Eastern Notes: MCW, Smith, Terry
The Pistons are in need of point guard help, but the team never called the Bucks about acquiring Michael Carter-Williams, Jake Fischer of SI.com reports (Twitter link). Milwaukee reportedly will send MCW to the Bulls.
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- Ish Smith has no hard feelings toward the Sixers, as Jessica Camerato of Comcast Sportsnet relays. “No, no, no, no, no,” Smith said of the possibility of ill feelings. “Everything was perfect. [My new deal] was done quick. I’m excited and I’m very, very happy about the decision. … Believe me, the city, I love the city here. I love the fans, they’ve been great. But you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.” Smith signed a three year, $18MM deal with the Pistons during the offseason.
- Smith and Brett Brown have kept in touch and the Sixers coach remains a big fan of the point guard, Camerato adds in the same piece. “He’s got such an infectious personality. He’s really got charisma,” Brown said. “His mood never changed. He just was so solid in himself and had a bounce and a spirit and was happy. Just a wonderful teammate and just a real joy to coach.”
- New addition Jason Terry believes the Bucks have a chance to do great things this season, as he explains on NBA TV (Twitter link). “We are young and dangerous at the core, but we have veteran experience… sky is the limit,” Terry said.
Poll: Northwest Division Winner
The TrailBlazers are the favorites to win the Northwest division this season, but it’s far from a certain outcome. Just a year ago, Portland was expected to be a lottery team after losing four starters, but the team overachieved, winning 44 games and beating an injury-riddled Clippers squad in the playoffs en route to a second round playoff series loss to the Warriors. Portland aggressively pursued high-priced, impact players in free agency and ended up adding Evan Turner on an expensive, four year, $70MM deal. Turner is a perplexing addition for a team that already had wing depth, but his presence should provide insurance of sorts in case of an injury. Turner will also give the team more flexibility with its line-up decisions, as Arthur Hill of Hoops Rumors writes in the team’s Offseason In Review. The Blazers’ depth should keep them from sliding too far down the standings, but they remain a strong candidate to regress.
The Thunder had the worst offseason of any team, as Eddie Scarito of Hoops Rumors details in the team’s Offseason In Review. Losing Kevin Durant hurts, but Oklahoma City’s roster is not barren. This team can easily go 10-12 players deep on most nights and Russell Westbrook shifting from running-mate to Commander In Chief with a solid supporting cast should be not only fun to watch, but also enough to keep the team in contention for the division crown.
The Wolves arguably have the best young core in all of basketball. They appear to be a year or two away from making major noise in the conference, as I discussed in the team’s Offseason In Review. However, coach/executive Tom Thibodeau is going to get the most out of this roster and if Kris Dunn is able to hit the ground running, Minnesota could exceed expectations.
Denver lurks as a potential playoff team this season. The Nuggets’ success hinges on Emmanuel Mudiay taking the next step and proving he can be a franchise point guard. The franchise is likely a season away from reaching its playoff goal, as Scarito writes in the team’s Offseason In Review. Nevertheless, this team will be frisky on a nightly basis with its depth giving opposing teams trouble.
The Jazz are in position to take a major step forward. The addition of George Hill is an underrated move and his presence, along with 35-year-old Joe Johnson and 34-year-old Boris Diaw, will provide this team with veteran leadership, as Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors notes in the team’s Offseason in Review. The Jazz have the talent to compete with any team in the league and they are my personal pick to win this division. Despite the injury to Gordon Hayward, I envision this team winning over 50 games and earning a top-4 seed in the Western Conference.
Do you think the Jazz will be atop this division at the end of the season or will another team take home the crown? Don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say!
Who wins the Northwest Division?
-
Blazers 33% (228)
-
Jazz 22% (154)
-
Thunder 21% (146)
-
Wolves 19% (131)
-
Nuggets 4% (29)
Total votes: 688
Sixers Notes: Rodriguez, Embiid, Okafor
The Sixers should maintain their patient approach and not look to acquire high priced veterans in order to produce more wins immediately, Derek Bodner of Philadelphia Magazine argues. Bodner believes the team shouldn’t react to Jerryd Bayless‘ injury by acquiring another veteran. Instead, it should take this season to figure out exactly what is has in Joel Embiid and the rest of its young talent.
Philadelphia was reportedly were interested in J.R. Smith before the guard re-signed with the Cavs. Philadelphia has the cap space and assets to make substantial moves, but Bodner cautions that the team shouldn’t make any deals that comprises its future flexibility.
Here’s more from Philadelphia:
- Sergio Rodriguez, who last played in the NBA during the 2009/10 season, hopes to play better this season than he did during his first stint in the league, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Rodriquez started for the Sixers during Saturday’s preseason games against Detroit and Brett Brown has high hopes for the 30-year-old. “He’s elusive in open court,” Brown said. “He’s got a feel. He’s slippery with his handle and his vision. So I want him to play more like he’s always played.”
- Embiid appeared to injure his right foot during Saturday’s preseason game, but fortunately, he was able to remain in the game. The 22-year-old doesn’t see it as an issue going forward, Pompey relays in the same piece. “I’m fine,” Embiid said. “I twisted it a little bit, but I’m fine.”
- While the team will remain cautious with Embiid going forward, the Cameroon native could play in both ends of back-to-backs this season, ESPN.com passes along. “There are some times just with normal aches and the other parts of his body that you pay attention. It’s still a 275-pound, 7-foot-2 man going up and down the court,” Brown said. “How about his motor, when he puts his mind to it? How about his lateral quickness, when he puts his mind to it? To get that stuff, just harder, longer, makes you think we have to take this course.”
- Jahlil Okafor has been sidelined since undergoing surgery back in March to repair a meniscus tear in his knee, but the big man should be ready to play opening night, according to that same report.
Offseason In Review: Minnesota Timberwolves
Over the next several weeks, Hoops Rumors will be breaking down the 2016 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 2016/17 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Free agent signings:
- Cole Aldrich: Three years, $21.9MM. Third year partially guaranteed
- Jordan Hill: Two years, $8.18MM. Second year non-guaranteed.
- Brandon Rush: One year, $3.5MM.
Camp invitees:
- Rasual Butler: One year, minimum salary (summer contract)
- John Lucas III: One year, minimum salary (summer contract)
- Toure’ Murry: One year, minimum salary (summer contract)
Trades:
- None
Draft picks:
- 1-5: Kris Dunn. Signed to rookie contract.
Departing players:
Other offseason news:
- Hired Tom Thibodeau as head coach to replace interim coach Sam Mitchell. Thibodeau will also serve as the Wolves’ president of basketball operations.
- Nikola Pekovic has been ruled out for the 2016/17 season.
- Shabazz Muhammad and Gorgui Dieng eligible for contract extensions until October 31.
- Sold approximately 15% of the franchise to minority stake-holders.
- Hired Noah Croom as assistant GM and Brian Pauga as player personnel director.
Check out our salary cap snapshot for the Minnesota Timberwolves right here.
The Timberwolves haven’t made the playoffs since 2004, but newly appointed president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau isn’t looking to cut corners to get back to the postseason. This team is full of young, promising players and the coach/executive decided not to speed up the process by sacrificing valuable assets in order to acquire veterans whom can help him win now. Instead, he’s going to take some time to evaluate the team’s talent and let the core grow together. 
The Wolves flirted with acquiring Jimmy Butler this summer. The Bulls were reportedly asking for the No. 5 pick and young prospects, such as Andrew Wiggins or Zach LaVine, for their All-Star forward. Butler would dramatically help the Wolves in the win column this season, but Wiggins has the potential to be a perennial All-Star and trading him at such a young age could lead to regrets down the road.
The predicament of whether or not to trade Wiggins is reminiscent of Golden State’s decision to hang onto Klay Thompson back in 2014. While many NBA fans, observers and experts believed the Warriors should move the shooting guard for Kevin Love, the organization was split on the decision and ended up keeping Thompson. Having won 140 regular-season games and a world championship in the two years since, the Warriors are thrilled they decided against going with the sure thing at the time. Thibodeau, who spent part of his year off shadowing Steve Kerr and the Warriors, surely took notice.
Upon arrival in Minnesota, Thibodeau’s mission was to familiarize himself with the roster, so that he wouldn’t make a major mistake as a first-time executive. “I liked the core of the team. I want to get to know them better,” Thibs said recently. “I’m going to focus on the players we have. That gives me a better idea of what our needs are. It’s like building a house. We’re still working on the foundation.” Instead of dealing for Butler, Thibodeau used the No. 5 overall pick to draft Kris Dunn, a player with four years of college experience under his belt.
Dunn impressed during summer league and was voted the player most likely to win the Rookie Of The Year award by his peers. That poll was conducted prior to Ben Simmons‘ foot injury, which threatens to keep the No. 1 pick sidelined for the year, so Dunn has an even clearer path to winning the award than originally believed. If he takes home the hardware, it would be Minnesota’s third consecutive Rookie of the Year recipient, which is a feat no other NBA franchise has achieved.
Dunn’s development will surely factor into Ricky Rubio‘s future with the team. Rubio is the starter here, but Thibs will likely play both point guards in the backcourt together for stretches. That may work initially, but as LaVine and Dunn progress, they’re going to demand a larger share of the minutes, leaving Rubio with less playing time than he’s accustomed to seeing.
Rubio is only 25 years old — he’s just entering his prime and he’ll undoubtedly want to remain a starter throughout it. Although Rubio’s defensive skills fit nicely in Thibodeau’s scheme, Dunn projects to be a better all-around player and will likely take that starting spot should he reach his potential. With three years remaining on Rubio’s deal, the Wolves had no real urgency to move the Spanish point guard this offseason. Still, it would be very surprising if he finishes out his contract in Minnesota.
The team said goodbye to Kevin Garnett this offseason after reaching a buyout agreement with the future Hall of Famer. Minnesota will certainly miss his presence in the locker room, but the club did add a few veterans during the 2016 free agent period. The additions of Jordan Hill and Cole Aldrich will give the T-Wolves depth in the paint. With Nikola Pekovic out for the season, both players should see playing time.
Brandon Rush could be the team’s most important free agent acquisition. Minnesota was 29th in the league in three-pointers made and attempted last season. Rush has made 40.3% of his long-distance shots during his career and will help the team improve on those figures. Having viable three-point shooters is key to floor spacing, and Rush’s presence on the court will help open up lanes for Wiggins and the rest of the team’s slashers.
The Wolves didn’t hit any home runs this offseason. When you have a transcendent talent like Karl-Anthony Towns, it’s natural to try to take massive steps toward winning games. Just look at what the Pelicans did upon landed Anthony Davis — New Orleans traded three of its first-round selections for veterans in the ensuing years, hoping those moves would translate to perennial playoff appearances as Davis developed. The franchise has earned a postseason spot just once — and hasn’t made it to the second round — since drafting The Brow.
Conversely, the Wolves remain patient. They’re not necessarily aiming for playoff appearances in the short term; they recognize that they’re destined for Finals appearances. Short-term thinking brings short-term results and with a core of Towns, Wiggins and Dunn, it’s clear Minnesota had the future in mind this offseason.
Salary information from Basketball Insiders used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
And-Ones: Rose, Clarkson, Silas
Derrick Rose won’t fly back and forth from Los Angeles, where he is currently defending himself in a civil trial, to play in the Knicks‘ preseason games, Brian Lewis of the New York Post tweets. Rose has no team personnel with him, Lewis adds. “He’s got his own guys,” a source tells Lewis.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Lakers coach Luke Walton applauded Jordan Clarkson‘s defense and he envisions the combo guard having a major role off the bench this season, Joey Ramirez of NBA.com writes. “I don’t look at [Clarkson’s role] as really coming off the bench as much as the way Lamar came off our bench but he was really a starter,” Walton said. “He played big minutes, played the end of ball games. Ginobili [also] did it for years in San Antonio.”
- Chris Mannix of the Vertical believes Stephen Silas will get his turn to become a head coach in this league, as he opines on Twitter. Silas has been an assistant coach for the Hornets since 2010.
- New Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni is making defense a priority, Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com writes. D’Antoni and assistant coach Jeff Bzlelik are looking for accountability from their players on that end of the floor. “Yeah, it’s a lot of things,” Bzdelik said. “You can’t let what happens on offense dictate your defensive energy. Defense needs to be constant, offense is a variable. It’s a mindset more so than anything else, to take it personal when you get scored upon.”
Latest On Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson has battled tendinitis in his left knee for years and it was recently reported that Jackson may miss “extended time” because of the issue. Today, the team has a slightly better grasp on the timeline after announcing that Jackson will have a platelet-rich plasma injection on Monday, Rod Beard of The Detroit News relays.
“He will get the PRP injection in New York on Monday,” Coach/executive Stan Van Gundy said. “I haven’t gotten the timetable but it’s a significant amount of time. He’ll be on crutches for three to seven days.”
Jackson could return in mid-to-late November, which would sideline him for somewhere between 10 and 20 games, Beard notes. Jackson previously had the treatment in 2011. According to Beard, it has the longest recovery time of all the options, but it’s the best chance at of relieving pain for an extended period.
The Pistons are reportedly exploring the market for point guard help, but Van Gundy said he was comfortable with new addition Ish Smith starting in Jackson’s place.
Bucks Happy With Michael Carter-Williams?
Michael Carter-Williams has been the subject of several trade rumors since the end of last season, including this week’s report that he was shopped to Sacramento for Ben McLemore. Head coach Jason Kidd defended Carter-Williams and reiterated the team’s commitment to the point guard in an interview on Sirius XMNBA Radio (h/t Kurt Helin of NBC Sports for the transcript).
“Rumors are just part of this business,” Kidd said “We’re happy with Michael. He’s had a great summer and has worked extremely hard and it showed in the first game in Chicago. He came off the bench and I think he led us in rebounds. He can be one of the best wing defenders in this league. He helped us late in the game running the team at the point guard position. There’s always speculation around different guys, but I think Michael is going to help us win.”
The Bucks will be without Khris Middleton for roughly six months and team will likely need to add another piece to remain competent on the offensive end. MCW has struggled with his shooting since coming into the league, nailing just 25.5% of his 3-point shots. Milwaukee brought in Matthew Dellavedova during the offseason. That, coupled with the fact that the team is toying with starting Giannis Antetokounmpo at the point guard position, could make the 2013/14 Rookie of the Year even more expendable.
While Kidd’s endorsement is a positive for Carter-Williams, it doesn’t mean he’s in the team’s long-term plans and I’ll speculate this week’s report won’t be the last time we see his name pop up in trade rumors. Stay tuned.
Metta World Peace Hoping To Play Three More Years
Metta World Peace is hoping to play professional basketball for 20 seasons, Mark Medina of The Orange County Register writes. “I want to finish off strong,” World Peace said. “It’s not about what it will mean to me. It’s about, ‘Can I get there?’”
World Peace faces stiff competition to make the Lakers’ opening night roster, but the veteran isn’t worried about his status on the team. “My concern is having a good time. There’s nothing to overcome,” World Peace said. “I’m a hell of a basketball player. That’s the hard part, becoming a good basketball player. Once you do that, you don’t have to worry about nothing else.”
The Lakers signed the 36-year-old to a one year, non-guaranteed deal last month. The forward similarly signed with the team late last summer and became a mentor to the team’s young talent over the course of the season. Despite the additions of several veterans, such as Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov, World Peace has a chance to carve out the same role. “We didn’t expect him to make the team last year and he made it,”GM Mitch Kupchak said. “The same thing can happen this year.” If he makes the team, the 2016/17 seasons will be World Peace’s 17th NBA season and 18th overall in his professional career.
Coach Luke Walton and rising star D’Angelo Russell both feel Metta World Peace is nothing like his reputation would suggest and believe the veteran is a great teammate, Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times relays (series of tweets). “Metta is very professional,” Walton said. “There’s a lot of help having him around and having him at camp.” Russell added that the forward took him under his wing last season.
The man formerly known as Ron Artest enjoys hearing the kind words, but understands the reason that he has the adverse reputation. “I used to be a bad teammate,” World Peace lamented.
And-Ones: VanVleet, Crawford, Lorbek
Fred VanVleet has a chance to make the Raptors’ opening night roster and the point guard is making the most out of his opportunity, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star writes. “When I’m out there, try to make it hard to notice who is the guy trying to make the team,” VanVleet said. “[I] try to be seamless in that regard, look like one of the starters, look like a bench player and look like you belong.”
Here’s more from around the league:
- Jordan Crawford will return to the D-League and play for the Westchester Knicks, sources tell Chris Reichert of Upside Motor (Twitter link).
- Center Wally Niang will play in the D-League this season, Reichert reports (Twitter link). Niang played in the Liga ACB League in Europe during the past two seasons.
- Erazem Lorbek, whose rights right were traded to the Spurs in the Kawhi Leonard deal, has agreed to play for Barcelona’s farm team, Lassa II of LEB Gold, according to international jounralist David Pick (Twitter link).
Western Notes: Stephenson, Kings, Cousins
Lance Stephenson has an edge over Alonzo Gee for a roster spot on the Pelicans because of his versatility, John Reid of The Times-Picayune opines. Stephenson’s ability to play point guard will be especially useful with Jrue Holiday set to miss significant time. Reid also added that he wouldn’t be surprised if New Orleans ends up trading Gee.
Here’s more from around the league:
- New Kings head coach Dave Joerger aims to change the culture in Sacramento, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee writes. “I think it’s what we hope to have on a nightly basis,” Joerger said. “A mindset of being physical, being active. Flying around, being a good teammate, each guy up and down the line and helping each other.”
- The Kings signed Matt Barnes this offseason and DeMarcus Cousins is happy to have the veteran on his team, Jones adds in the same piece. “He’s a true competitor,” Cousins said. “He leaves it all out there on the floor. I think he’s a great role model for the younger guys on how to approach a game on a nightly basis.”
- Gordon Hayward will likely miss six weeks after injuring his left ring finger and Ryan McDonald of the Deseret News examines his absence from the court will impact the Jazz.