Mavs Teammates Bothered By DeAndre Jordan’s Play?
DeAndre Jordan‘s up-and-down relationship with the Mavericks organization appears likely to hit another inflection point. Jordan has been a “major disappointment” so far for the Mavs, according to Tim MacMahon, who reports in ESPN’s weekly power rankings that the veteran center has rubbed some teammates the wrong way with what they view as “selfish” play.
Jordan bumped rookie Luka Doncic out of the way to grab an otherwise-uncontested rebound during a recent game, something the team feels is an example of a troubling pattern. The optics compound the issues with Jordan’s fit on the team. Dallas needs him to be an anchor on the defensive end, but he has struggled with help defense, as Dan Feldman of NBC Sports writes. Opposing teams are scoring nearly three points more per 100 possessions when Jordan is on the floor compared to when he sits.
It’s difficult to envision Jordan returning to the Mavericks next season, Feldman contends. The big man, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, is making approximately $24MM this season.
Sixers Remain Interested In Kyle Korver
Fresh off of a blockbuster deal that brought in Jimmy Butler, the Sixers are eyeing moves that will add shooting to a roster depleted of it.
Philadelphia remains “highly” interested in Kyle Korver, as Marc Stein writes in his weekly newsletter for The New York Times. Stein notes that it will be difficult for Philadelphia to acquire Korver now that Jerryd Bayless is no longer on the team. Bayless, who is on an expiring contract worth $8.6MM, was sent to Minnesota in the Butler deal.
Korver signed a three-year, $22MM contract with the Cavaliers during the summer of 2017. LeBron James has since left The Land, making him an awkward fit on a rebuilding squad.
Philadelphia still has options, as a package of Mike Muscala and Zhaire Smith would financially work for a Korver trade. With Muscala seeing meaningful minutes this year, it’s hard to see the Sixers including him or their promising 2018 first-rounder in a deal for the 37-year-old.
Swapping Markelle Fultz for Korver would also work financially, though the team’s front office appears to be taking a patient approach with the former No. 1 overall pick, which makes a Fultz trade unlikely at the moment.
Draymond Green Suspended For One Game
Draymond Green will sit out of tonight’s game against the Hawks, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reports (Twitter link). The Warriors will suspend him without pay, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski tweets.
Green’s absence from the court comes just one night after he clashed with Kevin Durant during and after Monday’s loss to the Clippers. Green attempted to win the game himself during the closing seconds of regulation, committing a turnover and sending the game to overtime. Both All-Stars appeared angry prior to overtime and after the loss, Green reportedly was “forceful” in defending himself on the play that could have won them the game.
Green also reportedly challenged Durant about KD’s upcoming free agency during the confrontation. Durant is expected to decline his player option and hit the open market next summer.
Klay Thompson, who is usually reserved in most situations, spoke up in the locker room, Haynes relays in a full-length piece. The shooting guard reportedly talked with his teammates about the altercation and attempted to unify the team.
The suspension will cost Green roughly $120K, Bobby Marks of ESPN.com tweets. He is expected to be back with the team on Thursday against the Rockets, as the Warriors announce that it will be a one-game suspension (via Twitter). The official reasoning is conduct detrimental to the team.
Fantasy Hoops: Moving On From Markelle Fultz
It’s the ninth game of the season. The Sixers have surrendered a 20-plus-point lead to the meandering Clippers, just two days after an embarrassing loss to the division-leading Raptors. The morale is low and Lou Williams sets up pick-and-roll against his home city for a potential game-tying bucket in the closing minutes of the third quarter.
An unlikely defender helps to spearhead a defensive stop. It’s Markelle Fultz, who fights through a pick to stay with Williams and forces him to pass out the ball before grabbing the defensive rebound. Fultz then takes it the length of the court and lays it in. The crowd in the Wells Fargo Center erupts, as it has for nearly every positive Fultz play over the past year. Despite his struggles, the 76ers faithful are fully behind last year’s No. 1 pick, who is showcasing some potential during a season littered with disappointing possessions.
There’s a sense of calm among Philadelphia sports fans, as I explained on NBA Math’s Hardwood Knocks podcast. Maybe it’s the aftereffect of the Eagles bringing the city a liberating NFL championship. Maybe years of Sam Hinkie setting up The Process and fans seeing the fruit of that work have taught the city patience. Whatever it is, a fanbase that may have – in the past – torn apart a player who failed to meet lofty expectations is now supporting him as he attempts to cultivate his game. The team shares the city’s vibe, as it knows Fultz must live up to his potential for the team to reach its ceiling in its current form.
“Any game experience with him is fantastic,” J.J. Redick told the media, including Hoops Rumors, after a recent Sixers home game.
“[Fultz] didn’t get a chance to be in a rhythm last year, so part of that for any young player is, and I had to do this with [Austin Rivers] when he first came to the Clippers, you got to figure out what your base is every night…’Make or miss, these are the things I’m going to do every night’ and I think for Markelle, getting the chance to get 25-30 minutes a game is huge. Gives him a chance to build his base and part of that is going to be playmaking and being on the ball on offense.”
Getting Fultz reps with the ball has been tricky and playing him alongside Ben Simmons hasn’t been successful. The Sixers have been outscored by 6.3 points per 100 possessions when the duo shares the floor. Head coach Brett Brown recognized the issue and adjusted his lineup after the loss to the Bucks by staggering Simmons and Fultz more. The pair hasn’t seen as many as 10 minutes together in any game since that night in Milwaukee.
The rotation change has resulted in less court time for the University of Washington product, as his playing time has dipped by more than two minutes per game since the adjustment. Still, Fultz is likely playing more than his production warrants and that’s a result of his No. 1 pick status and Philadelphia’s (justified) patience with a player it hopes can be a major piece on a championship team.
Fantasy owners should not display the same patience this season. Fultz is a streaky option with low percentages (39.3% from the field, 30.8% from behind the arc), someone who belongs on waivers, far away from fantasy lineups. If you own him, you could hold onto him until his next decent game and attempt to trade him to an owner who buys into the potential.
T.J. McConnell played over Fultz in crunch-time lineups earlier in the season before he saw Mike Muscala take that fifth spot from him. Neither one of those players are long-term fantasy options. Dario Saric could be a nice daily fantasy play with Muscala unlikely to suit up against the Pacers on Wednesday, though the Croatian has struggled this season, making just 33% of his attempts from the field.
Robert Covington is questionable for the contest in Indiana with lower back soreness. He’s been a fantasy asset so far this year, especially in roto leagues. He’s owned in 28% of ESPN leagues but that figure is criminal. Scoop him up if he’s on the waiver wire regardless of whether he suits up on Wednesday.
Wilson Chandler is expected to play a low-usage role for the Sixers, as he recently told Hoops Rumors. He’s on a restriction of 10 minutes per game as he works his way back from a hamstring injury and it’s unlikely he becomes a consistent fantasy option this season.
Philadelphia’s injuries may give Fultz some added time on the court this week and maybe it’s worth waiting it out for that aforementioned decent game before pulling the plug. More likely, it’s best to cut ties and look for someone with a better chance at becoming a quality fantasy contributor this season (like Frank Ntilikina, who is owned in just 6.2% of ESPN leagues).
The 76ers franchise, the city, it’s fans and affiliates reserve the right to have patience with the 20-year-old point guard. It’s not recommended that fantasy owners follow suit.
Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.
Missed an earlier edition of Fantasy Hoops? Check out the entire series here.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Lack Of Confidence In Zubac Led Lakers To Sign Chandler
The Lakers added Tyson Chandler today in a move that was made in part because the team’s lack of confidence in former second-round pick Ivica Zubac, Tania Ganguli of The Los Angeles Times reports.
Zubac has had promising appearances as a Laker, like a game against Portland last week in which he had nine points and eight rebounds. Still, Los Angeles is giving up 12.7 offensive rebounds per game this year, a figure that ranks near the bottom of the league. The lack of frontcourt depth along with Zubac’s inconsistency plays a part in the struggles.
Zubac understands that he’ll see less playing time with the addition of Chandler. “That’s up to coaches but I’m playing my hardest,” Zubac said. “I’m trying to grab all the boards. We had some problems with offensive rebounds and second-chance points in the last couple of games. That’s my main focus, just to get those defensive boards.”
Chandler is expected to make his debut for the Lakers on Wednesday against the Timberwolves, Jordan Schultz of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link).
Eric Bledsoe Enjoying His Time With Bucks
Eric Bledsoe, who can hit the free agency after the season, is enjoying his time in Milwaukee. The Bucks are 8-1 and the point guard has never enjoyed this kind of success during his NBA career.
“Everything’s a learning experience. We’ve got a great bunch of guys in this locker room that are willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team and it’s fun playing that way,” Bledsoe said (via Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel).
This time last year, Bledsoe was stuck in a slow rebuild in Phoenix, having let the world know via Twitter that he was in a place he didn’t want to be. His reputation took a hit for the Salon tweet but it’s not something he’s still concerned about.
“That’s life, bro,” Bledsoe said. “Everybody is not going to like you. Some people aren’t going to like you and some people like you. You can’t go through life worrying about stuff like that both on and off the court.”
Bledsoe was sent to Milwaukee for Greg Monroe and a pair of draft picks last November and he has thrived since coming to the Bucks. Velazquez notes that in 80 games with the team, Bledsoe is averaging 17.4 points, 5.2 assists and 1.9 steals in 31.0 minutes per game.
All is going well on the court and off of it, as Bledsoe is enjoying Wisconsin. His wife and children have moved to Milwaukee, a change from last season where his family remained in Phoenix.
“I’m blessed, man,” Bledsoe said. “I’ve got my family here to support me, I’ve got great teammates, a great coaching staff. Everything is in the right direction…I’m living my dream.”
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/6/18
Here are Tuesday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Warriors have assigned Jacob Evans III to the team’s G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, according to the team’s website. Evans, who was the No. 28 overall pick in the 2018 draft, has played in seven NBA games this season, seeing just 6.3 minutes per contest.
Lakers Sign Tyson Chandler
The Lakers have signed Tyson Chandler, GM Rob Pelinka announced today (via the team’s website). Chandler was waived by the Suns over the weekend and cleared waivers earlier this evening.
“Having observed our roster for the first 10 games of this young season, one of the areas that [president of basketball operations Magic Johnson] and I discussed with [head coach] Luke [Walton] that we desired to upgrade is interior defense and rebounding,” said Pelinka.
“In Tyson Chandler, we addressed that need, and so much more. We are excited that Tyson will bring championship-level experience to our Lakers team that will solidify our veteran leadership and help positively shape our young core. We are thrilled for Tyson to join us as we progress towards our ultimate goals as a team.”
The deal will be a one-year pact for the veteran’s minimum, per Marc Stein of the New York Times. He’ll receive approximately $2.11MM this season, which is the same amount that he gave up in his buyout agreement with the Suns. The Lakers’ cap hit for the deal will be about $1.33MM.
The news of Chandler coming to the Lakers broke on Sunday and LeBron James told local media members that he was thrilled with the reports. “We love the fact that we’re going to get another veteran. A guy who plays hard, who is very smart and another champion,” James said. Chandler previously played with James on the 2012 Gold Medal Olympic team.
The 4-time MVP added that Chandler “adds depth” to an area the team has “struggled” with at times this season. Los Angeles signed JaVale McGee during the offseason and he’s played well. However, the team lacks a reliable big behind the former Warrior.
Chandler is expected to make his debut for the Lakers on Wednesday against the Timberwolves, Jordan Schultz of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Heat Not Worried About Lack Of True Point Guards On Roster
Goran Dragic was expected to return to the court today but because of lingering foot pain, he won’t practice with the Heat nor play in the game against the Hawks tonight.
“I feel like it’s frustrating but just need to think about the future. So it’s still sore, so hopefully, go day by day and see what happens,” Dragic said (via Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel).
Miami hopes Dragic will be able to play against Detroit on Sunday, though the team will continue to take the long view rather than rushing him back on the court. While Dragic is the only true point guard on the roster, coach Erik Spoelstra believes the team has all it needs despite not having another traditional floor general.
“We have a lot of ball handlers,” Spoelstra said. “If anything, our roster has as much depth with ball handling and playmaking as any conventional team would with specific point guards.
“Additionally, the league is changing. It really is becoming less position oriented. I’m having enough challenges getting the ball spread around to guys. It seems like half of my roster wants to bring the ball up and initiate offense. So when Goran is out, it will give other guys opportunities to do that. But that extends to our frontcourt. We have frontcourt players that also handle the ball quite a bit.”
Miami had a Briante Weber, an experience, defensive-minded point guard, on the roster during training camp but elected to release him.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 10/28/18 – 11/03/18
Every week, our writing team here at Hoops Rumors creates original content to complement our news feed. Below are the original segments and features from the past seven days:
- More than a few players could be changing teams in November and Luke Adams examined five potential storylines to watch in regard to player movement.
- Luke Adams identified some trade candidates within the Atlantic Division, including the Knicks‘ Courtney Lee.
- In our weekly Fantasy Hoops series, I examined the drama surrounding the Cavaliers and how fantasy owners can benefit from the dysfunction.
- With Tyronn Lue claiming the title of first coach fired, Luke Adams took a look at the recent history of in-season NBA coaching changes.
- The deadline for teams to exercise a third- or fourth-year option was Wednesday and Luke Adams recapped all of the teams’ decisions.
- In our Community Shootarounds this week, we asked:
- Should the Wizards make moves to become more competitive?
- Do the TrailBlazers have enough on the roster to again make the playoffs in a crowded Western Conference?
- In a poll, Eric Spyropoulos asked about the Wizards‘ playoffs chances. At the time of this writing, roughly 67% of readers believe Washington can still make the playoffs and earn a lower seed.
- In another poll, Luke Adams asked which team is the early favorite to win the Eastern Conference. The Raptors are currently in the lead with 42% of the votes.