Caris LeVert In Protocols, Will Miss Tuesday’s Game
Pacers guard Caris LeVert has been placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols and won’t be available for tonight’s play-in game against the Hornets, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
LeVert is expected to miss multiple games if Indiana advances in the tournament and reaches the playoffs, sources tell Charania (Twitter link). He will likely be in the protocols for 10-14 days, Charania adds (Twitter link).
LeVert has been a valuable part of Indiana’s lineup since returning in mid-March from surgery to treat renal cell carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. A small mass was discovered on LeVert’s kidney as part of a physical after he was traded from the Nets in January.
In 35 games with the Pacers, LeVert is averaging 20.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per night.
The Pacers were already expected to be shorthanded on Tuesday, with Myles Turner, Jeremy Lamb, and T.J. Warren among the players sidelined due to injuries. Malcolm Brogdon (right hamstring) and Domantas Sabonis (left quad) are listed as questionable, per the team (Twitter link).
Poll: Western Conference Play-In Games
On Monday, we asked for your predictions for the first two Eastern Conference play-in games, and you’ll have until tonight to place your votes on those two contests. In the meantime though, we want to give you plenty of time to make your predictions for Wednesday’s play-in games too, so we’re shifting our focus to the Western Conference today.
Here are the two Western play-in games scheduled for Wednesday:
San Antonio Spurs (10) at Memphis Grizzlies (9)
The Spurs are in the midst of an interesting transition period, having parted ways with longtime standout LaMarcus Aldridge this season as youngsters like Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, and Lonnie Walker took on larger roles. DeMar DeRozan remained the team’s offensive engine, but he’s in a contract year and may be playing his final games as a Spur.
The Spurs are missing starting guard Derrick White and backed their way into a play-in spot, having lost 10 of their last 12 games. However, a team led by Gregg Popovich shouldn’t be ruled out, even if San Antonio will enter this game as an underdog.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, exceeded expectations this season despite playing without Jaren Jackson Jr. for most of the year. Ja Morant, the team’s top scorer, has led the way, but Memphis is getting impressive contributions from the likes of Jonas Valanciunas, Kyle Anderson, Dillon Brooks, and Desmond Bane, among others.
The Grizzlies were also on a five-game winning streak before losing its regular season finale to Golden State and might have a little more momentum than the Spurs entering the play-in. This is a young team, but it’s a relatively healthy one and has shown over the last two years that it can compete in big games.
The winner of this game will advance and play on Friday for the No. 8 seed, while the loser will be eliminated from postseason contention.
Which team will win on Wednesday and avoid elimination?
-
Memphis Grizzlies 69% (558)
-
San Antonio Spurs 31% (253)
Total votes: 811
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on Grizzlies/Spurs.
Golden State Warriors (8) at Los Angeles Lakers (7)
By far the most compelling matchup of any of the first play-in games, this battle for the No. 7 seed will pit LeBron James and Anthony Davis against Stephen Curry and Draymond Green for the right to face the Suns in round one.
On paper, the defending-champion Lakers look like the obvious pick here, with James and Davis back in the lineup and the team on a five-game winning streak entering the play-in tournament. The Lakers will have home-court advantage and will be motivated to take care of business on Wednesday in order to get some rest before the first round begins. Betting sites, including BetOnline.ag, list them as the biggest favorite of the four play-in hosts.
But James and Davis only recently returned from lengthy injury absences and neither superstar has looked 100% healthy as of late. If James tweaks his ankle again or Davis’ back acts up, the Lakers’ margin of error will shrink significantly, opening the door for the Warriors to pull off the upset.
Even a healthy Lakers team could be in trouble if Curry catches fire. The NBA’s leading scorer has been playing some of the best basketball over the last two months, averaging an eye-popping 37.1 points on .493/.436/.896 shooting in 22 games since early April, despite being the focal point of every opposing defense. Preventing Curry from heating up beyond the arc will be crucial if the Lakers want to secure a win.
While the winner of this game locks up the No. 7 seed in the West, the loser will host the Grizzlies/Spurs winner on Friday for the right to earn the No. 8 seed.
Which team will win on Wednesday and secure the No. 7 seed?
-
Los Angeles Lakers 51% (526)
-
Golden State Warriors 49% (515)
Total votes: 1,041
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on Lakers/Warriors.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Southwest Notes: Jeffries, Grizzlies, Olynyk, Pelicans
While DaQuan Jeffries will technically be part of the Spurs‘ roster for their play-in game on Wednesday and any other games they may play this season, he won’t see any action for the club in 2020/21, tweets Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News.
Jeffries, who was claimed off waivers by the Spurs on Saturday, is mainly a developmental pickup, according to Orsborn, who suggests that the team will evaluate the young swingman during the summer. However, it’s worth noting that Jeffries has a team option for 2021/22, which San Antonio will have to pick up or decline prior to free agency and Summer League play. If the Spurs don’t exercise that option, Jeffries could move on to another club.
Here are a few more Southwest notes:
- The Grizzlies have joined the list of teams increasing the number of fans they’ll allow into their building for the postseason, announcing in a press release that they’ll bump the capacity of FedEx Forum from 20% to 40%. Of course, the Grizzlies will end up just hosting a single play-in game if they’re unable to earn one of the final two playoff spots in the West.
- With free agency around the corner, Rockets big man Kelly Olynyk said his newfound familiarity with the team and its staff will be a factor in his offseason decision. “I know the coaching staff here, the organization, the people,” Olynyk said (video link via Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston). “I know I have a role here if I decide to come back and I think they would welcome it.”
- After a disappointing showing in 2020/21, the Pelicans will be under pressure to take a major step forward next season, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic, who states that finishing 10 games below .500 again won’t be acceptable.
Revisiting 2020/21 NBA Over/Under Predictions
Before the 2020/21 NBA season got underway, we polled Hoops Rumors readers on the win totals for each of the league’s 30 teams, using over/unders from major betting sites. From the Bucks (51.5 wins) to the Knicks, Pistons, and Thunder (22.5 wins apiece), our readers made their picks for whether each team’s win total would land over or under the projected figures.
This is the fourth year we’ve run these polls, and in each of the first three years, our voters have finished a little under .500, including 14-16 in each of the last two seasons. Did that change in 2020/21? Let’s check in on the results and find out…
Eastern Conference
- Boston Celtics (Over 45.5 wins): ❌ (36-36)
- Brooklyn Nets (Over 45.5 wins): ✅ (48-24)
- Philadelphia 76ers (Over 44.5 wins): ✅ (49-23)
- Toronto Raptors (Over 42.5 wins): ❌ (27-45)
- New York Knicks (Under 22.5 wins): ❌ (41-31)
- Milwaukee Bucks (Over 51.5 wins): ❌ (46-26)
- Indiana Pacers (Over 39.5 wins): ❌ (34-38)
- Chicago Bulls (Under 29.5 wins): ❌ (31-41)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (Under 23.5 wins): ✅ (22-50)
- Detroit Pistons (Over 22.5 wins): ❌ (20-52)
- Miami Heat (Over 44.5 wins): ❌ (40-32)
- Atlanta Hawks (Over 36.5 wins): ✅ (41-31)
- Washington Wizards (Under 34.5 wins): ✅ (34-38)
- Orlando Magic (Under 31.5 wins): ✅ (21-51)
- Charlotte Hornets (Over 26.5 wins): ✅ (33-39)
Eastern Conference record: 7-8
Projecting under 22.5 wins for the Knicks was one of the big misses in the Atlantic, as no team exceeded its projected win total this season by more than New York — to be fair, not many experts saw that coming either.
The Central was full of near-misses, with the Bucks, Pacers, and Pistons falling a little short of expectations, while the Bulls slightly exceeded theirs.
A strong 4-1 showing in the Southeast, however, helped make up for a 3-7 record in the East’s other two divisions. The Hawks and Hornets went comfortably over, while the Magic went far under and the Wizards dug too deep a hole to clear their over by season’s end. If the Heat hadn’t been hit so hard early in the season by injuries and the health and safety protocols, we could’ve had a clean sweep in the Southeast.
Western Conference
- Denver Nuggets (Over 44.5 wins): ✅ (47-25)
- Utah Jazz (Over 42.5 wins): ✅ (52-30)
- Portland Trail Blazers (Over 41.5 wins): ✅ (42-30)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (Under 29.5 wins): ✅ (23-49)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (Under 22.5 wins): ✅ (22-50)
- Los Angeles Lakers (Over 48.5 wins): ❌ (42-30)
- Los Angeles Clippers (Under 47.5 wins): ✅ (47-25)
- Phoenix Suns (Over 40.5 wins): ✅ (51-21)
- Golden State Warriors (Over 38.5 wins): ✅ (39-33)
- Sacramento Kings (Under 29.5 wins): ❌ (31-41)
- Dallas Mavericks (Over 43.5 wins): ❌ (42-30)
- New Orleans Pelicans (Over 36.5 wins): ❌ (31-41)
- Houston Rockets (Under 35.5 wins): ✅ (17-55)
- Memphis Grizzlies (Over 32.5 wins): ✅ (38-34)
- San Antonio Spurs (Under 30.5 wins): ❌ (33-39)
Western Conference record: 10-5
That’s more like it! The Northwest was the rare division where the perceived “good” teams all went over their projected win totals, while the “bad” teams went under. That worked out perfectly for us, resulting in our voters’ first ever 5-for-5 division. The 42nd win for the Trail Blazers and 50th loss for the Thunder were especially big.
We also benefited from a little luck with the Clippers‘ and Warriors‘ year-end records, and predicting the Suns would go over was a great call — Phoenix was the Western team that exceeded its projected win total by the greatest margin.
Our enthusiasm for the Mavericks and Pelicans in the Southwest didn’t play off, but our bearish outlook for the Rockets did. Houston was the only team not to even get halfway to its projected win total this season.
Overall record: 17-13
For the first time in four years, you would’ve come out a little ahead if you’d taken our voters’ picks to Vegas. That’s all the more impressive given the unusual circumstances of the 72-game 2020/21 season.
Looking back at the preseason projections, along with your predictions, which team surprised or disappointed you the most? Jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Southeast Notes: Hayward, Magic, Homesley, Heat Crowds
Hornets forward Gordon Hayward will remain out for the play-in tournament game on Tuesday against Indiana, the team’s PR department tweets. Hayward hasn’t played since April 2 due to a right foot sprain. Cody Martin (left ankle sprain) will also miss the game.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- The Magic couldn’t take anything out of this disastrous season, except for improving their chances of getting a top-four pick, Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel opines. Jonathan Isaac and Markelle Fultz lost valuable development time due to season-ending injuries and it’s tough to evaluate the other young players on the roster because the team was in tank mode during the second half of the season.
- Caleb Homesley‘s contract with the Wizards is worth $5.3MM over four years, including this season, Fred Katz of The Athletic tweets. The next two seasons are non-guaranteed and the final year includes a team option. Homesley was signed as a developmental player after seeing action in 15 G League games with the Erie BayHawks. He won’t be with the team for the play-in tournament.
- The Heat will increase their crowd capacity for the postseason, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald tweets. A crowd of 8,600 fans (43%) will be allowed in for the first round of the playoffs. The arena capacity was previously at 5,700 (29%).
Pistons Notes: Draft, Roster, Casey, Diallo, Veterans
The Pistons finished with the second worst record in the league, meaning they’ll slide no lower than sixth in the draft lottery. While the top five prospects in this year’s draft have been highly touted, GM Troy Weaver doesn’t want fans to automatically assume they’ll get a franchise player, Rod Beard of the Detroit News tweets.
“There’s definitely big potential in the top five. Franchise-changing? I don’t know,” Weaver said on Monday. “There’s no Shaq (Shaquille O’Neal) in this class…I’m not looking for someone in the top five to step in and change the franchise.”
We have more on the Pistons:
- Weaver blew up the roster in his first season with the franchise but he won’t be doing much wheeling and dealing this summer, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Beyond the lottery pick, the roster will have plenty of continuity. Weaver said the focus this offseason will be on internal growth. “I don’t anticipate having too many roster spots available,” Weaver said. “We like our group and we’re excited about the guys under contract and even our own free agents. I don’t anticipate much turnover at all.”
- In tune with that theme, Casey said his players won’t get much time off this summer, Langlois writes in a separate story. “Give the guys a couple of weeks off and get right back at it,” he said. “Like I told the team, this is probably one of the most important summers of their basketball-playing careers.”
- An essential part of the rebuild was retaining Casey to nurture the team’s growth, Beard writes. The extension runs he signed last week runs through the 2023/24 season. “It was extremely important that we extend Coach,” Weaver said. “It was an important part of everything we’re doing, we wanted him to be lined up with this restoration. He’s leading the cause on the floor.”
- When the Pistons traded with the Thunder for restricted free agent Hamidou Diallo, the expectation was that Detroit intended to hold onto the young wing. That remains the plan, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press tweets. “It’s a young group that he fits and we need his talents,” Weaver said of Diallo. “If he can continue to buy into Coach Casey’s system, which he did … I think he can have a very bright future here in Detroit.”
- The Pistons sat out many of their veteran players to gave their rookies plenty of experience in the second half of the season. However, Weaver wants some seasoned players to round out the roster, James Edwards of The Athletic tweets. “Our roster construction is always going to have veterans,” he said.
Luke Walton To Remain Kings’ Head Coach
Luke Walton will remain as the Kings’ head coach, a league source tells James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link).
Walton had been publicly supported by numerous players, including Tyrese Haliburton, Richaun Holmes and Harrison Barnes, who praised their head coach in media interviews on Monday. The Kings made a belated playoff run despite injury and illness and Walton also has a strong working relationship with GM Monte McNair and the front office (Twitter links).
Walton had said over the weekend he was “very confident” he’d be retained. Monetary factors worked in Walton’s favor as well, since he’s reportedly owed $11.5MM over the next two seasons.
Walton spoke of ending the team’s playoff drought next season prior to the season finale, saying this offseason will be critical. The team has gone 31-41 in each of Walton’s seasons at the helm.
“We have an offseason plan put in place from when they’re going to be in Sacramento, and what coaches will be working with them, and what we need them focused on,” Walton said.
Walton will speak to the media on Tuesday.
Pelicans Notes: Ball, Williamson, Ingram, Hayes, Luxury Tax, Offseason
The big question looming over the Pelicans this offseason is whether restricted free agent Lonzo Ball will remain with the franchise. Ball told Andrew Lopez of ESPN and other media members on Monday he’d like to stay.
“That’s a conversation between me and my agent moving forward. But obviously I would love to be back,” Ball said. “I built a bond here with the coaches and the teammates who are here. I definitely wouldn’t mind coming back at all.”
Franchise player Zion Williamson is also hoping that Ball will remain. The front office will have to extend a $14.36MM qualifying offer to prevent Ball from becoming an unrestricted free agent, then would have the ability to match any offer sheet he signs.
“I really would want ‘Zo to come back,” Williamson said. “He knows that. But you know, like I said, the reality of the situation is ‘Zo is a grown man, so he’ll make the decision that’s best for him. The only thing I can say is I hope he stays.”
We have more on the Pelicans:
- Brandon Ingram is another fan of Ball’s, calling him a “generational” talent due to his passing ability, Lopez tweets. Ingram is also hopeful that another one of the Pelicans’ RFAs, Josh Hart ($5.23MM qualifying offer), will stay put.
- The injury big man Jaxson Hayes suffered in the season finale on Sunday was a muscle contusion, Will Guillory of The Athletic tweets. Hayes confirms the injury is a short-term issue, Lopez tweets. “There’s a little bit of swelling and I can’t bend it too well,” Hayes said. “But it’s just a contusion. I’ll be fine in a week or so.”
- Executive VP of basketball operations David Griffin said he purposely kept the team under the luxury tax, though there was no mandate from ownership. He said his bosses are willing to pay the tax in the future once it becomes a serious title contender, Lopez relays in a string of tweets. “It was something where we didn’t want to start our clock,” Griffin said. “I think this organization and ownership team has been very clear with us that when we have a chance to put the pedal to the medal and build a championship team… I believe there is a willingness to do that. But it’s about picking your spots.”
- Finding the right combination of players around Williamson is the ultimate front office goal for the franchise, Bobby Marks of ESPN (Insider link) writes. Marks takes a deep dive into the Pelicans’ offseason decisions, their cap situation, and the draft. New Orleans owns not only a lottery pick but four second-rounders.
Lauri Markkanen Will Explore Free Agent Options
Lauri Markkanen will test the free agent waters, regardless of whether the Bulls extend a qualifying offer, he told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
“My thing is I think I’ve always been a team-first guy. And I think now it’s time to look at the business side of the game,” Markkanen said. “I feel like I’m only 23 years old and I have a lot of basketball ahead of me. It’s a good opportunity to look what’s out there for me. I can be a focal point. I think I have a lot more to offer.”
The qualifying offer to make Markkanen a restricted free agent is worth approximately $9MM. It’s unclear just how much the Bulls want him back, though executive VP of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas diplomatically said on Monday, “I think Lauri is an important part of our team. I’m looking forward to talking to his representation.” (Twitter link).
Markkanen turned down the Bulls’ extension offer in December when they couldn’t agree on the numbers. There was roughly a $4MM-per-year gap between the parties, according to Johnson.
Markkanen was part of the package the Bulls offered to the Pelicans for point guard Lonzo Ball at the trade deadline, Johnson adds. Those talks fell through, but Markkanen’s playing time and role was impacted by the additions of Nikola Vučević and Daniel Theis. He was moved into a reserve role, even though he considers himself a starter.
“Obviously, our team changed a lot and changed my role,” he said. “That was a little bit of an adjustment. I tried to play my role as well as I could.”
Growing Confidence Masai Ujiri Will Remain With Raptors?
Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri isn’t under contract with the franchise beyond the 2020/21 season, but there’s growing confidence that the two sides will be able to complete a new deal that extends Ujiri’s time in Toronto, says Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca.
“Masai doesn’t share a lot; he’s very private and strategic in his own way,” a source close to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, the Raptors’ ownership group, told Grange. “But if you were asking, ‘Are they going to sign Masai?’ I would put it at 95 per cent yes.”
Grange cautions that the 95% estimate is just a prediction from one plugged-in insider, but says there have been other positive signals as of late. According to Grange, Ujiri – who has ceded some front office responsibilities to general manager Bobby Webster – has seemed more involved, engaged, and forward-looking in recent weeks. One source says Ujiri has been more active in communicating with players, both in person and via text.
“We talked about winning and winning another title with the Raptors,” one agent who recently met with Ujiri told Grange. “He seems like he’s in a really good place.”
Grange also notes that no front office jobs in marquee markets like Los Angeles and New York seem likely to open this offseason, given how well those teams have performed. The Wizards have reportedly had interest in Ujiri in the past, but it’s unclear whether they’ll be looking to make any front office changes this spring or if they’d be willing to outbid Toronto for the former Executive of the Year.
There has been some speculation around the league that Ujiri may eventually wind up in Seattle if the league approves a new franchise, as Marc Stein of the New York Times reported last month. Longtime sports executive Tim Leiweke, who hired Ujiri as Toronto’s executive vice president and GM in 2013, is involved in Seattle’s expansion efforts.
However, as Grange points out, while the NBA has seemed more open to expansion as of late, it still appears to be multiple years away, and it seems unlikely that Ujiri would take a hiatus while waiting for such an opportunity. Even if running an expansion franchise is something that appeals to him, he and the Raptors may end up working out a shorter-term contract that gives him some flexibility, Grange writes.
“They’re going to try to sign him for as long as they reasonably can, (but) if they have to sign him for less, they’ll sign him for less,” the source close to MLSE told Sportsnet. “They don’t have a lot of leverage. They want him. If he wants (a shorter deal) what are they going to say, no?”