Western Notes: Aldridge, Williams, D-League
LaMarcus Aldridge, who signed with the Spurs this past offseason as an unrestricted free agent, said he was very close to joining the Suns instead, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic writes. “It was very close,” said Aldridge. “It came down to the final minute, to the final day of me trying to make a decision of coming here or going to San Antonio. They [Phoenix] made a strong case. They knew who I wanted to play with and some things I valued and they made those things happen. I couldn’t not take them seriously because they did everything that I was asking at the time. It came down, neck and neck, between Phoenix and San Antonio. It wasn’t overplayed. That was accurate.”
Here’s more from out West:
- Aldridge also noted that he is happy not having to be the alpha in San Antonio’s system and happiness for he and his family and a chance to win an NBA title trump any ego-driven concerns, Coro adds. “Things change,” Aldridge told Coro. “I’ve always enjoyed being the guy. I think working so hard in Portland to earn the right to have it be my team and to have my own team over the years and try to play at a high level, that was hard-earned. So I take pride in that. I cherish those years. I don’t want to be that guy. This team is so stacked that they really don’t need me to be that guy here. This is more Kawhi’s [Leonard] team and we all kind of fit in around him and try to make him better and try to make his life a little bit easier. I think if I was trying to be that guy still, then I should’ve not came. But I’m OK with trying to help Kawhi be great every night.”
- Shooting guard Elliot Williams, whom the Grizzlies didn’t sign to a second 10-day contract after his first expired on Sunday, has rejoined the Warriors’ D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz, Chris Reichert of Upside & Motor tweets.
- The Thunder have assigned Josh Huestis and Mitch McGary to their D-League affiliate, the team announced. This will be Huestis’ ninth stint with the Blue on the season and McGary’s fifth.
Cavs Notes: Blatt, Lue, Love
Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt, who was fired earlier today, released a statement regarding his departure (h/t Priority Sports). “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve as the Head Coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers,” Blatt wrote. “I’d like to thank [team owner] Dan Gilbert and [GM] David Griffin for giving me this opportunity and am honored to have worked with an amazing group of players from LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love through our entire roster. I’d also like to express my extreme gratitude to my coaching staff. I am indebted to them for their professionalism, hard work, loyalty and friendship. I am proud of what we have accomplished since I have been the Head Coach and wish the Cavaliers nothing but the best this season and beyond.”
Here’s more from Cleveland amid a day of big changes:
- Griffin denied that the team gave Tyronn Lue a contract extension but noted that Lue was named head coach without the interim title, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com relays (via Twitter). Griffin made his remarks during a press conference to announce the team’s coaching change. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports heard from league sources that Lue was given a new three-year deal worth approximately $9.5MM (Twitter link).
- The Cavs’ players were taken completely by surprise by Blatt’s firing, and when a team meeting was called to announce the move many of them thought it was because Love had been traded, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com relays (on Twitter).
- There may be some players on the team who aren’t happy about the decision to part ways with Blatt, but Griffin said it was a move they would have to respect regardless of their feelings, Sam Amico of Amico Hoops tweets.
- The franchise was concerned that Blatt was reluctant to consistently challenge LeBron, who is a coachable player whose respect must first be earned, Sam Amick of USA Today tweets.
Atlantic Notes: Anthony, Larkin, Lowry
Knicks coach Derek Fisher envisions Carmelo Anthony evolving into more of a facilitator from the forward spot in the team’s offense, Al Iannazzone of Newsday writes. “I think there’s some more playmaking opportunities that will continue to be a part of his maturation in how we play,” Fisher said. “I think there will be times when we can put the ball in his hands more and allow his size and his ability to create shots for other people to be more of a feature. And that’s a part of our offense that we really want to get to. We’re looking forward to being able to play Carmelo at the top of the floor at times. I think he can average a pretty high number of assists because of how aggressive teams are defending him.’’
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The friendship that has developed between Raptors backcourt mates Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan has helped both the players and the team be successful, Jessica Patton of The Toronto Sun writes. “I think when they first got here, I think they looked at each other like ‘OK’, ” coach Dwane Casey said. “But then as things went on and as the games went on and winning went on, they saw that they could co-exist together. I think the trust has been built, the friendship built, and they [have] a good thing going.”
- Nets point guard Shane Larkin is still trying to prove that he belongs in the league amid the team’s difficult season, notes Andy Vasquez of NorthJersey.com. “I haven’t established myself as a proven backup — whatever you want to say,” Larkin said. “And that’s what I’m trying to do. So every single night I go out there, I have that kind of mentality. And even though lately I’ve been struggling, I’ve just got to stay confident, keep playing and get back to what I was doing.”
- If the Sixers return to prominence in the coming seasons the credit is likely to go to new team executive Jerry Colangelo and not to GM Sam Hinkie, despite the GM having laid much of the foundation, Derek Bodner of Philadelphia magazine opines in his mailbag. While Hinkie’s plan certainly has its flaws, the GM should share in the credit for any inroads the team makes, Bodner adds.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 1/21/16
The Nets thought they had solidified their bench this past summer with the free agent signings of Shane Larkin, Thomas Robinson, Wayne Ellington and Andrea Bargnani. Unfortunately for the team, and its fanbase, none of those additions has paid much in the way of dividends as of this writing. All four signings were considered low-risk at the time, but NetsDaily opined recently that one or all of these arrangements could potentially hurt the team’s cap flexibility this summer.
All four players were given player options in their deals, and with the struggles of the team and the players, an increasing chance exists that those options will be exercised, according to the NetsDaily scribe. The amounts of the options are listed below:
- Ellington — $1,567,500
- Bargnani — $1,551,659
- Larkin — $1,500,000
- Robinson — $1,050,961
None of these figures would be crippling individually, and even in the worst-case scenario (as posited by NetsDaily) where all four opt in, their salaries would only total $5,670,120. But Brooklyn is bereft of draft picks for the near future and sorely lacking in tradeable talent, so any forward progress will likely need to occur via free agency. The Nets, like most franchises, are likely to aim big when filling out their free agent wish list for this coming offseason. The team is currently projected to possess in the neighborhood of $32MM-$38MM in cap space, a number that includes all four of the aforementioned players.
That amount wouldn’t be sufficient to sign two max salary players, which would likely be required to make the Nets a contender next season. Even if the franchise were lucky enough to entice one top-tier free agent, it wouldn’t leave much cap space to supplement the roster. But if you subtract the four player options, the team would have a bit more in the coffers to restock its talent.
This brings me to the topic for today: Out of the four offseason signees who possess player options (Shane Larkin, Thomas Robinson, Wayne Ellington and Andrea Bargnani), which, if any, should the Nets look to retain? Why?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.
And-Ones: Williams, Love, McLemore
Shooting guard Elliot Williams, whom the Grizzlies didn’t sign to a second 10-day contract after his first expired on Sunday, has declined multiple offers from overseas teams as he awaits another NBA team to come calling, international journalist David Pick reports (Twitter link). Williams averaged 1.6 points on 20% shooting in nine minutes per contest across five appearances for Memphis. The Grizzlies instead signed center Ryan Hollins to a 10-day contract today, filling the roster spot Williams had been in.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Bulls are a team in disarray, which is a byproduct of parting ways with former coach Tom Thibodeau, Colin McGowan of RealGM writes. Chicago wanted a coach who was more respectful of the chain of command, and it got that in new coach Fred Hoiberg, but the team has looked sluggish on offense and disinterested in defense far too often this season as a result of the switch, McGowan contends.
- Kings shooting guard Ben McLemore‘s playing time has suffered due to the offseason additions of Rajon Rondo and Marco Belinelli, and the third-year player is still trying to adjust to his new role, Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee writes. “I think I’m still trying to find my flow on this team,” McLemore told Jones. “I know what I need to do. I’m just trying to figure it out. Last year I figured it out pretty fast. Now I need to get over this hump and push from there.”
- If the Cavaliers are to maximize their potential this season, power forward Kevin Love will need to fully embrace his role as the team’s third star, Kevin Cottrell Jr. of NBA.com writes. Love has struggled with his touches and role being reduced since arriving in Cleveland, something that Chris Bosh, a former teammate of LeBron James, cautioned could become an issue when the trade for Love was first announced, Cottrell notes.
- LSU’s Ben Simmons tops the latest mock draft from ESPN’s Chad Ford (Insider subscription required). The combo forward is followed on Ford’s list by Duke’s Brandon Ingram and Croatian big man Dragan Bender, who round out the top three.
Western Notes: Russell, Karl, D-League
Lakers point guard D’Angelo Russell has been compared to Kings playmaker Rajon Rondo, which suits the rookie just fine, Abbey Mastracco of The Los Angeles Daily News writes. “That edge about him,” Russell said of Rondo. “A lot of guys don’t really like him, a lot of coaches don’t really like him, but he still finds a way to win. If that’s what it takes to be a winner in the league, I think I’m going to follow that path.” While Russell would like to emulate Rondo, he also wants to maintain his own identity on the court, Mastracco adds. “Just really being myself my whole career,” Russell said. “I don’t want to turn into somebody I’m not. I can control what I can control and that’s about it. I don’t really worry about those other things. Just trying to keep that positive mentality and being competitive.”
Here’s more from out West:
- Kings coach George Karl is happy with the progress his team is making but cautions that there is still much to be done before Sacramento can be considered a legitimate playoff threat, James Ham of CSNBayArea.com writes. “I think as a coach, getting better and improving is the positive of what’s going on right now,” Karl said. “Our record is positive also, we’ve had a good month of January. It hasn’t been an easy schedule. At the same time, we’re in the middle of the season, 41 games left. If we think we’re good I think that would be a mistake right now. We’ve played good basketball, we’re playing better basketball, but we have a lot of work to do.”
- The Grizzlies have been uncharacteristically productive from beyond the 3-point line recently, notes Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal, with the team connecting on 48.9% of its deep balls over the past three games. “I actually thought the 3-point shot was kind of the difference for us in our favor, which is kind of cool,” coach Dave Joerger said. “We’re starting to make shots.” It’s unclear if the team’s recent success will deter it from pursuing more offensive firepower as the trade deadline approaches.
- The Mavericks have assigned swingman Justin Anderson, power forward Jeremy Evans and center Salah Mejri to their D-League affiliate, the team announced via press release. This will be the seventh trip to the Legends on the season for Mejri, the sixth for Anderson and Evans’ third.
Southeast Notes: Hennigan, Spoelstra, Hawks
Despite the Magic experiencing a recent rough patch, GM Rob Hennigan is pleased with the progress made by the young team, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel relays. “Clearly our play over the past few weeks has been choppy and inconsistent, which has been frustrating,” said Hennigan. “We’re continuing to search for that balance and rhythm that we had earlier in the season. We’ve shown we’re capable of doing it. Now it’s a matter of harnessing it consistently and executing the plan that Scott and his staff are laying out each night. But if you take a step back and look at the big picture, I’d say, by and large, we’ve made considerable progress. The next step for us is obviously doing a better job of closing out those games, and I think the key thing to remember is we’re doing it primarily with players in their first, second, third, fourth and fifth years.”
The GM also indicated that Orlando would be active at the trade deadline, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that the team will make any trades, Robbins adds. “We’ll be very active in our discussions,” said Hennigan. “It’s our job to constantly search for ways to improve the team. It doesn’t mean that those discussions will necessarily lead to action. We’re in a position where a lot of teams like our players, and so we’ll certainly have options. If something makes sense for us, we’ll be aggressive. But it needs to make sense for both the long and short terms. So we’ll stay equally as disciplined in our decision-making as we are active in our discussions.”
Here’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- In his latest mailbag, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel opines that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra has been stubborn about adapting his gameplan and turning Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside loose more on the offensive end, but the team’s lack of outside shooting may be partially to blame for the coach’s sometimes questionable rotations.
- The Hawks are still recovering the scandal brought on by the racially insensitive remarks of former GM Danny Ferry and former owner Bruce Levenson, but the franchise is excited about the inroads made in the community regarding tolerance, Charles Odum of The Associated Press writes. “Because of this city, because of what happened, we have an opportunity to do something amazing and that’s what excites me,” Grant Hill, who is part of the team’s ownership group, said. “Don’t get me wrong. We want to win … but the chance to make an impact on this city, that’s what excites me.“
2016 NBA All-Star Game Starters Announced
Kobe Bryant led all vote-getters while Anthony Davis suffered a potentially costly snub as the league officially announced the starters for the 2016 All-Star game, which will be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Sunday, February 14th. The Lakers shooting guard collected a total of 1,891,614 votes, in this, his final season of a Hall-of-Fame career. A four-time All-Star MVP, Bryant holds All-Star Game records for the most points scored (280), most field goals made (115), and most steals (37, tied with the great Michael Jordan). Also named starters in the West were: Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. LeBron James, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Kyle Lowry are the starters for the Eastern Conference.
Davis needed a starting nod to trigger the Derrick Rose rule, which would have given him a salary of a projected $24.9MM instead of $20.4MM next season. The difference would amount to $25.875MM over the life of his contract, based on those same projections. He could still invoke the rule if he earns an All-NBA nod or wins the MVP award in the spring.
The list of top vote recipients are listed below by Conference:
Eastern Conference
Frontcourt
- LeBron James (Cavs) 1,089,206
- Paul George (Pacers) 711,595
- Carmelo Anthony (Knicks) 567,348
- Pau Gasol (Bulls) 566,988
- Andre Drummond (Pistons) 515,296
- Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks) 473,579
- Chris Bosh (Heat) 351,420
- Kevin Love (Cavs) 332,685
- Hassan Whiteside (Heat) 301,362
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) 84,617
- Jonas Valanciunas (Raptors) 73,079
- Joakim Noah (Bulls) 48,509
- DeMarre Carroll (Raptors) 46,044
- Marcin Gortat (Wizards) 43,496
- Paul Millsap (Hawks) 41,654
Guards
- Dwyane Wade (Heat) 941,466
- Kyle Lowry (Raptors) 646,441
- Kyrie Irving (Cavs) 580,651
- Jimmy Butler (Bulls) 564,637
- DeMar DeRozan (Raptors) 444,868
- John Wall (Wizards) 368,686
- Derrick Rose (Bulls) 302,389
- Jeremy Lin (Hornets) 195,920
- Isaiah Thomas (Celtics) 153,64
- Reggie Jackson (Pistons) 76,688
Western Conference
Frontcourt
- Kobe Bryant (Lakers) 1,891,614
- Kevin Durant (Thunder) 980,787
- Kawhi Leonard (Spurs) 782,339
- Zaza Pachulia (Mavs) 768,112
- Draymond Green (Warriors) 726,616
- Blake Griffin (Clippers) 651,860
- Enes Kanter (Thunder) 534,499
- Tim Duncan (Spurs) 431,087
- Anthony Davis (Pelicans) 400,688
- DeMarcus Cousins (Kings) 364,270
- DeAndre Jordan (Clippers) 269,427
- LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs) 268,003
- Dwight Howard (Rockets) 219,761
- Dirk Nowitzki (Mavs) 173,317
- Harrison Barnes (Warriors) 155,289
Guards
- Stephen Curry (Warriors) 1,604,325
- Russell Westbrook (Thunder) 772,009
- Chris Paul (Clippers) 624,334
- Klay Thompson (Warriors) 555,513
- James Harden (Rockets) 430,777
- Manu Ginobili (Spurs) 226,289
- Rajon Rondo (Kings) 200,518
- Tony Parker (Spurs) 195,472
- Andre Iguodala (Warriors) 181,142
- Damian Lillard (Blazers) 158,360
Atlantic Notes: Wroten, 2016 Draft, Johnson
The Knicks don’t want to sign a player to a 10-day deal who won’t crack their rotation, which explains why the team hasn’t added Tony Wroten or Jimmer Fredette despite possessing an open roster spot, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. New York thinks it would be wasteful to do so, according to Berman, and the franchise won’t be pressed into making a move unless a rotation player goes down with an injury. The Knicks are also considering using a 10-day pact on a young player who would play primarily in the D-League in order to learn the triangle offense, the New York Post scribe adds. Berman notes that New York has expressed some level of interest in Wroten but is concerned about his tendency to gamble on defense.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Celtics power forward Amir Johnson, who departed the Raptors as a free agent this past offseason, is missed by his former teammates and Toronto’s fans because of his tireless work ethic, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca writes. “I think fans appreciate hard work,” said Patrick Patterson, who spent a season and a half with Johnson with the Raptors. “They appreciate guys who lay it out every single night, who play with their heart and soul. Like I said, he was battling through injuries and he wasn’t sitting out. He wasn’t in the locker room not participating. He was out there every single night playing those games no matter how he felt, no matter how badly his body needed rest, he was out there every night with his heart and soul.“
- The Nets have hired well-known shooting coach David Nurse to work with their players, NetsDaily relays. Brooklyn is shooting 44.6% from the field and hitting just 31.8% of their 3-pointers on the season.
- The Celtics own Brooklyn’s 2016 first round pick. which is likely to land in the top five, and the crew over at CSNNE.com looked at six potential draft targets for Boston. Besides the projected No. 1 overall pick, Ben Simmons of LSU, Boston is also likely to strongly consider Jaylen Brown (California), Buddy Hield (Oklahoma), Kris Dunn (Providence), Dragan Bender (Croatia) and Brandan Ingram (Duke).
Pelicans Sign Bryce Dejean-Jones To 10-Day Pact
THURSDAY, 3:24pm: The signing is official, the team announced.
WEDNESDAY, 5:31pm: The Pelicans intend to sign combo guard Bryce Dejean-Jones to a 10-day contract, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link) and Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports confirms (via Twitter). The addition of Dejean-Jones will give New Orleans a roster count of 15 players, which is the regular season maximum.
New Orleans needs to add backcourt depth in the wake of losing shooting guard Eric Gordon for four to six weeks after he underwent surgery to repair a broken right finger earlier today. The Pelicans are ineligible to apply for a disabled player exception, because the deadline to do so was this past Friday. Gordon and Quincy Pondexter, who underwent season-ending surgery today, are the only Pelicans with current long-term injuries, so a hardship provision of a 16th roster spot isn’t a possibility.
Dejean-Jones had signed with the Pelicans back in August as an undrafted free agent after winning a spot on the New Orleans summer league team. He averaged 8.8 points in 18.2 minutes per game during the preseason, but a slew of injuries helped convince the Pelicans to waive him prior to opening night. He’s since joined the Jazz affiliate in the D-League and has posted 19.2 points in 31.3 minutes per contest across nine appearances.