Fallout From Bulls/Thunder Scrum
On Monday night, the Thunder defeated the Bulls in Oklahoma City by 25 points in a game between two teams from different conferences, one with playoff aspirations and the other in the midst of a rebuild.
However, the otherwise relatively meaningless regular season contest took an interesting turn when a scrum broke out late in the third quarter after Bulls’ guard Cameron Payne was called for a foul, followed by a shoving match between Thunder’ guard Russell Westbrook and Bulls’ guard Kris Dunn.
Chaos then broke out as Jerami Grant approached Dunn before being confronted by Robin Lopez, resulting in both Grant and Lopez falling into the lap of some fans sitting in courtside seats.
The NBA announced discipline this afternoon, with non-participants and Thunder guards Raymond Felton and Dennis Schroder both receiving one-game suspensions for leaving the bench. Meanwhile, Dunn was fined $15K for “instigating,” while Grant and Lopez were fined $20K and $25K, respectively, for “escalating.”
Fortunately for the Kings, both Felton and Schroder will miss the Thunder’s game later tonight in Sacramento.
Five Key Stories: 12/8/18 – 12/15/18
If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:
After a whirlwind night that centered around confusion over the identification of a player for the Grizzlies whose last name was Brooks, the Suns and Wizards finally agreed to a trade that will send Trevor Ariza to the nation’s capital in exchange for Kelly Oubre and Austin Rivers. An earlier-agreed upon trade that included the Grizzlies as a third player fell apart when the three teams disagreed upon which player – Dillon Brooks or MarShon Brooks – the Grizzlies were including in the deal. The Grizzlies were adamant it was MarShon, while both the Suns and Wizards believed the agreement was for Dillon. The Suns and Wizards moved on without Memphis and continued to negotiate, leading to this morning’s trade, which will see the Suns turn Ariza into two young pieces, while the Wizards land a veteran locker room presence, create a trade exception. and lower their tax bill.
The Knicks and two-way player Allonzo Trier reached an agreement on a two-year contract that will elevate Trier to the team’s 15-man roster. And while a promotion to the 15-man squad had long been expected for Trier, his salary was always something up for debate. Ultimately, New York decided to use its bi-annual exception to lock up the 22-year-old through the 2019/20 season. The Knicks now won’t be permitted to use the exception next year, but they anticipate using cap space in free agency, so they wouldn’t have been able to use it anyway. The Knicks used the full value of the exception on Trier, so he’ll make $3.382MM this season and have a team option for next season worth a little bit more than $3.55MM. Meanwhile, to create an opening on their roster, the Knicks waived veteran guard Ron Baker.
The Nets and point guard Spencer Dinwiddie agreed to a contract extension worth $34MM over three years that will run through 2022. The deal includes a player option for the 2021/22 season. Dinwiddie was eligible to receive a four-year extension in the range of $47MM, but opted to sign a shorter deal to reach free agency sooner. The $10.6MM starting salary is roughly equivalent to 120% of the NBA’s estimated average salary for this season ($8.838MM), the maximum amount Dinwiddie could have received on an extension.
Fresh off the firing of former coach Fred Hoiberg, new coach Jim Boylen has taken an aggressive approach to his new job and his players evidently aren’t real happy about it. The team held a players-only meeting last Sunday, just one day after a blowout loss to Boston, and it came out later that the meeting was held in lieu of a scheduled practice that would have occurred after back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday. Sources also reported that in their effort to push back against the idea of another intense practice on Sunday, players discussed the possibility of boycotting the practice via group text. Adding yet another wrinkle to the story is a report that several Bulls’ players contacted the NBPA in response to Boylen’s tactics.
In more interesting Bulls’ news, forward Jabari Parker has been pulled from the team’s rotation, and Chicago has engaged in trade talks with multiple teams regarding Parker’s trade value. Fortunately for Parker, there is said to be “considerable interest” for his services and there’s motivation from both sides to get a deal done. Unfortunately for Parker, his contract may make a deal complicated to complete, as the Bulls would have to take back at least $15MM in any trade involving Parker, and it’s possible they may not accept anything but expiring deals with an eye towards free agency in 2019.
Here are 10 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:
- Faced with a slew of injuries, the Nuggets signed veteran swingman Nick Young and waived rookie Brandon Goodwin.
- The Rockets have expressed preliminary interest in acquiring veteran shooting guard J.R. Smith from the Cavaliers.
- Former NBA All-Star Shareef Abdur-Rahim will take over as president of the G League next month.
- Cavaliers’ center Tristan Thompson has a sprained left foot and is expected to miss two to four weeks.
- The Clippers are transfixed on the idea of wooing both Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant in free agency next summer.
- The Pacers, apparently confident in young point guard Aaron Holiday, may consider trading veteran point guard Darren Collison or Cory Joseph.
- The Lakers didn’t land Ariza, but they’ve also reportedly had interest in veteran wings Wayne Ellington and Terrence Ross
- Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas underwent surgery on his left thumb and is expected to be out at least four weeks.
- Both the Magic and Pistons have expressed interest in trading for injured Sixers’ guard Markelle Fultz.
- After allegedly threatening to move the team to Seattle or Las Vegas, Suns’ owner Robert Sarver clarified that the team will not leave Phoenix.
Financial Impact Of Suns/Wizards Trade
The trade between the Suns and Wizards agreed to this morning won’t be finalized until Monday, when the league office opens back up for the week, but since it’s still fresh in everyone’s mind, we wanted to take dive into the financial impact now and in the future for both Phoenix and Washington.
How salary-matching works in the trade:
Trevor Ariza‘s $15,000,000 cap hit is the largest salary involved in the trade. Because the Suns will be a non-taxpaying team after the trade and Ariza’s salary is between $6,533,334 and $19,600,000, it alone allows the Suns to take back up to $20MM in salary (the outgoing salary, plus $5MM). As such, using it to absorb both Austin Rivers‘ ($12,650,000) and Kelly Oubre‘s ($3,208,630) contracts is permissible under the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement rules.
As for the Wizards, Rivers’ salary alone is able to absorb Ariza’s salary. Specifically, because the Wizards will remain a tax-paying team after the trade, they are permitted under the CBA to acquire up to $15,912,500 for Rivers’ salary (125% of $12,650,000, plus $100K), which is more than the $15MM owed to Ariza. And because the Wizards are therefore essentially trading Oubre for nothing in return, they’ll acquire a traded player exception worth the amount of his salary – $3,208,630.
[RELATED: Outstanding NBA Traded Player Exceptions]
As we noted before in these series of posts on financial ramifications after trades, the rules for the amount the Suns can take back using Ariza’s $15MM vs. the amount the Wizards can take back using Rivers’ $12.65MM are different because the rules are different for teams in the tax. We explain that in more depth in our glossary entry on the traded player exception.
The luxury tax ramifications for the Wizards:
While the deal last week for Sam Dekker appeared to be primarily financially motivated for Washington, this deal seems to be more about bringing Ariza back to help the team win now and improve the locker room dynamics.
However, the Wizards do also improve their projected tax bill with this trade. The team’s payroll will be reduced by $558.6K, which equates to tax savings of about $1.5MM (h/t to Albert Nahmad).
Future cap ramifications:
All three players – Ariza, Rivers, and Oubre – will be free agents next summer, so their isn’t really any ramification for either team’s 2019 cap outlook. However, it’s interesting to note that the Wizards were probably wary about having to pay for Oubre next summer, who will likely be looking for a large payday coming off his rookie contract.
The Wizards already have $111.2MM in guaranteed salary for next season for only five players, so it’s unlikely they would have been willing to spend big on Oubre considering the team’s struggles so far this season.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 12/8/18 – 12/15/18
Our writing team here at Hoops Rumors continually creates original content to complement our news feed. Below are the original segments and features from the past seven days:
- Luke Adams took a look at some benchmarks reached in the new deal signed by Allonzo Trier with the Knicks.
- In this week’s Polls, we asked:
- Assuming the Warriors are the top dogs, who is the second-best team in the Western Conference?
- Will last year’s second-best team in the conference, the Houston Rockets, even make the playoffs this season?
- Which team is most likely to attract a elite-level free agent next summer – the Clippers, Knicks, Lakers, or Nets?
- Our Trade Candidate Watch series focused on the Pacific Division and Central Division.
- In our Community Shootaround posts, we asked:
- Can the Knicks allure an elite-level free agent next summer?
- Can the Raptors win the Eastern Conference without adding another player to pair up with Kawhi Leonard?
- What are the chances that the Pistons have the assets to make a deal for Sixers’ guard Markelle Fultz?
- Our Free Agent Stock Watch series highlighted the Atlantic Division.
- Now that most players who signed as free agents this summer are eligible to be traded, Luke Adams listed six trade candidates to keep an eye on.
- Chris Crouse takes a look at the fantasy value of Pacers’ big man Myles Turner in this weeks fantasy hoops post.
- Trevor Ariza has now been traded, but we take a look at the “Brooks” drama leading up to the finalized deal.
Five Key Stories: 12/1/18 – 12/8/18
If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.
The Bucks, Cavaliers, and Wizards executed a three-team trade involving George Hill, Jason Smith, John Henson, Matthew Dellavedova, and Sam Dekker. The Bucks will receive Hill and Smith, cash considerations from the Wizards, the Wizards’ 2021 second-round pick (from the Cavaliers), and the protections removed from the Wizards’ 2020 second-round pick already owed to Milwaukee. The Cavs, meanwhile, acquired Dellavedova and Henson, the Bucks’ 2021 first- and second-round picks, and the Wizards’ 2022 second-round pick. The Wizards, who are trying to lessen their tax burden, will acquire Dekker.
The Bulls fired head coach Fred Hoiberg and replaced him with associate head coach Jim Boylen. The decision, made by executive VP of basketball operations John Paxson, was made with the “overall development of our team in mind.” Hoiberg, who coached at Iowa State before joining the Bulls, was the league’s 12th-longest-tenured head coach before being let go. He finishes in Chicago with an overall record of 115-155 (.426), including 5-19 this season. The Bulls made the postseason once with Hoiberg, but didn’t win a playoff series. Boylen, meanwhile, is well regarded within the organization and has a chance to keep the head job in Chicago beyond the 2018/19 campaign.
Sixers’ guard Markelle Fultz has been diagnosed with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, a condition that involves compression or irritation in the area between the lower neck and upper chest. Fultz will undergo physical therapy with renowned physical therapist Judy Seto, who has worked with both Kobe Bryant and Elton Brand. Fultz is out indefinitely, but the Sixers are optimistic that their prized draft pick from 2017 will be able to return to the court in three-to-six weeks. Ultimately, however, Fultz’s timetable will depend on the success of rehab.
Kevin Love, who underwent foot surgery just over a month ago, is aiming to return to the court for the Cavaliers in mid-January. The Cavs have still not issued a formal update on Love’s recovery, but reports suggest that a recent consultation in New York demonstrated clean scans on Love’s foot, meaning he’ll be able to ramp up his workouts in less than a month. Cleveland has intimated that they plan on having Love reclaim regular minutes when he returns, but the Cavs had made it clear with recent deals that they’re ready to begin focusing on the future and developing young players, so it’ll be an interesting scenario to keep an eye on.
Here are 11 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:
- A breakout season for Knicks’ guard Allonzo Trier could end up resulting in the rookie signing elsewhere next season.
- The Nets have put a price on how much they’re willing to give guard Spencer Dinwiddie in a contract extension.
- In a series of moves last weekend, the Cavaliers replaced both of their players on two-way contracts, waiving rookie Billy Preston and veteran guard Andrew Harrison and signing Jaron Blossomgame and Jalen Jones.
- Warriors’ center Damian Jones is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery for a torn left pectoral muscle.
- The Suns, who need to fill a roster spot by Wednesday, are still in the market for a short-term solution at point guard.
- Opposing front offices are expecting the Suns to make Trevor Ariza available before the trade deadline.
- Head coach David Fizdale believes the Knicks will be an attractive destination for 2019 free agents.
- The Rockets reached new deals with both two-way player Gary Clark (converted to standard contract) and free agent Danuel House (signed to two-way deal, replacing Clark).
- Despite some reports suggesting otherwise, the Lakers have no interest in acquiring Carmelo Anthony.
- The Lakers have also not yet made second-year point guard Lonzo Ball available in any trades.
- The Nuggets have been bitten by the injury bug, with Gary Harris expected to miss three-to-four weeks as he rehabs from a right hip hip injury and Paul Millsap suffering a broken right big toe.
Kris Dunn, Bobby Portis Set To Return Soon?
On Thursday afternoon, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic reported that both Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis were on the verge of returning to the Bulls lineup soon and that head coach Jim Boylen intimated the team was contemplating playing the pair as early as last night’s win over the Thunder.
Of course, last night came and went with neither Dunn nor Portis taking the floor, and per Shannon Ryan of the Chicago Tribune, neither player is a sure bet to play against the Celtics tonight either.
“They had a good day and that’s about all I’ve got,” Boylen said yesterday in regard to tonight’s game. “We have to wait until they respond (Saturday) morning. They have their check-in and we go from there. (But) they got through (Friday) and did well.”
Last we heard about two weeks ago, both Dunn and Portis were able to work out for the first time, which was the most either had done since being injured, but neither player was ready for any type of contact, per former coach Fred Hoiberg.
Dunn, 24, sprained his right MCL against the Mavericks in the third game of the season (his first) on October 22 and has not played since. Meanwhile, Portis, 23, suffered the same injury two nights later. Likewise, he has been out of the lineup since the injury.
Per Boylen, both Portis and Dunn will have their minutes restricted whenever they return.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 12/1/18 – 12/8/18
Our writing team here at Hoops Rumors continually creates original content to complement our news feed. Below are the original segments and features from the past seven days:
- It’s that time for another rendition of our Free Agent Power Rankings. Find version 2.0 here.
- In his Weekly Mailbag, Arthur Hill answered readers’ questions regarding the likelihood of a star being traded this season, whether the Spurs should trade for help, and the impact DeMarcus Cousins will have on the Warriors upon his return from injury.
- We reminded our audience that as of December 1, the NBA’s waiver priority order is determined by teams’ records during the 2018/19 season.
- In this week’s Polls, we asked:
- Will the Raptors make the NBA Finals?
- Will the Pelicans make the playoffs in the deep Western Conference?
- In our Community Shootaround posts, we asked:
- Will there be a third head coach fired during the 2018/19 season after Tyronn Lue and Fred Hoiberg?
- Will Giannis Antetokounmpo remain the MVP frontrunner throughout the season?
- Do you agree with the sentiments of Kevin Durant that LeBron James’ imposing presence will scare away top-level free agents?
- Our Trade Candidate Watch series focused on the Northwest and Southwest Divisions.
- Chris Crouse takes a look at the NBA fantasy landscape by focusing on the Nets and the disappointing play of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
- As we do every year, we introduced our 2018/19 Reverse Standings.
- Our Free Agent Stock Watch series highlighted the Pacific Division.
- Luke Adams took a deep dive into the financial ramifications of yesterday’s Bucks/Cavaliers/Wizards trade.
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Kurucs, Fultz, Ujiri
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, the Sixers start to this season should be considered a minor miracle given everything they’ve dealt with in the past nine months. Windhorst details Joel Embiid and his fractured orbital bone at a time when the Sixers had just won seven games in a row. Embiid needed surgery and missed 10 games, and when he came back in the playoffs he wasn’t himself.
Then, the team had to deal with the Bryan Colangelo drama earlier this year after their former GM’s purported Twitter accounts had some not-so-nice things to say about Embiid and Ben Simmons. As Windhorst surmises, would the absence of that debacle have helped the Sixers close on Nemanja Bjelica or another free agent?
On top of all that, the Sixers’ 2018 first-round pick, Zhaire Smith, has still not played this year and probably won’t after undergoing a thoracoscopy for a severe allergic reaction to sesame. The team apparently knew he was allergic to peanuts, but not sesame.
Then, just recently, guard Markelle Fultz was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and is expected to miss three to six weeks as he rehabs his right shoulder away from the team. Time will tell what happens with Fultz, but the Sixers should be commended for how well they’ve done this season given all of the above.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets are in a bit of a lull, to say the least, but one bright spot could be the play of rookie Rodions Kurucs, writes Bryan Fonseca of NetsDaily. Kurucs, 20, scored 12 points and grabbed four rebounds in 14 minutes in Brooklyn’s loss to the Cavaliers on Monday.
- For a more thorough explanation of thoracic outlet syndrome, the medical condition that Fultz is currently working through away from the Sixers, take some time to read this informative piece from Stephania Bell of ESPN.
- In an appearance on today’s episode of The Jump on ESPN, Raptors’ president Masai Ujiri laughed off the interview Kyle Lowry gave in which he didn’t exactly give a ringing endorsement of Ujiri, who said, “Kyle Lowry is always mad at me, every year!” (Hat tip to Faizal Khamisa of Sportsnet).
Nets Sorely Missing Caris LeVert
After Nets swingman Caris LeVert went down with a gruesome leg injury a little less than a month ago, the team feared the worst, with several of LeVert’s teammates seen visibly crying after the injury occurred.
Fear turned to relief, however, when tests revealed a subtalar dislocation of the right foot, no broken bones, and a prognosis of a possible return to the court this season.
Since the injury, however, the Nets are 2-11 and have lost eight straight after blowing another big lead against the Thunder tonight. Before the injury, the Nets were off to their best start since the 2014-2015 season with a 6-7 record. So not surprisingly, the relief that Brooklyn felt after LeVert’s diagnosis is starting to wane, writes Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily.
“I just think Caris gives us a different dimension, especially against the switching teams,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “Teams were much more hesitant to switch against us because he’d just blow by the big that was guarding him. It’s a dimension we don’t have (now).”
In other words, LeVert made players better on both ends of the floor, with veteran Jared Dudley even going as far as to publicly call LeVert the Nets’ best player earlier this week. “We lost our best player and have lost three to five games by like two to six points, Dudley tweeted. “(We) could easily be (a) .500 basketball team.”
There is still no timetable for LeVert’s return, but the Nets still presumably hope to have him back on the court before the end of the 2018/19 season.
Derek Fisher Hired As L.A. Sparks Head Coach
The Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA have hired five-time NBA champion and former Lakers’ point guard Derek Fisher, 44, as their next head coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Fisher, who coached the Knicks for one and a half seasons from the beginning of the 2014/15 season through February, 2016 and compiled a 40-96 record, will be introduced at a news conference this Friday in Los Angeles.
“I’m excited to be the new head coach of the LA Sparks,” Fisher said in a statement. “There is no finer organization in the WNBA and I can’t wait to work with our ownership group, front office, talented players and staff to cement a culture of sustained excellence, which is what LA basketball fans demand — and deserve.”
Fisher, who has no other coaching experience beyond his tenure in New York, will be helped by the presence of two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker in L.A, who praised Fisher’s basketball mind, championship pedigree, and strong leadership after learning of his hiring.