International Notes: Beaubois, Spain, Nurse, James
Anadolu Efes of Turkey and former NBA guard Rodrigue Beaubois have reached a contract extension agreement until 2022, Sportando’s Dario Skerletic relays via Israeli reporter Roi Cohen. Beaubois played four seasons for Dallas from 2009-13. This season, the French guard averaged 11.1 PPG over 43 games.
We have more news from around the basketball world:
- Spain’s ACB league has been suspended indefinitely, according to Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia. Play was already suspended until April 24th due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The league’s teams will decide how to proceed n the upcoming weeks.
- Raptors coach Nick Nurse remains fully committed to coaching Team Canada in Tokyo Olympic qualifiers, Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports tweets. Nurse is “really excited” about it and hopes the Olympics, rescheduled for next summer, can go forward as planned.
- A trio of former NBA players heads the list of the best players in Europe, according to Jeff Greer of The Athletic. A survey of 21 coaches and players overseas choose former Phoenix and New Orleans guard Mike James as the top player in Europe this season in a close votes. Guard Shane Larkin and forward Nikola Mirotic tied for the second-most votes. Maccabi Tel Aviv forward Deni Avdija, a likely top-10 pick in this year’s draft, is considered the top international NBA prospect.
Nets Notes: LeVert, Durant, Irving, Vezenkov
The Nets need to determine whether Caris LeVert can be the third star alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on a championship team or a trade piece to acquire one, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes.
LeVert was on a tear prior to the suspension of play and figures to be in high demand on the trade market, Lewis continues. LeVert is entering the first season of a three-year, $52.5MM extension. The Nets have several trade assets, including Spencer Dinwiddie and Jarrett Allen, but LeVert might be their best chip, Lewis adds.
We have more on the Nets:
- Longtime NBA guard Jamal Crawford believes Irving and Durant will go through an adjustment period, Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News relays. Crawford made his comments in a Scoop B Radio interview with Brandon Robinson. “They’ll have moments where they have to figure it out and work their way through,” he said. “Those moments may come more in the closer games because they’re both used to having the ball and making plays and making decisions and certain ways they may go about things in the closer games. So maybe more presence there, but I’m sure it will happen during the course of the season.”
- The Nets hold the rights to four European draft-and-slash players but none are potential difference-makesr, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. The most recent of those picks, 2017 second-rounder Sasha Vezenkov, isn’t an NBA-caliber athlete, Hollinger continues. The combo forward doesn’t move his feet well and is a poor rebounder, Hollinger adds.
- All four of the team’s players, including Durant, who tested positive for COVID-19 are now symptom-free. Get the details here.
Nuggets Notes: Quarantine, Porter, Grant
The Nuggets have completed their 14-day quarantine, Mark Medina of USA Today tweets. The team released a statement on March 19 that an undisclosed member of the organization tested positive for COVID-19. That person is now considered “symptom-free,” Medina adds.
We have more on the Nuggets:
- Rookie forward Michael Porter Jr. said the suspension of play has allowed his right ankle to fully heal, Mike Singer of the Denver writes. Porter suffered a sprain on January 31 and the injury continued to linger after the All-Star break. Porter has access to a private gym and he’s been working on his game during the suspension of play, Singer adds.
- Jerami Grant will probably command $15-16MM annually on the open market, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic speculates. Grant is likely to decline his $9.35MM option in order to become an unrestricted free agent. A four-year, $64MM deal sounds reasonable for a player entering the prime of his career, Kosmider adds.
- Porter is one of 16 NBA players who will compete in the 2K Players Tournament, which begins Friday on ESPN and ESPN2, Joe Nguyen of the Denver Post notes. The Suns’ Devin Booker will be Porter’s first-round opponent.
Knicks Won’t Pursue Front Office, Coaching Moves During Hiatus
New Knicks president Leon Rose is not looking into any front office changes during the hiatus, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
With an unofficial hiring and firing freeze around the league, Rose continues to lean on GM Scott Perry, assistant GM Gerald Madkins and director of player personnel Harold Ellis for draft preparations. Perry is expected to remain in his position at least through the draft, Berman continues.
The Knicks possess two first-round picks in this year’s draft — their own, plus the Clippers‘ — as well as the Hornets‘ second-rounder.
A report surfaced on Wednesday that the Knicks might target Sixers GM Elton Brand to replace Perry but a separate report indicated Philadelphia has no desire to let Brand leave.
The Knicks have also put a potential head coaching search on hold during the NBA’s stoppage, Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports. Rose gained a positive impression of interim coach Mike Miller during the short time games were being played after Rose officially was named to his current position.
Draft Notes: Carr, Martin, Teague, Olaniyi
University of Minnesota point guard Marcus Carr is declaring for the draft but won’t hire an agent, Evan Daniels of 247Sports tweets. Carr averaged 15.4 PPG, 6.7 APG and 5.3 RPG in his sophomore season for the Golden Gophers. The 6’2” Carr played one season at Pittsburgh, then sat out a season after transferring.
We have more draft declarations:
- Arizona State point guard Remy Martin has entered his name in the draft pool, Jeff Goodman of Stadium tweets. Martin averaged 19.1 PPG and 4.1 APG as a junior. The 6’0” Martin is a two-year starter after coming off the bench as a freshman.
- Baylor’s MaCio Teague will test the draft waters but he’ll keep his options open, according to his Twitter feed. The 6’3” Teague averaged 13.9 PPG and 4.6 RPG in his junior season. Teague played two seasons at UNC Asheville, then sat out a year after transferring.
- Stony Brook’s Elijah Olaniyi is declaring for the draft but won’t hire an agent, he tweets. The 6’5” shooting guard averaged 18.0 PPG and 6.5 RPG in his junior season. Olaniyi has played 91 career games for the Seawolves.
Northwest Notes: Beasley, McCollum, Connelly, Farnam
The Timberwolves’ ceiling on retaining Malik Beasley could go into the range of $18MM annually, Chris Hine of the Minneapolis Star Tribune opines. Offering Beasley, a restricted free agent, an annual salary of $15-16MM seems like a fair price, Hine continues. Jerami Grant‘s three-year, $27MM contract with Denver might be the upper limit for another of Minnesota’s restricted free agents, Juan Hernangomez, Hine adds.
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum remains optimistic the season will resume, he told Casey Holdahl of the team’s website. “I think we’re in a good place and I think the NBA has been at the front of the line in terms of making decisions that are health-based and not based on finances,” he said. “I think as long as we continue to follow those guidelines, we’ll be in a great spot to return at some point. Whenever that is, I know they won’t rush it, I know they’ll make sure everything is in place the way it should be.”
- Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said the suspension of play has accelerated the timeline for offseason preparations, according to Mike Singer of the Denver Post. “The bulk of your energy is spent toward the draft, but you also have an eye on the offseason, free agency, any potential trades,” Connelly said. “There’s no shortage of video. We’re going to have a pick at No. 21 (from Houston), so you’re going to have to know a lot of players and know them as well as you possibly can.”
- The Timberwolves’ longtime trainer, Gregg Farnam, has tried to remain a calming presence during the pandemic, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic writes. “I’ve learned to remain calm and just kind of be able to evaluate what’s going on, dig through the process and provide the best information and care we can to the athlete,” Farnam said. “Let’s try not to get too excited because it seems like everybody else is very excitable, so I think that’s a good trait to have in my situation.”
Eastern Notes: Dunn, Mykhailiuk, Pistons, Isaac
Lauri Markkanen’s fit in the Bulls’ offense is the biggest question facing the franchise, Mark Schanowski of NBC Sports Chicago writes. The organization must figure out if he can become a consistent 20-point, 10-rebound player. There will probably be little roster turnover but the organization is likely to allow point guard Kris Dunn to walk. The Bulls would have to give Dunn a $7.1MM qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent but they are already deep at point guard.
We have more Eastern Conference news:
- Swingman Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk at minimum established himself as a solid rotation player with the potential to be a key piece for the Pistons, according to Keith Langlois of the team’s website. Mykhailiuk doused the perception that he’s just a 3-point shooter by displaying his offensive versatility this season, including times when he functioned as a primary ballhandler. The team holds a $1.66MM option on Mykhailiuk’s contract for next season and there is little question that they’ll exercise it, Langlois adds.
- The Pistons will have a top-10 draft pick and they’ve been buried in film study during the hiatus, Rod Beard of the Detroit News writes. Detroit had the fifth-worst record when play was halted. “The whole league is watching video,” senior advisor Ed Stefanski said. “We’ve seen some (of the top prospects). Everyone has a bank of information on players, so we’re all in the same boat.”
- Magic forward Jonathan Isaac is continuing his rehab from a severe knee sprain, even though the team’s practice facility is shuttered, as Josh Robbins of The Athletic details. Isaac, who suffered the injury at the beginning of the calendar year, is following a workout program designed by the team’s training staff from his home. “They’ve got a detailed layout of everything that I’ve got to do,” he said. “They send it to me and I get it done. But it works. I like it that way. I know what I’ve got to do each day, and I put some music on and I knock it out.”
NCAA Basketball Players Won’t Get Extra Year of Eligibility
The NCAA Division I Council ruled that winter sports athletes will not have their eligibility extended, despite having their seasons shortened due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to an NCAA press release.
The decision obviously impacts Division I basketball players, most of whom were preparing for or playing in league tournaments when play was halted. Council members declined to extend eligibility for student-athletes in sports where all or much of their regular seasons were completed.
Seniors now have exhausted their eligibility and won’t have the option of returning to school for another season and a chance to play the NCAA Tournament. The decision shouldn’t have a dramatic impact on the draft with so many potential draft picks being early entrants.
The decision eases the concerns of some college coaches about having an excess of scholarship players due to their commitments with incoming freshmen.
Spring-sport athletes have been granted an additional season of eligibility.
Pacific Notes: Warriors, Ibaka, Leonard, Caruso, Suns
Evan Fournier, Dennis Schroder, Will Barton and Ricky Rubio are some of the potential targets for the Warriors’ large trade exception, Brian Witt of NBC Sports Bay Area opines. Golden State possesses a trade exception worth approximately $17.2MM from its Andre Iguodala trade with Memphis last summer. It’s due to expire on July 7, though it will likely be extended if the season is resumed.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Kelly Olynyk and Dewayne Dedmon are two of the big men that the Warriors might consider with the trade exception, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic. On the free agent market, unrestricted free agent Serge Ibaka would be an even better option due to his perimeter shooting and rim protection, along with his playoff experience. Meyers Leonard would be a cheaper and more realistic alternative in free agency, Slater adds.
- Lakers guard Alex Caruso is doing his best to stay in shape during the hiatus, Garrett Stepien of 247Sports.com relays. Caruso made the comments in a video interview with 247’s Evan Daniels. “It’s just at-home workouts, right, because facilities are closed,” Caruso said. “I live close to the beach and down in South Bay, so I’ve gone down to the beach, done some stuff on the beach, at-home workouts in the garage, dribbling, just basic ball-handling stuff, anything I can do to try to keep my body physically active.”
- The Suns flashed their potential under coach Monty Williams this season, The Athletic’s Gina Mizell said in a roundtable of Pacific Division beat writers. “Devin Booker became an All-Star. Deandre Ayton, even in limited action due to suspension and injury, made strides,” Mizell said. “Ricky Rubio was a playmaker and veteran leader. Kelly Oubre Jr. had a career season and Mikal Bridges progressed.”
Draft Notes: Russell, Williams, Vassell, Mays
Rhode Island guard Fatts Russell has declared for the draft but will maintain his college eligibility throughout the process, he wrote on an Instagram post. The junior averaged 18.8 PPG, 4.6 APG and 2.9 SPG this season. The 5’10” Russell averaged 14.2 PPG last season.
We have more draft news:
- Cincinnati’s Keith Williams announced his intention to enter the draft and hire an agent on his Twitter feed. The 6’5” Williams averaged 12.6 PPG and shot 34.2% from long range as a junior this season. Williams has started two seasons for the Bearcats after being a rotation reserve as a freshman.
- Oregon guard Payton Pritchard, Florida State guard Devin Vassell, Utah State guard Sam Merrill, Penn State forward Lamar Stevens and LSU guard Skylar Mays are five players who could make a surprising impact in the NBA, Jon Rothstein declares in a Yahoo Sports video post. Vassell, currently ranked No. 19 on ESPN’s Best Available list, is the only prospect among that group considered a likely first-rounder.
- Potential lottery selection Killian Hayes has declared for the draft. Get the details here.