Knicks Re-Sign Henry Ellenson To Two-Year Deal
MARCH 2: The Knicks have officially signed Ellenson for the rest of the season, the team announced today in a press release. As indicated below, the deal will feature a team option for 2019/20.
FEBRUARY 28: Henry Ellenson‘s 10-day contract with the Knicks will expire tomorrow night, but the former first-round pick won’t be going anywhere. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter), New York intends to lock up Ellenson to a rest-of-season deal that includes a team option for 2019/20.
Ellenson, the 18th overall pick in the 2016 draft, spent the first two and a half seasons of his professional career with the Pistons, but was never able to crack the team’s regular rotation and become a dependable contributor. He appeared in just 59 games for Detroit before being waived after this month’s deadline to accommodate Wayne Ellington.
Ellenson inked a 10-day contract with the Knicks last Wednesday, and while he didn’t see the court much in his first two games with the club, he played 36 minutes in Tuesday’s win over Orlando, racking up 13 points, nine boards, five assists, and a pair of steals. That performance presumably contributed in large part to New York’s decision to keep him around for at least the rest of the season.
Coming off a 10-day deal of his own, John Jenkins signed a two-year contract with the Knicks last week, so Ellenson will be the second New York player to parlay a 10-day pact into a longer-term agreement.
Ellenson’s new deal figures to closely resemble Jenkins’ deal, which is worth the minimum salary and doesn’t feature any guaranteed money for next season. The 2018/19 cap charge for Ellenson’s contract will be approximately $342K, assuming it’s finalized on Saturday.
With Ellenson sticking around, the Knicks’ roster count will remain at 14 players. That gives the team an open spot to add someone else, but there’s no obligation to fill it right away — or at all.
Jodie Meeks’ 10-Day Contract Expires; Raptors Seeking Frontcourt Depth?
Jodie Meeks‘ 10-day contract with the Raptors has expired and the team is unlikely to renew it, tweets TSN’s Josh Lewenberg. Toronto has two weeks to add a 14th player to its roster to meet the league minimum.
Meeks, 31, appeared in two games for the Raptors during his 10-day day, averaging 7.5 PPG and 2.0 RPG in 12 minutes per contest. After having not appeared in an NBA game since last season, the veteran shot a strong 37.5% from beyond the arc.
While Meeks had a solid showing, Toronto may seek frontcourt depth despite the acquisition of Marc Gasol, Lewenberg tweets. He mentions former Wizards center Marcin Gortat as a possible target, adding that there’s “mutual interest” between the two sides. In 47 games with the Clippers, Gortat averaged 5.0 PPG and 5.6 RPG.
To be playoff eligible, players had to be waived by their previous club ahead before March 1, so Gortat would qualify if he signs with a new team.
Adam Silver On Anthony Davis Saga: ‘Bad For The Fans There’
Anthony Davis‘ public trade request has generated plenty of discussion over the last five weeks, from the Pelicans shopping him ahead of this year’s trade deadline to his playing time moving forward. Per Andrew Lopez of NOLA.com, NBA commissioner Adam Silver discussed the situation on Friday, criticizing the publicity of Davis’ demand and explaining the difficult spot it has put the team and the league in.
“It’s not good when a player whose agent shows up in a city he doesn’t live in and announces this player doesn’t want to be here,” Silver said. “That’s bad for the fans there.”
Silver also referenced the “entertainment” value of the circumstances surrounding the news. Not only does the league receive more attention after his demand went public but interest in watching him play in the present also increases. Given the financial implications of New Orleans potentially sitting the six-time All-Star for the remainder of the season, Silver said the conflict has “two sides.”
“It puts the league in a difficult position because back to the notion of an entertainment product because I can tell you, I look at the ratings and I can say the interest in the team is still going to be greater with Anthony Davis on the floor than when he’s not on the floor,” he said. “He is a top player in this league. People are paying to see him compete.”
Davis appeared on LeBron James‘ HBO program this week, labeling himself the “CEO of my business.” Additionally, the perennial MVP candidate has said he would be open to playing for any team next season — the final year on his contract.
While Silver praised owner Gayle Benson‘s handling of the situation, the NBA commissioner admitted there’s no specific protocol to handle the matter.
“I don’t have an easy solution to the facts at hand take with Anthony Davis, but I think there are long term solutions,” Silver said. “We’re constantly looking for a better system.”
Pelicans’ Anthony Davis: ‘I’m The CEO Of My Own Business’
Anthony Davis rocked the NBA when he publicly requested a trade from the Pelicans, announcing that he would not sign an extension with the franchise. After a period of trade negotiations ahead of the trade deadline, New Orleans stood pat and kept Davis.
Davis’ minutes have been limited on the court since the All-Star break, but he maximized his minutes on a recent appearance on ‘HBO’s The Shop with LeBron James,’ ESPN’s Ian Begley writes. Davis addressed the trade request and his intention to control his career trajectory.
“All the media coverage [is] around me, and now I’m getting a chance to take over my career and say what I want to say and do what I want to do,” Davis said. “So now you see everybody [saying], ‘All right, I see AD changing.’ Everybody’s telling me, ‘You’re growing up. It’s about time to take care of your business, take care of your career.’ So now, as a player, as the CEO of my own business, I’ve got the power. I’m doing what I want to do and not what somebody tells me to do.”
In 49 games, Davis has averaged 27.3 PPG and 12.4 RPG for the Pelicans. He earned his sixth straight All-Star game nod but to preserve his health and avoid a possible injury, Davis’ playing time has been limited.
The Celtics, Lakers, Knicks and other teams have been linked to Davis since his request went public. While the 25-year-old has said he would suit up for any team, he candidly spoke of the uncertainty of his next destination.
“It is tough because you just don’t know. I don’t know,” Davis said. “I have one year left on contract, so I’m not sure what they’re gonna do. Obviously, I stated my intentions. But I did that this year and they [said], ‘No, we’re going to keep you here.’ So for me, it’s just not knowing what’s going to happen.”
Pacific Notes: Kings, Durant, Warriors, Clippers
The Kings came into the 2018/19 season projected to be a 25-win team. They’ve already blown past that projection and continue to vie for a playoff spot in a competitive Western Conference. And in the view of head coach Dave Joerger, the club’s success this season is just the start of something special in Sacramento, as Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee details.
“We’re playing hard and we don’t quit,” Joerger said. “What we’re building here, we will reap the rewards of this for many years to come — not many years from now, but going forward. If this is who we are, and I believe it is, we’re a tough out (in a playoff series) and Sacramento is a tough place to play if you’re a visiting team. We’ll keep coming at you.”
If the Kings’ young players continue to make positive strides, Joerger is right that things should only get better for the franchise moving forward. De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Harry Giles are all in their first, second, or third NBA season, and none are over 26 years old.
Let’s round up a few more notes from around the Pacific…
- Speaking to Kerith Burke of NBC Sports Bay Area, Warriors star Kevin Durant offered a couple interesting answers in a Q&A, suggesting that he won’t be thinking about his legacy when he makes his free agency decision this summer. He also indicated that he doesn’t feel the need to “build something” somewhere. “I don’t need anything in this basketball world to fulfill anything in me. The NBA is never going to fulfill me,” Durant said. “It’s going to make me feel good about all of the work that I’ve put in, but I think those days of me wanting to prove something to anybody or walk around with a huge chip on my shoulder is not my thing.”
- While Kevon Looney is probably still the Warriors‘ more trusted option, he and Jordan Bell have been trending in opposite directions lately, with Bell taking some of Looney’s minutes, per Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Both players are eligible for free agency in 2019, so they’ll be looking to finish the season strong.
- Despite trading away their leading scorer at each of the last two deadlines (Blake Griffin in 2018 and Tobias Harris in 2019), the Clippers remain in the playoff mix and have managed to pull off the enviable feat of retooling their roster without bottoming out, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com. Armed with young players, some draft assets, and cap flexibility going forward, the Clips are in position to make a splash this offseason.
Spurs Targeting Defender With Open Roster Spot?
The Spurs opened up a roster spot on Friday by reaching a buyout agreement with Pau Gasol, and Jabari Young of The San Antonio Express-News reports that the team has been looking at available players on the free agent market to fill that spot.
Sources tell Young that the Spurs would prefer to add a defensive-minded player, since they’ve had some issues on that side of the ball this season. According to Basketball-Reference’s data, San Antonio currently ranks 22nd in defensive rating.
Young doesn’t specify a position that San Antonio is targeting, but given how much trouble Gasol had cracking the frontcourt rotation, it seems safe to assume that the club won’t add another big man to replace him.
A swingman could make sense — the Spurs lost three solid wing defenders last offseason when they traded Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green and let Kyle Anderson walk in free agency, and they’ve had some issues stopping perimeter scorers in 2018/19.
Our list of notable current free agents can be found right here.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 3/1/19
Here are Friday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Lakers recalled rookie wing Isaac Bonga from the G League in advance of Friday’s game against Milwaukee, the team announced (via Twitter). Bonga was held to just three points on 1-of-6 shooting in South Bay’s loss on Thursday.
- The Kings have recalled forward Caleb Swanigan from their G League affiliate, according to a press release. Swanigan, acquired in a deadline deal last month, has yet to appear in a game for Sacramento, having instead earned playing time for the Stockton Kings.
- After posting a double-double (23 points, 10 rebounds) in a triple-overtime win for the Greensboro Swarm on Thursday, Dwayne Bacon was recalled from the G League today by the Hornets, the team announced in a press release.
- The Spurs have recalled rookie Chimezie Metu from the G League, per an announcement from the club. Metu played for the Austin Spurs on Thursday, recording 15 points and 10 boards off the bench.
- Rookie shooting guard Melvin Frazier was recalled from the G League by the Magic, the team announced (via Twitter). Frazier has appeared in 16 games for Orlando’s affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, this season, most recently posting 14 points, eight rebounds, and four steals for the squad on Tuesday.
- The Jazz recalled little-used second-year center Tony Bradley from the Salt Lake City Stars today, according to the team. The 2017 first-round pick has appeared in just one game for Utah this season.
Pelicans Waive Tim Frazier, Sign Dairis Bertans
MARCH 1: Both Frazier’s release and Bertans’ signing are now official, according to NBA.com’s transactions log.
FEBRUARY 28: The Pelicans are making a change to their roster, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports that the team has waived guard Tim Frazier and is working to sign EuroLeague guard Dairis Bertans.
Although neither move has been officially announced yet, Wojnarowski suggests Frazier was released on Wednesday night, while Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets that Bertans has agreed to a two-year deal with a team option for 2019/20. Will Guillory of The Athletic notes (via Twitter) that Bertans will require FIBA clearance, but the hope is that he can join the Pelicans later this week.
Bertans, 29, is the older brother of Spurs sharpshooter Davis Bertans. Like his brother, Dairis is most dangerous from beyond the arc — while Davis ranks second in the NBA with a .469 3PT%, Dairis leads the EuroLeague with a .536 3PT% in 22 games this season for Italian team Olimpia Milano.
Once the elder Bertans exercises the out clause in his deal with Olimpia Milano and officially joins the Pelicans, he’ll be able to sign for a deal worth up to about $274K in 2018/19, ESPN’s Bobby Marks observes (via Twitter). However, that figure is only possible if New Orleans uses the remainder of its bi-annual exception, having given most of it to Elfrid Payton last summer. The Pelicans used their full mid-level exception on Julius Randle.
If New Orleans opts for a minimum salary contract instead, it’ll be worth approximately $199K for this season. Both that figure and the bi-annual number are based on Bertans signing today, so they’d dip a little each day if the move is delayed. Either contract will include a minimum salary (about $1.42MM) for 2019/20. Even if the Pelicans had wanted to go beyond two years for the Latvian guard, they wouldn’t have been able to due to their limited available exceptions.
Meanwhile, Frazier will retain his playoff eligibility for a new team, since he’s being waived before the end of March 1. It’s not clear whether he’ll catch on somewhere else right away, but he could provide some depth at the point for a contender. In 47 games (19.3 MPG) this season, he has averaged 5.0 PPG and 4.4 APG with a .451/.351/.780 shooting line.
These two moves will represent the first two transactions for new Pelicans interim GM Danny Ferry.
Sixers’ Owner Talks Butler, Harris, Expectations
No NBA team has been more aggressive in acquiring immediate help since the 2018/19 season began than the Sixers, who traded for Jimmy Butler in November and Tobias Harris in February. In the wake of those deals, expectations are rising in Philadelphia — the club wants to make a deeper playoff run, and then will have to figure out if Butler and Harris can be re-signed in free agency.
Sixers controlling owner Josh Harris, in attendance at this week’s Sloan Conference in Boston, spoke to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan about those issues, offering some interesting insight. The 76ers are currently projected to match up with the Celtics in the first round of the postseason, and Boston has given Philadelphia a ton of trouble in recent years, but Harris didn’t want to entertain the notion of a first-round exit, suggesting that would be a “very problematic” outcome.
Here’s more from Harris, via MacMullan, on that subject and a couple others:
On how Harris would view the season if the Sixers were to be knocked off in the first round of the playoffs:
“We’d be unhappy. I’d be unhappy. The city would be unhappy. We’re going to work hard to make sure that doesn’t happen. We have enough talent on our roster that if we play the way we’re capable of playing, we can beat any team in the East.
“… We want to make sure at a minimum to advance deeper in the playoffs than we did last year. We’ve brought a lot of talent here. They haven’t been together that long, but we’re hopeful we can position them for deep run.”
On the prospect of re-signing both Butler and Harris in free agency:
“We gave up a lot to get Tobias and Jimmy on our team. We think they’re exceptional talents. We’re going to try to keep them. We know we are going to have to pay these guys in an appropriate way. We get it. It’s expensive.
“… The reality is, people like Tobias and Jimmy, there just aren’t that many of them. It’s never perfect, but when make a trade for someone who is expiring, there’s risk involved, we’re hoping we can convince them this is a great place for them.”
On discussing the direction of the franchise with star center Joel Embiid:
“Joel respects our job. He’s our most important player. He’s clearly our future — they’re all an important part of the future — but Joel is exceptional. We generally talk to him about how we are oriented, and what type of players we might be bringing in. We get his advice. In terms of specific conversations, we give him a heads-up.
“At times, it’s not always appropriate because of the other parties involved. You don’t want to compromise who we are talking to or put [Embiid] in an awkward position. “But we’re certainly thinking all the time about how to complement his skill set, which is three-and-D wings, people who spread the court. He’s a dominant presence defensively and he’s dominant in the paint. We need to take the pressure off him so people don’t collapse on him.”
Central Notes: Cavaliers, Bucks, Matthews
Despite not projecting to be a legit contender in 2019/20, the Cavaliers have already committed a significant amount of money to player contracts — Basketball Insiders has the Cavs at over $123MM in guaranteed salaries for next season, which would put team salary well above the cap, approaching tax territory.
As Joe Vardon of The Athletic writes, the Cavaliers don’t have a probably with spending big on next year’s roster if it helps accelerate the rebuild. They’re “willing to spend to lose if it helps them win faster,” Vardon suggests. Some of those multiyear contracts Cleveland has taken on – including Brandon Knight‘s, John Henson‘s, and Matthew Dellavedova‘s – have come attached to valuable draft picks, and the Cavs are willing to continue taking on future money for assets.
However, Vardon notes that the team would very much like to stay out of tax territory next season. Because they were in the tax during LeBron James‘ last few years in Cleveland, the Cavaliers would be subject to repeater tax penalties if they end up back over that threshold this year or next, and that’s probably a bridge too far for a lottery-bound team to cross. With next year’s tax line projected to come in around $132MM, the Cavs will have to be careful about adding more money this summer.
Here’s more from around the Central:
- In a mailbag for Cleveland.com, Chris Fedor addressed a number of Cavaliers-related topics, including whether Jordan Clarkson is more likely to be a part of the club’s long-term future or a trade chip.
- If the Bucks finalize their deal with Pau Gasol on Sunday – the earliest possible day they could sign him – the team will still be below the luxury tax threshold $546K, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks. However, that figure doesn’t include $500K in unlikely incentives for Tony Snell, which he’s in position to achieve, Marks notes. That gives Milwaukee $46K in wiggle room, so the team is unlikely to make any other roster moves anytime soon.
- Wesley Matthews, who joined the Pacers last month, has been a great fit on and off the court for the club, writes Jim Ayello of The Indianapolis Star. “That’s why we recruited him so hard,” head coach Nate McMillan said. “We knew what type of player he was. He’s a competitor, and when he steps out on that floor, he’s all out. He’s giving you everything he has. It starts for him, which you don’t see from a lot of players in the NBA, on the defensive end of the floor. He accepts that challenge of guarding the best (wing) player.”