Bucks Waive Elijah Bryant
The Bucks have waived guard Elijah Bryant, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link). The move brings Milwaukee’s roster count down to 18 players, including a pair of two-way players.
Bryant, 26, signed with the team in May and was part of the club’s championship roster. Despite only appearing in one regular-season game, he saw action in 11 postseason contests, totaling 14 points across 50 minutes.
Before signing with Milwaukee, Bryant played summer league with the team in 2019 and spent time in Israel. He went unselected in the 2018 NBA Draft.
The Bucks also recently waived big man Mamadi Diakite, who was claimed off waivers by the Thunder on Sunday.
Atlantic Notes: Schröder, Celtics, Raptors, Knicks
Celtics All-Star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are two major reasons why Dennis Schröder chose to sign with the Celtics in free agency, as Taylor Snow of Celtics.com relays (Twitter link).
Tatum and Brown are two of Schröder’s favorite players, and at 23 and 24 years old, respectively, the two young stars are only getting better. Boston could choose to start Schröder alongside Marcus Smart, Brown, Tatum and Robert Williams III this season.
“Jayson and Jaylen are two of my favorite players in today’s game,” Schroder explained. “Very competitive. They’re winners, two guys that will do whatever it takes to win the game. I think it’ll be a great fit and they are a big reason why I picked Boston.
“They both called me and showed a lot of interest, that was nice. I’m really looking forward to joining them soon and winning a lot of games together.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division tonight:
- A. Sherrod Blakely of Full Court Press dives into the Celtics‘ backcourt situation, noting that Smart should bounce back with a strong defensive season. Blakely also examines some of Boston’s other guards, including Schröder and Josh Richardson.
- Doug Smith of The Toronto Star explores the Raptors‘ roster situation, taking a look at which players will be competing for spots in training camp. Smith highlights Yuta Watanabe, Freddie Gillespie and Isaac Bonga, among others, breaking down the chances of each player making the roster.
- Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News lists five Knicks storylines to watch ahead of training camp. New York is entering the 2021/22 season with an upgraded roster on paper, adding Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to a core that already includes the likes of Julius Randle, RJ Barrett and Derrick Rose.
Southeast Notes: Gafford, Bradley, Heat, Magic
Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. recently praised center Daniel Gafford, calling the 22-year-old a unique defensive talent, as Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington writes. Gafford was acquired by the team in a three-team deal last March.
“I’ll say this, I haven’t had the opportunity over the past few years to have a dynamic guy like that,” Unseld said. “The shot-blocking, his ability to change shots around the rim, to run the floor, to finish above the rim and be a presence to put pressure on the rim as a roller. His flexibility, his versatility; he’s very fluid. For a lot of guys that big, it doesn’t come easy.”
In his 23 games with the Wizards last season, Gafford averaged 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 17.7 minutes per contest. He’s expected to compete for minutes this season in a Washington frontcourt that features Thomas Bryant and Montrezl Harrell.
Here are some other notes from the Southeast Division:
- Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel explores whether the Heat should’ve brought back Avery Bradley. Bradley, who played 10 games for Miami last season, ultimately decided to sign a deal with the Warriors, having reportedly not received much interest from the Heat. Miami could still use some backcourt depth — especially if Victor Oladipo (quadriceps tendon rehab) isn’t close to a return.
- Speaking of the Heat, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald offered a breakdown of the team’s roster entering training camp. Miami currently has a full 20-man squad, including four players on Exhibit 10 contracts.
- Josh Robbins of The Athletic examines what the Magic would consider a successful start of the season to be. Orlando is entering a rebuild year, sporting a young core that includes Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac and Wendell Carter Jr.
Kobi Simmons Signs In Poland
Free agent guard Kobi Simmons has signed in Poland with Stal Ostrow, agents Aaron Turner and Kshaun Daley of Verus Basketball told Hoops Rumors.
This marks the first career overseas stint for Simmons, who went undrafted in 2017 after spending one collegiate season at Arizona. He’s made past NBA stops with the Grizzlies, Cavaliers and Hornets.
Simmons appeared in 15 G League games with the Greensboro Swarm last season, averaging 18.3 points, six assists and 32.9 minutes per contest. The 24-year-old was also one of the top performers in the G League during the 2019/20 season, holding per-game averages of 17.4 points and 5.6 assists.
Simmons played 32 NBA games with Memphis in 2017/18 and one game with Cleveland in 2018/19. He was with Portland for summer league last month.
Rui Hachimura To Miss Start Of Training Camp
Wizards third-year forward Rui Hachimura will miss the start of training camp due to personal reasons, the team announced on social media today. Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link) notes that it’s an excused absence and says Hachimura will be out indefinitely.
Washington is set to open its camp on Tuesday, making Hachimura’s status beyond that unclear. The 23-year-old is expected to have a significant role on the team this year.
In 57 games last season, Hachimura averaged 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 31.5 minutes per contest. He also shot 48% from the floor and 33% from deep.
Hachimura will be competing for minutes in a revamped Wizards frontcourt that includes Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, Deni Avdija and Davis Bertans. Washington finished 34-38 after a late-season push in 2020/21, ultimately losing to the Sixers 4-1 in the first round of the playoffs.
Ben Simmons Rejects Meeting With Teammates
Sixers star Ben Simmons recently rejected the opportunity to meet with his teammates in Los Angeles, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. Charania reports that players such as Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Matisse Thybulle planned on traveling to meet with Simmons and change his mind about requesting a trade.
Simmons communicated that he didn’t want his teammates to make the trip, as he has no interest in playing for the Sixers this season. The 25-year-old has held firm on his stance and appears to be mentally checked out from Philadelphia, Charania writes.
Along with various players, Sixers head coach Doc Rivers also recently expressed some hope that Simmons would change his mind and return.
“There’s been so many times this has happened (in sports) that hasn’t been reported…and the guy comes back,” Rivers said last week, as relayed by Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com. “So listen, we’re going to go through it. We’re gonna always do what’s best for the team, but I can tell you up front, we would love to get Ben back, and if we can, we’re gonna try to do that. Ben has a long contract, so it’s in our hands and we want him back.”
The Sixers have received interest for Simmons, but no trade is imminent, according to Charania. The team will host its media day on Monday and begin training camp on Tuesday. With Simmons, the club finished 49-23 last season — good for the best record in the Eastern Conference.
Simmons is coming off a season where he averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game. The defensive-minded point forward struggled in the Sixers’ second-round series against the Hawks, however, harming his trade value among rival teams.
Assuming Simmons doesn’t show up for training camp next week, Philadelphia can fine him or withhold game payments. He’s currently in the second season of a five-year, maximum-salary extension signed during the summer of 2019.
And-Ones: Fournier, France, Udoh, Gasol
Knicks guard Evan Fournier has expressed confidence in the future of France’s national team, discussing his vision for the program in an interview with L’Equipe (hat tip to Sportando).
Fournier, 28, was part of the French team that nearly defeated Team USA in the Gold Medal Olympic game last month. While his team narrowly missed out on a gold medal, it did beat Team USA in an exhibition contest two weeks earlier. Fournier led all scorers with 28 points during that outing.
“We have to promote our sport culture, stop being afraid of being ambitious,” Fournier explained. “I want this to change and our team can do it. We are not afraid of anyone. My vision is to become as dominant as Spain has been in the last fifteen years. Tokyo is just our first final … I want to win Eurobasket 2022. This is not the time to stop. We have the opportunity to build a dynasty.
“This team must grow every summer, relive the same emotions, reactivate what has made possible our success in Tokyo: putting aside the ego, fighting for each other, having this winning mentality. And starting over every year. It is an opportunity for our sport, but also something that can go beyond basketball, help sport in France. We can set an example for an entire generation.”
Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Former NBA center Ekpe Udoh has suffered a complete tear of his left knee patellar tendon, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando tweets. The 34-year-old will undergo surgery for the injury and no timetable has been issued. As we previously relayed, it’s believed that Udoh slipped due to an on-court sticker during the Italian SuperCup quarterfinals on Saturday.
- Veteran NBA big man Pau Gasol briefly discussed the ongoing free agency of his brother, Marc Gasol, acknowledging that Marc has plenty of enthusiasm for Spanish club Basquet Girona. Marc and the club have been linked since he was waived by the Grizzlies last week. “Marc has earned the freedom and flexibility to make his own decision and he will do so when he decides,” Pau said, according to Spanish newspaper Marca (hat tip Sports Illustrated). “I know he has a lot of enthusiasm for Basquet Girona, a club in which I am also involved as vice president. He is in a different situation, because he is five years younger than me. We will see what he decides to do this season and later, I am also waiting.“
Poll: Will Damian Lillard Finish 2021/22 Season With Blazers?
Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard recently pledged his commitment to Portland — at least to start the season — in a post shared to his Instagram account. “Back for more… #RipCity is my city”, Lillard posted, including a photo of him high-fiving Blazers fans.
A six-time All-Star, Lillard has seen his name surface in trade rumors throughout the offseason. His production increased once the playoffs came around last season, averaging 34.3 points, 10.2 assists and 41.3 minutes per game in six total contests.
The Sixers are among the teams that have expressed interest in Lillard, with team president Daryl Morey reportedly hoping that he would request a trade from Portland before the season. Philadelphia has been exploring the trade market for disgruntled star Ben Simmons (owed $33MM in 2020/21).
With Lillard re-affirming his commitment to Portland, any trade request remains highly unlikely for the time being. Should things change before the trade deadline, however, a large number of rival teams are expected to circle back and express interest in his services.
What do you think? Will Damian Lillard remain with the Blazers for the 2021/22 season, or will he request a trade? Will the team succeed enough to keep him in town? Vote in our poll, then head to the comments below to share your thoughts!
New York Notes: Randle, Barrett, Millsap, Ntilikina
Knicks All-Star big man Julius Randle recently discussed a variety of subjects with SNY.tv’s Ian Begley, including his career-best 2020/21 campaign, Mitchell Robinson‘s progression and more.
Randle, 26, is coming off an excellent season with New York, averaging 24.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and six assists per game. He also shot 46% from the field and 41% from deep during those contests.
“My process, honestly, it stays the same,” Randle said. “I try to keep the main focus, the main focus. And that’s, (taking) everything day by day. Whether it’s a workout, whether it’s a film, whatever it is, I just try to give everything that I can when I’m doing what I’m doing. And I kind of let the chips fall where they may.
“I trust the work and the process of everything that I’ve done. And I have faith and belief that that’s going to pay off. I know what I sacrifice, I know what I do to prepare. And regardless of success or failure, I try not to change. I don’t know what the expectation is (for our team). I can’t even tell you what to expect from me. I just know that I’m just gonna keep improving, getting better as a player. That’s just where I stand with it.”
There’s more out of New York tonight:
- In the same interview with SNY.tv, Randle praised the rapid improvement of Knicks guard RJ Barrett. Like Randle, Barrett also had a productive 2020/21 season, averaging 17.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. “RJ’s going to be a really good player,” Randle said as part of a larger quote. “What is he, 21? I don’t know how old he is. He’s young as hell (laughs). He’s a really good player, and I can relate as far as what he’s done, and what I’ve seen from him so far in this offseason is he just keeps improving. That’s really what it’s about.”
- Nets big man Paul Millsap is switching jersey numbers from No. 4 to No. 31, according to NetsDaily (Twitter link). Millsap, a 15-year NBA veteran, signed a free-agent deal to join the team last month.
- Former Knicks guard Frank Ntilikina bid farewell to the team and its fans on Sunday, posting a short video on social media (Instagram link). Ntilikina was the team’s No. 8 pick in the 2017 draft. He recently signed with the Mavericks after spending four seasons in New York.
Eastern Notes: Martin, Mills, Bucks, Heat
New Heat two-way forward Caleb Martin cited the team’s reputation, culture, and successful development history as key reasons why he joined the franchise, as Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald details. Martin, who spent the last two seasons with the Hornets, will join undrafted guard Marcus Garrett as Miami’s two-way players entering the season.
“The culture and the reputation were the big things that caught my eye,” Martin explained. “Obviously, the coaching staff and just everybody that’s involved over here. One of the things they said was they’re big on development. They’re going to work with me and do the best they can to make me the best player I can be. They think this is a great spot for me in terms of my playing style and I agree with that.”
Miami has a well-documented history of developing players — Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson being two of the most recent examples — something that Martin simply couldn’t ignore as a free agent.
“You hear a lot of great things about the organization in Miami,” he said. “It’s clear that they bring in winning players and a winning culture, and they do a great job of molding guys and developing guys through their program. Obviously, those were all key points for me when it’s time to choose somewhere to go.”
Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference today:
- Brian Lewis of the New York Post examines how Kevin Durant helped recruit veteran point guard Patty Mills to the Nets in free agency. Mills is expected to provide ball-handling and shooting behind the likes of Kyrie Irving and James Harden for Brooklyn this season.
- Eric Nehm of The Athletic explores a number of Bucks-related topics in his mailbag, including how the team could address any lack of size up front, Alex Antetokounmpo‘s situation and more. Milwaukee is coming off its first championship season since 1971.
- The Heat will have several options to try at starting power forward this season, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel examines in his mailbag. Miami signed P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris to deals in free agency, both of whom are expected to contend for minutes. The team also has 23-year-old center Omer Yurtseven, who could bump Bam Adebayo to power forward if and when they share the floor.