NBA D-League Recalls/Assignments: 2/17/17
Here is today’s lone D-League assignment:
- The Warriors assigned Briante Weber to their D-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, the team announced via press release. As Anthony Slater of the San Jose Mercury News explained, the move will allow Weber to participate in this year’s D-League All-Star game. Currently on his second 10-day contract, Weber has scored eight points over five games in Golden State. His D-League production has come with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, where he averaged 16.5 points on 45.5% shooting.
Southeast Notes: Battier, Beal, Ibaka, Ross, Mahinmi
Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel wondered if Shane Battier, recently hired as the Heat‘s Director of Basketball Development and Analytics, will eventually assume leadership of the franchise from Pat Riley. For the interim, Winderman writes, Battier’s position will be the “first step” toward a post-Riley front office. Battier will work alongside Andy Elisburg and Nick Arison, executives with an advanced “business-of-basketball” acumen. While there is no reason to believe Riley is ready to step away from the game, Winderman could see Riley moving into a role similar to Jerry West’s with the Lakers; an executive board member who isn’t accountable for mundane, day-to-day front office operations.
More from around the Southeast…
- Jared Dudley of the Suns stuck up for his former teammate, claiming Bradley Beal was snubbed of an All-Star roster spot. “The @NBA tells us players that winning matters! Wizards are the hottest team in the NBA! Bradley Beal is healthy and balling!”, Dudley tweeted on Thursday. (Twitter link) Keely Diven of CSN Mid-Atlantic argued that Carmelo Anthony received the All-Star nod due to his ability to attract media attention. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today gave further insight to ‘Melo’s selection, noting that Anthony received more votes from coaches than Beal.
- Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders described it as “a little obvious” that Serge Ibaka did not bond with his teammates in Orlando. Ibaka, who was dealt to Toronto on February 14, didn’t mesh with the playing styles of Orlando’s younger players (Twitter link). By Kyler’s account, it seems that Ibaka’s teammates “had real issues” with the 27-year-old, and welcomed a change.
- Terrence Ross told Cody Taylor of Basketball Insiders that he embraced the “fresh start” in Orlando. “I was kind of aware that something could have been happening before the deadline so it wasn’t too shocking,” Ross said. “At the same time, being drafted to a team and playing for one team, it’s a little different, but I’m enjoying the process. It’s a good opportunity. It’s a new fresh start for me and I’m looking forward to it. I just kind of hope we can bring some of that experience I got in Toronto and bring it here, and really just helping wherever I can.” Ross, who has averaged 10.4 points through 54 games in 2016/17, is in the first season of a three-year, $31.5MM contract.
- Jason Smith will likely see a dip in minutes as the Wizards ease Ian Mahinmi into the lineup, Candace Buckner of the Washington Post writes. Smith, who has averaged 7.8 points with 4.8 rebounds over his last six games, has been a serviceable back-up to starter Marcin Gortat. “What he’s [Smith] done the last two or three months is what he’s done his entire career and he’s been terrific,” said Coach Scott Brooks. “But if you have a good team, everybody’s going to have to sacrifice. It’s not just Jason, starters are going to have to sacrifice.”
Suns GM: Eric Bledsoe Unlikely To Be Traded
Suns GM Ryan McDonough told Doug Haller of AZCentral.com that Eric Bledsoe is unlikely to be traded at this year’s deadline, citing the 27-year-old’s team-friendly contract.
“We never say ‘never,’ but I think he’s one of the least likely guys on the roster to get traded,” McDonough said. “He’s under contract for a couple more years after this year. More likely, we’d try to add guys in that 27-and-under age group to play with Eric and (guard) Devin (Booker) and our young core and build that way.”
Now in the third season of a five-year, $70MM contract, Bledsoe has averaged 21.6 points with 6.2 assists through 56 games in 2016/17. Bledsoe would surely gather interest on the trade market, but McDonough appears to be in no rush to deal one of his franchise’s prized assets.
“In terms of his work ethic and his buy-in to what we’re trying to do organizationally, he’s been off the charts,” McDonough said. “He’s made Phoenix his offseason home. It means a lot to him to be a Sun. I think it’s very unlikely to see anything with Eric.”
Earlier in the month, Zach Lowe of ESPN noted the Suns would have to consider moving Bledsoe if the return included a “good wing or center, plus a high first-round pick.” Bledsoe and Devin Booker have been stellar for the 18-39 Suns; in Lowe’s column, coach Earl Watson all but guaranteed Bledsoe and Booker would each be on Phoenix’s roster at the start of 2017/18.
Charles Oakley To Join BIG3 As A Player/Coach
Charles Oakley is the latest addition to the BIG3 basketball league, joining the “KILLER 3s” team as a player/coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. The KILLER 3s will be comprised of Oakley, Chauncey Billups, Stephen Jackson, and two other players.
Ice Cube, the BIG3’s co-founder, and Oakley each expressed their satisfaction with the signing. “The players and coaches are our central focus at the BIG3,” Ice Cube said in a statement relayed by Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype. “Charles Oakley is an NBA legend, who deserves and has earned respect, and will get just that in our league.”
“I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this league,” Oakley added. “Everyone seems to realize we are about to make history together as players. What an exciting opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the best ever.”
Oakley, 53, most recently played in the NBA with Houston in 2003/4, scoring nine points over seven games.
Cavs Notes: Love, Smith, James, Williams, Lue
The Cavaliers are concerned with Kevin Love‘s sore left knee and will pursue a second opinion, according to a report from Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Love, who has been ruled out of Cleveland’s match-up with the Timberwolves on Tuesday, underwent an MRI on Sunday. Love missed a pair of games on January 30 and February 1 due to a back issue, but has otherwise produced well of late- averaging 21.4 points with 11.8 rebounds over his last five games.
“Always concerned when guys are going down,” coach Tyronn Lue said of Love’s ailment. “And we’re already limited as it is. Definitely concerned, but gotta see how he feels. Just, get evaluated tomorrow and see how he feels.”
More from Cleveland…
- J.R. Smith could make an on-court return sooner than expected, according to Chris Haynes and Dave McMenamin of ESPN. While Smith is targeting a mid-March return to the lineup, his timeline could be expedited during the All-Star break. Even if Smith returns in three weeks, the 31-year-old will only have 16 games to prepare for the postseason.
- A Cavs source told Dave McMenamin of ESPN that Derrick Williams has already done enough to earn a second 10-day contract. One of Williams’ biggest advocates has been LeBron James, who told Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com that he’d like to see Williams stick with the team. “We hope that this is a long-term thing,” James said. “He’s 25-years old. It doesn’t seem like it because we’ve been hearing his name for so long. But he’s 25, he hasn’t even gotten to his potential, to his prime yet. So hopefully this group, this locker room, myself, my leadership — just want to see him grow every day, and it’s a good place for him.”
- Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com discussed Lue’s new lineup- LeBron James, Kyle Korver, Derrick Williams, Richard Jefferson, and Channing Frye. None of the players in this formation are under 6-foot-7, Fedor writes, while possessing athletic ability and above-average shooting. “Yeah, I did (like it),” Lue said. “And I got to figure out different ways to get LeBron the ball where we want to get it to when we’re running our other actions.” James echoed his coach’s sentiments. “It’s a fantastic lineup, so it worked well for us. We got up the floor, got stops, shared the ball, so it’s a pretty good lineup. It’s something that coach has in his back pocket if he wants to use it again.”
Knicks Notes: Anthony, Hernangomez, Noah, Oakley, Dolan
Bobby Marks of The Vertical covered the Knicks in his trade deadline preview series. The Knicks, Marks writes, are a big market team dealing with adversity (to put it lightly). Marks explains the ways in which the Knicks have limited assets on paper; both Derrick Rose and Brandon Jennings are on expiring contracts, and Courtney Lee will gain trade value over the summer, due to a weak shooting guard free agent class. Joakim Noah‘s expensive, long-term deal won’t attract suitors, and the team’s younger assets- Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez– aren’t thought to be available.
Trading Carmelo Anthony will be a “serious challenge” for the Knicks front office, who need to decide whether Anthony’s value would grow over the offseason. Marks put together a hypothetical trade that would work financially for all parties, in which Anthony would be dealt to the Clippers in exchange for Jamal Crawford, Austin Rivers, and Wesley Johnson. Of course, any deal involving Anthony would require the nine-time All-Star waiving his no-trade clause.
More from The Mecca…
- Magic Johnson revealed on CBS This Morning that he’s had opportunities to “run the Knicks,” according to Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times. Johnson specified that he’s had four offers to run or own teams, including the Knicks, before he joined the Lakers as a basketball and business adviser.
- Knicks president Phil Jackson views Hernangomez and Porzingis as the team’s “starting frontcourt tandem of the future,” according to a report from Marc Berman of the New York Post. While coach Jeff Hornacek has still discussed starting Noah when he returns from injury, the team’s frontcourt plans could change if Hernangomez maintains his stellar performance.
- Anthony has no qualms with being snubbed from the 2016/17 All-Star roster, citing the need to “just get away from everything.” “I could utilize this break,” Anthony said. “If they call me, I’d consider it, but I would love to utilize this break.” Anthony, who wouldn’t entertain trade talks with Fred Kerber of the New York Post, discussed the honor of passing Charles Barkley on the NBA’s all-time scoring list (23,775).
- NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement today, calling the Charles Oakley/James Dolan situation “beyond disheartening.” According to Frank Isola of the Daily News, Silver and Michael Jordan conducted a conference call with Oakley and Dolan in an attempt to resolve their feud. “Both Mr. Oakley and Mr. Dolan were apologetic about the incident and subsequent comments, and their negative impact on the Knicks organization and the NBA,” Silver said. “I appreciate the efforts of Mr. Dolan, Mr. Oakley, and Mr. Jordan to work towards a resolution of this matter.”
Ben Simmons Progressing At Slow Pace
The Sixers are wary of bringing Ben Simmons back prematurely from his Jones fracture, as coach Brett Brown‘s latest update indicates. According to Bob Cooney of the Daily News, Simmons won’t be participating in simulated 5-on-5 competition throughout the All-Star break. Simmons is progressing, Brown told Cooney, albeit at the team’s “slow” pace.
Cooney’s report throws cold water on previous rumors that Simmons would be able to play after the All-Star break. Simmons was able to participate in drills running at “80%” in early January, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, though the team never issued a formal timeline of the No. 1 pick’s recovery.
Considering the Sixers are out of the playoff picture – trailing the Eastern Conference’s eight-seed by 5.5 games – it’s worth wondering when or if the team will shut down Simmons for the season.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/13/17
Here are Monday’s D-League Assignments and recalls from around the league:
- The Trail Blazers have recalled Tim Quarterman and Jake Layman from the Windy City Bulls, the team announced via Twitter. Layman had been assigned to Windy City on January 23, and Quarterman on January 29. Quarterman has averaged 9.8 points in the D-League this season, and Layman has averaged 17.9.
- The Magic recalled Stephen Zimmerman from the Erie BayHawks, the team announced via Twitter. Zimmerman has scored 10 points through eight NBA games this season, but has fared better in the D-League; recording 13.3 points with 8.9 rebounds with Erie.
- The Nets have recalled Chris McCullough from their D-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, the team announced in a press release. McCullough, who last appeared in an NBA game on January 27 against the Cavaliers, has averaged 18.1 points through 30 D-League games this season.
Klay Thompson Changes Agencies
He won’t be a free agent until after the 2018/19 season, but Klay Thompson has switched agencies; making the leap from BDA Sports to Wasserman. According to Liz Mullen of Sports Business Daily, Greg Lawrence of Wasserman will be Thompson’s lead agent.
Thompson had previously been represented by Rade Filipovich and Bill Duffy of BDA Sports. Thompson will immediately become Lawrence’s highest profile client. According to RealGM (link), Lawrence’s longest tenured clients are Dorell Wright, J.J. Redick, and Spencer Hawes.
Thompson is currently in the second year of a four-year, $68,979,450 pact with Golden State. Thompson’s rate of $16,663,575 is second on the team to Kevin Durant, who will earn $26,540,100 this season. Thompson has averaged 21.8 points on 41.8% 3-point shooting through 53 games in 2016/17.
The Warriors, who have a total cap of $99,689,888, will have eight players become unrestricted free agents at season’s end; the most notable being Stephen Curry.
And-Ones: Blair, Hayward, Warriors/Thunder Ratings
The Los Angeles D-Fenders of the D-League traded for DeJuan Blair, according to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. Adam Johnson of D-League Digest shed further light on the deal, reporting that the Texas Legends acquired a future draft pick in exchange for Blair. A seven-year veteran of the NBA, Blair signed to play with the Legends on January 17, averaging 10.6 points through six games with Texas.
- Lazar Hayward signed a deal with Guaros de Lara of Venezuela, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports. A native of Buffalo, NY, Hayward appeared in 20 games with the Long Island Nets this season, averaging 12.3 points with 5.3 rebounds. Hayward’s last NBA appearance came with the Timberwolves in 2012/13.
- Kevin Durant‘s return to OKC drew massive TV ratings, garnering a 4.1 metered-market rating, Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman reports. Saturday’s marquee match-up drew the highest ratings of any non-Christmas NBA game since 2013. The game’s peak ratings, Dawson writes, came between 10-10:15 pm with a 4.7 rating.