Andrew Nicholson, Russ Smith Sign With Chinese Team
A pair of former NBA players, Andrew Nicholson and Russ Smith, have both signed with the Fujian Sturgeons of the Chinese Basketball Association, per a report from Sportando. We relayed yesterday that Nicholson was expected to sign with Fujian.
Nicholson teamed with former NBA veteran Yi Jianlian and Donald Sloan last year for Guangdong Tigers. He posted 22.2 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 1.6 APG in 46 CBA games. The Tigers went to the CBA semifinals before being eliminated by the Liaoning Flying Leopards.
A former Magic first-round pick (19th overall), Nicholson appeared in 285 total NBA regular season games from 2012 to 2017 with Orlando, Washington, and Brooklyn before heading to China last September.
As for Smith, the former second-round pick (47th overall) by the Pelicans spent last season with the Sturgeons. Smith is arguably best known for his 81-point game last July in the Chinese National Basketball League. Smith appeared in 27 NBA games with the Pelicans and Grizzlies from 2014-16, averaging 2.0 PPG.
And-Ones: Bogut, Offseason Additions, All-Stars, Betting
Andrew Bogut has not played professional basketball since his brief stint with the Lakers last season. The former first overall pick made his debut for the Sydney Kings in a preseason contest ahead of Australia’s National Basketball League season, per USA TODAY.
Playing against the Japanese national team, Bogut posted four points, six rebounds and six assists in a 77-57 victory. After the game, Bogut discussed his adjustment to playing significant minutes after not playing for almost eight months.
“I was always just trying to ease into it,” Bogut said. “I haven’t played a game since January. When I played with the Lakers, I wasn’t getting a lot of minutes. It was my first organized hitout in seven months so I just wanted to go as hard as I could in the first half. There’s going to be games in the NBL season when I’m not going to be the leading scorer, I’m not going to be the leading rebound getter. But I know ‘I’m going to still have an impact on the game just because I’m out there.”
Check out more news and notes around the basketball world:
- ESPN conducted a forecast panel to examine who would be the best and worst newcomers to their respective teams after an offseason of player movement. The panel voted that LeBron James would be the best newcomer as he prepares for his first season with the Lakers; the worst newcomer was voted as Carmelo Anthony, who has verbally agreed to join the Rockets.
- In the same vein, ESPN also rounded up the same panel to vote on which players will be first-time All-Stars this upcoming season. Once again, Ben Simmons upstaged Donovan Mitchell, as Simmons was voted as the likeliest first-time All-Star for 2018/19.
- In a lengthy, in-depth piece, David Purdum of ESPN takes a look at how sports betting hit the mainstream, leading up to NBA commissioner Adam Silver recently announcing that MGM Resorts would be the league’s official gambling partner.
Atlantic Notes: Noah, Porzingis, Atkinson, Crawford
As we relayed earlier this week, the Knicks are expected to part ways with oft-injured center Joakim Noah before the start of training camp. If the Knicks fail to find a trading partner, the team is expected to use the stretch provision after September 1. Noah, 33, still has two years and $37.8MM left on his deal.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News examined both the good and bad sides of the Knicks parting ways with Noah this offseason. It would likely avoid a major headache and possible players’ union issue if the Knicks refuse to play Noah. Bondy reiterates that the deadline to solve the Noah issue is not September 1 but rather next summer when New York intends to pursue top free agents.
The Nets dealing Timofey Mozgov‘s lucrative multiyear contract for an expiring deal is one example of a team leveraging an albatross deal into future cap space. The Knicks’ best choice would be to hold onto Noah and look for trades instead of stretching his contract, Bondy writes.
Check out more Atlantic Division notes:
- In the same story, Bondy looked at the pros and cons of the Knicks extending Kristaps Porzingis this offseason. On one hand, New York should lock up its best player since Patrick Ewing amid an unstable environment, with Porzingis set to play for the fourth coach of his career in 2018/19. Conversely, the Knicks plan to make use of their cap room in 2019, and extending the Latvian now would eat into that space — the team could simply let him hit restricted free agency and then negotiate or match any offer.
- Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson denied the franchise has contemplated tanking in order to secure more favorable draft positioning, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Instead, Atkinson says the goal is to play as well as possible so Brooklyn becomes a desirable free agency destination. “We talk about internal improvement, we talk about player development, we talk about culture,” Atkinson said. “Tanking is not a word we use. It’s just not in our [vocabulary]. I don’t think the fans in New York want to see that.”
- Following an injury to rookie Zhaire Smith, the Sixers may be in the market for wing depth, and veteran sharpshooter Jamal Crawford could fit the bill. In a recent appearance on Brandon Robinson’s Scoop B Podcast, Crawford spoke glowingly of Philadelphia and what playing there would mean to him (via Amico Hoops). “I like their city. I like how into it they are about basketball. I like their knowledge of basketball, how passionate they are. I’ve always loved coach Brett Brown,” Crawford said.
LeBron James Talks Decision To Sign With Lakers
LeBron James‘ decision to sign with the Lakers ended his second tour of duty with Cavaliers and altered the basketball world. After appearing in four straight NBA Finals with Cleveland, James is heading to the Western Conference for the first time in his career.
Aside from an appearance at Summer League, donning a $495 pair of Lakers shorts, James had not addressed his four-year pact with Los Angeles. As James prepares to open a new public school called “I Promise,” in his native Akron, Ohio, James discussed his choice to join the Lakers via his Uninterrupted platform on Sunday.
“You look at the Lakers,” James said. “Being able to play for a historic franchise with so much history, and now being able to partner with Magic Johnson, someone I kinda like looked up to when I was younger and wanted to make no-look passes like Magic, wanted to get on the break and be Showtime like Magic and then for it to all come to fruition at this point.”
James, 33, joins the Lakers after a season in which he played in all 82 regular season games for the first time and averaged 27.5 PPG, 9.1 APG and 8.6 RPG. The four-time NBA Most Valuable Player cited timing as a major part of his decision and that his goal is to bring a championship to Los Angeles.
“I think timing is everything. For me to be in this position now, the excitement that I have to be a Laker, I’m happy to be a part of it because I believe the Lakers is a historical franchise, we all know that, but it’s a championship franchise and that’s what we’re trying to get back to,” he said. “I’m happy to be a part of the culture and be a part of us getting back to that point.”
Heat Sign Yante Maten To Two-Way Deal
The Heat have signed forward Yante Maten to a two-way contract, the team announced in a press release on Sunday.
Maten appeared in seven games for the Heat’s Summer League teams in Sacramento and Las Vegas, averaging 10.7 PPG and 5.6 APG while shooting 44.6% from the field.
The 2018 SEC Player of the Year spent four seasons at the University of Georgia, appearing in all 128 collegiate contests. Chet Kammerer, the Heat’s vice president of player personnel was impressed with Maten’s ability.
“We saw him play in the SEC and he was player of the year [as a senior],” Kammerer said.“He’s been a solid player over his career at Georgia and had some individual highs over the course of his career. He started kind of slow but he’s really a solid basketball player. Versatile. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”
After his strong showing in Summer League, Maten’s agent Austin Walton of NEXT Sports said his client received Exhibit 10 offers from “half the league.” Walton’s hope was to secure a two-way contract for Maten, which he did.
The Heat have 12 players on standard NBA contracts, with roster spots set aside for Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem if they decide to continue their careers. Duncan Robinson holds the other one of the team’s two-way deals.
J.P. Tokoto Reaches Deal With Israeli Team
Former second-round draft pick J.P. Tokoto has reached an agreement with Israeli team Hapoel Eilat, per Sportando. Tokoto spent last season with the Perth Wildcats of Australia’s National Basketball League. He averaged 15.4 PPG, 5.9 RPG and 2.8 APG in 30 games for Perth.
Tokoto, 25, was drafted 58th overall by the Sixers in 2015 and has spent his professional career in the United States in the G League. Tokoto has spent time with the affiliate teams for the Sixers, Thunder, and Knicks.
The Warriors signed the North Carolina product to a Summer League deal and he appeared in five games, averaging 7.0 PPG and 4.6 RPG while shooting 45% from the floor.
Conley: I Should Be Ready For Training Camp
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley is currently with Team USA training camp but unable to fully participate as he recovers from surgery on his heel in January. However, Conley expects to be healthy for the start of Memphis’ training camp in September, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst writes.
“I’m doing really well. I wish I could’ve participated in contact stuff,” Conley said. “I think I could, but we’re being cautious and allowing me to get a full summer of rehab. I should be ready to go by training camp — I expect to be ready.”
Conley, 30, played in just 12 games with the Grizzlies last season while dealing with heel and Achilles injuries. Earlier this week, the point guard noted this is the first time in two years that his foot and heel are pain-free.
While Conley is not yet cleared for five-on-five work, he is doing halfcourt workouts with mild contact, Windhorst adds.
“With anything dealing with Achilles, it takes time and you got to be patient to deal with it,” Conley said. “Right now, it’s all starting to come together. I’m so used to making a move and I expect pain. I got used to pain with some of the moves. Now I make the moves and there’s nothing there, so that’s exciting.”
Conley signed a five-year, $153MM deal with Memphis in July 2016 and is expected to be an integral part of the team’s offense next season.
Warriors Notes: Durant, Ownership, Future
Kevin Durant is not only one of the top players in the NBA, he’s also one of the league’s most outspoken figures. Whether it’s his blunt honesty on social media or weighing in on social issues, Durant’s comments are never far from the forefront.
Durant spoke to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated on LeBron James‘ decision to sign with the Lakers, praising the three-time NBA champion’s move.
“I thought it was the perfect decision, the perfect move,” Durant said. “He did everything you’re supposed to do in Cleveland, the perfect next step for him. He’s kind of breaking down the barriers of what an NBA superstar is supposed to be. You feel like you’re supposed to just play it out in one spot. I think he did a good job of giving you different chapters. And it’s going to make his book more interesting when it’s done.”
Durant also weighed in on Golden State signing All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins, a move that drew a wide range of criticism from around the NBA.
“It was expected. Nobody likes a great thing. Greatness is rare, it’s different, and people don’t like different, so I get it,” Durant said. “But I think for DeMarcus I liked his approach, our approach to it, coming in, wanting it just to be about basketball, once you look at it that way, it works out perfectly.”
Check out more Warriors notes below:
- Ethan Strauss of The Athletic (subscription required) looked at how the Warriors’ current ownership group came into power and how the current team has been formed.
- Tim Kawakami of The Athletic (subscription required) writes about why the Warriors are not concerned about the possibility of having to pay upwards of $300MM for their roster due to luxury tax penalties. “I feel like we’ll do whatever we can to keep winning,” Warriors’ president Bob Myers said. “And I think the players will do whatever they can to keep winning — not knowing what that will exactly look like.”
Rawle Alkins Signs Two-Way Deal With Bulls
JULY 25: The Bulls have officially signed Alkins to a two-way contract, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 22: The Bulls have agreed to a two-way deal with undrafted guard Rawle Alkins, tweets Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports. The Arizona product spent the past few weeks with the Raptors‘ Summer League team.
Toronto liked Alkins’ summer performance where he averaged 9.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 2.0 APG. The Raptors offered Alkins a camp invitation but he chose the deal with the higher guaranteed money, per TSN’s Josh Lewenberg.
As a two-way player, Alkins will spend most of his time with the Bulls’ G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls. However, he is permitted to spend up to 45 days with the NBA team. The Bulls have the option to convert Alkins’ deal into a standard NBA deal if they choose.
In his sophomore season with the Wildcats, Alkins averaged 13.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 2.5 APG. Entering the 2018 NBA Draft, Alkins was ranked as the 49th-best prospect on Jonathan Givony’s top-100 list at ESPN.com.
Chinese Team Offering ‘Monster Deal’ To Dwyane Wade?
JULY 24: According to a report from Zhang Duo, relayed by Sportando, a three-year, $25MM offer is on the table for Wade. However, the latest report suggests it’s the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, rather than the Xinjiang Flying Tigers, who made that offer.
JULY 21: As Dwyane Wade ponders whether or not he wants to return for a 16th NBA season, another option overseas reportedly may now exist. The Xinjiang Flying Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association are reportedly prepared to offer Wade a “monster deal” to join the team (via Sportando).
Wade, 36, returned to the Heat at midseason in 2017/18 following a trade from the Cavaliers. The 12-time All-Star averaged 12.0 PPG and 3.4 RPG in 21 games with Miami, showing flashes of his prior success. However, earlier this week, Wade — currently in the midst of a promotional tour in China — was mum on his future plans.
“When I get back from China, I’ll focus on that,” Wade told the Associated Press. “Right now, I’m focused on the game after basketball. Whatever happens in basketball, it happens. I’ve done everything that I can to this point to put myself that I’m in this position I am today, where I can do something that hasn’t been done globally yet.”
The Heat’s options to re-sign Wade are limited to their $5.3MM taxpayer mid-level exception and the $2.4MM minimum salary given Wade’s NBA tenure.
Wade’s longtime teammate and close friend, Udonis Haslem, has said he may continue his career overseas next season in search of more playing time. While Wade would still be a factor for the Heat if he returned, if his close friend considers playing in China, it may increase the odds of him following suit.
Clark Crum contributed to this post.