Latest On Dion Waiters
Dion Waiters has yet to play for the Heat this season and it’s fair to wonder if he will ever play for the team again, as a trade remains possible.
Yet, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald hears that “no palatable trade scenario” has emerged for Waiters. Miami isn’t interested in attaching an asset to Waiters to move him, especially if the team receives a lesser player in return.
The best-case scenario for Waiters and the team may be to start fresh, despite Waiters’ social media jabs at the team, the suspension, and the reported conditioning issues. The former top-five pick may not warrant a huge role for this deep Heat roster. However, his offensive skill set could provide the team with value off of the bench.
Waiters has two seasons and roughly $25MM left on his deal. The shooting guard has spent the last three seasons with the Heat after stints with the Thunder and Cavs.
Zach Collins To Miss At Least Four Months
Zach Collins underwent successful shoulder surgery today and is expected to be out of action for at least four months, the Blazers announced in a press release. It was reported late last week that the big man would undergo surgery, though no timetable was presented at that time.
Collins, who suffered a shoulder dislocation last week, began the season as a starter in Portland. With Jusuf Nurkic also sidelined, the team’s frontcourt now appears shallow, with Hassan Whiteside as the only healthy proven option. The Blazers inked Pau Gasol for depth this offseason but the future Hall-of-Famer hasn’t yet seen game action because of foot woes.
Collins will be eligible for a rookie-scale extension next summer. He averaged 9.0 points and 4.0 rebounds during his three games (28.7 MPG) this season.
Eastern Notes: Drummond, Wagner, Fultz
Andre Drummond is averaging 21.3 points and 19.4 rebounds this season and Pistons head coach Dwane Casey believes the center can do more, as I relayed on Twitter.
“Andre is still a growing player. A lot of his game is evolving. He’s going to be able to other things. Every year, he’s going to bring something new to the table,” Casey said. “…he’s not even in the middle of his prime yet.”
Drummond will be one of the top players in a weak 2020 free agent class. He clearly has the talent to be an impact player, as he showcased while grabbing 24 rebounds against the Wizards. However, questions still remain about how much Drummond can contribute to a winning team.
His outstanding statistical game in Washington resulted in a 16-point loss. It’s the same story that has been recycled throughout his career. Entering year eight, he has been to the playoffs just two times (Detroit has been swept on both occasions) and it’s fair to wonder whether a team will view him as a max player or anywhere near it if he can’t elevate the Pistons in the win column.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Moritz Wagner, who came to the Wizards in the Anthony Davis three-team trade this summer, had an impressive defensive game against Drummond on Monday. According to Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington (Twitter link), during the 14 possessions Wagner guarded Drummond, Detroit’s big man went 1-for-8 and was blocked three times.
- Magic coach Steve Clifford called Markelle Fultz‘s feel for the game unique, complimenting the point guard on his abilities, as Roy Parry of the Orlando Sentinel relays (Twitter link). “In many ways, I just think he’s a good all-around player because he has a feel for the game. He’s a terrific passer and his ability to get into the paint and have a feel for where everybody is very unique,” Clifford said.
- Bruce Brown‘s ability to handle point guard duties is solving a problem for the Pistons, Rod Beard of The Detroit News writes. The team has been without Reggie Jackson and Derrick Rose because of injuries.
Bulls Notes: Davis, Toughness, Satoransky
A day after seemingly leaving the door open to the possibility of joining his hometown team, Anthony Davis told reporters today that he never said he would consider the Bulls in free agency next summer, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com tweets.
Davis said he is focused on winning a championship with the Lakers, and as for his free agency: “We’ll see where it goes.”
As Chicagoans go through the emotional roller coaster of a Davis news cycle, let’s take a look at more notes on the Bulls:
- Coach Jim Boylen feels the Bulls need to toughen up, as K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports relays. “Where we have struggled I think is at times we’ve been willing physically, but we’ve been weak mentally, ” Boylen said. “That’s also part of our development with this group. And we can make excuses for that. We can say we’re young, we can say we’re new. A lot of the league is young and a lot of the league is new. We can say we’re going to have played nine games in 14 days, we’ve played the most road games in the league. Is that pulling on our mental and physical toughness? Is that pulling on this group that’s never really been through it before together? Maybe it is. That’s the growth plate. That’s the learning moment.”
- New addition Tomas Satoransky sees an area in which the 2-5 Bulls can improve, as Johnson passes along in the same piece. “Offensively, we’re missing our pace from the preseason and I think sometimes we’re not taking open shots and instead we’re taking the tough ones and I think that has to change,” the point guard said.
- Sam Smith of NBA.com details how Thaddeus Young, who signed with the Bulls this offseason, is attempted to turn the young squad into a winning team. “The team has been straightforward to tell me what they expect of me and this is what’s going to happen,” Young said. “It’s up to me to be able to go out there and do my job to the best of my abilities. Whoever has it shaking and moving at that time, that’s who we have to go with. You just have to be ready to seize the moment, seize the opportunity.”
Isaiah Thomas Chose Wizards Because Of Opportunity, Sincerity
Prior to getting the nod on Monday night, the last time Isaiah Thomas started a game was on March 14, 2018 (vs. the Warriors as a member of the Lakers). Thomas, who signed a one-year deal with the Wizards this offseason, told Hoops Rumors and other media members in attendance at the Capital One Arena that he selected Washington because of the Wizards’ willingness to give him a chance and the transparency in their planning.
“I chose the Wizards because they looked me in the eye and told me they would give me an opportunity and I can’t thank them enough,” Thomas said after Monday’s win over the Pistons.
Thomas has battled through a hip injury that seemingly derailed his career. Entering this year, he injured his thumb, which delayed his debut with the club. The point guard admits that mentally, it wasn’t easy working his way back to this point.
“It’s rehab, and for me to go through that for two years was tough, I’m not going to lie to you. It did break me at times, but it can’t storm forever,” Thomas told Hoops Rumors and other media members on Monday. “The sun eventually has to come out at some point.
“I had real faith in God, and I know that he can put you things that you can always handle. I have a great circle around me, great friends, great family. They’ve helped me through these past two years, so it’s just taking advantage of the situation. I chose the Wizards because they looked me in the eye and told me they would give me an opportunity and I can’t thank them enough.”
The Wizards’ rotation has been fluid, with several members of the team returning from injury and coach Scott Brooks tinkering with players’ minutes. While IT in the starting lineup appears here to stay, more changes could be on the horizon. Thomas appreciates playing with the starters but he’s open to any role on the club going forward.
“I know who I am, I’m one of the best basketball players in the world. It doesn’t affect me,” Thomas said. “I approach the game the same way. But, I mean, I am happy to be starting.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
Cavaliers Notes: Beilein, Altman, Porter Jr.
In the wake of general manager Koby Altman‘s new long-term contract extension, head coach John Beilein said that Altman’s presence on the Cavaliers was one of the reasons he took the job, as Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com relays.
“That was one of the attractive things about taking the job,” Beilein said of Altman. “I knew [Cavs assistant GM] Mike Gansey really well but he had such great things to say about Koby and then during the whole process I could see a guy I would love to work for. Just love the direction of everything. Have great faith in each other. He’s letting me coach and at the same time he understands what we need in a roster and I think he’s going to build that.”
Here’s more from Cleveland:
- Hiring Beilein was a risky move for Altman, Fedor contends in the same piece. There haven’t been many college coaches who have found success in the NBA, though Altman’s willingness to think outside the box is part of the reason that he landed an extension with the Cavaliers. “Koby has been a culture-driver and an innovator who has built a fresh, new foundation and environment for our front office and team that inspires everyone involved,” team owner Dan Gilbert said. “…I look forward to seeing his hard work and creativity continue to make us better and help guide the team towards reaching our goals for years to come.”
- Altman believes the security the Cavaliers gave him in his long-term extension will allow him to carry out his plan for the team, Fedor relays in separate piece. “Started as a scout, working my way up all the way to assistant general manager and now this,” Altman. “It’s been a lot of growth and development from my standpoint. Really appreciative of that. It’s a great sign for the franchise that we have stability and continuity moving forward. It gives us unlimited potential.” We passed along more of Altman’s comments on Monday.
- Kevin Porter Jr. has been suspended for one game by the league. The rookie made contact with a referee during the Cavaliers‘ loss to the Mavericks on Sunday.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/3/19
Here are Sunday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA G League:
- The Wizards are sending Justin Robinson back to the G League. The guard saw action in Washington’s embarrassing loss to the Wolves, scoring five points in nine minutes of action. That game was his second NBA contest of the season. This assignment to the Capital City Go-Go will be his second of the year.
Wizards Notes: Offense, Bertans, Beal, Wall
The Wizards are shooting more three-pointers than ever before, as I recently detailed on NBAMath. In fact, every Wizards’ rotation player is experiencing a career-high in three-pointers shot per game.
Washington is currently 1-4 on the year but the team’s offensive efficiency ranks sixth in the league. That’s an improvement on last season, when the Wizards were league average in the stat. The offseason of change in the nation’s capital has led to improvement on at least one side of the ball. Now, the defense is a story for another day.
Here’s more from Washington:
- Candace Buckner of The Washington Post examines the Moritz Wagner and Davis Bertans pairing. The duo came to the Wizards in separate trades this offseason.
- Wizards owner Ted Leonsis insists that Bradley Beal and John Wall have a better relationship than various reports over the years have suggested, as Matt Weyrich of NBC Sports relays. “Brad and John are way closer than the media portrays,” Leonsis said on The Habershow podcast. “They are also deeply immersed in the culture of the NBA and history of the NBA. Having a great backcourt is priority one and why would you want to, if you’re a great player, be a sidekick, if you will. And is that leading to happiness? I mean that’s the amazing thing that you see. You’ve never seen as many unhappy people as you’re seeing in the NBA.”
- Beal recently signed an extension to stay with the Wizards for two additional years. Leonsis is happy with the new deal and talked about how he couldn’t understand why top players would go somewhere where they are not a top option. “If you get a young player and they’re a part of building your culture and the team, the culture really becomes theirs,” Leonsis said. “That’s the key thing and so if you’re gifted, and you’re gonna get paid in the NBA, why go play and be the third wheel? It’s counter-intuitive to me. Like, it’s LeBron’s team in LA. How’d it go last year? Did anyone look happy in L.A.? So Brad and John and the players here, they’re a part of something and it’s gonna be really, really hard. But [they’re] in it together.”
Community Shootaround: Top Performers On New Teams
The league saw more players change teams this offseason than ever before and not everyone on a new team is contributing equally. Let’s take a look at which players are adding the most value to their new squads (ranking via NBAMath’s TPA*).
- Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets
- Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
- Aron Baynes, Phoenix Suns
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets
- Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers
- Al Horford, Philadelphia 76ers
- Kemba Walker, Boston Celtics
- Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers
- Delon Wright, Dallas Mavericks
*Entering Thursday night’s contest
As I wrote in my weekly notebook for NBA Math, there are some surprises on the list. Baynes is chief among them, as the center has found additional playing time thanks to the Deandre Ayton suspension. The 32-year-old was acquired by the Suns in what essentially amounted to a salary dump (Phoenix also netted a first-rounder from the deal) and the fact that he’s been able to step up has significantly contributed to the Suns’ hot start.
So this leads us to tonight’s community shootaround question: Now that we have over a week of action in the books, Which non-star player on a new team do you feel will contribute the most this year and which star (in a new uniform) will have the biggest impact?
Take to the comment section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say!
And-Ones: Kuzma, NCAA, Vujacic, Agents
Kyle Kuzma will make his debut for the Lakers on Friday and LeBron James is happy to have him back with the club, as Sacha Pisani of Sporting News relays.
“He hasn’t played since USA basketball when he had the stress reaction,” James said “Obviously he’s been training and working out, but like I always tell you guys, there’s no substitution for game fatigue and game stamina.
“That will come, though. It’s great to have him back on the floor. We definitely missed him.”
Here’s more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Sasha Vujacic wants to return to the NBA, as tells Arash Markazi of the Los Angeles Times. “I love the game so much, and I don’t want to walk away yet,” Vujacic said. “I’m in the best shape of my life right now. I work out every summer with DeAndre Jordan, and he said the same thing. I’m 35, but I feel like I’m 25. As long as I have that desire and fire inside of me, I’m going to keep pushing.”
- The NCAA has begun the process of allowing student-athletes to benefit from their name and likeness, as their website announces.
- Longtime NBA agents Roger Montgomery and Derrick Powell are teaming up to form the Elite Athlete Group, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com relays (Twitter link). Powell previously worked with Ja Morant.