Lakers Notes: Opening Night, LeBron, Kawhi, Jones
Kyle Kuzma is not playing for the Lakers tonight against the Clippers as he recovers from a stress reaction in his left foot. According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com, it’s not clear how long Kuzma will remain sidelined.
“He’s on no-contact, half-court now,” coach Frank Vogel said of Kuzma. “I’m sure we’ll build up to no-contact, full-court with sprinting or potentially half-court with contact. I’m not sure which direction they’re going to take it next, but there will be a progression this week building him up.”
Vogel added that Kuzma has been “impatient” with his injury but is “on board with the plan” that the team has to get him back at full strength.
Here’s more from Los Angeles:
- LeBron James could envision a world where Kawhi Leonard was also on the Lakers, but he isn’t sure why the reigning Finals MVP picked the Clippers in free agency, as McMenamin relays in a separate piece. “Man, how the hell can I answer that? I don’t [expletive] know,” James said jocularly when asked what convinced Leonard to sign elsewhere. “I don’t know. I don’t know. Ask Kawhi.”
- Anthony Davis said he had a role in attempting to recruit Leonard. “It was fun just to go through it, for me, with a player like Kawhi, trying to recruit him to come here. It was fun,” Davis said (via McMenamin in the same article). “We had one conversation, and I think he came out with a statement, or his uncle or something … somebody said he don’t really like all the recruitment and all that stuff, so I felt like I overstepped my boundaries…But it was a fun process. I would do it all over.”
- The South Bay Lakers have traded the G League rights of Jemerrio Jones to the Wisconsin Herd (Bucks‘ affiliate), per a team press release. The Lakers’ affiliate will receive the No. 8 overall pick in the upcoming G League draft and the Herd’s 2020 first-rounder for Jones, who was recently waived by the Wizards and signed by Bucks on an Exhibit 10 deal.
Rockets Make Three More Moves
OCTOBER 18: The Rockets have officially announced the signing of Maker.
OCTOBER 17: The Rockets converted Chris Clemons‘ Exhibit 10 deal to a two-way contract earlier today and they are not done making moves. The club is signing Matur Maker to an Exhibit 10 deal, Alykhan Bijani of The Athletic reports (Twitter link).
The team has also waived Jaron Blossomgame and Michael Frazier, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (Twitter link).
Frazier, who was the G League’s Most Improved Player last season, hurt his right ankle during training camp and hasn’t played since, Feigen notes. The Rockets own the guard’s G League rights, but do not hold Blossomgame’s G League rights. The defensive-minded forward played 13.0 minutes per game for the Rockets this preseason.
Maker, meanwhile, is the brother of Pistons big man Thon Maker. He went undrafted in June after playing for Zlatorog Lasko in Slovenia.
Blazers Convert Moses Brown’s Contract To Two-Way Deal
The Trail Blazers are converting Moses Brown‘s Exhibit 10 deal into a two-way contract, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link).
Portland doesn’t have a G League team, so Brown will play for another team’s affiliate. The franchise didn’t sign any players to two-way contracts last season, but they’ve filled both slots this year, as our tracker shows. Jaylen Hoard joins Brown as the Blazers’ two-way players.
Brown, who turned 20 years old on Sunday spent his lone college season at UCLA last year. The 7’1″ center played in 32 games for the Bruins, averaging 9.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.
Jazz To Pick Up Tony Bradley’s 2020/21 Option
The Jazz are picking up Tony Bradley‘s fourth-year option, Tony Jones of The Athletic reports (Twitter link). Bradley will make roughly $3.54MM during the 2020/21 season.
Bradley was the No. 28 overall pick in the 2017 draft out of UNC. The center hasn’t played much since joining Utah, appearing in just 12 contests for the club over his first two seasons with the team.
Bradley was a candidate to be released this offseason, but his strong play during Summer League secured his spot on the roster. He’ll now be a free agent during the 2021 offseason.
Pacers Sign Stephan Hicks
The Pacers have signed Stephan Hicks, according to Scott Agness of The Athletic (Twitter link). Hicks’ deal is likely an Exhibit 10 pact.
Hicks spent the past four seasons with the Mad Ants, Indiana’s G League squad. He’ll likely find his way to the G League yet again this season, earning an Exhibit 10 bonus as an affiliate player for the Mad Ants.
Hicks played his college ball at California State University. The guard will turn 28 turn during the 2019/20 season.
Pistons Exercise Luke Kennard’s 2020/21 Option
The Pistons have exercised Luke Kennard‘s fourth-year option, as Rod Beard of The Detroit News relays. Kennard is slated to make $5.3MM during the 2020/21 season.
The shooting guard was selected with the No. 12 pick in the 2017 draft. He started 10 games for the Pistons last season.
Kennard is one of just five players on the team with a guaranteed contract for the 2020/21 campaign. Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose, Sekou Doumbouya, and Khyri Thomas are the four others.
Knicks Notes: Barrett, Trier, Rotation
Head coach David Fizdale can envision No. 3 overall pick RJ Barrett playing some point guard for the Knicks this season, Steve Popper of Newsday writes.
“Yeah, I do [like what I’ve seen from him as a lead guard],” Fizdale said of Barrett playing the one. “He’s really poised. He looks comfortable. The kid likes having the ball in his hands. He’s unselfish. He finds people. He understands – he knows our plays from that position. I feel very comfortable if I have to throw him there.”
Here’s more from New York:
- Allonzo Trier could struggle to make the Knicks’ rotation, Mike Vorkunov contends in a piece for The Athletic. New York’s backcourt is crowded with Dennis Smith Jr., Frank Ntilikina, and Elfrid Payton among the players also vying for minutes.
- Fizdale insists that last summer’s crop of free agents was a success from a development standpoint, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News relays. Emmanuel Mudiay and Noah Vonleh are among the players to improve while playing for the Knicks last season and find a new home this offseason.
- Damyean Dotson is determined to prove that he deserves playing time in the Knicks’ crowded rotation, as Popper writes in a separate piece. “It’s been like that since I’ve been here,” Dotson said. “Tim [Hardaway Jr.], [Courtney] Lee. Ever since I’ve been here it’s always been stacked at the 2-guard, wing spot. Like I said, you’ve just to compete every day, bring it, be ready to play when your name is called, stay professional and stay ready.”
Heat Place High Value On Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo
Miami had talks with the Thunder on at least two occasions this offseason, discussing Russell Westbrook – before OKC dealt him to Houston – and Chris Paul. Sean Deveney of Heavy.com hears that the Heat were reluctant to include Tyler Herro in that deal or any deals over the summer.
“They’ve been firm on him and (Bam) Adebayo being untouchable,” one GM told Deveney. “Maybe they would move off of that as the season goes on, but as it stands, they think they’ve got the second coming of Klay Thompson offensively. They have not had a lot of useful guys on rookie contracts in past years and that’s killed their cap. They’ve got two now, they don’t want to let them go.”
Herro was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 draft. Adebayo, who is set to take over the team’s starting center spot, was the No. 14 overall pick in the 2017 draft. Both players give the franchise hope for the future and are long-term building blocks on a roster that has the necessary pieces to compete for the playoffs now.
Yet, in order for the Heat to take the next step toward title contention, they may have to acquire another established star (such as Bradley Beal). Miami will have trouble putting together a legit trade package worthy of one without including their young prospects since the team already owes a pair of first-round picks to Oklahoma City and can’t deal another first-rounder earlier than its 2025 pick.
Heat Sign Skyler Flatten, Bubu Palo
The Heat have signed a pair of players with an eye on stocking up their G League team, the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Guards Skyler Flatten and Bubu Palo have inked contracts with Miami, as the team’s website relays.
The two contracts are likely Exhibit 10 deals similar to the pacts Jeremiah Martin and Mychal Mulder had before the team waived them earlier today. Martin and Mulder are likely to end up with the club’s G League affiliate.
Miami still has a pair of two-way deals available, as our tracker shows, though there’s no word yet on the Heat’s plans for those contracts.
Wizards’ Frontcourt Additions Gaining Familiarity
The Wizards revamped their frontcourt this offseason, acquiring Davis Bertans from the Spurs and netting Moritz Wagner in a package from the Lakers, and Washington is using the preseason to get the pair acclimated. Both big men can knock down the three-ball with ease and Wagner feels that playing next to the sharp-shooting power forward has made his life easier on the court, as he recently told Hoops Rumors and other media members.
“It’s fun. I mean, he’s a killer,” Wagner said of Bertans after a recent preseason game against the Bucks. “He doesn’t really care if he misses, so he lets a fly all the time. It makes my life easier because all I have to do is really set good screens and be solid defensively. It’s unbelievable to play with him, all these guys honestly. They do an incredible job, play tough as heck. It’s a lot of fun.”
Bertans’ shooting was a major reason why the Wizards traded for him this offseason. The Latvian made 42.9% of his three-pointers last season, though the team knows he isn’t a one-trick pony.
“[Bertans] one of the best shooting bigs in the league and we’re lucky to have him and that’s a great addition to our ballclub over the summer,” Coach Scott Brooks told the media, including Hoops Rumors, on Sunday.
“We knew what we were getting, and it was under the radar how good he was going to be for us because a lot of time shooters don’t get the same respect. But he’s great. We love him. I like how he plays, I like how he competes. On the defense he contests shots. And when I talked to Pop [Gregg Popovich] over the summer, that’s when he said you’re going to be surprised defensively, he contests shots and he chases over screens. He gives you multiple efforts, he’s not just a jump shooter.”
How many minutes Wagner and Bertans will spend together on the court remains to be seen. Bradley Beal and Bryant are locks to start and Ish Smith—by virtue of being the only healthy veteran point guard available—will likely join them on opening night. Brooks could still opt to insert Bertans in the starting lineup, as the two starting forward positions remain unsettled.
The Wizards have set a different starting lineup in each of their first four preseason games and Bertans came off the bench in each of those contests. However, it’s worth noting that the former Spur was teamed up with the three presumed starters during an internal scrimmage earlier today.
While Wagner started one of the preseason games alongside Bryant, he’ll likely open the season as Washington’s backup five. He saw roughly 60% of his minutes at the center position last season, per Basketball-Reference, and with Ian Mahinmi nursing a right Achilles strain, the Wizards have an immediate need for someone to spell starter Thomas Bryant. Wagner should also see some time at the four this season and he’s comfortable playing either spot, as his role on the court doesn’t really change.
“I do the same thing, I’m the same player. So, whatever number you want to put on it,” Wagner said on Sunday. “I’m the same Mo, I really don’t care. In this league, you are who you can guard, so I think that’s the challenge. Either way, I’m excited to do that.”
Fans in Washington will see many new faces this season, particularly in the frontcourt where Bryant is the only big man from last year’s squad expected to be available for opening night. The franchise has one more preseason contest (Friday vs. the Sixers) before the regular season begins in Dallas.
“I think as a team, overall, we’ve done a really good job,” Wagner added. “Just connecting really well, just talking to each other, and planting confidence in each other. I think it looks good so far.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.