Community Shootaround: Early-Season Surprises
The NBA season is just over two weeks old, but that doesn’t mean there haven’t already been a few surprises. From the Magic’s success to the “Greek Freak’s” utter dominance to Ben Simmons‘ channeling of Magic Johnson, there has been no shortage of eyebrow-raising moments in the early going.
- Frank Vogel has the Magic playing well above what anyone expected. ESPN’s preseason power rankings slotted Orlando at 24. To his credit, Vogel has strayed from the physical, grinding style that defined his best Pacers teams in favor of a fast-paced attack predicated on ball movement and good floor spacing. Perhaps that explains Aaron Gordon‘s newfound accuracy from long-range – in his first three NBA seasons, Gordon never cracked 30% from three-point range. This season, he’s hitting over 57% from deep. It is a guarantee that Gordon will regress, but will the same be true of the Magic?
- Giannis Antetokounmpo was a star last season, averaging about 23 points, nine rebounds, and five assists per contest. But his performance through eight games this season has made those numbers look pedestrian. The “Greek Freak” is leading the league in scoring at 31.3 PPG, pulling down 10.6 RPG and handing out 5.1 APG. His superior athleticism is evident, but his efficiency – he is shooting 60% from the floor – is deadly. If these early season numbers hold, he’s a near lock to earn MVP honors.
- Ben Simmons missed his entire rookie campaign due to injury. The No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, Simmons obviously had the talent to project greatness, but a year off from basketball can build up rust on even the greatest athlete (see: Jordan, Michael). This makes Simmons’ dominance through eight games a surprise. He is stuffing the stat sheet at 18.5 PPG, 9.6 RPG and 7.9 APG. Lonzo Ball garners a lot of attention for basketball and non-basketball reasons, but Simmons is the one with the dominant game reminiscent of Magic Johnson in style and stature.
We want to know what you think. Which early-season player or team performances have surprised and impressed you? Which are likely to last and which are a flash-in-the-pan? Please share your thoughts in the space below.
Porzingis’ Brother: Knicks Need To Keep KP Happy
The brother of big man Kristaps Porzingis has suggested that the talented Latvian eventually re-signing with the Knicks is not at all a foregone conclusion, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
Janis Porzingis, who serves as an agent and mentor for his younger brother, said that the Knicks’ ability to offer the most money and long-term security is of little consequence. He also stated that Kristaps’ decision to skip last season’s exit interview was a calculated one.
“(Skipping the exit interview) wasn’t an emotional decision,” Janis told Latvian publication Sports Avize, as translated by Eurohoops.net. “It wasn’t a spontaneous action. We had been thinking about it for a long time and it was considered an honest, well-thought decision we came up with together.”
Janis went on to lob grenades in the direction of former Knick and current Thunder forward Carmelo Anthony, taking issue with the fact that Melo was seemingly complacent with the Knicks’ lack of direction. And lest the team take solace in the notion that jettisoning Anthony would secure Porzingis’ loyalty, his brother flatly implies that the franchise needs Kristaps more than he needs the Knicks.
“From their point of view, Kristaps is the focal point at the moment so you cannot upset him much or otherwise, at the end of the season, he will say, ‘It’s not so cool here,'” the older Porzingis brother said. “The second question is: Who is the New York audience coming to watch now? To a large extent, it’s Kristaps. So the organization has to take that into account.”
Things could continue to get dicey next summer, with Porzingis eligible for a five-year maximum extension valued somewhere around $150MM. It seems likely the team will offer such an extension, but whether or not it is signed by Porzingis appears far less certain. If his goal is to reach unrestricted free agency as soon as possible, Porzingis could sign his qualifying offer when he becomes an RFA in 2019, then hit the open market as a UFA in 2020.
Pacific Notes: Curry, Iguodala, Clippers, Suns
Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala were both fined for their behavior during the Warriors‘ 111-101 loss to the Grizzlies on October 21st. Curry was docked $50K for flinging his mouthpiece at an official. Iguodala’s fine was less severe — $15K for verbally abusing an official.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr was not too rattled by Curry’s antics, sarcastically offering, “I think he should be suspended eight, maybe 10 games. It was egregious. It was awful.”
Here’s more from the Pacific Division:
- Austin Rivers proffered that the Clippers are a better team without Chris Paul. While careful to note that Paul is a great player, Rivers said that the team has improved its cohesion and competitiveness. “I think we have more talent this year,” Rivers said, per Elliott Teaford of The Daily Breeze. “Look how many pieces we got for one guy. We got a defensive dog (Patrick Beverley). We drafted well.”
- With the Suns exploring potential trades involving Eric Bledsoe, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders notes (via Twitter) that Phoenix “looked hard” at Cavaliers swingman Iman Shumpert over the summer, but Shumpert’s player option is a problem for the club.
- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope made an immediate impact on the Lakers during his debut against the Pelicans. As Bill Oram of The Orange County Register details, Caldwell-Pope nailed a three less than 30 seconds into the game and gives coach Luke Walton a legitimate “3-and-D” option.
Lakers’ G League Team Hires Metta World Peace As Assistant Coach
The South Bay Lakers have hired Metta World Peace as an assistant coach, according to the team’s website. World Peace had recently expressed an interest in coaching, and this opportunity lands him in a player development role for the Lakers’ G League affiliate.
World Peace spent six seasons with the Lakers and won an NBA championship with the club in 2010. Known for his defensive prowess and for his role in the 2004 brawl between the Pacers and the Pistons, World Peace can impart 17 seasons worth of accrued wisdom on the South Bay roster.
The South Bay Lakers – formerly known as the Los Angeles D-Fenders – are the G League’s defending Pacific Division champions and are led by head coach Coby Karl, son of the former longtime NBA coach, George Karl. The club’s 16-man roster includes two-way players Vander Blue and Alex Caruso, as well as L.A. camp invitees V.J. Beachem and Stephen Zimmerman.
Pelicans Waive Jordan Crawford
Oct. 22: The Pelicans officially waived Crawford today, the team announced in a press release.
Oct. 21, 4:27pm: The Pelicans asked the NBA to guarantee that their request for an injury exception would be granted before signing Nelson, tweets Adrian Wojanarowski of ESPN. When that appeal was denied, New Orleans had to waive a player before Nelson could be added to the roster.
3:24pm: The Pelicans are waiving guard Jordan Crawford, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). Crawford’s contract is only partially guaranteed for $250K, so most of his salary will come off New Orleans’ cap.
Today’s agreement with Jameer Nelson would have pushed the Pelicans into the luxury tax, but letting Crawford go will allow them to sneak back under the tax threshold and will provide some breathing room below the hard cap. New Orleans will actually create a small amount of savings through the two transactions due to Crawford’s $1.7MM cap hit, as Bobby Marks of ESPN details.
New Orleans could have waited until after tomorrow’s game to apply for a hardship exception in order to sign Nelson. Due to mounting injuries, the Pelicans will still be eligible for the exception, which would allow them to add a 16th player, but it’s not clear whether or not take advantage of it.
Crawford, who will turn 29 on Monday, appeared in 21 total games during his stint with New Orleans at the end of last season and the start of this year. In those games, he averaged 13.6 PPG and 3.0 APG in just 22.6 minutes per contest. He’ll reach free agency early next week, assuming he clears waivers.
Five Key Stories: 10/14/17 – 10/21/17
If you missed this week’s NBA headlines, we’ve got your covered. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the past seven days:
Gordon Hayward suffered a serious injury on opening night, dislocating his left ankle and fracturing his tibia. The injury occurred about five minutes into Boston’s game at Cleveland and was a gruesome sight. While uncertain, it is unlikely that Hayward will return to the court this year. The Celtics could apply for a disabled player exception worth about $8.4MM which, if granted, could be used to acquire one player.
Jeremy Lin suffered a similar fate as Hayward, rupturing the patella tendon in his right knee during New Jersey’s opening night lost to Indiana. Lin will be gone for the entire season, which likely means increased minutes for backup point guard Isaiah Whitehead and other Nets guards.
The San Antonio Spurs and big man LaMarcus Aldridge reached an agreement on a three-year contract extension worth a reported $72.3MM. Aldridge, 32, will be locked up for four years total, although the final year of the extension is partially guaranteed. Given Aldridge’s age and slip in production, it is fair to question the typically above-reproach Spurs for this transaction.
Bulls teammates Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic fought during practice, resulting an eight game suspension for Portis and hospitalization for Mirotic. Portis will be eligible to return on November 7. Mirotic has a much longer timeline due to a concussion and facial fractures he suffered during the melee.
Richard Jefferson signed with the Nuggets. The 37-year-old forward agreed to a one-year deal for $2.3MM. Jefferson was traded from the Cavs to the Hawks in a cost-cutting move and then was immediately released by Atlanta. Jefferson averaged 5.7 PPG and 2.6 RPG last year.
Here are 10 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:
- Chris Paul’s return from injury is up in the air. The Rockets have indicated it could be days or weeks.
- Jameer Nelson was waived by the Nuggets to create a roster spot for Jefferson. He agreed to sign with the Pelicans less than 24 hours after clearing waivers.
- Kendrick Perkins accepted an assignment to the Cavs’ G League affiliate, the Canton Charge.
- Dennis Schroder was arrested last month on battery charges, and the Hawks appear intent on taking some disciplinary measures.
- Wade Baldwin, the Grizzlies’ first-round pick last year, and rookie Rade Zagorac were both waived by the team this week. Baldwin was subsequently signed to a two-way contract by the Trail Blazers.
- The Bucks claimed DeAndre Liggins off waivers to fill the 15th spot on their roster.
- The Bulls claimed point guard Kay Felder off waivers. To make room for Felder, the team waived Jarell Eddie and Diamond Stone.
- The Celtics and point guard Marcus Smart could not agree on a contract extension, which means Smart will likely head into restricted free agency next offseason.
- The Jazz waived Joel Bolomboy, who was then signed by the Bucks to a two-way contract.
- Tiago Splitter is hoping to latch onto an NBA team after playing just six games last season.
Wizards Pick Up Kelly Oubre’s 2018/19 Option
The Wizards have picked up the fourth-year option on Kelly Oubre‘s rookie contract, according to Candace Buckner of the Washington Post.
The fourth-year team option is worth $3.2MM and keeps Oubre locked up through the 2018/19 season.
Oubre, 21, was the team’s first-round pick in 2015 and has emerged as a vital piece of the Wizards puzzle. He is currently the starting power power forward, due to injuries to Markieff Morris and Jason Smith. In two games this year, he is averaging 9.0 PPG and 7.5 RPG.
The Wizards face a similar decision with power forward Chris McCullough, whose fourth-year option is worth about $2.2MM and must be picked up by October 31.