Hornets Notes: Westbrook, Trades, Wiseman, More
Following a report this week suggesting the Hornets may have interest in a Russell Westbrook trade, general manager Mitch Kupchak carefully talked around the topic during a pre-draft conference call with reporters on Friday, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.
“Does it make sense to add a big-time veteran player? At first glance, you might say no,” Kupchak said. “But it is my job to research every opportunity. If it’s something I feel needs pursuing, I’d pursue it and bring it to ownership.”
Asked specifically about the Westbrook rumors, Kupchak said he can’t comment on other teams’ players and didn’t confirm whether there have been any talks with the Rockets. He did say the Hornets are “talking to teams” about possible deals though, adding that two GMs from other teams attempted to call him during his 25-minute media session with reporters, per Bonnell.
According to Kupchak, trade talks are unlikely to get serious until early next week. For now, they’re “a big poker game,” in the words of the Hornets’ GM.
“Some of the (media) reports that are released are accurate and some aren’t,” Kupchak said. “It is my job to take every call from every general manager. Ninety-five percent of the time, there’s really not much to discuss.”
For what it’s worth, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link) has heard from league sources that the marketplace for a potential Westbrook trade is “slow developing” so far.
Here’s more out of Charlotte:
- In a separate article for The Charlotte Observer, Bonnell considers why Westbrook might appeal to the Hornets and why acquiring him would be problematic. As Bonnell writes, the Hornets would have to consider how the presence of Westbrook would affect Devonte’ Graham‘s development and whether the former MVP would even want to join a rebuilding team.
- Elsewhere at The Observer, Bonnell weighs the pros and cons of drafting James Wiseman if he’s available at No. 3. The Hornets ranked dead last in the NBA in defensive rebounding percentage and 25th in shots blocked, so if they don’t land Wiseman, they’ll have to address the center position at some point this offseason.
- Speaking to Bonnell in Q&A for The Observer, Hornets head coach James Borrego suggested there are a number of areas he’d like to see the team address this offseason. “We’ve got to get players who have the ability to make plays for others (and) more shot-makers,” Borrego said. “And players who make people better on the floor and off the floor. Often that comes in the form of a veteran. We want to bring professionals into our organization. … That will come in the form of free agents, this summer or next.” Borrego added that the team also needs to get better around the rim — both finishing at the rim on offense and protecting it on defense.
2020 NBA Head Coaching Carousel Recap
With some NBA team owners hit hard by the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic this year, there was some speculation earlier in 2020 that clubs may be less inclined to make head coaching changes.
Firing a head coach before his contract expires means remaining on the hook for the rest of the money owed to him while simultaneously starting to pay a new hire too. The expectation was that some teams may give their coaches one more year in the interest of saving some money.
While it’s possible that a couple teams took that approach, many didn’t. Nine of the NBA’s 30 teams – nearly a third – have made coaching changes since the league went on hiatus in March, turning 2020 into one of the biggest periods of coaching turnover in recent memory.
Here’s a recap of which teams have named new permanent head coaches over the last several months:
Brooklyn Nets
- Hired: Steve Nash (story)
- Replaced: Jacque Vaughn (interim)
- Contract details: Four-year deal (link)
- Other candidates who reportedly received consideration or interest: Vaughn, Jason Kidd, Tyronn Lue, Jeff Van Gundy, Ime Udoka, Gregg Popovich
Nash will be the third coach of 2020 in Brooklyn, taking over for Vaughn, who replaced Kenny Atkinson in March.
Following Atkinson’s dismissal, there was a belief that the Nets were seeking a more accomplished veteran coach to lead a roster headed by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. In Nash, Brooklyn didn’t exactly get a head coach with a lengthy résumé — the former two-time MVP has no previous coaching experience, even as an assistant.
However, Nash has a good relationship with Durant after spending time as a Warriors consultant, and the Nets’ hope is that the former point guard’s accomplishments as a player will help earn him the respect of the rest of the team’s veterans. Nash is considered a good communication and relationship-builder who will get help on the X’s and O’s from an experienced staff that includes his former head coach, Mike D’Antoni.
Chicago Bulls
- Hired: Billy Donovan (story)
- Replaced: Jim Boylen (story)
- Contract details: Four-year deal (link)
- Other candidates who reportedly received consideration or interest: Ime Udoka, Kenny Atkinson, Wes Unseld Jr., Darvin Ham, Stephen Silas, David Vanterpool, Jamahl Mosley, Dan Craig
When a team with a head coach on the hot seat hires a new president of basketball operations, it’s a safe bet a change is around the corner. That was the case in Chicago, as new Bulls executives Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley relieved Boylen of his duties, then hired Donovan five-and-a-half weeks later.
Chicago considered a wide range of candidates, most of them current assistant coaches, but the front office reportedly “aggressively pursued” Donovan once he became available, believing he was the best candidate on the market and the right fit to lead the Bulls’ promising young roster.
Houston Rockets
- Hired: Stephen Silas (story)
- Replaced: Mike D’Antoni (story)
- Contract details: Four-year deal (link)
- Other candidates who reportedly received consideration or interest: Jeff Van Gundy, John Lucas, Kenny Atkinson, David Vanterpool, Wes Unseld Jr., Tyronn Lue
D’Antoni wasn’t fired by the Rockets, but his time in Houston appeared to have run in its course, and the two sides went their separate ways when his contract expired at the end of the 2019/20 season.
The Rockets underwent some additional leadership changes during their coaching search when longtime general manager Daryl Morey stepped down from his position, leaving newly-promoted GM Rafael Stone to wrap up the process and finalize a hire.
Having narrowed their finalists to Silas, Van Gundy, and Lucas, the Rockets opted for the first-timer over the candidates with previous head coaching experience, though Lucas was retained as an assistant. With Morey no longer at the helm and his two stars expressing concern about the franchise’s direction, Silas will be under some pressure to navigate rough waters during his first few months in Houston.
Indiana Pacers
- Hired: Nate Bjorkgren (story)
- Replaced: Nate McMillan (story)
- Contract details: Multiyear deal; exact terms not known (link)
- Other candidates who reportedly received consideration or interest: Chris Finch, Mike D’Antoni, Chauncey Billups, Dan Craig, Chris Quinn, David Vanterpool, Jacque Vaughn, Nate Tibbetts, Becky Hammon, Will Hardy, Jamahl Mosley, Stephen Silas, Darvin Ham, Charles Lee, Ime Udoka, Pat Delany, Mike Brown, Dave Joerger
McMillan had done a pretty good job with the Pacers during the last few regular seasons, but the team never made it past the first round during that time, having been swept out of the playoffs in three of the last four years. There were also reportedly some complaints from players about McMillan’s coaching style.
After conducting a very wide-ranging search, Indiana landed on an under-the-radar candidate in Bjorkgren, who doesn’t have any previous NBA head coaching experience. The former Raptors assistant reportedly sold the Pacers on his ability to connect with players, as well as history of “innovation, adaptability and winning” as a G League head coach and NBA assistant.
Los Angeles Clippers
- Hired: Tyronn Lue (story)
- Replaced: Doc Rivers (story)
- Contract details: Five-year deal (link)
- Other candidates who reportedly received consideration or interest: Mike Brown, Sam Cassell, Wes Unseld Jr., Darvin Ham, Jeff Van Gundy
Even after the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead in the second round of the postseason against Denver, it didn’t seem likely that the team would replace Rivers, who admirably helped guide the franchise through the post-Donald Sterling era. However, team owner Steve Ballmer and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank ultimately decided that a new voice was necessary.
That new voice will be a familiar one for Clippers players, as Lue spent the 2019/20 season as an assistant on Rivers’ staff. The thinking is that Lue got a first-hand look at what the club did wrong this past year and has his own ideas about how to address those issues going forward. We’ll see if that bet pays off.
New Orleans Pelicans
- Hired: Stan Van Gundy (story)
- Replaced: Alvin Gentry (story)
- Contract details: Four-year deal (link)
- Other candidates who reportedly received consideration or interest: Mike D’Antoni, Tyronn Lue, Kenny Atkinson, Jacque Vaughn
A disappointing showing during the summer restart – despite a soft schedule – sealed Gentry’s fate and prompted head of basketball operations David Griffin to launch his first coaching search since joining the Pelicans.
The team decided to hire Van Gundy, who was only willing to leave his broadcasting role for the right opportunity, and believes the New Orleans job is that opportunity. SVG’s last stint in Detroit didn’t go that well, but that was largely due to his personnel decisions as the team’s president of basketball ops. Those decisions weren’t taken into account by the Pelicans, who are enthusiastic about Van Gundy’s winning track record as a coach and his ability to teach a young roster.
New York Knicks
- Hired: Tom Thibodeau (story)
- Replaced: Mike Miller (interim)
- Contract details: Five-year deal (link)
- Other candidates who reportedly received consideration or interest: Miller, Kenny Atkinson, Mike Woodson, Ime Udoka, Pat Delany, Chris Fleming, Will Hardy, Jamahl Mosley, Mike Brown, Jason Kidd
The first team to complete its head coaching search, the Knicks had a leg up on most of the other clubs on this list because they didn’t participate in the NBA’s summer restart. That gave them a chance to take Thibodeau off the market before some contenders’ jobs opened up.
Thibodeau, who has a connection to new president of basketball operations Leon Rose through Rose’s old job at Creative Artists Agency, was always considered the Knicks’ preferred option, though the club conducted a thorough search. The rebuilding Knicks will present an even bigger challenge than Thibodeau’s teams in Chicago and Minnesota did, so it’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts his coaching style.
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Hired: Mark Daigneault (story)
- Replaced: Billy Donovan (story)
- Contract details: Not known
- Other candidates who reportedly received consideration or interest: David Vanterpool, Will Hardy, Will Weaver, Brian Keefe, Charles Lee, Adrian Griffin
With the Thunder considered likely to shift into rebuilding mode in the near future, Donovan wasn’t overly interested in returning and it made more sense for the team to look to more of a developmental specialist.
Oklahoma City found its new coach in-house, making Daigneault the first NBA head coach who previously coached his new team’s G League affiliate. An assistant on Donovan’s staff last season, Daigneault already has relationships with young building blocks like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, and Darius Bazley. He’ll get a chance to grow into his role on the sidelines as they grow into bigger on-court roles of their own.
Philadelphia 76ers
- Hired: Doc Rivers (story)
- Replaced: Brett Brown (story)
- Contract details: Five-year deal (link)
- Other candidates who reportedly received consideration or interest: Tyronn Lue, Mike D’Antoni, Ime Udoka, Dave Joerger, Darvin Ham, Mike Brown
Brown kept his job a year ago following a disappointing second-round exit from the postseason, but after an up-and-down season that saw the Sixers quickly dispatched in the first round of this year’s playoffs, the team wasted no time in letting him go.
The 76ers appeared to be zeroing in on Lue or D’Antoni, but when Rivers parted ways with the Clippers, Philadelphia changed direction and aggressively pursued him, reaching a deal just three days later. Rivers, who is widely respected by NBA players, will get the opportunity to see if he can make the most of the Joel Embiid/Ben Simmons pairing in 2020/21 and beyond.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Teams Frustrated By Lack Of Info From NBA On Restart
It wasn’t long ago that NBA teams and players were expecting the 2020/21 season to begin sometime in the new year, perhaps even as late as March. However, after the league changed course last month and proposed a pre-Christmas restart, those teams are now preparing for free agency to begin in a week and for the regular season to tip off in less than six weeks.
With things moving so quickly, teams feel frustrated by the lack of information and clarity they’ve received from the NBA about how everything will work, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
The league still has to finalize several short-term logistical details for the offseason, like when player and team option decisions are due or when trade exceptions will expire. Teams also have a number of questions about the health, safety, and travel protocols for the regular season, and are feeling pressure to figure out their plans for allowing fans into arenas.
“We know it’s hard, and they’re working on a lot of details,” one team president told ESPN. “They are listening to a lot of feedback from all of us. But at times we feel like we’re in the dark and that can get frustrating.”
“Nobody knows the rules,” a separate executive said, “and (the league) is making it up as it goes along.”
As Bontemps points out, when the NBA planned its summer restart to complete the 2019/20 season, it took several months for the league to work out all its safety protocols for the bubble. With no plans to create another bubble for ’20/21, the league and its teams must figure out how they’ll keep players, coaches, and other employees safe as clubs fly all over the country and fans are potentially allowed back into arenas. The timeline to establish all those new protocols is far more compressed than it was earlier this year.
“Everything is happening last minute, in a short period of time,” an Eastern Conference executive told ESPN. “There’s not much time to think through things.”
Knicks Have Weighed Russell Westbrook Trade
The Knicks are on the “short list” of viable trade destinations for Rockets star Russell Westbrook, league sources tell Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link). Westbrook is reportedly seeking a deal out of Houston.
According to Stein, the Knicks have weighed the possibility of making a trade for Westbrook, and if they prove willing to absorb the money left on his contract (approximately $132MM over there years), “there is a trade to be made.”
Given the Knicks’ cap flexibility and their desire to get back into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference, it makes sense that they’d be linked to Westbrook. However, the belief is that they’re considering a wide number of possibilities with their two first-round picks and their projected cap room.
Ian Begley of SNY.tv noted earlier this week that people within the organization are wary about giving up too many assets in a trade for an expensive veteran like Westbrook or Chris Paul. The club has some extra first-rounders over the next few seasons and some young players with promise, but wants to retain enough pieces to eventually make a competitive trade offer for another star.
The Hornets, another Eastern lottery team with cap flexibility, have also been identified as a potential suitor for Westbrook. It remains to be seen how serious the Rockets are about moving the former MVP.
Victor Oladipo Tells Pacers He’s Fully Committed To Team
Veteran guard Victor Oladipo has let the Pacers know that he’s fully committed to the franchise and its direction for the upcoming season, he tells Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Oladipo’s comments come on the heels of an Indianapolis Star report that alleged the two-time All-Star had asked members of at least three other teams, “Can I come play with y’all?” in front of Pacers teammates during games last season. Aaron Turner, Oladipo’s agent, adamantly denied that claim during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio (audio link), and his client followed suit in a conversation with Charania.
“I know there have been people saying that I have asked players to trade for me. That’s just not true, period,” Oladipo told The Athletic. “I love my teammates, I cherish the state of Indiana and I’m focused on leading this franchise to a title.”
Oladipo said that he’s excited to play for new head coach Nate Bjorkgren and that the two have had positive talks since Bjorkgren was hired, Charania writes. The Indy Star’s report earlier this week conveyed a similar sentiment, indicating that replacing Nate McMillan with Bjorkgren had helped “changed the tone” in Indiana and increased the likelihood of Oladipo returning for 2020/21.
While Oladipo will be eligible for a contract extension this offseason, Charania reiterates that the 28-year-old and the Pacers are unlikely to come to a deal, as has been previously reported. Oladipo is still open to remaining in Indiana if he feels as if the team can compete for a championship, but wants an opportunity to maximize his future earnings, and he’ll be eligible for a larger maximum salary as a free agent than he would be if he agrees to an early extension.
Even before this week’s report from The Indianapolis Star, Oladipo had been widely viewed as a potential trade candidate, since he’ll be a free agent in 2021 and isn’t viewed as a lock to re-sign with the Pacers. However, he didn’t look quite like his old All-Star self after returning from a torn quad tendon earlier this year, so teams with interest may try to lowball Indiana this fall.
Taking into account Oladipo’s diminished value, as well as today’s public commitment to the organization, it may make sense for the Pacers to hang onto the former No. 2 overall pick for at least the start of the season. If he recaptures his old form, his value could increase by the time the trade deadline rolls around.
Still, it’s too early to rule out a potential offseason deal. The Pacers have reportedly discussed possible trades involving both Oladipo and Myles Turner, and Oladipo has reportedly drawn interest from the Bucks and Mavericks, among others.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Okoro, Poirier, VanVleet, Nets
The Celtics have reportedly explored the possibility of packaging their three first-round picks (Nos. 14, 26, and 30) to move into the middle of the draft lottery. On Thursday, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer suggested that Boston’s intent with that plan may be to flip the newly-acquired mid-lottery pick to New Orleans in a deal for Jrue Holiday.
However, Sean Deveney of Heavy.com hears that the Celtics also have their eye on a potential target in the top 10. Sources tell Deveney that Boston has been “enamored with” Auburn forward Isaac Okoro all year and that he would be the target if the team trades up. The C’s would also be happy to see who falls to them at their current spot, Deveney adds.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic:
- Clarifying some comments he made recently to a French outlet, Celtics center Vincent Poirier tells Tom Westerholm of MassLive that he wasn’t upset about his limited role in 2019/20 and knows that if he wants more minutes, he has to earn them. “I just told (head coach Brad Stevens) I accepted the role I had this year, because obviously that’s what I deserved, because I didn’t show anything,” Poirier said. “But I think I worked, I think I understand the game, so I used this season to grow and to progress. I’m just saying that was cool, but as a competitor, as a man, as a basketball player, I want more. I’m not here just to be with the guys.” Poirier has a guaranteed $2.6MM salary for 2020/21.
- Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun isn’t reading too much into Fred VanVleet‘s comments about “trying to get paid” in free agency. It’s hardly breaking news that money is an important consideration for top free agents, according to Wolstat, who says he’d still bet on the Raptors re-signing their veteran point guard.
- Maryland’s Jalen Smith declined to say which teams he has worked out for, but the Nets were one of the first teams to interview him and have genuine interest in drafting him, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Smith told reporters in a conference call that if he gets an opportunity to play with Kevin Durant, it would be a “dream come true.”
2020 NBA Offseason Preview: Los Angeles Lakers
Hoops Rumors is previewing the 2020 offseason for all 30 NBA teams. We’re looking at the key questions facing each club, as well as the roster decisions they’ll have to make this fall. Today, we’re focusing on the Los Angeles Lakers.
Salary Cap Outlook
Five Lakers starters or rotation players hold options for 2020/21, while multiple others are free agents. As a result, it’s a little tricky to pin down where team salary will land. We can start with accounting for the team’s five guaranteed contracts and the cap hold for its first-round pick — those total about $70MM. A new max salary for Anthony Davis will come in at $32.7MM, so we can safely assume the Lakers will operate as an over-the-cap club.
If the Lakers need to give Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Rajon Rondo sizeable raises, team salary could approach the tax line, in which case the club would be limited to the taxpayer mid-level exception ($5.72MM). But if Los Angeles is willing to let a free agent or two go – or gets them back on team-friendly deals – then the full MLE ($9.26MM) and bi-annual exception ($3.62MM) could be in play.
Our full salary cap preview for the Lakers can be found right here.
Roster Decisions To Watch
Options:
- Anthony Davis, player option: $28,751,774
- Note: Davis will reportedly decline his option.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, player option: $8,543,746
- Note: Caldwell-Pope will reportedly decline his option.
- Avery Bradley, player option: $5,005,350
- JaVale McGee, player option: $4,200,000
- Rajon Rondo, player option: $2,692,991
- Note: Rondo will reportedly decline his option.
Non-Guaranteed Contracts:
- Quinn Cook ($3,000,000)
- Note: Partially guaranteed for $1MM.
Two-Way Contracts:
- Kostas Antetokounmpo (expiring)
Free Agents:
- Dwight Howard (Non-Bird)
- Markieff Morris (Non-Bird)
- Jared Dudley (Non-Bird)
- Dion Waiters (Non-Bird)
- J.R. Smith (N/A)
- Note: Smith won’t have any form of Bird rights because he was signed as a substitute player.
2020 Draft Assets
First Round:
- No. 28 overall pick
Second Round:
- None
While the Lakers retained their own first-round pick, their second-rounder (No. 58) belongs to the Sixers. L.A. originally sent that pick to Orlando last June in a deal for Talen Horton-Tucker; the Magic flipped it to Philadelphia at the trade deadline for James Ennis.
Three Key Offseason Questions
1. What will Anthony Davis‘ new contract look like?
A year ago, there was plenty of drama entering free agency about where top free agents like Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant would ultimately land. For Davis, this year’s No. 1 free agent, that drama is essentially nonexistent — he forced a trade to the Lakers from New Orleans a year ago, then won a title with his new club this fall. Why would he leave?
Still, it won’t simply be a matter of exercising his player option to stick around. If he opts out, Davis can comfortably exceed the $28.75MM he’d earn by opting in. As such, he has already signaled his intention to turn down that option.
On his new deal with the Lakers, Davis will earn a maximum salary of $32.74MM in 2020/21, but the length and structure of that contract are still question marks. Although the seven-time All-Star could lock in nearly $190MM in guaranteed money by signing a five-year contract with L.A., I suspect he’ll avoid that option, preferring to maintain some flexibility over the next couple years — not so he can eventually leave the Lakers, but so he can maximize his earnings going forward.
Signing a two-year contract that has a player option in year two would line up Davis’ contract with LeBron James‘. It would also secure him an 8% raise for 2021/22, when the cap may increase by as little as 3%. That’s a realistic and potentially favorable option for AD.
The other most viable option would be a three-year pact with a third-year player option. That would ensure that when Davis gets the chance to opt out in 2022, he’ll have 10 years of NBA experience under his belt, meaning he’ll be eligible to receive a starting salary worth 35% of the cap. Even if the cap only increases by 3% annually for the next two years, that would put Davis in line to sign a five-year contract that starts at $40.5MM in 2022/23 and has a total value of $235MM.
Davis’ decision will ultimately come down to his priorities. Signing a one-plus-one contract and going year to year puts him in the best position to maximize his earnings and his flexibility, but it also means potentially dealing with free agency every year. If he doesn’t want to bother with that, a two-plus-one deal might be the move. If he really doesn’t want to be distracted by impending free agency anytime soon, a five-year pact is possible, but I think that’s probably a long shot.
2. Can the Lakers bring back all their key free agents while using their mid-level to add another productive player?
The Lakers are a lock to re-sign Davis, but what about the role players who came up big during the team’s championship run, like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Rajon Rondo? Both veteran guards are expected to turn down their player options in search of new deals, and they’ll definitely be in line for raises after taking up just over $10MM in cap space in 2019/20.
It’s hard to pin down exactly how much KCP’s and Rondo’s next contracts will be worth. I don’t expect major bidding wars on too many free agents this fall, but rival teams might want to put pressure on the defending champions by making aggressive offers for the Lakers’ most important free agents.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks estimates a starting salary in the $12-14MM range for Caldwell-Pope and $4-6MM for Rondo, so let’s project it takes about $20MM to bring both players back.
Even if we assume the Lakers waive-and-stretch Quinn Cook and don’t use their first-round pick, that still puts team salary above $120MM for just eight players, and doesn’t account for the possibility that JaVale McGee ($4.2MM) and Avery Bradley ($5MM) will both exercise their player options. It also doesn’t include salaries for Dwight Howard or Markieff Morris, who will both be free agents too.
Ideally, the Lakers would like to be able to use the full, non-taxpayer mid-level exception. It’s worth $9.3MM, which should be enough to bring in a valuable rotation piece this fall, since only a small handful of clubs have cap room. But L.A.’s team salary would be hard-capped at $138.9MM if the organization uses more than the taxpayer portion of the mid-level ($5.7MM), so that doesn’t leave a whole lot of breathing room.
Still, there are ways the Lakers may be able to create enough flexibility to use the full MLE. If McGee or Bradley opts out, that would help. Jettisoning one of Caldwell-Pope or Rondo would too, though that’s not an ideal solution. The Lakers could also shed some salary in a trade, perhaps by moving Danny Green‘s expiring $15MM+ contract, but that may be a trade chip better used in a swap for an impact player rather than in a salary-dump deal.
The Lakers’ best hope of bringing back most of their key free agents while maintaining enough flexibility to bring in another good player with the MLE is that veterans are willing to take a bit of a discount to contend for another title in L.A.
If, for instance, Caldwell-Pope and Rondo only cost a combined $15MM and Howard is willing to sign another minimum-salary deal, that extra bit of flexibility could make a big difference for the Lakers. And if there’s a useful veteran out there willing to play for the taxpayer MLE rather than the full $9.3MM, that’d be a bonus, since the hard cap would be of no concern.
The Lakers’ free agency puzzle will be a tricky one to solve, especially since Howard and Morris only have Non-Bird rights, preventing the team from giving them much of a raise. But if one or two things break right for the franchise, the other pieces could fall into place in short order.
3. Could a trade package of Danny Green, Kyle Kuzma, and the No. 28 pick bring back an impact player?
Given the construction of the Lakers’ roster, Green, Kuzma, and their first-round pick are probably the team’s most expendable pieces in a potential trade. Green and Kuzma are on expiring deals, and Kuzma wasn’t a particularly great fit alongside fellow power forwards James and Davis. Plus, a title-contending team probably doesn’t need to add a late-first-round rookie who would have a hard time cracking the rotation.
On the surface, it looks like a pretty appealing package for a potential trade partner. Green is a reliable three-and-D wing who has won multiple championships and has knocked down 40% of his career three-pointers. Kuzma is a 25-year-old who averaged 16.0 PPG in his first three NBA seasons and will cost just $3.6MM in 2020/21. And every NBA team would welcome a first-round pick that can be used to control a young player on an affordable contract for the next four years.
Still, there’s reason to believe the package wouldn’t be as valuable as the Lakers might hope. Green is now 33 years old and has struggled with his outside shot in each of the last two postseasons, forcing the Raptors and the Lakers to cut back his minutes in the 2019 and 2020 Finals. He’s also the sort of player who would primarily appeal to a playoff team, and it’s probably safe to assume not many of those teams would be looking to send an impact player to L.A.
As for Kuzma, he put up nice scoring numbers on the Lakers’ lottery-bound teams in his first two seasons, but had more trouble carving out a role in 2019/20. He’s not a good enough shooter (.308 3PT% over the last two seasons) to reliably space the floor, and he’s not a particularly strong defender either. He’s also headed for restricted free agency in 2021, meaning a team that acquires him would be responsible for giving him a significant raise a year from now.
The No. 28 pick, meanwhile, is a useful asset, given the relatively strong depth of this year’s draft class. But that late in the first round, it’s probably unreasonable to expect that pick to turn into anything more than a solid role player.
It’s not a package that would get the Lakers’ foot in the door for a player like Jrue Holiday, but it might be enough for a distressed asset. I think the Pacers would probably want more for Victor Oladipo, but if they’re genuinely concerned about his health and his impact on Indiana’s locker room, they could do worse than Green, Kuzma, and a first-rounder.
The Green/Kuzma duo has also been mentioned as the start of a package for Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan, which would be interesting. DeRozan, a Los Angeles native, would give the Lakers some scoring punch beyond LeBron and AD, and there’s enough defensive talent on the roster to cover up his shortcomings on that end of the floor. If San Antonio is pivoting to a rebuild, reuniting with Green while acquiring Kuzma and a first-rounder would be a decent return for DeRozan’s expiring deal, though L.A. would have to include a little more salary for matching purposes.
Green and Kuzma each played regular roles for this year’s championship team, and the Lakers have exhibited a knack for getting value late in the first round of drafts, so if they hang onto their assets, they’ll be fine. But if they make a move on the trade market, it’s a good bet that some or all of those pieces will be part of a deal.
Information from Basketball Insiders and ESPN was used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Udonis Haslem Plans To Re-Sign With Heat
Heat big man Udonis Haslem announced today that he intends to return to the franchise for at least one more season, according to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Haslem, 40, has been a member of the Heat since 2003, having made his debut with the team over 17 years ago. During that time, he has appeared in 858 regular season games for Miami, plus another 147 postseason contests. He has won three titles with the organization, averaging 7.6 PPG and 6.7 RPG for his career.
In recent years, Haslem’s on-court role has declined significantly. In 2019/20, he appeared in just four regular season games, logging a total of 44 minutes. It was the fourth straight year in which he has played no more than 130 minutes.
However, the Heat value Haslem’s veteran leadership and presence on the bench, and appear willing to continue to signing him to one-year, minimum-salary contracts as long as he wants to continue his career.
According to Winderman (Twitter link), Haslem said today that he still thinks he can contribute, but won’t push for minutes. The veteran declined to say whether or not 2020/21 will be his final season, tweets Winderman.
Now that Vince Carter has retired, Haslem may begin the ’20/21 campaign as the NBA’s oldest player, unless Jamal Crawford or another veteran free agent in his 40s signs a new contract.
Cavs Zeroing In On Deni Avdija, Obi Toppin?
Multiple reports this week have indicated that the Cavaliers appear to be zeroing in on Israeli wing Deni Avdija and Dayton forward Obi Toppin with the fifth overall pick in next Wednesday’s draft.
John Hollinger of The Athletic wrote within his mock draft on Tuesday that Avdija and Toppin are the only two names he has heard connected to Cleveland at No. 5. Jason Lloyd of The Athletic followed that up by writing this morning that the Cavs’ choice “seems to be down to” those two players.
Sources tell Lloyd that Cavs general manager Koby Altman is high on Toppin, while several other members of his staff are leaning toward Avdija.
There’s a widespread belief that LaMelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and James Wiseman will be the first three players to come off the board in the 2020 NBA draft, in some order. If that’s the case, the Cavs can be confident that at least one of Toppin or Avdija would be available at No. 5. It’s not clear which direction they’d go if both players are still on the board, though it’s worth noting that Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported on Thursday that executives believe Avdija won’t slip past No. 5.
The Cavs have used their last two lottery picks on guards – Collin Sexton and Darius Garland – and have a number of veteran bigs up front, including Kevin Love, Andre Drummond, and Larry Nance Jr. As such, Avdija’s fit on the wing is obvious.
Toppin’s fit is less clear, since he’s a power forward and the Cavs already have a few options there. However, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com has said for weeks that some members of the organization think the roster could use another long-term frontcourt piece, with Tristan Thompson facing free agency and Drummond on an expiring deal. There are also some concerns about Toppin’s defense, but his shortcomings on that end aren’t considered a deal-breaker for Cleveland, per Fedor.
Warriors Aim To Use Rapid Testing To Open Arena At 50% Capacity
The Warriors are hoping to receive approval from local and state officials – and from the NBA – to reopen Chase Center at 50% capacity for the 2020/21 season, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
As Shelburne explains, the Warriors have been working since March on a plan – internally called “Operation DubNation” – which involves testing fans for COVID-19 using rapid PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests that return results within 15 minutes and are believed to be about 99% accurate.
The NBA used PCR tests during its restart this summer, but had to wait overnight for the results of those tests. The rapid PCR tests have only emerged in recent months, with three companies receiving FDA approval and ramping up their production to make them more widely available, per Shelburne. The rapid tests are significantly more expensive, but the Warriors are prepared to dedicate $30MM to testing fans, employees, and players this season, according to ESPN.
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The Warriors’ proposed plan would call for fans to wear masks and engage in social distancing. The team would also use a “state-of-the-art” air filtration system that’s capable of purging and replacing the building’s air supply up to four times in an hour, says Shelburne.
“I not only want to get this done and show the world how we can do it now, I’m willing to spend the money to do it,” Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said. “This is a serious, serious problem. It cannot go on for multiple years … because if this were to go on for several years, the NBA is no more.
“You cannot sustain this league with no fans. You can do it for a year. We’ll all get by for a year. But suppose we’re in this situation next year. Now we’re talking some serious, serious financial damage to a lot of people.”
Even if the Warriors are willing to spend the money necessary to conduct rapid coronavirus testing for fans, the most significant roadblock will be getting approval from government officials. As Shelburne notes, California hasn’t approved fans for sporting events in any capacity during the pandemic, and San Francisco recently reinstituted several protocols to curb the spread of the virus. Lacob is hoping to receive approval once state and local officials hear the details of the Warriors’ plan and the science behind it.
“Let us prove the concept. Let us use our money, our resources, our seven-eight months of work, our expertise to prove the concept,” Lacob said. “That’s what I’m trying to get the state, the city and the government to entertain.
“… By springtime, the rapid PCR tests will be manufactured in amounts nearing 100,000 per day by some of these companies. But I’m trying to show the world, trying to show the sports world in particular, and California, a way to do this. A safe way to have people come to an event and be totally safe walking in that building. The numbers bear it out.”