Harry Giles has played some of the best ball of his career as of late for the Kings, but his contract situation raises uncertainty about whether the team will be able to keep him this offseason, Greg Wissinger writes for The Sacramento Bee.
Giles, who missed his entire rookie season due to knee issues, had a part-time role for the Kings a year ago, averaging 7.0 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 58 games (14.1 MPG). However, despite flashing some potential, Giles had his fourth-year option for 2020/21 turned down by Sacramento last fall, ensuring that he’ll become an unrestricted free agent this summer. When he does, the Kings won’t be able to offer him a starting salary worth more than $3,976,510, the value of the declined ’20/21 option.
It remains to be seen whether Giles will actually generate enough interest to receive an offer larger than that from a rival suitor, but he has been boosting his stock in recent weeks. The third-year big man has started 14 of 16 games for the Kings since the start of February, averaging 10.4 PPG and 6.3 RPG with a .624 FG% in 21.0 MPG during that stretch.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Although Kevon Looney just recently turned 24 years old, his health is becoming an ongoing concern for the Warriors, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area, who notes that Looney’s diagnosis of neuropathy is a chronic condition that can only be managed, not fixed.
- Jeff Green, the newest addition to Houston’s roster, has seen an increased role over the Rockets‘ last two games, as Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle writes. Green was a +28 in the team’s nine-point loss to Charlotte on Saturday and went 8-for-8 from the floor on Sunday, making a strong case to continue playing extra minutes going forward.
- Earlier this season, amidst chatter that he may be a candidate to become the Spurs‘ next head coach, Kansas coach Bill Self said there was “zero truth” to those rumors. Recently, Self reiterated that he has no plans to leave the Jayhawks to become Gregg Popovich‘s successor, as Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News relays. “People may say whatever because (Spurs CEO R.C. Buford and I) are buddies, which we are, and proud of that,” Self said. “But I am not going to be the next coach of the San Antonio Spurs, nor would he want me to be. I mean, they got arguably the greatest coach of all time that still has got a lot of gas in the tank. So, that is a rumor I know some people have said, but that is a pretty ridiculous one right there.”
Houston needs to put Jeff Green in their starting lineup, immediately.
Hahahahaha…. I hope they do..
Do you really? Green is averaging 11.2 PPG while playing just 20 minutes a game while shooting 66.7% and 46.4% from three.
Cavs wanted Jeff Green to work inside sometimes in 2018 but he wouldn’t. Could have won a title but he played how he wanted.
Now Dantoni gives him no choice. That can be the way to go with some players.
Green shot one 3, had no assists but 5 rebounds in 27′.
I’ve been noticing that trend when he’s been out there at the 5. Several 20 point games I believe in a bench role. Idk how he’ll do with starting centers but I’m eager to find out.
Giles just seems like Mario Hezonja. He put up a career year after the Magic failed to pick up a rookie option and the Knicks fell for the mirage and gave him a deal. Someone will do the same for Giles too and I have a feeling the regret will be there again soon after.
Have you seen Giles play? Divac not picking up his option was just pure stupidity. He’s already outpriced himself for Sac. They said they wanted to make him earn it. Well if he earns it, he’ll make more elsewhere. The difference between Hezonja and Giles is that Hezonia is an athlete with no basketball IQ whatsoever, whereas Giles has a really high IQ and just needs to stay healthy. It’s just another 1 of Vlade’s inexcusable terrible moves.