R.J. Hunter Signs Two-Way Contract With Rockets
JANUARY 15, 8:16am: Hunter’s two-way contract with the Rockets became official on Sunday, per RealGM’s transactions log.
JANUARY 13, 4:08pm: The Rockets will sign G League guard R.J. Hunter to a two-way contract on Sunday, tweets Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle.
Hunter has been playing for the organization’s G League affiliate in Rio Grande Valley, where he is averaging 19.0 points in 23 games. He has struggled to find a spot in the NBA after being taken by the Celtics with the 28th pick in 2015. He played 36 games with Boston and another three with Chicago, but most of his experience has been in the G League.
The Rockets have a two-way slot open after terminating their deal with Demetrius Jackson last week. When Hunter signs tomorrow, he’ll have 22 days of NBA eligibility.
Weekly Mailbag: 1/8/18 – 1/14/18
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.
Do you think LeBron James has a good chance of playing for the Lakers next season as he just bought a new house in Los Angeles? — Greg Dizon
The LeBron-to-L.A. rumors started shortly after last year’s NBA Finals and will keep going until he announces a decision this summer. The Lakers seem committed to clearing enough cap space to offer two maximum contracts, and LeBron surely recognizes the historical significance of lifting L.A. back to championship status. Nobody knows for sure what he is thinking or if he plans to give much though to free agency until this season is done. If he has taken a good look at the Lakers, he has surely noticed the chaos of the past week related to LaVar Ball’s comments about coach Luke Walton and the delayed response from the team’s front office. He would also see a team with a 15-27 record and a recent nine-game losing streak. The best-case scenario for the Lakers would be to sign James and Paul George, but that means getting rid of Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson first. Would that roster be enough be enough to get through the West with the Warriors, Rockets and Spurs standing in the way? That thought will influence LeBron’s decision much more than a new home.
What kind of package would Andre Drummond bring in a trade? — Mark Holmes
Drummond’s improvement this season makes him much less likely to be traded than he was a year ago. Coach/executive Stan Van Gundy’s concerns about his intensity level seem to be a thing of the past, and Drummond has added a playmaking element to his game, averaging a career-best 3.8 assists per night to go with a league-leading 15.0 rebounds. Drummond is only 24 and is signed through 2019/20 with a player option for the following season. He has become the cornerstone of the franchise and won’t be dealt unless the Pistons decide to rebuild. It’s hard to picture an offer the Pistons might consider right now, but if they want to get out of the most expensive years of Drummond’s contract and replace Reggie Jackson at point guard, they could match salary by sending them to Miami for Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside.
What are the latest Bucks trade rumors besides DeAndre Jordan, Zaza Pachulia, JaVale McGee and Tyson Chandler? — ROBZ, via Twitter
Milwaukee is obviously after centers, and we noted in a recent Mailbag that Knicks backup Kyle O’Quinn is a possibility. They will continue to make a push for Jordan until the February 8 trade deadline and will probably opt for one of the lower-cost options if they can’t work out a deal with the Clippers. If you want a complete wild card to consider, how about Dwight Howard? His salary is similar to Jordan’s ($23MM vs. $22,642,350), with the main difference being that Howard is under contract for another year at more than $23.8MM, while Jordan has a player option. The Hornets are sliding out of the East race at 16-25 and probably wouldn’t mind unloading Howard’s contract. His reputation has suffered in recent years, but Howard’s numbers have been fairly steady since he left Orlando. He is averaging 15.3 points, 12.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per night and could give the Bucks everything that Jordan would.
Jazz Sign Georges Niang To Two-Way Deal
JANUARY 14, 1:30pm: The two-way deal has been made official, per the Jazz’s public relations department (via Twitter).
JANUARY 10, 9:58pm : The Jazz plan to sign Georges Niang to a two-way contract, tweets Adam Johnson of Two Ways and 10 Days.
Niang is currently playing for the Warriors’ G League affiliate in Santa Cruz, where he is averaging 18.4 points and 6.7 rebounds in 25 games. Niang was waived by Golden State in the preseason after signing with the organization in August. He appeared in 23 games with the Pacers as a rookie last season.
Utah currently has a full roster with Naz Mitrou-Long and Erik McCree holding the team’s two-way contracts, so a move will have to be made before Niang can be added.
Southeast Notes: Clifford, Gortat, Waiters, Hammond
Hornets coach Steve Clifford plans to put a greater emphasis on his personal health when he returns to work Tuesday, relays Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. The fifth-year coach had a health scare in November that forced him to step away from the team while doctors determined the source of the problem.
“The biggest thing for me is a lack of sleep. Stress-related,” Clifford said. “[The doctors’] biggest concern with me is [most executives] don’t travel as much as I do. That’s why they have been a little more careful — and rightfully so — about me coming back.”
Assistant Stephen Silas has been running the team in Clifford’s absence and will coach tomorrow’s game in Detroit before Clifford takes over at Tuesday’s practice.
There’s more news from the Southeast Division:
- Wizards center Marcin Gortat said his quote about wanting to finish his career in Orlando was misinterpreted, writes Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Gortat mentioned that he would like to return to the Magic so he could end his NBA journey where it started, but emphasized that he has no desire to be traded. “I want to play in Washington,” he said. “Just because I want to finish my career in a year-and-a-half doesn’t mean I don’t want to play in Washington. I think everything today was blown away a little too much.”
- The Heat weren’t concerned about the $1.1MM bonus that Dion Waiters might have collected if he had remained healthy, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Waiters needed to play 70 games to receive the incentive, which won’t happen now that he is expected to have season-ending surgery on his left ankle. Miami put the bonus in his contract as a way to allow him to obtain his desired salary while leaving enough cap space to re-sign Wayne Ellington, Winderman explains, adding that the extra $1.1MM wouldn’t have pushed the team into the luxury tax.
- Bucks coach Jason Kidd is confident that new GM John Hammond will eventually have success in Orlando, according to John Denton of NBA.com. Hammond constructed the current team in Milwaukee and hired Kidd before leaving for Orlando last summer. “Hammond is one of the best at putting teams together to win,’’ Kidd said. “You talk about a great individual at understanding college talent at a very high level, he’s a competitor and he wants to win and I enjoyed him when he was here [in Milwaukee].’’
Northwest Notes: T. Jones, Mitchell, Jefferson, Huestis
Timberwolves point guard Tyus Jones played well when Jeff Teague was sidelined with a sprained knee ligament, but there’s no thought about making him the starter, relays Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune. Jones ranks in the top five in the league in assists and steals per turnover and is number one in defensive real plus-minus. Still, coach Tom Thibodeau trusts Teague, who was one of Minnesota’s prize offseason additions, and won’t consider a change.
“Jeff has been around a long time, and Jeff has done a lot of winning,” Thibodeau said. “That’s probably the most important thing.”
There’s more today from the Northwest Division:
- Rookie guard Donovan Mitchell has become the MVP for the Jazz in a difficult season, according to Mike Sorensen of The Deseret News. The 13th overall pick is leading all rookies in scoring at 18.8 points per game and has four 30-point performances already. Utah was focused primarily on Mitchell’s defensive prowess when it acquired him in a draft-night trade with the Nuggets, so the scoring has been a pleasant surprise. In his other midseason ratings, Sorensen picks Ricky Rubio as the team’s most disappointing player and Royce O’Neale as the most pleasant surprise.
- The Nuggets plan to use veteran forward Richard Jefferson as part of their rotation for the rest of the season, tweets Chris Dempsey of Altitude Sports. Coach Michael Malone said he wants to see “what we have” in the 37-year-old, who has been playing about eight minutes per night and is averaging 1.6 points through 13 games.
- After spending most of his first two seasons in the G League, Josh Huestis may have found a role with the Thunder, writes Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman. Terrance Ferguson has taken over as the starting shooting guard with Andre Roberson injured, but coach Billy Donovan has turned to Huestis as a late-game defensive stopper. Huestis, who played just seven combined NBA games during his first two years in the league, is enjoying the opportunity. “It comes down to defense,” he said.
Sixers Notes: Embiid, Fultz, Colangelo, Simmons
Sixers center Joel Embiid may have interest in playing for the French national team, according to Orazio Cauchi 0f Sportando. During this week’s trip to London, the Cameroon native indicated he might be open to the possibility. Patrick Beesley, the head of French federation, will come to the United States next month to meet with Sixers forward Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and plans to address the idea with Embiid.
“Playing with France? You never know,” Embiid said. “Of course I’m not from France, if I ever play intertionally there’s Cameroon, but France could be a good opportunity. I have many relatives and friends in France.”
There’s more this morning out of Philadelphia:
- Rookie guard Markelle Fultz has gotten past his physical ailments, but his shooting form still appears to be broken, writes Dennis Chambers of Basketball Insiders. The muscular imbalance in Fultz’s shoulder has been corrected and he has been cleared for five-on-five practices, but the problems with his shot haven’t gone away. Even so, Sixers coach Brett Brown can’t wait to get the first overall pick back on the court. “I’m excited,” Brown said. “Because he completely connects the dots to what we don’t have. Anybody that can create their own shot, anybody that can create something for somebody else, is of extreme value to the collection of what we have, and that is his skill set. And what we can get out of him, how is he going to be integrated into the team when he gets back, that’s yet obviously to be seen, but I remain highly positive and highly optimistic.”
- President of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo believes the Sixers are still a playoff team, but admits inconsistent play has been a problem, relays Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Colangelo is counting on a boost from the return of Fultz and the possibility of using Embiid in back-to-back games, which was originally targeted for January or February. Colangelo said a trade is possible before next month’s deadline, but he won’t be disappointed if one doesn’t materialize. “We’re very consistent with our patient approach to developing the core players that we have,” he added, “and putting them in the best possible environment to succeed.”
- Ben Simmons is an exceptional talent, but he still has to learn how to succeed without Embiid on the court, writes Rob Mahoney of Sports Illustrated. Opponents aren’t afraid to double team Simmons without the threat of Embiid, and lineups with Simmons alone lose about nine points per 100 possessions.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/13/18
Here are the G League moves from around the NBA today:
- The Knicks recalled guard Damyean Dotson from their Westchester affiliate, the team tweeted. Dotson has appeared in 20 NBA games during his rookie season.
- The Hornets recalled rookie guard Dwayne Bacon from their affiliate in Greensboro, the team announced on its website. Bacon is averaging 26.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists with the Swarm.
- The Thunder recalled rookie center Dakari Johnson from the Oklahoma City Blue, according to the team website. Johnson has played 19 games for the Thunder, averaging 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 14.6 minutes.
Kings Notes: Cauley-Stein, Giles, Draft, Bogdanovic
As losses continue to pile up for the Kings, Willie Cauley-Stein suggests that Dave Joerger run the team like a college coach, relays Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. The Kings are now 1-7 in their last eight games with a roster that features 10 players with three or fewer seasons of NBA experience.
“If you’re not doing your job right, next man up, you get your turn next time it comes around,” Cauley-Stein said. “I think it’s got to happen like that, even for myself.”
The Kings have fallen to last in the West and are third in our latest Reverse Standings.
There’s more tonight out of Sacramento:
- The team is being careful with first-round pick Harry Giles, who has yet to play this season because of physical concerns, Jones notes in a mailbag column. Giles hasn’t practiced much in front of the media, but team sources say he has shown impressive athleticism and shooting range in controlled settings. He is also a fast learner who has picked up the game through film sessions. Jones reports that Giles’ knees are in good shape and the Kings are focused on building up his strength to start playing.
- The Kings’ only shot at picking up a first-round pick before the trade deadline is if a contender wants to take a chance on George Hill, Jones adds in the same piece. Hill is making $20MM this season, so matching salaries would be an issue, especially since Sacramento already has a full roster. Jones thinks the Kings might make a stronger effort to acquire a first-rounder next year, when their pick will be sent to the Sixers or Celtics.
- Bogdan Bogdanovic isn’t a typical rookie, and the Kings aren’t treating him like one, Jones writes in a separate story. The Serbian shooting guard is 25 and has years of international experience, making him one of the leaders on a young team. The former draft-and-stash prospect agreed to a three-year, $27MM deal last summer. “He’s not a rookie,” Hill said. “To you guys he is, but to us, he’s a seasoned vet. He’s been battle tested and been playing high-level basketball his whole life now. He just knows how to play the game the right way. We feed off that. He plays with that edge, that grit, he just wants to win.”
Community Shootaround: Cleveland Cavaliers
A total collapse in Cleveland is almost unthinkable, especially with LeBron James putting up MVP numbers, but the three-time defending Eastern Conference champions are coming off a nightmarish week.
It began with a 28-point loss in Minnesota, followed by a 34-point loss in Toronto. Last night, an early 26-6 lead turned into a 97-95 loss at Indiana. Those games wrapped up a 1-4 road trip for a Cavs team that is now a distant third to the Celtics and Raptors in the race for the best record in the East.
The problems in Cleveland start with defense. The Cavaliers are the second-worst team in the league in points allowed per 100 possessions (109.5), and the roster doesn’t contain many outstanding individual defenders. There’s no rim protection with Kevin Love starting at center, and opponents are taking advantage.
With less than four weeks to go before the trade deadline, Cleveland has to be considering deals to bolster its defense. Rumors have linked the Cavs to Clippers center DeAndre Jordan, but he may not be available now that L.A. is back in the playoff race. The Clippers reportedly want the Nets’ unprotected first-rounder in return, and the Cavaliers are reluctant to part with it.
The core of this Cleveland team has been through mid-season swoons before and has always rebounded in time for the postseason. It’s possible that things will get better on their own, but the Cavs have another tough stretch ahead with the Warriors, Thunder and Spurs coming up in the next 10 days. Cleveland’s lead over the ninth-place Sixers has shrunk to four games in the loss column, and a sense of urgency seems to be developing in the organization.
“We all got to be accountable for our actions, accountable for how well we play, how we play, how hard we play, and what we do for one another,” James said after the blowout in Toronto. “And there were just some plays that you should come up with, that you should make, and when you’re losing, you tend to not wanna make those plays, or tend to let some plays get away from you. And we can’t afford that right now the way we’re playing ball. So just trying to hold everybody accountable and move on, which we did.”
We want to get your input. What moves do the Cavaliers need to make before the deadline to keep their spot as the East’s best team? Jump into the comments section below and give us your feedback.
Buss, Johnson Tweet Support For Luke Walton
Lakers majority owner Jeanie Buss and team president Magic Johnson offered public support to coach Luke Walton today for the first time since last week’s disparaging comments from LaVar Ball, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.
Buss went first, tweeting a photo of herself with GM Rob Pelinka and Walton, accompanied by the hashtag #InLukeWeTrust.
Johnson followed with a pair of tweets, reading “So proud of my @Lakers players and Coach Walton for winning their 4th game in a row against the Mavericks” (Twitter link) and “Coach Luke Walton has the @Lakers playing some of their best basketball of the season right now.” (Twitter link)
L.A. has won four straight games since Ball, the father of rookie point guard Lonzo Ball, claimed Walton has lost the team and that players no longer support him.
Rumors emerged Friday that the Lakers might have interest in former Grizzlies coach David Fizdale. Sources told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN that Buss was concerned about the situation and wanted to make her support for Walton clear.
“Jeanie has always been great,” Walton said. “There is no doubt that they support me. I haven’t seen the tweet, but again, I don’t have Twitter. But I know they support [me and the coaching staff].”
The front office tried to ignore LaVar Ball’s comments so it wouldn’t be seen as responding to the parent of a player. A Lakers source recently told Shelburne there’s “not even a conversation” about replacing Walton, who still has three seasons left on a five-year contract reportedly worth $25MM.