Celtics Notes: Grousbeck, Brown, Ainge, Baynes
The Celtics will be vulnerable in the first round of the playoffs, co-owner Wyc Grousbeck admitted yesterday, according to Nicole Yang of The Boston Globe. Speaking at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Grousbeck said the team is coming off the “worst February” in memory since he assumed control of the team in 2002.
Boston posted a 5-6 record and ended the month with four straight losses. There have also been comments from players that the team lacked unity, along with rumors that Kyrie Irving may be reconsidering the verbal commitment he made to re-sign with the Celtics this summer.
“We also have the capability of losing in the first round,” Grousbeck said. “We have a very, very good set of opponents in the East, all of whom have beaten us in the last month.”
There’s more this morning out of Boston:
- At the end of Friday’s shootaround, president of basketball operations Danny Ainge could be seen talking to Jaylen Brown, relays A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Brown, who has struggled to adjust to a reserve role after being the team’s second-leading scorer last season, described Ainge’s comments as encouraging. “Some GMs might not say anything to you,” Brown said. “So I appreciate him. I try to listen to everybody, hear from everybody and their perspective… So, Danny’s definitely one of the people in my ear that I’m tuned in to, just because of his position and what he’s been through.”
- Hall of Famer Kevin McHale warned back in November that the Celtics’ depth might turn out to be a problem because too many players would be expecting significant roles, notes Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. The return of Irving and Gordon Hayward, who both missed last year’s playoffs with injuries, meant that Brown, Terry Rozier and others who helped the team reach the Eastern Conference finals were asked to make adjustments. “I think they’re in a spot where they’re trying to keep a lot of players involved and a lot of players happy and catching a rhythm for a lot of players,” McHale said. “That’s always really hard. I’ve always believed that you need to make sure, as a coach, that your three or four top guys are in a great rhythm, and then after that you’re going to have to have guys that fill in and play. You can’t make everybody happy all the time.”
- The Celtics may get a boost with the return of center Aron Baynes, who is listed as questionable for today’s game. A left foot contusion has kept him off the court since February 1.
Community Shootaround: Replacing The All-Star Game
When your commissioner compares All-Star Game changes to putting “an earring on a pig,” it’s probably time to try something different.
That’s how Adam Silver characterized the new All-Star format in a speech Friday at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, relays Jimmy Golen of The Associated Press. The NBA is in its second season of having the highest vote-getter from each conference make selections from a pool of players chosen by fans and coaches. Even though this year’s game was shown on both TNT and TBS, it tied for the worst rating in its history with a 3.8.
“The All-Star Game didn’t work,” Silver admitted, calling it “an afterthought” of an event-filled weekend.
Silver would like to shorten the regular season to about 70 games and make up for the lost revenue by replacing the All-Star contest with a midseason or pre-season tournament that would amount to a separate championship. It’s similar to the format in European soccer. He also suggested that teams could stage a mini-tournament in Europe or Asia.
One problem the league would face is how to make the competitions matter when the ultimate goal is to win an NBA title. Another is that cutting the schedule to 70 games means every team would have to give up the money from six home dates. And although players and coaches would prefer a shorter season, none would welcome an accompanying pay cut to make it possible.
We want to get your opinion on Silver’s musings. Is the All-Star Game beyond salvaging? Would you be interested in seeing a tournament take its place, and is there any way to make it meaningful? Does the NBA need a shorter season, and how can the revenue be replaced? Please leave your comments in the space below.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 3/2/19
Here are Saturday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Timberwolves recalled Robert Covington from their Iowa affiliate, the team announced on Twitter. Covington, who is recovering from a bone bruise on his right knee, has already been ruled out of tomorrow’s game against the Wizards.
- The Spurs recalled first-round pick Lonnie Walker from Austin, according to a press release. After suffering a meniscus tear in the preseason, Walker has appeared in just six NBA games, but is averaging 16.0 PPG in 20 games with Austin.
- The Clippers recalled first-round pick Jerome Robinson from Agua Caliente, the team tweeted.
- The Grizzlies recalled Jevon Carter from the Memphis Hustle.
- The Hornets tweeted that they assigned Dwayne Bacon to the Greensboro Swarm so he could play in tonight’s game against Long Island.
Joel Embiid Expects To Return Next Week
Sixers center Joel Embiid, who hasn’t played since the All-Star Game because of soreness in his left knee, told reporters before tonight’s game that he plans to be back next week, tweets Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
Embiid added that the pain in his knee had been intensifying before the break and he wanted to get it back in shape heading into the postseason. He said he approached team officials about taking a few games off (Twitter link).
“It’s all about long-term preservation and making sure I’m ready, not just for the playoffs, [but] also for the next 15 years,” Embiid said in a quote relayed by Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice. “Knowing the team and what we’ve been through, knowing me and knowing that I like to push on everything, I like to play through anything, we just felt like it was better to preserve.”
The Sixers have won three out of four games without Embiid and enter the night half a game out of third place in the East. Aggressive moves to add Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris have made Philadelphia one of the top contenders in the conference if everyone is healthy.
Embiid says the rest has been effective and his knee is feeling better, tweets Serena Winters of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I didn’t feel comfortable and coming from me, you know that if I don’t want to push through anything, it means that I really need it (rest),” Embiid said (Twitter link).
Bontemps also offered an update on rookie Zhaire Smith, who has been sidelined all season because of foot surgery and a food-related allergic reaction. Smith said he had to regain more than 40 pounds after his weight dropped to 164 (Twitter link).
Smith played his first game last night for the Sixers’ G League affiliate in Delaware, but isn’t expected to see any NBA action this season. He logged 15 minutes and posted two points, three rebounds and two assists.
Damion Lee In Position To Get Warriors’ Final Roster Spot
The buyout market didn’t offer the Warriors any help at Friday’s deadline, so it appears the 15th roster spot may be filled from within the organization, writes Mark Medina of The San Jose Mercury News. Damion Lee, who has been on a two-way contract all season, has the inside track on the final position, according to Medina.
“He would be someone given he has been with us all year,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We don’t have to make any decisions right now. Well wait and see how it all plays out.”
The Warriors could use veteran help at center and had been hoping Robin Lopez would reach a buyout deal with the Bulls. However, Chicago decided to hang on to Lopez as a veteran influence for its young roster. The only buyout that occurred yesterday involved San Antonio’s Pau Gasol, who will sign with the Bucks. Friday marked the final day that players currently on an NBA roster could be waived and still be playoff eligible with their new team.
The Warriors will be in no rush to fill their roster opening, although it’s virtually certain that someone will be added before the playoffs. Two-way players aren’t eligible for the postseason, so Golden State would have to convert Lee’s deal to a standard NBA contract by the end of the season, just as it did with Quinn Cook last year.
Lee still has 12 of the allotted 45 NBA days remaining on his two-way deal. He is expected to assume a larger role with the team starting tonight because Klay Thompson is awaiting an MRI on his sore right knee.
A 26-year-old shooting guard, Lee has appeared in 20 games for the Warriors, averaging 4.6 PPG in about 11 minutes per night. He played 15 games for the Hawks at the end of last season.
“I feel like I belong here,” Lee said. “The times I’m out there on the court, there’s nothing that’s challenging. The times that I’m not playing either, I see something and I’ll mention something to someone. I pride myself on having a high IQ and knowing the game.”
Jeanie Buss: Lakers’ Anthony Davis Offer Was “Fake News”
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss says reports of what her team offered to the Pelicans in an attempt to land Anthony Davis were exaggerated, tweets Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. Buss addressed the rumors in a speech today at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. She couldn’t mention Davis by name because of tampering rules, but said leaks that the Lakers were willing to trade “our entire roster” for “a certain player” were “fake news.”
A report just before last month’s trade deadline said L.A. was prepared to give up all its young talent, offering Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac and Josh Hart to New Orleans, along with a pair of first-round draft picks.
The denial from Buss meshes with a report yesterday by ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan, notes Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll.
“My sources have told me within the last 48 hours that what we’ve heard the Lakers offered may not be true,” MacMullen said in an appearance on “The Jump.” “… I think there’s some question about just how much did they offer. Did they even get a chance to offer anything?”
There were rumors in the week before the deadline that former Pelicans GM Dell Demps was refusing to take calls from the Lakers to give them a chance to talk about Davis, so MacMullan may be right when she speculates that a formal offer was never made.
No one has confirmed which players L.A. would have been willing to part with to acquire Davis, but there have been reports that the trade talk had a negative effect on many of those whose names were mentioned. The Lakers haven’t played well since the deadline, falling into 10th place in the West with a 30-32 record.
L.A.’s trade plans involving Davis should become clearer once the season is over and negotiations can resume. However, the Lakers will find a more competitive playing field, with the Celtics and Knicks expected to become actively involved, along with other teams.
Five Key Stories: 2/23/19 – 3/2/19
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. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:
The Bucks and Eric Bledsoe agreed to a four-year, $70MM contract extension. The deal, which will keep Bledsoe under contract through 2023, will also keep him off the 2019 free agent market, allowing Milwaukee to focus on retaining other key FAs this summer.
Pau Gasol and the Spurs reached a buyout agreement, clearing a path for him to sign with the Bucks. The 38-year-old had fallen out of the rotation in San Antonio and gave back $2.5MM to get the opportunity to join the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Veteran big man Channing Frye announced that he’ll retire at season’s end. The 35-year-old has appeared in 883 total regular season games in his 13-year NBA career, playing in another 49 postseason games and winning a title with Cleveland in 2016.
The qualifying games for the 2019 FIBA World Cup came to an end and the 32-team field has been set. Head coach Jeff Van Gundy led Team USA through the qualifiers, but Gregg Popovich will take over the World Cup itself, which will take place this September in China.
Dirk Nowitzki suggested that he’s not closing the door on playing one more season. The basketball world has been treating the longtime Mavericks big man as if he’ll retire this year, but he pointed out that he has yet to actually make that decision or announce his intentions.
Here are 10 more headlines from the last week:
- Timberwolves star Karl-Anthony Towns said he was “lucky to be alive” after a car accident that could have been much worse.
- The Kings signed Corey Brewer to a rest-of-season contract worth $2MM.
- The Suns have officially launched their search for a new general manager.
- Heat president of basketball operations Pat Riley suggests he envisions the team being major players in 2020’s free agent period.
- The Pelicans made a roster change, waiving veteran guard Tim Frazier and signing EuroLeague sharpshooter Dairis Bertans.
- The Hornets and Bulls opted not to buy out Frank Kaminsky and Robin Lopez, respectively.
- Former first-round pick Henry Ellenson signed a rest-of-season deal with the Knicks, which includes a 2019/20 team option.
- The Hawks intend to be aggressive and pursue top free agents during the 2019 offseason.
- The NBA is revamping its G League Elite Camp to focus it more on draft-eligible prospects.
- In the midst of another bad slump, Marcus Smart said that the Celtics are “just not together.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Klay Thompson To Undergo MRI On Knee
Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson will miss Saturday’s game against the Sixers due to right knee soreness and is scheduled to have an MRI on that knee on Sunday, as Nick Friedell of ESPN.com relays.
While Thompson will undergo an MRI to assess the injury, which he suffered during Thursday’s game against Orlando, he views the test as a precaution and doesn’t believe the issue will sideline him for an extended period.
“I’m sore, but I’ll be all right,” Thompson told Friedell. “I don’t think it’s anything serious, but it’s definitely better [we] take the right precautions for sure.”
Although Thompson’s injury doesn’t sound significant, it’s worth monitoring any health issue affecting one of the Warriors’ star players, since that may be the only thing that can derail them from claiming their third consecutive championship. If the Dubs do have to hold Thompson out of action for longer than anticipated, they have an open roster spot and could add some extra depth if it’s needed.
Thompson has only missed one other game this season — that contest, which took place on January 31, when Klay was battling an illness, was also against Philadelphia.
Heat Notes: Future, Dragic, Olynyk, Terry
Heat president Pat Riley spoke this week about targeting the 2020 offseason as a time when his club could make a splash in free agency, suggesting that Miami will have room for “two max contracts” during that summer. However, as we noted when we relayed Riley’s comments, it’s hard to see a path to two max slots for the Heat unless James Johnson and/or Kelly Olynyk turn down player options for 2020/21, and even then it might be tricky.
Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald digs a little deeper into the roadblocks in the way of Riley’s plan. As Jackson observes, not only are Riley’s cap estimates probably unrealistic, but it’s not clear which max players the Heat would even be targeting in 2020. That year’s free agent class looks weaker than 2019’s, and while it’s possible that some stars will sign one-year contracts this summer, there aren’t currently a ton of tantalizing names in the ’20 group besides Anthony Davis, who reportedly has eyes for L.A.
Riley also talked earlier this week about trying to add a quality player to the current group in the hopes of contending in 2019/20, but that won’t be easy either, notes Jackson. The Heat might have to count on lucking out in the draft or swinging a major trade in order to add an impact player, since they could be reluctant to even use their mid-level exception on a free agent, given the club’s proximity to the projected luxury tax line.
Here’s more from out of Miami:
- Having made his return from a knee injury on February 23, Goran Dragic is still being eased back into the Heat’s rotation, having come off the bench in each of his last four games. And that’s just fine by Dragic, per Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. The veteran point guard said he’s focused on getting back up to speed rather than worrying about whether he’s starting or playing with the second unit. “I told [head coach Erik Spoelstra] when we were having a conversation, I said, ‘Spo, don’t think about me. We’re going to figure out things,'” Dragic said. “I know I can’t just go in and be a starter. So for me, I go day by day. My focus is on my rehab. I’m still not done. I still have a lot of stuff to do to try to get my leg stronger. That’s it, basically. In the minutes I play, I just try to help my team. That’s the most important thing right now.”
- With the Heat attempting to stay out of tax territory for the 2018/19 season, they may face a predicament regarding Kelly Olynyk‘s minutes going forward, as cap expert Albert Nahmad explains (via Twitter). Olynyk can earn some extra bonus money if he plays 1,700 minutes this season, and would need to average 22.2 MPG the rest of the way to reach that threshold. He has played 21.3 MPG so far in ’18/19, but has seen more action lately and has made the most of those minutes, Nahmad notes.
- Speaking of Olynyk, in an entertaining piece for The Athletic, Shandel Richardson takes a look at a spending habits of the Heat big man, who prefers to label his lifestyle as “financially intelligent” rather than “frugal.”
- Emanuel Terry‘s 10-day deal with the Heat has now expired, as our 10-day contract tracker shows. There have been no indications that Miami plans to re-sign him, at least not right away.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 2/23/19 – 3/2/19
Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team creates original content to complement our news feed. Below are our original segments and features from the past seven days:
- We explained how Anthony Davis‘ trade request could have an indirect – but significant – impact on Karl-Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves.
- I revisited the protections on 2019’s traded first-round picks to get a sense of which selections are locks to change hands, which will ones will be protected, and which ones are still up in the air.
- We took a closer look at all the 10-day contracts expiring this week, examining the roster situations for the teams that signed those deals.
- Chris Crouse spoke to Bulls forward Otto Porter about his move to Chicago and the direction of the franchise, and touched base with Magic big man Mohamed Bamba to discuss his rookie season.
- The weekly installment in Chris’ Fantasy Hoops series focused on several frontcourt situations to watch around the NBA.
- In our Community Shootaround series this week, we discussed the following topics:
- In our lone poll this week, we asked how many maximum-salary players you expect the Knicks to sign this offseason.