Patrick McCaw Passes On Qualifying Offer
Restricted free agent guard Patrick McCaw is expected to decline his one-year, $1.71MM qualifying offer from the Warriors, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
If that comes to fruition, McCaw would remain an RFA. McCaw was reportedly offered a two-year contract from the Warriors but also plans to turn that down. The previous report indicted it was a $4MM offer but ESPN’s Marc Spears tweets that Golden State proposed a two-year deal worth approximately $5MM with the second year not guaranteed.
McCaw had an October 1st deadline to sign the qualifying offer.
By NBA rules, teams are permitted to extend the qualifying offer deadline beyond that date, so the Warriors could leave McCaw’s QO on the table. However, clubs rarely agree to push back that deadline, since removing the qualifying offer from the equation improves a team’s leverage, limiting the restricted free agent’s options.
His qualifying offer is worth $200K more than his minimum salary of $1.51MM. He’s apparently willing to roll the dice with the hope that Golden State will let him go. As Anthony Slater of The Athletic tweets, McCaw could drag out the process and force the Warriors to move on without him, hoping they won’t match offer sheet once his roster spot is committed to someone else.
The Warriors have been holding a spot open for McCaw, who struggled during his sophomore season in 2017/18. In 57 games (16.9 MPG), the former second-round pick averaged 4.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG, and 1.4 APG with a .409/.238/.765 shooting line.
McCaw is the only restricted free agent left on the market.
Sixers Guard Jerryd Bayless Suffers Knee Sprain
Sixers guard Jerryd Bayless suffered a sprained left knee during practice on Sunday and will re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks, according to a team press release that was tweeted by Yahoo Sports’ Chris Mannix. He will begin treatment immediately.
The fact that Bayless will simply be re-evaluated in 3-4 weeks means he’ll likely be out of action for at least a month or so. He has a $8,575,916 salary in the final year of his contract.
Bayless, 30, isn’t expected to play much when he returns. Philadelphia is well-stocked at the guard spots with Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, T.J. McConnell, J.J. Redick, Furkan Korkmaz, rookie Landry Shamet and two-way players Demetrius Jackson and Shake Milton on the roster.
The 6’3” journeyman appeared in 39 regular-season games with the Sixers last season, including 11 starts. He averaged 7.9 PPG and 1.4 APG in 23.7 MPG. He’s also played for Portland, Toronto, New Orleans Memphis, Boston and Milwaukee since entering the league in 2008.
Southeast Notes: MKG, Bamba, Whiteside, Bridges
Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is in the NBA’s concussion protocol and will not play in the team’s preseason game on Tuesday, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports. This is at least the second time in his career that Kidd-Gilchrist has suffered a concussion. He endured one during his rookie season in 2013. When Kidd-Gilchrist returns, his role will change, Bonnell notes. New coach James Borrego will play him primarily at power forward and he’ll likely be on the second unit.
We have more from around the Southeast Division:
- The Magic’s Steve Clifford has been impressed by how rookie big man Mohamed Bamba has picked up the coach’s schematic concepts, John Denton of the team’s website reports. Bamba, the No. 6 overall pick, made his preseason debut on Monday. “He said, `I’m watching this game and all I’m looking at are what their coverages are like and what they’re running for offense,’” Clifford told Denton. “People can get excited about (Bamba’s) length and that shows his physical talent, but he’s a smart guy. And I do think he has a real affection for the game.”
- Heat center Hassan Whiteside will struggle to get enough playing time regardless of how well he plays, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel opines in his latest mailbag. If Kelly Olynyk and Bam Adebayo receive rotation minutes, Whiteside will have to make do with fewer minutes than he’s played in the past. When James Johnson returns from a sports hernia that has limited him to non-contact drills in practice, getting Whiteside adequate playing time will be even more difficult, Winderman adds.
- Rookie Miles Bridges has played all three frontcourt positions during the team’s two preseason games, Bonnell notes in a separate story. He is averaging 16.5 PPG while shooting 59% from the field. “He picks things up quicker than I anticipated,” Borrego said. “His feel for the NBA game is much higher than I thought. He’s starting to figure out rhythm, screening action, terminology.”
Northwest Notes: Allen, Nuggets, Harkless, Allen
Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen announced in a press release that he is once again being treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Allen was treated for the same cancer in 2009. Allen says he will remain involved in the operations of Trail Blazers as well as the NFL’s Seahawks and his other business ventures.
The statement reads in part, “A lot has happened in medicine since I overcame this disease in 2009. My doctors are optimistic that I will see good results from the latest therapies, as am I. I will continue to stay involved with Vulcan, the Allen Institutes, the Seahawks and Trail Blazers, as I have in the past. I have confidence in the leadership teams to manage their ongoing operations during my treatment.”
We have more news from around the Northwest Division:
- The Nuggets have most of their rotation players back from last season and that led to a productive first week of training camp, according to Christopher Dempsey of the team’s website. “I think the advantage that we have is continuity – year four, we know each other,” coach Michael Malone told Dempsey. “That’s already in. … We’re ahead of the curve. So, we have hit the ground running. We are, I think, ahead of a lot of teams because of the continuity that we have.”
- Trail Blazers forward Maurice Harkless has been limited in camp by a left knee injury he suffered last March, Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reports. Harkless would like to play in a couple of preseason games and ease his way into the regular season. “I want to play in a couple,” he said. “I don’t want to just go out there and just go all out. It’s tough on the body. Coming from an injury, it’s probably not smart to do.”
- Jazz rookie guard Grayson Allen made a promising preseason debut, as Jordan Hicks of Basketball Insiders examines. Allen scored 19 points off the bench against Australia’s Perth Wildcats, making 7-of-14 shots overall while going 5-for-9 on 3-point tries. Bench scoring was an issue for Utah last season and the Duke rookie could prove to be a significant asset in another postseason run, Hicks points out.
Central Rumors: Jackson, Valentine, Nwaba, Robinson
Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson has progressed to 5-on-5, full-contact practices, Rod Beard of the Detroit News reports. Jackson suffered a high ankle sprain in December. Even though he returned during the second half of the season, spent much of the summer working with the training staff to fully recover. “We’re going to be smart and slow with him but I love where he is right now,” coach Dwane Casey told Beard and other media members. “He looked good. His timing is off a bit from not being out there. He knew exactly what we were doing because he paid attention. His game conditioning is getting there.”
We have more from around the Central Division:
- Bulls swingman Denzel Valentine suffered a moderate ankle sprain during the first week of training camp, according to the team’s website. Valentine will be re-evaluated in 1-2 weeks, the release adds. The injury could put Valentine’s rotation spot in jeopardy. He’s fighting for playing time on the wing with Justin Holiday, Chandler Hutchison and JaKarr Sampson, among others, behind starters Zach LaVine and Jabari Parker.
- Shooting guard David Nwaba had a two-year offer from the Pacers but he opted for a one-year deal with the Cavaliers, he revealed to Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Nwaba became an unrestricted free agent after the Bulls rescinded his qualifying offer. “Indiana wanted me for two years, but Cleveland seemed like a better fit,” Nwaba told Fedor. “Young guys as well as veterans on this team, so I thought it was a perfect fit and knew I was going to get my opportunity here.”
- Glenn Robinson III is eager to jump start his career after an ankle injury marred his final year with the Pacers, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports. The swingman signed a two-year, $8.35MM deal with the Pistons that included a team option. “My shooting ability and being able to defend my position is going to be huge for us,” Robinson said. “It’s going to be up to Coach (Casey) who he puts in that starting wing spot, but I think the most important thing to me is finishing games.”
Bulls Forward Lauri Markkanen Injured, Out 6-8 Weeks
Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanen will be out an estimated 6-to-8 weeks after suffering a high grade lateral elbow sprain, the team tweets.
Markkanen was injured during practice on Thursday and underwent an MRI on his right elbow on Friday.
The first major injury of the preseason could derail any hopes Chicago had of making the playoffs. Without their top player, the Bulls are dangerously thin at the forward spots.
Barring a trade, Chicago could thrust Bobby Portis into a starting role or move Jabari Parker from small forward to the four spot. Rookie training camp invitee Kaiser Gates is the team’s only other power forward, though it could try rookie Wendell Carter Jr. or Cristiano Felicio as a stopgap.
Markkanen had an outstanding rookie campaign, averaging 15.2 PPG and 7.5 RPG in 29.7 MPG while appearing in 68 contests. The 7-footer was the seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft.
Community Shootaround: Northwest Division
Every team would like to think during this time of the year it could at least compete for a division championship and automatic playoff berth. In reality, virtually every division has at least one team that has no realistic shot at doing that.
That’s confirmed by VegasInsider.com’s odds for each of the six NBA divisions. In all but one of them, there’s at least one team posted with odds of 25-1 or higher to beat out its four division foes.
The lone exception is the Northwest Division. That division appears to be wide open and even the team with the longest odds — the Trail Blazers — is given a 6-1 chance to win it. The Thunder and Jazz are co-favorites at 9-4, with the Nuggets at 9-2 and the Timberwolves (prior to a potential Jimmy Butler trade) listed at 5-1.
This should come as no surprise, since the division was hotly contested last season. Portland won it with a 49-33 record. All the other Northwest Division teams had at least 46 wins. Denver finished last with a 46-36 mark and just missed the playoffs.
Paul George‘s decision to re-sign with Oklahoma City is the primary reason why it’s a co-favorite. The Jazz have essentially the same mix that made them one of the pleasant surprises in the league last season. Star guard Donovan Mitchell should be even better is his second season.
The Nuggets are loaded with offensive talent and most of their core players are just entering their prime. Even if Butler is dealt, the Timberwolves still have one of the league’s top big men in Karl-Anthony Towns. And defending division champ Portland still has the league’s highest-scoring backcourt duo in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum.
This leads us to our question of the day: Which team do you think will finish first in the Northwest Division this season and why?
Please take to the comments section and weigh in on this topic. We look forward to what you have to say.
Lakers Hire Kurt Rambis To Front Office Role
The Lakers have hired Kurt Rambis as their senior basketball advisor, according to a team press release.
Rambis will report to president of basketball operations Magic Johnson to support the basketball operations and coaching staffs in their day-to-day functions. He has been looking for a new job since he was dismissed as associate head coach with the Knicks on the same day head coach Jeff Hornacek was fired in April.
“As a member of the Showtime Lakers, Kurt is a champion and knows how to win,” Johnson said in a statement. “He has been an integral part of the Lakers organization winning four NBA championships as a player and an additional four as a part of the staff. His insights and wide range of experiences will be a huge benefit to our operations.”
Rambis will be rejoining the Lakers for his third stint in either a coaching or front office role. He was most recently in the organization during the 2013/14 season. Rambis was head coach of the Timberwolves from 2009-11 and joined the Knicks organization in 2014.
Rambis won four NBA championships while playing nine of his 14 seasons with the Lakers.
2018 Offseason In Review: Memphis Grizzlies
Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2018 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2018/19 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Memphis Grizzlies.
Signings:
Standard contracts:
- Kyle Anderson: Four years, $37.16MM. Signed using mid-level exception. Spurs’ declined to match offer sheet.
- Omri Casspi: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Shelvin Mack: One year, minimum salary. Signed using minimum salary exception.
- Two-way contracts:
- Non-guaranteed camp contracts:
- Markel Crawford: One year, minimum salary.
- Brandon Goodwin: One year, minimum salary.
- Ismaila Kane: One year, minimum salary.
- Doral Moore: One year, minimum salary.
Trades:
- Acquired Garrett Temple from the Kings in exchange for Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, the Grizzlies’ 2021 second-round pick, and cash ($1,544,951).
- Acquired Dakari Johnson and the draft rights to Tyler Harvey from the Magic in exchange for Jarell Martin and cash ($1,037,980).
- Note: Johnson later waived.
Draft picks:
- 1-4: Jaren Jackson Jr. — Signed to rookie contract.
- 2-32: Jevon Carter — Signed to two-year, $2.26MM contract. Fully guaranteed. Signed using minimum salary exception.
Departing players:
- Mario Chalmers
- Deyonta Davis
- Tyreke Evans
- Myke Henry (two-way; waived)
- Omari Johnson (waived)
- Jarell Martin
- Ben McLemore
- Kobi Simmons (two-way; waived)
Other offseason news:
- Retained interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, naming him permanent head coach.
- Hired Jerry Stackhouse as assistant coach; finalized coaching staff.
- Hired Brad Jones as head coach of G League affiliate Memphis Hustle.
- Named Glen Grunwald a consultant.
Salary cap situation:
- Remained over the cap.
- Carrying approximately $120.8MM in guaranteed salaries.
- Hard-capped at $129.82MM.
- No cap exceptions left besides minimum salary exception.
Check out the Memphis Grizzlies’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.
Story of the summer:
Following a colossally disappointing 22-win season, the Grizzlies found themselves in a very difficult spot. With three fat contracts (Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Chandler Parsons) eating up a good chunk of their cap space, they couldn’t simply go into full rebuild mode. So rather than waving the white flag, the Grizzlies’ front office thought the best approach would be to embrace their old roots. Instead of seeking out more shooters and embracing a high-powered attack, Memphis opted to surround Gasol and Conley with defensive-minded players possessing length and athleticism.
Selecting Jaren Jackson Jr. with their high lottery pick tipped the Grizzlies’ hand on what type of personnel moves they’d make this summer. Jackson is an all-around talent but his greatest strength is his shot-blocking. Jackson Jr. swatted over 100 shots in his lone college season at Michigan State despite averaging just 21.8 MPG. Second-round pick Jevon Carter carved out a reputation for toughness and gritty play at West Virginia.
Their successful pursuit of restricted free agent swingman Kyle Anderson showed creativity on a limited budget. The Grizzlies knew it would be tough for San Antonio to match the offer sheet on a four-year player who’s never averaged more than 7.9 PPG. But Memphis isn’t looking for Anderson to put up big offensive numbers. Defensive analytics show Anderson to be one of the league’s underrated defenders. His defensive box rating last season posted by Basketball Reference was an excellent 4.3.
The front office also chose continuity by retaining coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Endorsements from Conley and Gasol certainly helped his cause.
Celtics Near Agreement With Marcus Georges-Hunt
The Celtics are close to reaching a contract agreement with guard Marcus Georges-Hunt, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets.
It’s apparently a training-camp contract but Georges-Hunt should have a reasonable chance of making the opening-night roster.
Georges-Hunt worked out for the Celtics on September 11th.
The 6’5” Georgia Tech alum appeared in 42 games for the Timberwolves last season, averaging 1.4 PPG in 5.3 MPG, after making his NBA debut with the Magic in 2016/17.
Georges-Hunt was well-known in the Celtics organization prior to the workout. He was on their 2016 training camp roster and then played that season with their G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, averaging 15.8 PPG, 6.4 RPG and 4.4 APG.
The 6’5” Georges-Hunt worked out for the Timberwolves a week prior to his visit to Boston, even though they made him a free agent by declining to extend him a qualifying offer earlier in the summer. The Cavaliers also brought him in during a free agent tryout earlier this month, while the Nuggets worked him out last month.
The Celtics currently have 15 players on guaranteed contracts and have filled both two-way slots but shooting guard Jabari Bird‘s future with the organization is in doubt. Bird is not with the team as he sorts through legal and medical issues after being arraigned on assault changes in a domestic incident.