Jonas Jerebko Signs Two-Year Deal With Khimki
As expected, veteran NBA forward Jonas Jerebko has officially signed with Russian team Khimki, the team announced in a press release. A report earlier this month indicated that Jerebko was close to a deal with the EuroLeague club. He has signed a two-year contract.
“I’m looking forward to playing in the top level in Europe after 10 years in the NBA,” Jerebko said in a statement. “Playing against the best teams in the EuroLeague was obviously on my bucket list. I’m super excited about the opportunity of joining my teammates.”
Jerebko, 32, has spent time with the Pistons, Celtics, Jazz, and Warriors since being selected in the second round of the 2009 draft. In Golden State last season, he averaged 6.3 PPG and 3.9 RPG on .459/.367/.800 shooting in 73 games (16.7 MPG).
Despite those solid numbers, Jerebko didn’t see much time in the Warriors’ postseason rotation, logging just 26 total minutes in four Finals appearances. The Swedish forward apparently didn’t generate a ton of NBA interest on the open market this summer either, necessitating a move back overseas — he last played in Europe when he suited up for Italian club Angelico Biella from 2007-09.
Jerebko is the third player to sign with Khimki after being on an NBA roster for the 2018/19 season. Timofey Mozgov and Dairis Bertans also joined the Russian team.
Wizards Hire Antawn Jamison In Front Office Role
The Wizards have brought a familiar face back to the organization, announcing today in a press release that Antawn Jamison has been hired as the club’s director of pro personnel.
Jamison, the fourth overall pick in the 1998 draft, spent nearly six of his 16 NBA seasons with the Wizards. He played for the franchise from 2004-10, earning both of his All-Star nods during his time in Washington. Now, after spending the last two years as a scout for the Lakers, he returns to D.C. in a role that will see him contributing to the Wizards’ NBA, G League, and international scouting efforts.
“We are absolutely thrilled to bring Antawn back to the Wizards organization,” Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard said in a statement. “In addition to his strong feel for the game and basketball knowledge, he has always been a true professional and a dedicated worker. We look forward to him bringing those qualities to our front office.”
The Wizards also announced the hirings of Laron Profit and John Cariedo, both of whom will join the team as scouts. Like Jamison, Profit also spent time in Washington as a player — the two men were teammates during the 2004/05 season.
Chasson Randle Signs With Chinese Team
AUGUST 14: Randle has signed a “lucrative” contract with Tianjin, a source tells Carchia (Twitter link).
AUGUST 13: Free agent point guard Chasson Randle is close to reaching a deal with Tianjin in China, a source tells Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The club plays in the Chinese Basketball Association.
After winning a EuroLeague title with Real Madrid in 2018, Randle caught on with the Wizards for most of the 2018/19 NBA season, appearing in 49 games (two starts) for the club. The former Stanford guard averaged 5.5 PPG and 2.0 APG with a .419/.400/.694 shooting line in 15.2 minutes per contest, serving as Washington’s primary backup point guard after John Wall‘s injury.
A recent report suggested that as many as six NBA teams were keeping an eye on Randle, but it’s possible those clubs weren’t willing to offer him many guarantees in terms of salary, a rotation role, or even a regular season roster spot.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony also indicated on Monday (via Twitter) that Randle would be one of the players suiting up for the “L.A. Select Team,” which will scrimmage against Team USA’s World Cup roster this week. It’s unclear if Randle’s reported negotiations with Tianjin will affect his involvement in those scrimmages.
Joseph Tsai To Buy Rest Of Nets From Mikhail Prokhorov
Nets minority shareholder Joseph Tsai, who currently owns 49% of the franchise, is set to assume control of the remaining 51% earlier than expected, according to Josh Kosman and Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
As Kosman and Lewis report, Tsai is close to signing a deal to complete the purchase that will give him full control of the Nets. The move is expected to be announced next week, according to The Post.
When Tsai first bought a 49% stake in the Nets in April 2018, Mikhail Prokhorov retained control of the remaining 51% with an understanding that Tsai would have the option to buy him out within three years. It appears that buyout will happen just 16 months later.
At the time of Tsai’s initial purchase, the Nets were given a valuation of $2.35 billion, with Tsai paying $1 billion for his 49% stake. As Kosman and Lewis confirm, the billionaire co-founder of Alibaba will pay $1.35 billion for the other 51%. The total cost of $2.35 billion will mark the highest price ever paid for a sports franchise, according to The Post.
Tsai, who is worth an estimated $9.9 billion, is also in talks to purchase the Barclays Center, as Kosman and Lewis note. The native of Taiwan is a member of NBA China and is expected to help the league grow its presence in China.
Tsai appears to have bought into the Nets at the right time — when he completed his initial purchase, the team was coming off a 28-54 performance. The club boosted that mark to 42-40 last season, then made a huge splash in free agency by signing Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Pacific Notes: Booker, Lakers, Kuzma
Devin Booker is in the first year of five-year, $158 million extension, which would signal that he’s the Suns‘ franchise player. Yet, could Phoenix end up trading the shooting guard? Former Hawks GM Wes Wilcox recently speculated that Booker could be one of the big names on the move in the future (as Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic relays).
Wilcox was speculating on which players would be moved soon (the former GM named Chris Paul and Andre Iguodala), later in the season (Kevin Love and Bradley Beal), and in the future (Booker and Andrew Wiggins).
Booker was selected by the Suns in the 2015 draft and Phoenix hasn’t made the playoff since he arrived in town, something the franchise desperately wants to change. Still, it’s likely the Suns will ride it out with the Kentucky product for the foreseeable future, though I’d speculate that the team could fetch a sizable return for Booker should they ever make him available on the trade market.
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- ESPN’s Tim Bontemps examined the Lakers‘ schedule and believes the team will have a strong start to the season (via The Jump). The scribe explains how Los Angeles’ schedule is back-loaded with marquee games that are expected to be challenging.
- Kyle Kuzma expects to compete for a starting spot on the Lakers but ultimately, he’s happy to contribute in whatever role the team needs, as Shams Charania of The Athletic writes. “Bench, whatever, I’m still going to get my game off regardless,” Kuzma said. “…My mindset develops every single day being around guys, having a relationship with LeBron. That gives me more confidence, the wisdom that he gives. Being around Magic Johnson and Kobe. Everybody. It grows and grows, matures and creates that mindset that defines you.”
- While Kuzma is willing to come off the bench, he pictures himself as the third star on the team. “My motivation is there to be that third guy,” Kuzma said (via Charania in the same piece). “For the simple fact that playing with LeBron, with AD, I got high dreams for myself to do some pretty special things in my career. So that’s motivation in itself. It’s a testament to my work ethic and laying down the groundwork for my past two years being in the league.”
Lakers Sign Demetrius Jackson To Exhibit 10 Deal
The Lakers have signed Demetrius Jackson, according to a team press release. ESPN’s Dave McMenamin (Twitter link) hears that the arrangement is an Exhibit 10 deal.
Jackson was selected with the 45th overall pick in the 2016 draft out of the University of Notre Dame. The point guard began his NBA career in Boston, though he only saw five games of action for the Celtics during his rookie season.
Jackson spent time in Houston and Philadelphia as well as the G League since his rookie campaign. The 24-year-old will look to make the Lakers’ roster, although it’s more likely that he’ll play for the team’s G League squad, the South Bay Lakers, next season.
The Lakers now have a full 20-man offseason roster.
Community Shootaround: Top 60 NBA Players Heading Into 2019/20
Magic Johnson turns 60 this week and he’s celebrating the milestone by unleashing a bevy of top-60 lists on Twitter (it’s truly a blessing that the NBA legend stepped away from his Lakers role in order to tweet freely). In honor of Johnson’s birthday, I’ve put together a top-60 list, ranking NBA players heading into next season.
The list is based on recent production as well as projections for the upcoming season. Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Jusuf Nurkic all would have easily made the top 60, but the trio was kept out due to their respective injuries and uncertain return dates.
Here are my top 60 players heading into the 2019/20 campaign:
60. Steven Adams (Thunder)
59. Bojan Bogdanovic (Jazz)
58. Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
57. Andre Drummond (Pistons)
56. Montrezl Harrell (Clippers)
55. Otto Porter Jr. (Bulls)
54. Julius Randle (Knicks)
53. Zach LaVine (Bulls)
52. Zion Williamson (Pelicans)
51. Brook Lopez (Bucks)
Where do we place Zion Williamson before he officially steps on an NBA court? He could immediately showcase the talent that made him one of best prospects in recent memory or he could come in the league with a bit of learning curve and struggle to live up to the loftiest of expectations.
Sandwiching Williamson between Brook Lopez, who’s proven to be valuable in today’s game. and Zach LaVine, who had an underrated 2018/19 campaign and is still building on his own game, seems like the best way to balance the risk vs. reward in Zion’s debut season.
50. Buddy Hield (Kings)
49. John Collins (Hawks)
48. Justise Winslow (Heat)
47. Kevin Love (Cavs)
46. Eric Bledsoe (Bucks)
46. Jamal Murray (Nuggets)
45. Lauri Markkanen (Bulls)
44. Clint Capela (Rockets)
43. Myles Turner (Pacers)
42. Kyle Kuzma (Lakers)
41. DeMar DeRozan (Spurs)
Jamal Murray improved his game over his first three seasons in the league, parlaying his time in Denver into a five-year, $171MM extension. Further improvement will be needed to justify this ranking (and the extension), though he’ll have the opportunity to do just that as he looks to help Denver navigate through a loaded Western Conference.
40. Chris Paul (Thunder)
39. Kristaps Porzingis (Mavericks)
38. Tobias Harris (Sixers)
37. Khris Middleton (Bucks)
36. Devin Booker (Suns)
35. D’Angelo Russell (Warriors)
34. Al Horford (Sixers)
33. Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
32. CJ McCollum (Blazers)
31. Luka Doncic (Mavericks)
With Kyrie Irving and Al Horford out of Boston, Jayson Tatum is expected to see an expanded role in a system that he knows well. He has a polished game and with the added opportunity, it would be an upset if he’s not in the All-Star conversation next season.
30. Jrue Holiday (Pelicans)
29. Pascal Siakam (Raptors)
28. Danilo Gallinari (Thunder)
27. Kyle Lowry (Raptors)
26. Draymond Green (Warriors)
25. LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs)
24. De’Aaron Fox (Kings)
23. Victor Oladipo (Pacers)
22. Mike Conley (Jazz)
21. Ben Simmons (Sixers)
Simmons, like Murray, received a massive extension this offseason and he’ll need to further improve on his game to make the $171MM deal a team-friendly arrangement. Yet, that’s the kind of upside the 23-year-old possesses. Simmons could easily find his way onto numerous All-NBA teams throughout the deal and it wouldn’t be shocking if his first anointment comes at the end of 2019/20 season.
20. Nikola Vucevic (Magic)
19. Blake Griffin (Pistons)
18. Bradley Beal (Wizards)
17. Donovan Mitchell (Jazz)
16. Kemba Walker (Celtics)
15. Karl-Anthony Towns (Wolves)
14. Russell Westbrook (Rockets)
13. Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
12. Jimmy Butler (Heat)
11. Kyrie Irving (Nets)
Rudy Gobert‘s ranking might seem high, especially after he was snubbed during last season’s All-Star selections, though he’s a defensive force that’s unmatched by anyone in the league. He was fourth in NBA Math’s Total Points Added, a metric which measures the impact a player has on the court and he could be the defensive presence that allows the Jazz to integrate their new parts and become one of the best teams in basketball next season.
10. Paul George (Clippers)
9. Damian Lillard (Blazers)
8. Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
7. Joel Embiid (Sixers)
6. Anthony Davis (Lakers)
5. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
4. James Harden (Rockets)
3. Stephen Curry (Warriors)
2. LeBron James (Lakers)
1. Kawhi Leonard (Clippers)
The top of this list could go a number of ways. Which NBA players do you think should be in the top five? Are there any players on this list who are badly misplaced?
Take to the comment section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say!
Josh Richardson Talks Trade To Sixers, New Role
After four seasons in Miami, Josh Richardson finds himself on a new team. The shooting guard was shocked when he first heard about the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade that sent him to Philadelphia. However, after digesting the news, he became excited for the new opportunity, as Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes.
“I mean once it happened and I started looking at everything, it was smooth,” Richardson said. “I got excited once I saw our roster that we’re going to be working with, and I think we’ve got a good chance to come out of the East. And I’m excited to be able to go and play for a contender.”
While Miami appears to be a lock for the playoffs this upcoming season, the Sixers have positioned themselves to make the NBA Finals. Adding Richardson and Al Horford to go with incumbent starters Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris arguably gives Philadelphia the best starting five in the league.
Richardson saw an increase in field goal attempts in each of his four seasons in Miami with last year’s 14.1 shots per game representing his career high. The shooting guard understands that he may see fewer attempts on his new team, but he’s not worried about being deemed the fifth option in Philadelphia.
“It’s not really like that — one through five — that makes no sense,” Richardson said. “It’s not like a certain amount of touches every game. But being able to play with so much talent, it’s exciting. You can’t give one guy too much attention because you have four other guys that can hurt you just as much. Being able to play with guys like Ben and Jo, Tobias, Al is just, I don’t know, I’m excited.”
NBA G League Affiliations For 2019/20 Season
The NBA G League is moving one step closer to having 30 teams – one for each NBA franchise – in the 2019/20 season. While the league isn’t quite there yet, it’s getting close now that we can add the Pelicans to the list of NBA teams with their own affiliates.
The Pelicans’ NBAGL affiliate will be the league’s 28th franchise, leaving just two NBA teams that don’t have a one-to-one relationship with a G League club — the Trail Blazers and Nuggets.
Of those 28 NBA teams, 26 fully own and operate their NBAGL affiliates, after the Celtics reached an agreement this year to buy the Maine Red Claws. Only the Rockets and Pistons still have “hybrid” affiliations with their G League teams, meaning they manage and fund the basketball operations while local ownership maintains the control of the business and its community relations.
Here’s the full list of G League affiliates for the 2019/20 season:
Atlanta Hawks: College Park Skyhawks (relocation)
Boston Celtics: Maine Red Claws
Brooklyn Nets: Long Island Nets
Charlotte Hornets: Greensboro Swarm
Chicago Bulls: Windy City Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers: Canton Charge
Dallas Mavericks: Texas Legends
Detroit Pistons: Grand Rapids Drive
Golden State Warriors: Santa Cruz Warriors
Houston Rockets: Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Indiana Pacers: Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Los Angeles Clippers: Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario
Los Angeles Lakers: South Bay Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies: Memphis Hustle
Miami Heat: Sioux Falls Skyforce
Milwaukee Bucks: Wisconsin Herd
Minnesota Timberwolves: Iowa Wolves
New Orleans Pelicans: Erie BayHawks (expansion)
New York Knicks: Westchester Knicks
Oklahoma City Thunder: Oklahoma City Blue
Orlando Magic: Lakeland Magic
Philadelphia 76ers: Delaware Blue Coats
Phoenix Suns: Northern Arizona Suns
Sacramento Kings: Stockton Kings
San Antonio Spurs: Austin Spurs
Toronto Raptors: Raptors 905
Utah Jazz: Salt Lake City Stars
Washington Wizards: Capital City Go-Go
International Notes: Morris, Melli, Delgado
Former Lakers and Nets guard Darius Morris was in camp with the Pelicans last fall and generated some in-season interest from the Suns, but 2018/19 represented his fourth straight season out of the NBA. It appears that streak will continue in 2019/20, as a source tells Emiliano Carchia of Sportando that Morris has signed a “lucrative” contract with Enisey Krasnoyarsk in Russia.
Morris, who appeared in 132 total NBA games after being selected in the second round of the 2011 draft, is still just 28 years old, as so an eventual NBA comeback is possible. For now though, he’ll continue his professional career in Russia after spending his last few seasons in China and the G League.
Here are a few more basketball odds and ends from around the globe:
- Nicolo Melli, who signed with the Pelicans this summer as a free agent, won’t play for Team Italy in the 2019 World Cup due to a knee injury, the Italian Basketball Federation confirmed today in a press release. As far as we know, Melli is still expected to be ready to go for training camp with New Orleans this fall.
- Former Clippers big man Angel Delgado, who signed a lucrative one-year contract with the Beijing Royal Fighters, spoke to Jerry Carino of Asbury Park Press about making the move to the Chinese Basketball Association. “I had opportunities to stay in the NBA, but I’m doing what’s best for me,” Delgado said. “I’m excited about the experience I’m going to get in the CBA, and the people I’m going to get in touch with out there. I’m really excited and really motivated to give everyone a show every night. I want to give them what they want — a championship.”
- Previously-reported international deals for Alan Williams (in Russia) and Omri Casspi (in Israel) are now official, with Lokomotiv Kuban and Maccabi Tel Aviv formally announcing the signings today.