Clippers Notes: George, Leonard, Harrell, Morris
Tonight marks Paul George‘s first game in Oklahoma City since requesting a trade, and the All-Star swingman isn’t sure what kind of reception to expect, writes Mark Medina of USA Today. George had two strong years with the Thunder before asking to be dealt to his hometown so he could team up with Kawhi Leonard. The move represented a turning point for OKC, which traded franchise cornerstone Russell Westbrook a few days later.
George had a similar experience two years ago when he informed the Pacers that he wouldn’t re-sign with the organization once he had a chance to opt out of his contract. He wanted to go home to L.A. then, hoping to join the Lakers, but wound up getting sent to the Thunder.
“I don’t know how it’s going to go (in OKC). I don’t think it’s going to be worse than Indiana,” George said. “But whatever it is, I still have the same message and people that I still love and people that I’m close to and people that are close to me in Oklahoma.”
There’s more Clippers news to pass along:
- Leonard continues to hear boos from Spurs fans even though last night marked his third trip to San Antonio since he was traded last year, Medina adds in a separate story. Leonard didn’t acknowledge the reception, but torched the home team with 26 points, nine assists and seven rebounds. “The boos is just love,” he said afterward. “Just taking it as that, I’m here for a reason, to win a ball game. It only can make me better and make our team better with the crowd not being on our side.”
- A league survey by Jovan Buha of The Athletic indicates Montrezl Harrell could command an annual salary of $20MM or more in free agency next summer, which might make him too expensive for the Clippers to keep. With George and Leonard combining for nearly $70MM next season, that would be a huge investment in three players, especially if the organization doesn’t think Harrell can ever develop into more than a productive bench player. Buha points out that the L.A. also has Maurice Harkless and probably JaMychal Green as 2020 free agents, with Lou Williams and Rodney McGruder hitting the market the following summer, along with Landry Shamet as a potential restricted free agent.
- In the same piece, Buha examines a trade proposed by ESPN’s Zach Lowe, who suggests sending Harkless, Patrick Patterson and a 2020 first-rounder to the Knicks for Marcus Morris, whom the Clippers targeted in free agency this summer. Buha notes that Morris would provide valuable shooting help, but isn’t convinced that the upgrade would be worth surrendering a first-rounder.
Knicks Notes: Payton, Ntilikina, Barrett, Fizdale
Interim coach Mike Miller made his first change to the Knicks‘ starting lineup last night, inserting Elfrid Payton at point guard in place of Frank Ntilikina, writes Steve Popper of Newsday. It’s a move that seemed inevitable, as Payton’s role has increased since Miller took over for David Fizdale seven games ago. Ntilikina provides better defense, but Payton speeds up the offense and gets everyone involved.
“Elfrid had 10 assists and two turnovers,” Miller said after the game. “The one thing we’ve seen him do consistently here as he’s come back from his injury is he’s helping other people and you have that facilitator and that guy that does it and he’s taken that role and he’s done a very good job with it. I’ll be repetitive, but we’ve continued, when we’ve needed it and when the game calls for it, we’ve used all the guards.”
Popper adds that giving Payton more minutes might be a strategy to drive up his trade value. He’s about to turn 26 and has no guaranteed money beyond this season. The Knicks’ future at point guard may still revolve around the 21-year-old Ntilikina and 22-year-old Dennis Smith Jr., who both need playing time to develop.
There’s more this morning from New York City:
- Executives around the league tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv that Ntilikina still has trade value and could bring back a late first-round pick if the Knicks decide to deal him. The organization appeared determined to move on from Ntilikina before the draft, but Begley believes that’s less certain now.
-
RJ Barrett may be the last chance for the current Knicks management team to have a success story, Popper adds in a separate piece. The third player selected in this year’s draft, Barrett has been through an up-and-down start to his rookie season, as this week demonstrated. His 27-point outburst Tuesday against the Hawks was sandwiched between a 3-for-12 shooting night in Denver and a 1-for-10 performance in Miami. “We’re looking at a rookie coming in,” Miller said. “He is really mature. Mentally, he is very mature. He’s prepared for this, handles these things. Physically, he puts the work in, handles himself. From teammates to staff, everyone knows what he can do. It’s part of the learning.”
- The Knicks’ treatment of Fizdale will make it more difficult for the team to attract a big-name coach in the future, contends George Willis of The New York Post. Numerous coaches around the league have spoken up in defense of Fizdale, who was fired after less than a season and a half.
Isaiah Thomas Faces Suspension After Confronting Fans
Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas could be fined and suspended after going into the stands during Saturday night’s game in Philadelphia, writes Fred Katz of The Athletic. However, Thomas believes his actions were justified and said the league should support him.
The incident happened during a timeout with 2:53 left to play, shortly after Thomas made a free throw after missing the first one. Had he missed two in a row, all fans would have received a free Wendy’s Frosty. Thomas said one of the fans responded with an obscene gesture and repeated a profane phrase.
“In no way, shape or form that should be allowed,” he said after the game. “I’ve been in the league for a while. The fans (are) gonna say whatever they want. Don’t ever call me out of my name, because I would never do that to anybody else. I think that crossed the line. I got kids. I got a family. That’s not OK at all, so I just went to go tell him that (in) no disrespectful way, as calm as I am right now.”
One fan reportedly apologized when Thomas confronted him and said, “I just wanted a Frosty.” He and another fan were ordered to leave the arena, and Thomas was ejected from the game. He said both fans seemed “clearly drunk,” and a security guard added that they had been targeting Thomas all night.
There has been no word from the NBA on what Thomas’ punishment might be, but Katz points out that the league has been very sensitive about players going into the stands for any reason since “Malice in the Palace” in Detroit in 2004. Thomas said he remained controlled as he approached the fans, and several of his teammates supported his version of events.
Katz notes that the NBA has experienced a recent string of uncomfortable fan interactions. A Warriors fan and a former minority owner pushed Kyle Lowry during the NBA Finals, and Russell Westbrook confronted a fan in Utah last season who allegedly made a racially charged comment.
“The league knows I did nothing wrong. I didn’t disrespect anybody,” Thomas said. “As a man, I went and looked him in the eye and told him that was not OK. I didn’t scare nobody. I didn’t even use a curse word. So when the league investigates, I’m going to tell them the exact same thing, and hopefully, they should understand it.”
Hawks’ John Collins Eligible To Return From Suspension
After falling to the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 6-24 record, including a seventh straight loss tonight, the Hawks finally have something to look forward to. John Collins, who received a 25-game suspension in early November, served the final game of that ban tonight.
He will be eligible to return Monday as Atlanta hosts the Cavaliers, and coach Lloyd Pierce plans to use him as a starter without any minutes restriction, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Collins has been traveling and working out with the team during his suspension, and Pierce said he has remained in playing shape.
Collins looked like a future star last season, averaging 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in 61 games, and the Hawks have plummeted in his absence. They posted a 4-21 record without him and are tied with the Warriors for the worst mark in the league.
Collins’ suspension came after he tested positive for Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2. As the Journal-Constitution explains, GHRP-2 is a synthetic chemical of ghrelin, a hormone produced and released mainly by the stomach. Ghrelin stimulates growth hormone secretion and appetite/meal initiation.
The suspension cost Collins more than $610K in salary. When it was announced, he issued a statement staying he planned to contest it through arbitration. The newspaper states that it’s unclear whether he changed his mind or if an appeal was turned down.
Collins hasn’t made any public comment during the suspension, but is expected to speak to the media when he returns to the court Monday.
Pacific Notes: LeBron, Kuzma, Paschall, Suns
LeBron James may miss his first game of the season tomorrow because of a muscle strain near his rib cage, writes Kyle Goon of The Orange County Register. The Lakers star wasn’t able to practice today and is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s showdown with the Nuggets.
James suffered the injury Tuesday night in Indiana, but played through it in a loss to the Pacers. He posted a triple-double in Thursday’s loss in Milwaukee, which marked L.A.’s first two-game losing streak of the season. Sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN that James has been dealing with a nagging groin issue as well. A torn groin on Christmas Day last season caused him to miss 18 games.
Goon and Windhorst both emphasize that it’s not a case of load management for James, who has been an outspoken critic of that practice.
“I don’t know how many games I got left in my career,” he said last weekend. “I don’t know how many kids that may show up to a game and they’re there to come see me play and if I sit out, then what? That’s my obligation. My obligation is to play, play for my teammates and if I’m healthy, then I’m going to play. If Coach sits me out, then I’m not healthy. And it’s just that simple.”
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- If LeBron is sidelined, his starting spot may go to Kyle Kuzma, who has missed the past five games with an injured ankle, Goon adds in the same piece. Kuzma, who is listed as probable for tomorrow, went through a full practice today and doctors will see how he responds before determining if he can play.
- There are more injury concerns for the Warriors as standout rookie Eric Paschall is having his right knee evaluated, tweets Nick Friedell of ESPN. Paschall left Friday’s game after Pelicans guard J.J. Redick fell on his knee in the first quarter.
- The injury-depleted Suns are suffering through their worst stretch of the season with five straight losses, notes Gina Mizell of The Athletic. Their injuries include Deandre Ayton, who sprained his ankle right after returning from a 25-game suspension. “We’re a new program, and we’ve dealt with a lot, and I think that’s a sign of good things to come,” coach Monty Williams said. “So I’m good. I really am. I hate losing. I hate the emotional losses. But we’re learning a lot, our guys are getting a ton of experience, and we’ve got 50-plus games left. Perspective is something we all need.”
Five Key Stories: 12/15/19 – 12/21/19
If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:
The Mavericks feel like they “dodged a bullet” when Luka Doncic‘s sprained right ankle turned out not to be severe. Doncic, who has been an MVP candidate through the first third of the season, was projected to miss about two weeks.
Lloyd Pierce’s job is safe in Atlanta although the Hawks are off to a disappointing 6-24 start. Management has been patient because the team is playing without John Collins, who is nearly done serving a 25-game suspension. Pierce’s contract is guaranteed through next season, with a team option for 2021/22.
Potential No. 1 pick James Wiseman opted to leave Memphis and prepare for the 2020 draft on his own. Wiseman played just three college games and was serving a 12-game suspension related to recruiting violations.
Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:
- The Raptors had a disastrous injury week with Pascal Siakam, Marc Gasol and Norman Powell all out indefinitely. Toronto, which sits in fourth place in the East coming into tonight, will try to stay competitive with a diminished lineup.
- The Nets lost David Nwaba for the season with a torn Achilles. He has a July 7 trigger date for his non-guaranteed $1.82MM salary for next season.
- The Wizards signed Anzejs Pasecniks to a two-way contract to help their depleted frontcourt. Chris Chiozza was waived to make room.
- The Wizards also guaranteed Jordan McRae‘s $1.6MM contract for the rest of the season.
- Reports this week suggest the Mavericks aren’t interested in trying to acquire Andre Iguodala from the Grizzlies. Memphis has vowed not to pursue a buyout with the veteran forward and is seeking a first-round pick in any trade.
- Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt joined the Knicks as a basketball operations consultant. Blatt’s duties involve the organization’s G League affiliate and international scouting.
- The players union filed an appeal of Dion Waiters‘ latest suspension. The NBPA hopes to regain at least some of the money the Heat guard lost as a result of the ban.
- No. 1 pick Zion Williamson has progressed to full weight-bearing exercises as he continues to rehab from knee surgery. The Pelicans still haven’t released a timeline for when he might make his NBA debut.
- The Timberwolves are among several teams that have contacted the Knicks about Dennis Smith Jr. The 2017 lottery pick has seen minimal playing time this season.
- Trey Burke‘s father issued a trade demand for his son on his Instagram account. The Sixers‘ back-up point guard, who signed a one-year deal this summer, issued a statement through the team saying he wants to stay in Philadelphia.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Wizards Notes: Bertans, Smith, Payton, Chiozza
General manager Tommy Sheppard said this week that the Wizards plan to re-sign Davis Bertans, but Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington believes they may rethink their position before the trade deadline. Bertans has emerged as one of the league’s top 3-point shooters, hitting a career-best 44.7% through the season’s first 27 games. But his eventual price tag could be a concern to a franchise that has already made expensive long-term commitments to Bradley Beal and John Wall.
A league executive predicts Bertans will command a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of $51MM over three seasons. Hughes states that the Wizards can easily afford to give Bertans around $15MM per season, especially with Ian Mahinmi‘s $15.5MM salary coming off the books after this season. However, if the price gets closer to $20MM annually, Washington might have to reconsider to avoid a repeat of the salary cap crunch it escaped at last year’s deadline.
Hughes hears that the Sixers, Hawks and Lakers would be the most interested teams if the Wizards opt to shop Bertans. Washington will want at least a first-round pick in return, but any contender would be offering a choice very late in the draft. Unless someone comes through with a sweeter offer, Washington may opt to keep Bertans and take its chances in free agency.
There’s more from D.C.:
- Ish Smith is excelling off the bench and making a strong case for a full-time starting job, observes Mike DePrisco of NBC Sports Washington. Last night in Toronto, Smith became the first reserve in franchise history with a perfect shooting night on at least nine shot attempts since the stat started being kept in 1971.
- Gary Payton II, who is reportedly close to re-signing with the Wizards, got a strong endorsement from his coach this week at the G League Showcase, relays Sam Gordon of The Las Vegas Review-Journal. “It’s dependent on fit and timing. He has the skills. He has the talent. He has the mentality,” said Coby Karl of the South Bay Lakers. “He’s an elite athlete at the NBA level. He can do so many different things on the court.”
- Chris Chiozza, who was released earlier this week, has joined Washington’s G League affiliate in Capital City after clearing waivers, tweets Fred Katz of The Athletic.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 12/15/19 – 12/21/19
Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team creates original content to complement our news feed. Here are our original segments and features from the past seven days:
- Our Free Agent Stock Watch looked at the Central division.
- Our Trade Candidate Watch series focused on the Northwest and Southwest divisions.
- In a Community Shootaround, we asked your opinion on the NBA’s proposed schedule changes.
- Luke Adams listed the NBA players who still can’t be traded after December 15 opened up the market to most players who signed free agent deals over the summer and looked at some notable players who are now trade eligible.
- He also detailed why some contenders might have limited options in trade talks.
- We examined the strong positions the Sixers and Mavericks hold with second-round picks.
- In poll questions this week, we asked:
Wizards Close To Signing Gary Payton II
Gary Payton II is nearing a contract with the Wizards, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. The G League guard was held out of today’s Showcase game in Las Vegas.
Payton is averaging 21.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 3.2 steals in 16 games for the South Bay Lakers. He has played 113 G League games in his career, but only 32 in the NBA, including three with the Wizards last season. He also had short stays with the Bucks and Lakers.
Washington doesn’t expect to make another move before adding Payton to the roster, according to Fred Katz of The Athletic (Twitter link). The Wizards have applied to the league for a hardship provision that they expect to be granted. It will allow them to carry a 16th player as long as their injury woes continue.
Celtics Notes: Trades, Tatum, Irving, Stevens
The Celtics are concerned about facing Sixers center Joel Embiid in a potential playoff series, and the trade market may not offer the help they need, writes Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. Embiid posted 38 points and 13 rebounds in Thursday’s win over Boston, giving Philadelphia a 2-0 record against its arch rivals. Enes Kanter and Daniel Theis combined for 36 points and 14 rebounds, but the Celtics might prefer one center who matches up better with Embiid and some of the other front line talent in the Eastern Conference.
Forsberg notes that the Celtics’ options are limited because they don’t have any substantial contracts to trade outside of their core players. That eliminates an option like Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams, who has a $25.8MM salary. The Celtics might have to send Gordon Hayward to the Thunder in return, which Forsberg says they won’t consider.
A more realistic possibility that Forsberg identifies is the Knicks‘ Taj Gibson, who is making $9MM this year and has a non-guaranteed contract for next season. Gibson has fared well against Embiid in limited minutes and played alongside Kanter when they were both with the Thunder.
There’s more today from Boston:
- Jayson Tatum believes Kyrie Irving has been made an unfair scapegoat for last year’s disappointing season. Brown defended his former teammate this week in an interview with ESPN’s Maria Taylor (video link). “No, it’s not Kyrie’s fault. There was 15 guys on that team and coaches and front office,” Tatum said. “Everybody played a part in that. I feel like he gets a lot of blame undeservingly. He’s a great person. We still have a great relationship. He helped me out a lot, on and off the court, my first two years, that I’m thankful for. But no, he shouldn’t get all the blame, any of the blame.”
- Coach Brad Stevens thinks the league is on the right track by experimenting with its schedule and considering an in-season tournament, relays Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. He admits it’s hard to deliver “your best product” 82 times a season. “I do appreciate the NBA looks at things and says, ‘We’re not just going to stay status quo because it’s status quo,’” Stevens said. “We have to continue to look at what’s best for the game, what’s best for the players, all the people in the travel party, all that stuff. So I appreciate the leadership in the league.”
- The Grizzlies have moved into eighth place in our Reverse Standings with three wins in their past four games, Forsberg tweets. The first-round pick that they owe the Celtics is top-six protected for 2020, then unprotected after that.