Jarrett Jack Out For Season
JANUARY 13TH, 11:17am: Jack underwent surgery today, and the Nets anticipate that he’ll be ready to play by the start of next season, the team announced via press release.
JANUARY 3RD, 1:05pm: Nets point guard Jarrett Jack will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ACL and a small meniscus tear in his right knee, the team announced on its website. Brooklyn does not specify when Jack will undergo surgery, but NetsDaily reports it will happen on Monday (Twitter link).
The Nets have until January 15th to apply for a disabled player exception on Jack with the exception being worth $3.15MM, notes former NBA executive Bobby Marks (Twitter link). It would expire March 10th, Marks adds. The Nets, at 10-23 likely won’t make the playoffs, but Marks tweets that they should apply for the exception anyway because it might help make a difference during the trade deadline.
Jack, who is making $6.3MM this season, has a $500K guarantee for next season, NetsDaily points out in a full story. He averaged 12.8 points and 7.4 assists per game in 32 appearances (all starts) for the Nets this season. With Jack out, Shane Larkin and Donald Sloan will likely see more minutes.
Jack, 32, has been durable over the course of his 12-year career, as Andy Vasquez of The Record notes (on Twitter). Jack is the only player in the league to have played at least 79 games in nine of the last 10 seasons, according to Vasquez.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 1/10/16
Nets center Brook Lopez has now had eight different coaches and will likely be playing for a ninth by the start of next season. Assistant Tony Brown has been named the interim coach for Brooklyn after Lionel Hollins was fired earlier today. The organization seems to be in shambles, but one good thing, at least, is that there is no shortage of potential candidates with prior head coaching experience.
Tom Thibodeau, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson highlight a list of available candidates. It’s also worth noting that CEO Brett Yormark is reportedly enamored with John Calipari. Hiring any one of those four would make for a splashy headline, but is what any of them presents what will fix the Nets? Maybe. Hollins, however, inherited a mess and the real issue with Brooklyn is that they are paying for short-sighted transactions from recent years, Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post opines. While I agree with Bontemps’ assessment that Hollins was dealt a bad hand, the Nets are 10-27 and part of that falls on the coach.
That leads us to today’s shootaround topic: Who should be the next head coach of the Nets?
If it was my call, I’d make a run at Luke Walton, who has done an admirable job filling in for Steve Kerr with the Warriors. Obviously, coaching Golden State does not present the kind of challenges coaching the Nets would, but I believe Walton has earned his shot. Hiring someone like Jackson would represent everything that has gone wrong for the Nets to this point, in my opinion, because he is a big-name, old-school basketball mind.
Being mindful of our commenting policy, let us know in the comments section below what your thoughts are. We look forward to what you have to share.
And-Ones: Nets, Mullin, Stoudemire
Current St. John’s coach and former Warriors GM Chris Mullin, who is from Brooklyn, is a name that Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com has heard in regards to the Nets’ new head coaching vacancy (Twitter link). This is the first mention of Mullin in connection to the Nets that we’ve learned of and it is not yet known how serious a candidate he is to consider.
In other news regarding the Nets’ shakeup today, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com hears reports that claim former GM Billy King will advise in the search for his successor are “totally true” (Twitter link).
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Amar’e Stoudemire considered signing with the Suns, which is one of his former teams, over the summer before he joined the Heat, opting to instead play on a title contender, Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports (scroll down). The Suns drafted Stoudemire in 2002. He captured the Rookie of the Year award and made five All-Star teams with the Suns. “That’s why I chose Miami, but Phoenix is still not ruled out,” Stoudemire said. “I have a lot of basketball left in me.” Stoudemire, 33, will be a free agent again this summer.
- Point guard Jordan Farmar, who last played in the league in 2014/15 for the Clippers and is mostly known for his time with the Lakers, wants to be back in the NBA and would not turn down a 10-day contract, international journalist David Pick reports (on Twitter). Farmer parted ways with Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv today after signing overseas in July, according to the team’s Twitter (h/t Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia).
- Tyson Chandler‘s four-year, $52MM pact with the Suns was one of the summer’s worst free agent deals because the 33-year-old has struggled mightily with his new team, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders opines. Omer Asik‘s contract with the Pelicans and Kyle Singler‘s deal with the Thunder also made Basketball Insiders’ list.
- After making the playoffs last season and then signing Greg Monroe, the Bucks are a disappointing 15-24, but with young stars on the roster, Milwaukee’s position is still an enviable one going forward, Ian Thomsen of NBA.com writes. There is still a lot of hope that the Bucks can contend beyond this season because Jabari Parker is 20, Giannis Antetokounmpo is 21 and Monroe is 25, Thomsen adds. With another top-10 pick likely coming in June, the Bucks remain in good shape for the long-term, Thomsen contends.
Hoops Links: Randle, Nets, Evans
Every Sunday, we link to some of the very best work from around the basketball blogosphere. Do you have a link to a great basketball blog post – either your own or someone else’s – that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Then you should send it to us at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s rundown…
- Brooklyn Balling examines how and why the Nets shook up their organization.
- The Sports Quotient uses Julius Randle as an example of the eye test vs. analytics.
- The Runner Sports breaks down the Knicks’ window of opportunity.
- Peachtree Hoops wonders if the Hawks should trade for Joe Johnson.
- Canis Hoopus runs down the Wolves’ search for a D-League team.
- The Bird Writes looks into Tyreke Evans‘ solid season.
- Welcome To Loud City views the Thunder as a serious threat to the Spurs.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Western Notes: Pachulia, Thunder, Thompson
Zaza Pachulia is producing the best season of his career in his first year with the Mavs and his intangibles have endeared him to his new teammates, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com relays. Pachulia responded well to a trade from the Bucks and he is a significant reason why the Mavs are one of the top teams in the conference, MacMahon adds.
“I know it’s surprising for a lot of people, but honestly, I feel like I was just born,” Pachulia said. “I don’t want to say anything bad about the places I’ve been, but this is the greatest situation I’ve been in during my career. Starting with the coaching staff and the players, the experienced players I have, the winning mentality … With my previous team, it was all about building. Rebuilding, starting from scratch. This is a different situation for me, where this team is all about the winning, all about the success. I think that’s part of the reason why my numbers are that way. I’m just thankful for the opportunity. I’m thankful for the situation I’m in right now.”
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Thunder second-year power forward Mitch McGary emerged late last season and despite capable offensive skills, he is having a hard time cracking the rotation this season, Anthony Slater of of The Oklahoman writes in an interesting profile. Injuries have played a part in limiting McGary’s playing time and statistics show that Oklahoma City is not efficient when McGary and Enes Kanter are on the floor together, Slater adds.
- Warriors reserve center Jason Thompson, who spent his first seven season in the league with the Kings, still has fond memories of his old stomping grounds and he is glad Sacramento’s fans will have a new arena next season, Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle details.
Eastern Notes: DeRozan, Hawes, Mozgov
DeMar DeRozan will reportedly turn down his player option and become a free agent this summer, but the Raptors shooting guard reiterated to Sportsnet 590 The Fan that he wants to stay in Toronto for the rest of his career (h/t Jeff Simmons of Sportsnet.ca). DeRozan is a native of California, but he’s only played for the Raptors. The Nets and Lakers both reportedly have interest in him.
“That’s one you thing you can never question: my loyalty to the city,” DeRozan said. “How much I really love and appreciate the team and the organization. I think all the fans understand that. A lot of times they don’t understand how contracts or things like that.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Center Spencer Hawes, whom the Hornets acquired in a June trade with the Clippers for Lance Stephenson, acknowledged his situation with Los Angeles appeared to be a good fit in theory, but can’t quite put his finger on why it didn’t work out well, Rowan Kavner of NBA.com details. “Sometimes, situations just don’t work out the way you draw it up on paper,” said Hawes, who added he was surprised by the deal.
- It would make little sense for the Cavs to trade center Timofey Mozgov, despite his recent struggles and even if moving him could save between $15-20MM in tax penalties, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal argues. Mozgov is a bargain because he is making close to $5MM and it would be difficult for the Cavs to find another serviceable center on the market, Lloyd writes. The Cavs are obviously all-in for this season and do not have any inclination of moving Mozgov, Lloyd surmises.
New York Notes: King, Westphal, Murry
Former Nets GM Billy King was reassigned today and part of his new role will include advising ownership in the search for his own successor, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports. The situation is quite odd, considering King was pushed out of the job by owner Mikhail Prokhorov, Wojnarowski writes. It’s not unusual for an exiting executive to help in the search for a replacement, however. As Wojnarowski points out, former Nets GM Rod Thorn had played a part in hiring King upon Thorn’s departure from the Nets in 2010, but the difference in that example is that Thorn had resigned from his position and was not forced out, Wojnarowski adds.
Here’s more news from a busy day out of the Big Apple:
- Respected and longtime coach Paul Westphal will no longer serve as an assistant coach for the Nets in the wake of Lionel Hollins‘ firing earlier today, Westphal’s wife, Cindy, writes on Facebook (h/t Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily). After parts of 10 seasons as a head coach, Westphal had no desire to coach again until Hollins approached him to be his top guy with the Nets, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com wrote in 2014. Westphal’s loyalty to Hollins was too strong to allow him to stay with Brooklyn, Puccio writes.
- The Knicks, who have reportedly been shopping for backcourt help, scouted shooting guard Toure’ Murry at the D-League Showcase event in Santa Cruz, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News tweets. Of course, it’s important to note that nearly every team is scouting someone at the event and that does not necessarily mean a deal is imminent, as Chris Reichert of Upside & Motor tweets. Murry is averaging 14.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game with the Texas Legends, the Mavs’ D-League affiliate. Murry, whom the Jazz mulled signing in December, played in 51 games with the Knicks in 2013/14, his rookie season.
- It likely doesn’t matter whom the Nets hire as their next head coach because the organization is still paying for mistakes made in the early days of moving to Brooklyn, Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post opines. The Nets’ history of acquiring flashy names such as Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson has had long-term consequences, Bontemps adds. There is no one in the organization that is capable of stepping into the general manager’s job at the moment, according to Bontemps.
Reggie Williams Signs To Play In Russia
Veteran small forward Reggie Williams, who played with the Spurs last season, has signed a deal to play with Avtodor Saratov in Russia, the overseas team announced (h/t Emiliano Carchia of Sportando). The contract is for the remainder of the season, according to Avtodor Saratov’s press release.
The Spurs waived Williams, who was on a non-guaranteed deal, in late October. Williams joined the Spurs for the remainder of last season in February after signing a pair of 10-day pacts with the team. Williams was with the Heat on a training camp deal before last season, but he failed to make the opening night roster.
Williams, 29, made 20 appearances for the Spurs last season, averaging 1.9 points in 5.3 minutes per game. His career averages through 200 career NBA regular season contests are 7.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. He owns a slash line of .458/.363/.747. Williams has also played for the Warriors, Bobcats (now the Hornets) and Thunder.
Hoops Rumors Weekly Mailbag 1/3/16-1/10/16
In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com. Here are this week’s inquiries:
What do you make of the Bucks right now? They’re clearly a lottery team, but seemingly with a lot of individual talent. What’s your sense for how they’ll approach the trade deadline? — Daren
HR: The Bucks are one of the most interesting teams in the league. Note: That’s not necessarily a good thing. The team is built to compete now, but Milwaukee is 15-23. Before getting into the trade deadline, it’s worth pointing out that the Bucks have reportedly met twice with free agent Carlos Boozer. The Bucks are without much roster flexibility, since they have 15 fully guaranteed contracts, though they have a $1.664MM sliver of the mid-level exception left over if Boozer, a 13-year veteran, demands more than the minimum salary, which for him would be $1,499,187, as our own Chuck Myron pointed out. With or without Boozer, the Bucks would still have issues. As you pointed out, they have individual talent, but rank as a poor defensive team that needs to score more. Meeting with Boozer signals that the Bucks will likely not be sellers at the deadline. After signing Greg Monroe to a lucrative deal over the summer, I’d look for them to make a minor deal or two with an eye toward next season.
Would the Mavs consider going after Joakim Noah from the Bulls or go get combo guards like Ricky Rubio and Kevin Martin from the Wolves. Which is most likely to happen? — Daniel
HR: Actually, I think the position to keep an eye on regarding the Mavs heading into the trade deadline frenzy is small forward. Chandler Parsons is still rounding into form and there is not much, if any, depth behind him at the position. I could see the Mavs landing Noah because Mark Cuban has reeled in veterans as complementary pieces in the past and it usually has worked. Noah would add some defense and depth in the middle. With four point guards on the roster, I’d be surprised if the Mavs didn’t move at least one of them, even if that is Deron Williams.
Reactions To Nets Shakeup
Former Nets coach Lionel Hollins told Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com (ESPN Now link) that he received a call from former GM Billy King, who was reassigned today, telling him that he had been let go, but expressed gratitude nonetheless. Hollins, as Mazzeo points out, still has one and a half years left on his contract.
“I’m thankful to Billy and Mikhail [Prokhorov] and Dmitry [Razumov] for the opportunity to have coached the Nets,” Hollins told Mazzeo. “I’m disappointed to where it didn’t work out to where we didn’t have playoff success and fans weren’t celebrating in the streets of Brooklyn.”
Here is more news and reactions to Brooklyn’s decision to fire Hollins and reassign King:
- Nets assistant GM Frank Zanin will be retained, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reports (on Twitter). Zanin has been involved with most of the day-to-day team business, including trade talks, according to Mannix.
- Still, it’s unclear who would be answering the phones if a team called regarding trade talk, Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post hears after speaking with multiple sources (Twitter link).
- While the timing of the moves was surprising to some, considering how close the trade deadline is, some executives around the league were always surprised King was able to keep his job with Brooklyn for as long as he did, Ian Begley of ESPN.com passes along (on Twitter).
- Nets CEO Brett Yormark, who is reportedly enamored with John Calipari, is someone who is having his voice heard more now within the organization, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News tweets.
- Tom Thibodeau would be an ideal fit as the next coach for the Nets because of his ability to maximize players’ talents on defense, Sean Deveney of the Sporting News writes in a list of top candidates to replace Hollins. Thibodeau is seen as a logical choice for other potential openings and will come at a hefty price, Deveney adds. Among other names Deveney mentions as top candidates are: Mark Jackson, Jeff Van Gundy and Patrick Ewing.
- Prokhorov did not like Hollins’ public criticism of players, NetsDaily tweets.
- Former Hawks GM Danny Ferry, who interviewed with the Nets before the job went to King, is still unemployed and has some baggage, but it’s worth noting his father, Bob, is a Nets scout, Bondy tweets.