David Griffin Interviewed For Sixers’ GM Job
Former Cavaliers GM David Griffin interviewed for the Sixers’ vacant GM post earlier this summer, tweets Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. An NBA source tells Pompey that the team decided Griffin didn’t fit its front office structure, which emphasizes “collaborative decisions” over the traditional model where the GM is responsible for personnel moves.
Boris Diaw Announces Retirement
Boris Diaw, who played 14 seasons in the NBA, has officially retired from basketball, according to a tweet from Sportando. The versatile big man played for five teams, but is best known for his time in San Antonio, where he won a championship in 2014.
A French native, the 36-year-old spent last season with Paris-Levallois. He built a strong international reputation in France before coming to the NBA, winning the FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship in 2000. He was named captain of the French national team in 2006 and led his nation to the gold medal at the 2013 EuroBasket tournament.
Diaw was drafted by the Hawks with the 21st pick in 2003. He spent two years in Atlanta before being traded to the Suns, and later played for the Bobcats and Spurs before finishing his NBA career with the Jazz in 2017. Several playoff teams reportedly had interest in signing him late last season, but nothing ever materialized.
Over the course of his NBA career, Diaw averaged 8.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 3.5 APG in 1,064 contests (27.0 MPG). According to Basketball-Reference, the 2006 NBA Most Improved Player earned more than $80MM during his 14 seasons in the NBA.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Warriors Notes: McCaw, Livingston, Durant, Kerr
Patrick McCaw will probably accept the Warriors’ qualifying offer before training camp opens, writes Anthony Slater of The Athletic. A restricted free agent, McCaw has been waiting all summer for a team to offer more than Golden State’s QO of $1.7MM.
A disappointing second season contributed to McCaw’s current situation. His 2-point and 3-point shooting percentages both declined, and his scoring and rebounding numbers didn’t improve, even with a slight increase in playing time. Still, McCaw will likely remain in the rotation if he returns to Golden State, which may not be guaranteed if he signs elsewhere.
Both parties have leverage in the standoff, Slater notes. The Warriors can match any offer that McCaw receives, while he and his representatives know that the team can only offer minimum deals to potential replacements. With 13 players under contract, Golden State plans to give the 14th roster spot to McCaw while keeping the final one open.
Slater passes along more Warriors info in his mailbag column:
- Golden State will have to make a decision on Shaun Livingston‘s partially guaranteed contract for 2019/20 by June 30, and the team’s choice may reflect how negotiations are going in other areas. Livingston has a $2MM guarantee on his $7,692,308 deal and could be a welcome source of savings for a team that’s already well over the cap with Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant both heading toward free agency and Draymond Green eligible for an extension. Livingston will turn 33 next week and it could be an easy decision if his game declines this season.
- Damian Jones is the best bet to start at center when the season begins. Jordan Bell is the most talented candidate and will probably inherit the job once DeMarcus Cousins leaves in free agency, while Kevon Looney‘s reliable defense puts him in the discussion. Slater expects Jones to win the job unless he has an awful preseason, with Bell eventually taking over until Cousins is healthy enough to return in January or February.
- Durant hasn’t made any decisions about his future, but he may be looking for a long-term deal next summer. The Warriors will have his full Bird Rights for the first time since he joined the organization and he may want security at age 31, whether that means a five-year contract with Golden State or a four-year deal elsewhere.
- Coach Steve Kerr was able to make it through last season without major health issues, but the pain resulting from his back surgery hasn’t gone away. Kerr had to take two leaves of absences in the wake of the operation, but his recent contract extension is a sign that the issue is under control.
Sixers Add Four Names To GM Search
The Sixers are expanding the list of candidates for their vacant GM job and will interview four more prospects next week, tweets Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Former Sixers player Elton Brand is joined on the list by fellow team executives Marc Eversley, Ned Cohen and Alex Rucker.
Philadelphia began interviews for the opening this week after receiving permission to talk with Larry Harris of the Warriors, Gersson Rosas of the Rockets and Justin Zanik of the Jazz. The organization has been operating without a GM since Bryan Colangelo departed in June amid charges of releasing sensitive information on Twitter. Nuggets GM Arturas Karnisovas was scheduled to interview as well, but decided to decline the opportunity, Pompey adds (Twitter link).
Brand played for five teams in a 17-year NBA career, finishing up with the Sixers in 2016. He is vice president of basketball operations in Philadelphia and serves as GM for the Delaware Blue Coats, the organization’s G League affiliate. Cohen is the Sixers’ assistant GM, Eversley is senior VP of player personnel and Rucker is senior VP of analytics and strategy. All four were promoted to their current positions after Colangelo left.
Orlando Magic Owner Richard DeVos Dies at 92
Orlando Magic senior chairman Richard DeVos, who has owned the franchise since 1991, died this morning at age 92, the team announced on its website. “Complications from an infection” was listed as the cause of death.
DeVos, who made his fortune as a co-founder of Amway, purchased the team for $85MM. The Magic are currently worth $1.225 billion, according to the latest Forbes report. He turned to the NBA after a failed bid to bring a Major League Baseball expansion team to Orlando and owned three teams in the International Hockey League as well.
The Magic won five division championships and made two trips to the NBA Finals with DeVos as owner. An author and philanthropist, he was inducted into the Orlando Magic Hall of Fame in 2016.
“Mr. DeVos’ boundless generosity, inspirational leadership and infectious enthusiasm will always be remembered,” said Alex Martins, chief executive officer for the Magic. “Simply, he was the team’s No. 1 cheerleader and the best owner that a Magic fan could ever want for their team. When the DeVos Family purchased the Magic, his vision was that the team and organization would serve as a platform to improve the Central Florida community. That legacy will certainly live on, both in the Orlando Magic’s community efforts and philanthropic contributions, as well as in the way we strive to play the game with passion, a strong work ethic and integrity, while also bringing people together from all walks of life.”
Celtics Sign Bibbs, King, Roberson To Training Camp Deals
The Celtics have signed three players to training camp contracts, tweets Keith Smith of RealGM.com. The new additions are Justin Bibbs, Nick King and Jeff Roberson, all of whom agreed to Exhibit 10 deals. All three are rookies who weren’t selected in June’s draft.
A 6’5″ guard from Virginia Tech, Bibbs played for the Celtics’ entry in the Las Vegas Summer League, averaging 5.0 points in six games. King, a 6’7″ forward out of Middle Tennessee State, was with the Lakers this summer and played 10 games in the Las Vegas and Sacramento leagues, averaging 8.6 PPG and 4.7 RPG. Roberson, a 6’6″ forward from Vanderbilt, saw limited action with the Warriors’ Summer League team and posted 1.6 PPG in five games in Las Vegas.
The signings give Boston a full 20-man roster heading into training camp. The Celtics have 15 players with fully guaranteed contracts, along with the three Exhibit 10 deals and P.J. Dozier and Walt Lemon on two-way contracts.
Raptors Assistant: Kawhi Leonard Is ‘Doing Great’
Raptors assistant coach Phil Handy provided an encouraging health update on Kawhi Leonard during a recent appearance on Toronto Talk Sports (hat tip to Mitch Robson of The Score).
Handy expressed confidence that Leonard has mostly overcome the issues with his quad that limited him to nine games with the Spurs last season.
“He’s doing great,” Handy said. “He’s in great shape. Body looks good, he’s feeling good, he’s moving well. I don’t anticipate any issues or any problems. He’s working hard and he’s a hard worker.”
The Raptors acquired Leonard from San Antonio in July and added Handy to their coaching staff shortly afterward. He served as an assistant with the Cavaliers for the past three years and was in charge of player development for the last two.
Handy also discussed Leonard’s recent workout with LeBron James and Kevin Durant and said Leonard is fully focused on the season ahead.
“He’s a gamer man,” Handy said. “He is a gamer. Players like that just want to compete. … However [his situation with the Spurs] played out, however it happened, he’s just looking forward to what’s next and what’s in front of him right now and [putting] his best foot forward for the Raptors organization this season.”
Atlantic Notes: Irving, Brown, Nets, Sixers
When Danny Ainge decided to pursue Kyrie Irving last summer, he didn’t have a tough sell to the rest of the organization, relays Chris Forsberg of ESPN. The Celtics‘ president of basketball operations said there was complete agreement in the front office on the deal that sent Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and Brooklyn’s unprotected first-rounder to Cleveland.
“I feel like there’s opportunities that you have to look at and explore, and Kyrie was one of those opportunities that, unanimously, internally it was something that we all felt like we should do,” Ainge said. “Everybody, unanimously, wanted to do it.”
Forsberg recounts the details of last summer’s blockbuster, including the eight-day wait as the teams tried to work out compensation after the Cavaliers claimed Thomas’ hip was in worse shape than they were led to believe. Irving was shooting his “Uncle Drew” movie at the time, and fellow cast members recall his excitement once the deal was completed. Ainge, meanwhile, was concerned that it might get rescinded.
“It’s like you’re a real estate agent and someone has agreed to buy your house, but until the papers are signed and the bank is on board, the sale doesn’t go through,” he said. “And that’s sort of how it is after you make any deal in our league. It’s never done until it’s done.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Gordon Hayward‘s return may cut into Jaylen Brown‘s playing time, but Brown will still serve an important role for the Celtics this season, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. Brown is an elite defender, Blakely notes, and he provides lineup flexibility if coach Brad Stevens wants to change his starting five depending on matchups.
- The Nets are among three NBA teams that haven’t filled either two-way slot and that’s not likely to change before training camp, according to Net Income of NetsDaily. The team plans to have players compete for the spots in camp. Brooklyn signed Jake Wiley and Yakuba Outtara to two-way deals last summer and wound up replacing them with Milton Doyle and James Webb.
- The Sixers are expected to begin interviews for their GM opening on Tuesday, tweets Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. They have received permission to talk with Larry Harris (Warriors), Gersson Rosas (Rockets), and Justin Zanik (Jazz), and all three are set to interview the week. Mike Sielski of the Inquirer is criticizing the team for keeping the position open for so long after Bryan Colangelo’s departure in June.
Hornets Notes: Lamb, Kaminsky, Parker, Batum
Jeremy Lamb might be the Hornets’ starter at shooting guard, but he could also be entering his final season with the team, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer in his latest mailbag column. Lamb started 18 times in his 80 games last season and posted the best numbers of his six-year NBA career, averaging 12.9 points per game and shooting 37% from 3-point range.
Bonnell expects new coach James Borrego to use Nicolas Batum at small forward more often, opening a spot in the backcourt that will be filled either by Lamb or Malik Monk. Lamb improved his defense last year and provides more size than Monk, so he’s considered the favorite to win the starting job heading into camp.
Lamb is entering the final year of a contract extension he signed in 2015 and will be seeking a raise from his salary of just under $7.5MM. Charlotte will have a tight cap situation heading into the summer with Kemba Walker also as a free agent. With Batum, Monk and Dwayne Bacon as alternatives as shooting guard, the team may decide not to spend big on Lamb.
Bonnell offers more news on the Hornets in the same piece:
- Expect Frank Kaminsky to see more minutes at center in the preseason, and that could wind up being his primary position in the future. Kaminsky has been used mainly as a power forward during his first three seasons in the league, but the Hornets may want a better outside shooter in the middle after trading away Dwight Howard. Charlotte’s front office will have to decide soon whether to extend a qualifying offer of roughly $5MM to Kaminsky to make him a restricted free agent next summer.
- The Hornets plan to use free agent addition Tony Parker as Walker’s primary backup this season. The longtime Spur will play about 15 to 17 minutes a night and could be used in combination with Walker to close out games. Rookie Devonte’ Graham looked good in Summer League, but Bonnell doesn’t expect him to be given a large role this season.
- Offseason changes may put Batum in position for a bounceback year. The addition of Parker, Batum’s close friend and teammate from the French national squad, should help, as should improved health after Batum missed the entire preseason last year with an elbow injury. Bonnell notes that Batum was an awkward fit with Howard, who liked to dominate the ball in the post and often slowed down the offense.
Weekly Mailbag: 8/27/18 – 9/2/18
We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.
With the Lakers buying out Luol Deng‘s contract, is it still possible we could see a move made for Kawhi Leonard before the season begins? What would it take to make that transaction? — Omar A. Gonzalez, via Twitter
The Raptors aren’t going to pull up off a blockbuster trade that involves giving up DeMar DeRozan, one of the most popular players in franchise history, without seeing what they have in Leonard. If he’s fully healed from the quad issue that limited him to nine games last season, Leonard has a chance to be the best player in the East and the Raptors are legitimate contenders for the NBA Finals. But Lakers fans should be patient. Leonard is still coming up on his option year, and nothing stands in his way of leaving for Los Angeles in 10 months if he’s not happy in Toronto. If the Raptors aren’t confident by the February deadline that they can re-sign Leonard, a trade with the Lakers becomes much more likely.
With Deng out, who’s in? Kawhi Leonard or Damian Lillard? — Boy Roy, via Twitter
A free agent signing next summer is more likely than a trade this year. With nearly $37MM in projected cap space after the Deng buyout, the Lakers will be on the radar for just about every marquee free agent. Leonard should be considered the favorite if he’s fully healthy, but the list of free agents for next summer is impressive. It starts with Kevin Durant and includes Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, DeMarcus Cousins, Kemba Walker, Al Horford and Khris Middleton. Who wants a max contract to play alongside LeBron James, live in Los Angeles and be part of one of the league’s glamour teams? Just about everybody.
Do you think Carmelo Anthony will be a big boost and fit in with the Rockets as a championship contender?– Greg Dizon
The good news is that Anthony doesn’t have to do a whole lot to make the situation in Houston work. He doesn’t have to be part of a Big Three or challenge for the scoring title. James Harden and Chris Paul do the heavy lifting for the Rockets’ offense. Anthony just has to hit the open shots that are created for him and be willing to move the ball so the offense doesn’t stagnate. The main doubts involve whether he can help replace the contributions on defense from Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute, who both left in free agency. The Rockets have other options if Anthony doesn’t work hard on both ends of the court, and his effort on defense may determine how large his role is.