Pacers Notes: Young, Sabonis, Turner, Future
While many saw the Thunder’s acquisition of Paul George for Domantas Sabonis and Victor Oladipo as a heist for the ages, Pacers forward Thaddeus Young has a differing viewpoint, Jim Ayello of The Indianapolis Star writes.
Sabonis posted 16 points on perfect 7-for-7 shooting in Wednesday’s season-opener against the Nets. Indiana defeated Brooklyn 140-131 and Young — after watching Sabonis’ performance — feels the team made out well in the trade.
“Honestly,” Young said, “I think we stole him from them.”
Sabonis, selected 11th overall by the Magic last season, was acquired by the Thunder in a draft night deal with Orlando. He did not see as much improvement as he would have liked last season, averaging 5.9 PPG and 3.6 RPG in 81 games. However, playing for the rebuilding Pacers will give him that opportunity. Whether or not Sabonis can have a George-like impact on Indiana remains to be seen.
Check out other news surrounding the Pacers:
- Pacers center Myles Turner has been diagnosed with a concussion, the team announced. He missed yesterday’s game against the Trail Blazers and will miss tonight’s contest in Miami against the Heat.
- Pacers owner Herb Simon discussed a succession plan for the team once he is no longer in charge of the team, Gregg Doyle of The Indianapolis Star writes. Simon’s 53-year-old son, Steve, is likely to take over the team. He also spoke in-depth about the future of the team, including his thoughts on Paul George’s departure.
Pacific Notes: Ball, Paul, Divac, CP3, Randle
Lonzo Ball looked overmatched during his NBA debut against the Clippers as Patrick Beverley aggressively shut him down. Ball, 19, returned last night to post 29 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in the Lakers‘ win against the Suns. Team president Magic Johnson spoke to USA Today before Ball’s debut and addressed his mindset before the game.
“He’s nervous,” Johnson said. “But he has a demeanor where you don’t know he’s nervous. But tonight, he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.”
It did not take long for Ball to show a glimpse of why he was one of the most highly-anticipated rookies in recent memory. His near triple-double in the Lakers’ 132-130 win over Phoenix show his potential is off the charts. While one game does not define Ball or what his career will be like, it’s clear that he still has support from Lakers brass and it will stay that way for years to come.
“Last year he was the most efficient college basketball player,” Johnson said. “And now that he’s come to the pros, he’s been — ever since we drafted him — he’s been a great young man, a great teammate. His teammates, they love him. Love him. Those were the things I was looking for (before drafting him).
Check out other news around the Pacific Division:
- Chris Paul has been mostly silent on why he left the Clippers to play for the Rockets. However, in a recent documentary, Paul said his former team’s “culture” is one reason he left, claiming the team did not do enough to compete with Golden State, Elliot Teaford of The Orange County Register writes. Clippers coach Doc Rivers fired back, saying, “I don’t think you have to try to burn the house down or justify why you left. That’s what I would say to it. I like our culture.”
- Julius Randle looked lackadaisical on defense and offense in the Lakers’ season-opener, which led to a stern talk from head coach Luke Walton, Bill Oram of The Orange County Register writes. Whether it’s frustration over losing the starting spot or not being in game shape, Randle’s performance on Thursday was alarming.
- Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee spoke with Kings‘ general manager Vlade Divac, who gave his thoughts on every player on Sacramento’s roster.
- The Kings hired former WNBA coach and player Jenny Boucek as an assistant player development coach, according to the Associated Press.
New York Notes: Porzingis, Knicks Roster, Lin
In less than one year, Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis will be eligible for the designated rookie scale maximum extension. In recent weeks, Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid signed their extensions, coming out at five years and $148MM. After years of wanting to play basketball due to the possible financial prosperity, Porzingis tells Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News his focus is to win, be happy and play up to his ability.
After an opening night loss to the Thunder, and former teammate Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks are off to a bad start. However, Anthony advised the Daily News that the 22-year-old should take the money. Yet, being a losing culture could prove burdensome later on.
“He’s young. He’s young enough where if he wanted to take that deal, take it. You still got years. New York is his now,” Anthony said. “But on the flip side, with the way the game is going, people want to win. And there’s going to have to come that point where he makes that decision. As players, we all go through that. It’s a tough decision because you want to be there, you want to commit to him. The ball is in your hands. The onus is on you now. But on the flip side, I know him personally, so I know how bad he wants to win by any means.”
Check out additional basketball news surrounding New York’s two teams:
- The Knicks’ logjam at center will be key to monitor moving forward, Alex Squadron of the New York Post writes. Willy Hernangomez logged just four minutes on Thursday while Kyle O’Quinn played 22 minutes and Enes Kanter started. Once Joakim Noah returns from suspension, that logjam will be even greater.
- Jeremy Lin underwent successful surgery on his ruptured patella tendon and is expected to miss the rest of the season. The Nets point guard is also expected to make a full recovery, per the team.
- Lin’s injury will force players into starting roles and others to play consistent minutes they otherwise would not have had, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes.
Gordon Hayward Dislocates, Fractures Left Tibia
OCTOBER 18, 4:53pm: Hayward has been diagnosed with a dislocated and fractured left tibia, and will undergo surgery to repair the injury, reports Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Head coach Brad Stevens said the team is expecting a “full recovery” for Hayward, but declined to speculate on a recovery timeline, tweets Jay King of MassLive.com.
OCTOBER 17, 8:35pm: Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome fractured left ankle less than six minutes into the Celtics‘ regular-season opener against the Cavaliers on Tuesday, the team announced.
Hayward collapsed after an attempted alley-oop off a pass from Kyrie Irving. He landed on the hardwood and his leg collapsed underneath his weight. Players from both teams were distraught as medical personnel put an air cast on Hayward’s leg and took him into the locker room on a stretcher.
A fractured ankle is a preliminary diagnosis as Hayward will likely undergo an MRI to determine the full extent of the injury, per Mannix (via Twitter).
Several players, including LeBron James and Isaiah Thomas, went to the locker room area to see Hayward before he was taken to the hospital, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (Twitter links). Droves of NBA players sent Hayward well wishes over social media, including Thunder forward Paul George, who suffered a gruesome leg fracture during a Team USA scrimmage in August 2014.
Hayward’s injury is devastating for everybody involved as the 27-year-old signed a lucrative four-year, $128MM deal with Boston this offseason. Hayward spent the first seven seasons with the Jazz before signing with the Celtics this offseason. Alongside acquisition Irving and incumbents such as Al Horford, Hayward was expected to help Boston contend for an NBA championship.
Hayward set career highs in PPG (21.9), APG (5.4), RPG (4.7) and field goal percentage (.471%) in 73 games last season with the Jazz. The Butler University product made his first NBA All-Star team last season, too.
While it’s unclear whether or not Hayward’s injury is career-threatening, it seems unlikely that we’ll see him on the court again this season. As Bobby Marks of ESPN notes, in the event of a season-ending injury, the Celtics will be eligible to apply for a disabled player exception worth $8.4MM. That DPE could be used to sign a free agent claim a player off waivers, or trade for a player with one year left on his contract.
Cavaliers Notes: Irving, Altman, Future
Kyrie Irving posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists in Tuesday’s season opener against his former team, the Cavaliers. However, before playing his first game in Celtics green — against the Cavaliers on the road no less — Irving refused to give a straightforward answer on why he demanded a trade, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today writes.
“I kind of want to put that to rest in terms of everyone figuring out or trying to continue to dive into a narrative they have no idea about and probably will never, ever be divulged because it’s not important,” Irving said. “This was literally just a decision I wanted to make solely based on my happiness and pushing my career forward. I don’t want to pinpoint anything. I will never pinpoint anything because that’s not what real grown-ups do. They continue to move on with their life and continue to progress and that’s what I’m going to continue to do.”
Irving, 25, has avoided divulging specifics about his trade demand. Instead, he has reiterated his desire to evolve as a basketball player and be happy. Many have wondered why Irving wanted to leave a team that he helped lead to three straight NBA Finals along with LeBron James. But if Tuesday’s season-opener was any indication, Irving’s motives will remain private.
Read more notes surrounding the Cavaliers below:
- ESPN’s Kevin Pelton examines the trade that sent Irving to Boston in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and rights to the Nets’ 2018 first-round draft pick. After a thorough examination, Pelton determined that Cleveland won the deal due to the team “improving their depth this season in obtaining an All-Star guard — assuming Thomas returns close to last season’s performance — and a high-level role player in Crowder.”
- Cavaliers’ general manager Koby Altman joined Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon to discuss his real estate background, how that job prepared him for NBA GM and working for former GM David Griffin.
- Earlier today, we passed along some noteworthy comments from both James and Dwyane Wade.
Timberwolves Pick Up Options On Towns, Jones
The Timberwolves have picked up their fourth-year options (2018/19) on budding superstar Karl-Anthony Towns and Tyus Jones, the team announced in a press release Sunday. Minnesota faced an Oct. 31 deadline to pick up the options for 2018/19. Towns will make a hefty $7,839,435 next season while Jones will pocket $2,444,053.
Towns, 21, enters his third NBA season as one of the league’s top players. The Kentucky product has not missed a game in his first two seasons while racking up honors such as the 2016 NBA Rookie of the Year and the NBA Skills Challenge trophy the same year. The 7’0″ Towns improved across the board last season, averaging a double-double with 25.1 PPG and 12.3 RPG in 37 minutes per game.
Jones, also 21, appeared in 60 games last year, averaging 3.5 PPG and 2.6 RPG. The point guard from Duke has shown glimpses of his talent and this season, he will part of the Wolves’ second unit.
For all of this year’s decisions on 2018/19 rookie scale options, be sure to check out our tracker.
Pistons Pick Up Options On Johnson, Ellenson
The Pistons have picked up their fourth-year option on Stanley Johnson and third-year option on Henry Ellenson for 2018/19, the team announced in a press release Sunday. Detroit faced an Oct. 31 deadline to pick up their options for 2018/19. Johnson will make $3,940,402 next season while Ellenson will pocket $1,857,480.
Johnson, 21, enters his third NBA season. After a solid rookie campaign, Johnson’s scoring production was cut in half last season as he averaged 4.4 PPG and 2.5 RPG in 73 games. The first-round pick from 2015 (eighth overall) is still a young asset with potential and figures to be a key part of the Pistons’ team in 2017/18.
Ellenson, 20, only played in 19 games as a rookie last season, posting a meager 3.2 PPG and 2.2 RPG. However, the Pistons’ first-rounder (18th overall) from last season possesses a strong 6’11” frame and offensive potential that has forced the Pistons to consider him for a starting role.
For all of this year’s decisions on 2018/19 rookie scale options, be sure to check out our tracker.
New York Notes: Crabbe, Starting Lineups, NBA Draft
Newest Nets acquisition Allen Crabbe was limited during the preseason due to an ankle injury. Crabbe missed the first two preseason contests and was relegated to coming off the bench in the final two games. Head coach Kenny Atkinson wants to get Crabbe acclimated to the lineup but is also pleased with how Brooklyn’s highest-paid player has progressed, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes.
“We still have to integrate Allen Crabbe a little bit. He’s obviously a little behind because he’s been out,” Atkinson said. “We got a good practice in [Friday] and he got a lot of reps. For him it’s just a matter of time. Overall [I’m] pleased.”
Crabbe, 26, had a productive season off the Trail Blazers’ bench last season, averaging 10.7 PPG across 79 games in Portland. Crabbe’s journey to Brooklyn was delayed by one year as the Nets originally issued him an offer sheet that the Trail Blazers matched. Now that he’s in a revamped culture with a revamped roster in Brooklyn, Crabbe’s health will be key to the team’s development.
Below you can check out other news surrounding New York’s two basketball teams:
- Without a clear defensive big man on the Nets roster, playing with a smaller roster on the floor could spell disaster for the young Brooklyn squad, Lewis writes in a separate story.
- A knee injury to 19-year-old Frenchman Frank Ntilikina is making the Knicks‘ opening night lineup clearer, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Veteran Ramon Sessions will be the likely starting point guard with Tim Hardaway Jr. (shooting guard) and Courtney Lee (small forward) rounding out the backcourt. Kristaps Porzingis has dealt with his own injury-riddled preseason but should start the season opener in Oklahoma City with Enes Kanter — acquired from the Thunder for Carmelo Anthony — as the center.
- The Knicks are not expected to contend in 2017/18 so the team should consider its possible options in the 2018 NBA Draft when deciding on plans for this season, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News opines. Michael Porter Jr., Marvin Bagley III and Luka Dončić will be three highly sought-after targets in next year’s draft. A lowly Knicks team could set its sights on tanking this season in order to secure a draft pick high enough to select one of those youngsters next season.
Bulls Notes: LaVine, Valentine, Rotation, Arcidiacono
The Bulls acquired Zach LaVine in a June trade despite a torn left ACL he suffered last February, putting his 2017/18 debut on hold. The two-time dunk contest champion is currently rehabbing and Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters, including K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, that LaVine’s recovery is on schedule.
“Zach is coming along great,” Hoiberg said Thursday. “He’s been really good, very vocal with our players. He’s ahead of schedule. He’s cleared to do more movement. He’s not cleared for contact yet, but he’s moving around in unpredictable movements now, which is important.”
LaVine, still just 22 years old, could become an important piece of the Bulls’ future. Before the season-ending injury last season, LaVine was enjoying his best year to date, averaging 18.9 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 3.0 APG in 48 games. If he recovers from knee surgery — which has been known to zap players’ explosiveness — without issue, LaVine eventually re-signing with Chicago would be a question of when, not if, Johnson writes in a separate article.
Check out other news surrounding the Bulls below:
- Denzel Valentine will not the Bulls’ backup point guard, Hoiberg told reporters, including Johnson (via Twitter).
- In a separate tweet, Johnson notes that the Bulls are expected to use a 10-man rotation. Johnson adds that the injured Paul Zipser, who has been dealing with a back ailment, will likely start in Thursday’s season opener.
- Ryan Arcidiacono is the expected backup point guard for the Bulls in the season opener, per Johnson. The Bulls reporter adds that 45 days of NBA service on two-way deals does not start until Oct. 23., allowing the Bulls to keep Arcidiacono on the roster a while longer.
Spurs Pick Up Option On Dejounte Murray
The Spurs have picked up Dejounte Murray‘s third-year (2018/19) option, the team announced in a press release Sunday. San Antonio faced an Oct. 31 deadline to pick up Murray’s option beyond 2017/18. Murray’s option will pay $1,544,951 next season.
Murray, 21, was the Spurs’ first-round pick (29th overall) last year. In 38 regular season games, Murray averaged 3.4 PPG, 1.3 APG and 1.1 RPG in 8.5 minutes per game. The University of Washington product also made 11 appearances in the postseason, where his playing time nearly doubled to 15.3 minutes as he posted 5.7 PPG, 2.5 APG and 2.5 RPG.
For all of this year’s decisions on 2018/19 rookie scale options, be sure to check out our tracker.