Knicks Release Skal Labissiere
As expected, the Knicks have waived big man Skal Labissiere after signing him earlier this week, the team announced today (via Twitter).
When word of Labissiere’s agreement with New York broke, reports indicated that the plan was for him to eventually join the Westchester Knicks in the G League. Signing him to an Exhibit 10 contract ensured that the Knicks secured his NBAGL rights and should line him up for a $50K bonus.
Labissiere, 24, played 33 games for the Trail Blazers last season, averaging 5.8 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 17.2 MPG. He suffered a knee injury in December and never suited up for Atlanta after the Hawks acquired him in a trade deadline deal. He became an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
The Knicks now have an open spot on their 20-man camp roster, clearing a path for them to sign either James Young or Andrew White, both of whom have also agreed to Exhibit 10 deals.
Suns Notes: Crowder, Arena, Payne, Roster
Jae Crowder‘s arrival at training camp was delayed by personal issues apparently unrelated to COVID-19, but the Suns forward has reported to his new team and said this week that he’s “looking forward to moving forward,” writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic.
Crowder was one of the most popular free agents on the market last month, telling reporters that 14 teams expressed interest in signing him (video link via Rankin). He cited recruiting from Chris Paul and Devin Booker as a significant factor in his decision to choose Phoenix.
“Those guys made a strong pitch and I felt like Devin is ready for real pressure,” Crowder said. “When I say real pressure, that’s playoff basketball. Playing for it all.”
Here’s more out of Phoenix:
- The Suns announced in a press release on Thursday that they won’t host fans at their home games to start the 2020/21 season, a decision that “did not come easily,” per team president/CEO Jason Rowley. “Our fans are the lifeblood of the Suns organization, and we want nothing more than to welcome our fans into our newly transformed arena in Downtown Phoenix,” Rowley said in a statement. “… However, we are exercising an abundance of caution and doing our part to maintain the health and safety of all our stakeholders during this crisis.”
- Cameron Payne was a regular part of the Suns’ rotation during the team’s 8-0 run during the summer restart. Given the changes the roster has undergone since then, he’s looking to reestablish himself as a key contributor going forward, writes Duane Rankin for The Arizona Republic.
- Gina Mizell of Suns.com takes a look back at the Suns’ offseason moves, writing that the front office was able to add veterans with playoff experience, as well as improving the team’s depth and outside shooting.
- In case you missed it, despite being hired in 2019, Monty Williams already ranks near the middle of the pack on the list of the NBA’s longest-tenured head coaches.
Nets Waive Jordan Bowden, Nate Sestina
The Nets have requested waivers on a pair of training camp invitees, announcing today in a press release that they’ve cut guard Jordan Bowden and forward Nate Sestina.
Bowden, who played his college ball at Tennessee, averaged 13.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 2.7 APG in 31 games (34.4 MPG) as a senior in 2019/20. Sestina, who transfered from Bucknell to Kentucky for the 2019/20 season, had a modest role for the Wildcats, recording 5.8 PPG and 3.8 RPG with a .407 3PT% in 28 games (19.8 MPG). Both players signed with Brooklyn on December 1 as undrafted free agents.
Bowden and Sestina were always unlikely to make the Nets’ regular season roster, but they look like good bets to play in the G League for Brooklyn’s affiliate, the Long Island Nets.
Brooklyn now has 18 players on its camp roster. That gives the club the flexibility to complete its previously-reported contract agreement with guard Elie Okobo, assuming that hasn’t fallen through.
Sixers Viewed As Most Likely Trade Destination For Harden?
Philadelphia is considered the most likely landing spot for James Harden if and when the Rockets decide to trade him, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter links).
As Stein explains, the Rockets are insisting for now that they won’t move Harden and the Sixers are saying they won’t move Ben Simmons, so nothing is imminent. However, sources tell Stein that the familiarity between the two front offices will be important in trade talks and can help defuse lingering tension related to Daryl Morey‘s departure from Houston.
The 76ers are one of the four teams believed to be among Harden’s list of preferred destinations, along with the Nets, Heat, and Bucks. Of those four clubs, Philadelphia is best positioned to meet Houston’s reported asking price of an All-Star caliber franchise cornerstone in return for Harden.
New Sixers head coach Doc Rivers has reportedly made it clear – both publicly and privately – that he wants an opportunity to see if he can maximize the on-court fit of Simmons and star center Joel Embiid, something former coach Brett Brown was never quite able to do.
As such, Morey and the 76ers are unlikely to be open to offering Simmons to the Rockets anytime soon. However, if no player as valuable as the 24-year-old is on the table from any other suitors, it makes sense for Houston to wait to see whether or not Simmons’ fit with Embiid improves — if it doesn’t, it’s possible the Sixers would make the former No. 1 overall pick available.
Without Simmons in their offer, it’s hard to see how the Sixers could put together a compelling package for Harden, so if Morey ultimately decides to hang onto the fifth-year guard, the Rockets will almost certainly have to look elsewhere.
Grizzlies Waive Mario Hezonja, Sign Ahmad Caver
1:14pm: The Grizzlies have officially waived Hezonja, the team confirmed in a press release. Additionally, Memphis announced that it has signed free agent guard Ahmad Caver to fill the newly-opened roster spot.
Terms of Caver’s deal weren’t disclosed, but it’s likely an Exhibit 10 contract designed to get him a $50K bonus if he plays for the Memphis Hustle in the G League again this season, as he did last year.
12:50pm: The Grizzlies are waiving veteran forward Mario Hezonja, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Hezonja, 25, averaged 4.8 PPG and 3.5 RPG on .422/.308/.814 shooting in 53 games (16.4 MPG) for Portland last season. After he exercised his minimum-salary player option for 2020/21, he was sent to Memphis in a three-team trade that saw the Trail Blazers acquire Enes Kanter.
The Grizzlies were carrying 17 players with guaranteed contracts into training camp, leaving Hezonja and Marko Guduric as the likely odd men out for the regular season. Neither player was in camp with the club.
Hezonja hasn’t developed into a reliable and productive rotation player since being selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 draft, but being cut by the Grizzlies doesn’t necessarily mean he won’t play in the NBA at all this season. According to Charania, multiple teams are expected to express interest in the Croatian once he clears waivers and training camp ends.
Kings Waive Quinton Rose
The Kings have waived rookie wing Quinton Rose, according to the NBA’s official transactions log. He had been on an Exhibit 10 contract.
Rose, who spent all four years of his college career at Temple, went undrafted last month after averaging 16.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 3.5 APG in 31 games (33.4 MPG) as a senior.
Rose quickly reached an agreement with the Kings on a training camp deal after the draft and the two sides formally completed that signing earlier this week. The 22-year-old was only under contract with the team for a day, a signal that the Kings’ goal was to secure his G League rights. Assuming Sacramento participates in the 2020/21 NBAGL season, Rose appears likely to play for the Stockton Kings.
Sacramento now has 18 players under contract.
NBA Players Who Can Veto Trades In 2020/21
No-trade clauses are rare in the NBA, and they’ve become even rarer in recent years. To be eligible to negotiate a no-trade clause, a player must have at least eight years of NBA experience and four years with his current team. Even if a player qualifies, his team is unlikely to restrict its flexibility by including a no-trade clause in his deal.
Still, even though there’s not a single NBA player with an explicit no-trade clause in his contract at the moment, there are several who will have the ability to veto trades in 2020/21.
A player who re-signs with his previous team on a one-year contract – or a two-year deal with an option year – is given no-trade protection. So is a player who signs an offer sheet and has that offer matched by his previous team. Players who accept one-year qualifying offers after their rookie contracts expire also receive veto power.
So far, only has met either the second or third of those guidelines in 2020/21, but there are many more who have met the first one. Here are the players who must give their consent if their teams want to trade them during the ’20/21 league year:
No-trade clauses:
- None
Players whose offer sheets were matched:
- None
Players accepting qualifying offers:
- Denzel Valentine (Bulls)
Players re-signing for one year (or two years, with a second-year player/team option):
- Carmelo Anthony (Trail Blazers)
- Bismack Biyombo (Hornets)
- Willie Cauley-Stein (Mavericks)
- Matthew Dellavedova (Cavaliers)
- Goran Dragic (Heat)
- Jared Dudley (Lakers)
- James Ennis (Magic)
- Taj Gibson (Knicks)
- Udonis Haslem (Heat)
- Reggie Jackson (Clippers)
- DaQuan Jeffries (Kings)
- Tyler Johnson (Nets)
- Meyers Leonard (Heat): Traded
- Paul Millsap (Nuggets)
- Markieff Morris (Lakers)
- Patrick Patterson (Clippers)
- Elfrid Payton (Knicks)
- JaKarr Sampson (Pacers)
If any player who re-signed for one year approves a trade during the 2020/21 league year, he’ll have Non-Bird rights at season’s end instead of Early Bird or full Bird rights. That’s what happened to James Ennis last season — he would have had Early Bird rights at season’s end if he hadn’t approved a trade from Philadelphia to Orlando. In order to re-sign him this summer, the Magic had to use part of their mid-level exception, since his Non-Bird rights weren’t enough for his raise to $3.3MM.
Any player who consents to a trade will retain his veto ability on his new team, and would have to approve a subsequent deal as well.
Information from ESPN’s Bobby Marks was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Wolves Sign Charlie Brown Jr. To Camp Contract
The Timberwolves have signed free agent shooting guard Charlie Brown Jr. to a training camp contract, the team announced today in a press release.
Brown, 23, signed a two-way contract with the Hawks in July 2019, shortly after going undrafted out of Saint Joseph’s. He spent his entire rookie season playing on that deal, appearing in 10 games for Atlanta and 28 for the College Park Skyhawks.
Although he logged just 40 total minutes at the NBA level, Brown had a productive year in the G League, recording 17.4 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 2.9 APG in 33.3 minutes per contest for the Skyhawks. He struggled a little with his shooting efficiency, however, making 42.2% of his total field goal attempts, including just 26.8% from beyond the arc.
Brown seems more likely to end up playing for the Iowa Wolves – Minnesota’s G League affiliate – than to earn a spot on the Timberwolves’ regular season roster.
The Wolves now have 19 players under contract, with a 20th (Jordan McLaughlin) still a restricted free agent.
Longest-Tenured NBA GMs/Presidents
As is the case in the NBA’s head coaching ranks, a number of long-tenured heads of basketball operations have been replaced over the course of 2020, a result of some offseason front office shakeups.
Since we put together last summer’s list of the league’s longest-tenured heads of basketball operations, the Bulls (John Paxson/Gar Forman) and Rockets (Daryl Morey) are among the six teams that have made major changes, installing a new decision-maker atop their respective basketball operations departments for the first time in well over a decade. As such, it’s time to update our list.
While only one person holds a team’s head coaching job, that same team could carry a variety of front office executives with titles like general manager, president of basketball operations, or executive VP of basketball operations. In some cases, it’s not always which clear which executive should be considered the club’s head of basketball operations, or which one has the ultimate final say on roster decisions. That distinction becomes even more nebulous when taking into account team ownership.
For our list of the longest-tenured GMs/presidents in the NBA, we’ve done our best to identify the top exec in each front office, but if a situation isn’t entirely clear-cut, we’ve made a note below.
Without further ado, here’s the list of the NBA’s longest-tenured heads of basketball operations, along with their respective titles and the dates they were hired or promoted:
- Gregg Popovich, Spurs (president): May 31, 1994
- Brian Wright holds the general manager title, but Popovich ultimately has final say.
- Pat Riley, Heat (president): September 2, 1995
- Danny Ainge, Celtics (president): May 9, 2003
- Donn Nelson, Mavericks (GM/president): March 19, 2005
- Owner Mark Cuban is also heavily involved in basketball decisions and ultimately has final say.
- Sam Presti, Thunder (GM/executive VP): June 7, 2007
- Bob Myers, Warriors (GM/president): April 24, 2012
- Neil Olshey, Trail Blazers (president): June 4, 2012
- Dennis Lindsey, Jazz (executive VP): August 7, 2012
- Masai Ujiri, Raptors (president): May 31, 2013
- Tim Connelly, Nuggets (president): June 17, 2013
- Sean Marks, Nets (GM): February 18, 2016
- Kevin Pritchard, Pacers (president): May 1, 2017
- Jeff Weltman, Magic (president): May 22, 2017
- Travis Schlenk, Hawks (president): May 25, 2017
- Jon Horst, Bucks (GM): June 16, 2017
- Koby Altman, Cavaliers (GM): June 19, 2017
- Lawrence Frank, Clippers (president): August 4, 2017
- Mitch Kupchak, Hornets (GM/president): April 8, 2018
- Tommy Sheppard, Wizards (GM): April 2, 2019
- Sheppard assumed the job on an interim basis on April 2, 2019. He was named the permanent GM on July 22, 2019.
- Rob Pelinka, Lakers (GM/VP): April 9, 2019
- Pelinka has been the Lakers’ GM since February 2017, but was below Magic Johnson in the front office hierarchy until Johnson resigned on April 9, 2019.
- James Jones, Suns (GM): April 11, 2019
- Jones began serving as the Suns’ co-interim GM alongside Trevor Bukstein in October 2018, but was named the lone, permanent head of basketball operations on April 11, 2019.
- Zach Kleiman, Grizzlies (executive VP): April 11, 2019
- David Griffin, Pelicans (executive VP): April 17, 2019
- Gersson Rosas, Timberwolves (president): May 3, 2019
- Leon Rose, Knicks (president): March 2, 2020
- Arturas Karnisovas, Bulls (executive VP): April 13, 2020
- Troy Weaver, Pistons (GM): June 18, 2020
- Monte McNair, Kings (GM): September 17, 2020
- Rafael Stone, Rockets (GM): October 15, 2020
- Daryl Morey, Sixers (president): November 2, 2020
Information from Basketball-Reference was used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Pacific Notes: Green, Wiseman, Mulder, AD, LeBron, Clippers
The Warriors shared some positive news on Draymond Green and James Wiseman on Thursday, as Green was able to lift weights and sit in on the team’s film session, while Wiseman completed his first individual workout. Both players had been unable to participate in training camp so far, possibly due to positive coronavirus tests.
However, as Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area writes, head coach Steve Kerr confirmed that both players will miss Saturday’s preseason opener and added that it’s “very unlikely” that either Green or Wiseman will play at all during the preseason. The Warriors’ final two preseason games – both against Sacramento – will take place next Tuesday and Thursday.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Kerr said this week that guard Mychal Mulder, who is on a non-guaranteed contract, has a “good chance” to make the Warriors‘ regular season roster, as Tommy Call III of Warriors Wire writes. “He’s a shooter. He’s a smart player at both ends,” Kerr said of Mulder. “We were really pleased with his play a year ago. We’re a team that’s not heavy on shooting as we know, especially with Klay (Thompson) going out. Mike just has to be himself and play hard and compete.”
- Lakers stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James won’t play in the team’s preseason opener on Friday, head coach Frank Vogel confirmed (Twitter link via Kyle Goon of The Southern California News Group).
- Paul George‘s $176MM contract extension with the Clippers is a precursor to the real referendum on the franchise, according to Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times, who says that Kawhi Leonard‘s willingness to re-up with the team in 2021 will determine whether or not these are still the same “Clippers of old.”