Eastern Notes: Fisher, Griffin, Magic, Celtics
Knicks coach Derek Fisher, who was reportedly involved in a physical altercation with Grizzlies forward Matt Barnes last weekend, understands how some would question his focus on the team after he missed Monday’s practice session as a result of his West Coast jaunt, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com writes. “I think we all remember there are a ton of people that work in New York City that have families in other cities or back on the West Coast,” Fisher said. “You work six days, you have a seventh day off. You go back and visit family. You come back to work on Monday morning. That was my plan. It didn’t work out that way for reasons that were not in my control and I can’t change it at this point.”
Here’s more out of the East:
- Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy said it was the team’s wealth of power forwards that led to Eric Griffin being waived, writes Aaron McMann of MLive.com. “We thought it would be best for him to sort of give him the opportunity to move on and pursue other things,” Van Gundy said. “I really liked him, very good kid, hard worker, great attitude, really athletic. Certainly has the talent to be an NBA-level defender.“
- Heat power forward Chris Bosh believes that the Magic are poised to make a jump in the standings this season courtesy of the young talent the franchise has accumulated over the past few years, John Denton of NBA.com relays. “I mean, the talent is there, but it’s on them if they want to make the next step now or a couple of years down the line,’’ Bosh said. “That core of Victor Oladipo, Nikola Vucevic and Tobias Harris, that’s about as young and talented as it gets. You’ve got everything there with playmaking, outside shooting, rebounding and athleticism. And with [coach] Scott Skiles and the new regime in there I’m sure they are trying to pump those guys up and tell them, `We may not be expected to win every night, but we can play hard and win games.’ I’ve been there in that spot before, but I think they will give themselves a chance to be really good this season.’’
- David Lee, who was a member of the NBA champion Warriors last season, says that he sees a lot of similarities between the 2015/16 Celtics and his former squad, especially in the areas of team chemistry and depth, Tales Azzoni of NBA.com writes.
Fisher Mulls Legal Action Against Barnes
THURSDAY, 2:23pm: Barnes drove to his ex-wife’s home when one of his children Facetimed him and expressed concern, as Barnes told Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com, who shares Barnes’ details of the leadup to the incident. Barnes didn’t address the reported altercation with Fisher, though he did address his relationship with his former Lakers teammate.
“We were close. We were friends. Some things have happened to change that. It is what it is,” Barnes said to Shelburne about Fisher.
4:57pm: During his pregame press conference today, Fisher was asked if there would be any legal ramifications from the incident, to which he replied, “We’ll see,” Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com tweets.
WEDNESDAY, 4:24pm: Knicks coach Derek Fisher and Grizzlies small forward Matt Barnes had a physical confrontation Saturday in Los Angeles and Fisher is considering legal action for the incident, but has not yet filed any charges, Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports report. Ian Mohr of The New York Post first reported the altercation. The Knicks, Grizzlies and NBA security have been made aware of the incident and are expected to soon start working together on a probe of the events, according to Charania and Wojnarowski. “We are aware and currently gathering information regarding today’s report involving Matt Barnes,” the Grizzlies said in a press release.
The conflict stemmed from Fisher’s romantic involvement with the estranged wife of Barnes, a former teammate, and when Barnes found out, he allegedly attacked Fisher, sources informed Mohr. Fisher and Barnes’ ex, Gloria Govan, have been dating for “a few months,” a source told the Post scribe, a relationship that began after Fisher filed to divorce his wife of 10 years, Candace, this past March.
“Derek was in Gloria’s back yard with about 10 people having a bonfire on Saturday,” said Mohr’s source. “Derek’s separated from his wife and there’s a relationship with [Gloria]. Barnes was in Santa Barbara [at Memphis Grizzlies training camp] and heard that Fisher was in his house. He went crazy. He got in his car and went to the house and went after Fisher.” A source close to Fisher who spoke with Mohr confirmed the fight, but had conflicting information regarding whether or not Fisher would pursue legal action, saying, “Matt came after Derek but he only had a few scratches … Derek’s not going to press charges, he’s going to let it go.”
A significant part of the NBA’s security department is overseas working closely on the league’s preseason games in Europe, sources told Charania and Wojnarowski. This could certainly delay any investigation from being completed fully, as well as any subsequent disciplinary action, if warranted, though that is merely my speculation.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 10/7/15
According to a report by Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press, the Pistons are closely monitoring Markieff Morris‘ situation in Phoenix, and are interested in acquiring the disgruntled forward. Morris had previously said that he felt disrespected by the way the Suns had handled the July 9th trade of his twin and former teammate, Marcus Morris, to the Pistons, and had made it clear that he wanted out of Phoenix prior to the 2015/16 season commencing.
“One thing for sure, I am not going to be there,” Markieff had said. “If you want to put that out there, you can put that out,” he added. “. . . I am not to going to be there at all.” Those comments to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer essentially confirmed a report from John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 radio that Markieff wanted off the Suns. Morris was fined $10k by the league for making those public statements.
Morris has since backed off his negative stance and declared “I want to be here” at Phoenix’s media day gathering, which may have been more for damage control after the fine by the league. The former 13th overall pick had also said that he planned not to talk to the Suns front office and to answer coach Jeff Hornacek only with one-word responses until he was dealt, which would certainly not have been an ideal situation for anyone involved.
In addition to a potential attitude problem from Markieff, the twins are also both facing felony aggravated assault charges for their alleged roles in a January brawl at a Phoenix recreation center. The duo would be suspended a minimum of 10 games if they are found guilty of a felony and could also face a suspension if they’re guilty of a misdemeanor. With the offseason addition of Ersan Ilyasova, who was acquired in a trade with the Bucks, Detroit doesn’t have a pressing need for a player with Markieff’s skills, though he would certainly be an asset if healthy and motivated.
This brings me to the topic of the day: Should the Pistons acquire Markieff Morris?
Is adding his talents to the roster worth the potential risk, as well as the cost in assets, which are reportedly quite high, in order to obtain Morris? Who would you give up in a trade if you were Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.
Western Notes: Kroenke, Lillard, D-League
The National Football League gave its OK to Stan Kroenke’s plan to transfer ownership of the Nuggets to his wife, Ann Walton Kroenke, satisfying an NFL rule barring its owners from also owning another pro sports team in an NFL city, report Nathan Fenno and Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times. Kroenke’s son Josh, who already serves as Nuggets team president and is the team’s representative on the board of governors, will continue to run the Nuggets and the National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche, Fenno and Farmer add. Stan Kroenke owns the NFL’s St. Louis Rams.
Here’s more from the West:
- Damian Lillard, with input from C.J. McCollum, organized a team getaway to San Diego for the Trail Blazers in an effort to draw together all the newcomers from an offseason of upheaval in Portland, writes Anne M. Peterson of The Associated Press. It furthers the notion that Lillard, who signed a five-year max extension this summer, has replaced LaMarcus Aldridge as the team’s central figure, Peterson writes. “It’s still going to take us time to get to know each other. It’s going to take more than a week in San Diego, or getting here early before camp,” Lillard said. “It’s going to take more than that. Being out together in the preseason, we’ll learn more about each other. … I think it’s about the growth, the process.”
- The Spurs announced via a press release that Patrick Mutombo and A.J. Diggs have been hired as assistant coaches for their D-League affiliate, the Austin Spurs. “The additions of Patrick and AJ bring a wealth of NBA and player development experience to our team that will serve our group well moving forward,” said coach Ken McDonald. “We are fortunate to continue to attract strong candidates to join our coaching staff.”
- The Mavericks‘ rotation at center is unsettled and while it’s not ideal, the team is counting on veteran big man Samuel Dalembert to contribute this season, Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com writes. “Dalembert’s having a solid camp,” coach Rick Carlisle said after Tuesday night’s preseason contest against the Nuggets. “He came in a little bit out of shape. He’s working really hard to get himself where he needs to be. I thought his minutes tonight were positive.”
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Submit Your Questions For Hoops Rumors Mailbag
In addition to our regular weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in our weekly mailbag feature, which is posted every Saturday.
Have a question regarding player movement, free agent rumors, the salary cap, the NBA draft, or the top storylines of the week? You can e-mail them here: hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com. Feel free to send emails throughout the week, but please be mindful that we may receive a sizable number of questions and might not get to all of them.
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Poll: 2015/16 Team Power Rankings (No. 16)
NBA training camps have officially begun, and teams are now finalizing their preseason rosters. Every new season brings with it the hope for each franchise that it will conclude with the hoisting of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. But for the more jaded fans — or practical, depending on your outlook — not every team has a realistic shot at making the playoffs, much less at being the last team standing when all is said and done and the playoffs have concluded.
We at Hoops Rumors want to know what you, the reader, think about each team’s chances this coming campaign. To help facilitate that, we’ll be posting a series of polls asking you to vote on where in the standings each franchise is likely to end the season. So please cast your vote below for the franchise you expect to end the season with the sixteenth best overall record. But don’t end your involvement with the simple click of a button. Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on why you voted the way that you did. We look forward to what you have to say.
Previous Selections:
- No. 30: 76ers
- No. 29: Knicks
- No. 28: Nuggets
- No. 27: Lakers
- No. 26: Nets
- No. 25: Timberwolves
- No. 24: Trail Blazers
- No. 23: Magic
- No. 22: Pistons
- No. 21: Kings
- No. 20: Hornets
- No. 19: Jazz
- No. 18: Suns
- No. 17: Celtics
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Cavs Notes: Thompson, LeBron, Love
During an appearance on Zach Lowe of Grantland’s podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst opined that the contract standoff between the Cavaliers and restricted free agent Tristan Thompson isn’t likely to end any time soon, as RealGM transcribes. “I think it will take a third party event to bridge the gap here,” said Windhorst. “I actually believe it will probably go [on for] months. This will go well into the regular season.” The ESPN scribe also compared Thompson’s current situation with Anderson Varejao‘s prolonged holdout back in 2007 that saw the center remain unsigned until December 5th of that year. Varejao’s contract impasse finally came to an end when he inked a three-year, $10MM offer sheet with Charlotte that the Cavs matched.
Here’s more out of Cleveland:
- Windhorst also told Lowe that agent Rich Paul, who represents Thompson and LeBron James, wanted to get Thompson’s deal in place prior to James re-signing with Cleveland this summer, but plans changed when Klutch Sports realized how difficult Thompson’s negotiation would be (RealGM transcription). “It was my understanding at the outset that their plan, when I say ‘their,’ I’m talking about Tristan’s representation, was to handle Tristan Thompson’s contract first and then do LeBron’s contract,” Windhorst said. “But five days into free agency, they realized Tristan’s deal was going to go very long and they had a choice to make. LeBron could either exercise influence or not. And whether it was Rich Paul’s decision or LeBron’s decision, they elected not to do that. LeBron signed his contract.“
- Kevin Love has put his difficult 2014/15 campaign behind him and is excited about the Cavs’ chances this season, and he is ready to assume a larger role in the team’s offense, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com writes. “It’s just, I think, face everything head-on,” Love said when asked about his outlook for this season. “Relationships with all the guys out there on the court, facing adversity with these guys, or staying on a high with these guys, no matter where the season takes you, it’s just I think facing it head-on and trying to be in a collision course for great things. I think if we all put our heads together, we all continue to work and get healthy, I know I sound like a broken record, but I think we can do something special.“
- Familiarity with the city of Cleveland played a major factor in Mo Williams‘ decision to re-sign with the Cavs this offseason, Joe Gabriele of NBA.com relays. “That was huge,” Williams told Gabriele. “It wasn’t that long ago [since I was here]. It feels like a while, but it really wasn’t. So, there’s some familiarity here – the same people, a couple familiar faces with teammates, but mostly everyone is new. The front office is pretty much intact, but in a little different capacity. It was definitely a comfort level and an excitement. And the thing about it is, I really enjoyed every single person in the front office. Griff [GM David Griffin] was here before I left. So, with all those things being said, it was an easy decision for me. Watching these guys fall short last year and me – being, you know, kind of a ‘Cav-at-heart’ – I felt sorry, I felt bad for the city. So that was definitely what made my mind up. When Golden State won that final game, my mind was made up – I was coming back. It was just how much money Griff was gonna give me.“
Top Bloggers: William Lou On The Raptors
Anyone can have a blog about an NBA team, but some set themselves apart from the rest with the dedication and valuable insight they bring to their craft. We’ll be sharing some knowledge from these dialed-in writers on Hoops Rumors in a new feature called Top Bloggers. As with The Beat, our ongoing series of interviews with NBA beat writers, it’s part of an effort to bring Hoops Rumors readers ever closer to the pulse of the teams they follow. Last time, we spoke with Anthony Puccio of SBNation’s Nets Daily. Click here to see the entire Top Bloggers series.
Next up is William Lou, who is the NBA News Editor at the Score and a contributor at RaptorsRepublic.com, which is part of ESPN’s TrueHoop Network . You can follow William on Twitter at @william_lou and click here to check out his stories. You can also follow Raptors Republic at @raptorsrepublic.
Hoops Rumors: A number of the Raptors’ offseason moves appear to have been made with the intention of improving their defense, which was ranked No. 23 overall in the NBA last season. Do you think the team succeeded in this goal?
William Lou: The Raptors’ defense suffered last season because they had a roster of weak defenders that couldn’t keep up with the demands of their aggressive style of defense.
As for the roster, GM Masai Ujiri definitely improved his team’s defense by bringing in three plus defenders in Cory Joseph, DeMarre Carroll, and Bismack Biyombo, while jettisoning two minus defenders in Lou Williams and Greivis Vasquez. In doing so, Ujiri addressed his team’s two biggest weaknesses from last season: perimeter defense and shot-blocking.
However, it’s fair to question how much effect those newcomers will have on a Raptors’ defense that still employs the same head coach and the same core players. Early word out of training camp suggests that the Raptors might switch to a more conservative style of defense this season, which would especially minimize the defensive shortcomings of 23-year-old center Jonas Valanciunas. But until the team learns its new defensive scheme, it remains unclear as to whether an improvement has been made.
Hoops Rumors: The offseason additions of DeMarre Carroll and Bismack Biyombo appear to be tied directly to the team’s new defensive agenda. What do you think about these deals, and will Carroll’s performance live up to the level of his contract (four years, $58MM)?
William Lou: It’s a bit of a tired trope this offseason, but it’s true: the rising salary cap makes almost every deal signed this summer seem palatable. That especially applies to a player like Carroll, who was rewarded handsomely for posting just two productive seasons in the league to date, but it’s a fair price for a solid starter once the cap rises over the next two seasons.
Biyombo will make the room exception, which hardly dents the bottom line. The more interesting player is Carroll, who went from earning $2.5MM last season, to becoming the highest paid player on the Raptors.
Carroll was signed to strengthen an area of weakness for the Raptors. Terrence Ross’s inconsistency, lack of development, and defensive shortcomings made him a liability, so Ujiri opted for a two-way player like Carroll to nail down the starting small forward position. The Raptors needed someone to check the bigger wings and stretch four-types that gave the team fits on defense last season. Expect Carroll to reprise his role in Atlanta: He’ll guard the toughest wing assignment while serving primarily as a spot-up shooter on offense.
Hoops Rumors: The Raptors didn’t put up a much of a fight to retain reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams this summer. Was it a simple matter of retaining cap flexibility, or was the team, which reportedly viewed Williams as a locker room distraction at times, simply trying to improve its chemistry? Who will make up for Williams’ production off the bench this year?
William Lou: There wasn’t any issue with Williams’ persona. He was an adored presence in the locker room, and despite his burgeoning popularity after Drake released “6 Man,” Williams is actually rather soft-spoken. The reason that the Raptors let Williams walk is because Ujiri wanted to sign two-way players who held up their end of the bargain on defense. Williams was a tremendous offensive weapon off the bench, but he couldn’t guard his position. There’s also a thought that Williams was let go because he played too much individual basketball — which, to be fair, was exactly the role that was asked of him.
Hoops Rumors: The addition of former No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett, who reached a buyout deal with the Timberwolves, certainly aids in GM Masai Ujiri‘s stated plan to add more Canadians to the roster. What do the Raptors hope to get out of Bennett this season production-wise? Do you think returning to his native country will jump-start his career, or will there be added pressure to perform well in front of his countrymen, so to speak?
William Lou: Realistically, no team can expect anything from Bennett, who struggled mightily in his first two seasons in the NBA. The former No. 1 pick needs to firmly regain his health, before making the leap toward becoming a contributor for a playoff club. But given that he was a former No. 1 pick, and the not-so insignificant detail of his nationality, the Raptors chose to take a flyer on Bennett for one year at the minimum. Given those terms, there’s hardly any cost, and if Bennett makes good on his promise, the Raptors will have netted themselves a young, useful contributor on the cheap. Moreover, power forward is something of a weak spot for Toronto, with every other position in the starting lineup spoken for. It would take a lot for Bennett to overtake Patrick Patterson or Luis Scola (the early favorites to land the start), but shoring up depth at a position of weakness can’t hurt.
Hoops Rumors: There was some uncertainty about whether the Raptors would bring back coach Dwane Casey for the 2015/16 campaign after the team was swept in the first round of this year’s NBA Playoffs. How stable is Casey’s job? What will be the largest determining factor if he is to return for 2016/17?
William Lou: I’m not in a position to speculate over Casey’s job certainty, but I can tell you that he’s entering the last guaranteed year on his contract (there’s a team option for 2016/17). As for Casey’s goals for next season, improving the defense and winning a round in the playoffs should be a must. If the team comes up short in either endeavor, finding a new head coach to lead this core would be a logical move.
Hoops Rumors: What are your thoughts on the four-year, $64MM extension that Jonas Valanciunas signed this offseason? Will he become the franchise player that the team hopes he can be, or will his athletic limitations prevent him from living up to his new contract?
William Lou: Valanciunas’ contract will effectively pay him to be an above-average center, a level that the young Lithuanian has already achieved through his first three years in the NBA. He’s durable, he can shoot, he’s a good rebounder, and he’s tremendously efficient finisher around the hoop. However, the jury remains out on Valanciunas’ potential to develop into a superstar. He certainly has the tools, but he’s still best deployed as a situational player. He lacks the versatility in his game to truly dominate.
Here’s what I mean by inflexibility. On offense, Valanciunas is only good for an easy bucket in the post, or for a bit of scoring out of the pick-and-roll, but he’s a woeful passer and he can’t shoot, which makes him a liability when he doesn’t have the ball. On defense, Valanciunas is a decent rim protector when he camps out in the paint, but he lacks the foot speed and the awareness to function against smallball lineups. In order for Valanciunas to reach the next level, he needs to become a well-rounded player that can function in many settings. Otherwise, it’s too easy to for other teams to play matchups to run Valanciunas off the floor.
Hoops Rumors: Finally, it’s prediction time. Looking into your crystal ball, give us your best (educated) guess on how the Raptors’ 2015/16 season will turn out.
William Lou: The Raptors take a step back offensively, but personnel and system changes lead to a top-10 defense. As a whole, the Raptors win 48 games and finish fourth in the East. In the playoffs, the Raptors defeat the Wizards in seven games before being swept by the Cavaliers in the Conference Semifinals.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 10/6/15
Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony shot down speculation that he would eventually become disenchanted with the franchise and ask for a trade, saying “hell no” in response to a reporter’s question to that effect. He also reiterated his faith in team president Phil Jackson, and added that he was bothered all summer by the notion that he wanted to be traded and the idea that he was against the team’s decision to draft Kristaps Porzingis fourth overall.
Anthony’s contract still has four years and more than $101.606MM left on it, and includes a no-trade clause, which means that Melo would need to be a willing participant in any swap. The veteran’s contract also features a 15% trade kicker, which further complicates any potential trade scenario. With the Knicks suffering through a 17-65 campaign in 2014/15, and the team not expected to be a playoff contender this season, the possibility certainly exists that the franchise could look to pull the plug and begin a full rebuild in the near future.
This brings me to the topic/question of the day: Should the Knicks look to deal Carmelo Anthony? If so, would it be in Anthony’s best interest to agree to a trade?
If you think the Knicks should trade Anthony, what team(s) do you think he should waive his no-trade clause for? What sort of return could/should the Knicks receive in return for the aging star? If you are for Anthony remaining in New York, let us know why. Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.
Western Notes: Donovan, Capela, Nuggets
Thunder coach Billy Donovan isn’t focusing on the impending free agency of star small forward Kevin Durant, who is eligible to hit the open market next summer, because he doesn’t want it to take away from his other duties as a coach, Erik Horne of The Oklahoman tweets. “I’ve said this before that I feel that my job and responsibility each day on the court is to our staff and myself to try and help Kevin grow and get better as a player, to try to help the team grow and get better as a team, and put our focus on those things,” Donovan said. “I think for me to focus on something that’s going to be all the way down the road in June or July or during that timeframe, I think I’m taking away my focus on what we need to do. We have enough to do I think right now as a staff to try to improve and get better.”
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- The Rockets intend to utilize second year big man Clint Capela in a larger role in an effort to reduce starting center Dwight Howard‘s minutes this season, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle writes. “For me, it’s hard to focus on that right now because I’m really focused on the training camp, getting better every day,” Capela said. “But I think it is good for me. It is a good change. Right now, I have to focus on the right now. I’m going to get there, but I’m not there yet. I will be ready.“
- The battle for the Nuggets‘ final roster spot is likely to be between second-year players Erick Green and Nick Johnson, both of whom are competing to be the team’s third point guard, Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post writes. Both players are signed to the league minimum, but Johnson’s deal is fully guaranteed, while Green’s includes a partial guarantee of $100K, though that won’t likely be the determining factor, Dempsey adds.
- The Thunder‘s new offense is opening up scoring opportunities for all the players, and not just the outside shooters, Horne writes in a separate piece. “Definitely. Definitely more space,” point guard Russell Westbrook said. “Guys are in positions where they can score the basketball. The space is especially good for myself and it’s also good for guys that shoot the basketball really well, roll to the basket, whatever it is, can use their strengths really well.”