Southwest Rumors: Rockets, George, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Sharpe, Doncic
The Rockets are among the teams with interest in Paul George if he can’t work out an extension with the Clippers this week, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Even though Houston is considered an unlikely destination for George, it’s an indication that the team is engaged in “big game hunting” ahead of the draft and free agency, Scotto adds.
He also hears that Rockets general manager Rafael Stone has been involved in exploratory conversations about dealing the No. 3 pick for a “win-now player upgrade” and possibly moving down in the draft.
For Houston to land George, he would have to exercise his $48.8MM player option for next season and request a trade. The organization has six recent first-round picks on its roster, along with the rights to Brooklyn’s first-rounders over the next three years.
Scotto notes that even if the Rockets don’t acquire George, they have plenty of flexibility for a major move, holding team options on Jeff Green ($8MM) and Jae’Sean Tate ($7.57MM), along with an $8MM non-guaranteed salary for Jock Landale. Houston is expected to hang onto all three of those players through their various option/guarantee deadlines, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle (subscription required), who also reports that the team is open to re-signing free agent guard Aaron Holiday.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- With Jonas Valanciunas considered likely to leave in free agency, the Pelicans are willing to trade the 21st pick in this year’s draft for center help, sources tell Scotto. Along with New Orleans, NBA executives consider the Grizzlies and Thunder to be possible destinations for Hawks center Clint Capela, Scotto adds. If the Pelicans keep their pick, Scotto sees Baylor center Yves Missi as a potential selection, comparing him to Capela as an athletic big man who should thrive in the pick and roll. Scotto also hears that the organization will target another former head coach for Willie Green’s staff if it loses associate head coach James Borrego.
- The Grizzlies have renewed their interest in Nets backup center Day’Ron Sharpe after holding talks with Brooklyn at the trade deadline, Scotto states. He adds that Memphis considered making an offer for forward Dorian Finney-Smith before the Nets acquired him at the 2023 deadline. In his aggregate mock draft, Scotto suggests the Grizzlies might take Tennessee shooting specialist Dalton Knecht as a potential replacement for Luke Kennard, who has a $14.8MM team option for next season and is considered a possible trade candidate.
- Mavericks star Luka Doncic has joined the Slovenian national team and plans to participate in an Olympic Qualifying Tournament July 2-7 in Greece, according to NBA reporter Marc Stein (Twitter link).
Sixers Rumors: George, Butler, Anunoby, KCP, LaVine, Maxey
A report last week suggested the Sixers‘ interest in acquiring Clippers star Paul George has “waned,” but sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that Philadelphia still has “significant interest” in signing George if he opts for free agency.
George, the number one name on our list of this year’s top 50 free agents, has until Saturday to decide whether to exercise his $48.8MM option for next season. If George is unable to reach an extension agreement with L.A. by then, he can either decline the option and test free agency or opt in and demand a trade.
George has long been considered an offseason priority for Philadelphia, which has the ability to create more than $60MM in cap room. The Magic are among the teams that are also expected to pursue George if he reaches the open market.
Sources inform Scotto that a trade for Heat forward Jimmy Butler remains a viable option for the Sixers if they can’t acquire George. Butler spent most of the 2018/19 season in Philadelphia before being traded to Miami and has maintained a strong relationship with Joel Embiid.
Another option, according to Scotto, could be a “short-term, higher market average annual salary” deal with Knicks free agent forward OG Anunoby. Scotto also hears the Sixers may also offer Nuggets guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope a two-year contract similar to what Bruce Brown got last year, with a large salary for next season and a team option for 2025/26.
There’s more on the Sixers, all courtesy of Scotto:
- Sources tell Scotto that Philadelphia has less interest in trading for Bulls guard Zach LaVine now that Alex Caruso can no longer be part of the deal. Caruso was shipped to Oklahoma City on Friday in a trade for Josh Giddey. The Sixers are reluctant to take on the three years and $138MM left on LaVine’s contract without other assets attached.
- Tyrese Maxey is considered virtually certain to sign a max extension this summer, but Klutch CEO Rich Paul may want something in return for waiting a year while the team worked to maximize its cap space, Scotto adds. He suggests Paul might ask for a player option on the final year of Maxey’s next contract, along with a 15% trade kicker.
- With Buddy Hield possibly departing in free agency, Scotto sees Baylor guard Ja’Kobe Walter as a potential replacement in the draft. He notes that Walter has a 6’10” wingspan and is considered a much better perimeter defender than Hield.
Keita Bates-Diop Exercises Option For 2024/25
Nets forward Keita Bates-Diop has picked up his $2.65MM player option for next season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Bates-Diop appeared in just 14 games after being acquired from Phoenix in February in a three-team deal that also included Memphis. He averaged 1.6 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 4.9 minutes per night before his season ended in late March when he underwent a procedure for a stress fracture in his right tibia.
The player option was part of a two-year, $5MM deal Bates-Diop signed with the Suns in 2023. The 28-year-old has also spent time with Minnesota, Denver and San Antonio since coming into the league in 2018. He will become an unrestricted free agent next summer, assuming he remains under contract until then.
We’re tracking this year’s player option decisions right here. All of those decisions must be made by June 29.
Troy Weaver To Join Wizards As Senior Advisor
Former Pistons general manager Troy Weaver will become a senior advisor with the Wizards, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
As rumored last week, Weaver will reunite with Monumental Sports/Wizards president Michael Winger and GM Will Dawkins, who took over the team last summer. The three executives spent more than a decade together in Oklahoma City’s front office.
Wojnarowski hears that Weaver’s agent, Andy Miller of Klutch Sports, is finalizing a contract to have Weaver in place in time for Wednesday’s draft and the start of free agency this weekend. A team executive tells Woj that Winger and Dawkins consider Weaver to be a “truth teller” who is willing to challenge them regarding difficult decisions.
Weaver is also viewed as an expert on prospect evaluation and player development, according to Wojnarowski, who cites his role in creating the powerful Thunder team built around Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden.
Weaver is a Washington, D.C., native, and Wojnarowski notes that he launched his career as head coach of DC Assault, a successful AAU program. That led to assistant coaching jobs in the college ranks with Pittsburgh, New Mexico and Syracuse and eventually an NBA opportunity as the head scout in Utah.
Weaver and the Pistons parted ways in what was termed a “mutual decision” earlier this month as part of an organizational housecleaning after Trajan Langdon was hired as head of basketball operations. Detroit also dismissed head coach Monty Williams and is still searching for his replacement.
Although he didn’t produce much on-court success during his four years with the Pistons, Weaver assembled a promising collection of young talent. Draft picks during his tenure produced Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson.
Community Shootaround: Steal Of The Draft
Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller were easy first-team choices for the All-Rookie team, but other top picks in last year’s draft didn’t fare as well. No. 4 selection Amen Thompson had a strong finish to the season to earn second-team honors, but Scoot Henderson (No. 3) and Ausar Thompson (No. 5) were left off entirely. Also omitted were Anthony Black (No. 6), Bilal Coulibaly (No. 7), Jarace Walker (No. 8) and Taylor Hendricks (No. 9).
Eighteenth pick Jaime Jaquez and 19th selection Brandin Podziemski joined Wembanyama and Miller on the first team, along with Chet Holmgren, the second choice in 2022.
These results provide a reminder that the draft can be unpredictable, even with a highly touted group of prospects at the top. Without a clear hierarchy this year, it’s even harder to figure out who’s going to succeed.
With the draft just four days away, the No. 1 pick is still unsettled, with the Hawks rumored to still be deciding among French big man Alexandre Sarr, French forward Zaccharie Risacher and UConn center Donovan Clingan. The Wizards are believed to be ready to pounce on Sarr if he’s still on the board, but Clingan or Risacher could face a bit of a slide if they don’t go in the top two.
The Rockets, Spurs and Pistons reportedly have interest in Kentucky guard Reed Sheppard, UConn guard Stephon Castle and G League Ignite forward Matas Buzelis with the next three picks, but that order is far from set in stone. A late trade or surprise selection could upend the whole process and send teams scrambling to their phones on draft night.
It took a long time for Sarr, Risacher and Clingan to emerge as the top prospects, and it’s still easy to find one or more mock drafts that suggest at least one of them is being vastly overrated. USC point guard Isaiah Collier, G League Ignite guard Ron Holland and Colorado forward Cody Williams were among the names floated as potential top picks over the past 12 months, but they’ve all dropped to varying degrees.
As we’ve seen repeatedly, a lot more than talent goes into determining whether NBA rookies are successful. There’s also playing time, fit, belief from the coaching staff and the chance to be part of a successful team. Jaquez and Podziemski were both rewarded because they played rotation minutes for teams that stayed in the playoff race all season long.
Our mission tonight is to try to identify players expected to be taken outside the top five — or even the top 10 — who have the chance to make an impact right away. Scouts love Devin Carter‘s defense and tenacity, Dalton Knecht‘s shooting touch and Rob Dillingham‘s explosiveness, even if other parts of their game might be lacking. Zach Edey, Ja’Kobe Walter, Jared McCain, Kel’el Ware and Carlton Carrington are a few others who may be able to contribute immediately if they land in the right situation.
We want to get your opinion on this year’s potential draft steals. Which players do you expect to excel even if they slide down the draft board? Head to the comments section to give us your input.
Pacific Notes: Redick, Van Gundy, Reaves, Suns, Fois
Building an experienced team of assistants will be vital for new Lakers head coach J.J. Redick, writes Khobi Price of The Orange County Register, who suggests Stan Van Gundy as a potential addition. Van Gundy hasn’t been mentioned in early rumors regarding Redick’s staff, but Price points out that he had extensive head coaching experience with Miami, Orlando, Detroit and New Orleans before becoming a TNT broadcaster, and Redick spent several seasons playing for him.
Price notes that since news of Redick’s hiring broke on Thursday, Scott Brooks, Sam Cassell and Jared Dudley have been the most prominent names mentioned as possible assistants. However, the Celtics want to retain Cassell and the Mavericks would prefer to keep Dudley, so they may be out of the Lakers’ reach.
Van Gundy spoke to Mike Bianchi of The Orlando Sentinel about Redick’s ascension to the head coaching ranks, saying it’s consistent with the way he always prepared.
“He took a cerebral, analytical approach to the game even as a player,” Van Gundy said. “He knew the game inside and out because he had to. He wasn’t an overly big athletic guy, so he really had to know the game and apply himself. It was clear how much he knew about the game just by listening to him talk. I didn’t know it, but even back in his playing days maybe he was preparing himself to be a head coach someday.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Austin Reaves is excited about the changes Redick will bring to the Lakers (video link from Cierra Clark of THV11 in Little Rock, Arkansas). “I’ve gotten to know J.J. a little bit, going on his podcast during the middle of the year,” Reaves said. “He’s a basketball genius, I think as everybody knows. I think he’s going to make a good coach, and I can’t wait to get to work with him. … I can’t wait to put our brains together and go have a good year.”
- Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports cites Providence guard Devin Carter, Colorado forward Cody Williams and G League Ignite wing Ron Holland as potential targets for the Suns if they try to trade up from the 22nd pick in Wednesday’s draft. Bourguet sees Carter as potentially the best defensive point guard in the draft, possessing an NBA-ready game with lots of upside. If Phoenix decides to move down, Bourguet views Swedish forward Bobi Klintman, Baylor wing Jalen Bridges, UC Santa Barbara guard Ajay Mitchell and Virginia guard Ryan Dunn as possibilities.
- Riccardo Fois will become an assistant to Kings head coach Mike Brown next season, tweets Alessandro Luigi Maggi of Sportando. Fois has been an assistant coach with the University of Arizona since 2021.
Southwest Notes: Morant, D. Jones, Wembanyama, Sochan
Grizzlies guard Ja Morant shared an update on the status of his right shoulder while conducting his youth basketball camp Saturday afternoon, writes DaMichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Morant underwent season-ending surgery in January to fix a labral tear in the shoulder. He is expecting to receive medical clearance to resume basketball activities within the next two weeks.
“I hate being around basketball and not being able to play,” Morant said. “I don’t got too much longer. I can wait to make sure I’m able to play and be cleared when the season comes.”
Morant was hoping to regain his status as one of the NBA’s best players after a pair of suspensions interrupted his 2022/23 campaign and delayed his ’23/24 debut, but injuries got in the way. The two-time All-Star and former Most Improved Player was limited to just nine games before the shoulder problem brought his season to an end. He was gratified by the response for his youth camp, which is the first one he’s held since his legal issues became public.
“A camp like this, the turnout made it better to show how much support I still have and people are still fans of me,” Morant said. “It’s just one of those moments where you kind of look at yourself and be proud.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- The mid-level exception could be enough for the Mavericks to keep Derrick Jones Jr., who is the only rotation member headed for free agency this summer, suggests Mark Deeks of HoopsHype. Deeks notes that Jones played a valuable role for Dallas on its way to the NBA Finals, but adds that he probably doesn’t shoot well enough to get an offer in the neighborhood of the two-year, $45MM contract that Bruce Brown landed last summer. The Mavs’ only other free agent of note is veteran forward Markieff Morris, and Deeks believes he would be willing to return on another partially guaranteed minimum deal.
- Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama is getting offseason dribbling lessons from former NBA guard Jamal Crawford, according to Nick Moyle of The San Antonio Express-News. Crawford said they began talking in January when Wembanyama appeared on TNT’s pregame show, where Crawford served as an analyst. Crawford taught him a few moves at the Rising Stars Challenge in February, and they decided the lessons should continue in the offseason. “It was funny, when I started showing him all the other rookies and sophomores on the court (gave us) all their attention, came over, stopped shooting,” Crawford recalled. “So I’m like, OK, let’s just keep this at surface level because everybody’s watching right now.”
- Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan has returned from arthroscopic ankle surgery and is training with the Polish national team for an upcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Spain, Moyle adds in a separate story. Poland is in Group B with the Bahamas and Finland, while Group A consists of Spain, Angola and Lebanon. The tournament will run from July 2-7, with the winner claiming one of four remaining spots in the Olympics.
Heat Notes: First-Round Pick, Hard Cap, Drafting Track Record
The Heat won’t let concerns about crossing over the second tax apron scare them into getting rid of their first-round draft pick, assistant general manager Adam Simon tells Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald. Whoever the team selects at No. 15 on Wednesday will receive a guaranteed contract valued at around $4.2MM. It’s a significant addition for a team that’s already projected to exceed the first apron with several holes on the roster left to fill.
Simon explains that the Heat like to emphasize roster balance, with a mixture of high-salaried stars, experienced complementary talents, and younger players. Draft picks can be cost-effective because they’re under team control at reasonable salaries for at least four years, and Chiang notes that Miami’s last two first-rounders, Jaime Jaquez ($3.7MM) and Nikola Jovic ($2.5MM) are the only current roster members with guaranteed contracts who will make less that this year’s first-round pick.
“You look at your roster, you look at the construction of your roster, you try to have a balanced roster of veterans, players who are in their prime and then young players,” Simon said. “You’re trying to develop young players, but we’re also trying to win every year. So I think it’s nice to add young players to your core every year. But sometimes it takes some time to integrate a 19- or 20-year-old player into a roster of experienced veterans.”
There’s more from Miami:
- Changes in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement could result in a different second-round experience this year, Chiang adds. Any team that purchases a second-round pick will now be hard-capped at the second apron of $189MM for the entire season. That same restriction applies to any team that sends out cash in a trade. “If a team thinks they’re going to be hard-capped anyhow, then they might as well do it,” Simon said. “So I think it just depends on where your organization is aligned in their current state of their salary.” The Heat hold the 43rd pick in the second round.
- Miami has found a rotation player with four of the last five first-round picks it has made, Chiang states in a separate story, citing Bam Adebayo in 2017, Tyler Herro in 2019, Jovic in 2022 and Jaquez last year. The only first-round selection during that stretch who’s no longer on the roster is Precious Achiuwa, who was taken at No. 20 in the 2020 draft and traded to Toronto a year later “These are not easy decisions,” Simon added. “After the fact, you can look back and think: ‘Hey, why didn’t we do this?’ I think this is a very challenging assignment to try to figure out how a player that played in one system is going to fit into your system.”
- In another piece, Chiang talks to Simon about the conflict between filling team needs in the draft and selecting the best available player.
Celtics Notes: Brown, Horford, Mazzulla, Offseason
Even the fans who booed when Jaylen Brown‘s name was announced at a 2016 draft party have to admit the Celtics made the right choice, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. On his way to capturing an NBA title and the Finals MVP trophy, Brown faced plenty of doubters throughout his eight years in Boston, including those who believed he and Jayson Tatum couldn’t play together, those who wanted him traded for Kevin Durant, and those who thought he was wildly overpaid when he signed a five-year, $286MM extension last offseason.
“Just the story and the journey is awesome,” Brown said. “You know, just being drafted here in Boston, like a lot of the people probably didn’t watch me play in the Pac-12 at Cal. It led to a lot of people feeling a way about that. I just came in and kept my head down and told myself, ‘I’m going to just keep working.’ And to be here in this moment now, through all the years, through all the doubt, through all of the ups and downs, through all of the verdicts, through all of the everything, it just makes the story that much sweeter.”
Brown also addressed the possibility of repeating, something no NBA champion has been able to do since 2018. Boston is in position to keep virtually its entire roster intact, which Brown believes will provide an edge.
“I think we have an opportunity. I think we definitely have a window,” he said. “We take it one day at a time. We definitely have to make sure we stay healthy. But, you know, we’ll enjoy the summer, enjoy the moment, and then we get right back to it next year.”
There’s more from Boston:
- This year’s title was especially meaningful to 38-year-old Al Horford, who discussed the bonds he has formed with fans throughout New England, per Jay King of The Athletic. Horford was grateful for the chance to return to the Celtics in a 2021 trade after leaving for Philadelphia in free agency in 2019. “I’ve been all over the country and I just haven’t seen the love, the care and the commitment from people towards not only their sports but their community,” he said.
- Coach Joe Mazzulla has been dealing with a torn meniscus in his knee, but he was one of the most active figures during Friday’s championship parade, observes Brian Robb of MassLive. Mazzulla, who jumped off his duck boat and ran through the street to high-five fans, said the injury helped him focus during the latter part of the season. “I’ll tell you what, it was one of the best things that happened to me for the rest of the season because it put me in this fight or flight mentality where I could just not relax,” Mazzulla said. “I had to constantly train to keep it pain-free, had to constantly get physical therapy. My physical therapist has been great and it was just awesome. I’ve been thinking about maybe getting hurt every All-Star break.”
- Any changes the Celtics make this offseason are likely to come at the margins, notes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Backup centers Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman are both unrestricted free agents, but Himmelsbach believes Boston likes the flexibility they offer and will try to re-sign them using Bird rights. Oshae Brissett has a player option on his minimum-salary deal, while the team holds an option on Neemias Queta, and Svi Mykhailiuk will be a free agent. Himmelsbach suggests the Celtics might keep a roster spot or two open in case there are ring-chasing veterans willing to sign for a discount. He also notes that Brad Stevens will be picking in the first round at this week’s draft for the first time since taking over as team president. Boston, which holds the 30th pick, hasn’t made a first-round selection since 2020.
Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript: 6/18/2024
Hoops Rumors hosted a live chat today at 11 a.m. Central time (noon Eastern). Click here to read the transcript.