Southwest Notes: Jones, DeRozan, Rose, Pippen Jr., Thompson
Tre Jones has started 113 games for the Spurs at the point over the past two seasons. He’ll likely be relegated to the second unit this season with the free agent addition of Chris Paul. Jones isn’t upset about losing his starting job to a future Hall of Famer, as he told Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
“It was extreme excitement right away,” Jones said of the Spurs signing Paul. “To be able to learn from a generational point guard like that, it’s something I’ll never take for granted.”
Jones looks at the upcoming season as a learning experience.
“He’s a guy who thinks the game at such a high level,” he said. “He’s been on some of the best teams and been around some of the greatest to play the game. He’s gone to the Finals. He’s been in huge moments in the playoffs. Just being able to pick his brain and learn from him all year – I’m going to take full advantage of that.”
It’s a crucial season for Jones — he’s entering his walk year and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- The Spurs showed some interest in bringing free agent wing DeMar DeRozan back to San Antonio, Sam Amick of The Athletic reports. At the same time, the Spurs made it clear they would be willing to help him get to the team of his choice by helping facilitate a three-team trade. And that’s exactly what happened, as DeRozan was dealt by the Bulls in a sign-and-trade transaction to the Kings in a three-team swap. Harrison Barnes was sent to San Antonio as part of that trade.
- The backup point guard spot is the biggest question hovering over the Grizzlies, according to Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Derrick Rose and Scotty Pippen Jr. are the top candidates for the job, but Rose has struggled with injuries in recent seasons and only appeared in 24 games last season. Pippen played well in the second half of the season but didn’t play much with the team’s biggest stars due to the team’s injury issues. If neither of them emerges, Memphis may have to lean on non-traditional options like Marcus Smart and Desmond Bane to back up Ja Morant at the point, Cole writes.
- Amen Thompson‘s versatility makes it difficult to pinpoint what position he’s best suited to play, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle notes. When Thompson was at his most impactful last season, he defended point guards, but offensively was more of a rim-running center, according to Feigen. However, Rockets coach Ime Udoka said he plans to have Thompson back up Fred VanVleet at the point this season.
Heat Notes: Robinson, Jaquez, Butler
Duncan Robinson missed nine games late in the regular season due to a back injury, then was limited during last season’s playoffs. Robinson says he’s fully recovered from that ailment as Heat training camp approaches, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald reports.
“I feel great,” Robinson said. “We took all the necessary steps, seeing who we needed to see. Not restricted in any way. Have [not been limited] for the better part of eight weeks. Playing pickup. No limitations. It’s still a focus and emphasis in terms of what I’m doing in the weight room. [But it] hasn’t given me any issues. It was a rude awakening turning 30 [this past April] and having back issues within a month. Father Time is undefeated.”
Robinson has two years remaining on his five-year, $90MM contract.
We have more on the Heat:
- After losing Caleb Martin in free agency, the Heat need to fill that void by finding a new defensive stopper. Jaime Jaquez Jr. says he can assume that role, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “I think obviously with losing Caleb this year, I think there’s definitely going to be a hole to be filled when it comes to the defensive side of the ball and a guy that can really go out there and stop the other team’s best player or whoever’s got it going that night,” Jaquez said. “I think my role can definitely evolve into somebody who Coach just decides, ‘Hey, Jaime I want you to go guard the best player and chase him and stop him.’ I think that’s the way my role can evolve.”
- Addressing a report that the Warriors are monitoring Jimmy Butler, Winderman says he anticipates Butler’s future will continue to be a hot topic unless the Heat get off to a solid start or the forward signs an extension. However, Winderman also notes that under the CBA and its prohibitive tax aprons, blockbuster deals are more complicated and more difficult than ever.
- In case you missed it, free agent forward Nassir Little is reportedly working out for the Heat. Get the details here.
And-Ones: Fitts, Gilyard, NBA Schedule, Flagg, Swarm Staff
In an NBA G League swap, the Memphis Hustle acquired a 2025 first-round pick and the returning player rights to forward Malik Fitts from the Cleveland Charge, the Grizzlies’ G League team tweets. The Charge, the Cavaliers’ affiliate, received the returning player rights to guard Jacob Gilyard.
Fitts has appeared in 18 NBA games, most recently in eight contests with Boston during the 2021/22 campaign when he was signed to two 10-day contracts. Gilyard appeared in a combined 41 NBA games with the Grizzlies and Nets last season. He was on a two-way deal with Brooklyn after Memphis waived him.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- It’s impossible to keep all the NBA teams happy and give them their desired dates on an 82-game schedule. Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic spoke to an unnamed source who detailed the issues confronting the schedule makers. “You’ve got 30 different teams each with their own perspective on what they would like to see and within each of the 30 teams, you’ve got multiple perspectives from what makes the most sense,” the source said. “The league is then responsible for taking all of the different perspectives and try to make something that’s going to please everyone, which inherently is an impossible task.”
- How would projected 2025 top pick Cooper Flagg impact a team in rebuild mode? Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report dives into that topic, exploring how the Duke freshman big man would fit in with the Nets, Hornets, Pistons, Trail Blazers, Spurs, Raptors, Jazz and Wizards.
- Nathan Peavy, David Noel III and Alex Ruoff have been announced as assistant coaches on DJ Bakker‘s staff with the Greensboro Swarm, the Hornets‘ affiliate, the G League team announced in a press release. Peavy joins the Swarm after serving last season as the head coach of the Cangrejeros de Santurce in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional league, Puerto Rico’s top professional division. Noel spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the Motor City Cruise, the Pistons’ affiliate. Ruoff was on West Virginia’s coaching staff the last two seasons.
Nassir Little Auditioning For Celtics, Warriors, Heat
Several teams have worked out or plan to work out free agent forward Nassir Little, Spotrac contributor Keith Smith tweets.
That group includes the defending champion Celtics, Warriors and Heat. The Athletic reported earlier in the day that Little is also among a trio of forwards who is working out for the Kings.
Little would seemingly have a greater chance of hooking on with the Kings and Warriors than the other two squads. As our roster counts display, Sacramento has 14 players signed to the official roster (not counting two-way deals) but only 12 have fully guaranteed contracts. Golden State has 15 players on the official roster but just 12 have fully guaranteed deals.
Boston and Miami have 14 players apiece on fully guaranteed deals, plus others on training camp or non-guaranteed contracts. Both also have major luxury tax considerations — the Celtics are operating well above the second tax apron, while the Heat would surpass that second apron threshold by carrying a 15th man.
Little, 24, has been a free agent since Phoenix waived him late last month. The combo forward appeared in 45 games for the Suns last season, making two starts and posting 3.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 10.2 minutes per night. He spent his first four NBA seasons in Portland before coming to Phoenix in a three-team trade last September.
Kings Officially Sign Rookie Guard Boogie Ellis
The Kings have officially signed Boogie Ellis, according to a press release from the team.
Sacramento’s intention to sign the former USC guard was first reported in late July. Terms of the contract have not been reported or announced, but it’s most likely an Exhibit 10 deal.
Ellis played for Sacramento’s Summer League team after going undrafted. He averaged 11.2 PPG in five games in July while shooting 51.3% from the field and 54.5% from 3-point range.
Ellis began his college career at Memphis in 2019 before transferring to USC two years later. He earned second-team All-Pac 12 honors last season while averaging 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 29 games with the Trojans. In his three seasons at USC, Ellis averaged 15.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 95 career games.
An Exhibit 10 contract would allow Ellis to receive a bonus worth up to $77.5K (on top of his standard G League salary) if he’s waived by Sacramento and then spends at least 60 days with the Stockton Kings. He would also be eligible to have the contract converted into a two-way deal before the season, but the Kings don’t currently have an open two-way slot.
Lakers Waive Two-Way Player Blake Hinson
SEPTEMBER 16: The Lakers have officially waived Hinson and signed Koloko, the team announced in a press release.
SEPTEMBER 15: The Lakers are waiving two-way player Blake Hinson, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype tweets.
Los Angeles inked Hinson to the two-way contract in early July.
Hinson, an undrafted 6’8” rookie wing, played two seasons with Pittsburgh after a two-season stay at Ole Miss. He also spent some time at Iowa State but didn’t play there.
Hinson, 24, put up impressive stats in his senior year, averaging 18.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He shot 45.4% from the field and 42.1% on three-point attempts. The three-point shooting came at a high volume — he averaged 7.9 attempts per game.
The moves opens up a two-way spot for the Lakers, who reportedly intend to sign center Christian Koloko. Big man Armel Traore, another undrafted rookie, and center Colin Castleton currently hold the other two-way deals.
Hinson is expected to draw interest from several teams in free agency, Scotto adds.
Western Notes: Green, Jones, Shannon Jr., Taylor
Jalen Green became extension-eligible this summer but there hasn’t been any news on that front. The Rockets guard would have to sign that rookie scale extension by the Oct. 21 deadline or else he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency next summer. Green told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle he’d like to sign a long-term contract with the team.
“For sure,” Green said. “My main focus is the season ahead of me with the players that we have, go to the playoffs and go as far as we can. We’re building that team camaraderie, who we are. That’s the main focus right now, and everything will work itself out.”
Whether or not he reaches an extension agreement, Green is approaching the season with enthusiasm. “We went out last season with a bang,” he said. “We’re all on the same page, know what it takes to win. We know what we can do if we play hard. I think we know what we have to do going into this season from the beginning to the end, so hopefully, that leads us into the playoffs.”
We have more from the Western Conference:
- The Thunder traded four second-round picks to move up into the first round and select Dillon Jones with the No. 26 pick. Does that mean the Thunder have immediate plans for him? It’s not out of the question, according to Rylan Stiles of Sports Illustrated. Stiles points out that Cason Wallace jumped right into the rotation in his rookie campaign, rather than being ticketed to the G League.
- Terrence Shannon Jr. and his mother, Treanette Redding, filed a Notice of Claim to sue the Douglas County district attorney, the Lawrence (Kansas) police department and a detective for malicious prosecution, among other claims, Mitch Gilfillan tweets. Shannon, a Timberwolves rookie, was found not guilty of all charges at his criminal trial in Kansas in June. Shannon was facing felony charges of first-degree rape and sexual aggravated battery.
- Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor has subpoenaed the NBA in his ongoing legal battle over control of the franchise, according to Eben Novy-Williams of Sportico. It’s an unusual move, Novy-Williams notes, and could potentially expose private league communications and financial information to a public audience. The battle between Taylor and prospective owners, Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, is headed for arbitration in November.
Heat Notes: Jaquez, Adebayo, Rozier, Jovic
Jaime Jaquez Jr. is looking at a number of areas for improvement, the Heat guard told Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald, with three-point shooting being a high priority.
“My three-point shooting, that’s an area that I really wanted to improve,” Jaquez said. “I feel like I needed to improve if we wanted to, as a team, make the strides and jumps that we need to try to win a championship. And just really honing in on mechanics and getting a bunch of reps up.”
Jaquez, the 18th pick of the 2023 draft, averaged 11.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 28.2 minutes per game during his rookie campaign. His perimeter shooting is a work in progress — he made just 32.2% of his 3-point attempts last season.
We have more on the Heat:
- Bam Adebayo was rewarded with a three-year max extension this summer. Now, the Heat center and captain is focused on his leadership responsibilities. “I think a leading man isn’t only a scorer,” Adebayo told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “I feel like everybody, when they think of a leading man, they think of scoring. I feel like that’s not the only thing a leading man can do.” What’s is the biggest thing a leader can bring to an organization? Adebayo has a pointed answer. “Being a leading man simply means win, no matter how that looks,” he said. “Winning takes care of all the other things that people want to put a narrative behind.”
- Terry Rozier was sidelined by a neck injury late last season. He’s still working his way back but should be ready by training camp, according to Chiang. “Where I’m at right now is just about fully, fully, fully cleared to play 5-on-5,” Rozier said. “But I am doing every on-court activity, playing a little bit of 3-on-3. So I figure in the next couple weeks, I’ll be graduating to 5-on-5. I feel great.”
- Nikola Jovic revealed he suffered a “little fracture” in his left ankle early this summer. He expects to participate in training camp but might have to play it cautiously with his left ankle and foot to avoid any setbacks. “We’re making sure that my foot is good after every practice because the injury I had is of course not a joke and we really don’t want any new problems with it,” said Jovic, per Chiang. “So during training camp, I wouldn’t say I’m going to sit down or anything, but of course you just want to make sure that everything is good. If something starts hurting by any chance, I’ll probably need to step away.”
Southwest Notes: Thompson, Jackson, Wembanyama, Thompson
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka says that second-year swingman Amen Thompson stands out among the players that look stronger heading into training camp, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Thompson is ready to have a much improved season after appearing in 62 games last season and averaging 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 22.4 minutes per night as a rookie.
“I feel a lot different,” Thompson said. “Just getting stronger, getting faster, getting more athletic. Just a lot of growth this summer, and I feel like that’s translated to the court.”
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- Grizzlies forward GG Jackson underwent foot surgery on Sept. 4 and Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal spoke with an orthopedic foot and ankle surgeon to get an estimated timeline for when Jackson might get back on the court. The expert believes a three-month recovery period sounds reasonable. “Three months is a pretty safe number,” Dr. Kenneth Jung said. “He’s just got to be able to get into basketball-shape physically and mentally. Whether he’s back to full expectations of what the fans and coaches expect, that may be a different number.”
- Big things are expected of Victor Wembanyama in his second NBA season. The Spurs big man is the co-betting favorite with the Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley to win the Most Improved Player award. Wembanyama is also the heavy favorite to take Defensive Player of the Year honors, according to Grant Afseth of DraftKings Network.
- On his Substack page, Dallas Sports Journal, Afseth takes an in-depth look at how Klay Thompson can play off of Mavericks star guards Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Afseth anticipates Thompson will significantly bolster the team’s offensive arsenal with his ability to stretch the floor and take quick-trigger shots, among other skills.
Nets Sign, Waive Tyson Etienne
SEPTEMBER 11: Brooklyn has now waived Etienne, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link). As detailed below, the guard is on track to become a returning rights player for the Long Island Nets.
SEPTEMBER 10: The Nets have signed guard Tyson Etienne, Evan Barnes of Newsday tweets. It’s likely an Exhibit 10 deal.
Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, acquired Etienne’s returning rights from the College Park Skyhawks — Atlanta’s affiliate — last week.
If waived and then signed by a club’s G League affiliate, players who ink Exhibit 10 contracts are eligible for bonuses worth up to $77.5K if they remain with those affiliate squads for at least 60 days. It’s likely that’s what will happen in this case.
In 51 regular season games with the Skyhawks from 2022-24, Etienne averaged 7.6 points, 3.5 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 0.7 steals per contest, with a shooting line of .444/.356/.722.
Etienne went undrafted out of Wichita State in 2022. He is a nephew of former NBA player Marcus Camby and cousin of longtime NBA center DeAndre Jordan.
Brooklyn still has a few openings for its training camp roster, so it’ll add more players in the coming weeks. The club currently has 17 players under contract and has also reportedly reached Exhibit 10 agreements with Killian Hayes, Mark Armstrong, and KJ Jones.