Rival Teams Wary Of Signing Kyrie Irving?
Multiple teams that were said to have interest in pursuing Kyrie Irving this summer are having second thoughts, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald writes. Irving will undoubtedly land a max contract, though his list of suitors may not be as long as anticipated just months ago.
The pause on Irving is a byproduct of how he ended his campaign with the Celtics. Two clubs are telling people around the league that they will only go after the point guard if another marquee free agent says he wants to play with Irving. Bulpett writes that the main target for each of these franchises is a different player and one of the teams had concerns that ownership would overrule the front office and dictate an Irving pursuit, though those concerns have been alleviated.
The talk behind the scenes is all over the place. Bulpett heard months ago that a source within the Knicks‘ front office was convinced that Irving and Kevin Durant were coming to New York. However, the scribe hears from an NBA agent that Irving wants the Nets and Durant favors the Knicks, thus causing a dilemma in the duo teaming up. Someone within the Warriors‘ organization tells Bulpett that Irving and Durant definitely spoke about the possibility of joining forces and Bulpett hears from another source that the Brooklyn talk is just a smokescreen.
The Celtics continue to hold out hope that Irving will re-sign with the team. It was reported earlier in the week that the front office believed that trading for Anthony Davis would make Irving warm up to the idea of returning. Irving has a Nike commercial in which he has his number retired in Boston and the organization hopes that becomes reality.
Two summers ago when Irving demanded a trade from the Cavs, some front offices were told by his camp that he would not re-sign with them. Some executives got the feeling that Irving got exactly what he wanted with the trade to Boston.
“We were told that the team he wanted to go to was getting ready to trade for him,” one general manager tells Bulpett. “And that team was Boston. So the Celtics were where he wanted to go. He got what he wanted. Now here we are two years later. Crazy.”
Hoops Rumors Originals: 5/11/19 – 5/18/19
Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team creates original content to complement our news feed. Here are our segments and features from the past seven days:
- We continued to move through this year’s playoff teams in our Offseason Salary Cap Digest series, breaking down the summer cap outlooks for the following clubs:
- We previewed the 2019 offseason for a few more teams, identifying “Five Key Offseason Questions” facing these squads:
- In his weekly Free Agent Stock Watch feature, Dana Gauruder examined some conference finals participants whose stock has increased or decreased as of late.
- Leading up to Tuesday’s draft lottery, we provided a primer for the event. After the results were announced, we listed all 60 of this year’s picks by round, and rounded up 2019’s draft picks by team too.
- The latest installment of our Hoops Rumors Glossary series dug into “Base Year Compensation,” a concept that technically still applies to a specific scenario in free agency, even if the term no longer shows up in the NBA’s CBA.
- In a pair of polls this week, we asked which teams would win the conference finals and whether the NBA’s draft lottery tweaks were effective.
- In our lone Community Shootaround discussion, we focused on the Lakers‘ head coaching decision.
Northwest Notes: O’Neale, Jazz, Nuggets, Wolves
While the Jazz‘ 2019 playoff run was short-lived, Royce O’Neale‘s performance in the team’s five-game series vs. Houston was encouraging. A role player who averaged 20.4 minutes per game during the regular season, O’Neale increased his averages across the board against the Rockets, recording 10.6 PPG and 4.6 RPG in 27.4 MPG.
The 25-year-old forward was also frequently tasked with the defensive assignment of guarding James Harden, and said that the MVP candidate gave him words of “encouragement and motivation” at the end of the series, as Aaron Falk of UtahJazz.com details.
“Just goes to show all the hard work that I’ve put in isn’t taken for granted,” O’Neale said. “A lot of people are showing respect when it’s due. Earning that respect from him was one of the good moments. It made me feel like I’m becoming somebody in this league.”
The Jazz enter the offseason prepared to make some changes to a roster that hasn’t been able to get over the hump in the playoffs over the last two years. However, it’s unlikely that they’ll part ways with O’Neale, despite the fact that his 2019/20 salary is non-guaranteed — at a rate of $1,618,520, he’ll likely be one of the league’s better bargains next season.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Brandon Clarke (Gonzaga), Admiral Schofield (Tennessee), Jalen Lecque (Brewster Academy), Tyler Herro (Kentucky), and Jordan Nwora (Louisville) were among the prosects at this week’s combine who confirmed they interviewed with the Jazz, writes Eric Woodyard in a Deseret News article and a follow-up tweet. “Hopefully we can get in and get a workout,” Schofield said. “It would be great to be on that team and play with Donovan Mitchell and play in front of that crowd. They’re really energetic, they’ve got a nice core, and they’re on the right track right now.”
- Sean Deveney of Sporting News and Mike Singer of The Denver Post preview the Nuggets‘ upcoming offseason, exploring issues like the $30MM decision on Paul Millsap‘s team option, Michael Porter Jr.‘s potential outlook, and more.
- Mizzou forward Jontay Porter was among the prospects to interview with the Timberwolves at this week’s draft combine, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. Porter ranks 42nd on ESPN’s big board for 2019, while Minnesota holds the No. 43 pick in the draft.
Michigan, Juwan Howard To Discuss Head Coaching Job
After receiving consideration for multiple NBA head coaching jobs this offseason, Heat assistant Juwan Howard now appears to be in the running for a job at his alma mater. Multiple sources tell Josh Henschke of The Michigan Insider that Howard and Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel have a meeting lined up for Tuesday to discuss the Wolverines’ head coaching vacancy.
Michigan has been on the lookout for a new head coach since John Beilein – who had held the position since 2007 – accepted the Cavaliers’ job earlier this month. Howard’s name has frequently come up since Beilein’s departure, with former Fab Five teammate Jalen Rose among those who have endorsed him for the role.
Jordan Schultz of ESPN first reported on Friday (via Twitter) that Howard had spoken with Turnkey Sports, the firm leading the Wolverines’ search. Howard was informed that Manuel was “very interested” in speaking with him, according to Schultz.
Earlier this spring, Howard met with the Cavaliers and Lakers about their head coaching openings. He’s also reportedly on the Timberwolves’ list of candidates after they opened a search beyond interim coach Ryan Saunders.
Five Key Stories: 5/11/19 – 5/18/19
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 Pelicans won the draft lottery, putting them in position to select Zion Williamson. The NBA’s new lottery format helped generate some surprises on draft night, as New Orleans landed the No. 1 pick despite just a 6.0% chance. The Grizzlies moved up from No. 8 to No. 2, the Lakers moved up from No. 11 to No. 4, and the Knicks (No. 3) were the only bottom-four team to receive a top-four pick.
The Lakers hired Frank Vogel as their head coach as Jason Kidd as an assistant. The moves capped off an eventful search process that saw the team miss out on initial targets Monty Williams (hired by the Suns) and Tyronn Lue (negotiations fell apart). With Vogel only getting a three-year contract, there’s speculation that Kidd could be laying in wait as his eventual replacement.
Tyreke Evans was dismissed and disqualified from the NBA for violating the league’s anti-drug program. The shocking news ensures that Evans will miss at least the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, since he’s not eligible to apply for reinstatement for two years. Like O.J. Mayo and Chris Andersen before him, Evans’ violation is believed to be related to a “drug of abuse.”
The Cavaliers hired John Beilein as their new head coach. After an interview process that focused almost exclusively on NBA assistants, Cleveland surprised league observers by turning to the NCAA ranks for Beilein, who had coached the Michigan Wolverines for more than a decade. The two sides agreed to a five-year contract.
The Wizards have reportedly offered Tim Connelly a position as their head of basketball operations. Connelly, a Baltimore native who is the president of basketball ops for the Nuggets, is said to be weighing a four-year offer which is more lucrative than his current contract in Denver.
Here are 10 more top headlines worth passing along this week:
- The Lakers reportedly won’t hire a new president of basketball operations to replace Magic Johnson.
- The NBA announced its 2018/19 award finalists, including James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Paul George for MVP.
- The Timberwolves begun to consider head coaching candidates outside of interim coach Ryan Saunders.
- DeMarcus Cousins is believed to be closer than Kevin Durant to returning for the Warriors. Both players could miss the entire Western Conference Finals.
- Anthony Davis‘ stance on a trade reportedly remains unchanged even after the Pelicans won the draft lottery.
- The Grizzlies are said to be “locked in” on selecting Ja Morant with the No. 2 pick.
- Despite rumors that his job may be in jeopardy, the Sixers are retaining coach Brett Brown.
- Jerry West will continue on in his role as a Clippers consultant for at least one more season.
- The NBA is expected to move up the start of its free agency period by six hours.
- Mavericks big man Kristaps Porzingis was allegedly involved in a brawl in his home country of Latvia.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Execs Expect Hawks, Celtics, Sixers, Nets To Shop Draft Picks
Several executives around the NBA who spoke to Michael Scotto of The Athletic identified the Hawks, Celtics, Sixers, and Nets as teams that will be looking to trade at least one of their 2019 draft picks.
As we noted in our breakdown of draft picks by team earlier this week, there are eight teams that currently hold more than two selections apiece in the 2019 draft, and Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia represent four of those teams.
The Hawks, in particular, find themselves well-stocked for draft night, with a pair of top-10 picks and three more selections in the first half of the second round. When GM Travis Schlenk spoke about those five draft picks earlier this month, he acknowledged that the club is unlikely to bring five rookies to camp in the fall.
The 76ers also hold five picks, all of which fall between Nos. 24 and 54. Scotto suggests that Philadelphia may dangle some of those picks on the trade market in an effort to acquire bench depth.
Three of the Celtics’ four selections in the 2019 draft are first-rounders (Nos. 14, 20, and 22), and Scotto expects those picks to be brought up in any trade discussions Boston has about Anthony Davis.
As for the Nets, they only have three picks, but two are first-rounders (Nos. 17 and 27) and the third is the first pick of the second round (No. 31). Scotto has pointed out previously that those selections could help grease the wheels for an Allen Crabbe salary dump if Brooklyn wants to create additional cap room.
A year ago, NBA teams agreed to a total of 11 trades on draft night, so it’s safe to say that these four teams won’t be the only ones that consider moving picks next month. Still, they rank among the clubs most likely to be active, so they’re worth keeping an eye on leading up to – and during – the draft.
Morant Would Be Happy To Play For Grizzlies
Point guard Ja Morant wouldn’t mind if he’s drafted by a small-market team like the Grizzlies, he told David Cobb of the Memphis Commercial Appeal and other media members on Friday.
The Grizzlies are reportedly zeroing in on the Murray State floor leader with the No. 2 selection in the draft. A pair of big-market teams, the Knicks and Lakers, are next in line in the draft, but Morant says it’s all the same to him.
“If a team drafts me, big market or small market, it doesn’t matter,” Morant said at the draft combine. “I’m going to be happy where I’m at.”
Morant could join the Grizzlies’ lottery selection from last season, big man Jaren Jackson Jr., as the key figures in the club’s rebuild. Morant met with the Pelicans, who hold the No. 1 selection and will almost assuredly select Duke’s Zion Williamson, as well as Memphis and New York at the combine. He did not participate in any 5-on-5 games in Chicago.
He admits he’s not familiar with the city of Memphis.
“I just know Memphis Grizzlies basketball and that’s it,” Morant said. “If you ask me about Chicago, I know Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan. It’s just that I’ve never been to places like that and I’m a big basketball guy, so I would probably know basketball.”
Morant took a diplomatic approach to the questions thrown at him. He clearly doesn’t want to say anything that might haunt him in the future. He zoomed up the prospects list in his sophomore season, averaging 24.5 PPG, 10.0 APG and 5.7 RPG while leading the Racers to the NCAA Tournament.
“I really would be happy with any team that drafts me,” Morant said. “That means they see something in me. It’s just an honor to be able to play this game at the highest level and just to be in the position that I’m in.”
Southwest Notes: Davis, Pelicans, Rockets, Mavs
Responding to a report which claimed she had said she’d only trade Anthony Davis to the Lakers “over my dead body,” Pelicans owner Gayle Benson laughed and called it “totally absurd” and “completely untrue,” tweets Fletcher Mackel of WDSU.
Rumors of the Pelicans’ reluctance to send Davis to the Lakers have persisted since before the trade deadline. There was a perception that the timing of Davis’ trade request was orchestrated by his camp to attempt to push him to Los Angeles, with the Pels resisting that outcome.
While sending their All-NBA big man to a big-market conference rival may not be their first choice, the idea that the Pelicans would rule out a trade partner altogether is far-fetched — if the Lakers’ offer is clearly the most favorable, it wouldn’t make sense for New Orleans to look elsewhere out of spite.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- Speaking of potential Davis trade talks, Kevin Knox may be a centerpiece in any Knicks offer for the Pelicans‘ star, but a source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News that New Orleans isn’t high on the 2018 first-rounder.
- In the view of Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer, the Rockets‘ biggest offseason priority should be adding a frontcourt player who is capable of creating shots and offense.
- The risks associated with acquiring Kristaps Porzingis keep growing for the Mavericks, Kevin Sherrington of the Daily Morning News opines. While it’s unlikely to prevent owner Mark Cuban from offering Porzingis an extension this summer, the Latvian big man carries plenty of baggage with him, Sherrington continues. The latest unsavory incident is his alleged involvement in a bar room brawl in his home country.
- Magic center Nikola Vucevic might be a better free agent fit than Hornets point guard Kemba Walker, Sherrington writes in a separate story. Vucevic would give Dallas size, rebounding, scoring and play-making, with his relative lack of athleticism the only downside. Walker and Doncic would have to share the ball and that approach didn’t work well with Dennis Smith Jr. this season, Sherrington notes.
Dana Gauruder contributed to this post.
Harden, Giannis, George Named MVP Finalists
Defending champion James Harden, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul George are the finalists for this season’s Most Valuable Player award, the league announced in a press release.
The voting is expected to be close between Harden, who averaged 36.1 PPG and 7.5 APG during the regular season, and Antetokounmpo, who carried the Bucks to the best record in the league while averaging 27.7 PPG, 12.5 RPG and 5.9 APG. George averaged 28.0 PPG, 8.2 RPG and 4.1 APG.
[RELATED: Hoops Rumors’ 2019 NBA Award Picks: Most Valuable Player]
The league also released the finalists for its other awards. The winners will be revealed during a TNT broadcast on Monday, June 24. Here are the rest of the finalists:
Rookie of the Year:
- Deandre Ayton (Suns)
- Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
- Trae Young (Hawks)
Sixth Man of the Year:
- Montrezl Harrell (Clippers)
- Domantas Sabonis (Pacers)
- Lou Williams (Clippers)
Defensive Player of the Year:
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
- Paul George (Thunder)
- Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
Most Improved Player:
- De’Aaron Fox (Kings)
- D’Angelo Russell (Nets)
- Pascal Siakam (Raptors)
Coach of the Year:
- Mike Budenholzer (Bucks)
- Michael Malone (Nuggets)
- Doc Rivers (Clippers)
Free Agent Stock Watch 2019: Conference Finals
Every week, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents next offseason. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we take a look at some of the players currently in the conference finals:
DeMarcus Cousins, Warriors, 28, C (Down) — Signed to a one-year, $5.3MM deal in 2018
Cousins made a snap decision on the second day of free agency last July to bet on himself and chase a ring. There’s a very good chance he’ll get the latter; as for landing a big multi-year contract this summer, that’s a major question mark. He’s unlikely to play against Portland due to the quad injury he suffered in the opening round. There’s no guarantee he’d be back for the Finals. Cousins played well after returning from his one-year rehab for an Achilles tear but it’s fair to question whether the injuries will continue to pile up for the big man.
Seth Curry, Trail Blazers, 28, SG (Up) — Signed to a one-year, $2.8MM deal in 2018
Seeing the Curry brothers go at each other has added to the entertainment value of the conference finals. Seth didn’t fare so well in Game 1 (three points on 1-for-7 shooting) but he was a major factor in Game 2 with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, and four steals. After missing all of last season with a left leg injury, the less-heralded Curry has proven to be a valuable rotation player. The Pistons reportedly have him high on their list of free agent targets. They certainly won’t be alone — career 43.9% 3-point shooters tend to attract a crowd.
Marc Gasol, Raptors, 34, C (Down) – Signed to a five-year, $113.2MM deal in 2015
Gasol said earlier this month he’s undecided whether to exercise his $25.6MM player option. At this stage of his career, Gasol is probably more focused on being a good fit and feeling comfortable than his bank account. But he’d be losing many millions if he doesn’t opt in. Quite frankly, he’s no longer a $25MM player. More than half of his field-goal attempts in the playoffs have come from beyond the arc and he’s not making them. He shot 26.9% from deep against the Sixers in the conference semis and went 2-for-7 in Game 1 against the Bucks. He’s scored in single digits in 10 of 13 games this postseason.
Brook Lopez, Bucks, 31, C (Up) – Signed to a one-year, $3.4MM deal in 2018
Following a series of forgettable conference semifinal outings, Lopez blew up in Game 1 against Toronto. He piled up 29 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks to carry the Bucks to an early lead in the series. Lopez was arguably the biggest bargain in free agency last summer. He was an ideal fit for the Bucks’ high-powered attack as a ‘stretch five.’ His advanced defensive numbers this season were the best of his career. Milwaukee has other free agency concerns, most notably Khris Middleton, but re-signing Lopez should be a high priority as well.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.