Southeast Notes: Gay, Dragic, McRoberts
The Magic have had conversations with the Kings about Rudy Gay, says Steve Kyler over Twitter. In his 11th season as a pro, the 30-year-old forward has shown an ability to produce despite turmoil and instability in Sacramento.
In 23 games so far this year, Gay has posted 18.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for the Kings and he does so with a reasonable $13.3MM contract, positioning him as a possible answer to the Magic’s offensive woes.
With so much going sideways in Orlando after an aggressive offseason of acquisitions, the decision to kick the tires on another established veteran falls in line with the approach they’ve been taking to their rebuild. Over the summer the Magic brought aboard veterans Serge Ibaka, Bismack Biyombo and Jeff Green, all with hefty contracts.
It’s unclear who would be on the way out of Orlando in such a deal, but there would need to be something significant exchanged as the Magic currently sit above the 2016/17 salary cap.
Also coming out of the Southeast Division:
- Goran Dragic doesn’t know where the rumors started that suggested he was “open to a trade,” writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The 30-year-old guard insists that he is happy with the Heat.
- If the Heat can find a taker for forward Josh McRoberts, he won’t come with much of a price tag adds Windermere in his latest Ask Ira feature. Windermere cites McRoberts’ 2017/18 player option worth $6MM as the biggest deterrent limiting the veteran’s value.
- The Wizards were in the mix for Luol Deng this summer, says Zach Lowe of ESPN. The two parties had been discussing a three-year deal worth $20MM less than what the 31-year-old forward ultimately signed with the Lakers.
Atlantic Notes: Horford, Rose, Raptors 905
Al Horford has enjoyed one of his best individual seasons as a professional so far this year and he owes it to increased time at the four. The big man has lined up as the Celtics power forward alongside the springier and lankier Amir Johnson.
Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe recently explored the new opportunities created by head coach Brad Stevens when he made the decision to utilize this type of lineup.
“When I was playing [center] for many years, one of the things was I wasn’t able to impact as many shots as I wanted at the defensive end, because I was always having to go against bigger guys,” Horford told Himmelsbach. “Now, I feel like I’m seeing guys more my size, and I’m able to play more freely, which just opens up my game.”
Horford’s 2.3 blocks per game, nearly one block more than he’s averaged in any other season prior to 2016/17, rank fourth in the NBA. His 5.4 assists per game are nearly two higher than he ever averaged in nine seasons with the Hawks. The Celtics currently sit third in the Eastern Conference with a 15-12 record.
There are a few more headlines from the Atlantic Division:
- The Raptors are making the most of their D-League affiliate in nearby Mississauga, Ontario and point guard Fred VanVleet is a shining example of the value that having such a resource can bring. Doug Smith of the Toronto Star explains how the franchise has found success shuttling players back and forth.
- Derrick Rose has emerged as a critical piece of the Knicks, writes the New York Post’s Fred Kerber. Head coach Jeff Hornacek says the team has been “scrambling” ever since the point guard went down with back spasms last Tuesday. The team expects Rose back in the lineup Tuesday.
- With Rose sidelined for much of the past week, undrafted rookie Ron Baker has made the most of his time as the Knicks‘ backup point guard. Marc Berman of the New York Post writes that Baker and his coach, a late draft pick out of Iowa, see themselves in one another and consider themselves to be cut from the same cloth.
Community Shootaround: Detroit Pistons
It’s no secret that things have gone south for the Pistons, and that concerning trend continued Monday night. Having just recently fallen below .500 on the heels of a rough week, the team has acknowledged that things needs to change. In fact, head coach Stan Van Gundy couldn’t have been more clear that something needs to give.
In a post-game scrum after Monday’s blowout loss at the hands of the Bulls, Van Gundy told reporters that he “guarantees he won’t be trotting out the same starting five” the next time out.
This isn’t the first time the Detroit bench boss has been critical of the team in the media, and the players themselves even held a private meeting to try to inspire some sort of positive development. As Dana Garauder wrote in an article last night, the Pistons have multiple options to try and help turn things around.
Should the team consider moving Reggie Jackson to the bench and starting Ish Smith in his place? It’s worth noting that Pistons.com editor Keith Langlois says Jon Leuer, not Smith, is the most likely player to join the starting lineup, though there’s nothing stopping Van Gundy from making more than one change to try to light a fire under his faltering club.
After making the playoffs in 2015/16, the Pistons were regarded as one of the up-and-coming contenders of the Eastern Conference. Fast forward to today and a much-needed players-only meeting has resulted in the team’s staring point guard refusing to put up a field goal attempt in the first quarter, an approach Van Gundy said wasn’t part of the game plan. That’s not a good sign.
“Team meeting my ass,” Van Gundy would go on to add Monday night. “I have nothing to say. [The game] was a disgusting performance. Unprofessional, humiliating, embarrassing.”
Do you think Van Gundy is in the right here? How would you handle the team’s downward spiral?
Southwest Notes: Parsons, Bogut, Barea
Chandler Parsons could be back in action for the Grizzlies in a “matter of days,” tweets Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal. The news is the latest in a series of positive headlines for a franchise that has already recently welcomed back Mike Conley and James Ennis.
Parsons has been out of action since November 18 when he sustained a bone bruise on his left knee, the latest in a concerning line of various knee ailments. On Monday, however, the 28-year-old forward practiced for the first time in a month and spoke with Tillery about getting back into routine with the Grizzlies.
Having fallen victim to knee injuries twice in the past year (he had surgery on his right knee back in March), Parsons will have his work cut out for him to prove that he can be a reliable option for the Grizzlies. In a feature for CBS Sports earlier this month, James Herbert detailed some of the small forward’s previous injuries, going so far as to say that concern over his torn meniscus is what led to the Mavericks opting against signing him to a long-term contract over the summer.
In six games of limited action prior to the bone bruise, Parsons had been brought along slowly and posted averages of 7.7 points and 3 rebounds per game.
Elsewhere in the Southwest Division:
- J.J. Barea will play for the Mavericks tonight in their tilt against the Nuggets, says Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com. Not surprisingly, he will be on a minute restriction after missing the last 17 games with a calf injury.
- SportsDay’s Eddie Sefko thinks that the Mavericks would be ready and willing to ship out Andrew Bogut should a contending team inquire about him over the course of the season. Bogut had been averaging 3.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game before suffering a bone bruise earlier this month.
- The Spurs retired Tim Duncan‘s jersey Sunday and the tribute videos are out in full force. The NBA’s YouTube channel has uploaded the full retirement ceremony and San Antonio’s official website is celebrating 21 Days of TD.
Kings Notes: Afflalo, Cousins, Temple
Arron Afflalo reportedly refused to enter a game between the Kings and Rockets last week, Sacramento radio personality Carmichael Dave tweeted earlier this evening. The KHTK radio host also noted that “league sources” said the 31-year-old journeyman was slow to enter the contest against the Jazz last weekend as well.
If Afflalo is in fact refusing to play, that would be one more source of drama in a Kings locker room already dealing with a recently published video of DeMarcus Cousins berating members of the media and with the charges Matt Barnes faces after an altercation at a New York night club.
Just this summer, Afflalo opted out of the final year of a deal with the Knicks in order to pursue free agency and ultimately the two-year, $25MM contract he signed with the Kings.
Last April, ESPN reported that a desire to be a starter was a motivating factor in Afflalo’s then-pending decision. This month, however, Afflalo has seen his play time drop precipitously and has been in and out of the starting lineup since late November. In five December games, the shooting guard has failed to clear more than 16 minutes and his production has dropped dramatically.
Worth noting, as trade speculation begins to swirl around the league and particularly with the Kings, is that the veteran’s contract is worth $12.5 annually but remains only partially guaranteed for $1.5MM in the second year.
That’s not all coming out of Sacramento…
- Kings head coach Dave Joerger has called the aforementioned video published by the Sacramento Bee late last week “ridiculous” and went on to defend his franchise star. In the short clip, Cousins is seen involved in several hostile incidents with various members of the media. This isn’t the first time Joerger has been unhappy with the newspaper’s coverage, writes the Sacramento Bee’s own Jason Jones.
- The Kings found a gem in free agent acquisition Garrett Temple, Jones writes in a separate article. The utility veteran, signed for three years and $24MM, has stepped up as a multipurpose perimeter threat averaging 10.4 points per game in December.
- For all the latest Kings-related headlines, be sure to check out our Sacramento team page.
Southeast Notes: Ellington, Redick, Wall
The Heat haven’t had much luck keeping their swingmen at full strength this season and Wayne Ellington is the latest to fall victim to an injury. After Ellington missed the first 16 games of the season with a bruised right thigh, a “slight strain of his hamstring” could keep the 29-year-old out of action heading forward, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.
Playing the heaviest workload of his career (30.8 minutes per game), the shooting guard has average 12.9 points per contest and three times since late November had put up 17 or more. The Heat, of course, have also dealt with injuries to Dion Waiters and Justise Winslow, the former of which is still sidelined, the latter of which has just recently returned.
There’s more from the Southeast Division.
- For the first time in his career, Mike Muscala is playing a significant role in the Hawks‘ rotation, says KL Chouinard of the team’s official website. The 25-year-old couldn’t have picked a better time for a breakout season than in a contract year coming off of a minimum salary deal. Muscala has shot an impressive .455 from three-point range which complements his modest but productive 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
- J.J. Redick will be a free agent this summer and may consider returning to the Magic. According to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel, the sharp-shooting two-guard “hasn’t ruled out” returning to the club that drafted him back in 2006. Redick played parts of seven seasons in Orlando, before bouncing to the Bucks and eventually the Clippers.
- The new collective bargaining agreement’s designated veteran exception will add significance to player awards and accolades, says Candace Bucker of the Washington Post. This, she writes, could impact the earnings of All-Stars like Wizards points guard John Wall, who’ve felt slighted and undervalued in the past.
Grizzlies Open To Dealing Tony Allen
The Grizzlies are open to trading veteran shooting guard Tony Allen, according to Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal, who says that rival teams are gauging interest and Memphis is listening. The shutdown defender would be a valuable addition to any NBA team looking to lock down the league’s top perimeter threats so it comes as no surprise that teams are inquiring on him.
The 34-year-old comes with a cap-friendly $5.5MM contract expiring this year and a defensive résumé that puts him in a class of his own. In five of the past six seasons, Allen has been named to an All-Defensive Team, most recently to the Second Team in 2016 and earlier this year, Kobe Bryant referred to the pesky two-guard as the “best defender he ever faced.”
As Chris Crouse explained for Hoops Rumors last week, the traditionally defensive-minded Grizzlies have had success of late reverting back to their old identity. Moving their most decorated perimeter stopper seems counter-intuitive to that, but more in line with their offseason decision to embrace a faster playing style.
Allen has played a significant role in Memphis’ success over the course of the past seven seasons after playing the first six years of his career with the Celtics. Through 21 games in 2016/17, he has averaged 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in just under 27 minutes.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 12/17/16
Here are the D-League assignments and recalls for Saturday:
10:01pm:
- The Bulls recalled Paul Zipser from Windy City after sending him down earlier in the day, tweets K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.
- The Pistons recalled forward Henry Ellenson and guard Michael Gbinije from their Grand Rapids affiliate, the team announced in an email. Both have appeared in six games for Detroit this season with limited playing time.
- The Wizards recalled guard Sheldon McClellan from the Delaware 87ers, tweets J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic. McClellan averaged 10.7 points in six games with the D-League team.
3:17pm:
- The Hawks have recalled Mike Scott from the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. Scott helped lead the Long Island Nets to a pair of victories during his assignment this week, contributing 20.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 1.5 BPG in a pair of starts for the club.
- After being assigned to Santa Cruz for Friday night’s game, Warriors center Damian Jones has been recalled to the NBA, according to an official announcement (Twitter link). Jones nearly posted a double-double for Golden State’s D-League affiliate last night, putting up 17 points, nine boards, and two blocks.
12:09pm:
- The Nuggets have recalled shooting guard Malik Beasley from the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. The 20-year-old was assigned to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s D-League affiliate, on December 9 and averaged 18.5 points per game in his two contests with the team.
- The Bulls have assigned forward Paul Zipser to the D-League, according to an announcement from the club. Zipser has seen action in just seven NBA games this season, most recently playing nine minutes Friday night.
Week In Review: 12/11/16 – 12/17/16
Here’s a look back at all the notable news and events from around the NBA this past week:
Major News
- The NBA and the NBPA have reached an agreement on a new CBA. While the deal has not yet been ratified, both sides are allegedly on board with the new terms, the details of which soon came to light. As updates have poured in, the Hoops Rumors staff has consolidated and elaborated on the components of and reactions to the new agreement. Several new CBA mechanics will impact how rosters are constructed in the future.
- Legendary sideline reporter Craig Sager passed away on Thursday, just two days after being inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Sager had been battling an aggressive form of leukemia since 2014.
Transactions
- After renouncing their offer to Donatas Motiejunas, the Rockets re-signed Bobby Brown.
- The Grizzlies waived backup point guard Toney Douglas.
- Recently released Nets point guard Yogi Ferrell cleared waivers and returned to Brooklyn’s D-League affiliate in Long Island.
- Sixers camp invitee Brandon Paul signed a contract to play for Anadolu Efes Istanbul in Turkey.
- Journeyman center Henry Sims signed on with the Shanxi Brave Dragons in China.
- Former Wizards guard Gary Neal signed a D-League contract after failing to land an NBA deal this summer.
News
- Brett Brown believes that Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel can all coexist with the Sixers if they buy into his system. Alas, Noel – who changed agents earlier in the week – has been vocal with his displeasure since returning to the lineup.
- The Sacramento Bee published a video of past incidents between Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and the media. Disciplinary action could soon follow.
- Having established himself as a valuable part of their rotation, veteran forward Taj Gibson wishes to re-sign with the Bulls this summer. The 31-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career this summer.
- The NBA has promised the Cavaliers an All-Star Game after the completion of renovations at Quicken Loans Arena.
- Though it wasn’t the plan, Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki admitted that this season could be his last. The 38-year-old has battled Achilles issues for much of the 2016/17 campaign.
- Phil Jackson has faced criticism throughout his tenure as president of the Knicks, but remains fully committed to fulfilling the final two years of his contract.
- Try as they might, the Nets are still ineligible to sign Donatas Motiejunas having technically signed him to an offer sheet earlier this month.
- Starting as early as later this month, the NBA D-League will experiment with larger officiating crews.
- The Magic are the latest team to purchase their own D-League club, having announced plans to acquire and relocate their affiliate from Erie, Pennsylvania to Lakeland, Florida. The ownership group behind the existing Erie BayHawks, however, would like to partner with another NBA team in hopes of remaining in the league for the 2017/18 season.
- For personal reasons, veteran point guard Steve Blake has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the Sydney Kings of the Australian league and is unlikely to return.
Rumors
- The Pacers have no interest in dealing superstar Paul George, though teams have certainly tried, says Adrian Wojnarowski.
- Stanley Johnson has been underwhelming for the Pistons this year, but that doesn’t mean the club doesn’t value him. Detroit has reportedly “resisted overtures” for the second-year wing.
- Omer Asik remains on the trade block and is “very much available”, though it’s worth noting that the Pelicans big man is just two years into a substantial five-year contract.
- The Timberwolves could be in the market for frontcourt help. Currently Karl-Anthony Towns and Gorgui Dieng are seeing heavy workloads while summer acquisitions Jordan Hill and Cole Aldrich rarely see action.
- Virtually every team with cap room – and some without it – will likely check in with Gordon Hayward when he reaches free agency in 2017, and Hayward is expected to prioritize teams with the ability to contend for a title.
Injuries
- The Sixers will be without veteran point guard Jerryd Bayless this season as he has undergone wrist surgery. The club signed the playmaker over the summer but only saw him suit up for three games of action.
- Chris Andersen tore the ACL of his right knee at practice this week and now the Cavaliers big will miss the remainder of 2016/17.
- Back in the lineup for the Heat, Justise Winslow has recovered from the wrist injury he sustained last month. Now the versatile wing is hoping to avoid, or at least postpone, surgery.
- Grizzlies rookie Deyonta Davis has torn the plantar fascia in his left foot and could miss as many as six-to-eight weeks of action.
- Out since late November when doctors found fractures in his lower back, Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley has returned to the lineup.
- Also on the verge of returning for the Grizzlies issmall forward James Ennis, who has missed three weeks with a calf sprain.
- Monta Ellis will miss at least a week as a result of a strained groin. The struggling Pacers guard has recently found himself at the center of trade speculation.
Central Notes: Mirotic, Carter-Williams, Pistons
Nikola Mirotic‘s standing with the Bulls has been called to question after consecutive DNP-CDs suggest he could be falling out of the rotation. Mirotic failed to get off the bench on Thursday, then missed the team’s Friday walk-through, leaving head coach Fred Hoiberg little choice but to sit him for that game as well. Though Mirotic claims he simply forgot about the walk-through, he’s still subject to a fine, says K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. The 25-year-old admitted to being surprised about Thursday’s lack of playing time, but insists his absence from practice was unrelated.
“No, I’m not that kind of guy. Even if things are not like how I would like them to be, I’m very professional,” the Bulls big man told ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “It’s not my first year here. Those guys respect me and I respect them. I would never do that, something like that.”
In 22.4 minutes per game this season, Mirotic has logged 8.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. That offensive output and his corresponding .381 field-goal percentage mark the lowest figures of his career.
There’s more from the Central Division.
- Michael Carter-Williams had his cast removed Friday and the backup Bulls point guard believes that he’ll be able to play by the end of next week, reports Friedell. A return to the court on Christmas Day, therefore, is realistic.
- The Pistons have the assets to make a major trade, a testament to the work that head coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Jeff Bower have done over the years, writes Keith Langlois for the team’s official website. The team has been aggressive in the trade market in recent memory, too, having acquired Reggie Jackson and Tobias Harris mid-season in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
- Pistons sophomore Stanley Johnson appears to be working his way back into the rotation, says Rod Beard of The Detroit News. In three contests this week, Johnson has played 26, 14 and 16 minutes. Prior to that span, the last time he had seen more than 10 minutes in a game was on November 23.