David Griffin Talks LeBron James, Cavs, Lakers
David Griffin‘s name continues to surface when teams around the NBA make front office changes, as he was most recently identified as a potential target for the Pelicans. For now though, Griffin remains without an NBA job, allowing the former Cavaliers general manager to freely share his thoughts on teams around the league.
Griffin did just that in a conversation with Michael Shapiro of SI.com, revisiting his days in Cleveland and weighing in on the challenges facing Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka, who are now the ones tasked with building a title contender around LeBron James.
Griffin made several interesting comments in the Q&A, which is worth checking out in full. Here are some of the highlights from the former Cavs GM:
On the pressure of being the GM for a team with LeBron on its roster:
“It’s not just the pressure with LeBron, it’s that the only mark of success each year was winning a championship. … It was like you’re taking care of the legacy of Babe Ruth. Nobody knows who his general manager was, and nobody really knows if that general manager was successful or not. But because the Yankees won as many championships as they did, Ruth and [Lou] Gehrig and those guys’ legacies are what they are. It was something we felt responsible for. This is the greatest player of his generation, and if you’re not delivering championships, you’re failing.”
On the idea that LeBron was the “shadow GM” in Cleveland (and now in Los Angeles):
“It’s just an asinine assertion that he was a shadow GM. LeBron was one of many people on the team who we talked to, it just so happens he’s a basketball savant. You wouldn’t be doing your job if you didn’t talk to him about the pieces you might want to bring to the franchise. And he’s going to be an alpha leader in the locker room, and if he feels comfortable with certain players you’re bringing in, his opinion matters.
“… The ‘LeBron is the GM, all-powerful, in charge of the franchise’ idea is, to me, preposterous. Now, I’m not in Los Angeles, I don’t experience anything they’re going through, but in my experience, I see a lot of the same nonsense from the media. If you are leading LeBron and you are leading your team, you’re getting incredible input from him because you asked for it.”
On what the Lakers should aim to do with their roster around LeBron this offseason:
“I think way too much is put into the idea that you have max cap space for two max players, and therefore you must land the plane on key free agents. I don’t think that’s the case, and I don’t think you need to land the plane of Anthony Davis. You need to maximize your asset value all the time, and no harm befalls you as long as you don’t use that space poorly. So it doesn’t have to have a name attached to it, their next asset doesn’t have to be Anthony Davis. If they remain flexible they’ll be able to accumulate the right assets for the good of the franchise.”
Poll: Where Will Kyrie Irving Play In 2019/20?
A panel of ESPN’s NBA reporters and analysts were polled this week about the 2019/20 destinations for several key free agents, and the voting results on Kyrie Irving‘s home for next season were of particular interest.
It was less than five months ago that Irving vowed to re-sign with the Celtics in 2019, but in the wake of his more recent comments on free agency (“Ask me July 1”), ESPN’s panel isn’t overly confident that the star point guard will actually remain in Boston — the Celtics received about 53% of the vote, followed by the Knicks, Lakers, and Nets.
While Irving’s long-term NBA home will be a popular topic of discussion between now and July 1, it’s not clear that the 26-year-old himself even knows yet where he’ll play next season. After all, if the Celtics are bounced from the playoffs in the second round by a team like the Bucks or Raptors, Irving’s view on the franchise might be significantly different than if the C’s make a run to the NBA Finals and give the Warriors all they can handle.
If Irving sours on Boston, a move to New York could be appealing. The Nets are further ahead in their rebuild than the Knicks and will have a maximum-salary contract slot available. Of course, the Knicks will have two such slots, which would give Irving the opportunity to bring another star player along with him.
The Lakers have become an increasingly popular hypothetical destination for Irving, given the Lakers’ need for a second star and the efforts Irving and LeBron James have made to mend fences. Still, it’s hard to imagine the two All-Stars teaming up again after how things ended in Cleveland. L.A.’s other team, the Clippers, might make more sense as an Irving destination — they’re ahead of the rival Lakers in the standings this season and could potentially create a path to two max-salary slots.
Of course, there will be other teams with cap room available, but if Irving leaves Boston, those New York and Los Angeles teams look like his most probable suitors.
What do you think? Where will Irving be playing when the 2019/20 season begins? Will he stick with the Celtics, or have there been enough red flags in Boston this season that you expect him to jump ship and get a fresh start somewhere else?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to weigh in!
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
And-Ones: Hoiberg, Donaghy, All-Star Game
Shortly after being dismissed by the Bulls earlier this season, Fred Hoiberg told ESPN that he’d be focused on finding a coaching job, rather than seeking a front office position, when he resumes his career. However, Hoiberg’s stance on his next job has softened a little recently, as Travis Hines of The Ames Tribune details.
“If the right front office opportunity did come around, I would potentially look at that,” Hoiberg said. “When I was just getting out of coaching (the Bulls), that was the first thing on my mind and still is. But if the right front office opportunity came about, that is something I would look at.”
While Hoiberg said he appreciated the opportunity to spend time with his family this year, he admitted that he misses the “grind” of coaching, adding that he’d be open to a college head coaching position as well, despite his distaste for the recruiting process.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Earlier this week, Scott Eden of ESPN.com published a fascinating piece laying out how former NBA referee Tim Donaghy conspired to fix NBA games. The NBA pushed back against that narrative, however, arguing today in an official response that Eden’s story “adds little to the existing record” and contending that much of the new material in the report is inaccurate or misleading.
- The Knicks weren’t the only team whose deadline moves impacted their summer cap projections. Danny Leroux of The Athletic takes a look at several of the clubs whose offseason outlook was affected by this month’s trades.
- Back in the fall, the NBA G League announced it would offer a handful of “select contracts,” worth $125K, to elite prospects coming out of high school. Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days explores how those contracts might work, and how those players might be assigned to G League teams.
- In the wake of a fairly underwhelming All-Star Game in Charlotte, veteran broadcaster and former head coach Jeff Van Gundy said he’s in favor of eliminating the game, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “I would name All-Stars, I would have All-Star weekend, they have all these things, introduce them … the players are great, they should be applauded,” Van Gundy said. “But to take this game and shoot 160 threes, it’s an embarrassment”
Checking In On 2019’s NBA Buyout Market
After an early flurry of action on the NBA’s buyout market following this year’s trade deadline, things have slowed down significantly over the last week. With game action having resumed on Thursday night though, we still may see a little more action before the end of the month.
2019’s buyout period will come to an unofficial end in about a week, so before it does, we’re checking in on where things stand and which players may still shake loose…
When must a player be released by to retain his playoff eligibility?
Anyone who is waived by the end of the day (11:59 pm ET) on March 1 will be postseason-eligible if he subsequently signs with a new team. A player who is waived after March 1 won’t be eligible to play in the postseason, unless he was released from a 10-day – rather than a standard – contract.
Does a player also need to sign by March 1 to be playoff-eligible for his new team?
Nope. A player could sign with a new team on the very last day of the regular season and still be eligible to participate in the postseason, as long as he was waived by his previous team on or before March 1.
Which players are already off the board?
As our 2019 buyout market recap shows, a handful of intriguing veterans who were bought out or released earlier in February have already found new NBA homes.
Markieff Morris joined the Thunder; Enes Kanter signed with the Trail Blazers; Wayne Ellington landed with the Pistons; Jeremy Lin is a Raptor; and Wesley Matthews headed to the Pacers. Other veterans who hit free agency headed overseas (Michael Beasley to China) or joined a non-contender (Nik Stauskas to the Cavaliers).
So who’s still out there?
The list of remaining free agents isn’t quite as interesting as the group of players who have already signed, but there are some notable names out there. Greg Monroe, Marcin Gortat, or Zach Randolph could appeal to a team seeking frontcourt depth. Carmelo Anthony and Ben McLemore are options for clubs in need of scoring off the bench.
There are also some wild cards on the market. Alex Abrines was released by the Thunder due to an undisclosed personal situation, so he may simply take the rest of the season off. That’s what Milos Teodosic reportedly plans to do too, as he prepares for the 2019/20 campaign. Omri Casspi, meanwhile, could draw interest from some contenders, but he’ll have to make it back from a torn meniscus and prove he’s healthy before any team gets serious about signing him.
Besides the players who have been waived in recent weeks, there are some available players who were released earlier (like Michael Carter-Williams and Nick Young) or who haven’t played in the NBA at all this season (such as Trevor Booker).
Are there any other appealing targets that could become available in the next week?
Here’s the list of players we singled out in our recap as possible buyout candidates:
- Ryan Anderson, F (Heat)
- Jerryd Bayless, G (Timberwolves)
- Dragan Bender, F/C (Suns)
- Vince Carter, F (Hawks)
- Troy Daniels, G (Suns)
- Dewayne Dedmon, C (Hawks)
- Channing Frye, F/C (Cavaliers)
- Pau Gasol, C (Spurs)
- DeAndre Jordan, C (Knicks)
- Frank Kaminsky, F/C (Hornets)
- Kosta Koufos, C (Kings)
- Robin Lopez, C (Bulls)
- J.R. Smith, G (Cavaliers)
- Jason Smith, F/C (Pelicans)
- Anthony Tolliver, F (Timberwolves)
Most of these guys probably won’t reach the open market, but they’re all players on expiring – or pseudo-expiring – contracts who may not have a long-term future with their current teams. As such, they’re worth monitoring.
The most interesting names on this list, in my opinion, are Dedmon, Jordan, Kaminsky, Lopez, and Smith (J.R., not Jason). Reports have suggested that the Hawks, Knicks, Hornets, Bulls, and Cavaliers plan to keep those players for a variety of reasons — the Knicks believe Jordan could be an asset during their summer recruitment of Kevin Durant, for instance, while the Cavs could still trade Smith’s partially guaranteed 2019/20 salary during the offseason.
Still, the Hawks bought out Lin just a few days after reports indicated it likely wouldn’t happen. Things can change, particularly if these players badly want to get to a contending team and are willing to give back a substantial amount of money to make it happen. It wouldn’t be shocking if one of those five players – or a handful of others on the list above – reached the open market in the not-too-distant future.
Our 2019 buyout market recap will continue to be updated through March 1, so be sure to keep an eye on it over the next week.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Udonis Haslem Leaning Toward One More Season
While Dwyane Wade hasn’t wavered on his decision to retire at the end of the 2018/19 season, longtime Heat teammate Udonis Haslem has been less certain about his future plans. Haslem initially suggested he would likely call it a career after the season, but recently said he remains undecided. Now, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald, Haslem is tentatively planning to return to the Heat for 2019/20.
“I am leaning towards doing one more season,” Haslem said to Jackson. “But it’s not 100 percent. For me, physically and mentally I’m still 100 percent engaged to help these guys get where they need to go. It’s just about the time. Is it time to do something different?”
Haslem and Wade came into the NBA together, joining the Heat in 2003. Wade briefly left South Beach for ill-fated stints with the Bulls and Cavaliers in recent years, but the two veterans have otherwise been together with the Heat for their entire NBA careers. Still, Haslem tells Jackson that he doesn’t feel as if the two friends need to retire at the same time.
“I’m leaning toward [playing another season] because as I watch Dwyane go, it’s more and more clear to me that even though we came in together and want to finish together, our careers have taken different paths,” Haslem said. “That doesn’t mean we’re separated. But our careers have gone different ways. We started together and are going to finish here together, but it doesn’t mean we have to finish at the same time. That’s something that becomes more and more clear as you watch these paths go the way they’re going.”
Haslem, 38, hasn’t played major minutes for the Heat in years, having averaged no more than 8.1 minutes per game since the 2014/15 season. In 2018/19, he has played just four times, logging 15 total minutes. However, the big man’s value in the locker room and on the bench more than makes up for his limited on-court contributions, teammate Goran Dragic explained last spring.
“It’s really tough to explain to people outside what he means to this team,” Dragic said at the time. “Everybody is looking, ‘OK, he’s not playing,’ but they don’t know how much he brings to this team, especially with his experience and leadership.”
The Heat’s offseason plans are unlikely to be impacted by Haslem’s decision, since he’d simply fill out the 15-man roster on a minimum salary deal if he returns.
Jordan Crawford Set To Play In China
Jordan Crawford‘s 2018/19 international tour will continue in China, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando, who hears from a source that the veteran NBA guard has agreed to a deal with the Sichaun Blue Whales of the Chinese Basketball Association.
It has been an eventful season so far for Crawford, who had apparent deals with teams in Germany and China fall through in November and January, respectively. Crawford subsequently reached a contract agreement with Ironi Nahariya in Israel and spent a month with the team, averaging 17.8 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 3.8 APG in five games before becoming a free agent again.
A first-round draft pick in 2010, Crawford has appeared in 281 career regular season NBA games, averaging 12.2 PPG on .411/.317/.826 shooting. His most recent NBA stint came when he finished the 2017/18 campaign with the Pelicans, playing in five regular season games and a couple more playoff contests for the club.
The CBA season ends before the NBA season does, and Sichaun doesn’t project to be a playoff team, so Crawford could find himself on the lookout for a new home again before too long. While he may try to catch on with an NBA team down the stretch like he did last season in New Orleans, that seems like a longer shot this time around.
Danny Ferry Outlines Pelicans’ Plan For Anthony Davis
Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry confirmed that Anthony Davis will be back in the lineup on Friday, but declined to go into further detail on the club’s plan for the All-Star big man beyond that game. New interim general manager Danny Ferry filled in those gaps later in the day, explaining to the media how the Pelicans will handle the Davis situation going forward, as Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com and ESPN’s Brian Windhorst relay.
Sources tell Windhorst that there were discussions between Davis and the Pelicans during the All-Star break about adjusting their plan to have him keep playing in every game. However, as Ferry outlined on Thursday, Davis will continue to see playing time for New Orleans over the season’s final month and a half — his minutes will just be kept in check to a greater extent than they have been so far in 2018/19.
In 45 games this season, the former No. 1 pick is averaging 36.0 minutes per contest. That number figures to be in the 20-25 MPG range going forward, according to Ferry.
“League rules made it clear Anthony has to play,” Ferry said. “As we’ve done previously, we will continue to follow their lead but also be focused on the future of the team.”
Focusing on “the future of the team” means that Jrue Holiday‘s minutes are also expected to be cut back, per Ferry. The Pelicans will give more of those minutes to their younger players down the stretch, with Frank Jackson, Cheick Diallo, Kenrich Williams, and Stanley Johnson among the youngsters who should benefit from New Orleans’ new plan.
The ostensible goal will be to develop those players, though the Pelicans probably won’t mind if they drop a few places in the standings and improve their position in the 2019 draft lottery. Ferry added that he, Gentry, president of basketball operations Mickey Loomis, and owner Gayle Benson are all on the same page with regard to the organization’s plan going forward.
“Mrs. Benson is committed to building a successful organization and has promised the resources and willingness to do whatever is necessary,” Ferry said.
Northwest Notes: Kanter, Morris, Exum, Lillard
Enes Kanter‘s decision in free agency came down to two teams: the Trail Blazers and Lakers. Kanter, of course, chose to join the Blazers less than two weeks after being waived by the Knicks, labeling one major reason why he made his choice.
“I think it’s just the culture,” Kanter said, according to Casey Holdahl of NBA.com. “After I got released from the Knicks I got a lot of offers but I just wanted to wait. After (Blazers president of basketball operations) Neil (Olshey) talked to me, I was like ‘You know what, I think Portland is the team that I want to go to because I already know their good culture from four years ago when they offered be the contract.’ I think it’s the best decision for me. Then Dame (Lillard) texted me and I was like, ‘You know what, this is the best place that I can (be).’ Be with the team and go far.”
Kanter, a bruising center who holds career-averages of 11.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, is expected to provide depth off Portland’s bench as the postseason nears. He has an opportunity to prove his worth on a competitive team ahead of free agency, joining the Blazers as a locker room leader and veteran presence.
“It’s amazing, like a first year of school,” Kanter said. “I was actually nervous but I think they help me a lot. Amazing locker (room). From the first moment that I stepped in everybody was trying to help, talking to me about lots of stuff. It’s become very easy, I feel like I’ve been a part of this team for a long time from the first day.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division tonight:
- New Thunder forward Markieff Morris was cleared two weeks ago and is “feeling great,” Royce Young of ESPN tweets. Morris officially signed with Oklahoma City this week, having being diagnosed with transient cervical neuropraxia in his neck early last month.
- Dante Exum participated in his first practice with the Jazz on Thursday since suffering a left ankle sprain in January, Eric Woodyard of the Deseret News writes. “It was great,” teammate Rudy Gobert said about seeing Exum in practice, according to Woodyard. “I think when he’s playing well, he can have a big impact for us and having him back soon is going to help us a lot.” Exum was re-evaluated by the team and ruled out for Friday’s game against Oklahoma City, though his return date doesn’t appear to be far off. He’s missed 17 straight games with the injury.
- Blazers star Damian Lillard explained why he’s stayed with the team throughout his career, appearing on the Posted Up podcast with Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes this week. “I’m not willing to sell myself out for championships,” Lillard said. Lillard, drafted by Portland in 2012 with the No. 6 overall pick, is currently in his seventh season with the franchise.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 2/21/19
Here are Thursday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA G League:
- The Sixers have assigned guard Zhaire Smith to the Delware Blue Coats, the team announced on social media. Smith was selected by Philadelphia with the No. 16 overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft.
- The Wizards have assigned Troy Brown to the Capital City Go-Go, according to a tweet from the team. Brown will be available for the team’s game against the Greensboro Swarm on Friday night.
- The Suns recalled guard De’Anthony Melton from the Northern Arizona Suns, the team announced in a press release. Melton is averaging 18.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists with Northern Arizona on the season.
Ron Baker To Miss 4-6 Months With Torn Labrum
Free agent guard Ron Baker will miss four-to-six months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right labrum, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). The surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.
Baker started the 2018/19 season with the Knicks, but the 25-year-old was waived after playing in just 11 games. He then signed with the Wizards for four contests and was released after two weeks.
Baker was also ruled out for the remainder of last season after suffering a torn labrum and dislocated shoulder, with that injury coming at the end of January. Baker’s estimated timeline could see him healthy by the start of free agency, which would allow him to sign with a team during the offseason or entering training camp in the fall.
Baker, who wasn’t selected in the 2016 NBA Draft, holds career-averages of 3.1 points, 1.8 assists, 0.7 steals and 14.5 minutes per game.