Mavs Exercise Team Option On Jae Crowder
The Mavericks have exercised their team option on Jae Crowder, according to the RealGM Transaction log. The 6’6″, 23 year-old swingman’s salary for the 2014/15 season will be $915, 243, which is a small increase over this season’s salary of $788,872.
This move gives the Mavs eight players with guaranteed contracts, and increases their guaranteed salary commitments for next season from $28,267,575 to $29,182,818. If the team declined his option Crowder’s qualifying offer and cap hold would have been $1,115,243, unless the team decided to non-tender him.
Crowder has been a regular part of the Mavs’ rotation the last two seasons, and with a salary under $1MM, is a relative bargain. The only negative for the team is they lose some cap flexibility in the event they wish to pursue big ticket free agents.
Crowder, in his second season with the Mavs, averaged 4.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 0.8 APG in 16.1 minutes per night. He appeared in 78 games this season, eight as a starter. His slash line was .439/.331/.754.
Eastern Notes: Knicks, Randle, Machado, Lue
Derek Fisher believes that Carmelo Anthony can thrive in the triangle offense, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. According to the article, Fisher also believes the team can build a contender around Anthony. Fisher said, “I believe Carmelo can and will thrive in the triangle system. He’s actually the prototypical triangle player because of his versatility we can use him in all five positions on the floor. That’s the beauty of the system — being able to put players around on different spots on the floor. I believe [Anthony] can be great and that’s why I believe we can be great right away. Because we have that guy that we can anchor that system around to make the game easier for him but also allow for all of our team to be impactful and to give us something every single night.”
More from the east:
- Scott Machado will play for the Raptors Summer League team, reports Keith Schlosser of SB Nation. Machado averaged 10.2 PPG, 6.0 APG, and 1.4 steals in fourteen games with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League this past season.
- It was reported earlier that Julius Randle may need surgery to repair his right foot and his recovery time could be as long as two months. Andrew Unterberger of The 700 Level examines how this could result in Randle potentially slipping to the Sixers at pick number ten in the draft.
- The Cavs are giving Tyronn Lue a second interview this weekend, but they’re concerned about the 37-year-old’s inexperience, reports Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio. Amico also hears that owner Dan Gilbert isn’t mandating that GM David Griffin hire a marquee name.
- John Zitzler of Basketball Insiders looks at what the Bucks can do to with the surplus of big men on their roster.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Draft Notes: Sykes, Canadian Players, Johnson
Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer examines the sudden influx of talent into the NBA from Canada. Bonnell notes that at least three Canadians will be selected in the first round of this year’s draft.
Here’s more news regarding the upcoming draft:
- NBA.com released their prospect profile of Isaiah Sykes. Sykes, who averaged 17.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 3.5 APG this season, is projected as a possible second round pick this year.
- Wheat Hotchkiss of NBA.com looks at the adversity that Keith Appling, Andre Dawkins, and Scottie Wilbekin have had to overcome, and the draft prospects for each player.
- NBA.com published their prospect profile on Arizona’s Nick Johnson. Johnson, who averaged 16.3 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 2.8 APG last season is a projected second round pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
- The Nuggets have workouts scheduled Friday with Johnson, Jerrelle Benimon, Sykes, and Brandon Jefferson the team announced via NBA.com.
- On Friday, the Pacers are set to work out Davion Berry, DeAndre Daniels, Will Sheehey, Russ Smith, Xavier Thames, and Kendall Williams, the team announced via Twitter.
- Walter Tavares worked out for the Pacers today, reports Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops (Twitter link).
Western Notes: Spurs, Lowe, Togashi
With the Spurs core of stars nearing retirement the team will need to look ahead to the future, writes Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. That future will begin with Kawhi Leonard, as well as having a wealth of cap room in 2015, when only Tiago Splitter is under contract, notes Beck. The franchise also has Livio Jean-Charles, a 6’9″ forward from French Guiana, who was drafted 28th in 2013, and Davis Bertans, a 6’10″ forward from Latvia, a 2011 second-round pick who was acquired from the Pacers, to help jump start the team’s next phase, according to the article.
More from the west:
- The Wolves hiring of Sidney Lowe as an assistant coach could be announced as early as tomorrow, reports Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune (Twitter link).
- The Mavericks are going to take a look at Japanese point guard Yuki Togashi, with the hope that he could be developed as a potential NBA player with the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League, writes Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. The 5’8″ Togashi is expected to attend the D-league draft camp next week, and isn’t expected to be selected in this year’s draft, notes Sefko.
- Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman hands out grades for Reggie Jackson’s season with the Thunder. Jackson averaged 11.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 2.4 APG this season.
Western Notes: Love, Parsons, Suns, Payne
The trade speculation around the Timberwolves‘ Kevin Love is heating up. Bill Ingram of Basketball Insiders examines the different teams involved, what they have to offer in a trade, and which franchise would be the best fit for Love. In the same article, Ingram also looks at Chandler Parsons‘ option situation with the Rockets, and why they might be willing to let him test the free agent market.
More from around the league:
- Ricky Rubio spoke with Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders (video link) about the Timberwolves offseason, Flip Saunders becoming the head coach, and Love‘s future with the franchise.
- The Suns are gaining a reputation around the league for holding the toughest predraft workouts, reports Scott Bordow of AZ Central. Of their reputation, GM Ryan McDonough said, “We’ve had a number of agents tell us this is one of the toughest workouts — if not the toughest workout — on the predraft circuit. We take pride in that. We want our guys to be really well conditioned. If we want to try to get up and down the floor and lead the league in fast-break points and run teams out of the gym, you’re going to have to be in shape.”
- Bordow’s article also notes that the Suns abundance of stretch-fours wouldn’t necessarily prevent the team from drafting Adreian Payne this year. The team already has Channing Frye and Markieff Morris on the roster. “I think the ability to shoot the ball from the power forward position is a strength of ours and I think it helps with our spacing, not only for the ability to make threes but also the ability to space the floor for Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe,” McDonough said. “It’s important. We do have that option with Channing, we do have that option with Markieff as well but the more guys you can slide into that role and not have to change your style of play the better. Especially if they can shoot it well and consistently, which Payne has done over the course of his career.“
Northwest Notes: Snyder, Nuggets, Fisher
In his introductory press conference, new Jazz coach Quin Snyder didn’t oversell the team’s goals, writes Brad Rock of the Deseret News. In regards to his team’s chances to contend, Snyder said, “You know, it’s hard to give specifics. I think (it’s) what I mentioned before about building an identity and not skipping stops in the process, and trying to do something that will last, where you can become a playoff team and become a playoff team for a long time.” When asked about the franchise’s ability to attract free agents, Snyder responded, “I mean, in a manner of speaking, I was a free agent.” He also applauded the Jazz ownership’s commitment, the practice facilities, and the tradition of loyalty, saying Utah is “an attractive place,” notes Rock.
More from the Northwest Division:
- One major similarity that the two teams in the NBA Finals share is continuity, writes Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post. Neither the Spurs nor the Heat favor rash decisions or overreacting to adversity and making changes just for the sake of change, notes Dempsey. This is something the Nuggets need to emulate if they want to establish a winning culture, Dempsey opines.
- Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman looks at Derek Fisher‘s career options for the future which include coaching or moving into a front office role with a franchise.
- In a separate article, Mayberry grades Fisher’s final season as a player with the Thunder.
And-Ones: Williams, McDermott, Draft
Chaz Williams wants to be part of the new trend of undersized guards becoming successful in the NBA, writes Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald. The 5’9″ Williams has been in contact with Kings guard Isaiah Thomas for advice, notes Murphy. Of his conversation with Thomas, Williams said, “It’s great to know another small guy out there is successful, and is a fan of mine as well. He gave me a lot of encouraging words, and told me what to look for in these workouts. He told me to be myself and go out there and play hard. We spoke via text and communicated for a little while on Twitter. We’re with the same agency. I approached him. I’m a fan of his, and I wanted to pick his brain and learn. I’m a student of the game and can learn more every day. If I can learn more in a situation where people say I can’t, then that will help me a lot.”
More from around the association:
- NBA.com published their full prospect profile for Doug McDermott. McDermott is projected as a mid-to-late lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft.
- Johnny O’Bryant has workouts scheduled next week with the Cavaliers and the Timberwolves, tweets Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.
- The crew at Basketball Insiders (video link) spoke with a number of the prospects in the 2014 NBA Draft about what facets of their games they are working on to improve.
Eastern Notes: Pistons, Hornets, Dolan, Celtics
The Pistons have big plans for their new NBA D-League team in Grand Rapids, writes David Mayo of MLive. Coach and president of basketball operations, Stan Van Gundy intends to use the D-League as a major part of their development plan for young players, reports Mayo. Van Gundy said, “If you get that coach integrated with what you’re doing, and you’re playing the same system and everything else, I think that D-League thing can be very, very valuable. And we’ll take the hiring of that coach as a very big part of our staff because I think it can be that valuable.“
More news from the east:
- If the Hornets don’t want to regress next season they will have to add some offensive weapons to their roster, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer.
- Knicks owner James Dolan needs to observe how Heat owner Micky Arison and Spurs owner Peter Holt do business, writes Mitch Lawrence of The New York Daily News. Lawrence cites Dolan’s tendency to meddle in basketball affairs as one of the main issues affecting the franchise’s ability to rebuild and contend.
- If the Celtics want to acquire Kevin Love from the Timberwolves the possibility of re-signing him will be directly tied to what GM Danny Ainge decides to do with Rajon Rondo, writes Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald. Without Love the team has less of a reason to retain Rondo, and without Rondo the team would be less likely to entice Love to stay in Boston, opines Murphy.
And-Ones: Draft, Lakers, Free Agency
The full list of available free agents won’t be complete until the end of June when players and teams decide whether or not to exercise their respective contract options, writes Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. Pincus breaks down all the players with options and gives his predictions for who will end up on the free agent market come July.
More news from around the league:
- Bob Finnan of The Morning Journal released his first mock draft of the year.
- The staff at Basketball Insiders debate which draft prospect will have the biggest impact next season.
- Jabari Davis of Basketball Insiders looks at the free agent options the Lakers will have this summer. Davis notes that the team should have a particular interest in Trevor Ariza, Kyle Lowry, and Greivis Vasquez.
Atlantic Notes: Cartwright, Walton, Sixers
Bill Cartwright is waiting to hear from either Phil Jackson or Steve Kerr about an assistant coaching position, writes Mitch Abramson of The New York Daily News. According to the article, Cartwright had met with Jackson back in April about joining the Knicks bench if Kerr was hired as coach. On his lack of recent contact with Jackson, Cartwright said, “We’re waiting for them to make a decision, obviously about the head coach and there’s nothing going on.” On possibly working as an assistant under Derek Fisher, Cartwright said, “That’s a Phil question, not my question. I’m looking to coach. There’s really nothing more to say, outside of that. I’m looking to coach.”
More from the Atlantic Division:
- Luke Walton also hasn’t heard from Jackson since Kerr spurned the Knicks for the Warriors, writes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Jackson was possibly interested in bringing in Walton to help coach the triangle offense, and according to Begley, Jackson said that Walton would make a great head coach someday.
- With an abundance of picks in this year’s draft, Sixers GM Sam Hinkie needs to take a bold approach to jump start the team’s rebuilding process, writes Tom Moore of Calkins Media.
- The Knicks worked out Johnny O’Bryant, Semaj Christon, DeAndre Kane and Akil Mitchell, tweets Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.