Central Notes: Jennings, James, Hoiberg
Bulls VP John Paxson admitted that Fred Hoiberg is still learning how to survive in the NBA, but noted that the team is firmly behind its new coach, Teddy Greenstein of The Chicago Tribune writes. “Fred has a lot to learn,” Paxson said. “He’ll acknowledge that. We all will. The system he wants to implement offensively is taking some time to really come to fruition. And when you don’t have certain players in terms of spacing the floor like [the injured] Mike Dunleavy — and that’s not an excuse it’s just our reality — that can slow the process as well.”
Paxson did add that Hoiberg’s calm demeanor on the sideline has impressed him, Greenstein relays. “I played for Phil Jackson. He sat most of the game. He was laid-back but intense. You see some coaches who are maniacs on the sideline,” Paxson said. “The last thing as a player you need when there’s stressful situations is to look to the sidelines and there’s a guy over there going nuts. I see that in college all the time.”
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings insists that he’s ready for action immediately, but understands the team being cautious with him as he makes his return from an Achilles injury suffered back in January, Terry Foster of The Detroit News relays. “I’m fine, I’m ready,” Jennings said. “However, this is not my decision. This is my coach’s decision, so I wait and see.” Detroit coach/executive Stan Van Gundy indicated he’s waiting to see how Jennings responds to back-to-back practices before settling on an exact return date for the veteran playmaker, Foster adds. “Our whole team needs work but it’s good for Brandon,” Van Gundy said. “We practiced before but it was more four-on-four. He got up and down. I think this is the first time he will get two practices in a row to get his legs underneath him.“
- LeBron James has called for more clarity and consistency in the Cavaliers‘ rotation this season, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. “For us to have a full unit, we’ve got to practice, we’ve got to play some games where we know what we want to do, what lineups we want to play out there,” James said. “It’s an adjustment period. It’s not just going to happen – you plug a guy in there, plug two guys in there and it automatically happens. It’s going to be an adjustment period, but we’ll be fine. We’ll be fine toward February and March.“
- The Pacers have recalled Joe Young and Glenn Robinson III from Fort Wayne, their D-League affiliate, the team announced. Indiana also assigned center Shayne Whittington to the Mad Ants, the team noted in the same press release.
Atlantic Notes: Crowder, Nets, Ross
Nets CEO Brett Yormark recently mentioned Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Bojan Bogdanovic as players to build around, and the team indeed intends to keep those four around rather than using them to replenish their depleted draft assets, NetsDaily hears. Yormark also alluded to some of the team’s younger players as building blocks without naming them, and the NetsDaily report speculates about who they might be.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Celtics are thrilled with the play of Jae Crowder, whom the team re-signed over the summer to a five-year, $35MM deal, especially on the defensive end, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes. “Jae’s playing at a high level right now on both ends,” said coach Brad Stevens. “But we need him to defend the way he is. The thing about Jae that I think Jae has really improved on throughout the years: being in the right place at the right time from a position standpoint because he’s so … he’s a good physical defender when he’s there.”
- Knicks coach Derek Fisher is still struggling to find the right bench combination, and the playing time of rookie point guard Jerian Grant has taken a hit with veteran Sasha Vujacic assuming an expanded role, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com writes. “We’re still trying to find a way to have five guys that are playing together, flowing together. Sasha obviously has familiarity and history with what we’re trying to do offensively,” Fisher said. “We continue to search for how to get ourselves organized and we feel like Sasha gave us a chance to do so.”
- The recent play of Terrence Ross is justifying the Raptors‘ decision to ink him to a three-year contract extension back in November, Doug Smith of The Toronto Star writes. “The big word is confidence. He’s playing with a tremendous amount of confidence. He’s seeing the ball go through the basket,” coach Dwane Casey said. “I think his defense has been solid, too. It’s not just his offense that’s been pretty solid, it’s his defense, both phases of the game.” Ross has scored 10 or more points in six straight games and is averaging 15.2 points per game over that span, while shooting 49% from the field and connecting on 47% of his 3-point attempts.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
And-Ones: Barnes, D-League, Donovan
The NBA has suspended Grizzlies small forward Matt Barnes for two games without pay for his role in the off the court altercation with Knicks coach Derek Fisher back in October, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports. Barnes is expected to serve the suspension during tonight’s game against the Heat and Saturday’s game at the Jazz. He will lose $64,409 in salary because of the suspension, Wojnarowski adds. The small forward will be eligible to play the next time New York and Memphis square off, which is set for January 16th in Memphis.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Thunder coach Billy Donovan said that he wasn’t worried about the differences between managing NBA players and college ones when he accepted Oklahoma City’s vacant coaching position this past offseason, Erik Horne of The Oklahoman writes. “I didn’t look at coming here to Oklahoma City under that umbrella of ‘what are all these relationships gonna be like,’ because I think we’re all people,” Donovan said. “I think you communicate, you talk, generally things work themselves out. Everything’s not always gonna go perfect, but I think if you’re working for the same cause, moving in the same direction, things get resolved.” Donovan was responding to a question regarding the difficulties new Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg is experiencing this season after also making the jump from the NCAA to the pros.
- The Rockets have recalled swingman K.J. McDaniels and power forward Montrezl Harrell from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, their D-League affiliate, the team announced (Twitter link). This was the third D-League assignment on the season for McDaniels and the second for Harrell.
- The Celtics have assigned power forward Jordan Mickey to their D-League affiliate, the team announced (via Twitter). This will be Mickey’s eighth jaunt to Maine on the season.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson To Miss 3 Months
DECEMBER 28th, 11:38am: In an article he penned for Sportsblog.com, Hollis-Jefferson indicated that he will remain out of action until after the All-Star break. “Physically, I’m feeling better. Each day I’m getting one step closer to fully walking and doing things on my own. It’s looking like I’ll be able to get back on the court after All-Star break, probably around the beginning of March,” wrote Hollis-Jefferson.
DECEMBER 9th, 11:36am: Nets team doctor Martin O’Malley estimates it will take Hollis-Jefferson eight to 10 weeks to return to the court, as O’Malley said in a statement the team sent out as part of a press release announcing that Hollis-Jefferson underwent surgery this morning. The procedure was to repair a fracture of the posterior talus in his right ankle, O’Malley also said.
DECEMBER 8th, 5:55pm: Nets rookie swingman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson suffered a non-displaced fracture of the posterior talus in his right ankle during practice on Sunday and he is scheduled for surgery later this week, Andy Vasquez of The Record notes (Twitter link). A timetable for the player’s return will be provided after the procedure is completed, though coach Lionel Hollins indicated Hollis-Jefferson would be out for approximately 10 weeks during his pregame press briefing this evening, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com relays (via Twitter).
This news is certainly unwelcome for Brooklyn, whose 5-15 start has called into question Hollins’ job security, though the team quickly shot down the reports that it was seeking a replacement for the coach. Hollis-Jefferson’s averages of 5.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game aren’t eye-popping, but the rookie has shown excellent promise and tremendous energy during his limited court time thus far. While Hollis-Jefferson’s continued presence over the coming months wasn’t likely going to improve the team’s winning percentage dramatically, any loss of development time for the young player will certainly impact the team down the line given its distinct lack of draft picks over the next few seasons.
The absence of the 20-year-old will likely mean increased minutes for Bojan Bogdanovic, who is averaging 8.1 points on 43.1% shooting this season. Bogdanovic has been rumored to be on the trading block, though other reports have disputed that. The loss of Hollis-Jefferson could also impact the status of Joe Johnson, whom an ESPN.com panel opined was a prime candidate to reach a buyout arrangement with the Nets this season. With Brooklyn’s depth at the wing now compromised, it could quash any potential moves involving Johnson or Bogdanovic for the time being, though that is merely my speculation.
Poll: Which Player Is Likeliest To Sign A Max Deal?
On Sunday, Hoops Rumors’ Chuck Myron ran down the list of some of the top free agents for next season and categorized them by the maximum salary bands in which they’ll fall. The first group that he looked at were those players eligible for the 25% max, which came in at $16,407,500 for this year, and is projected to surge to $20.4MM this coming offseason. Here’s the list of players falling into this salary range:
- Harrison Barnes (restricted)
- Kent Bazemore
- Bradley Beal (restricted)
- Andre Drummond (restricted)
- Festus Ezeli (restricted)
- Evan Fournier (restricted)
- Terrence Jones (restricted)
- Donatas Motiejunas (restricted)
- Timofey Mozgov
- Chandler Parsons (player option)
- Jared Sullinger (restricted)
- Dion Waiters (restricted)
- Hassan Whiteside
Though many of these players are unlikely to land maximum salary deals, it will certainly be a figure bandied about for many of them by their agents during contract negotiations. It should also be noted that restricted free agents may have a more difficult time than unrestricted ones in ascending to this income level since their current teams will have the opportunity to match any offer sheet inked by the players, provided a qualifying offer is proffered. Many teams shy away from pursuing restricted free agents because of the cap hold associated with these offer sheets, and the likelihood of the player’s original team matching said contract offer is often enough to depress a player’s market slightly. That isn’t always the case, and the significantly beefed-up cap projection for coming seasons may alter how teams view and approach these types of free agents going forward.
But what say you? Looking at the list of players above, who do you believe is the likeliest to land a maximum salary deal this coming offseason? Cast your vote below and feel free to expand on the discussion in the comments section. We look forward to what you have to say.
2016/17 Salary Cap Projection: Wizards
The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 has been set at $70MM, which is an 11% increase from last season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. The last cap projection from the league prior to the official numbers being announced had been $67.1MM, and the projection for the tax line had been $81.6MM. Many league executives and agents believe that the salary cap will escalate to a whopping $95MM for 2016/17, a higher figure than the league’s last projection of $89MM. This significant bump is a result of the league’s new $24 billion TV deal that kicks in just in time for next season.
The increase in the salary cap will almost assuredly set off a flurry of activity in the free agent market next summer, and it will also make it easier than ever for teams to deal away their higher-priced stars. Prudent executives are acutely aware of exactly how much cap room they have to play with, not just for the current campaign, but for next season and beyond as well. While the exact amount of 2016/17’s salary cap won’t be announced until next summer, it always pays to know just how much salary is on the books for each franchise. With this in mind, we at Hoops Rumors will be breaking down the projected 2016/17 financial commitments for each franchise, and we’ll conclude with a look at the Washington Wizards:
- Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $37,691,855
- Partially Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $0
- Non Guaranteed Salary Commitments: $10,177,000
- Total Projected Salary Cap Commitments: $47,868,855
If the salary cap were to fall in line with the projection of $89MM, Washington would have approximately $41,131,145 in cap space, or $47,131,145 if the cap were to be set at the higher mark of $95MM. Again, these are merely predictions until the exact cap amounts are announced, and they are not meant to illustrate the exact amount that the team will have available to spend this coming offseason.
Washington will also need to make a decision regarding Bradley Beal, who is eligible to become a restricted free agent next summer. If the Wizards wish to retain the right to match any offer sheet he were to receive, the team would need to submit a qualifying offer worth $7,471,412. That number would merely be a placeholder until Beal either inked a new deal or signed his qualifying offer, which would then set him up for unrestricted free agency the following offseason.
Trades and long-term free agent signings made during the season will also have a significant impact on the figures above, and we’ll be updating these posts to reflect the new numbers after any signings and trades have been made official.
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Heat Notes: Bosh, Wade, Team Needs
The Heat have been painfully inconsistent thus far this season, and the team has yet to establish a solid identity that it can count on night in and night out, writes Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post. “It depends on what day we’re talking,” Miami shooting guard Dwyane Wade said. “We have certain days where you see that we’re one of the best defensive teams in the league, and you see days where the ball is really moving and everyone’s into it and we’re very unselfish. Then you have other days where both of them go the opposite way. We know where we need to get to. We’ve just gotta figure out a way to get there.”
The team is looking ahead to its six-game West Coast swing next month, and the Heat believe that stretch will be critical in their quest for the playoffs, Lieser adds. “We don’t want to wait until that point, but all is not lost if we’re not consistent by that time,” Bosh said. “After the smoke clears, it’ll be All-Star break and you know when you get there, there’s only so much higher you can go. It’s going to be very important between now and the road trip to get some continuity and comfort in our identity.”
Here’s more from Miami:
- As the February trade deadline looms ever closer, the Heat’s biggest roster need is to land a wing who can handle the ball and create his own shot, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel opines. Acquiring depth at the wing is vital given the shaky health of Goran Dragic and the reckless abandon that Tyler Johnson exhibits on a nightly basis, Winderman adds.
- It has been a bounceback season for Chris Bosh after appearing in only 44 games during the 2014/15 campaign because of blood clots in his lung, Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post writes. But despite his efforts, Bosh still remains underappreciated around the league according to his teammates, Dempsey notes. “He’s one of the best basketball players in the world. He may not sell a lot of jerseys, like some guys, but it doesn’t matter to him,” Wade said of Bosh. “He enjoys being great at the game, and we enjoy him being great.”
Nick Johnson To Play For Spurs D-League Team
SUNDAY, 7:55pm: The affiliate of the Spurs has claimed Johnson off D-League waivers, a source tells Reichert (Twitter link).
SATURDAY, 5:00pm: Nuggets camp cut Nick Johnson has signed with the NBA D-League, Chris Reichert of Upside and Motor reports (Twitter ink). Johnson will be subject to the league’s waiver process to determine which franchise he is assigned to. NBA teams can begin signing players to 10-day contracts on January 5th, and this move by Johnson should make him a more attractive option for teams seeking backcourt help, though that is merely my speculation. Johnson is still collecting a NBA paycheck thanks to his contract with the Nuggets being fully guaranteed for this season and the next. He is making $845,059 for 2015/16 and is owed $980,431 for the 2016/17 campaign by Denver.
The combo guard is no stranger to the D-League having made 20 appearances in 2014/15 for Rio Grande Valley, the Rockets’ affiliate. He averaged a solid 18.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 33.9 minutes per contest for the Vipers. His shooting numbers were .428/.283/.789.
Johnson, 22, had been acquired by Denver from Houston as part of the Ty Lawson trade. The 2014 42nd overall pick appeared in 28 NBA games last season, averaging 2.6 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.4 minutes per game, and he owned a slash line of .347/.238/.680.
Western Notes: Griffin, Morris, Nowitzki
The Clippers have been a disappointment thus far this season after the franchise added numerous offseason pieces in an attempt to bolster its depth, Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post writes. “We haven’t won any big games,” said power forward Blake Griffin. “We haven’t won the games you go into it thinking, ‘Okay, this is one we have to get.’ We’ve lost all those games.” Griffin also notes that the team trying to get all its new personnel on the same page can no longer be used as an excuse, Bontemps adds.
“That was kind of the narrative early on,” Griffin told Bontemps, when asked if trying get everyone on the same page was still a legitimate excuse. “But after however many games, you can’t keep saying that over and over. At a certain point, it can’t be about new guys. It’s just got to be about buying in. Every team has some new guys. Most teams have some new guys. We have to figure something out. We have to be better than this. We are better than this and we’re not showing it.”
Here’s more from out West:
- Suns GM Ryan McDonough said that the team would have disciplined any of its players the same way as Markieff Morris, whom the club handed a two-game suspension for throwing a towel at coach Jeff Hornacek during Wednesday’s game, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic relays. “We try not to be punitive with these kind of things,” McDonough said. “We try to be fair. That’s why we consulted with the league. Sometimes, these things do get emotional. We asked for their opinion. There was precedent for these kind of situations but we would’ve done the same thing if it was any of the other 14 players on the roster.“
- Despite the Mavericks‘ attempts to add big name players, power forward Dirk Nowitzki still remains the face of the franchise and the team’s best player, Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News writes. “The names [on the scoring list] he’s passed and continues to creep up on are the greatest legends in the history of our game,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’re very fortunate to be able to see a guy like this play. And we’re doing everything possible to keep him playing at a high level and keep him playing as long as possible.”
- The Rockets have assigned K.J. McDaniels and Montrezl Harrell to their D-League affiliate, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle reports.
Sixers Draft-And-Stash Prospect To Play In Serbia
3:35pm: Pick has informed Hoops Rumors that Micic has been loaned to Crvena Zvezda by Bayern, and the German club still possesses an option on Micic for the 2016/17 season.
3:26pm: Sixers draft-and-stash pick Vasilije Micic has signed with the Serbian club Crvena Zvezda, according to agent Misko Raznatovic (on Twitter). Chema de Lucas of Gigantes del Basket first reported the deal (Twitter link; translation via Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia). International journalist David Pick confirms the signing has taken place (Twitter link). The length and terms of the arrangement are not yet known, nor if the deal includes an NBA buyout clause that would allow Micic to join the Sixers if his deal with Crvena Zvezda spans multiple seasons.
Micic, 21, was the No. 52 overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, but he signed with Bayern Munich in Germany on a multiyear pact rather than heading stateside that year. The point guard averaged a combined 7.1 points, 1.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists on 38.4% shooting in 2014/15 while playing overseas. Micic’s numbers took a significant dip this season, with the point guard notching a meager 1.5 points and 1.5 assists for Bayern while appearing in just eight of the team’s 24 regular season and Euroleague contests. It has yet to be announced if Micic was released by Bayern or if he exercised an escape clause in his contract that allowed him to depart.
It is unclear if Philadelphia has any intention of bringing Micic stateside at any time in the near future, though, judging by his poor play overseas this season, he doesn’t appear ready to contribute at the NBA level regardless of the Sixers’ current backcourt woes. In all fairness to Micic, he did suffer an ankle injury over the summer and may not have been fully recovered when play began this year, but his numbers last season when healthy fail to impress as well.