Udonis Haslem Undecided On Retirement
Despite originally declaring his plans to retire at the end of the season, veteran Heat forward Udonis Haslem is now undecided on his future, according to Shandel Richardson of The Athletic.
“I’m not 100 percent sure I’m done,” Haslem said. “I know I said I had nothing else to prove. It’s coming close but, man, I still have so much to give. … We’ll see. I’m going to talk to [Heat CEO] Nick Arison and talk to the guys and just weigh my options. I’ve still got the fire to burn. I’ve still got something to contribute.”
Haslem has only played in four games with the Heat this season, logging 15 minutes in total. He has spent his entire 16-season career with the organization, dating back to his first contract in the summer of 2003.
Haslem previously claimed he had “nothing left to do” in an interview with Basketball Insiders’ David Yapkowitz last month, making clear his intentions to retire with longtime teammate Dwyane Wade once the season ends.
“They [Wade and Haslem] don’t have to make their decisions together,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “UD means so much to our culture, particularly when he’s in uniform, and that’s not dependent on how many minutes he’s playing in a game. I would love for him to come back. If that means we have to let everything just kind of settle after the season, give him a little bit of time and then we can put on our recruiting hats again. When free agency starts, he’ll be No. 1 on my list.”
Haslem is expected to discuss a possible return with the Heat this summer once the team chooses a direction in free agency, according to Richardson, who adds that the team would welcome him back for another season.
Haslem, 38, holds career-averages of 7.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 25.3 minutes as the Heat’s all-time leading rebounder with 5,717 boards. He won NBA championships with the team in 2006, 2012 and 2013.
Raptors Sign Chris Boucher To Two-Year Deal
5:15pm: The Raptors have officially signed Boucher, the team confirmed in a press release.
3:51pm: The Raptors have agreed to a new multi-year contract with Chris Boucher, promoting him from his current two-way deal with the team, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
The agreement is a two-year deal that contains a partial guarantee for the 2019/20 season, according to The Athletic’s Michael Scotto (Twitter link).
Boucher, 26, has held per-game averages of 3.9 points, 1.8 rebounds and one block in 16 contests with the Raptors this season, shooting 46% from the field and 39% from behind-the-arc. He spent time with the Warriors during their championship 2017/18 season to start his career, but appeared in just one professional game.
Toronto also plans to sign Ben McLemore and Malcolm Miller on 10-day deals, but the team must sign another player to a standard contract before inking the pair due to CBA rules (hat tip to Jeff Siegel of Early Bird Rights). The Raptors have 11 players under contract, with the CBA requiring that they have 12 players on standard deals before signing players to 10-day contracts.
Boucher originally signed with the team last July and saw his contract converted to a two-way deal in October. He has impressed in his short time with the organization as he aims to develop into a valuable rotation player behind the likes of Serge Ibaka and Pascal Siakam.
Southwest Notes: Rockets, Davis, Porzingis, Gasol
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has emphasized that the team isn’t done adding players to its roster, according to Hunter Atkins of the Houston Chronicle.
Morey, who has served as the Rockets’ GM since 2007, said he has held discussions with multiple representatives, though he didn’t mention any specific player by name.
“We’re having multiple conversations,” Morey said, as relayed by Atkins. “We have a couple players at the top of the list. Until they clear waivers, it’s not something — we can’t really talk to them.”
For the Rockets, several veteran players cleared waivers this past week, including the likes of Markieff Morris, Marcin Gortat, Enes Kanter and Omri Casspi. Houston also had interest in Wesley Matthews before he agreed to sign with Indiana a few days ago, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon (Twitter link).
The Rockets acquired defensive-minded Iman Shumpert at the NBA’s trading deadline, but still have an open roster spot to work with for the buyout market. The team holds the fifth best record in the West at 32-23 and could also work out a new contract with Danuel House, who remains in the G League.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division today:
- Pelicans star Anthony Davis played in the second half of a back-to-back set with the team on Saturday, recording 14 points and 16 rebounds in nearly 34 minutes of action. Davis and the team agreed that his minutes would be reduced as he returns from injury, along with the fact that both sides will consult on which ends of back-to-backs Davis will play the rest of the season, according to ESPN.com. Davis formally requested a trade from the Pelicans through agent Rich Paul last month, but the team still held onto him past the Feb. 7 trading deadline.
- Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle showed new acquisition Kristaps Porzingis how the team plans to utilize him in a one-on-one meeting Friday, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. “It’s important to have a vision of the direction that you’re going to be going when you’re in a rehab situation like him, so you can get your mind focused on the kind of movements that are going to be required,” Carlisle said. “It was a very good meeting. I asked him for some feedback and we had good discussions.” Porzingis has made positive signs in his rehab from a torn ACL, but he isn’t expected to play for the Mavericks until next season.
- Grizzlies owner Robert Pera released a statement on Marc Gasol after the franchise traded him to Toronto last week: “Marc has been a dedicated teammate, star player and pillar of this team for the past 11 seasons,” the statement read. “He plays with a heart and a passion for the game that helped carry this franchise to seven straight playoff appearances, but what Marc has done for this organization is about more than just basketball. He was a part of a core group of players that helped shape the identity of this franchise on and off the court and were embraced by the City of Memphis. On behalf of the Grizzlies organization, I would like to thank him for his blood, sweat and dedication to the Grizzlies and Memphis. The impact he has had on this team and the city will live on, and we look forward to one day welcoming him back home to Memphis where his #33 jersey will hang in the rafters of FedExForum next to Zach and Tony.”
Kings Sign Corey Brewer On 10-Day Contract
FEBRUARY 8: The Kings have officially signed Brewer to a 10-day deal, the team announced today in a press release.
FEBRUARY 7: The Kings plan to sign veteran forward Corey Brewer on a 10-day contract, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Brewer, who most recently played for the Sixers, has spent 12 NBA seasons with seven different teams. He holds career-averages of 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game.
Sacramento waived Ben McLemore earlier today to create another open roster spot, also trading the likes of Iman Shumpert, Zach Randolph, Justin Jackson and Skal Labissiere over the past 48 hours. The team owns the ninth best record in the West at 28-26, competing for a postseason spot behind their young core.
This marks the third 10-day contract signed for Brewer this season, with his previous two deals coming on the Sixers.
Anthony Davis To Return To Pelicans’ Lineup
FEBRUARY 8: While Davis will return to the court for the Pelicans, he’s expected to play in fewer – if any – back-to-backs, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who adds (via Twitter) that AD’s season average of 37.0 minutes per game also figures to decline going forward.
FEBRUARY 7: Despite considering shutting Anthony Davis down for the rest of the season, the Pelicans will allow Davis to return to the regular rotation, general manager Dell Demps said today in a statement.
“Anthony Davis will play the remainder of the 2018-19 season for the New Orleans Pelicans,” Demps said. “A number of factors contributed to this decision. Ultimately, Anthony made it clear to us that he wants to play and he gives our team the best opportunity to win games.
“Moreover, the Pelicans want to preserve the integrity of the game and align our organization with NBA policies,” Demps continued. “We believe Anthony playing upholds the values that are in the best interest of the NBA and its fans. We look forward to seeing Anthony in a Pelicans uniform again soon.”
New Orleans opted to keep Davis, who formally requested a trade from the team last month, past the NBA’s trading deadline today.
Davis was recently cleared by the team’s medical staff and sought a return to the lineup earlier in the week, but was rebuffed by Pelicans management as the team was seeking potential deals, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports. The Pelicans next play at home against the Timberwolves on Friday, with the team not including Davis on its injury report.
Davis, 25, has averaged 29.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game this season with New Orleans, shooting 51% from the floor and 33% from 3-point range in 41 contests.
Pelicans Waive Markieff Morris
FEBRUARY 8: Morris was officially released on Thursday night, RealGM’s NBA transactions log confirms. While the Pelicans didn’t formally announce the transaction, Morris had to be cut in order to accommodate the Nikola Mirotic trade, which saw New Orleans acquire two players for one.
FEBRUARY 7: The Pelicans plan to waive forward Markieff Morris, who’s currently dealing with a neck injury, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
New Orleans acquired Morris and a 2023 second-round pick in a trade with Washington this week, sending away forward Wesley Johnson. Morris is dealing with Transient Cervical Neuropraxia and began experiencing discomfort in his neck and upper back last month. Morris is expected to seek a second opinion on his injury, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link).
The Wizards originally put a six-week timetable on Morris at the start of his injury, which was diagnosed during the first week of January.
Morris, an eight-year veteran, mostly spent the past four seasons as Washington’s starting power forward and established himself as a valuable 3-and-D talent. He joins Enes Kanter, Zach Randolph, Marcin Gortat, Wayne Ellington and others as players who are now available in free agency.
Before getting injured, Morris was averaging 11.5 points and 5.1 rebounds on 44% shooting, starting in 15 of 34 contests on the season.
Celtics Trade Jabari Bird To Hawks
10:48pm: The Hawks have officially acquired Jabari Bird and cash from the Celtics in exchange for a conditional 2020 second-round pick, the team announced on Thursday.
2:06pm: The Celtics are trading Jabari Bird and cash to the Hawks in exchange for a heavily protected second-round pick, tweets Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports. Chris Haynes of Yahoo first reported that Boston would trade Bird to Atlanta today.
The Hawks will waive Bird after acquiring him, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). The move is simply intended to save both teams a little money and to open up a roster spot for Boston.
Bird, 24, appeared in just 13 games with the Celtics last season and didn’t play at all this year. The C’s drafted him 56th overall in 2017, mostly using him in the NBA G League with their affiliate in Maine. He was arrested on domestic violence and assault charges last September and failed to make his way back onto the court.
The pick being acquired by the Celtics is top-55 protected, meaning it most likely won’t convey to the team, Smith adds in a separate tweet. Boston will now look to the buyout market in hopes of upgrading its team before the postseason, and could express interest in free agent Enes Kanter, according to ESPN’s Ian Begley (Twitter link).
Atlantic Notes: Gasol, Lowry, Sixers, Celtics, Russell
The Raptors struck a major deal to acquire star center Marc Gasol today, sending Jonas Valanciunas, Delon Wright, C.J. Miles and a 2024 second-round pick to Memphis in the agreement.
Gasol, a former Defensive Player of the Year, is expected to help push the Raptors to a deep postseason run as their new starting center.
“Marc’s a hell of a basketball player,” teammate Kyle Lowry said, as relayed by Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports. “I got a chance to play with him earlier in our careers but neither of us were at the level we’re at now. It’s going to be very cool.”
Gasol also reunites with Sergio Scariolo, head coach of the Spanish National Team and current assistant with the Raptors. Gasol’s ability to score, rebound and defend at the center position intrigued the Raptors as a potential fit, with the team now sporting a projected starting five of him, Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam.
“There’s a lot of things Marc can do,” Lowry said, according to Lewenberg. “I think his playmaking is one of the things we’re going to really be able to use…I think his defence is going to help us also…There’s a lot of advantages he brings to us and I think he’s going to really help us.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division tonight:
- The Sixers made a move to acquire Tobias Harris from the Clippers this week, although it’s unclear how long discussions between the two sides lasted before an agreement was reached. Rich Hofmann of The Athletic suggests that the teams have discussed a Harris-related deal for months, while Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated reports that the deal started being discussed on Tuesday. Regardless, Philadelphia now has a “core four” of Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris and Joel Embiid to compete in the Eastern Conference for the rest of the season.
- Celtics general manager Danny Ainge reached out to the representatives of a few players today with hopes of filling the team’s open roster spot, according to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link). However, Ainge is unsure about how much interest players will have, given how deep Boston’s roster is, Mannix notes.
- Nets guard D’Angelo Russell is ready to recruit players to Brooklyn in free agency, speaking before the NBA’s trade deadline this week. “I mean we understand it’s a business,” Russell said, according to Chris Milholen of Nets Daily. “I got to be in Brooklyn to recruit someone to be in Brooklyn. I think that with the situation that we have with the young talent and like I said, we surprised a lot of people this year with the play that we have and I think we have a great situation for anybody to come in and be open with two arms.”
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 2/7/19
Here are Thursday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA G League:
- The Rockets have assigned center Isaiah Hartenstein to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, G League affiliate of the team. Hartenstein was drafted by Houston with the No. 43 pick in 2017.
- The Nets assigned Mitch Creek to their G League team in Long Island, the team announced. Brooklyn waived Creek later in the day, with the 26-year-old being re-acquired by Long Island shortly afterward.
- The Hornets have assigned Dwayne Bacon and Devonte’ Graham to the Greensboro Swarm, general manager Mitch Kupchak announced today. Both players have bounced back and forth from the G League and the Hornets this season.
Greg Monroe Waived After Trade To Nets
7:31pm: The Raptors and Nets have confirmed that the trade is done. Brooklyn received Monroe and Toronto’s 2021 second-round pick in exchange for cash, then waived the veteran center. The second-rounder is unprotected, while Toronto received $110K in the deal, per Scotto (Twitter links).
2:15pm: The Raptors are trading veteran forward Greg Monroe and a second-round pick to the Nets, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets.
The Nets plan to waive Monroe after the deal becomes official, according to The Athletic’s Michael Scotto (Twitter link), who adds that Brooklyn will send cash considerations in the trade. The Nets will receive Toronto’s 2021 second-round pick as part of the deal.
For Brooklyn, this deal represents the only trade the team made on Thursday. The Nets will keep its current core, which has gone 21-9 in the past 30 games, as they begin to focus on reaching the postseason this April.
After this agreement and an earlier trade with Memphis, Toronto has reduced its roster size to just 10 players. The team is expected to sport an intimidating starting group consisting of Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam and Marc Gasol to compete in the East.