Southeast Notes: Dragic, Winslow, Thibodeau
The Heat have a track record of luring free agents to Miami on below-market contracts, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald notes. Center Udonis Haslem offered an explanation for the trend, saying, “It’s a first-class organization, winning organization, and you see how [team president] Pat [Riley] and [owner] Micky [Arison] work together, how the players are treated, how we love being here. And [players] see other people make sacrifices and they start to wonder, ‘Why is everybody sacrificing to be there? Why is everybody sacrificing to stay there?’ When they get a chance to be a part of it, then they buy in.”
Combo guard Goran Dragic, who signed a five-year, $90MM deal this past offseason, left millions on the table from other suitors in order to remain part of the Heat’s winning culture, Jackson relays. “When the time came and we negotiated, [agent Rade Filopovich] said we can get more somewhere else,” Dragic said. “But the most important thing for me was to be in the right place to try to win a championship. I didn’t even want to question that. Because it’s a winning culture here. Everybody wants to win, at least the players that are here. You want to put yourself in a good situation that you can develop your game, that you can get better and get the highest prize. I’m happy here. I went through some struggles but I’m really happy I’m part of this team. Everything looks good now.”
Here’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- The Hornets surprised a number of draft experts when they selected Frank Kaminsky over Justise Winslow in the first round of the 2015 NBA draft. Coach Steve Clifford indicated that it was a matter of redundancy that led Charlotte to pass on Winslow, Jackson relays in a separate piece. “[The decision] was difficult, because Justise is a good player. But so much of it is need. Justise’s position, that versatile three/four, is what we have in Michael Kidd-Gilchrist [who missed most of the season with injury]. But we were really high on Frank anyway,” Clifford said.
- The Wizards may not be a good fit for Tom Thibodeau, since the team isn’t offering organizational control to head coaching candidates, and that’s something the former Bulls coach reportedly prefers, Ben Standig of CSN Mid-Atlantic notes. Scott Brooks is the reported front-runner for Washington’s coaching vacancy, though Thibodeau has also drawn consideration from the Wizards as well.
- The Hawks have recalled swingman Lamar Patterson from the Austin Spurs of the NBA D-League, the team announced via press release.
Poll: Defensive Player of the Year
For the second consecutive season, the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. Leonard, a 6’7″ small forward, became the first noncenter to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons since Dennis Rodman did so in 1989/90 and 1990/91. The 24-year-old received 84 first-place votes and 547 total points from a panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters. He beat out the Warriors’ Draymond Green, who notched 44 first-place votes and 421 points to finish as runner-up for the second season in a row. The Heat’s Hassan Whiteside came in third with 83 points, garnering two first-place votes. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote, according to the release.
Leonard, a first-time NBA All-Star this season, anchored a Spurs defense that led the NBA in points allowed (92.9 ppg) and defensive rating (96.6 points per 100 possessions). The Spurs, who were a franchise-record 67-15 this season, were significantly tougher on defense with Leonard in the game. According to NBA.com, they had a defensive rating of 94.9 when the five-year veteran was on the court and 99.2 when he wasn’t — a difference of 4.3 points per 100 possessions. Leonard also averaged 1.78 steals, which was good for 12th in the NBA, 5.5 defensive rebounds and a career-high 0.99 blocks to go with career highs of 21.2 points and 2.6 assists on the offensive end.
Any time an award is handed out there will be some who disagree with the selected recipient and this year’s DPOY award choice is likely no different. We at Hoops Rumors want to know whom you thought was deserving of the award. Listed below are the players who received votes, as well as a number of players who were mentioned by readers in the comments section. Cast your vote below for whom you believe should have won this season’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
Atlantic Notes: Larkin, Joseph, Sixers
Shane Larkin hasn’t decided what he will do regarding his $1.5MM player option for 2016/17, but the point guard would prefer to remain with the Nets for the long term, NetsDaily relays. “I’m not a guy who wants to play a 10-year career with eight different teams; I want to find a home and really lock in with a team where I know what the coach wants, what my teammates want and we can just all grow together,” Larkin told reporters prior to Kenny Atkinson being named coach. “I just turned 23, so I’m still young. Being able to get with a team on a two-year deal or three-year deal saying, ‘This is what we want you to be. We want you to spark our offense, push the tempo, be this guy and this is what we feel you can do for the team,’ then that’s perfect. Whether I’m a starter or whatever, it’s cool either way.”
Larkin added that he preferred playing for former coach Lionel Hollins over interim coach Tony Brown, the NetsDaily scribe relays. “I was really comfortable with Coach Hollins,” Larkin said. “But after 37 games, to be exact, Coach Hollins was out of here and [former GM] Billy King was released or whatever it was so it was like we didn’t really have a lot of direction. Coach Tony was kind of just handed the job like, ‘All right, here you go.’ It was kind of like, ‘Just like go play basketball.’”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks cannot move forward as a franchise until the right head coach is hired, Tommy Beer of Basketball Insiders writes. The scribe also opines that team president Phil Jackson needs to broaden his search for a new coach beyond his comfort zone and not remain fixated on hiring someone based on the triangle offense. The organization could also benefit by hiring someone whose views don’t line up with Jackson’s 100%, since some level of conflict is healthy when making decisions, Beer adds.
- Cory Joseph is pleased with his decision to sign with the Raptors last summer and is happy with the organization as a whole, Doug Smith of The Toronto Star relays. “I feel like I’ve got a good team controlling my situation for me,” Joseph said.
- Much of the Sixers‘ offseason plans will rely on luck, something that hasn’t been on the franchise’s side the past few seasons, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia has already had some negative luck this offseason, with the 2016 first-rounder the team is owed from the Heat slipping from a possible No. 21 overall down to No. 24 due to tiebreakers not going its way, Pompey notes.
Wolves Interviewing Jeff Van Gundy, Tom Thibodeau
9:58pm: Taylor discussed the job with Thibodeau and Brooks the same night the Wolves ended their season, shortly before announcing the team was looking for a new coach and president of basketball operations, a person close to the situation told Jerry Zgoda of the Minnesota Star-Tribune. The head coaching position and president of basketball operations opening will likely be filled by one man, Zgoda adds.
5:27pm: Sources who spoke with Stein downplayed Thibodeau’s interest in personnel power, saying the Timberwolves and not Thibodeau first raised the idea of a dual coach/executive role. Stein’s sources add that Thibodeau considers the strength of a team’s roster and its commitment to winning as the most important factors, presumably meaning Thibodeau is more concerned with those elements than with front office control (Twitter links).
2:17pm: The job appeals to Thibodeau in large measure because it’s the only one currently available that would give him full player personnel authority, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski and Chris Mannix of The Vertical. Van Gundy isn’t as determined to have front office control, Wojnarowski and Mannix hear. Taylor is expected to be willing to go as high as $7MM a year for the right candidate, according to the league sources who spoke with the Vertical reporters. The Korn Ferry search firm has pegged Spurs assistant GM Scott Layden and Grizzlies executive VP of player personnel Ed Stefanski as potential candidates for the GM job should the team hire either Thibodeau or Van Gundy as coach/president of basketball operations, as Wojnarowski and Mannix detail, adding that the fate of existing GM Milt Newton remains up in the air.
11:26am: The expectation is growing in coaching circles that Minnesota will hire either Van Gundy or Thibodeau, who have become co-favorites for the job, Stein and Windhorst write in a full story.
MONDAY, 11:15am: Taylor interviewed Thibodeau this weekend and is set to meet with Van Gundy today, report Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
FRIDAY, 4:59pm: The Timberwolves have meetings scheduled regarding their vacant head coaching position with Jeff Van Gundy and Tom Thibodeau, league sources have informed Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. The meetings are expected to take place within the next few days, Wojnarowski adds. Minnesota’s coaching targets also reportedly include Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger and Scott Brooks. Brooks hasn’t yet up a meeting with Minnesota at this time, but there are tentative plans for Wizards officials to visit with him next week, Wojnarowski relays. The former Thunder coach is Washington’s top priority, Wojnarowski notes.
Minnesota team owner Glen Taylor will be a part of the interviews that will include the executive firm Korn Ferry, which has been coordinating the coaching search, Wojnarowski writes. The owner hired the firm to help in the hunt for a new coach as well as a new president of basketball operations, though the team may elect to hire one person for both slots, as Wojnarowski and Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press reported previously. Korn Ferry played a major role in the hiring of Stan Van Gundy as the top basketball executive and coach with the Pistons and Taylor has been pushing for the firm’s research and input into the possible recreation of the Pistons’ model with the Timberwolves, the Vertical scribe also relays.
The franchise parted ways with interim coach Sam Mitchell on Wednesday, with Taylor saying in his official statement, “The future of the Minnesota Timberwolves has never been brighter. It’s important that we find the best leaders to shape our talented team and help them realize their full potential. We owe it to our fans, our community and to our players to ensure our team has the best possible chance at winning an NBA title.” Minnesota went just 29-53 this season under Mitchell, which was a significant improvement over last season’s 16-66 record.
Kawhi Leonard Named Defensive Player Of Year
For the second consecutive season, the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard has been named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced via press release. Leonard, a 6’7″ small forward, becomes the first noncenter to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons since Dennis Rodman did so in 1989/90 and 1990/91. The 24-year-old Leonard received 84 first-place votes and 547 total points from a panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters. He beat out the Warriors’ Draymond Green, who notched 44 first-place votes and 421 points to finish as runner-up for the second season in a row. The Heat’s Hassan Whiteside came in third with 83 points, garnering two first-place votes. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote, according to the release.
Leonard, a first-time NBA All-Star this season, anchored a Spurs defense that led the NBA in points allowed (92.9 ppg) and defensive rating (96.6 points per 100 possessions). The Spurs, who were a franchise-record 67-15 this season, were significantly tougher on defense with Leonard in the game. According to NBA.com, they had a defensive rating of 94.9 when the five-year veteran was on the court and 99.2 when he wasn’t — a difference of 4.3 points per 100 possessions. Leonard also averaged 1.78 steals, which was good for 12th in the NBA, 5.5 defensive rebounds and a career-high 0.99 blocks to go with career highs of 21.2 points and 2.6 assists on the offensive end.
The final voting results for 2015/16 NBA Defensive Player of the Year:
- Kawhi Leonard (Spurs)
- Draymond Green (Warriors)
- Hassan Whiteside (Heat)
- DeAndre Jordan (Clippers)
- Paul Millsap (Hawks)
- Avery Bradley (Celtics)
- Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
- Tony Allen (Grizzlies)
- Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
- Andre Drummond (Pistons)
- Jimmy Butler (Bulls)
- LeBron James (Cavaliers)
- Trevor Ariza (Rockets)
- Jae Crowder (Celtics)
- Al Horford (Hawks)
- Kyle Lowry (Raptors)
- Chris Paul (Clippers)
To see each voter’s ballot, click here.
Northwest Notes: Garnett, Nuggets, Henderson
The Timberwolves improved their win total from 16 in 2014/15 to 29 this season and the team believes it is on the cusp of big things, Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press writes. “We’re going to be really good. Really, really good,” power forward Karl-Anthony Towns said. “Frightening, actually. We have every tool needed to be the team we see ourselves being. We have a year of experience under our belt. I think everything is going in the right direction.”
The AP scribe opines that the team’s biggest priority this offseason should be adding players who can shoot from outside, considering Minnesota was second-to-last in 3-pointers both attempted and made this past season. Another area of concern for the team is Kevin Garnett and Nikola Pekovic, two big men who are under contract for combined $20.1MM next season and who may not be healthy enough to be relied upon regularly, Krawczynski adds. Garnett, 39, hasn’t announced if he intends to return for another season, though team owner Glen Taylor said he is optimistic that the veteran will play in 2016/17.
Here’s more from the Northwest Division:
- The Nuggets announced a number of title changes for their front office personnel on Friday. Denver named Jared Jeffries as the team’s Director of Pro Personnel, Tommy Balcetis was named Director of Analytics, Scott Howard was named Director of College Scouting and Steve Hess will now hold the title of Director of Performance/Assistant Coach and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.
- The Blazers had explored trades for Gerald Henderson prior to the February deadline this season, but GM Neil Olshey‘s asking price for the swingman was too high, John Canzano of The Oregonian relays. It was a good thing the team didn’t deal the 28-year-old given that the Blazers were 30-11 when Henderson played 20-plus minutes and 9-1 when he scored 15 or more points this season, Canzano notes. Henderson, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, averaged 8.7 points and 2.9 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per contest over 72 appearances this season.
- Despite missing the playoffs, the Jazz have quite a few positives to take away from the 2015/16 season, writes Jody Genessy of The Deseret News. The franchise feels that it is nearing the end of the rebuilding process and the front office’s expectations have changed as a result, the scribe adds. “I hope that the end of this last game doesn’t entirely remove something that I think this group accomplished, which was just competing all the time,” coach Quin Snyder said. “It’s unfortunate that the season ended on this note,” Snyder added, “but this is a group that constantly scratched and clawed and battled in spite of a lot of adversity.”
Sixers Notes: Colangelo, Brown, Embiid
Despite relinquishing his title as the Sixers’ chairman of basketball operations after his son Bryan was hired as president of basketball operations, Jerry Colangelo insists his role with the team has not changed, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes.”Nothing really changed,” Colangelo said. “My role is still the same that I was originally asked to come in and do.” The executive noted that he was hired to be an adviser and his official title was something that was added after the fact, Pompey relays. “But in translation, [his role after Bryan’s hire] sounded differently, especially the stepping down kind of a thing,” Colangelo said. “I haven’t stepped down. I’m still walking on the same level, doing the same thing.”
Here’s more from Philadelphia:
- Coach Brett Brown is glad the 2015/16 season is over, and he is anticipating better things for the franchise in the future, writes Bob Cooney of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “This phase that we’re going into now, call it phase two, is different from phase one,” Brown said. “We went through those three years of pain and losing. What you’re going to hear more out of everybody’s mouths is, ‘How do you re-establish winning?’ When you use phrases and words like that, the conversation gets directed a little bit more toward free agents and draft picks or veterans on the team and keepers. I think the design of the team takes a little bit more of a real discussion, a real flavor that, perhaps in the past, it’s been based on … rebuild and process and those types of things. I feel like that’s been the discussion that’s most prevalent lately.“
- When asked about the Sixers’ offseason priorities, Brown indicated finding a point guard was at the top of the team’s list, tweets Tom Moore of Calkins Media. “It’s always: What are you doing with your point guard? That’s the most important position,” Brown told Moore.
- The Sixers’ combination of cap space, draft picks and young talent give new GM Bryan Colangelo plenty to work with as he begins his tenure with the franchise, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca writes. The team may benefit the most from the return of center Joel Embiid, who has yet to play in a regular season contest since being drafted and is looking sharp in his workouts, Grange adds.
Central Notes: Kidd, Brown, Jones
Bucks coach Jason Kidd said the franchise’s biggest need this offseason was to acquire outside shooters who can stretch the floor for the team’s big men, writes Charles F. Gardner of The Journal Sentinel. “In today’s game, two is not going to beat three,” Kidd said. “The three is so important. We didn’t have enough guys that could make the three. There’s no tricks. I’m not going to sit here and make up something that we’re going to have to shoot a higher percentage of twos. You’ve got to be able to shoot the three. Everybody is shooting them. You’ve got to have guys on the floor who can stretch the floor and are threats to make a three.”
GM John Hammond shot down the rumblings that he and Kidd don’t have a solid working relationship, Gardner notes. “We just finished our second season together, and I think we have a very good working relationship,” Hammond said. “We talk together, we spend time together. We have a business relationship; we have a social relationship. With what we do, the season ends but it stays busy. We jump right into the draft until the end of June, and then we begin free agency and summer league. You’re stuck together in the season and in the offseason. It’s part of what we do and we love it.”
Here’s more from the Central Division:
- Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy said the team inked Lorenzo Brown in order to have enough bodies to practice heading into the playoffs with Reggie Jackson needing rest to recover from an abdominal injury, tweets Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press.
- Andre Drummond is pleased with how his relationship with Jackson is developing as well as what the point guard has brought to the Pistons franchise, David Aldridge of NBA.com relays. “You know, getting Reggie last season at the trade deadline, I didn’t know what to expect,” Drummond told Aldridge. “He came off the bench for OKC. I didn’t know what he’d be like as a starter. When he came, I spoke him, told him these are the different things that I’m going to need from a point guard. He embraced it. And he’s been playing great for us. He’s building, and we’re working together.”
- The Cavaliers have added Damon Jones to Tyronn Lue‘s coaching staff for the playoffs, relays Chris Haynes of The Northeast Ohio Media Group. The team believes it can benefit from Jones’ experience and rapport with players in its quest to return to the NBA finals, Haynes adds. Jones spent the season as an assistant with the Canton Charge, Cleveland’s D-League affiliate.
Hoops Rumors Originals 4/10/16-4/16/16
Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week…
- If you missed the week’s live chat, you can view the transcript here.
- As part of our Top Bloggers series, Chuck spoke with Lucas Hann, the editor-in-chief of SB Nation’s Clips Nation, a Clippers blog. We also chatted with Zach Oliver, the managing editor of SB Nation’s Orlando Pinstriped Post, a Magic blog. Finally, we touched base with Kris Willis, managing editor of SB Nation’s Peachtree Hoops, a Hawks blog.
- I ran down the 2015/16 D-League usage for the Hawks.
- Zach Links highlighted some of the better basketball blogs around in his weekly installment of Hoops Links.
- Dana Gauruder profiled Oklahoma shooting guard Buddy Hield.
- I ran down the updated 2015/16 salary cap numbers for the Jazz and Wizards.
- If you missed any of our daily reader-driven discussions, be sure to check out the Community Shootaround archives.
- Here’s how you can follow Hoops Rumors on social media and RSS feeds.
- We reviewed our commenting policy. Play nice everyone.
- Here’s how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.
Atlantic Notes: Walton, Nored, Raptors
Raptors GM Masai Ujiri says the progress of the franchise shouldn’t be judged by how the team performs during the 2015/16 postseason, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca relays. “[Winning a round] would be nice, but it’s not the end of the world, I guess that would be the way to put it,” Ujiri said. “It would be really cool for us. The players deserve it, the coach deserves it. Look at what they’ve put in the past two or three years, you root for them. … It would be great for us, but with the progress we’re seeing I just don’t think it’s the end of the world.”
The GM also lauded the benefits of the team’s new D-League affiliate and state-of-the-art practice facility, Grange adds. “Those practice facilities are built once every 20 or 30 years,” Ujiri said. “What we’ve done now, we’re just starting. That facility is for the next 20 years. We have a D-League team 20 minutes away, right there in our backyard. … We are so lucky to have that. To me that’s a bright future for our organization. I know it comes down to wins and losses, that’s what everybody sees, but there’s a bigger picture.”
Here’s the latest from the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets have named Ronald Nored as head coach of the team’s new NBA D-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, the team announced. Nored played under Celtics coach Brad Stevens at Butler and later served as a Celtics assistant coach under Stevens. The D-League team begins play next season. “We are excited to welcome Ronald as head coach of the Long Island Nets,” said GM Sean Marks. “Ronald is a bright young mind in our game whose experience under Brad Stevens as both a player and a coach, as well as his ability to connect with today’s players, have prepared him for this role. His commitment to player development, along with his enthusiasm and passion for the game, are aligned with the vision we have for both the Brooklyn and Long Island Nets.”
- If the Knicks want to interview Warriors assistant Luke Walton during the NBA playoffs, Golden State won’t stand in the way, Marc Berman of The New York Post relays. The Warriors’ official policy is that an assistant can interview for a head-coaching position “as long as it does not interfere with the team’s preparation during the playoffs,’’ Berman adds. New Orleans interviewed Alvin Gentry during Golden State’s playoff run last year.
- Sixers coach Brett Brown is glad the team’s dismal 2015/16 campaign is over and said his relationships with the players are what kept him going throughout the season, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “It was a season of distraction,” Brown said. “I concede that. You would not be telling the truth that every moment of your … day was dedicated to where it should have been, coaching basketball. There are many times that you do get pulled to the left or the right.“