Sixers Notes: Maxey, Embiid, Lillard, Morey
Tyrese Maxey has emerged as a bright spot for the Sixers in the Ben Simmons standoff, writes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. With Simmons not playing and Shake Milton sidelined by a sprained ankle, Maxey became the team’s opening night point guard. He has remained in the starting lineup and is averaging 16.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists in his second NBA season.
“Tyrese’s energy is so contagious,” Matisse Thybulle said. “… He’s got one of the hardest jobs on the court being a point guard trying to quarterback the whole gym, and (coach Doc Rivers) doesn’t take it easy on him, and he’s able to take this challenge and show up day in and day out with one of the best attitudes on the team.”
The Sixers landed Maxey with the 21st pick in the 2020 draft, even though they had him ranked in the top 12. President of basketball operations Daryl Morey, who had just arrived from Houston, credits the scouting department and general manager Elton Brand for identifying Maxey as a top prospect.
“We believed in Tyrese so much,” Morey said. “We weren’t looking for ‘solid’. … We felt like our first-round pick, we wanted to shoot for someone who could be a higher-end player in the league. We were surprised he was there, and really thrilled he was there.”
There’s more from Philadelphia:
- Joel Embiid had to briefly leave Thursday’s game in the second half to get checked for abdominal pain, but he doesn’t believe it’s a big deal, according to Justin Grasso of SI.com. “In the first quarter, I thought it was a cramp,” Embiid said. “As the game went on, I started not breathing right. So I needed to check it out. I honestly don’t know (what it was), but it was pretty painful. I’m not sure what happened. I don’t know (if it’ll affect me moving forward). I’ll be fine.”
- There’s a chance to trade for CJ McCollum right now if the Sixers decide to send Ben Simmons to the Trail Blazers, but Damian Lillard probably won’t be available until at least the offseason, Kyle Neubeck of The Philly Voice states in a mailbag column. However, the collapsed lung that McCollum suffered this week could delay trade talks.
- Morey’s trade history suggests that Sixers fans shouldn’t get attached to anyone other than Embiid, Neubeck adds. Morey overhauled the Rockets several times during his years in Houston and will continue seek the best possible return for Simmons at any position other than center.
Joe Cronin Will Be Given Chance At Blazers’ GM Job
At a potentially crucial stage for the Trail Blazers, interim general manager Joe Cronin will be given the opportunity to earn his position on a permanent basis, writes Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian.
At a press conference Thursday, new president of business operations Dewayne Hankins said the organization is in the “first quarter” of its GM search and there’s no timeline to fill the role. Hankins said franchise chair Jody Allen and vice chair Bert Kolde will give Cronin the freedom to handle all the typical GM duties, but his primary mission will be to reform the roster to contend for a title.
“Ownership has been very upfront with me and they’ve told me that they believe in me and obviously by giving me this role, they trust me to transition this organization,” Cronin said. “So they haven’t made many declarations other than, ‘This is a nice venue for you to be able to do good work, and you’ll be evaluated,’ and I do have a chance. They told me, ‘You’ll have an opportunity. This is going to be a fair opportunity to prove yourself.'”
Cronin, who took over as interim GM after Neil Olshey was fired last week, said he has been working with coach Chauncey Billups to identify players around the league who might be available before the February 10 trade deadline. The slumping Blazers may have to shake up their roster soon after dropping four straight games and sliding to 11th place in the Western Conference.
Cronin explained to reporters that he will talk to other GMs about potential deals, but won’t finalize anything without approval from Allen and Kolde.
“The way I’ve kind of approached this is, I’m going to get the deal to the one-yard line, and then I’m going to take it to Jody and Bert, and then they make the final call,” Cronin said. “They’ll have our recommendations as to what to do. So, it’s pretty standard that way in the regard of there is a clearinghouse you have to go through. But my understanding is yes, go out, do your job, find deals, participate as if you are the GM.”
Trade rumors have surrounded the franchise for months, particularly involving star guard Damian Lillard. However, Lillard made a statement this week that he remains committed to staying in Portland and isn’t looking for a deal. Backcourt partner CJ McCollum is also seen as a potential trade candidate, along with Robert Covington and Jusuf Nurkic, who both have expiring contracts.
Billups, who also spoke at the press conference, said he wants a team that plays smart and shows competitive fire. He has criticized his players on numerous occasions for their effort following losses.
“Our roster is our roster and we’ve got some really talented players,” Billups said. “And when we’re playing well, we’re playing together, we’re pretty damn good. We’ve proven that already this year. And then we can be pretty bad too.”
Bulls Sign Alfonzo McKinnie With Hardship Exception
11:35am: McKinnie has signed a 10-day contract, the Bulls announced (via Twitter).
8:34am: The Bulls will use a hardship exception to add veteran swingman Alfonzo McKinnie, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
McKinnie, 29, played for the Lakers last season, but was waived in August with two non-guaranteed years left on his contract. He got into 39 games for L.A. and averaged 3.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.6 minutes per night.
He is currently in the G League, where he’s playing for the Mexico City Capitanes and scoring 24.1 PPG while shooting 43.3% from three-point range.
After going undrafted out of Green Bay in 2015, McKinnie played overseas and in the G League before signing with the Raptors in 2017. He also spent a season with the Warriors and one with the Cavaliers.
The Bulls are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that has sapped their roster. They added Stanley Johnson under the hardship exemption earlier this week, but have since had a fifth player, Derrick Jones Jr. enter the league’s health and safety protocols.
Warriors Committed To James Wiseman, Aren’t Looking To Trade For Center
The Warriors aren’t exploring deals involving second-year center James Wiseman and they believe they already have a roster in place that can contend for a championship, according to Tim Kawakami of The Athletic.
Wiseman, the second overall pick in the 2020 draft, hasn’t played this season while rehabbing from meniscus surgery. He likely won’t return until January, but the organization is willing to wait as long as necessary. A source tells Kawakami that management views this as a development phase for Wiseman, who is seen as a future star, and that any contribution he makes this season will be considered “a bonus.”
Wiseman was Golden State’s starting center on opening night last season, but injuries and inconsistent play limited him to 39 games. His combination of size and skill makes him a tantalizing prospect despite the rookie-year frustrations. He’s still just 20 years old and the Warriors hope he will develop into an eventual franchise leader who can help extend the careers of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
The team also believes Wiseman has benefited from watching games and learning from his veteran teammates while he has been sidelined. He has built a rapport with Thompson while they’ve done rehab work together and he has gained a better understanding of the role the coaches want him to fill, which is similar to what Deandre Ayton does in Phoenix.
“I watch (Kevon Looney) and how he’s able to see the patterns on defense,” Wiseman said. “And also on offense, how he’s able to score. I just visualize myself out there, where I’m going to be out on the floor so I can make those opportunities happen for me as well.”
While there may be tempting names on the trade market, such as Myles Turner, whom the Pacers are reportedly making available, the Warriors believe their best lineup is already set, Kawakami adds. They have a long-time pattern of closing games with Green in the middle, so they don’t feel a need to upgrade at center.
Finances are also a concern, Kawakami writes. Golden State is already facing a record-setting $180MM luxury tax bill this season, pushing its total payroll cost above $300MM. With Curry signed through 2025/26, Thompson and Green under contract through 2023/24 and Andrew Wiggins signed through next season, the Warriors are looking at several years of high luxury tax payments.
That’s why there’s more value in keeping Wiseman, who will make $9.6MM next year on his rookie contract with a $12.1MM team option in 2023/24, rather than gambling on Turner, who has a $17.5MM salary this season and next and will be looking for big money as a free agent in the summer of 2023.
Rick Carlisle Tests Positive For COVID-19, Will Miss Several Games
A PCR test confirmed that Pacers coach Rick Carlisle has COVID-19, tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Carlisle will miss several games, starting tonight against Dallas, with lead assistant Lloyd Pierce taking over in his absence.
Carlisle was place in the league’s health and safety protocols on Thursday after returning a positive result on a rapid test. He took the PCR test later in the day, but the results weren’t available until this morning.
The 62-year-old coach is experiencing “mild symptoms” of COVID-19, according to an ESPN report. He is fully vaccinated and has received a booster shot.
With the virus now confirmed, Carlisle will be required to isolate for at least 10 days or until he has two negative PCR tests at least 24 hours apart. If he’s away from the team for 10 days, he will miss four games, including tonight’s. He could be able to return for a December 21 game in Miami.
The Pacers canceled practice Thursday, citing an “abundance of caution” relating to the protocols. After a relatively calm start to the season, COVID-19 is starting to create havoc throughout the league, with the Bulls, Sixers and Hornets among the teams most affected.
Southwest Notes: Zion, Ingram, Morant, Primo
New concerns have emerged about Zion Williamson‘s weight after a photo was tweeted from the Pelicans‘ game last week in Houston in which he looked larger than usual, writes Jenna Lemoncelli of The New York Post. Williamson hasn’t played yet this season while recovering from foot surgery, and he suffered another setback last week when soreness in the foot further delayed his return.
Meanwhile, there has been increased speculation about his bulkiness, which has been an issue dating back to his time in college. On Tuesday’s “Lowe Post” podcast with Zach Lowe, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon said sources have told him that Williamson’s weight has ballooned to 330 pounds, well above his listed playing weight of 284.
In response to last week’s photo, a friend of Williamson tweeted out a different picture today at a youth basketball event in which the Pelicans star looks much lighter and called the weight controversy “fake news.”
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Brandon Ingram has been putting up big numbers over the Pelicans‘ last seven games, and he and new coach Willie Green agree it’s because they’ve figured out the best way to use him, per William Guillory of The Athletic. Despite being double teamed more frequently, Ingram is averaging 25.4 PPG over that stretch. “He’s just been playing at a higher level, playing faster, more aware of what’s going on around him,” Green said. “Really, there are times when he’s just taking over the game, which I love to see from him.”
- Injured Grizzlies star Ja Morant was placed into the league’s health and safety protocols today, but coach Taylor Jenkins isn’t worried about Morant’s health, according to Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Jenkins didn’t reveal if Morant tested positive for the virus, but said he recently got a booster shot and is feeling fine. “There’s still more testing to be done so it’s too early to know exactly how that’s going to impact timelines and all that stuff but there’s definitely rules,” Jenkins said. “That’s why fortunately he’s fully vaccinated and has his booster so whatever comes, hopefully there’s more positive for us, not testing wise.”
- Spurs guard Joshua Primo has seen some NBA action lately with Devin Vassell injured, but the organization plans to have him return to the G League, states Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express News. “We want him to have more time in Austin for obvious reasons,” coach Gregg Popovich said of the 18-year-old rookie. “He needs to mature in every way, shape and form because of his age. But, having said that, he has a confidence that belies his age. He’s pretty steady in his emotions, shows a great affinity for the game, understands what is going on better than most people, and he is willing to stick his nose in.”
Bradley Beal Will Wait To Decide On Extension
Wizards star Bradley Beal is in no hurry to sign another extension with the team, saying on the “Posted Up with Chris Haynes” podcast that he wants to be in charge of his future.
Beal received a maximum extension offer in October that would pay him $181.3MM over four seasons. However, he’s not under a deadline and could accept the offer at any time during the 2021/22 season. Most likely, he will opt for free agency after the season, making him eligible to sign for $241.6MM over five years with Washington or $179.1MM over four years with another team, assuming a $119MM salary cap.
“I got time, so I kinda hold the cards right now,” Beal told Haynes. “And one, I’ve never been in this position. I’m kinda embracing that, being able to kinda dictate how I want my future to be and where I want it to be. And at the same time, I’m not gonna make that grand commitment and it doesn’t work. Ultimately, you have to be selfish at some point and for probably the first time in my career, Year 10, I am. And so I’m kinda taking advantage of it in a way.
“Obviously, my full commitment is to the team. I want it to work. I’ve contributed to being here. I’ve committed to being here twice. Now, I want to see that commitment to me, as well, that we can create a winning team here, a winning environment here. And granted, I’m a part of that, so I gotta make sure that I’m stepping up and doing my thing, too, just as well.”
Beal is in his 10th year with the Wizards and has remained loyal to the organization despite limited playoff success during that time. He has agreed to a pair of extensions, with the most recent coming in 2019 and adding two years to his contract. He is reportedly happy with the changes the organization made during the offseason, but wants to see more before making a long-term commitment.
Beal also discussed the new-look roster with Haynes and said he understood Russell Westbrook‘s desire to return home and play for the Lakers.
“I was happy for Russ because he wanted to, like, I am always happy for a player that they do what they want to do and what’s best for their family,” Beal said. “… But my initial thing was, ‘OK, if I’m going to be here, what are we getting back?’ That was my first thought. It wasn’t like, OK, I’m outta here, too. Which it could’ve been, it could’ve very well been. … What are his options that he wants to go to, or what teams are looking to offer us the best package?”
“You have a guy in Year 13 in Russ who wants to win now. He wants to win now. He wants things done now. … Which is why I ultimately see and respected Russ for his decision. But when it came back, it’s like, OK I see the pieces we have, we can make this work. You turn one guy into five guys. Five useful guys.”
New York Notes: Durant, Harden, Turner, Barrett
The Nets are resting Kevin Durant and LaMarcus Aldridge for tonight’s game in Houston, tweets Mark Medina of NBA.com. Durant played more than 40 minutes in Tuesday’s win at Dallas, and Brooklyn is being careful not to overextend Aldridge, who briefly retired at the end of last season due to a heart condition.
There have been concerns about the heavy minutes that Durant and James Harden have seen this season with the loss of Kyrie Irving and injuries to other rotation players. Harden said Tuesday that neither of them minds the increased workload, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN.
“One thing about me and KD, we love to play basketball,” Harden said. “So it don’t matter. We could play the whole 48. Even if we’re exhausted. Coach says something — nope. We wanna stay in the game. We wanna play.”
There’s more from New York City:
- Harden received a mostly positive reaction when he was introduced tonight in Houston, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Harden, who played more than eight seasons with the Rockets before forcing his way out in January, returned to Houston for a game last season, but the crowd was limited because of COVID-19 restrictions. “I think it definitely means something to James,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. “I don’t want to overstate it, but I also don’t want to understate it. He had such a historic run here. This city means a ton to him.”
- A report that the Pacers are exploring trades involving Myles Turner could be significant to the Knicks, who checked on Turner’s availability during the offseason, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv. Those talks didn’t go very far, Begley adds, but New York’s front office remains interested in finding a center who can stretch the floor. The Knicks have multiple ways to match Turner’s $17.5MM salary, Begley notes, and Mitchell Robinson, Nerlens Noel or Taj Gibson would likely be included in any deal.
- Tom Thibodeau’s search for lineup solutions will be much easier if RJ Barrett continues to shoot the way he did in Tuesday’s win over the Spurs, per Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post. Barrett broke out of a 13-game shooting slump with a 32-point night while going 7-of-8 from beyond the arc. “I was down for a couple of weeks, but I’m feeling better now,” Barrett said. “It was good to get back in the gym, it was great and to have a game like today. Hopefully that can carry on for (Wednesday).”
Cavaliers Notes: Windler, LeVert, Wade, Allen
The Cavaliers, who have assigned Dylan Windler to the G League to give him some playing time, still believe in the third-year forward, writes Ashley Bastock of Cleveland.com. Windler has appeared in 17 NBA games this season, but his minutes have declined as injured teammates returned to action. He’s playing just 10.8 minutes per night and averaging 2.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
“We know who Dylan is and we believe in what Dylan can bring and how he can help this team,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We just have to continue to support him and help him, and giving him those minutes is our way of helping.”
“I think it’s good for him to get reps,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s tough when you’re not playing a whole bunch of minutes to kind of catch a rhythm and figure out where your need is. So you lose a little bit of that rhythm. Going out, getting reps gives you that rhythm and allows you to gain confidence and remember what it’s like to play five-on-five.”
There’s more from Cleveland:
- The Cavaliers should be considered a “strong suitor” for Caris LeVert, whom the Pacers are reportedly putting on the trade block, tweets Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. LeVert offers many of the same qualities as Collin Sexton, who has been lost for the rest of the season after meniscus surgery. The front office is looking for upgrades at shooting guard and the team has assets to offer Indiana, Fedor adds, while noting that many people in the Cavs’ organization like LeVert.
- Dean Wade has been cleared to return from a calf injury he suffered while being kicked during a game, according to Fedor (Twitter link). Wade has been sidelined since November 24, but he may not play tonight because the injury has prevented him from practicing.
- The Cavaliers have been rebuilding since LeBron James left for Los Angeles, but they may finally have the right combination in place to get back to the playoffs, per Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today (subscription required). Part of the turnaround has been the rapid improvement of center Jarrett Allen, who was acquired from the Nets in a January trade. “It’s leadership,” Bickerstaff said. “He and I had a conversation last year about where I thought he could go, and the job we needed to do to get him there. Coming from where he was in Brooklyn, that wasn’t his role or responsibility, but we knew that moving forward that we were going to need that from him. We knew that was in him.”
Damian Lillard: “I’m Not Asking For A Trade”
Damian Lillard has tried again to quell speculation that he wants out of Portland, Ros Gold-Onwude of ESPN reports on “NBA Today” (video link). Addressing the media during today’s shootaround, Lillard stated emphatically that he plans to give the Trail Blazers more time to recover from their slow start.
“I’m not asking for a trade,” he told reporters. “… My intentions are to be in Portland and to figure this out.”
Lillard recognizes that injuries and unrest in the organization have contributed to the team’s 11-14 record, which ranks 10th in the Western Conference, just a half-game ahead of the Kings for the final play-in spot. Those injuries include Lillard, who will miss his fifth straight game tonight with an abdominal issue, and backcourt mate CJ McCollum, who is sidelined with a collapsed lung.
Lillard is likely responding to a report Monday that he’s growing frustrated with the Blazers and wants the organization to work out a trade with the Sixers for Ben Simmons. He stated that other people have been speaking for him and said he’s in the office every day with coach Chauncey Billups trying to figure out the team’s problems.
“Why would I be part of trying to find solutions if I’m planning an exit?” Lillard asked.
It has been a difficult season for Lillard, who is averaging just 21.5 points per game while shooting 39.7% from the field and 30.2% from three-point range, all down significantly from last season. In addition, there has been off-the-court strife, with the latest incident being the decision to fire general manager and president of basketball operations Neil Olshey last week following an investigation into his workplace conduct.
Gold-Onwude also talked to Billups, who describes his relationship with Lillard as “strong” and says they are working together to give the team a successful future.