Pacific Notes: Ham, LeBron, Westbrook, Murray, Hightower, Warriors
Lakers coach Darvin Ham recently expressed excitement about LeBron James inking an extension with the team, as relayed by Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints. James agreed to extend his deal through the 2023/24 season, also owning a $50.4MM player option for the 2024/25 campaign.
“It’s huge, man,” Ham acknowledged. “It’s huge. LeBron is a once-in-a-lifetime player. You only get so many players. Not even so many. You have Bill Russell, you have Wilt Chamberlain, you have Dr. J, you have Moses Malone, you had Larry Bird, Magic [Johnson], you had [Michael] Jordan, you had Allen Iverson, Shaq [O’Neal], Kobe [Bryant], and now it’s LeBron’s time.”
James led the Lakers to a championship in 2020 and is focused on doing it again this season. The team lacks the wing defenders it had that year (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Danny Green and Alex Caruso, among others), but it still has a talented roster on paper — one also headlined by Anthony Davis.
Here are some other notes from the Pacific:
- Jim Alexander of the Orange County Register explores whether trading for Patrick Beverley is a sign that the Lakers will move Russell Westbrook. As we detailed earlier in the week, Beverley and Westbrook have been involved in many heated battles and confrontations. We’ve seen former enemies succeed on the same team before — including with the Lakers, when Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest teamed up to win a championship in 2010 — but it’s unclear if Beverley and Westbrook can co-exist. Los Angeles also has Kendrick Nunn as a third option at point guard.
- Nuggets star Jamal Murray, who missed last season due to a torn ACL, continues to express confidence he’ll be back to 100% at some point this season, he told Matthew Sullivan of News.com.au. Denver is expected to contend for a title, sporting a projected starting group of Murray, Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon and two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.
- The Warriors have hired Noel Hightower as a player development coach, as relayed by Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files. Hightower will also serve as an assistant coach with the team’s G League affiliate. He worked with the Pacers as a basketball assistant last season.
Eastern Notes: Beal, Morris, Nets, Mitchell, Claxton
For Bradley Beal, winning a championship with the Wizards would be more rewarding due to the adversity he has faced in recent years, he told Laura Schreffler of Forbes.com. Beal has opted to stay loyal to Washington, signing a five-year, $251MM deal with the team this summer.
“People always look at me like I’m crazy, but I have a huge desire to want to make it work here and win here,” Beal said. “This is the team that drafted me. They’re super loyal, I have a great relationship with ownership, and a great relationship with our front office.
“Plus, there’s not a lot of chances in the careers of NBA players to be notated as the franchise guy, you know? To be able to have that opportunity, to be able to be in a position to where I can write my own story, that’s everything.”
Beal has spent his entire 10-year career to date with the Wizards. Despite feeling pressure from some fans to request a trade, the 29-year-old has remained focused on winning a title with the Wizards.
“I feel like if I win a championship here in DC, the grind of it, with everything I’ve been through, all the adversity and ups and downs, that would make a win that much sweeter, makes me appreciate it that much more,” Beal explained. “And I do love the grind, and to sometimes go against the odds.”
There’s more from the Eastern Conference tonight:
- Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington examines five things analytics say about Monte Morris‘ game. The Wizards acquired Morris and Will Barton from the Nuggets this offseason, sending away Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith. Morris is expected to start at point guard for Washington.
- While the Nets have been rumored as a possible suitor for Donovan Mitchell, members of the organization like Brooklyn’s roster and don’t feel a sense of urgency to pursue Jazz guard, Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports. With Kevin Durant and the Nets recently agreeing to move forward together, it doesn’t seem like Brooklyn will be eager to make a major trade ahead of the season — even though Mitchell listed Brooklyn as a trade preference.
- Nets center Nic Claxton knows his time is now, according to NetsDaily. With Brooklyn allowing Andre Drummond to sign with the Bulls — and LaMarcus Aldridge and Blake Griffin no longer on the roster — Claxton has an opportunity to establish himself at center. The Nets may test Ben Simmons at the five, but Claxton can still be valuable as a rebounder, rim protector, screen-setter and lob threat at 6’11”.
Nets Sign Yuta Watanabe
The Nets have signed free agent Yuta Watanabe, the team announced in a press release. The terms of the agreement weren’t revealed, but Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports (via Twitter) that Brooklyn signed Watanabe to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract.
A 6’8″ forward, Watanabe has played in 121 NBA games across four seasons with the Grizzlies and Raptors. He appeared in 38 contests with Toronto last season, averaging 4.3 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per outing. He also shot 41% from the floor and 34% from three-point range.
Brooklyn has 15 players on its 20-man offseason roster. One of those players (Alondes Williams) is on a two-way deal, while the other 14 are on standard contracts — in addition to the 12 with fully guaranteed salaries, Watanabe is now on a non-guaranteed deal and Edmond Sumner has a partial guarantee. Watanabe will presumably join the team for training camp with a chance to earn a roster spot this fall.
The Nets are coming off a tumultuous summer headlined by Kevin Durant‘s trade request. With Durant and the team recently agreeing to move forward with their partnership, the club is now focused on competing for a championship.
Eastern Notes: Harrell, Heat, Jovic, Nets, R. Williams
The Heat could have benefited from signing free agent big man Montrezl Harrell this summer, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel opines in an “Ask Ira” mailbag. While the Heat could still theoretically sign him, they re-signed Udonis Haslem last week, which means they can’t add another player to their regular season roster without going into the luxury tax.
Winderman believes the Heat could use Harrell’s size and energy. However, his inability to shoot from distance could make him an awkward fit, especially when playing alongside a non-shooter in Bam Adebayo.
Harrell split the 2021/22 season with the Wizards and Hornets, averaging 13.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game. The Heat lost starting power forward P.J. Tucker to the Sixers last month and have a number of undersized options they can play at the four, including Jimmy Butler and Caleb Martin. Other East contenders such as the Celtics and Bucks start bigger lineups featuring Al Horford and Giannis Antetokounmpo, respectively, at power forward.
Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- In a separate article for the Sun Sentinel, Winderman examines why Heat first-round pick Nikola Jovic is unlikely to crack the team’s rotation this season. Jovic, 19, was tabbed by team president Pat Riley as a “development piece” during his end-of-season press conference in June.
- Brian Lewis of the New York Post examines the Nets‘ mentality with Kevin Durant now returning to the team. Brooklyn is expected to compete for a title this season, sporting a roster that includes Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Joe Harris and others. The team is clearly hoping to move past its off-court issues and focus on contending.
- Ethan Fuller of BasketballNews.com dives into what the next level could look like for Celtics center Robert Williams III. Williams has established himself as an elite rim protector and rebounder, but as Fuller notes, he can still improve his game offensively. At 24 years old, he has plenty of time to do so.
Gary Harris Suffers Torn Meniscus
Magic guard Gary Harris has suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). While it’s unclear how and when he sustained the injury, Harris will undergo further evaluation to determine how much time he’ll miss.
The 27-year-old Harris was a key part of Orlando’s rotation last season. He averaged 11.1 points per game in 61 contests, starting in 30 of them. He also shot 43% from the floor and 38% from downtown.
Aside from his offensive production, the Magic likely value Harris for his locker room leadership. He’s currently the second-oldest player on a young roster, trailing only Terrence Ross (31).
Harris has dealt with multiple injuries throughout his career. Last season was the first time he played more than 60 games since the 2017/18 campaign, which helped him land a two-year, $26MM extension from Orlando. Still, the Magic finished just 22-60 on the year and are expected to continue their rebuilding phase.
And-Ones: Bowman, DeLaurier, CBA Changes
Free agent guard Ky Bowman has signed a contract with Happy Casa Brindisi in Italy, the team announced on social media (Twitter link). Bowman will play overseas for the first time in his professional career. He most recently played with the Spurs’ G League affiliate and Las Vegas Summer League team.
In addition to holding G League experience, Bowman played 45 games with the Warriors during the 2019/20 campaign. He averaged 7.4 points and 2.9 assists in 22.6 minutes per contest, shooting 42% from the floor and 31% from deep. He turned 25 years old in June.
Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Free agent Javin DeLaurier has signed with ASK Karditsas B.C. in Greece, the club announced (Instagram link). DeLaurier, 6’10”, signed a 10-day contract with the Bucks last season. With Milwaukee’s G League affiliate, he averaged 6.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in 22.2 minutes per game.
- ESPN analysts Bobby Marks, Kevin Pelton and Tim Bontemps (Insider only) examine potential CBA changes, including whether it can prevent issues like what the Nets have faced with Kevin Durant. Durant, of course, requested a trade from Brooklyn this offseason with four years left on his contract. Former Sixers star Ben Simmons did the same thing a year ago, which led to a lengthy standoff before he was traded in February. The NBA and NBPA have until December 15 to choose whether to opt out of the current CBA, which would expire on June 30 if at least one side decides to do so.
Eastern Notes: Tatum, Herro, Oubre, Thibodeau, Brunson
Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum played with a small non-displaced fracture in his left wrist this past season, he revealed in an interview with Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report. Tatum suffered the injury on February 13 against the Hawks.
In May, Tatum revealed he was dealing with wrist pain after being fouled by Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, but he wouldn’t go into more detail. He received a cortisone shot for the pain and continued playing.
Tatum sounded optimistic that the wrist won’t be an issue going forward, as he’s no longer dealing with pain. The 24-year-old led Boston to its first NBA Finals berth since 2010 this season, averaging 25.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists in the playoffs.
Here are some other notes from the Eastern Conference:
- Heat guard Tyler Herro unsurprisingly wants the team to run it back with the same group this season, as relayed by Betr (Twitter link). This would require that the team doesn’t acquire Kevin Durant or Donovan Mitchell, both of whom would likely require Herro to be traded. Miami suffered a significant blow when P.J. Tucker signed with the Sixers in free agency, but otherwise looks very similar to last season’s team.
- Hornets forward Kelly Oubre Jr. should be monitored as a potential trade piece this season, an NBA executive told Sean Deveney of Heavy.com. Oubre, 26, averaged 15.0 points on 44% shooting last season. If the Hornets look to improve their center position, it’s possible he could be included in a deal.
- Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is “ecstatic” about the arrival of Jalen Brunson this season, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Thibodeau believes he can turn Brunson from a B-minus player to a B-plus one, a source tells Berman, which would largely start on the defensive end. Brunson signed a four-year, $104MM deal to join the Knicks this offseason.
Keegan Murray On Track In Wrist Surgery Recovery
Kings rookie Keegan Murray is showing progress and is on track in his recovery from wrist surgery, James Ham of The Kings Beat reported (via Twitter). As Ham notes, Murray is now shooting with both hands.
The 22-year-old underwent a minor procedure on his right wrist last month. He had the surgery after a successful Las Vegas Summer League stint, where he averaged 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game on 50% shooting.
Murray was drafted No. 4 overall by Sacramento in June. His recovery seems to be progressing at a good pace, as training camps open in the NBA next month. As we previously relayed, Sacramento expects Murray to be ready before training camp begins. The operation “cleaned out some loose bodies” in his wrist, causing him to only train with his left hand in the weeks that followed.
Murray will likely start or see significant minutes off the bench for a Kings team that finished just 30-52 last season.
Gustavo Ayon Announces Retirement
Veteran center Gustavo Ayon has announced his retirement from professional basketball, as relayed by EuroHoops. Ayon will have a farewell game on Sunday in Guadalajara, Mexico.
“It did not take long,” Ayon said about deciding to retire, according to EuroHoops. “Throughout my career, I learned to take care of my body, when I could be effective and when I couldn’t. I need more than 24 hours to recover after a game. I am retiring fully and at a good level as a player.”
Ayon, who went undrafted in 2007, made his NBA debut in 2012 and played in 135 total regular season games, making stops with New Orleans, Orlando, Milwaukee and Atlanta. The 37-year-old held per-game averages of 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds during those outings, playing an average of 16.5 minutes.
In addition to his NBA experience, Ayon spent many years competing in international leagues. He played in Mexico from 2006-09, Spain from 2009-11 and 2014-19, and Russia in 2019/20 before returning to Mexico to finish his career.
“I wanted to play basketball and be successful in teams having an important individual role,” Ayon said. “For me, that is much better than playing for 10 or 15 years in the NBA,”
Central Notes: Sexton, Mavericks, Cavs, Giannis, Bulls
The Cavaliers have had discussions with the Mavericks about a potential sign-and-trade involving restricted free agent Collin Sexton, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com said on The Wine & Gold Talk Podcast (hat tip to HoopsHype).
Sexton is still unsigned with training camps set to start next month. Fedor notes that Cleveland wouldn’t be interested in any of Dallas’ moveable pieces, and the Mavs would have to shed salary to accommodate a sign-and-trade deal that would hard-cap them, so it remains unlikely that Sexton ends up in Dallas.
Things can change quickly in the NBA, of course, and Dallas could use another ball-handling guard. The team lost Jalen Brunson to New York in free agency this summer, so Spencer Dinwiddie is an early projected starter. Sexton averaged 16.0 points in 11 games before tearing his meniscus this past season.
Here are some other notes from the Central Division:
- ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Tim MacMahon and Tim Bontemps discussed the Cavaliers‘ outlook (video link), which includes Darius Garland, Evan Mobley‘s progression, and where the team may finish this season. Cleveland deployed a big lineup featuring Lauri Markkanen, Mobley and Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt last season, causing issues with its length. The team also received good production from Ricky Rubio, Cedi Osman and Kevin Love off the bench, but the season took a turn for the worse when key players dealt with injuries.
- Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo missed an international exhibition game for Greece on Friday, as relayed by Eric Nehm of The Athletic (Twitter link). Antetokounmpo is dealing with back soreness, though Nehm notes that his absence on Friday appeared precautionary. Giannis’ MRI came back clean, according to Eurohoops (via Twitter).
- Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic examines 10 games that will define the Bulls‘ season. The first game on Mayberry’s list is October 19’s season-opener against the Heat, which will be played in Miami. The team lost all four of its games to the Heat last season. Miami finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference last season (53-29), while Chicago was 46-36.