Five Key Stories: 5/4/19 – 5/11/19
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 Lakers failed to reach an agreement with Tyronn Lue, throwing their coaching search into turmoil. Negotiations between the two parties broke down, reportedly because the Lakers only offered Lue a three-year deal. Lue also wanted to pick his coaching staff. Subsequently, the Lakers conducted interviews with former Grizzlies coach J.B. Bickerstaff and former Pacers and Magic coach Frank Vogel.
Warriors superstar forward Kevin Durant suffered a calf strain during Game 5 against the Rockets. The Warriors managed to win Game 6 in Houston and wrap up their series with the Rockets without Durant. It’s unknown how many more games Durant will miss during Golden State’s drive for a third consecutive title. Durant’s injury shouldn’t have an impact on his free agent status.
The Grizzlies interviewed Jarron Collins for their head coaching position. The Warriors assistant is just the second known candidate to be interviewed for the job. The Grizzlies previously spoke to Jazz assistant Alex Jensen. Bickerstaff was let go after the season but the front office isn’t in any rush to make a hire.
The Jazz plan to make a run at Sixers free agent forward Tobias Harris. The Jazz know they have to upgrade the roster to become serious playoff contenders. The addition of Harris would be a major boost to their underwhelming offense. According to the report, Harris will consider Utah if Philadelphia doesn’t offer him a full maximum-salary, five-year contract.
LeBron James confirmed that Magic Johnson didn’t give him advance notice he was stepping down from his post. James revealed on his HBO show that he had no idea Johnson was going to leave his post as the Lakers’ president. James said he was going through pre-game stretching exercises when he heard the news. He was disappointed that Johnson didn’t give him a call or send a text before telling the media he was resigning.
Here are 10 more headlines worth passing along this week for the NBA:
- Warriors owner Joe Lacob vows to do whatever is necessary to re-sign Klay Thompson, who will be a free agent after the season.
- Hornets guard Tony Parker doesn’t plan to announce a decision on whether he’ll continue playing until next month.
- Veteran center Marc Gasol isn’t sure what his future is with the Raptors. Gasol has a $25.6MM player option should he decide to stay in Toronto.
- Thunder power forward Patrick Patterson decided to exercise his $5.7MM player option for next season. The creates even more salary-cap issues for the tax-paying club.
- Bucks reserve center Pau Gasol underwent foot surgery and will be out for the remainder of the playoffs.
- The Raptors seem to be making progress in their quest to re-sign Kawhi Leonard.
- The Warriors are hopeful both DeMarcus Cousins and Damian Jones will return this postseason.
- Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta vows to make roster upgrades after his team was eliminated by the Warriors on Friday.
- The Jazz promoted GM Dennis Lindsey to executive vice president of basketball operations and assistant GM Justin Zanik to the GM post.
- Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis is unlikely to back off his trade demand despite recent developments.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cousins Could Be Back During Conference Finals
Warriors center DeMarcus Cousins could return to action during the Western Conference finals, Marc Stein of The New York Times tweets.
Cousins suffered a partially torn quad muscle in the Warriors’ opening-round series against the Clippers on April 15th.
Initially, Cousins was ruled out indefinitely and many people anticipated he would have to sit out the remainder of the postseason. But he said earlier this week he’s hopeful of playing again during Golden State’s drive for a third consecutive championship.
“For me, my goal is I ain’t planning on sitting,” Cousins said. “I don’t know the reality of it. But for me, that is not what I’m planning on doing. … It’s definitely some type of bad movie. But I think it will have a very nice ending. Just wait for it.”
Cousins’ injury occurred in a non-contact situation after he made a steal. The injury did not require surgery and he’s made steady progress during his rehab. If he doesn’t have any setbacks, he could give the club a major boost inside with his scoring and rebounding. It’s still unknown how much time Kevin Durant will miss due to a calf strain suffered in Game 5 against Houston.
Cousins spent a year rehabbing from a torn left Achilles tendon he suffered while playing for the Pelicans. He made his Warriors debut on January 18th.
He could also give his free agent stock a boost if he returns and plays well. He’ll be on the open market once again this offseason.
Patrick Patterson Opts In For Next Season
Thunder power forward Patrick Patterson has decided to exercise his $5,711,200 player option for next season, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
Patterson’s decision comes as no surprise, since he was highly unlikely to get a better offer on the open market. The 30-year-old Patterson averaged 3.6 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 13.7 MPG over 63 games, including five starts. He appeared in all 82 regular-season games the previous season with Oklahoma City, posting averages of 3.9 PPG and 2.4 RPG in 15.5 MPG.
Patterson lost his rotation spot in mid-February and did not appear in the opening-round series against Portland.
His decision will cost the Thunder far more than his salary. Oklahoma City is already over the luxury-tax threshold and Patterson’s salary will give it approximately $143.5MM in guaranteed commitments to just nine players, unless the Thunder are able to move some salaries in trades.
Rockets Owner Promises To Upgrade Roster
The Rockets have no plans to hit the restart button after their Game 6 flop at home against the Warriors. Owner Tilman Fertitta is intent on improving the roster to help the core group get over the hump in future playoffs, Tim MacMahon of ESPN reports.
“I’m very fortunate to have the starting five that I have, but if we can make this team better, we’re going to make this team better,” Fertitta said. “That’s just a fact. I have a great team. I love all five of my starting five, but it’s my job to make sure that we put the best team that we can put on the court next year.”
It’s one thing to say that upgrades are forthcoming. It’s another thing to pull that off when the team already has major salary cap issues. The combined salaries of James Harden, Chris Paul, Clint Capela, Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker alone put Houston over the projected cap of $109MM for next season.
Harden isn’t going anywhere, so unless the Rockets could somehow unload Paul’s contract — he’s owed a whopping $124MM over the next three years — they’re not going to gain significant cap relief in a trade. The Rockets do have nine trade exceptions they can utilize but none are worth more than $3.62MM.
Houston’s bench is bound to look different because virtually all of its reserves become free agents or have non-guaranteed contracts for next season. The only exception is veteran big man Nene, who can exercise a $3,825,360 player option.
Both of their draft picks this June were traded away in previous deals, with the first-rounder being conveyed to the Cavaliers and the second-rounder going to the Knicks.
The only other major asset Houston will have at its disposal is the $5.7MM mid-level exception for a taxpaying team. Perhaps the Rockets can entice a quality player to sign for below-market value in order to join a contending team.
Otherwise, GM Daryl Morey will have his work cut out for him to create a deeper and more productive bench. Fertitta remains optimistic the Rockets will be champions in the near future.
“I can promise you, we’re going to win some championships with James Harden, because we are not going to sit here,” he said. “We will go to battle every year. We’re going to have a strong offseason, and we’re going to do whatever we need to do to be a better team. We are not going to sit on our hands, I can promise you that.”
Warriors Owner Vows To Re-Sign Klay Thompson
Warriors owner Joe Lacob seems prepared to do whatever it takes to re-sign shooting guard and impending free agent Klay Thompson. Following the Warriors’ Game 6 victory over Houston in the Western Conference semifinals, Lacob told ESPN’s Nick Friedell he wants Thompson and point guard Stephen Curry “as part of our organization forever.”
A report surfaced this week indicating that there’s mutual interest in getting a deal done. Lacob will have to pay a giant price to retain Thompson, who has stated that he expects a max contract. He could make $189MM with Golden State over the next five years if he’s not named to an All-NBA team or sign elsewhere for four years and $140.6MM. If he does gain that honor, Thompson would be eligible for a $221MM super-max contract.
Curry’s contract is guaranteed for three more seasons and will get paid $40.2MM, $43MM and $45.8MM during that span.
Lacob would have to pay major luxury tax penalties if the Warriors re-sign both Thompson and Kevin Durant, or in the unlikely scenario that Durant opts in for $31.5MM next season.
Lacob said his desire to retain Thompson goes well beyond the court.
“I have a special bond with him. I always have,” the owner said. “He’s the first player, since I bought the team, that we drafted. The very first one. And I just have always felt an incredible attachment. People make fun of me a little bit — I always say I love Klay. … There’s something about him, I have a very special relationship with him.”
Thompson scored 27 points in the Game 6 clinching win over the Rockets.
Timberwolves To Choose Coach In 7-10 Days
The Timberwolves will fill their head coaching position in the next 7-10 days, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
New president of basketball operations Gersson Rosas has talked extensively with interim coach Ryan Saunders over the past three days but Rosas will continue to mull his options, according to Hine.
Their discussions have included the roster, style of play and player development. Rosas vowed to “question the norm” after getting named to the post.
Saunders might be a good fit with Rosas since he’s a firm believer in analytics. There are no other known candidates at this point.
The perception around the league after the season was that Saunders would have the interim tag removed. That hasn’t changed since Rosas took over, Hine continues.
After Saunders replaced Tom Thibodeau, the Wolves went 17-25 but Saunders forged strong relationships with top players Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins. GM Scott Layden’s future with the team remains unknown, Hine adds.
Northwest Notes: Westbrook, Barton, Rubio, Jazz Workouts
Russell Westbrook dealt with significant pain in his left hand for approximately six weeks before the Thunder were eliminated from the postseason, Brett Dawson of The Athletic reports.
Westbrook, who shot 36% from the field during the opening round, and fellow Thunder All-Star Paul George underwent surgical procedures this week. Westbrook had a ligament repaired in his left hand as well as arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. George had a tendon repaired in his right shoulder and will soon undergo surgery to address a small labrum tear in his left shoulder.
It’s difficult to know how the injuries might impact the Thunder next season, though Westbrook should be ready in plenty of time for training camp, Dawson continues. Expected roster changes over the next four months will have a bigger impact, Dawson adds.
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- The Trail Blazers traded Will Barton to the Nuggets four years ago but Barton downplays the significance of trying to eliminate his former team, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Barton is averaging 9.2 PPG and 4.9 RPG this postseason. “I’m past that. That was a long time ago in my career,” Barton said. “They just happen to be the opponent that we’re playing against and I just want to beat them, not because I used to play with them, just because they’re in our way for trying to advance. That’s the only thing I’m thinking about. I can’t try to make it personal or anything like that.”
- The Pacers, Bulls and Suns are the most likely landing spots for Ricky Rubio if he doesn’t remain with the Jazz, Frank Urbina of Hoops Hype opines. Rubio could come at a lower cost than other point guard options for Indiana, while he could give Chicago and Phoenix a veteran presence while also grooming a younger player at the position, Urbina adds. Rubio will be an unrestricted free agent after making nearly $15MM this season.
- The Jazz brought in six draft prospects on Wednesday, according to a tweet from the team’s media relations department. Power forwards Mamadi Diakite (Virginia) and Dewan Hernandez (Miami, Fla.), wings Tyus Battle (Syracuse) and Brandon Randolph (Arizona) and guards Matt Mooney (Texas Tech) and T.J. Gibbs (Notre Dame) were the visitors. Big men Neemias Queta (Utah State), Zylan Cheatham (Arizona State), Silvio De Sousa (Kansas) and Australian Harry Froling and guards Payton Pritchard (Oregon) and Devon Dotson (Kansas) are coming in on Saturday, according to another Jazz tweet.
Latest On Kyrie Irving
Would Kyrie Irving truly consider joining forces with LeBron James again? According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, it’s a real possibility (hat tip to Bryan Kalbrosky of Hoops Hype). Windhorst believes a reunion could be in the works, especially if the Lakers hire Jason Kidd as their head coach. Irving has even talked about it, according to Windhorst.
“That door, which was deadbolted, has been un-deadbolted and has now been cracked open,” Windhorst said. “… It might even be opening more by the day. And I say that just because I think it’s on Kyrie’s radar, it’s on Kyrie’s board. He has had discussions with people about playing for the Lakers.”
We have more on Irving, who becomes an unrestricted free agent once he declines his $21.3MM player option:
- Irving’s poor performance against Milwaukee in the conference semifinals should concern the Knicks, Marc Berman of the New York Post opines. The Knicks will try to sign two top-level free agents but if they don’t get Kevin Durant or trade for Anthony Davis, Irving might be a poor fit because he’s only proven he can be the No. 2 star on a championship-caliber team, Berman continues. There is genuine debate within the front office whether they’d be better off chasing Hornets All-Star guard Kemba Walker instead of Irving, Berman adds.
- Celtics guard Marcus Smart defended Irving against critics who believe Irving’s leadership skills led to poor chemistry in the locker room, according to an ESPN report. Smart feels Irving was thrust into a difficult situation. “Probably a few amount of people in this world know what Kyrie goes through. It was hard for him as well,” Smart said. “He was forced into a situation where it was business over the friendships. … This is Kyrie Irving we’re talking about it, and he’s worried about coming in and disrupting us. We took him in with full arms. We tried to understand. But like I said, we never really understood because we’re not in his shoes.”
- It seems almost inevitable that Irving will sign elsewhere this summer, David Aldridge of The Athletic writes. When Boston’s president of basketball operations Danny Ainge traded for Irving two years ago, it was a safe bet that he’d emerge as a mature and credible leader of a title-contending team, Aldridge continues. Irving came up well short of the mark, as he was AWOL emotionally much of this season, Aldridge adds.
Free Agent Stock Watch 2019: Western Conference
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. With the playoffs in full swing, we turn our attention to the Western Conference:
Trey Lyles, Nuggets, 23, PF (Down) — Signed to a four-year, $10.4MM deal in 2015
Following an uninspiring regular season, Lyles has been a forgotten man in the postseason. He’s only made three cameos as coach Michael Malone has gone with a nine-man rotation with Mason Plumlee serving as the primary big man off the bench. Denver can make him a restricted free agent by extending a $4,485,665 qualifying offer, though his cap hold is $10.1MM. With hopes that Michael Porter Jr. can play next season, it’s no sure thing that Lyles will get that offer. Whether the team picks up Paul Millsap‘s $30MM option – or brings him back at a reduced rate – will also impact Lyles’ future in Denver.
Rodney Hood, Trail Blazers, 26, SG (Up) — Signed to a one-year, $3.47MM deal in 2018
No free agent has boosted his stock in the conference semifinals more than Hood, who is a big reason why Portland’s still alive. He poured in 25 points in Game 6 against Denver and has scored at least 14 points in five of the six games in the series. He drained crucial shots in the fourth overtime of the Blazers’ epic 140-137 victory in Game 3. This is same guy who averaged 3.2 PPG in the first-round series against Oklahoma City. Whether he receives offers as a starter or sixth man, Hood will get paid handsomely this summer.
Iman Shumpert, Rockets, 28, SG (Up) – Signed to a four-year, $40MM deal in 2015
Shumpert is making $11MM this season. No one is going to pay him that much on the open market anymore, but after battling injuries the past two seasons, he has once again become a valuable role player. While he barely got off the bench in the first-round series against Utah, he has been a factor in the last three games against Golden State. Shumpert has averaged 8.7 PPG in 18.3 MPG while going 7-for-13 beyond the arc during that span. He’s also helped to contain the Splash Brothers. Shumpert shouldn’t have too much trouble finding work as a second-unit player.
Kevon Looney, Warriors, 23, PF/C (Up) – Signed to a one-year, $1.56MM deal in 2018
With DeMarcus Cousins and Damian Jones nursing injuries, Looney has received steady minutes during the postseason. On the star-laden Warriors, Looney’s offensive contributions have been limited to putbacks and dunks. But the 2015 first-round selection has been a factor on the boards (nine rebounds in Game 5) and at the defensive end. It’s estimated that Looney will receive offers in the $3-$5MM range, which might make him affordable for the capped out Warriors, who own his Bird Rights.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Tony Parker Expected To Decide On Future In June
After telling reporters a month ago during his end-of-season media session that he was “50-50” on continuing his career, Hornets guard Tony Parker reiterated that point during an appearance on French TV, as relayed by Antonis Stroggylakis of Eurohoops (via BeBasket).
“It’s 50-50. I haven’t made my decision yet,” Parker said, addressing the possibility of retirement.
Repeating another point he made at the end of Charlotte’s season, Parker admitted that the Hornets’ regular season game in Paris next season is an incentive to return. While he’s still on the fence about what to do, the veteran point guard – who turns 37 next Friday – said he expects to make a decision before the 2019/20 league year begins in July.
“I told the club that I will give them an answer in June,” Parker said. “I really hesitate. I have nothing to prove. I want to spend time with my family. And there’s another part of me that wants to make one last season. There will be an NBA match in France, in Paris. It will be a beautiful event.”
If Parker decides to play one more season, the Hornets will have the opportunity to keep him on their roster — his two-year contract with the team features a non-guaranteed salary of $5.25MM for 2019/20.
It sounds as if Charlotte would welcome him back, and he’d get the chance to play in Paris if he’s still a Hornet. But it could ultimately be in the best interests of both sides to part ways, especially if Kemba Walker signs elsewhere.
Parker told reporters last month that he wants to play on a team that’s at least fighting for the playoffs, rather than a rebuilding club, and the Hornets would almost certainly be lottery-bound without Walker. They also may be looking to cut costs and develop younger players in that scenario, making them a poor fit for Parker.