Week In Review: 5/7/17 – 5/13/17
With critical offseason decisions already being made and the NBA Draft Lottery a mere days away, we had another busy week in the Association. Here’s our recap of what you need to know for the past seven days:
Transactions
- Kyle Lowry confirms that he will opt out of his contract with the Raptors.
- Rudy Gay of the Kings will also opt out of his contract.
News
- Kristaps Porzingis tweets message to the Clippers. Or was he hacked?
- According to Kristaps Porzingis’ brother, Kristaps wishes to remain in New York.
- Houston’s Mike D’Antoni and Miami’s Erik Spoelstra were named co-recipients of the NBA Coaches Association’s first Coach of the Year Award.
- Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri admitted that it would be impossible for the team to re-sign all four of its key free agents.
- Sean Deveney reported that Donatas Motiejunas was pursuing legal action against the Rockets and the NBA, prompting Motiejunas to refute the claim on social media.
- The Clippers are finalizing their plans to unveil a D-League team of their own next season.
- Rudy Gobert will not play for Team France in Eurobasket 2017.
Rumors
- There may have been “philosophical” differences in the Hawks front office.
- League sources believe that Troy Weaver will emerge as a top candidate to head the Hawks front office.
- The Kings are reportedly not in the mix for Serbian international star Milos Teodosic after all.
- It is being widely speculated that Danny Ainge of the Celtics is determined to keep the Nets‘ 2007 first-round pick.
- The Mavericks have reportedly begun the process of signing Chinese free agent Ding Jinhui.
- Draft-and-stash Sixers prospect Furkan Korkmaz hopes to join the team for next season.
Draft
- Markelle Fultz will interview with several teams at the combine.
- The Mavericks are more likely to keep their pick than trade it.
- The Lakers are focused on four prospects for their potential lottery pick.
- Duke guard Frank Jackson will remain in the draft.
- Chance Comanche too will remain in the draft, as will James Blackmon.
Injuries
- Nene was ruled out for the remainder of the postseason.
- Allen Crabbe will undergo foot surgery.
- Steve Kerr had a spinal cord leak procedure.
- Tyler Ulis underwent a surgical procedure on his right ankle.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 5/7/17 – 5/13/17
Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team compiles original content to complement our news feed. Here are some of our favorite segments and features from the past seven days:
- Stay current with Hoops Rumors’ player option decision tracker.
- Luke Adams helps you comprehend team’s specific salary cap landscapes with three more analyses in his Salary Cap Digest series: the Jazz, Raptors, and Rockets.
- Luke Adams also contributed three more installments to his Five Offseason Questions series: the Blazers, Hawks, and Grizzlies.
- Which free agents are raising their stock most this postseason? Chris Crouse has the details.
- Arthur Hill talks Dwane Casey, Gordon Hayward, and under-the-radar free agents in his weekly Sunday mailbag. Submit your questions via Twitter (@HoopsRumors) or by sending us an email (hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com).
- In our weekly Hoops Links roundup of interesting articles from around the blogosphere, Austin Kent shares pieces on a Kristaps Porzingis conspiracy theory and a lack of accountability from Andre Drummond and Chandler Parsons.
- Luke Adams breaks down why NBA sign-and-trades are rare.
- Interested in rookie scale salaries for 2017 first-round picks? Luke Adams has you covered.
- Here are the questions we asked you in our Community Shootaround discussions and polls this week:
- Where do you think Kyle Lowry ends up?
- Is Serge Ibaka worth a long-term investment?
- Who would give the Warriors a tougher battle in the Western Conference Finals: the Rockets or Spurs?
- Can fatigue be blamed for James Harden‘s poor Games 5 and 6?
- Who will emerge victorious: the Celtics or the Wizards?
- Who will win the Spurs–Rockets series?
- Last, but certainly not least: Please check out our new Trade Rumors App for IOS/Android.
Leonard Will Play Game 1 Against Warriors
Gregg Popovich says that small forward Kawhi Leonard will play for the Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals series against the Warriors on Sunday, reports Melissa Rohlin of MySA.com.
As Rohlin tweets, Leonard was a full participant in Saturday’s practice. After rolling his ankle in Game 5 of the Spurs’ series against the Rockets, the Spurs’ star missed the series’ decisive Game 6, which the Spurs won 114-75.
Week In Review: 4/30/17 – 5/6/17
With the offseason in full effect for many teams and the NBA Draft lottery just 10 days away, a great deal happened this week. Here’s our recap of what you need to know for the last seven days:
News
- Thunder GM Sam Presti is hopeful that the team can sign Russell Westbrook to a long-term extension this summer.
- Kelly Oubre Jr. was suspended for Game 4 of the Celtics–Wizards series as a result of his altercation with Kelly Olynyk in their previous game.
- Former Hawks forward Mike Scott was cleared of drug charges in a Georgia court, accelerating a possible NBA comeback.
- The head of the NBPA is concerned that Phil Jackson is trying to “shame” Carmelo Anthony out of playing for the Knicks.
- The NBA announced the lineup for its first eLeague season.
- Tyronn Lue revealed that the Cavaliers reached out to Kevin Garnett during the season, attempting to lure the legendary big man out of retirement.
- The Timberwolves finalized their purchase of the Iowa Energy, a D-League franchise that previously had a relationship with the Grizzlies.
- Bucks general manager John Hammond indicates that the team intends to retain Tony Snell and that the medical staff hopes Jabari Parker can return by next season’s All-Star break.
- Bulls executives John Paxson and Gar Forman said that Fred Hoiberg will return as head coach and that “there’s a really good chance” that Rajon Rondo will be back as well.
- At age 40, Grizzlies veteran Vince Carter wants to play two more seasons.
- The NBA will use D-Leaguers to represent team USA in qualifiers for the 2019 Basketball World Cup, which will be used to determine which countries make the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
- Rashad McCants, who played five seasons in the NBA and won an NCAA championship, was the first player selected in the BIG3 three-on-three league draft.
Front Office News
- The Hawks will retain Wes Wilcox, and Mike Budenholzer will remain as head coach, but both Wilcox and Budenholzer will have reduced roles in the basketball operations department.
- Larry Bird officially stepped down as president of the Pacers.
- The Magic have begun to hold interviews in their quest to hire a president of basketball operations.
- Milwaukee’s John Hammond and Toronto’s Jeff Weltman are under consideration for the Magic opening, as well as Kevin McHale and Cleveland’s GM David Griffin.
- LeBron James continues to express support for David Griffin, whose contract with the Cavaliers expires after the postseason ends.
- Two top candidates for the Hawks‘ top front office position are reportedly David Griffin and Joe Dumars.
Rumors
- The Knicks and Clippers are expected to re-open trade talks involving Carmelo Anthony.
- Teams are reportedly inquiring about Kristaps Porzingis after he skipped his exit meeting.
- The role of Bulls vice president John Paxson might expand, as the team considers front office changes this offseason.
- The Pelicans continue to evaluate Alvin Gentry and Dell Demps, with no deadline set for the organization to decide on either’s fate with the team.
- Will Barton is expected to turn down a contract extension from the Nuggets and become an unrestricted free agent in 2018.
Injuries
- Tony Parker will be sidelined for the remainder of the postseason with a ruptured left quadriceps tendon.
- Steve Kerr remains out indefinitely as a result of flaring complications from his back surgery two years ago, making his return for Golden State’s series against the Jazz extremely unlikely.
- Alec Burks‘ knee injury could prevent him from returning for the Jazz this postseason.
- Luol Deng underwent successful surgery on his right pectoral muscle and expects to be fully recovered for the Lakers training camp.
Draft
- Markelle Fultz and De’Aaron Fox highlight the official NBA draft combine list.
- Jayson Tatum, Malik Monk, and other top prospects will skip the combine, just as Lonzo Ball has announced he will do.
- Louisville combo-guard Donovan Mitchell will hire an agent and stay in the draft.
- Theo Pinson will return to North Carolina, the Knicks will consider taking French point guard Frank Ntilikina with their seventh pick, among other draft updates.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 4/30/17 – 5/6/17
Every week, the Hoops Rumors writing team compiles original content to complement our news feed. Here are some of our favorite segments and features from the past seven days:
- Luke Adams dove headfirst into the salary cap situations for a quartet of eliminated playoff teams — the Grizzlies, Bulls, Hawks, and Clippers.
- With the Pacers now eliminated from the postseason and Paul George‘s future with the team very much in doubt, Luke Adams looks at five key offseason questions facing the team.
- Arthur Hill discussed the likelihood of Blake Griffin leaving the Clippers, Alvin Gentry‘s job security with the Pelicans, and whether Greg Monroe should opt out of his contract with the Bucks in his weekly Sunday mailbag. Submit your questions via Twitter (@HoopsRumors) or by sending us an email (hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com).
- In our weekly Hoops Links roundup of interesting articles from around the blogosphere, Austin Kent shares pieces on LeBron James, James Harden, Jrue Holiday, and more. For details on how to submit a blog entry for consideration in our next installment of Hoops Links, click here.
- Here are the questions we asked you in our Community Shootaround discussions and polls this week:
- What is your favorite Paul Pierce moment?
- Should the Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony?
- What are your thoughts on whether the Hawks should trade Dwight Howard and what could they command in return?
- Do you agree with Doc Rivers that the coach/executive model can work?
- Who should be drafted first overall: Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, or someone else?
Wizards’ Kelly Oubre Jr. Suspended For Game 4
11:44am: The NBA officially confirmed that Oubre has been suspended without pay for Game 4, announcing in a press release that he received the one-game penalty for “charging and making forceful and unwarranted contact” with Olynyk (Twitter link via Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com).
11:07am: Kelly Oubre Jr. will be suspended for Sunday’s Game 4 of the Wizards-Celtics series, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. The suspension comes on the heels of the Wizards small forward’s Game 3 altercation with Kelly Olynyk.
In a Game 3 that included eight technical fouls, Oubre’s ejection was most striking. After Olynyk was called for an offensive foul for setting an illegal screen that knocked Oubre to the ground, the Wizards’ second-year player rose up and proceeded to shove Olynyk, while shouting at him. Oubre was charged a flagrant 2 and ejected from the game.
Oubre scored 12 points in each of the first two games of the series and ranks second among bench players on the team in both points and minutes per game these playoffs. Bojan Bogdanovic, who scored 19 points in 29 minutes in Game 3, figures to benefit from the extra available minutes in Oubre’s absence. During the regular season, the Wizards’ bench ranked 29th in scoring with a mere 26.9 points per game.
Donovan Mitchell To Hire Agent, Stay In Draft
Louisville sophomore combo guard Donovan Mitchell will forgo his final two years of college eligibility and remain entered in the NBA draft, he announced via Instagram on Friday.
Previously, Mitchell said that he would test the draft process. After gathering sufficient information, he has decided to leave school. Multiple NBA executives say that Mitchell will likely be selected in the first round, Jeff Goodman of ESPN Insider reports.
As a sophomore, Mitchell averaged 15.6 PPG in 32.3 MPG, way up from his freshman averages of 7.4 PPG in just 19.1 MPG. Although Mitchell shot a mere 40.8% from the field in 2016/2017, he added the three-point shot to his arsenal, converting 35.4% of his 6.6 deep attempts per game. The Cardinal also averaged 4.9 RPG, 2.7 APG, and 2.1 SPG as a sophomore.
Mitchell will sign with agent Ty Sullivan of CAA, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (link via twitter).
Poll: Who Should Be Drafted First Overall?
With the NBA draft nearly a month and a half away, potential lottery teams like the Celtics, Suns, and Lakers, and basketball fans alike debate: who should be taken first overall? A pair of freshman point guards from Pac-12 schools, Lonzo Ball of UCLA and Markelle Fultz from the University of Washington, dominate the discussion.
In 25 games, Fultz averaged 23.2 PPG, 5.9 APG, and 5.7 RPG, while shooting 47.6% from the floor. Although Fultz’s Huskies finished 9-22 and did not qualify for the postseason, the 6’4″ prospect was named First Team All Pac-12 for his performance.
Ball, too, was named to the First Team, after averaging 14.6 PPG and 6.0 RPG on 55.1% shooting, while leading the nation with 7.6 APG. Ball’s Bruins finished 31-5 and were eliminated by Kentucky in the Sweet 16.
In an Insider-only piece at ESPN, Chad Ford and Kevin Pelton discuss potential sleepers to be selected first, but ultimately decide that it comes down to Fultz and Ball. After making the case for both players as the potential No. 1 pick, the duo diverges, with Ford leaning toward Fultz and Pelton preferring Ball.
What do you think? Should Ball or Fultz be drafted first? Or should someone else entirely go No. 1?
Vote below on which player you believe merits the honor of being the first name called on draft night. After placing your vote, share your thoughts in the comments section!
Bucks Plan To Retain Snell; Parker Making Progress
The Bucks plan to retain restricted free agent Tony Snell, Bucks general manager John Hammond said Thursday, according to The Associated Press (link via The Star Tribune).
“He’s an outstanding guy and a guy we want to have as part of our team moving forward,” Hammond said of Snell. “He’s about the right things. I think Tony wants to be here. We’re hoping to bring him back. We’re planning on him being with us next season.”
Since Snell will be a restricted free agent, Milwaukee can match any offer sheet he signs this offseason. In his first season with the Bucks, Snell started all 80 games in which he played, averaging career highs in points (8.5), field goal percentage (45.5), and minutes (29.2). He also became a three-point threat, converting 40.6% of his 4.4 three-point attempts per game.
Hammond also indicated that Jabari Parker is recovering promisingly from a torn ACL in his left knee and the medical staff hopes he can return for next season’s All-Star break. While Hammond certainly considers Parker a key part of the Bucks’ long-term future and referred to his progress as “amazing,” the forward’s eligibility for a contract extension this offseason could be complicated by his second torn ACL in three NBA seasons. Parker averaged 20.1 PPG and 6.2 RPG on 49.0% shooting in 51 games this season (33.9 MPG) before going down.
The general manager also spoke about Greg Monroe, who has until the night of the NBA draft on June 22 to decide whether he will exercise his $17.8MM player option for the 2017/2018 campaign. As the Bucks GM explains, the team wants to give Monroe some space to weigh that option decision: “At this time, it is a time to let Greg settle in and let him make the decision he feels is best for him.”
Despite averaging a career low in minutes per game and coming off the bench for all 81 games he played, Monroe enjoyed a productive season, averaging 11.7 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 2.3 APG, and shooting 53.4%. Monroe signed with the Bucks during the 2015 offseason after playing five seasons for the Pistons.
Heat Notes: J. Johnson, Waiters, Wade
James Johnson is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and teammate Tyler Johnson wants him back with the Heat, reports Anthony Chiang of the Palm Beach Post. Since last summer when James signed with the Heat, the pair have been inseparable.
While James has publicly made it clear that he wishes to remain with the Heat, Tyler, who himself is under contract for three more seasons, knows that anything can happen and ultimately wants the best for his close friend. James enjoyed a career season in 2016/2017, averaging 12.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, while shooting 47.9% coming off the bench in all but five of the 79 games he played (27.4 MPG).
Here’s more on the Heat:
- Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel contends that Dion Waiters is set to field contract offers big enough “to create pause when it comes to making the Heat salary-cap math work.” Winderman cites Waiters’ excellent final half of the 2016/2017 season as reason why he’ll be coveted in free agency, despite having drawn little interest a year ago.
- Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes that a Dwyane Wade reunion with the Heat is a possibility. The Bulls front office has been noncommittal about whether it will look to trade Jimmy Butler, who was perhaps the biggest reason Wade signed with the Bulls in the first place. According to Jackson, while the Heat may lack the assets to appeal to the Bulls, Pat Riley will likely at least explore the possibility of a trade for Butler, if the Bulls are taking calls.
- Furthermore, according to Jackson, a Wade associate has indicated that he would consider re-joining the Heat under the right conditions. The veteran guard hasn’t closed the door on accepting a bench role, and if Miami were to pursue him, it would likely be for a bench role — and at a reduced salary. Wade has yet to decide whether he will opt out of the final season of his contract with the Bulls.