Austin Kent | Hoops Rumors

Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Hollis-Jefferson, Ntilikina

By Austin Kent | at October 12, 2017 10:18 pm

The Celtics had a historically busy offseason, Chris Forsberg of ESPN writes, involved in so many major transactions that it’s hard to pinpoint just one single deal to to summarize the commotion. In early July it was announced that the C’s had agreed to a deal with Gordon Hayward, the only thing they lacked was cap room.

Given that it was a known fact around the league that the Celtics would need to shed salary, Boston executives were swamped with calls from teams looking to facilitate their Hayward signing by helping the club clear space. The eventual deal that was agreed upon – the one that would send Avery Bradley – to the Pistons – was struck at the last minute.

News of the deal was initially kept quiet while the Celtics and Pistons set out to inform the respective players involved but Detroit managed to get in contact with Marcus Morris well before the C’s were able to reach out to Bradley. Bradley, it’s said, had to find out that he was traded through Google.

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Entering his third season with the Nets, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has yielded praise from head coach Kenny Atkinson, Greg Joyce of the New York Post writes. “I’ve really been kind of thrilled with his performance and that’s from the first day of training camp,” Atkinson said. “He’s matured. I think he’s more level, even-keeled, I think he’s more consistent. It’ll be huge if he can continue that type of demeanor, that type of approach.“
In response to comments that Isaiah Thomas would, possibly, never talk to Danny Ainge ever again, the Celtics‘ general manager said the guard would forever be a part of franchise history. ESPN’s Chris Forsberg posted a transcript of Ainge’s exact comments on Twitter.
The Knicks have been impressed with Frank Ntilikina‘s eye for Xs and Os, Zach Braziller of the New York Post writes. The guard apparently picked up on new plays that Jeff Hornacek added to the rotation while watching a preseason game from home as he nursed a knee injury.

Southwest Notes: Moore, Aldridge, Pensacola

By Austin Kent | at October 12, 2017 7:31 pm

The absence of Rajon Rondo during the first month or so of the regular season will open up more of an opportunity for Pelicans combo guard E’Twaun Moore, William Guillory of The Times-Picayune writes.

Moore, who head coach Alvin Gentry says will probably start the club’s October 18 season opener, averaged a career-best 9.6 points per game for the Pelicans last season.

Back at full health after a 2016/17 campaign in which he nursed turf toe, Moore will look to validate the Pelicans’ decision to ink him to a four-year, $34MM contract last summer.

In limited time with the Pelicans’ starting core, Guillory writes, the group posted an impressive plus-16.4 net rating.

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

Heading into his third year with the Spurs, big man LaMarcus Aldridge is embracing a larger leadership role, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News writes. “I’m not the rah-rah guy,” Aldridge said. “I think people know that about me from my Portland days. But just trying to make sure guys are in the right spot, trying to teach guys how to play defense and know the principles and help guys stay positive and things like that.“
The wheels are in motion for the Pelicans to land a G League team, now they’re searching for a city to host the franchise. The current favorite, Chris Reichert of 2 Ways, 10 Days writes, is Pensacola.
The Grizzlies will welcome Tony Allen back to the FedExForum this week and both general manager Chris Wallace and owner Robert Pera have released statements about his time with the franchise. In a post on the team’s official site, Pera goes so far as to say that the Grindfather’s jersey will one day hang in the rafters.

0 comments Memphis Grizzlies NBA G League New Orleans Pelicans San Antonio Spurs E'Twaun Moore LaMarcus Aldridge Tony Allen

Nets Exercise Options On Three Players

By Austin Kent | at October 12, 2017 5:59 pm

The Nets have exercised team options on three players that make up a substantial part of their young core. The team announced on its website that the 2018/19 options for all of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, D’Angelo Russell and Caris LeVert have been exercised.

Both Hollis-Jefferson and Russell will be under team control through their fourth seasons, the former having spent the past two years with the squad, the latter arriving in Brooklyn after an offseason trade with the Lakers.

In LeVert’s case, fresh off of his rookie season in Brooklyn, it was his third-year option exercised.

Expect all to see significant time on the court for the Nets in 2017/18 as the franchise claws its way out from a dark chapter in franchise history.

Russell will suit up for the squad having posted 14.2 points per game through two years in Los Angeles. Hollis-Jefferson and LeVert averaged 8.7 and 8.2 points per game in 2016/17, respectively.

0 comments Brooklyn Nets Transactions Caris LeVert D'Angelo Russell Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

Bucks Waive Xavier Munford

By Austin Kent | at October 12, 2017 5:27 pm

The Bucks have waived Xavier Munford, the team announced on Twitter. The guard had been signed earlier this month after bouncing around NBA circles over the course of the past two seasons.

Munford played 15 games for the Grizzlies in 2015/16 but hadn’t played a game of big league action since.

The news brings Milwaukee’s roster down to 18 players.

0 comments Milwaukee Bucks Transactions Xavier Munford

Celtics Trim Roster With Four Cuts

By Austin Kent | at October 12, 2017 4:43 pm

The Celtics have waived Daniel Dixon, Jonathan Holmes, L.J. Peak and Andrew White, the team announced on Twitter.

Dixon, initially reported to be joining the team in August, didn’t officially sign on with the C’s until this week. The shooting guard went undrafted out of William & Mary back in June.

Holmes, on the other hand, a big man out of Texas, went undrafted back in 2015 and has struggled with injuries since.

Peak, a familiar face from his time at Georgetown also went undrafted this summer after declaring as an early entrant.

Finally, White, a sharp-shooting swingman inked back in August has also been let go.

Dixon, Peak and White could all end up as affiliate players with with the club’s G League squad while Holmes could end up in Maine as well, with returning rights.

2 comments Boston Celtics Transactions Andrew White Daniel Dixon Jonathan Holmes L.J. Peak

Spurs Waive Amida Brimah, London Perrantes

By Austin Kent | at October 12, 2017 4:39 pm

The Spurs have waived guard London Perrantes and big man Amida Brimah, the team announced in a press release. The cuts drop San Antonio’s roster down to 17.

The club had initially signed Perrantes back in August after he went undrafted in June. The University of Virginia product had played and performed well for the Heat during the Orlando and Las Vegas summer leagues.

Brimah, also undrafted this past June, was initially picked up in late September.

0 comments San Antonio Spurs Transactions Amida Brimah London Perrantes

Central Notes: Bulls, Pistons, Smith

By Austin Kent | at October 12, 2017 4:08 pm

The Bulls finally embraced a rebuild this offseason so there will be no shortage of attention paid to how they manage each and every asset from this point forward. Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times writes that the club will be particularly patient with injuries to key young players considering that now more than ever the club can afford to lose ball games.

Between the lingering effects of Zach LaVine‘s 2016/17 ACL injury and preseason setbacks to both Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn, the new look Bulls are awfully banged up ahead of the 2017 season opener and may not even see the court together until as late as December.

“I think it’s just about being patient,” Dunn, acquired in the trade that sent Jimmy Butler from the Bulls to Minnesota, said. “Lauri, he was in Finland, so there was a lot of strain on his back from all the games they played [in the EuroBasket tournament]. Zach, with his injury, you try to take it slow with him because he’s a big piece to this team. And me, I’m just slowly trying to get back. So it’s just a slow thing.”

To that effect, Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg has said that his starting lineup when the season begins on Tuesday will consist of Jerian Grant, Justin Holiday, Nikola Mirotic, Paul Zipser and Robin Lopez.

There’s more from the Central Division:

When Derrick Rose signed a minimum contract with the Cavaliers, he did so as a bet on himself. “I get a chance to reintroduce myself back to the league. I get to bet on myself. That was one of the reasons I came here, I get to bet on myself. And I’m from Chicago, I’ve got that hustling side; it’s in me, man,” he told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
While Pistons projects Luke Kennard and Henry Ellenson figure to make an impact on the team eventually, they’ll have to beat out defensive-minded veterans Reggie Bullock and Anthony Tolliver for minutes, Keith Langlois of the team’s official site writes. Both Tolliver and Bullock provide plenty of intangible skill that make life easier for the second unit.
The announcement that Dwyane Wade would be the Cavaliers‘ starting shooting guard didn’t go over well with J.R. Smith. “We talked about it,” Smith told Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. “It wasn’t the most positive conversation, but we talked about it and we’ll get through it together.“

2 comments Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Detroit Pistons Anthony Tolliver Derrick Rose J.R. Smith Jerian Grant Justin Holiday Kris Dunn Lauri Markkanen Nikola Mirotic Paul Zipser Reggie Bullock Robin Lopez Zach LaVine

2017 Offseason In Review: Utah Jazz

By Austin Kent | at October 9, 2017 3:59 pm

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2017 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2017/18 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Utah Jazz.

Signings:

Joe Ingles: Four years, $50MM.
Thabo Sefolosha: Two years, $10.5MM. Second year non-guaranteed.
Jonas Jerebko: Two years, $8.2MM. Second year non-guaranteed.
Ekpe Udoh: Two years, $6.5MM. Second year non-guaranteed.
Royce O’Neale: Three years, minimum salary. Second and third years non-guaranteed.
Eric Griffin: Two-way contract. One year. $50K guaranteed.
Nate Wolters: Two-way contract. One year. $50K guaranteed.

Camp invitees:

Taylor Braun: One year, minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10. (Waived)
Naz Mitrou-Long: One year, minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10.
Torian Graham: Exact details not yet known.

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Donovan Mitchell (No. 13 pick) from the Nuggets in exchange for Trey Lyles and the draft rights to Tyler Lydon (No. 24 pick).
Acquired the draft rights to Tony Bradley (No. 28 pick) from the Lakers in exchange for the draft rights to Josh Hart (No. 30 pick) and Thomas Bryant (No. 42 pick).
Acquired Ricky Rubio from the Timberwolves in exchange for the Thunder’s 2018 first-round pick (top-14 protected).

Draft picks:

1-13: Donovan Mitchell — Signed to rookie contract.
1-28: Tony Bradley — Signed to rookie contract.
2-55: Nigel Williams-Goss — Stashed overseas.

Departing players:

Boris Diaw (waived)
Gordon Hayward
George Hill
Trey Lyles
Shelvin Mack
Jeff Withey

Other offseason news:

Hired David Morway and Justin Zanik as assistant general managers.

Salary cap situation:

Used cap room; now operating over the cap, but under the tax. Carrying approximately $110MM in guaranteed salaries. Approximately $1.128MM of room exception still available. Otherwise, only minimum salary exception available.

Check out the Utah Jazz’s full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

There’s no denying that Utah’s biggest priority heading into the summer was to retain the services of Gordon Hayward, a free agent after seven seasons with the Jazz. Alas, the Butler product left the only NBA franchise he ever knew to reunite with former Butler head coach Brad Stevens as a Celtic.

While the Jazz may have been devastated by the move, they weren’t blindsided, and they ended up stringing together an offseason with upsides that ease the pain of their All-Star’s exit.

Hayward was an excellent asset for the Jazz, but Rudy Gobert and the system installed by coach Quin Snyder have been equally important to the franchise’s recent success. With a host of compelling young players eager to develop and take advantage of a newfound opportunity, 2017/18 may not be so bad after all.

Key offseason losses:

Despite the fact that he was the biggest name on the only professional sports team in Salt Lake City, Hayward was not a deity. His absence will inevitably be felt on offense, but last season was the forward’s first exceeding the 20-point-per-game plateau. While Hayward is an excellent shooter – particularly impressive considering the attention he attracted and his volume – his contributions are ultimately replaceable.

Another loss that will be felt is that of George Hill. The veteran guard thrived in his lone season with Utah, at least when he was healthy. However, he couldn’t resist the pile of money that the Kings threw at him, desperate for somebody to babysit their rookies.

Given the losses of Hayward and Hill, it’s not surprising that the Jazz parted ways with Boris Diaw as well. The 34-year-old had been parachuted in to help provide experience and leadership to the upstart playoff contender, but won’t be required as the club retools for the future.

While Trey Lyles didn’t exactly impact many games during his first two seasons in Utah, there’s something intriguing about the 21-year-old former 12th overall pick. Following a trade that sent him to the Nuggets, Lyles may benefit from the change of scenery in Colorado, but his greatest contribution to the Jazz was helping them land the pick that yielded Donovan Mitchell.

The Jazz also shed some reliable, if inconsequential, reserves in the form of Jeff Withey and Shelvin Mack, both of whom will ply their trade as glue guys for other organizations in 2017/18.

Key offseason additions:

The Jazz got their hands on a genuine playmaker in Ricky Rubio this summer and all they had to give up was Oklahoma City’s 2018 first-rounder, which figures to land in the mid-20s. The deal became particularly important when Hill subsequently signed on in Sacramento, leaving Rubio as the unquestioned starter in Utah. Rubio’s six years with the Timberwolves all feel hazy and stagnant, but his ability to create for teammates is top notch and his notoriously wonky jump shot has improved.

The Jazz came away with a potential steal in 13th overall pick Mitchell on draft day. The two-way guard has impressed in NBA circles with his athleticism and may be able to contribute to Utah in his rookie season. The franchise will be on the lookout for new offensive leaders and Mitchell will get a fair crack to emerge as one.

The signing of Ekpe Udoh, a 30-year-old who has been out of the NBA since 2014/15, may not initially appear to move the needle all that much, but the veteran and international star will complement franchise cornerstone Rudy Gobert well in 2017/18. Udoh’s length makes him formidable on defense.

Another imported defensive specialist who will suit up for Utah this season is Thabo Sefolosha. The forward will be one of Utah’s many options at the three after having made a name for himself locking down opponents with the Hawks and Thunder.

Outlook for 2017/18:

The Jazz didn’t waste time retooling after Hayward announced his intentions to sign in Boston, and the results speak for themselves. The depth of this team is at least as impressive as it was last season, and a roster littered with veterans will serve the franchise well in a punishingly competitive Western Conference.

Priority No. 1 for the squad will be finding a new leading scorer. With players like Rodney Hood and Mitchell already aboard, it may simply be a matter of letting them make the most of their opportunities.

New scoring threat or not, however, Utah’s culture has very much been defined by the defensive presence of Gobert and that’s not just a new thing now that Hayward is out of the picture.

The fact that Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey has been able to pack the cracks of Utah’s core with additional defensive specialists makes this as scary a team as ever. They may not crack the 50-win plateau as they acclimate to a slightly retooled core, but the playoffs are well within reach for a second consecutive season.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.

2 comments Hoops Rumors Originals Offseason In Review Utah Jazz

Southeast Notes: Isaac, Porter Jr., Richardson

By Austin Kent | at October 8, 2017 9:47 pm

The Magic have been hard at work gaining insights about their roster this preseason and have already come up with a five-man group that they’re fond of. John Denton of the Magic’s official site writes that Frank Vogel particularly enjoyed playing Elfrid Payton alongside Jonathon Simmons at the two with Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon at the three and four, respectively, with Bismack Biyombo at center.

“That’s scary for other teams because there is a lot of athleticism out there and a lot of guys who can guard point guard through power forward,” Payton, entering his fourth year with the Magic, said. “There’s so much speed and athleticism there. Even though we’d be seen as a small unit, Jonathon [Simmons] is athletic, Isaac is athletic, A.G. is athletic and I don’t think we’d lose anything on the rebounding end. I look forward to seeing that [lineup] more.”

The scribe also notes that Isaac, while famously raw as a 20-year-old, 210-pound forward, could still be utilized as a defensive specialist for the Magic in his first year in the pros. “He’s NBA-ready to come in and impact our team on the defensive end right now,” Vogel said.

There’s more from the Southeast Division:

The Wizards will need to come up with a suitable temporary power forward until Markieff Morris is ready to step back in, Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington writes. Head coach Scott Brooks will have several options, including sliding small forward Otto Porter Jr. up to the four.
The Magic have made a concerted effort to play a modernized style of basketball and Frank Vogel, synonymous with gritty, hard-nosed basketball from his days at the helm of the Pacers, is leading the operation. John Denton of Orlando’s official team site discusses how Vogel has handled the transition.
The Heat have been starting Rodney McGruder at small forward but don’t be surprised if Josh Richardson gets some looks as well considering the results thus far from preseason, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes.

4 comments Miami Heat Orlando Magic Washington Wizards Jonathan Isaac Josh Richardson Otto Porter Rodney McGruder

Atlantic Notes: Hernangomez, Dinwiddie, McKinnie

By Austin Kent | at October 8, 2017 8:31 pm

The Knicks have a glut of centers on their roster and this season could go a long way toward figuring out who their big man of the future might be. A solid summer with Spain’s national team has helped 23-year-old Willy Hernangomez shore up his case for the position, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes.

Hernangomez will presumably compete with Enes Kanter for the Knicks’ starting gig but teammates Kyle O’Quinn and Joakim Noah have value in their own ways as well. The Spanish import and close friend of franchise star Kristaps Porzingis, will look to build upon a rookie season in which he averaged 8.2 points and 7.0 boards in just 18.4 minutes per game.

Hernangomez says that he learned a lot from brothers Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol this summer, things that should serve him well as opponents learn more about him after he seemingly came out of nowhere in 2016/17. Whether or not that’s enough to convince the team to commit to him as their center of the future remains to be seen.