Eastern Notes: Embiid, D-League, Bulls
Sixers GM Sam Hinkie noted that while Joel Embiid adhered to the prescribed recovery plan for his injured right foot, the team would have liked the center to be more focused at times regarding his rehab, Tom Moore of Calkins Media writes. “He [Embiid] gets thrown into the NBA and the thing you love the most is taken away from you,” Hinkie said. “I found his diligence to be good. At the same time, I’ve had conversations with him that everybody’s got to step up their focus. The stakes are very high. It’s clear to everyone however high they were, they’re higher [now].” Embiid underwent a second surgical procedure on his injured right foot this week, and he is expected to miss the entire 2015/16 campaign.
Here’s more out of the Eastern Conference:
- The Raptors have secured the D-League rights to several players via the expansion draft, and a number of recognizable names are up and down the list, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca notes (on Twitter). Some of the better known players selected by the team include Earl Clark, Nolan Smith, Dee Bost, Dahntay Jones, and Ricky Ledo, Grange relays.
- The Bulls chose to stand pat for the most part this offseason regarding making roster moves, with the team still believing that its core has the capability of reaching the NBA Finals, a plan that center Joakim Noah agrees with, Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com writes. “I think continuity is gonna be great for us,” Noah told Goodwill. “Even though it’s the same group, it’s still gonna be change at the leadership role as far as coaching. So it’s gonna be very different. So having the same team brings stability as well.”
- Lamar Patterson, who inked a two-year pact with the Hawks this offseason, hopes that shedding 22 pounds of weight from his 6’5″ frame will help him earn a regular season roster spot, Jake Fischer of SI.com writes. The guard spent last season with Tofas Bursa of Turkey, averaging 11.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 28.3 minutes per game. Patterson, who turns 24 next month, led the Hawks in scoring at the Las Vegas Summer League with 13.1 PPG to go along with 5.1 RPG in 25.8 MPG.
Poll: 2013 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 14)
Drafting players is far from an exact science, and many a GM has been second-guessed for his draft night decisions. I’m willing to bet that every team executive has at least one pick that he would like a mulligan for. While life, and the NBA, doesn’t allow for such opportunities, we at Hoops Rumors decided it would be fun to give our readers a second take at picking players, complete with the benefit of hindsight.
The first NBA Draft lottery picks we’re tackling is 2013’s, the year that the Cavaliers surprised quite a few people when they nabbed UNLV forward Anthony Bennett with the No. 1 overall pick. Quite a number of talented players were in that year’s player pool, including Victor Oladipo, Nerlens Noel, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Rudy Gobert, just to rattle off a few.
We wrap up our run through the lottery picks tonight with the Timberwolves, who acquired the No. 14 overall selection from the Jazz that year. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Minnesota’s pick and check back Friday night for the results. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did.
Thanks to all the positive reader responses we’ve received regarding this series of posts, we’re going to take a crack at redoing another draft. In last night’s poll we asked readers to vote on what year we should tackle next, and in a very close count, the 2003 NBA Draft was victorious. So join us Friday night for your chance to rewrite history and vote for whom the Cavaliers should have taken with the No. 1 overall pick that year.
2013 Draft Results thus far:
- Cavaliers: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Magic: Victor Oladipo
- Wizards: Nerlens Noel
- Hornets: Rudy Gobert
- Suns: Michael Carter-Williams
- 76ers: Ben McLemore
- Kings: Mason Plumlee
- Pistons: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Jazz: Dennis Schröder
- Trail Blazers: Allen Crabbe
- 76ers: Shabazz Muhammad
- Thunder: Gorgui Dieng
- Celtics: Kelly Olynyk
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Will Bynum To Play In China
Will Bynum is finalizing a deal to re-sign with the Guangdong Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association, international journalist David Pick reports (Twitter link). While the length and terms of the agreement are unknown, it was relayed back in June by Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post that Bynum had a standing offer to return to China on a three-year deal.
The 32-year-old guard spent most of the 2014/15 season in China with Guangdong, but signed with Washington late in the year and appeared in seven games for the Wizards. Bynum put up 22.3 points, 7.0 assists and 3.2 turnovers in 32.1 minutes per game for the Tigers last season. He had also garnered interest from Barcelona this Summer, according to a report by Enea Trapani of Sportando.
Bynum’s career numbers through parts of eight NBA seasons are 8.1 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists to go along with a slash line of .442/.272/.799. He averaged 3.1 points, 0.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in 9.6 minutes per night for the Wizards during his brief 2014/15 stint with the team.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/19/15
The draft class of 2014 arrived into the NBA with plenty of hype, though that fanfare quickly wore off as many of the draftees struggled to make an impact in the league. Four of the top seven overall picks missed significant time courtesy of injuries, and only three of the top 10 selections assumed starting roles for the squads last season. But it wasn’t all bad for the class of 2014, with Andrew Wiggins, Nikola Mirotic, Elfrid Payton, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Nerlens Noel all showing flashes of potential, and in every case but Wiggins’, exceeding preseason expectations. That’s not to disparage the rookie season that Wiggins put together, but it would have been nearly impossible for the young Canadian to live up to the hype that preceded his first game at Kansas, much less the inclusion of him as the centerpiece of the Timberwolves’ return for star player Kevin Love.
In yesterday’s Shootaround we discussed which players would have breakout second seasons in the league. Today, we take a slightly less optimistic approach, which segues into the topic of the day: Which NBA sophomore will regress the most during the 2015/16 season?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on which second-year player’s performance will disappoint the most, and more interestingly, why you feel that way. If you are an eternal optimist and believe in your heart that the class of 2014 will rise to heights previously unreachable by mere mortals, we want to hear about that as well. We look forward to what you have to say on these matters.
Note: Since these Shootarounds are meant to be guided by you the reader, we certainly welcome your input on the topics we present. If there is something you’d like to see pop up here for a discussion, shoot me a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com or hit me up on Twitter at @EddieScarito to submit topics or ideas for what we should present in future posts.
And-Ones: Morris, Richardson, Draft
Darius Morris, who was waived by the Nets at the end of June, has received contract offers from NBA teams and clubs overseas, but thanks to a foot injury suffered during training, he’ll be out of action for a few months, Morris’ agent, Brian Dyke, told international journalist David Pick (Twitter link). The 24-year-old made 38 appearances for Brooklyn during the 2014/15 campaign, logging averages of 2.2 points, 0.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 7.9 minutes per contest.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders tabs new L.A. arrivals Roy Hibbert and Lance Stephenson as two of six players who appear likely to benefit from having changed teams this summer.
- Jason Richardson‘s deal with the Hawks is a one-year minimum-salary arrangement and is without any guaranteed money, reports Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). It has limited injury protection, Pincus also says, so it appears to be an Exhibit 9 contract. Richardson will see $1,499,187 if he sticks for the entire season, but since the deal only covers one season, it would cost the Hawks no more than $947,276, the equivalent of the two-year veteran’s minimum. The league picks up the rest of the tab.
- Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress peered into his crystal ball and released his first mock draft for 2017’s big event. The current top three players on Givony’s draft board are forwards Harry Giles and Jayson Tatum, with point guard Dennis Smith rounding out the top-ranked trio.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Atlantic Notes: Embiid, Valanciunas, Mickey
The Sixers have officially announced that center Joel Embiid is expected to miss the entire 2015/16 campaign while he recovers from surgery on his right foot, the second such procedure the big man has undergone on that appendage. Embiid’s recovery is expected to take five to eight months, which was the exact same timeframe the center was given following his surgery last season, according to the announcement. Philly GM Sam Hinkie also noted that Embiid did not suffer another broken foot, but instead, there was simply less healing than medical personnel anticipated.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Hinkie also said that the Sixers were still actively looking to make another trade this offseason, but would not disclose what position the team is looking to upgrade at, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. The GM also said regarding potential deals, “We’re still active, heavily engaged in trade conversations, [and also] with free agents still. I don’t have anything to announce,” Tom Moore of Calkins Media relays (on Twitter). Philly could stand to add some depth at point guard, with the team’s current rotation at the one consisting of Tony Wroten, Isaiah Canaan, and Scottie Wilbekin.
- Even if the Raptors need to offer Jonas Valanciunas an extension above market value in order to entice him to sign, Doug Smith of The Toronto Star thinks locking him up before the salary cap spikes next summer would be a wise move for Toronto. Members of the Raptors front office are adamant that JV will be a key part of the club’s success in 2015/16, according to Smith, who thinks an agreement between the two sides is inevitable.
- Celtics coach Brad Stevens is excited by what he’s seen from draftees Jordan Mickey, Terry Rozier, and R.J. Hunter, with Mickey making an especially strong impression courtesy of his length and athleticism, Judy Cohen of WEEI 93.7 FM writes. “Those guys are workers,” Stevens said. “They’ll come in, they’ll work, they’ll add to that environment of work that I like the rest of our guys are doing, and so time will tell, but we’re anxious to see.”
Charlie Adams contributed to this post.
Wizards To Sign Jaleel Roberts
The Wizards will sign undrafted center Jaleel Roberts, Shams Charania of RealGM reports (via Twitter). The exact length and terms of the deal are unknown, but Charania notes that it is a non-guaranteed pact. Roberts had worked out for Washington prior to this year’s NBA Draft.
The addition of Roberts will give Washington a roster count of 16 players, and with 15 of those contracts being fully guaranteed, the 22-year-old will be a longshot to make the regular season roster. Working in Roberts’ favor is the Wizards’ lack of depth at the pivot, with the team having just Marcin Gortat, DeJuan Blair, and Nene available for minutes at center currently.
The seven-footer played for four seasons at UNC-Asheville, notching career averages of 4.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks to accompany a slash line of .581/.000/.650.
Poll: 2013 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 13)
Drafting players is far from an exact science, and many a GM has been second-guessed for his draft night decisions. I’m willing to bet that every team executive has at least one pick that he would like a mulligan for. While life, and the NBA, doesn’t allow for such opportunities, we at Hoops Rumors decided it would be fun to give our readers a second take at picking players, complete with the benefit of hindsight.
The first NBA Draft lottery picks we’re tackling is 2013’s, the year that the Cavaliers surprised quite a few people when they nabbed UNLV forward Anthony Bennett with the No. 1 overall pick. Quite a number of talented players were in that year’s player pool, including Victor Oladipo, Nerlens Noel, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Rudy Gobert, just to rattle off a few.
We’re almost done with our run through the lottery picks, and next up is the Celtics, who owned the Mavericks’ pick that year. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Boston’s pick and check back Thursday night for the results, as well as for your chance to vote for whom the Timberwolves should have snagged with the pick they acquired from the Jazz at No. 14. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did.
2013 Draft Results thus far:
- Cavaliers: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Magic: Victor Oladipo
- Wizards: Nerlens Noel
- Hornets: Rudy Gobert
- Suns: Michael Carter-Williams
- 76ers: Ben McLemore
- Kings: Mason Plumlee
- Pistons: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
- Jazz: Dennis Schröder
- Trail Blazers: Allen Crabbe
- 76ers: Shabazz Muhammad
- Thunder: Gorgui Dieng
If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here.
Note: Thanks to the great responses and feedback that we have received from readers regarding this series, we’re planning on tackling another draft! But we do need your help in deciding which year’s draft to revisit. Take a gander at the choices below and then please vote at the bottom of the page for which draft you want to redo next.
- 1987: David Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Kevin Johnson, Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, and Reggie Lewis.
- 1996: Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Shareef Abdur-Rahim.
- 1998: Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, Antawn Jamison, Paul Pierce, Al Harrington, and Rashard Lewis.
- 2003: LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and David West.
If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here to vote on the next draft we should tackle.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/18/15
There was quite a bit of hype leading up to the 2014 NBA Draft, and that class was supposed to contain a number of players possessing star-level talent who were worth tanking for. Unfortunately, the reality didn’t quite live up to the hyperbole that preceded last year’s draftees, and in fact, quite a few of the top ranked players missed significant time last season due to various injuries. These players included No. 2 overall pick Jabari Parker, No. 3 overall pick Joel Embiid, and No. 7 pick Julius Randle, just to name a few. The rest of the rookie class struggled to adjust to the pro game, as was to be expected, and while a number of players showed flashes of promise, none enjoyed a particularly dominant first year.
Of course, one lone season is not a sufficient sample size to properly judge a player, and many of these NBA sophomores should demonstrate significant improvement in their second professional campaigns. This brings me to the topic of the day: Which second-year player do you expect to have a breakout season in 2015/16?
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the player or players whom you expect to have breakout seasons. If you are taking the glass is half empty approach, and don’t think any of last year’s draftees will distinguish themselves, then feel free to weigh in on why you feel that way. We look forward to what you have to say.
Note: Since these Shootarounds are meant to be guided by you the reader, we certainly welcome your input on the topics we present. If there is something you’d like to see pop up here for a discussion, shoot me a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com or hit me up on Twitter at @EddieScarito to submit topics or ideas for what we should present in future posts.
And-Ones: Turner, Vandeweghe, Horford
Hawks big man Al Horford is entering the final season of his current deal and will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. But Horford’s eye is on the coming season, and he won’t discuss his future until next summer, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution relays. “My focus right now is to get better individually and help our team be the best team that we can be,” Horford said. “I have the same mindset and that is to help our team win and put us in a good position and try to be better. As far as the contract stuff, I’m going to wait until the season is over. I’m not going to let that linger and be a distraction. The focus is to be on the Hawks, on our team and getting better. Once the season ends, we’ll be able to sit down and talk and figure out all of that.”
Here’s more from around the league:
- The NBA officially announced today that Kiki Vandeweghe has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations for the league, a move that had seemed likely for months. He moves up from vice president of basketball ops and replaces the retiring Rod Thorn. Vandeweghe’s new position puts him in charge of player discipline, among other duties. “Kiki is one of the sharpest basketball minds in the NBA,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “In addition to his storied UCLA and NBA playing career plus his extensive experience as a general manager, coach, and TV analyst, he has most recently helped drive innovations in analytics that are reshaping the league in areas such as scheduling, game statistics, and player health.”
- Myles Turner has transformed from an injured high school junior who was an afterthought to college recruiters into a candidate to start at center for the Pacers this season, as Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders details. This year’s No. 11 overall pick performed well at summer league, leading to some thought of him as a Rookie of the Year contender, but coach Frank Vogel has reminded the big man not to get carried away, as Turner tells Kennedy.
- The Rockets have officially hired Matt Brase as the coach of Rio Grande Valley Vipers, their D-League affiliate, the team announced (via Twitter). Brase replaces former coach Nevada Smith, who spent two seasons with the Vipers and compiled an overall record of 60-46, including a mark of 27-23 last season.