Thunder Notes: Westbrook, Christon, Grant
Russell Westbrook, who finds himself playing alongside two perennial All-Stars after GM Sam Presti made a pair of offseason trades, doesn’t believe chemistry will be an issue, as Erik Horne of The Oklahoman relays.
“I think one thing [that’s] key for everybody to know, especially you guys … you guys keep asking about the chemistry every damn day … we’re gonna get it together,” Westbrook said to the local media in OKC. “It’s a season-long thing. It’s not gonna happen overnight…We’re professionals. This is something we obviously want to see work and make it happen, so it’s gonna be a process.”
Here’s more on the Thunder:
- Semaj Christon, whose contract will become guaranteed on October 15, may be the favorite for the team’s final roster spot, as his energy and defensive ability makes him popular among the coaching staff, Brett Dawson of the Oklahoman writes. Isaiah Canaan could always steal that last spot, though it’s worth noting that the point guard didn’t play in the Thunder’s final two preseason games.
- Coach Billy Donovan hasn’t yet had an opportunity to sit down with the front office to discuss the 15th roster spot, Dawson passes along in the same piece. “Sam [Presti] and the front office, they’re always trying to figure out and find ways to help improve our team, and I totally trust that,” Donovan said. “When we get a chance to sit down and talk about that and discuss that, we will. But right now, there hasn’t been time.”
- The Thunder are thin at the center position with Steven Adams as the team’s only proven option, Dawson contends in a separate piece. OKC’s lack of depth likely means Jerami Grant will see time at five this season. Donovan has faith that Grant can protect the paint in a situational role. “Jerami is strong, he’s got length,” Donovan said. “He may not necessarily have the size or the height of a center, but he’s got the length to be able to alter and challenge shots. He’s a really good rim protector.”
Kings Sign Reggie Hearn, David Stockton
The Kings have signed Reggie Hearn and David Stockton, according to a team press release.
Hearn played for Sacramento’s G League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, over the past three seasons. During the 2016/17 campaign, he averaged 13.5 points while shooting 44.2% from downtown.
Stockton played for the Bighorns during three separate stints since 2014. He supplemented his G-League experiences with contracts in Croatia and New Zealand.
The Kings’ roster now stands at 20 players. Sacramento is likely to waive both players before the season begins and the duo is expected to suit up for the Bighorns as a result.
Jazz Waive Taylor Braun
Less than two weeks after signing Taylor Braun to a training camp deal, the Jazz have waived the swingman, according to the team’s website.
The North Dakota State product appeared in two games for Utah this preseason. He saw just four minutes of action, scoring a total of four points.
Utah’s roster now sits at 19 and the team has two more preseason games before it has to make further roster cuts.
Seth Curry Out Indefinitely
Seth Curry has been diagnosed with a stress reaction of his left tibia, according to a Mavericks press release. He’ll be reevaluated weekly and there is no timetable for his return.
Curry was the favorite to land the team’s starting shooting guard spot after impressing in training camp and limited preseason action. Coach Rick Carlisle indicated earlier in the week that Curry in the starting lineup “makes sense.”
“I’m not saying it’s 100 percent. But we need a consistent scorer and a guy who can guard that position and he’s continued to make strides,” Carlisle said of Curry prior to the injury.
Dallas signed Curry to a two-year, $6MM last offseason and he enjoyed his best season as a pro in year one with the franchise. The guard scored 12.8 points per game while shooting 42.5% from behind the arc.
Raptors Make Roster Cuts
The Raptors have waived Kennedy Meeks, Andy Rautins, and Kyle Wiltjer, according to a team press release. Toronto’s roster now sits at 17.
Meeks went undrafted out of the University of North Carolina and signed a partially guaranteed deal with the franchise this summer. He was only able to make one preseason appearance for the club before the team waived him.
Rautins and Wiltjer each made three preseason appearances for the Raptors. Rautins was never expected to make the opening night roster, while Wiltjer was in a better position to earn a spot.
2017 Offseason In Review: Philadelphia 76ers
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 Philadelphia 76ers.
Signings:
- J.J. Redick: One year, $23MM.
- Amir Johnson: One year, $11MM.
- James McAdoo: Two-way contract. One year, $50K guaranteed.
Camp invitees:
- James Blackmon Jr.: One year, minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10.
- Kris Humphries: One year, minimum salary. Summer contract with exhibit nine.
- Jacob Pullen: One year, minimum salary. Summer contract.
- Emeka Okafor: One year, minimum salary. Summer contract with exhibit nine.
Trades:
- Acquired the No. 1 overall pick from the Celtics in exchange for the No. 3 overall pick and the Lakers’ 2018 first-round pick (top-1 protected and 6-30 protected).
- Note: If Lakers’ 2018 first-round pick doesn’t convey, Celtics will instead acquire more favorable of Kings’ and Sixers’ 2019 first-round picks (top-1 protected).
- Acquired the draft rights to Anzejs Pasecniks (No. 25 pick) from the Magic in exchange for the Thunder’s 2020 first-round pick (top-20 protected) and the less favorable of the Knicks’ and Nets’ 2020 second-round picks.
- Note: Thunder pick is top 20-protected through 2022. If it doesn’t convey, Magic will instead acquire Thunder’s 2022 and 2023 second-round picks.
- Acquired the Rockets’ 2018 second-round pick and cash ($100K) from the Rockets in exchange for Shawn Long.
- Acquired cash ($3.2MM) from the Clippers in exchange for the draft rights to Jawun Evans (No. 39 pick).
- Acquired cash ($1.9MM) from the Bucks in exchange for the draft rights to Sterling Brown (No. 46 pick).
Draft picks:
- 1-1: Markelle Fultz — Signed to rookie contract.
- 1-25: Anzejs Pasecniks — Stashed overseas.
- 2-36: Jonah Bolden — Stashed overseas.
- 2-50: Mathias Lessort — Stashed overseas.
Draft-and-stash signings:
- Furkan Korkmaz (2016; No. 26) — Signed to rookie contract.
Departing players:
- Gerald Henderson (waived)
- Shawn Long
- Alex Poythress
- Sergio Rodriguez
- Tiago Splitter
Other offseason news:
- Hired Elton Brand as the general manager of the Delaware 87ers, their G League affiliate.
Salary cap situation:
- Operating under the cap and under the salary floor. Currently have about $15MM in cap space, plus full room exception ($4.328MM) still available.
Check out the Philadelphia 76ers’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.
Story of the summer:
Gone are the days of tanking, salary cap manipulation, and Philadelphians routing for their team to sink further down in the standings. Here are the nights of watching budding talent, employing a full squad of NBA players, and spotting Joel Embiid running down one-way streets in the City of Brotherly Love.
After years of intentionally taking steps back – or at least making no effort to move up in the standings – the Sixers are set to head into the 2017/18 season with a team that should be competitive in a weakened Eastern Conference. President of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo entered the offseason with plenty of flexibility and he completed an impressive series of summer moves without sacrificing that flexibility for the future.
Wizards Notes: Sloan, Wall, Morris
Donald Sloan has impressed the Wizards in training camp and it appears his chances of making the team are getting better, Candace Buckner of The Washington Post writes.
“He’s definitely going to get an opportunity to make the team here. I like his professionalism, I like his toughness, I like his serious approach to the game. Those are all qualities that every team will want players to have on their rosters,” Coach Scott Brook said.
Having a reliable backup to John Wall has been an issue for the club since the team drafted him back in 2010. Sloan hopes he can help the team in that area, although the front office addressed the spot this summer with the addition of Tim Frazier. Frazier’s arrival, along with the addition of Jodie Meeks, added to a crowded guard rotation, something that Sloan was aware of before he agreed to join the Wizards in training camp.
“I knew what they had on the roster already. You wonder why. Why would you come in?” Sloan said. “I just didn’t come here to make the team … I came to be a part of what they’re trying to do here. I came to be that guy off the bench to give them what they need. I came to be that guy with backup minutes.”
“If coach has something set in his mind already about what he thinks it’s going to be. I’m going to put pressure on him to think otherwise.”
Here’s more from Washington:
- Sloan turned down several international offers to come to the Wizards’ training camp, Buckner adds in the same piece. The point guard’s goal is to play in the NBA, specifically for Washington, and he worried that continuing to play overseas will cause NBA teams to typecast him as a non-league level player. Sloan spent last season in China where he led the Guangdong Southern Tigers to the Chinese Basketball Association Finals.
- The Wizards believe John Wall, who signed a four-year, $170MM extension this offseason, is one of the best players in the league and Brooks can envision him winning the MVP award this season. Wall loves having his coach’s support and hopes to achieve that lofty goal, as Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington relays. “[Winning MVP is] a goal that I have for myself, also,” Wall said. “It’s not more pressure. It’s an opportunity knowing how much I worked on my game. It shows how much coach believes in me. He wants me to run the team. He’s put me in different positions to excel. That’s my ultimate goal, to be MVP one day, why not have it have an MVP season this year?”
- Markieff Morris, who was found not guilty of assault earlier today, will be cleared to join the Wizards without punishment from the league, Buckner reports in a separate piece.
Marcus And Markieff Morris Found Not Guilty In Assault Case
An Arizona jury has found Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris – along with one other defendant – not guilty on counts of aggravated assault, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald (Twitter link). The Morris brothers were facing the possibility of probation or prison time for allegedly attacking a former acquaintance.
From a basketball perspective, a guilty verdict would have undoubtedly meant suspension time for each player. With a defendant-friendly verdict in the books, both players can head to their respective teams’ training camps and likely won’t have to worry about the league forcing them to miss time.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (Twitter link) confirms that Marcus Morris is expected to head to Boston as soon as possible. The combo forward was traded to the Celtics in the offseason for Avery Bradley and he has yet to play in a game with his new teammates.
It’s unlikely Markieff Morris practices or plays for the Wizards this preseason as he recovers from sports hernia surgery. The power forward is targeting the second month of the season as a return date.
Lakers To Add Antawn Jamison For Scouting Role
The Lakers will hire Antawn Jamison in a scouting role, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports. Charania adds that he will work under president of basketball operations Magic Johnson, GM Rob Pelinka, and assistant GM Jesse Buss.
Jamison played for the Lakers back in the 2012/13 season and he has worked for the organization as a TV analyst since retiring from the league in 2014.
The former no. 4 overall pick spent 16 seasons as a pro where he averaged 18.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. In addition to playing for the Lakers, he also spent time with the Warriors, Mavericks, Wizards, Cavs, and Clippers.
Hawks GM Talks Offseason, Howard, Goals
The Hawks were the fifth-oldest team last season and getting younger was a clear goal of the front office entering the offseason. Another goal was managing the salary cap with an eye on maintaining future flexibility, as GM Travis Schlenk explains (h/t Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal Constitution).
“The reason why flexibility is so important to us [is] it allows us to go out and make deals like we did with the Jamal Crawford trade [which netted Hawks a top-three protected pick in the 2018 draft via Rockets] where we can get assets… as we invest in the future of this franchise,” Schlenk said.
“Now that we have a young core, we have nine draft picks in the next two years so there’s a high probability that we are going to be even a little bit younger next year. So we need to keep developing the young players that we have.”
The GM went on to discuss the Dwight Howard deal and the reason why Atlanta slid down 10 spots on draft night as part of the trade.
“When it got down (to it) with Charlotte, there [were] other players that were going to be in the deal that both teams decided wouldn’t be in there,” Schlenk said. “Obviously the 31st pick was important to them. Us, when we look at our roster moving forward, when you look at the nine draft picks we have in the next few years, it wasn’t as important to us to add that young player this year because we have so many opportunities in next year with the three first-round draft picks. … We would love to have the 31st pick, but to be able to get that financial flexibility for the future to make it worth it to slide down
“We did that trade for the financial flexibility, and we were able to use that flexibility this summer to acquire a draft pick in next year’s draft with the Clippers in the Jamal Crawford trade. It played out well for us.”
While the Hawks are expected to take a step back in the win column this season, don’t expect the team to tank like the Sixers did over the past several seasons. Schlenk reiterated that the front office’s expectation is for the team to be competitive.
“When you look at the guys we signed this year in free agency, those are guys that show up and play hard every night,” the GM added. “We are laying the foundation for the future of the Atlanta Hawks, and that is to play the right way, to play hard and to give it everything you’ve got every single night.”