Pistons Notes: Van Gundy, Harris, Playoffs
The Pistons will take on the Cavs later today in their first playoff appearance since 2009, when they were swept by Cleveland. While the team prepares for the highly anticipated playoff game, let’s take a look at some notes from Detroit:
- Executive/coach Stan Van Gundy believes coach David Blatt, whom the Cavs fired during the season, deserves another shot in the league, David Mayo of MLive writes. Van Gundy added that there are plenty of good candidates on the market. “It’s also why it’s hard for a lot of these assistants to get their chance. [Detroit assistant coach] Bob Beyer’s more than ready, [Charlotte assistant coach] Patrick Ewing‘s more than ready. That’s just the guys I know. But it’s hard for those guys to get an opportunity because there aren’t enough jobs for guys who have a proven head-coaching record,” Van Gundy said.
- Van Gundy said he’s been perplexed for a while that Pacers assistant coach Nate McMillan hasn’t received an opportunity to be a head coach again, Mayo passes along in the same piece.
- The Pistons were really surprised to nab Tobias Harris prior to the deadline this year, writes Rod Beard of The Detroit News. “His name wasn’t even out there for us until two days before we did the deal,” Van Gundy said.
- Harris’ focus since joining to the Pistons has been making the playoffs, which was something he really didn’t come close to in Orlando, Beard passes along in the same piece. “If we didn’t make the playoffs, I don’t know if I’d sleep at night,” Harris said. “I’ve been in situations on the other side for four years and that’s a tough side to be on, when you’re not in the playoff hunt.”
Draft Notes: Labissiere, Hield, Dunn
Washington State power forward Josh Hawkinson, point guard Ike Iroegbu and center Conor Clifford have all declared for the draft, according to a school press release. All three have declined to hire an agent, so they will all be eligible to return to school if they withdraw their names by the May 25th deadline. None of the three are expected to be drafted.
Here’s more on the prospects in the upcoming draft:
- Skal Labissiere has signed with Travis King of Relativity Sports, reports Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- UConn sophomore Daniel Hamilton has signed with Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports, Goodwin reports in a separate tweet.
- Buddy Hield hasn’t convinced the league that he has star potential, but if he can prove that he can be more of a facilitator during the predraft process, he could improve his stock, as one scout tells Derek Bodner, who writes a piece for USA Today.
- Kris Dunn is excited for the predraft process and views it as a opportunity to make believers out of the doubters, as he tells Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. “Every player in the draft wants to show what they can do and prove all of their doubters wrong. I’ve been doubted my whole life – on and off the court. I’m used to that and it definitely fuels my fire,” Dunn said.
Knicks Notes: Jackson, Anthony, Rambis
Team president Phil Jackson expects free agents to be more open to signing with the Knicks this summer than last offseason because of the team’s increase in wins and the presence of Kristaps Porzingis, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. “We’re talking about a team in the making,” Jackson said. “We’ve had so many people come up to us and say they really want to play [with] a guy like KP. … So we feel we have an attractive product here.”
Here’s more out of New York:
- Carmelo Anthony has mixed feelings on the triangle and he believes most players just want to be comfortable in a system, Berman adds in the same piece. Anthony, who has repeatedly expressed his interest in being a part of the Knicks‘ free agent process, believes adding players who fit the system will be a delicate issue this offseason. “I think it’s a fine line going after guys who can fit into the system and going after guys who can just play basketball and can bring a winning attitude to this,” Anthony said.
- Veteran players on the Knicks lobbied for Jerian Grant and the other younger members of the team to get more playing time earlier in the season, but coach Kurt Rambis and Jackson scoffed at the idea, reports Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Jackson believed that Grant couldn’t contribute to the team’s win total.
- Rambis finished the season 9-19 since taking over for Derek Fisher and would like an opportunity to build on his time with the Knicks, Bondy writes in a separate piece. “I want to be the head coach here,” Rambis said. “I think we can continue to get better as a ballclub and we can continue to improve, but that’s a decision that’s out of my hands.”
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/9/16
Houston made the playoffs in five of the previous eight seasons, including the last three, but the team has some work to do if it’s going to make it to the postseason for the fourth straight campaign. The Rockets sit one game behind the Jazz for the eighth seed in the Western Conference with three games to go.
The franchise certainly had higher expectations than an eighth seed entering the season and early today, reports surfaced that ownership would be seriously evaluating Daryl Morey’s job performance. Morey has accepted the blame for the team’s disappointing season, but an argument can be made that his moves as a GM are the reason the Rockets had the high expectations to begin with. Morey has been one of the most active front office executives in the league since becoming the GM of the Rockets in 2007. He made the shrewd move to acquire James Harden and he signed Dwight Howard to add a second star to the team.
So here is tonight’s question: Should the Rockets move on from Morey and what other changes need to be made in Houston? Let’s talk front office, player movement, Dwight Howard and more. Let us know what you think in comments below. We look forward to what you have to say!
And-Ones: Felder, Thibodeau, Neal
Kay Felder has decided to hire Mike Silverman and Brandon Grier of the Athlete Management Group and remain in the draft, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical. The junior out of Oakland is the 47th best prospect, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express ranks him as the 70th best prospect.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Hornets coach Steve Clifford believes Tom Thibodeau will return to the league next season, Ian Begley of ESPN.com tweets. “I know he misses [it],” Clifford said.
- Gary Neal is on track to start resuming basketball activities in June after undergoing surgery this week to repair a torn hip labrum suffered in December while he was a member of the Wizards, Marc Stein of ESPN.com relays (ESPN Now link). Neal, 31, was waived by Washington in March in order to clear a roster spot for the signing of Marcus Thornton. The point guard played well for the Wizards prior to his injury, knocking down 41.0% of his 3-point attempts as he averaged 9.8 points in 20.2 minutes per game across 40 appearances.
- JaKarr Sampson has played well since signing with the Nuggets and he is focusing on improving in different areas of his game, writes Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post. “My first year in the league I was just focused on defense,” Sampson said. “Now, my offensive side is coming out and I’m making progress. It’s showing.”
Eddie Scarito contributed to this post.
Knicks Notes: Anthony, Triangle, Free Agents
Carmelo Anthony would like the Knicks to have more roster continuity from season to season, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. “I think that’s the most important part, just having some type of consistency, just a group of guys being together for a period of time and not just rotating in and out each year,” Anthony said. Bondy pointed out that Anthony has had over 70 different teammates and four different coaches since coming to New York.
Here’s more from the city that never sleeps:
- Anthony believes the triangle won’t work in New York unless there is more continuity on the Knicks‘ roster, Al Iannazzone of Newsday writes. “I don’t think guys can learn the [triangle] system right away being here for only a couple of months and then we rotate guys in and out,” Anthony said. “Guys need to be together for a long period of time in order for us to learn the system, master the system.”
- Anthony wants to be involved in courting free agents this summer and sees free agency as a huge opportunity for the Knicks, Iannazzone passes along in the same piece. “If you have an opportunity to make additions in free agency you should take advantage of that,” Anthony said. “I think every team wants to better themselves during free agency.”
Bulls Notes: Hoiberg, Butler, Gasol
Coach Fred Hoiberg believes the perception that he didn’t coach the Bulls hard enough began after Jimmy Butler‘s comments in late December, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune tweets. Hoiberg then clarified his statement, downplaying the assumption that his remark was meant to be a shot at Butler, as Johnson passes along. (Twitter link). Butler was critical of Hoiberg’s laid-back demeanor following an early season loss to the Knicks. The Bulls are reportedly considering the idea of trading Butler this offseason, according to Chris Mannix of The Vertical. However, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders hears that Butler is the last guy the team wants to trade.
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- The playoff hopes for the Bulls are all but gone and Pau Gasol believes this year didn’t go as planned because the team played much of this season without a “sense of urgency,” writes Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. Gasol added that the team also lacked awareness and maturity.
- Hoiberg believes his relationship with his players is solid and he is going to emphasize nurturing those relationships over the summer, Friedell passes along in the same piece.
- When asked if he would change his coaching style, Hoiberg said he would at least evaluate it this summer, Johnson relays in a separate tweet. The Bulls have Hoiberg under contract through the 2019/20 campaign.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/27/16
Chicago entered the season with hopes of challenging LeBron James and Cleveland for the Eastern Conference crown. How did it go for the Bulls? Injuries derailed any hope of an NBA Finals appearance and just making the playoffs seems unlikely after three straight losses, all against teams with losing records. At 36-36, the Bulls sit two games behind the Pistons and Pacers for one of the last two playoff spots in the conference. If Chicago misses the playoffs for the first time since the 2007/08 campaign, the roster could see a serious overhaul this summer.
Joakim Noah may have played his last game in a Bulls uniform, as he will be a free agent come July. Pau Gasol will likely opt out of his deal and become a free agent as well. Taj Gibson was the subject of trade rumors leading up to the trade deadline, so he is no lock to remain in town, and if the front office doesn’t believe Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler can find the ideal on-court chemistry, it may be time to look at trade options for Rose while the point guard still has one year remaining on his deal.
The Bulls have talent, and they own all of their future first-rounders in addition to a top-10 protected 2016 first-rounder from Sacramento. This team could easily retool and get itself back into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. How should the team go about improving? That’s tonight’s shootaround topic: What moves should the Bulls make this summer? We’re asking you to sit in GM Gar Forman‘s chair and make the tough calls. Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say!
Eastern Notes: Wade, Carroll, Howard
Dwyane Wade doesn’t see his friendship with LeBron James or any other opposing NBA player as a cause for concern, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes. “I use the analogy, it’s just like growing up with my brothers,” Wade said. “I love ’em to death, but I want to beat them every time. That’s the same thing. I love ‘Bron. My respect for Kobe, my friendship with all these guys, I love ’em all. But I want to beat them every time, and vice versa.”
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- DeMarre Carroll has not played since January and the Raptors should consider shutting him down for the rest of the season, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star argues. Smith believes the team has good chemistry at the moment and integrating Carroll into the rotation may keep the team from making a serious run in the playoffs. Carroll’s $13.6MM salary for the 2015/16 campaign, which is the first year of a four-year, $58MM deal, is the highest on the team.
- Dwight Howard may flirt with the Magic this offseason, but a reunion between Orlando and the center can only end horribly, George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel opines. Diaz doesn’t believe Howard can be the face of the franchise and believes the 30-year-old wouldn’t get along with coach Scott Skiles.
- The 2015/16 campaign has been a disappointment for the Nets, but Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has been a bright spot for the team, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. The rookie wing even received praise from James after Brooklyn’s recent win against the Cavs. “I think he’s going to be a really good player for them,” James said. The Nets acquired Hollis-Jefferson’s rights on draft night last June.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/26/16
With tonight’s 80-68 win over Oregon, Oklahoma will advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2002. Buddy Hield had another excellent game, knocking down eight of 13 shots from behind the arc on his way to 37 points. Hield is one of the best shooters in the nation, making nearly 46% of his 3-pointers this season. NBA teams are taking more shots from behind the arc than ever before and the shooting guard seems to have the skill set to play immediately in the league.
Chad Ford of ESPN.com has Hield ranked as the eighth-best prospect, while Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranks Hield ninth-best. Both of these projections came before tonight’s game and the shooting guard may see his stock rise if he continues to dominate on the way to a National Title.
So that leads us to tonight’s topic: How far up the draft board can Hield climb with a sensational performance in the Final Four? With the league’s emphasis on the 3-ball, should the team that wins the lottery take Hield with the No. 1 pick?
Let us know which lottery team should consider taking Hield and if you don’t believe he’s worthy of that No. 1 spot, where does he rank for you? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.