Central Notes: Griffin, Rose, Antetokounmpo, Maker, Sirvydis
While the Pistons have shuffled their roster in recent weeks, Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose remain their most recognizable players. Both of them are healthy in the early days of camp, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes.
Griffin and Rose have been full participants in drills and scrimmages, according to coach Dwane Casey. Griffin has the spring in his legs back after undergoing another knee surgery which kept him sidelined much of last season.
“He’s back to being the Blake of old. We’re excited about that,” Casey said. “We know he’s been putting in the work. All the naysayers, all of that stuff, he’s back to being the Blake of old.”
We have more news from the Central Division:
- The looming deadline for Giannis Antetokounmpo to sign an extension — December 21 — hasn’t affected his work ethic in camp, Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters, including The Athletic’s Eric Nehm (Twitter link). “He wants to be coached hard,” Budenholzer said of Giannis. “He wants everybody to do everything they can every day to get better.”
- Center Thon Maker is on the Cavaliers’ roster after signing a training-camp deal and he knows he’s fighting for a roster spot, Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. “Nothing is ever given, period. Even being the top-10 pick it wasn’t given as well,” he said. “I’m not coming in thinking I’m a top-10 (pick) now. I’m coming in aggressive like I was when I was a first year. I’m approaching it as if I just came out of college.” Maker became an unrestricted free agent when the Pistons didn’t extend him a qualifying offer.
- Deividas Sirvydis is scheduled to arrive in Detroit on Wednesday and will have to go through COVID protocols before he can start practicing, Rod Beard of the Detroit News tweets. The Lithuanian swingman, who was drafted in the second round in 2019, signed a three-year contract with the Pistons at the beginning of the month.
- The Bulls’ G League team, the Windy City Bulls, is unlikely to participate in the Atlanta “bubble” event,” Emiliano Carchia of Sportando tweets.
Knicks Notes: Kidd-Gilchrist, Jackson Sr., G League, Playoffs
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is fighting for a roster spot with the Knicks and he hopes that his experience will help him make the 15-man opening day roster, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
“It’s a talented group — young, active, lots of energy,’’ the former Hornets and Mavericks forward said. “And I’m the vet of the locker room — which is crazy. It’s my ninth year in the NBA. Just being a leader, man, on and off the court.”
Kidd-Gilchrist signed an Exhibit 10 contract after appearing in just 25 games last season.
We have more on the Knicks;
- The Knicks are expected to hire Jaren Jackson Sr. for a role with the G League team in Westchester, N.Y., Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets. Jackson played 12 seasons in the NBA and is the father of Grizzlies big man Jaren Jackson Jr.
- Westchester is expected to participate in the proposed G League bubble in Atlanta, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News tweets. NBA teams will have to pay in excess of $500K to enter their G League affiliate. The Atlanta “bubble” season would last for one month, likely starting in late January, with a minimum of 12 games that may increase to 15-16 games, plus a potential playoff schedule.
- Coach Tom Thibodeau believes this season’s 10-team postseason format for both conferences gives his team a fighting chance to end its playoff drought, Berman writes in a separate story. “I think it makes it interesting,’’ Thibodeau said. “Obviously, where we are, hopefully we’ll have a shot at that. It’s something that we have to work towards.”
Northwest Notes: Conley, Bogdanovic, Horford, Blazers, Morris
Jazz point guard Mike Conley cleared all COVID-19 protocols and practiced in full on Tuesday, Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune tweets. Utah has one unnamed player who has yet to be cleared. Conley had close contact with a family member who tested positive, which forced him to the sidelines. He had to produce seven consecutive negative tests before he could exit quarantine.
We have more from around the Northwest Division:
- Jazz swingman Bojan Bogdanovic says he’ll be ready to play at the start of the season, Tony Jones of The Athletic tweets. Bogdanovic, who underwent wrist surgery in May and missed the restart, has been practicing in full this week.
- Al Horford and rookie Theo Maledon will join the Thunder once they complete coronavirus protocols, Brandon Rahbar of the Daily Thunder tweets. Horford and Maledon were officially acquired from the Sixers on Monday. “Theo, for a young player, he has a lot of experience and has a certain maturity about him,” new head coach Mark Daigneault said. “Al, we’re very fortunate that he’s here and to have a player of his caliber.”
- Among the three members of the Trail Blazers organization to test positive for the virus was one player, coach Terry Stotts told Jason Quick of The Athletic (Twitter link). Zach Collins (ankle) and Jusuf Nurkic, who just arrived Sunday, also missed the first practice on Tuesday.
- The Nuggets are confident backup point guard Monte Morris and EuroLeague import Facundo Campazzo will be able to play together in the second unit, Kendra Andrews of The Athletic writes. Rookie draft pick RJ Hampton will need more seasoning before he’s ready for big minutes, Andrews said. Denver and Morris, one of the team’s top reserves the past two seasons, agreed on a three-year, $27MM extension on Monday.
Suns Notes: Galloway, Carter, Saric, Crowder
Langston Galloway wanted to join a playoff contender, which is one of the big reasons he chose the Suns in free agency, according to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
“The reason why I picked Phoenix, it’s a young, up-and-coming team that’s really on the move and can really help me going forward,” he said. “I really want to experience the playoffs and try to win a championship and I think this is the right organization to be with.”
Galloway, who averaged 10.3 PPG with the Pistons last season, signed a veteran’s minimum contract.
Detroit coach Dwane Casey was sad to see Galloway depart. “Langston is a leader, he sets the tone in practice, he’s a shooter and he’s a competitor,” he said. “He’s a quiet competitor.”
We have more on the Suns:
- Phoenix gave restricted free agent Jevon Carter a three-year, $11.5MM deal to stay put and that made him feel like a valued member of the team, as he described to Rankin in a separate story. “I felt like I was wanted here,” Carter said. “Even when I went through those stretches when I wasn’t playing, it never felt like they didn’t want me here.” A 6’1” guard, Carter appeared in 58 games last season, averaging 4.9 PPG in 16.3 MPG.
- Another restricted free agent that the Suns retained, forward Dario Saric, admitted to Rankin (Twitter link) that he was filled with uncertainty when free agency began. “I was like waking up saying, ‘Did anybody text me? Did my agent have anything to say to me?’ It was a couple of nervous days for me,” he said. “Everything ended up the right way for me.” Saric signed a three-year, $27MM contract.
- Head coach Monty Williams wouldn’t elaborate on Jae Crowder‘s status during the first day of full practice Monday, Rankin reports. “I can’t comment on Jae’s situation,” Williams said. “I’m just going to leave it at that.” Crowder was a big “get” for Phoenix in free agency, as he left the Heat and signed a three-year, $30MM contract.
- In case you missed it, B.J. Johnson was expected to join the Suns in training camp but he instead signed with the Heat.
And-Ones: Ferrell, G League, DeRozan, Brown, NBRA
Free agent guard Yogi Ferrell is still seeking NBA opportunities, according to Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia. His agent, Cervando Tejada, denied a report that he was negotiating with FC Barcelona in the EuroLeague. “Ferrell is in (the) U.S. working out and waiting for another NBA opportunity and no talks have happened with Barcelona as of now,” Tejeda told. Ferrell played for the Kings the past two seasons and appeared in 50 regular-season games as a reserve last season, averaging 4.4 PPG in 10.6 MPG.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- NBA teams are offering fewer Exhibit 10 contracts to players on their training camp rosters, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets. There were 51 players on Exhibit 10 contracts as of Saturday, down from 128 two seasons ago. Players receive a $50K bonus if he spends 60 days with the G League affiliate of the team that signed him. But with the uncertainty regarding the G League’s season, such contracts have become less valuable, Marks adds.
- Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan chased an intruder out of his house last month, according to a TMZ report. DeRozan confronted the man, who had made his way upstairs into a play area where at least one of DeMar’s kids was located. The intruder was arrested after attempting to get back into DeRozan’s gated community.
- Warriors associate coach Mike Brown has aspirations of turning the Nigeria national basketball team into a powerhouse, Colin Udoh of ESPN writes. Brown has become Nigeria’s head coach and he believes there’s enough talent to earn a medal at next year’s Tokyo Olympics. “Our goal is to finish on the podium,” he said. “We want to show the world that we can compete with the best of them. And I think, with the talent that we have, it’s a realistic goal for us.”
- The National Basketball Referees Association has ratified a Letter of Agreement which modifies its collective bargaining agreement with the NBA for the 2020/21 season, the NBRA tweets. The modifications address COVID-19 issues and provide for the officials’ waiver of certain work rules in order to implement those health and safety protocols.
Warriors Have Discussed Extension With Stephen Curry
The Warriors have discussed a possible contract extension with Stephen Curry, the two-time league MVP told The Athletic’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link) and other media members.
Curry’s current contract runs through the 2021/22 season. He’ll make approximately $43MM during the upcoming season and $45.78MM in the final year of the deal.
The deadline for a veteran extension for a player who isn’t in the final year of his current contract is December 21.
“We had conversations,” Curry said. “Everything’s on the table. … I’m fully committed.”
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, a three-year, maximum-salary extension for Curry would total $156MM (Twitter link).
The fact that the Warriors have no plans to undergo a rebuild makes Curry comfortable with the possibility of signing an extension.
“It’s just understanding what the landscape is and what the situation is going into the future,” he said. “We want to be competitive, we want to be in a situation where we’re competing for champions every single year. I want to be a part of it.”
Curry, 32, appeared in just five games last season after breaking his hand. The 23.5 PPG career scorer is entering his 12th NBA season.
Check out our 2020/21 Contract Extension Tracker, which keeps you up to date with all extensions signed around the league.
Sixers Waive Lamine Diane, Justin Robinson
The Sixers have waived Lamine Diane and Justin Robinson, the team’s PR department tweets.
The moves are being made in order to complete the Al Horford trade with the Thunder, which can become official on Tuesday.
Diane and Robinson were signed to Exhibit 10 contracts, meaning they’ll likely land with the team’s G League affiliate – the Delaware Blue Coats. They could receive bonuses worth up to $50K if they spend at least 60 days with the Blue Coats.
Philadelphia had the maximum 20 players in camp before waiving Diane and Robinson and needed to open a couple more roster spots to finalize the Horford deal.
The Sixers are receiving guard Danny Green and wing Terrance Ferguson in the deal. Big man Vincent Poirier, who was recently traded by the Celtics to Oklahoma City, is also coming to Philadelphia, Derek Bodner of The Athletic tweets. That confirms a report from France’s L’Equipe that Poirier is heading to the Sixers.
A 6’7″ undrafted rookie forward, Diane put up big stats for Cal State Northridge in his two college seasons, averaging 25.1 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 2.1 BPG in a total of 52 games (35.5 MPG). He won the Big West Player of the Year award in consecutive years before declaring for the draft this spring.
Robinson appeared in 33 G League games with Delaware and Capital City last season, averaging 14.2 points, 6.2 assists and 31.2 minutes per game. The 23-year-old guard also played nine brief games with the Wizards, scoring a total of 13 points in 49 minutes.
Central Notes: Rose, Hayes, Osman, Pacers, Wright, Gafford
Derrick Rose is eager to mentor Pistons lottery pick Killian Hayes, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Rose, who is entering his walk year, plans to make Hayes “uncomfortable” in camp to get the French point guard prepared for the rigors of the NBA. “My job is to push him and to groom him,” Rose said. “Coming from overseas, guys are going to try to play aggressive with him, so it’s my job to play aggressive on him throughout this whole camp so when he gets in a game he won’t feel that much pressure.”
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Cavaliers’ small forward starting job is up for grabs, as Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer details. Rookie Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman and Dylan Windler are the candidates, with Osman trying to holding onto the spot he’s occupied over the past two seasons. “Minutes have to be earned,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “You’ve got to earn everything here.”
- The Pacers won’t have fans for their December home games but they’re hoping that changes as early as January, according to a team press release. Pacers Sports & Entertainment’s statement read in part, “We look forward to having fans back to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in January, and we will provide updates in the near future.”
- Guard Delon Wright wanted to rejoin Dwane Casey for the last two or three years, Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press tweets. Wright was traded last month to the Pistons, where he’ll be coached once again by Casey. Wright played three-and-a-half seasons with Toronto – mostly under Casey – before he was dealt to Memphis in February 2019. Wright thought he might get traded to Detroit before he wound up with the Grizzlies. He played for Dallas last season.
- Bulls big man Daniel Gafford said he contacted former coach Jim Boylen to “clear the air” after Gafford made some remarks this summer criticizing Boylen’s personality and coaching methods, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. “I had contact with Jim, just made sure I cleared the air that it wasn’t anything intentional, that I was just trying to bash him or anything like that,’’ Gafford said. “It was nothing like that at all. … That was just basically constructive criticism, in my opinion.”
Several Teams Expected To Opt Out Of G League Bubble
Several teams plan to opt out of the proposed G League “bubble” campus in Atlanta, JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors tweets.
There are already as many as six-to-eight franchises expected to bypass the shortened season, according to Shaw’s sources.
Under the proposal, NBA teams would pay a fee of approximately $500K to play their G League games in Georgia, rather than their home sites. Not all G League clubs would be expected to participate there.
It’s uncertain how many teams are on board with the “bubble” proposal and whether there will be enough to make it viable.
The Atlanta “bubble” season would last for one month, likely starting in late January, with a minimum of 12 games that may increase to 15-16 games, plus a potential playoff schedule. The campus would require daily coronavirus testing and a mandated quarantine for players.
The G League Ignite team, a club comprised mostly of high-level prospects, is also expected to compete in this bubble environment.
NBA Expands Health, Safety Guidelines
The NBA has expanded its “Health and Safety Protocol Guide” as it seeks to find ways to limit the impact of COVID-19 on its upcoming season while still allowing the players as much freedom as possible.
As ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski details in a series of tweets, players and staff in their home venues will not be allowed to enter bars, lounge or clubs; live entertainment or gaming venues (with limited exceptions), public gyms, spas or pools; or large indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people.
Traveling teams will be allowed in “approved restaurants” with outdoor seating or a “fully privatized space” indoors. The restaurants that meet those standards will be revealed at a later date.
The NBA will also provide twice-a-week testing for household members of players and staff in order to “enhance their protection throughout the season.”
These additional measures supplement the guidelines unveiled last month, which included protocols regarding testing, working out, practices and housing of players. It also stipulated teams must have additional staff to carry out testing and safety measures.
The league is planning on meting out strong punishments for violations, particularly those that cause schedule changes or impact other teams, Tim Bomtemps of ESPN tweets. Violators are subject to fines, suspensions, adjustment or loss of draft choices, and/or game forfeiture.
The league also spelled out what will happen when COVID-19 vaccines are FDA-approved and deemed safe and effective. At that time, the league and Players Association will decide whether players, coaches and staff will be compelled to get vaccinated. If there is no vaccine requirement, those who don’t receive it may have to follow additional safety measures, Bontemps details in another tweet.
More immediately, players, coaches and staff are being strong urged, though not compelled, to receive a flu vaccination, ESPN’s Zach Lowe tweets.