Joel Embiid Has Torn Meniscus In Left Knee
Joel Embiid has a torn meniscus in his left knee, Derek Bodner reports on his website. It’s a low-grade tear and Embiid is not expected to require surgery as a result of it.
Embiid has missed 11 out of the team’s last 12 games, including tonight’s contest against the Heat. It’s likely that he remains sidelined through the All-Star break, a source tells Bodner.
Bodner adds that the tear was discovered after the Sixers’ win over the Blazers on January 20. During that contest, Embiid landed awkwardly and left the game in the third quarter. Although the big man underwent an MRI after the game and it revealed the diagnosis, it’s possible the tear could have been a pre-existing condition.
Embiid played a week after receiving the diagnosis in a nationally televised game against the Rockets. A source tells Bodner that Embiid was experiencing no pain or discomfort at the time.
Earlier today, Embiid addressed the local media, as Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer relays.
“I’m not healthy,” Embiid said. “I think my [left] knee [has a] bone bruise. It’s been on and off working out. It swells up a little bit, and then it kind of slows down. Like I said, it’s all about patience. But I’m not healthy.”
Embiid attended rapper Meek Mill’s concert on Friday night in Philadelphia where he danced shirtless on stage. He was asked about that event during today’s media session and he said that today was the best he has felt in the past two weeks. He stressed that patience is key in regards to him returning to the court. “I missed two years and we had a lot of patience,” he said. “This is not the time to lose patience.”
Daryl Morey Talks Harden, Potential Trades, Offseason Additions
Rockets GM Daryl Morey said he doesn’t envision the team making any major moves at the deadline, as he tells Calvin Walkins of ESPN.com.
“I think if we do anything, it will be for depth,” Morey said. “I don’t see any big things happening. We got a good thing, a good rotation, good chemistry. I’m pretty reluctant to make any changes there.”
Houston has outperformed expectations this season and Morey wants to keep the core of the team together. However, he didn’t close the door on making a larger trade should the right opportunity present itself.
“It all depends on the opportunities that are out there,” he added. “Until you know what’s out there, it’s hard to say if something will or won’t happen. I think our [goals] going in: Is this a good group? We want to keep it together.”
Morey is pleased with the way the offseason additions have stepped up. He’s also happy with the way Montrezl Harrell and Sam Dekker have been able to develop as players and contribute this season. He believes the team is well suited to fit James Harden‘s strengths, though Morey admitted that he can not take full credit for moving Harden to point guard.
“[Coach Mike D’Antoni] and James really came up with the idea of going from 85 percent on the ball to 100 percent, and it’s great vision for both of them and it’s really worked well.”
Morey added that he always knew Harden could play at this level and he believes the 27-year-old is the clear-cut MVP so far this season. Harden, who received Hoops Rumor’s Midseason MVP, is averaging 28.9 points, 11.3 assists and 8.2 rebounds per game to go along with his 27.2 player efficiency rating this season.
And-Ones: Lakers, Mozgov, Okafor, Wojnarowski
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak didn’t want Timofey Mozgov to be tempted by other offers and that contributed to the team handing him a four-year, $64MM deal, a source tells Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN.com. Shelbourne adds that Luol Deng, who signed a four-year, $72MM deal with Los Angeles this past offseason, had other offers for his services, but no team gave him more than a three-year deal. Both Mozgov and Deng were recently relegated to the bench.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Lakers would need to attach a young prospect, such as Ivica Zubac or Larry Nance Jr., to Deng or Mozgov if they want to move one of their free agent additions, Shelbourne writes in the same piece. She adds that the contracts of Deng and Mozgov are not problematic for Los Angeles right now, but they will be soon, as Julius Randle and D’Angelo Russell will be eligible for extensions over the next couple offseasons.
- Jahlil Okafor, who we profiled as a trade candidate, is making the most of his increased minutes, John Reid of The Time-Picayune writes. Okafor was the subject of trade rumors earlier in the week with the Pelicans being the latest team to show interest in him.
- The Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s D-League affiliate, have acquired center Prince Ibeh and waived forward Lazar Hayward, according to a team press release.
- Adrian Wojnarowski of the Vertical is close to joining ESPN, multiple sources tell Kevin Draper of Deadspin.
Charles Oakley Arrested At Knicks Game
9:57 PM: Oakley has been charged with three counts of assault for striking MSG’s security guards and criminal trespassing, according to Ian Begley of ESPN.com (Twitter links). A police source tells Begley that the incident began with Oakley making comments toward Dolan and eventually Dolan told security to escort him out of the arena.
8:41 PM: Former NBA player Charles Oakley was removed from Madison Square Garden tonight as a result of a physical altercation, as Ian Begley of ESPN.com relays (series of Twitter links). Oakley was apparently trying to get through a crowd on his way to owner James Dolan when the incident occurred. Security quickly surrounded the former big man and Phil Jackson tried to intervene to get him to calm down. Oakley blames Dolan for the whole situation. “Dolan did this,” Oakley shouted.
The Knicks PR released a statement shortly after the incident via Twitter.
“Charles Oakley came to the game tonight and behaved in a highly inappropriate and completely abusive manner. He has been ejected and is currently being arrested by the New York City Police Department. He was a great Knick and we hope he gets some help soon.”
Oakley previously had a relationship with the Knicks and Madison Square Garden, as Scott Cacciola of the New York Times detailed earlier this season. The relationship soured over the years, but Oakley has previously said that he attempted to mend the relationship but found no success.
Knicks Notes: Rivers, Anthony, Boeheim
Austin Rivers said the Knicks were on his short list when he was a free agent this past summer, as Laura Albanese of Newsday writes. “[The Knicks] were a huge option,” Rivers said. “That was a team that I was really considering.”
The Knicks are eyeing Rivers in a potential Carmelo Anthony deal. The guard hears the rumors surrounding his name, but he remains focused on helping his current team win.
“When [a trade] happens, it’ll be new for me, but after that, it’s whatever. Just focus on playing basketball, help my team, that’s it,” Rivers said.
[RELATED: Latest On Carmelo Anthony]
Here’s more on the Knicks from Albanese’s piece:
- Team president Phil Jackson and coach Jeff Hornacek wanted to sign Rivers over the summer and they believed he would have been a great fit next to Derrick Rose, as Albanese passes along in the same piece. “Jeff had a vision of playing a little bit up-tempo,” Rivers said of his free agent meeting with the Knicks. “I don’t know how that’s panned out or what they’ve done, but I think that also changes when you’ve got certain players . . . He wanted to [coach us the way he] coached that Suns team, they wanted to get up and down and he thought me and Derrick could play together, get up and down, start ‘1’ and ‘2.’ ”
- Anthony has not said publicly that he would waive his no-trade clause to leave the Knicks, but his former coach Jim Boeheim thinks he would do it for two teams, Albanese relays in the same piece. “I think it depends on the team,” Boeheim said. “I think [the Clippers or the Cavaliers] would be ideal. But I don’t know if it can be worked out. I hope it can.”
- Boeheim added that he’d love to see Anthony play with “somebody that could win.” He added that the Knicks have to make a move because he believes the team cannot win as currently constructed.
- Clippers coach Doc Rivers wouldn’t entertain much trade talk when asked about Anthony before tonight’s game. “We don’t have Carmelo. I swear to God. He plays for the Knicks. That’s your story and that’s the way we leave it. You can ask us about our guys, but Carmelo is not on our team,” the coach said.
GM Mitch Kupchak Has Cost The Lakers In Free Agency
Magic Johnson, who was recently hired as a special advisor to Lakers co-owner Jeanie Buss, has heard from agents and executives around the league that GM Mitch Kupchak‘s management style is frustrating to deal with and it has cost the team in free agency, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Shelburne names Isaiah Thomas, Kent Bazemore, Kyle Lowry and Pau Gasol among the players who have signed elsewhere because of the GM.
“He’s the only GM in the league who won’t engage at all before 9:01 p.m. [PT] on the first night of free agency. Then when he calls to express interest, there’s no stickiness to it,” an anonymous player agent said of dealing with Kupchak.
Of course, speaking with players before the opening of free agency technically qualifies as tampering, though Shelburne notes that there are ways of gathering information on free agents without breaking the rules, so that the team doesn’t begin the process behind the competition. The Lakers aren’t operating like other franchises and it has contributed to the lack of success in free agency. Kupchak’s decision to chase stars has also been problematic.
Thomas told ESPN’s Zach Lowe back in 2014 that he always envisioned himself playing for the Lakers, but the franchise was “waiting on Carmelo Anthony and other moves” when he was a free agent during the summer of 2014. In the same summer, the Lakers were interested in signing Lowry, but they told him they would prefer to wait until Anthony made a decision. Anthony never came to the Lakers and both players signed elsewhere.
During the 2015 offseason, Los Angeles told Bazemore to wait on an offer while it unsuccessfully chased LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Monroe, and DeAndre Jordan. Bazemore ended up becoming a free agent again after a successful 2015/16 campaign with Atlanta. This time, the Lakers went after him more aggressively, presenting him with an offer that was more lucrative than Atlanta’s. However, Bazemore decided to be loyal to the team that gave him an expanded role and re-signed with Atlanta.
According to Shelburne, Kupchak rarely communicates with Jeanie Buss because he believes that he only reports to her brother Jim, who handles the team’s basketball operations. She handles the business affairs and mostly stays away from transactions on the court. Buss has often said that she learns of the on-court decisions through the news or texts from her brother.
Johnson is keeping an open mind when evaluating whether or not Kupchak should stay on as GM. As an advisor, he doesn’t have decision-making power, but he is expected to help Jeanie Buss reassess the basketball operations side of the franchise. Kupchak has been in the organization since 1986 when Johnson was a player on the team.
After the All-Star break, Jim Buss, Johnson, and Kupchak will meet to discuss the team’s moves over the last several seasons.
“I’m taking Magic at face value, that he’s here to help,” Jim Buss said. “He’s one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Who wouldn’t value his opinion? I’m excited to work with Magic for years to come.”
Heat Sign Marcus Georges-Hunt To 10-Day Deal
7:29 PM: The signing is official, according to a team press release.
5:27 PM: The Heat will sign Marcus Georges-Hunt to a 10-day contract, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Miami will be granted a hardship exception, so the team won’t have to make a corresponding move.
Hunt was signed by the Celtics during the preseason, but he was waived before the regular season began. He has been playing for the Maine Red Claws of the D-League where he is averaging 16.4 points per game.
The 6’5″ small forward played four seasons at Georgia Tech. He started for the team each year and he was named Third Team All-ACC after the 2015/16 campaign. Hunt was not selected in the 2016 draft.
Fantasy Hoops: Ferrell, Cousins, Embiid
We’ve hit the third quarter of the NBA season and Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition. Check back weekly for more fantasy basketball analysis.
Breaking Down Dallas’ Backcourt
Something very interesting is happening in Dallas. A rookie has taken control of the team and elevated them just as everyone thought the franchise was done for the season. No, we’re not talking what Dak Prescott just did for the Cowboys and we’re not talking about their running back Ezekiel Elliot either (although, you could find out the latest on those two at our sister-site Pro Football Rumors). We’re talking about what undrafted point guard Yogi Ferrell has done for the Mavericks.
If Pierre Jackson doesn’t injure his hamstring nearly two weeks ago, Ferrell isn’t on this team. If J.J. Barea doesn’t remain sidelined with a calf strain and Deron Williams‘ toe injury doesn’t linger, Ferrell never gets to start. Yet, all of those things happened and it’s led to an incredible opportunity for the former Indiana Hoosier.
Ferrell has seen the most court time on the team since arriving in Dallas. His 36.7 minutes per game ranks 15th in the league since his first start on January 29th. He’s scoring 16.3 points per game and he’s shooting 47.1% from behind the arc. The team has gone 4-2 in Ferrell’s six starts, but they were a missed C.J. McCollum floater away from being 5-1.
The 23-year-old has become a nice asset in fantasy and he’ll remain one as long as injuries keep the team’s regulars on the sideline. Barea is a few weeks away from returning and Williams’ toe injury may keep him out until the All-Star break. The Mavs have four more games before the break, so if Ferrell is available (owned in roughly 45% of ESPN leagues), he’s worth adding.
Once Williams is healthy, there’s a chance that he’ll be dealt. The Cavs were considering him as a trade acquisition, though for the time being, Dallas appears reluctant to deal the veteran point guard. If the team were to move him, Ferrell becomes a must-own in all leagues.
Ferrell isn’t the only Mavs guard worth rostering while the team gets healthy. Seth Curry, who signed a two-year, $6MM deal with Dallas over the summer, is having a nice season. Over his last 12 games, he’s shooting 51.0% from the field, a figure that ranks fifth in the league among players seeing at least 32 minutes per game. However, he now finds himself on the injury report after hurting his shoulder in Tuesday’s game against the Blazers. As of this writing, it doesn’t appear to be serious, but if he’s not back up and running for Thursday’s game against the Jazz, Devin Harris should see more opportunity. Harris could be a nice low-cost option in daily fantasy if Curry is out.
My end-of-season rankings for the backcourt are as follows: Williams, Ferrell, Curry, Barea, Harris. Keep an eye on this situation for the rest of this season, as Dallas guards have ever-changing fantasy values due to a number of injuries on the team.
Here’s more fantasy analysis and notes from around the league:
- Rudy Gay ruptured his Achilles in mid-January and since he was sidelined, DeMarcus Cousins has become even more involved in the offense. The big man is averaging nearly six assists per contest since the small forward’s injury compared to 4.4 per game before it. That’s the good news. The bad news is that Cousins is suspended for tonight’s game against the Celtics as a result of picking up his 16th technical of the season and if he picks up two more technicals, he’ll be suspended for another game.
- Since MLK day, only Stephen Curry and Isaiah Thomas have made more three-pointers than Otto Porter. The small forward has made 54.9% of his shots from behind the arc over that stretch. Porter can become a restricted free agent after the season and he’s playing like he wants to get paid. He’s a top-40 fantasy option for the rest of the season.
- Joel Embiid has missed nine of the Sixers’ last 10 games, including tonight’s tilt with the Spurs, because of a knee injury. Coach Brett Brown said that the team is simply being cautious with Embiid and the big man is expected back on the court soon. I implored fantasy owners to trade Embiid in a recent edition of Fantasy Hoops since his fantasy value was at an all-time high. I would still consider trading him in the right deal due to his injuries woes and the Sixers propensity to be “cautious” with injuries.
Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.
Statistics are current through Wednesday afternoon.
Latest On Carmelo Anthony
Knicks team president Phil Jackson appears to be pressuring Carmelo Anthony to waive his no-trade clause, but the public campaign is making the 9-time All-Star’s desire to stay with New York even stronger, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports. “[Jackson]’s underestimating ‘Melo’s willingness to stay,” a source told Wojnarowski.
Anthony has privately told some of his teammates that he won’t let Jackson run him out of town, according to Wojnarowski. The scribe adds that the Knicks have contacted the Clippers, Celtics, and Cavs about an Anthony deal, but the teams have put together underwhelming proposals that include only role players. Anthony has privately indicated an interest in those three teams, but the Knicks haven’t found a package they are willing to accept.
Boston hasn’t shown much interest in Anthony. The franchise is much more enamored with Jimmy Butler and Paul George since they are both younger and their games are more well-rounded, Wojnarowski adds.
The Knicks may search for trades outside those three teams and attempt to persuade Anthony to waive his no-trade clause to go to another team, though New York hasn’t yet begun that process. Wojnarowski adds that if Jackson had employed more transparent approach, Anthony would have been more open to finding an agreeable solution, which may have included agreeing to a trade. However, Jackson’s antics have severely damaged the relationship and it may be beyond repair.
Adreian Payne Out Indefinitely
The Wolves announced that Adreian Payne will be out indefinitely with a blood disorder, as USA Today passes along. The team said that Payne has thrombocytopenia, a condition that results in a low platelet count. It can cause bleeding, bruising and slow blood clotting after an injury, according to the publication.
Minnesota said that Payne has a good prognosis for recovery and he should be able to play basketball again once that happens. He’s currently receiving care from team doctors.
Payne hasn’t played much this season, seeing action in just 12 games. He was drafted by the Hawks with the 15th pick in the 2014 draft and Atlanta traded him to the Wolves during the 2014/15 season.