Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 2/13/16
Chatter about a blockbuster three-way deal that would send Carmelo Anthony to the Cavaliers, Kevin Love to the Celtics and an assortment of players and draft picks to the Knicks interrupted NBA All-Star weekend on Friday night. The proposed trade would align Anthony with another star player, which is something that would appease the 31-year-old. “I think everybody always kind of dreams and hopes that they can play with another great player, another star player,” Anthony said. LeBron James has since dismissed the rumors and Anthony, who holds a no-trade clause in his contract, said he isn’t leaving New York.
Anthony has played well this season, accumulating 21.4 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while sporting a 20.3 player efficiency rating. He had trouble with his surgically repaired left knee this season, which along with a January ankle injury, has caused him to miss seven games and play others at less than 100%.
The Cavs have reportedly been shopping Love, though their asking price is very high. Netting Anthony would be a nice return for a player of Love’s caliber, but it would be a move with the short term in mind. In tonight’s shootaround, let’s assume Anthony is willing to waive his no-trade clause for a deal that sends him to Cleveland. Would acquiring Anthony be the best move for the Cavs or is there a Love trade that makes more sense for Cleveland?
Take to the comments section to share your opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.
Western Notes: Cousins, Trades, Thunder
DeMarcus Cousins doesn’t believe he’s in the best situation with the Kings, Ken Berger of CBS Sports writes. “I prefer to be in a perfect situation,” Cousins deadpanned, “but that’ll never happen.” The center described the perfect situation as one where everyone is happy before reiterating that it just won’t happen. “There’s nothing in life that’s perfect,” the 25-year-old said. Cousins will be an unrestricted free agent following the 2017/18 campaign.
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- Oklahoma City has a pair of trade exceptions that are set to expire at the trade deadline Thursday, Erik Horne of The Oklahoman notes in a piece that analyzes the Thunder’s trade assets. The team has a $2.2MM trade exception from last year’s Reggie Jackson trade and a trade exception worth roughly $861K from last season’s Ish Smith deal.
- If the Rockets look to make drastic changes, Trevor Ariza and Corey Brewer would be realistic trade targets for Oklahoma City, Horne opines in the same piece. The scribe also names Courtney Lee and P.J. Tucker among the players on the market who would be good fits for the Thunder.
- The Thunder shouldn’t be making trades to try to bridge the gap between them and Golden State, and they especially shouldn’t consider dealing away Serge Ibaka, Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman argues.
And-Ones: Nets’ GM Search, International Players
The team could hire their next GM in the coming days, but no specific deadline is in place, according to Alex Raskin of The Wall Street Journal.
The general consensus around the league is that the job is Bryan Colangelo’s to lose. Other candidates include Nuggets assistant GM Arturas Karnisovas, Rockets executive VP of basketball operations Gersson Rosas, former Cavs and Hawks GM Danny Ferry and Spurs assistant GM Sean Marks. Raskin notes that all the candidates have a background in international basketball, something that will be important for the Nets. Brooklyn doesn’t control its own draft pick until 2019, so acquiring talent through atypical means will be key to putting together a successful roster, Raskin opines.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Owner Mikhail Prokhorov expects to be personally involved with the interviewing process while in Brooklyn on Wednesday when the Nets officially open their new training center, Raskin reports in the same piece.
- The Spurs were able to trade Tiago Splitter to the Hawks last offseason in part because they had targeted Boban Marjanovic as his replacement, Raskin adds in the same piece. Marjanovic, who went undrafted in 2010, signed a one-year, $1.2MM deal with San Antonio in July.
- The Nuggets‘ second round gamble on Nikola Jokic during the 2014 draft is paying tremendous dividends, Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post contends in a piece that examines the Serbian’s journey to the NBA.
Eastern Notes: Horford, Ainge, Magic
Al Horford is happy in Atlanta and remains committed to the Hawks, Sam Amick of USA Today writes. “I’ve said it repeatedly. I love the city. My family, we all live in Atlanta, we stay there in the offseason, so my focus is just to keep playing and taking it day by day,” Horford said. The big man will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and the team is thinking “long and hard” about offering him a five-year max deal that would pay him an estimated $32.7MM at the age of 34 years old.
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge doesn’t believe that the Hawks will move any of their key guys before the deadline, Jay King of MassLive relays (Twitter link).
- The Magic are one of the few teams with an open roster spot and the health of C.J. Watson will influence how the team uses it, Bobby Marks of the Vertical on Yahoo Sports notes. Watson, who signed a three-year, $15MM deal with Orlando last summer, has only played in eight games this season.
- The only player that Orlando should look to move is Channing Frye, Marks opines in the same piece. The scribe believes that Frye still holds value throughout the league and the Magic shouldn’t shake up their core, as they have a chance to push for a playoff spot with this group. Orlando sits four and a half games behind the Hornets for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Heat Notes: Whiteside, Stokes, Bosh
The Heat own the best defense in the Eastern Conference in terms of points per game, giving up only 96.3 per contest. Some of their success can be attributed to Hassan Whiteside, though the center hasn’t started a game since January 20th. The team is reportedly gauging what the trade market would bear for the 26-year-old.
Here’s more out of Miami:
- The Heat are looking to net a second-round pick in exchange for Jarnell Stokes, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald reports. Jackson notes that moving Stokes for a pick would lessen the team’s luxury tax bill this season.
- Miami is keeping an eye on the market for 3-point shooters this trade deadline, which is something that Chris Bosh endorses, Jackson writes in the same piece. “I’m always a believer in making do with what you have, [though] we could always use another shooter. Everybody could,” Bosh said. The Heat are making just 32.3% of their shots from behind the arc this season. “To get in that upper part of the East, it’s tough to do that without shooting,” Bosh added.
- Bosh is taking a cautious approach to his injured calf, Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press writes. “I didn’t feel it was wise to continue to push it, especially with this elongated week that we have off,” said Bosh, who dropped out of tonight’s 3-point contest because of the injury.
And-Ones: Trades, Clarkson, Pistons
The lack of enticing free agent options at the point guard position in the upcoming offseason should heat up the trade market prior to the deadline, Tom Ziller of SB Nation opines. Aside from Mike Conley, there isn’t another star-level point guard set to hit free agency this summer. Brandon Jennings and Rajon Rondo will be free agents and Deron Williams could join them if he turns down his player option after the season. Beyond those four players, there arguably isn’t another starting-caliber point guard on the market.
Ziller speculates that as many as seven teams, including the Knicks and Nets, could attempt to join in on the Jeff Teague sweepstakes. The scribe also names Darren Collison as a player to watch on the trade market, especially if the Kings get a sense that Rondo will re-sign with the team.
We’re 11 days from the trade deadline. As we wait to see what deals unfold, check out some notes from around the league:
- Jordan Clarkson has mostly played the two for the Lakers this year, but his past experience running the point makes Ziller, as he writes in the same piece, wonder whether another team will throw a substantial offer at him and look to make the 23-year-old a starting point guard. Clarkson will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, but he’s subject to the Gilbert Arenas Provision.
- It might be worthwhile for the Pistons to trade away their 2016 first round pick in exchange for bench help, Bobby Marks of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports opines in a piece that examines all of the team’s trade assets. Detroit is clinging to the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 27-25, which, if the season ended today, would give the team the No. 17 overall selection in the upcoming draft, as our Reverse Standings indicate.
- The Heat have recalled Jarnell Stokes from the Sioux Falls Skyforce, their D-League affiliate, according to the team’s website. Stokes has averaged 20.6 points and 10.2 rebounds per game in five stints with the Skyforce this season.
Lakers Notes: Free Agents, Bryant, Scott
Kobe Bryant believes the Lakers‘ instability is hindering the team’s ability to attract free agents, Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News writes. Bryant argues that the changes in ownership and in the front office were major factors in missing out on big name free agents over the last three seasons, including LaMarcus Aldridge, who decided to spurn Los Angeles in favor of San Antonio. “I don’t need to be a genius to figure that out,” said Bryant.
Here’s more from Los Angeles:
- Bryant added that he would have enjoyed playing for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, Medina writes in the same piece. The 37-year-old suggested that he would have been open to sitting out more games during his career, akin to how the San Antonio handled Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker throughout their careers.
- Coach Byron Scott expected more of rookie D’Angelo Russell at this point in the season, Mike Bresnaham of The Los Angeles Times writes. “I probably thought he’d be a little further,” Scott said while mentioning that Russell is 19 years old and still learning on the job. Russell was pulled from the starting lineup two months ago in an effort to keep the youngster’s ego under control.
- After the All-Star break, Russell will likely return to the starting lineup, Medina relays in a separate piece, but don’t expect the coach to keep an open dialogue with the No. 2 overall pick about the decision. “He’s not old enough for me to have a meeting and discuss,” Scott said.
Kings Rumors: Karl, Rondo, Cousins
The Kings will take on the Celtics today and coach George Karl remains focused on the game rather than the rumors of him being fired, A. Sherrod Blakely of Comcast Sportsnet writes. “I have no control over what people think,” Karl said. “My job is to get prepared for Boston.”
Here’s more from Sacramento:
- Rajon Rondo appears to have a lax approach in dealing with the rumors, Blakely adds in the same piece. “It’s a part of the business; coaches get fired, players get traded,” Rondo deadpanned. Rondo did acknowledge that Karl has given him more freedom on the court which has allowed the point guard’s game to evolve.
- Karl believes the roster turnover is partly to blame for the Kings‘ 21-29 record, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com writes. Karl pointed out that the team entered this season with 10 new players. “The truth of the matter is I think this team has hung together pretty well through a lot of ups and downs this year,” Karl added.
- If Karl is fired, the DeMarcus Cousins trade talk will heat up again, Blakely speculates in a separate piece. Blakely adds that the Celtics would love to acquire Cousins, though the scribe admits that a trade is unlikely to occur.
Eastern Notes: DeRozan, Young, Vucevic
DeMar DeRozan has improved in every facet of his game this season, Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders contends in a piece that breaks down the shooting guard’s season to date. DeRozan’s ability to drive to the rim has been remarkable this season. Blancarte notes that he leads the league in drives to the rim this season with 11.8 per game and he is generating .99 points per possession, which is the seventh most in the league. DeRozan holds a player option for the 2016/17 season, but he will reportedly turn down his option and become an unrestricted free agent.
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- Nets combo forward Thaddeus Young dismissed the rumors about being traded to Detroit, which he first heard about from his wife, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. “She don’t want to go to Detroit, I know that,” Young said. Pistons president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy shot down those trade rumors earlier this week.
- Center Nikola Vucevic believes the Magic shouldn’t make any trades before the deadline this year, Brian Schmitz or The Orlando Sentinel writes. “That’s no reason to think we need to change anything. We have to find a way within each other to get back to what we were doing early in the year,” Vucevic said. The Magic are 21-28 on the season, going 1-9 over their last 10 contests.
- The Heat own a record of 29-22, but Jonathan Tjarks of RealGM believes the team is underachieving. With Hassan Whiteside and Dwyane Wade set to enter free agency this summer, Miami doesn’t have much time to figure out if this is the core it should invest in for the long term, Tjarks adds.
Clippers Sign Jeff Ayres To Second 10-Day Deal
TUESDAY, 5:18pm: The signing is official, the team announced.
SUNDAY, 12:52pm: The Clippers will sign Jeff Ayres to a second 10-day deal, Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times reports (Twitter link). The Arizona State product will cost the Clippers $55,722 in payroll over the length of this deal. The 28-year-old played in two games for Los Angeles during his first 10-day stint with the team, tallying just seven minutes of action.
Ayres filled the roster spot left vacant by Josh Smith after Smith was dealt to the Rockets and with the latest report on Blake Griffin‘s hand sounding pessimistic, Los Angeles has a need for an additional big man. Coach/executive Doc Rivers told reporters last week that Griffin’s timetable of returning in four to six weeks was unrealistic.
Ayres was having an excellent season with the Idaho Stampede before signing with the Clippers, notching a D-League All-Star selection in the process. However, he won’t be eligible to participate in the festivities unless he’s in the D-League at the time of the February 13th game.