the perennial title contender they envision, writes Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times. Harris was sent to the Sixers last week in exchange for some assets — rookie guard Landry Shamet and a package of draft picks — that could be used to acquire another star, possibly Pelicans center Anthony Davis. They also hope to open enough cap space for two max offers in free agency with an eye on building the NBA’s next super team.
“I mean, it really stinks because you love the guy and what he means to the team,” president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said about losing Harris. “But what you have to do, you have to fast-forward and close your eyes and visualize. In order to build a sustainable championship contender, there are going to have to be some really hard and tough decisions to be made.”
Owner Steve Ballmer has instructed Frank and team consultant Jerry West to build for the future without sacrificing this season. The Clippers entered the All-Star break eighth in the West at 32-27 and remain confident they can make the playoffs without Harris.
There’s more news from Los Angeles:
- The Clippers were active at the trade deadline, but because they brought in so many players with expiring contracts, another roster shakeup is likely in the offseason, notes Dan Feldman of NBC Sports. Ivica Zubac, JaMychal Green, Garrett Temple and Wilson Chandler all have expiring contracts and may not return next season, depending how successful the organization is in free agency.
- Lakers president Magic Johnson believes the NBA has a different tampering standard for him than the rest of the league. In a video clip tweeted by Carolina Blitz, Johnson refuses to comment about the possibility of signing Kemba Walker this summer. “You know I can’t answer any questions about no players because every time I do it, I get fined, but anybody else do it, they don’t get fined, so I’m going to stay away from that,” Johnson said.
- In the wake of their failed attempt to land Davis, the Lakers have a leadership gap that has to be addressed by Johnson, GM Rob Pelinka, owner Jeanie Buss and LeBron James, writes Andy Kamenetzky of The Athletic.
Celtics Notes: Tatum, Irving, Draft Picks
Jayson Tatum has heard his name in trade rumors a lot lately, but he’s accepting it as part of life in the NBA, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Tatum is considered a key figure in the Celtics‘ push to acquire Anthony Davis, and although rumors have quieted somewhat with the passing of the trade deadline, they are sure to ramp up again this summer.
“I get asked that question a lot,” Tatum said about the trade talk. “And my response is always the same; control what I can control, I don’t take it personal. I understood coming in that it is a business. They have to make the best decision for them, whatever that may be. Especially right now; I can’t control it.”
Tatum’s on-court performance hasn’t suffered in the wake of the rumors, as Blakely points out that his stats have remained constant since Davis’ trade request became public. Showing star potential at age 20, Tatum may be in Davis’ position some day, but for now he is on the second season of a four-year rookie contract and has no control over where he plays.
“You learn pretty quickly that when you are under contract, you don’t have too much say-so,” he added.
There’s more from Boston this morning:
- During All-Star media events Saturday, LeBron James spoke further about his phone call with Kyrie Irving last month, relays Chelsea Howard of The Sporting News. Irving called James to apologize for some of the things he did in Cleveland and said he understands the situation better now that he is a veteran leader with the Celtics. “I think I’ve always loved Kyrie, from before I met him, until when I became his teammate, to even now,” James said. “So the phone call, more than for me, I think just to see his growth … It takes a real man and a real person — and a real person to understand who they are — to be able to call, or to do anything and be able to see their wrongdoings or believe they have some wrongdoings.”
- If Irving decides to leave Boston, he could affect the fate of several teams, notes Danny Leroux of The Athletic. The Celtics would lose one of their top talents and their best hope of signing Davis to a long-term deal if they do acquire him in a trade. The Knicks, Lakers and Clippers all have room to make a major impact in free agency and might welcome Irving if he becomes available.
- Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston checks on the status the three first-round picks the Celtics could be owed this summer and finds that two of them may not convey. The Grizzlies’ choice is top-eight protected, while the Clippers’ selection will only be moved if they make the playoffs.
Dell Demps’ Firing Bad News For Knicks?
The ouster of Pelicans GM Dell Demps could complicate the Knicks‘ hopes of landing Anthony Davis in a trade this summer, writes Frank Isola of The Athletic.
Knicks president Steve Mills had informal talks with Demps last month about a deal involving Davis and Kristaps Porzingis, according to Isola. Porzingis was since shipped to the Mavericks in a trade that enabled New York to open two max salary slots for free agency.
A source tells Isola that Demps wanted to wait until after the draft lottery before resuming talks so he would know where New York would be picking. Second in the league in our current Reverse Standings, the Knicks have a 14% chance of winning the lottery and getting a shot at Duke standout Zion Williamson, whom Demps was intrigued by. Demps also has a prior connection with New York, having served as a scout for the organization.
The team has a much different relationship with former Cavaliers GM David Griffin, who is considered one of the potential front-runners to replace Demps in New Orleans. Another source tells Isola that Griffin was considering an offer to become GM of the Knicks two years ago, but turned it down when he discovered he wouldn’t be solely in charge of personnel decisions. While Griffin was negotiating with New York, Mills signed Tim Hardaway Jr. to a long-term contract.
Another top contender for the Pelicans post, Celtics assistant GM Michael Zarren, presents an even worse scenario for the Knicks and Lakers, Isola adds. Zarren is considered “the right-hand man” to Boston GM Danny Ainge and has a strong familiarity with the young players who would be key to any deal with the Celtics.
Adam Silver Calls Tanking “Corrosive”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke out against tanking today in his annual All-Star Weekend address, calling the practice “corrosive,” relays Marc Berman of The New York Post.
“I, personally, don’t think it’s a winning strategy over the long term to engage in multiple years of rebuilding,’’ Silver said. “There’s a mindset that, if you’re going to be bad, you might as well be really bad. I believe personally that’s corrosive for those organizations.”
Silver lives in New York, Berman notes, and has daily exposure to the Knicks, who dropped 18 consecutive games before beating the Hawks on Thursday. The league changed its rules this year to reduce the benefits of having the worst overall record, giving equal odds at the top pick to the three bottom teams. However, the move hasn’t had the desired effect as the Knicks, Suns, Cavaliers and Bulls are far separated from the rest of the NBA in our latest Reverse Standings. The allure of adding a star such as Duke’s Zion Williamson is too tempting, even with the new odds.
“I’m pretty sure we acknowledged at the time we didn’t think we’d solve the problem,’’ Silver said, hinting that additional changes may be on the way.
Here are some more highlights from Silver’s speech:
- The commissioner believes the recent trend of high-profile players making public trade requests is harmful to the league, relays Ben Golliver of The Washington Post. Pelicans center Anthony Davis is the latest star asking to be moved — a story dominated the trade deadline and figures to loom over everything else this summer. “I don’t like trade demands, and I wish they didn’t come,” Silver stated. “I wish all those matters were handled behind closed doors. . . . I think we could do a better job as a league in avoiding those situations that get to the point where players are demanding to be traded or, in a worst-case scenario, saying they won’t honor their contract.”
- Silver brushed aside concerns that small-market teams can’t compete in the NBA, according to Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. The commissioner noted that the league has remained popular even with both New York teams, both Los Angeles teams and Chicago all missing the playoffs last season. “If you look at the success of the so-called big markets in the last five years, they’ve been at an all-time low in terms of their success on the floor,” he said. “… We didn’t have the traditional big market teams even playing in the playoffs.”
- Silver admitted that the move to add Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade to the All-Star Game was suggested by a fan’s email, tweets ESPN’s Tim Bontemps.
Five Key Stories: 2/9/19 – 2/16/19
If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:
Ahead of a summer that’s expected to include the trading of franchise cornerstone Anthony Davis, the Pelicans fired GM Dell Demps. Demps spent nearly nine years running the team, but was never able to build a consistent contender around Davis. Danny Ferry was named interim GM until New Orleans can find a replacement.
Enes Kanter, who spent much of the season complaining about a lack of playing time with the Knicks, found a new home with the Trail Blazers after being released. Kanter had fallen to fourth-string center in New York despite productive numbers, as coach David Fizdale opted for a younger lineup and a switching philosophy on defense that Kanter wasn’t equipped for. Multiple teams, including the Lakers, expressed interest in signing Kanter.
The Pacers turned to the buyout market to fill the void left by Victor Oladipo‘s season-ending injury, signing Wesley Matthews. The former Maverick was traded to the Knicks at the end of January, but only played two games there before reaching a buyout agreement.
The Thunder landed one of the top prizes in the buyout market when Markieff Morris agreed to a contract. Morris spent most of the season with the Wizards, but reached a buyout agreement with the Pelicans after a deadline-day trade. He recently received medical clearance after recovering from a neck injury.
The Raptors signed former Hawks guard Jeremy Lin for the rest of the season. The move took place shortly after Toronto lost back-up point guard Fred VanVleet for about five weeks due to thumb surgery.
Here are 10 more notable NBA headlines from the past week:
- Luke Walton’s job will remain safe for the rest of the season, according to a report out of Los Angeles. There had been speculation that the Lakers‘ disappointing season and recent clashes with veteran players might have Walton on the hot seat, but he still has the support of team management.
- The Lakers won’t be hit with tampering penalties for team president Magic Johnson’s statements about Ben Simmons when revealing that the Sixers guard has asked to be tutored over the summer. Johnson had indicated an interest in the arrangement before both teams decided against it.
- Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry was fined $25K for comments he made about Davis. Lasry was responded to a report that Davis listed Milwaukee as one of his four preferred destinations.
- Veteran forward Marcus Morris ripped his Celtics teammates after the team let a big lead get away in a loss to the Clippers. Morris said the season “hasn’t been fun for a long time” and called the team “a bunch of individuals.”
- Nuggets guard Isaiah Thomas made his season debut this week after recovering from his latest hip surgery. The former All-Star signed a one-year deal with the Nuggets.
- Former Heat star Chris Bosh is ready to make his retirement official. Bosh’s hasn’t played since the 2015/16 season because of health issues stemming from blood clots.
- After a tour of the league that saw him go from Portland to Cleveland to Houston to Indiana in less than a week, Nik Stauskas re-signed with the Cavaliers. The 25-year-old guard inked a contract for the rest of the season.
- Commissioner Adam Silver admitted he has received offers to run the NFL, but added that he hasn’t considered changing leagues. Silver said some Fortune 500 companies have also approached him with job opportunities.
- Former No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet worked out for several teams at All-Star Weekend in Charlotte. Thabeet hasn’t played in the NBA since the since the 2013/14 season.
- Gilbert Arenas is the latest former NBA star to commit to the BIG3 league. The 37-year-old was a high-scoring guard who had his best seasons with the Wizards.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Kevin Durant: Porzingis Trade “Has Nothing To Do With Me”
Speculation that Kevin Durant might join the Knicks this summer shifted into high gear once New York opened a second max salary spot with the trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas. However, in an All-Star Weekend interview, Durant said his decision in free agency won’t be affected by outside influences, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.
Durant has been trying to quell free agent talk, lashing out at the media recently over repeated rumors about his intentions. When asked about the Porzingis deal, Durant was careful not to say anything that might indicate he’s headed to New York.
“I play basketball for the Warriors,” Durant said. “My main concern is being the best basketball player I can be. I have no concerns about trades or transactions throughout the season with other teams. Has nothing to do with me. I’m glad Porzingis is in a better spot for him. I look forward to Luka [Doncic] and him playing together for years to come.”
Another player involved in that trade could give the Knicks some help in their pursuit of Durant, Berman adds. DeAndre Jordan is a close friend of Durant’s and might be a valuable part of the recruiting effort. Jordan has an expiring contract, but Knicks management has indicated a desire to re-sign him and may be willing to offer its entire $5MM room exception if the rest of free agency goes as planned.
“It’s my friend, he got traded and I think he’s in a good place,’’ Durant said of Jordan. “He understands what the business is like. We talk about life more so than the NBA. He’ll be fine [in New York].’’
Another advantage for the Knicks could be Durant’s agent/manager Rich Kleiman, a New York native who has a business relationship with team president Steve Mills. Berman cites rumors that Kleiman could get a front office position in New York if Durant decides to go there.
Durant is having his most productive season since coming to Golden State, posting a 27.6/7.0/5.9 line in 57 games. He figures to attract numerous max offers, but the Warriors will have his Bird Rights for the first time, meaning they can offer a five-year contract with larger raises, while everyone else will be limited to four years.
Durant may not enjoy the free agent speculation, but he hasn’t done anything to stop it, Berman notes. Unlike teammate Klay Thompson, who has said he hopes to spend the rest of his career with the Warriors, Durant hasn’t made any concrete statements about his plans beyond this season.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 2/9/19 – 2/16/19
Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team creates original content to complement our news feed. Below are the original segments and features from the past seven days:
- Luke Adams examined the most valuable traded second-round picks for the upcoming draft.
- He also detailed the six teams that must make roster additions within the next week.
- We opened our glossary to take a look at Starter Criteria.
- Chris Crouse gave his latest installment of Fantasy Hoops advice.
- We offered an advance look at the buyout market.
- We outlined the important dates on the NBA calendar for the rest of the season.
- Our Stock Watch series focused on the Southeast Division.
- In a HoopsRumors poll, we asked your pick for Most Valuable Player.
- In this week’s Community Shootaround posts, we asked:
- Will the Celtics be able to reach the NBA Finals?
- Which GMs are on the hot seat?
- Should the Pelicans continue to play Anthony Davis?
LeBron James Addresses Retirement: “I Got A Lot More Game To Play”
LeBron James‘ recent comments about potentially owning a team do not mean the Lakers superstar is thinking about retirement anytime soon, Josh Peter of USA Today writes.
At his 15th All-Star game, James told reporters during NBA All-Star media day in Charlotte on Saturday that he has a lot more basketball to play.
“I got a lot, a ton more years to play this game and suit up and be in a Lakers uniform,” James said. “…Hopefully I can sit up here and answer questions as a player for a long time.’”
In his first season with the Lakers, James is enjoying another stellar season, averaging 26.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 7.6 APG. However, the most serious injury of his career sidelined James for an extended stretch earlier in the season. His groin issue forced the Lakers to play for more than a month without their best player and as a result, the team fell out the current postseason picture.
The Lakers (28-29) are just three games back of the Clippers for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. A healthy James will be important as Los Angeles aims to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2012/13 season.
Hasheem Thabeet Working Out For Teams During All-Star Break
Former second overall draft pick Hasheem Thabeet is in Charlotte working out for NBA teams, tweets Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Thabeet worked out in front of representatives for the Rockets, Raptors and Pistons.
Thabeet, 31, has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2013/14 season when he played in 23 games with the Thunder. The 7’3″ center from Tanzania, drafted by the Grizzlies in 2009, also had stints with the Rockets and Trail Blazers.
After three productive seasons with the University of Connecticut, Thabeet failed to translate that success to the NBA. While Thabeet played in 68 games as a rookie and 66 games in 2012/13, he never averaged more than 3.1 PPG in a season.
Following a two-year run with the Thunder, Thabeet bounced around several organizations, including the Pistons and 76ers. Thabeet also had several stints in the G-League. In recent years, Thabeet has suited up for the Yokohama B-Corsairs of the Japanese B.League.
CBS Sports’ Reid Forgrave recently profiled Thabeet, who has been working out with the intention of making an NBA comeback. Thabeet is training with Keith Williams, an NBA trainer and skills coach who has worked with DeMarcus Cousins, Markelle Fultz and Kevin Durant.
Forgrave also noted that Thabeet had already worked out for the Raptors, Bucks and Sixers. It remains to be seen if Thabeet can complete an NBA return and adjust to the current style of play.
Northwest Notes: Morris, Saric, Saunders
While the Thunder entered the All-Stat break with a loss to the Pelicans, the team will start the second half with an added boost. Oklahoma City agreed to terms with veteran big man Markieff Morris, which should fortify the team’s frontcourt.
Morris, who spent most of the season with the Wizards, has not played since December, when a neck injury forced him to the sidelines. While his role and performance were inconsistent in Washington, Morris averaged 11.5 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 34 games. Morris figures to serve as a primary backup at the four in Oklahoma City.
Brett Dawson and Fred Katz of The Athletic examined how Morris will fit in with the Thunder’s current roster. Katz compared Morris’ potential fit to that of Enes Kanter with a more capable perimeter game. While it remains to be seen how Morris settles in, at least one new teammate is excited by his arrival.
“We’re good,” Paul George said. “We’re a good group. We added a big piece in Markieff that we’re excited for, and we’re gonna be ready for the second half after this break.”
Check out more Northwest Division notes:
- The Timberwolves‘ decision to start Dario Saric in place of Taj Gibson led the team to score 74 points in the paint on Thursday. Interim head coach Ryan Saunders complimented Saric on creating space with his presence, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “That’s one thing we like with Dario spacing the floor and having Taj in there at times, too,” Saunders said. “Karl(-Anthony Towns) has a little more opportunity to work. Playing through Karl is definitely a focus of ours.”
- Speaking of Saunders, he’s only a few weeks into the job after the firing of Tom Thibodeau. Saunders praised the Timberwolves‘ players for easing his transition into head coaching duties, Feigen writes. “Anything that’s new and sudden, it takes time to get more comfortable just in your regimen, your daily routine in things. But I felt comfortable out there,” he said. “The credit goes to the players in terms of how they make me feel, too.”
- At 27-30, the Timberwolves are four games back of the eighth seed in the Western Conference. While their postseason odds are not great, the team insists there is reason for optimism entering the second half, Chris Hine of the Star Tribune writes.