John Wall Discusses Comeback, Bradley Beal
Appearing with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes on their “All The Smoke” podcast, Wizards guard John Wall vowed to return to the court better than ever and addressed rumors of a long-running feud with Bradley Beal, relays Jack Maloney of CBS Sports.
Wall hasn’t played since December of 2018 because of a ruptured Achilles. He’s not expected to return this season no matter when it resumes, but he told the hosts he’s keeping track of what’s been happening on the court and is ready to exact revenge in 2020/21.
“When I’m not playing, I’m watching these guys play,” Wall said. “Like these young guys, they killing our team and they looking at our bench and stuff. Just know I got those written down in my notes for when I come back when they start next season. I can’t wait to (show) them what I got, what I’m about. But I’m gonna be better than what I was before, and that’s the scary part. Damn near the whole five years I was an All-Star I played with two bone spurs in my knee and my heel. People don’t know that. They ain’t even get the best of John Wall yet, they just got a clip of him.”
Speaking about his backcourt partner, Wall said any tension with Beal stemmed from their shared desire to be the team leader. They’ve both put up impressive numbers during their eight years as teammates, but they haven’t been able to lift the Wizards into title contention.
Still, their partnership seems likely to continue. Beal signed an extension in October that will keep him in Washington through at least the 2021/22 season, while Wall is under contract for two more years with a $47,366,760 player option for 2022/23 that he seems certain to pick up.
“We both want to be stars. We both want to take the game-winning shots … But at the end of the day, they always say, ‘Well, they don’t like each other. They downgrading each other.'” Wall said. “Ain’t no John Wall without Bradley Beal. Ain’t no Bradley Beal without John Wall. We make each other better. We accommodate each other so well on the court and it works easy for us.”
Zion Williamson May Have Minutes Restriction
The Pelicans will consider a minutes restriction for rookie forward Zion Williamson if their season resumes, head coach Alvin Gentry said in a conference call with reporters on Thursday.
Williamson was one of the most eagerly anticipated rookies in years, but he played just 19 games before the hiatus because of a knee injury that delayed his debut until late January. He was placed on a minutes restriction at the time, but it was removed after a few games. Gentry said the team’s medical staff will re-evaluate Williamson and several other players if a restart date is announced for the season.
“It will be something that we talk about when we do resume and as far as how it looks for Zion from a minute standpoint, and we’ll do that really with some of the other players,” Gentry said. “This is unprecedented, really. You play in a basketball game, you play 60 games and then all of a sudden the season ends, and then now it’s going to start back up. So, this is going to be something that is different for every single player that has ever played in the NBA or is playing in the NBA now.”
Although fans in New Orleans only got a brief look at Williamson, he lived up to expectations by averaging 23.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per night while shooting 58.9% from the field. He helped the Pelicans overcome a slow start and inch their way toward playoff contention by the time the season was halted.
“I still think that in all the years that I’ve been in the league, I’ve never seen anyone that has a second jump like this kid,” Gentry added. “It’s amazing how he can hit the ground and be back up before anyone is really reacting to the first move that he had. I would say that’s been a pleasant surprise in those areas right there. I think what we found out is that he’s an excellent passer, also. I think as he gets more comfortable handling a basketball, that’s going to be an area that everyone sees that he can be an elite guy from the position that he’s playing right there.
“He’s such a good guy, just from a teammate standpoint, that I knew our guys would be pulling for him. Our guys have embraced the fact that he’s a guy that we can finish games with, he’s a guy that we can go to when we need a basket, and he’ll make the right play.”
Families Must Be Allowed In Bubble City
The NBA will not agree to a “bubble concept” to restart the season unless players and coaches can bring their families with them, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on SportsCenter (video link).
The bubble concept, in which games would be played in one city such as Las Vegas or Orlando, has been floated around since the early weeks of the hiatus. Isolating players from their families is currently not on the table, according to Windhorst.
“The NBA is not interested right now in a bubble where they could not bring their families in,” Windhorst said.
Earlier this week, Windhorst’s ESPN colleague Adrian Wojnarowski suggested that 15,000 tests for the novel coronavirus would be needed for the season to be safely resumed and completed. Windhorst’s sources believe that figure could go much higher. And that would be problematic, since there are not enough tests to go around for the general public.
“It could be 100,000 because you have to keep an eye on the testing,” he said. “Right now, the NBA is not interested at all in taking any test that would go away from somebody who wants a test or needs a test.”
Windhorst estimates that to put together games in a bubble city, 1,500 people would be required, from “hotel maids to scoreboard operators to the players and coaches themselves.”
Testing would also have to be available for their families, which is why 100,000 of them might be needed.
“Without the testing, which you need to get everybody in the bubble, and without the expansive test you need to get the families in, the NBA is not willing to go there right now,” he said.
Eastern Notes: LeBron, Celtics, Eversley, Pistons
Don’t rule out LeBron James finishing his career with the Knicks, The New York Post’s Marc Berman writes in his latest mailbag. James loves playing in Madison Square Garden and would like to play with his son Bronny, now 15, before he retires. If James plays long enough to suit up with his son, finishing out his career in New York could add to his legacy, Berman adds.
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Celtics assistant GM Mike Zarren told season ticket holders that the front office is well-prepared for any draft scenario, Celtics analyst Marc D’Amico tweets. Boston could have as many as three first-round selections. “Regardless of what happens, we’ll be very ready for the draft,” Zarren said.
- New Bulls GM Marc Eversley is intrigued by the youth dotting the team’s roster but wants to figure why some of those players didn’t develop as expected this season, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago reports. In particular, he wants to see if the team can get more out of power forward Lauri Markkanen. “Lauri is a modern-day stretch four,” he said. “I think he’s got a great stroke. He’s got a wonderful shooting touch. He regressed a little bit last year. I’d love to learn more about that.”
- The Pistons need to prioritize not only acquiring talent but also high-character players, Keith Langlois of the team’s website writes. Getting the best players they can find with their lottery pick and cap space, regardless of what position they’ll play or how they’ll complement others on the roster, should be their approach going forward.
And-Ones: Batiste, Hall Of Fame, Cotton, Gatwech
Magic assistant coach Mike Batiste shot down a rumor that he’s returning to Europe to coach Greece’s Panathinaikos, Ennio Terrasi Borghesan of Sportando relays. Batiste, who was a star player for the EuroLeague team, said on Greek radio’s ERA Sport he’s staying in Orlando. “No one has contacted me, these are rumors. I have a two-year contract and I will honor it, when I’m done with that I don’t know what will happen,” Batiste said.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- The Basketball Hall of Fame remains hopeful in can hold the induction ceremony for this year’s class as scheduled in late August, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets. This year’s class has nine inductees, including the late Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.
- Australia NBL MVP and former NBA player Bryce Cotton has opted out of his deal with the Perth Wildcats, Olgun Uluc of ESPN reports. The NBL and its players agreed to a tiered system of pay cuts and the highest-salaried players are having their pay cut in half. The agreement allowed players to opt out of their contracts before May 4, with the Wildcats holding Cotton’s domestic rights. Cotton, who appeared in 23 NBA games before heading to Australia, is being pursued by European teams Panathinaikos and Asvel, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
- Jimma Gatwech had his name pulled from the NBA draft, but will pursue other pro opportunities in 2020/21, Evan Daniels of 247Sports tweets. Gatwech, 19, spend the past year at CORE4 Academy in Atlanta.
Draft Notes: Bey, Hall, Mamukelashvili, Jones
Colorado’s Tyler Bey has signed with an agent and will remain in the draft, Jeff Goodman of Stadium tweets. Bey declared for the draft in late March. The 6’7” Bey is a potential first-round pick. He’s currently ranked No. 35 overall by ESPN and No. 8 among power forward prospects. He posted 13.8 PPG and 9.0 RPG with 1.5 SPG and 1.2 BPG in 31 games (29.0 MPG) in 2019/20.
We have more draft-related news:
- Josh Hall will bypass college and remain in the draft, according to Evan Daniels of 247Sports. The 6’9” Hall had signed to play with North Carolina State next season but has hired an agent and will pursue pro opportunities. He’s eligible for this year’s draft because he graduated for high school last year, did a post-graduate season year and is 19 years old.
- Seton Hall junior forward Sandro Mamukelashvili has a dozen video interviews lined up with NBA teams but could still return for his senior season, Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com reports. He declared for the draft in March without hiring an agent. Mamukelashvili averaged 11.9 PPG and 6.0 RPG this season but missed seven weeks due to a fractured wrist.
- Mason Jones declared on a Twitter post he’s not returning to Arkansas, Goodman relays in another tweet. The junior guard averaged 22.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 1.6 SPG in his final year with the Razorbacks. The 6’5” Jones is ranked No. 77 overall and No. 14 among shooting guards by ESPN.
Western Notes: Spurs, Kerr, Suns, Powell
Spurs sports and entertainment chairman Peter Holt said the team’s ownership group remains “100 percent committed” to staying in San Antonio, Jeff Garcia of FoxSanAntonio.com relays. Holt’s statement was issued after a report that the Spurs were selling a minority stake in the franchise. The Holt family is the majority owner. “As an ownership group we remain 100 percent committed to the city of San Antonio. … San Antonio is home and will remain home,” Holt said.
We have more from the Western Conference:
- Warriors coach Steve Kerr admits his franchise is already in offseason mode, ESPN’s Nick Friedell writes. In a Zoom conference call among Kerr, GM Bob Myers and the players last week, the conversation felt more like the team’s annual exit meeting, Kerr said. “It was just a chance to check in, but it was also a chance for Bob to update the players on his contact with the league and the latest news, but it also kind of felt like our annual team exit meeting,” Kerr said. “Our coaching staff and I have been undergoing staff evaluations, offseason plans, so we are absolutely in offseason mode right now.”
- In an in-depth discussion between The Athletic’s Gina Mizell and John Hollinger regarding the Suns future, Hollinger indicates the biggest question regarding GM James Jones is whether owner Robert Sarver is still calling the shots on basketball decisions. In recent years, Sarver has been heavily involved in the team’s moves, including most of the ones that set back the franchise, Hollinger continued. The team may have to move forward Kelly Oubre Jr. in the coming months due to the two-year, $30MM contract he received last year, Hollinger adds.
- Mavericks big man Dwight Powell was well prepared to stay in shape during the suspension of play, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. After rupturing his right Achilles tendon in January, Powell was unable to drive to the Mavericks practice facility, so he invested in fitness equipment. One of those machines, a Concept 2 Skier, mimics the upper body motion of cross-country skiing while standing still. “Ten seconds on that at full bore will get you up to max heart rate,” Powell said. “I’m a push-up master and mixing in that cardio, so I’m actually in great shape, considering I’m not able to run right now.”
Next Season Could Be Pushed To December
There is growing support from NBA team owners to delay the start of the 2020/2021 season until December, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s Board of Governors continued discussions on Friday about pushing back next season from its usual October launch date.
By pushing the start of the season to December, the NBA could increase its chances of having fans in the arenas for as many games as possible. These discussions are independent of whether this season is ultimately resumed or canceled, Wojnarowski adds.
Talks have centered on starting the season prior to Christmas and completing it in late July or early August. The NBA draft and free agency would be pushed back until after the season.
Earlier in the day, the Board voted to postpone the draft lottery and the draft combine. It hasn’t voted on delaying the June 25 draft but that seems like a formality at this point.
2020/21 Salary Cap Preview: Memphis Grizzlies
Hoops Rumors is looking ahead at the 2020/21 salary cap situations for all 30 NBA teams. Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the NBA, it’s impossible to know yet where the cap for 2020/21 will land. Given the league’s lost revenue, we’re assuming for now that it will stay the same as the ’19/20 cap, but it’s entirely possible it will end up higher or lower than that.
Expected to be one of the NBA’s worst teams entering the season, the Grizzlies greatly exceeded expectations, buoyed by standout rookies Ja Morant and Brandon Clarke. Despite a widespread belief that the team would eventually lose its grip on the No. 8 seed in the West, Memphis had a 3.5-game cushion when the league suspended its season.
While they’ll likely become a playoff team if the season resumes, the Grizzlies remain in rebuilding mode and will use the offseason to continue building around their young core pieces. However, their three-team deadline-day trade for Justise Winslow, Gorgui Dieng, and Dion Waiters will limit their ability to make major moves.
Here’s where things stand for the Grizzlies financially in 2020/21, as we continue our Salary Cap Preview series:
Guaranteed Salary
- Gorgui Dieng ($17,287,640)
- Jonas Valanciunas ($15,000,000)
- Justise Winslow ($13,000,000)
- Dion Waiters ($12,650,000) — Waived
- Dillon Brooks ($11,400,000)
- Kyle Anderson ($9,505,100)
- Ja Morant ($9,166,800)
- Tyus Jones ($8,817,143)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. ($7,257,360)
- Marko Guduric ($2,750,000)
- Brandon Clarke ($2,602,920)
- Grayson Allen ($2,545,320)
- Dakari Johnson ($459,414) — Waived via stretch provision
- Total: $112,441,697
Player Options
- None
Team Options
- Jontay Porter ($1,517,981)
- Total: $1,517,981
Non-Guaranteed Salary
- None
Restricted Free Agents
- De’Anthony Melton ($1,820,564 qualifying offer / $1,820,564 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- Yuta Watanabe ($1,620,564 qualifying offer / $1,620,564 cap hold): Early Bird rights
- John Konchar (two-way qualifying offer / $1,445,697 cap hold): Non-Bird rights
- Total (cap holds): $4,886,825
Unrestricted Free Agents / Other Cap Holds
- Josh Jackson ($8,930,242): Bird rights 1
- Anthony Tolliver ($1,620,564): Non-Bird rights
- Total: $10,550,806
Offseason Cap Outlook
Initially expected to have some cap room this offseason, the Grizzlies sent three players on expiring contracts – Andre Iguodala, Jae Crowder, and Solomon Hill – out at the deadline in exchange for Winslow, Dieng, and Waiters, three players earning a combined $43MM in 2020/21.
As a result, Memphis will now enter the offseason operating as an over-the-cap team. However, with $112MM+ committed to 11 guaranteed contracts, the Grizzlies should have plenty of flexibility to fill out their roster without going into tax territory, even if Melton requires a substantial raise on his minimum-salary deal.
Cap Exceptions Available
- Mid-level exception: $9,258,000 2
- Trade exception: $4,736,842 (expires 7/8/20)
- Trade exception: $4,185,185 (expires 2/8/21)
- Trade exception: $3,440,000 (expires 7/7/20)
- Trade exception: $3,126,308 (expires 7/6/20)
- Trade exception: $1,845,301 (expires 2/8/21)
- Trade exception: $1,416,852 (expires 7/7/20)
- Trade exception: $766,959 (expires 7/6/20)
Footnotes
- The Grizzlies can’t offer Jackson a starting salary worth more than his cap hold, since they declined his rookie scale team option for 2020/21.
- This is a projected value.
Note: Minimum-salary and rookie-scale cap holds are based on the salary cap and could increase or decrease depending on where the cap lands.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders and Early Bird Rights was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
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