The Latest On Furkan Korkmaz
The Sixers declined to exercise Furkan Korkmaz‘s third-year option, meaning he will become a free agent at the end of the season. It was previously reported that Korkmaz wouldn’t mind being traded, as he isn’t receiving an opportunity to consistently play. He confirmed that desire to be traded should he continue to sit on the bench.
“I’m still the same way,” Korkmaz said. “That’s why I will try to see what my opportunities are right now. Just like I told you before, I just want to play,” the 21-year-old said (via Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer).
“If I’m not getting minutes here, I just want to look for other options. I don’t know what’s the options right now, just try to be on the court,” Korkmaz continued.
The Sixers drafted Korkmaz with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2016 draft. He’s only played in 19 career NBA games with five of those coming this season.
“I feel like I didn’t really have that opportunity,” Korkmaz said of receiving playing time. “Last year, I was injured for a long time and this year just a couple of games in the garbage time. It wasn’t like good rotation minutes for me. That’s why I feel like I didn’t get that opportunity to show on the court what I got.”
Fantasy Hoops: Keeping Up With The Cavaliers
It was all good just a week ago… or maybe it wasn’t. Cleveland’s documented power struggle between the coach and the front office has ended and the results will bring a new leader on the court and the potential for new fantasy options to emerge.
(This is not to be confused with Cleveland’s other power struggle: Hue Jackson Vs. Winning Games. That also ended earlier this week with the Browns firing both Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Be sure to check out our sister site Pro Football Rumors for everything that happened at this year’s NFL trade deadline). 
Cavs players were reportedly angry with the decision to fire Tyronn Lue. Kevin Love posted a photo of him and Lue on social media and perhaps coincidentally, on the day after the firing, it was reported that Love could miss up to month with an ailing toe. Cleveland had made a promise to Love that the team would remain competitive this season though it has failed to turn words into actions.
Don’t expect a trade soon, as Love isn’t eligible to be dealt until January. He is a decent bet to be on the block leading up to this season’s trade deadline. Love shouldn’t be dropped in fantasy but if your team begins to struggle, swapping a high-risk, high-reward player in an ever-developing situation for immediate help is likely the right move.
Interim coach “Voice of the team” Larry Drew is coaching this squad in a setting which has been likened to a “substitute teacher” entering the classroom. The kids in Cleveland earned an A grade on Tuesday night, beating the Hawks by 22 points in the team’s first win of the season.
Rodney Hood had arguably his best game as a Cavalier, looking like the player the Cavs thought they were trading for when they acquired him from the Jazz last February. He made nine of his 13 looks on Tuesday and registered three steals. Hood is going to be a major part of the Cavaliers’ rotation and deserves to be in fantasy lineups.
Cedi Osman should be owned in all leagues. He started and scored 20 points and will remain in a prominent role until Love returns. Jordan Clarkson, who had an off night, making just 1-of-5 from downtown, deserves attention as well.
J.R. Smith can be dropped. He didn’t play on Tuesday and has been told he’s out of the rotation, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. Kyle Korver shouldn’t be on rosters right now, as the team is currently shopping the sharpshooter. Depending on the landing spot, he may be worth an add but he won’t exactly be a highly coveted fantasy free agent once that happens beyond owners looking to stream a 3-point specialist.
The situation is Cleveland appears fluid. The team may become more active in looking to trade other vets in the next few weeks. Stay tuned to Keeping Up With The Cavaliers within our Fantasy Hoops series to stay ahead of the competition in fantasy basketball and benefit from the unique state of Cleveland’s affairs.
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.
Larry Drew “Very Disappointed” In Negotiations With Cavs
9:47pm: The Cavaliers have not been aggressive in searching for another coach, sources tell Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com.
Drew, who is earning nearly $1MM this season, is one of the league’s highest-paid assistants. However, he’s looking for a raise on his salary in return for becoming the interim coach. The ESPN duo adds that it’s unclear how long Drew is willing to act as the coach without an agreement.
Windhorst and Wojnarowski also report that the Cavs again talking with teams about Kyle Korver trades, noting that the club could be more active in looking to deal other veterans in the coming weeks.
5:23pm: Larry Drew made it clear he was yet not the Cavaliers interim coach, telling the media earlier this week that he’s simply the “voice” of the team. He had hoped to reach an agreement with the Cavs to become the new floor leader. Prior to tonight’s game with Atlanta, there is still no deal in place and Drew is “very disappointed” in the lack of progress, Joe Varden of The Athletic tweets.
Drew added that he will “never quit” on the team and will “remain professional,” as Sam Amico of Amico Hoops relays via Twitter. Drew has been told the Cavaliers may bring another person in to be the head coach and he may be moved to his previous role.
“I’m fine with [the team bringing in another coach] … my contract is up in July. Maybe Larry Drew isn’t part of the future,” Drew said.
Drew has a career 143-169 record as a head coach. It was previously reported that there was a push within the organization to make Drew a long-term commitment.
Rockets “Leaning Against” Picking Up Chriss’ Option
The Rockets are leaning against picking up Marquese Chriss‘ fourth-year option, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com.
Chriss came to Houston along with Brandon Knight in a deal that sent out Ryan Anderson and De’Anthony Melton. The former No. 8 overall pick has yet to play this season because of an ankle injury, though he is expected to make his debut tonight against the Blazers.
Chriss won’t be the only young prospect from the 2016 draft to have his option declined. Dragan Bender and Henry Ellenson are among those who will see the same fate. Jahlil Okafor and Wesley Johnson are among the other recent top draft picks who have not made it through year four of their rookie deals.
Chriss has seen action in 154 games in his NBA career. He’s averaging 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per contest.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Pacers have assigned Ike Anigbogu to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, according to the team’s website. Anigbogu, who was the 47th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, received only three minutes of action for Indiana so far this season.
- The Grizzlies have recalled Jevon Carter from the team’s G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle, per a team press release. Carter is available for tonight’s tilt with Washington.
- The Hornets have assigned Devonte’ Graham to the Greensboro Swarm, according to the team’s website.
Suns To Decline Dragan Bender’s 4th-Year Option
The Suns will decline Dragan Bender‘s fourth-year option, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com reports. The move will free Phoenix of Bender’s $5.8MM salary that he would have received during the 2019/20 season.
“Of course I wish they picked up the option, but I am not going to let this stop me from reaching my goals,” Bender said. “I am 20, and I will keep working to be the best NBA player I can be and make it in this league whether it’s with Phoenix or another team.”
Bender was one of the top prospects in the 2016 Draft and one of the most heavily-scouted European prospects in recent memory. He was expected to form a young, up-and-coming frontcourt combo in Phoenix with fellow first-rounder Marquese Chriss. Chriss has since been traded to Houston and Bender has failed to live up to expectations.
Phoenix has the ability to re-sign Bender after the season, though the team would be limited to offering him a starting salary of $5.8MM. Woj notes that Bender playing with the Suns beyond this season is a “doubtful outcome.”
Eastern Notes: Nets, Bamba, Griffin
Joe Harris, who re-signed with the Nets on a two-year, $16MM deal this past offseason, is helping Brooklyn play a better offensive game, Tom Dowd of NBA.com writes. The team’s shooting has helped keep the paint open and entering Tuesday, the Nets led the league in drives per game.
“Just because the spacing that we have, even with Jarrett [Allen] being able to step out and pose a threat at the 3-point line to open stuff up, we’ve just got to do a better job making the correct reads where, the drive is there, obviously we’re taking it,” said Harris. “But if they’re not and they’re contested, especially against these heavy shift teams, we’ve got to get off it and move the ball quicker. Where we’ve gotten ourselves in trouble is getting in there, turning it over versus getting in there, making the right pass, making the simple pass and moving it from good shots to great shots.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Shabazz Napier is expected to make his debut for the Nets on Wednesday against the Cavs, Dowd relays in the same piece. “[Napier] looked good in practice yesterday, so that’s a good sign,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Don’t expect big minutes from him, but we’ll build him up. I think he’ll be that sparkplug. I think it gives us something defensively. He creates turnovers. He’s a ball-pressure guy. He gets into guys. He’s fast. And offensively he can give you a punch and come off and get 10 points in 10 minutes. His experience, right? NBA experience. He’ll help us.”
- The Magic envision Mohamed Bamba becoming Orlando’s version of Joel Embiid down the road, Sean Deveney of Sporting News writes. “I said to [team president Jeff Weltman],” Hammond recalled, “‘It’s going to be interesting to see in about five years from now.’ He’s not as naturally big and thick as Joel, but just see who he is five years from now. He’s going to look a lot different. We just have to have a lot of patience.”
- Blake Griffin has emerged as a leader for the Pistons, Keith Langlois of NBA.com contends. Coach Dwane Casey applauded Griffin’s mental toughness after a recent win, comparing the power forward to Gary Payton, Kevin Garnett, and Dirk Nowitzki. Casey will likely have even kinder words for his star after Griffin put up 50 points on the Sixers on Tuesday, scoring the final bucket to win to the game.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 10/23/18
Earlier today, it was reported that the Pelicans will become the 28th franchise to launch a G League affiliate. The new franchise will begin next season and play its games in Birmingham, Alabama. Arena renovations aren’t expected to be ready by the time the 2019/20 season starts, so the team intends to begin its history in Erie, Pennsylvania.
With New Orleans adding a G League team, only the Nuggets and Trail Blazers are without an affiliate, and Denver may be next in line — ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported today (via Twitter) that the Nuggets will also attempt to have an affiliate in place for the 2019/20 season, perhaps in the northwest suburbs of Denver.
As for the franchises with G League affiliates this season, only one team made a move today…
- The Jazz have assigned Tony Bradley to the Salt Lake City Stars, per the team’s Twitter feed. This is Bradley’s first G League assignment this season.
Wade Believes Fizdale Can Help Knicks In Free Agency
Dwyane Wade knows David Fizdale from their time together in Miami and he believes the coach is changing the perception of the Knicks‘ organization.
“I think he’s already changed that perception. Players around the league want to play for Fiz,” Wade tells Stefan Bondy of the Daily News. “Now that doesn’t mean it’s going to happen right away because things happen – guys stay in certain places or they go team up with someone else. But if you ask every player around the league who is the coach they want to play for, Fiz’s name would come up.”
Wade added that a team’s coach isn’t the only factor in attracting free agents. Culture will play a role in making New York a desirable landing spot.
“It comes with what the players are doing on the court. It comes with what the organization is doing,” Wade said. “And other things as well. So he’s definitely going to try to change the culture but it’s a lot of other things that goes with it.”
Wade spoke about how Fizdale helped him shape his game. The current Knicks coach joined the Heat as an assistant in 2008 and used his tremendous communication skills to showcase his basketball mind, helping Wade become the player he is today.
“I allowed him to take my game to the place where I could still play now at 36 without having the same athleticism and everything I had when he first came here,” Wade said of Fizdale. “It’s tough. He came in and I’m a six-time All-Star already. So to sit there and show me a different way, to be able to explain it to me, to be able to give me the vision, it’s a talent he has.”
Turning the Knicks around will be a challenge and Wade feels Fizdale is ready for it. “I think he is very aware — him and his wife — they understand where they want to go. A job like the Knicks, he wanted the challenge. It’s one of those jobs that not many people have gotten right. But if you get it right, it’s a special thing. And someone like him, he doesn’t run away from a challenge,” Wade explained.
“He’s been to the mountaintop a few times here [with the Heat], so that is what he’s looking for. He’s looking for that challenge and what better place than New York?”
Fantasy Hoops: Bucks, Leonard, Hart
The move to bring in coach Mike Budenholzer is paying dividends for the Bucks so far this season. The team’s 3-0 start is fueled by offensive efficiency (7th in the league), the commitment to the 3-pointer, and an increase in pace. Milwaukee sits 7th in the league in pace of play (entering Tuesday’s slate of games), up from 20th a season ago.
One player in particular who is seeing his fantasy stock rise as a result of the scheme change is Khris Middleton. The soon-to-be-free agent is attempting a Stephen Curry-like 7.7 shots from behind the arc through three games, making five per contest. That’s obviously not a sustainable rate, but with this kind of volume from behind the arc, Middleton is looking like a borderline top-15 option in Roto leagues.
Here’s more from around the league
- The Raptors sat Kawhi Leonard on the second night of a back-to-back over the weekend, though according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic (Twitter feed), the team has no plans to rest him in back-to-backs as the season goes along. The rest over the weekend was a result of Toronto playing four games in six nights and not part of a bigger maintenance plan akin to the one the Sixers had used with Joel Embiid.
- Josh Hart, who is currently only owned in 24.6% of ESPN leagues, needs to be picked up in all formats. Through the Lakers‘ first three games, it’s clear that Hart is a major part of the team’s rotation. He’s averaging 17.0 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals in 32 minutes per contest thus far.
- Trae Young threw up 23 shots against the Cavaliers over the weekend, scoring 35 points. The Hawks guard brought his season average in field goal attempts to a tick over 18 per game. He’s making 39.3 of his shots from behind the arc and 8.3 assists per game through three contests. These are great numbers to begin the rookie’s career but despite the success, it may be time to trade him in fantasy. He’s gaining lots of hype and if you can snag a player in the Eric Bledsoe–Al Horford range, pull the trigger. Young will go off every 4-5 games and remain solid in points, 3-pointers made, and assists departments. He’s a quality starting option in all fantasy formats. However, now may be the time to swap him for someone who can contribute in more categories.
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.