Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 11/8/15
Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger appears to be on the hot seat, according to a recent report from ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, because of the way his team has looked in losses. It’s still very early in the season, but reports of these kind are not unusual in the NBA. The league always has a large turnover in head coaching positions year-to-year and moves often happen during the season.
With style, tempo and chemistry being large focuses in the league, front offices look to shake things up if a team is struggling. Sometimes, the easiest — and least expensive — way to do that and send a message is by relieving the head coach.
That leads us to tonight’s shootaround topic: Which head coach is occupying the warmest seat right now?
This is just me speculating, but Nets coach Lionel Hollins comes to mind because not only is Brooklyn without a win, the team has been blown out in several games.
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.
Western Notes: Matthews, Aminu, Thunder
Wesley Matthews, who signed a four-year, max deal with the Mavs in July, is able to do more on his surgically-repaired left leg and there is a distinct possibility he will play without a minutes restriction by the end of November, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes. Sefko cites a couple of key plays, including a dive the shooting guard made, in Saturday’s game as steps forward for Matthews, who is limited to around 30 minutes per game.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Al-Farouq Aminu is blossoming into a consistent scorer after inking a four-year deal with the Blazers during the summer because he is being utilized in a variety of ways offensively, Mike Richman of The Oregonian details. While Aminu’s best skill remains his versatility on defense, as Richman adds, Aminu is pushing the ball in fast-breaks and is more involved in pick-and-rolls. “I always thought that he was a solid piece to every team that he had been on. But he never had the opportunity to be the offensive player that he is for us,” Blazers point guard Damian Lillard said. “And I don’t think it was ever needed from him to be what he is for us.”
- Not much has changed so far statistically for the Thunder under new coach Billy Donovan as the team still isn’t strong defensively, a scout explained to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports. Before Sunday’s game, the Thunder were allowing 108 points per game so far this season, which was 27th in the league.
- Jason Thompson, formerly of the Kings, clarified the comment he made last month when he said the comparison between his old team and the Warriors (his current team) is night and day, telling Matt Kawahara of the Sacramento Bee he just meant Golden State is “established.” “I just meant that there wasn’t uncertainty of positions, there wasn’t uncertainty of the front office, and everyone got along,” Thompson said of the Warriors.
Offseason In Review: Miami Heat
Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees and more will be covered as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.
Signings
- Goran Dragic: Five years, $85MM. Signed via Bird rights. Fifth year is a player option.
- Gerald Green: One year, $1.356MM. Signed via minimum salary exception.
- Amar’e Stoudemire: One year, $1.499MM. Signed via minimum salary exception.
- Dwyane Wade: One year, $20MM. Signed via Bird rights.
Extensions
- None
Trades
- Acquired Boston’s 2019 second round pick (top-55 protected) from the Celtics in exchange for Zoran Dragic, Miami’s 2020 second round pick and $1.6MM in cash.
- Acquired Orlando’s 2016 second round pick (top-55 protected) from the Magic in exchange for Shabazz Napier and $1.1MM in cash.
Waiver Claims
- None
Draft Picks
- Justise Winslow (Round 1, 10th overall). Signed via rookie exception to rookie scale contract.
- Josh Richardson (Round 2, 40th overall). Signed via taxpayer mid-level exception for three years, $2.4MM. First year is fully guaranteed; second and third years are non-guaranteed.
Camp Invitees
- Keith Benson — waived.
- Corey Hawkins — waived.
- Tre Kelley — waived.
- John Lucas III — waived.
- Briante Weber — waived.
- Greg Whittington — waived.
Departing Players
Rookie Contract Option Decisions
- None
The Heat are a popular sleeper pick for a deep postseason run this year in the Eastern Conference despite losing 45 games last season. That’s because they still have one of the top coaches in the league in Erik Spoelstra and they have an improved roster. The Heat chose to remain in win-now mode instead of going through a rebuilding phase. Therefore, with two aging stars in Dwyane Wade (33) and Chris Bosh (30), there is a lot riding on this season.
There is also reason for all the optimism (albeit, even if it is under-the-radar) surrounding the team this season. The team had a sensible offseason. Miami snagged former Duke star Justise Winslow with the 10th overall pick of the draft in June, and the small forward is immensely talented. The best part for the Heat is that they don’t need Winslow to carry them this season at all. Winslow is only 19 and can use this season to grow and learn behind Wade and a batch of other veterans.
The Heat are relying on a strong starting five that features three former All-Stars in Bosh, Wade and Deng. It’s the two other players, however, that are arguably more important: Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside. Re-signing Dragic was the Heat’s most significant move of the offseason. Dragic, who came at midseason in a trade with the Suns, is a solid point guard with above-average court vision and the deal will look like less of an investment from Miami’s standpoint once the salary cap skyrockets, as expected, in the next few years. In other words, it was a win-win for Miami.
The deal with Wade was similar in that sense. By re-signing its longtime star to a one-year, $20MM arrangement, the Heat didn’t do much to compromise their ability to build in the future. Of course, the Heat would have preferred Wade to opt in on his old contract for 2015/16, which would given Wade a salary of $16.125MM. Wade has been limited by injuries the past few seasons, and he appeared in 62 games for Miami last season, averaging 21.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 31.8 minutes per contest. The X-factor for the Heat this season is whether Wade can stay healthy. Spoelstra will offer Wade rest whenever possible to preserve his body.
With the exception of drafting Winslow and re-signing Dragic, the Heat’s offseason was rather quiet. Miami reportedly met with LaMarcus Aldridge, but the Heat were never viewed as major players in obtaining the All-Star’s services. Miami did not want added luxury tax issues, for that matter. On the flip side, the Heat didn’t have to replace much, either. Michael Beasley, Zoran Dragic, Shabazz Napier and Henry Walker are gone from last year’s team, but none of those players were part of the big picture for Miami. Goran Dragic said he understood the team’s decision of not keeping his brother. The Heat cut ties with Zoran Dragic and Napier in salary-clearing trades.
Miami made some changes to its bench that should help. For one, Josh McRoberts, who was expected to start last year but missed time most of the season with injuries, is part of the veteran reserve group. McRoberts can stretch the floor and knock down jumpers. The Heat’s two other additions were done cheaply with the bench in mind. Gerald Green and Amar’e Stoudemire were added on one-year deals that feature very low-risk and moderate upside. From Miami’s perspective, that the way they had to be. When the Heat signed Stoudemire, they were limited to only their $3.376MM taxpayer’s mid-level exception, and they didn’t even use that with tax penalties looming. Spoelstra was high on both acquisitions when the team made them.
“If you had told me a year ago we would have an opportunity to sign both those players, I would have said that’s not realistic,” Spoelstra said, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. “We recruited Amar’e in 2010 and were fans of his game back then. His game has evolved and he has found a niche and a role the last couple of years we definitely can take advantage of. Gerald Green is an explosive player. Those type of game changing players are tough to find in this league.”
The Heat took a flyer on Green hoping they get the 2013/14 version (15.8 points per game with the Suns) instead of last year’s version (11.9 points per game with a poor shooting percentage). So far, Green hasn’t been able to provide much. He was released from the hospital Saturday after a four-day stay for an undisclosed reason. The Heat have not elaborated on Green’s condition.
The presence of Dragic was a major draw for Stoudemire to join Miami as a free agent, according to a recent report. Stoudemire is another injury-prone player on a team that seems to have many, however. The power forward did play well last year, though, in limited time. He had played in only one game so far this season.
Health isn’t the only issue for the Heat this season, though. Mario Chalmers, now the backup point guard to Dragic at the point, has been known for his inconsistency. Chalmers was involved in trade rumors for a good portion of the summer and those whispers have continued into the season. Ramona Shelburne and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com first reported in June that the Heat were shopping Chalmers, as well as Chris Andersen, in an effort to clear the way for a new deal with Wade, though team president Pat Riley denied it. The Heat and Grizzlies have reportedly talked about a potential trade that wound send Chalmers to Memphis. The Heat are in line to pay repeat-offender tax penalties if they finish the season above the $84.74MM tax line, and they’re at about $91.9MM now. Chalmers makes $4.3MM on an expiring contract.
An interesting argument exists that whether or not the Heat had a positive offseason depends largely on their ability to ship out Chalmers and make the other moves necessary to avoid the tax. Regardless, the Heat have positioned themselves to win now with a roster dotted with veteran All-Star-caliber talent. The presence of Winslow also indicates that the Heat have an eye toward the future as well as the present.
Eddie Scarito contributed to this post. The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of it.
And-Ones: Aldemir, Brewer, Olynyk
With only seven black head coaches in this season, the league has its lowest total since opening night in 1999, when there were six, as Howard Beck points out in his investigative piece on the issue for Bleacher Report. In 2012, according to Beck’s research, the league had 14 black head coaches, an all-time high, but the number has decreased ever since. A big reason why, Beck suggests, is because NBA teams are looking to hire college coaches, foreign coaches and former video coordinators and are no longer hiring as many former players (and many former players are black).
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Furkan Aldemir‘s four-year deal with Darussafaka Dogus of Turkey is for more than $4MM, reports international journalist David Pick (Twitter link). The Sixers were reportedly likely to re-sign him if they were granted a 16th roster spot via hardship. Aldemir played for Turkey’s Galatasaray in between the time the Clippers drafted him in 2012 and last December, when the Sixers signed him after trading for his draft rights. Philadelphia waived him last month.
- Veteran Ronnie Brewer sat out last season and did not receive any training camp invitations, but he hasn’t decided to hang it up yet and that’s why he is with the Warriors‘ D-League affiliate, Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside writes. Brewer, 30, is a defensive specialist, but told Schlosser he is looking to be more versatile with the hopes of getting a call-up.
- Kelly Olynyk, whom the Celtics exercised their fourth-year option on before the deadline, is blossoming into a better defensive player, notes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Olynyk is averaging more steals and blocks so far than he had in his previous two seasons. Olynyk has a defensive rating of 95.2, good for seventh in the league, as Blakely points out.
Rockets Waive Chuck Hayes
7:30pm: The move is official, the team announced (Twitter link).
5:02pm: Hayes’ agent Calvin Andrews confirmed the move to Mark Berman of Fox 26 (Twitter link).
4:43pm: The Rockets are waiving Chuck Hayes, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). The team has yet to make an announcement, though Wojnarowski indicates that it has already taken place. Hayes’ time with Houston was expected to be short, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle tweets, as he was filling in while the team had some injuries. Feigen also tweets that power forward Terrence Jones will likely return soon from an injury.
The deal the Rockets signed with Hayes last weekend covered one year at the prorated minimum salary and was non-guaranteed. Hayes was reportedly going to sign with the Rockets over the summer, but a deal fell through in late August. He received assistant coaching interest from several teams, including the Rockets, but wanted to continue his playing career.
Hayes agreed to a one-year deal with the Clippers, but lost a training camp battle with Luc Mbah a Moute for their final roster spot. The 32-year-old began his NBA career with the Rockets in 2005/06 and spent six seasons in Houston. He played last season in Toronto, averaging 1.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 29 games.
Eastern Notes: Celtics, Nets, Hawks
The Nets are still feeling some negative effects from the team’s big acquisitions and moves in the past (Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, for example) and severely need help at the point guard position, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com writes. The Nets are one of only three teams in the league that remain without a win. While it is obviously still early in the season, Mazzeo does not see a turnaround for the Nets in the near future with the way the roster is currently composed.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- The Celtics assigned power forward Jordan Mickey and shooting guard/small forward James Young Sunday to their D-League affiliate, the team announced in a press release. It is the second time the pair has been sent to Maine already this season. Young and Mickey were assigned to the D-League on Tuesday, but were sent back up to the Celtics later in the week. Mickey played three minutes in Friday’s NBA game while Young has yet to play this season.
- Kent Bazemore, who is entering the final season of his current deal, has long been known as a defensive player, but the Hawks‘ new starting small forward is producing offensively as well so far this season, as Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution details.
- Jason Smith, whom the Magic signed to a one-year, $4.3MM deal in July, has supplied Orlando with some energy and toughness, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel writes. Smith, as Robbins adds, has taken on a larger role since starting center Nikola Vucevic suffered an injury.
Central Notes: Bulls, Pistons, Bucks
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg is not sure when rookie Bobby Portis will start to see consistent time on the court, Nick Friedell of ESPN.com (ESPN Now link) relays. The Bulls drafted Portis with the 22nd pick. Portis has not played in six of the Bulls’ first seven games, with his only appearance coming in a lopsided contest. Portis, according to Hoiberg, is not letting a lack of playing time derail his work ethic. “He says practices are his games,” Hoiberg said. “He’s getting out there, stirring things up. He’ll continue to do that every time he steps on the court.”
Here’s more from around the Central Division:
- It’s Hoiberg’s first season with the Bulls, but the group is exhibiting one of the same problems it had under former coach Tom Thibodeau and that is a lack of effort, Friedell writes in a full story. With Thibodeau as its leader, Chicago was known as a hard-nosed defensive team, but this year’s Bulls have yet to discover their identity, Friedell adds, and that has contributed to the inconsistent start.
- The Pistons need to acquire a power forward before the trade deadline or via free agency next summer, David Mayo of MLive.com opines in a mailbag response. Ersan Ilyasova is under contract through 2016/17, but Anthony Tolliver is set to be a free agent after this season, as Mayo points out.
- The long-term success of the Bucks largely depends on Jabari Parker and how the small forward comes back from his injury, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com writes in a detailed piece. The Bucks have a talented young roster, but they are hoping Parker, who was the second overall pick in the 2014 draft, develops into a star after his rookie season was cut short by the knee injury in December.
Lakers Rumors: Bryant, World Peace, Russell
Kobe Bryant recently told Lakers coach Byron Scott that this might be the star’s final season in the league, Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com relays (on Twitter). Scott added, according to Holmes, that was the first Bryant hinted about retiring to him. Still, the idea that this could be the end for Bryant is nothing new, as Bill Oram of the Orange County Register tweets. It appears that Bryant is leaning toward retirement, according to recent reports, but he has yet to make a decision.
Here’s more on the Lakers:
- Despite Bryant’s struggles to open the season, Metta World Peace supported his teammate and said a big reason why he returned to the Lakers was to again play alongside Bryant in an interview with Vlad TV (YouTube link), transcribed by Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders. “I’m really happy to be here to support him,” World Peace said. “Everybody is talking bad about him. Talking about he’s getting old and can’t play, [how he’s] selfish this and selfish that. [Free agents] not coming to play with him because they’re afraid of him. So I said, you know what? Let me get back to the Lakers. People don’t realize I’m on a non-guaranteed contract and I got back to the Lakers. I had to earn this.”
- D’Angelo Russell has had some difficulty adjusting to the league in his first year and if his struggles continue, he will likely see less time on the court, Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times details. “He has to start getting it, just like the other young guys have to start getting it, and if they don’t, they won’t play as much,” Scott said. “Playing time in this league is a very precious thing and I don’t want our guys to take that for granted. Missing assignments on a continuous basis is not going to go unnoticed. You’ve got to start developing and doing a better job on that end of the floor.”
- While a young nucleus of Jordan Clarkson, Julius Randle and Russell is developing, the Lakers’ veterans are struggling and time is running out if the team wants to be good enough to attract a free agent star next summer, writes Mark Heisler in his Sunday column for the Los Angeles Daily News.
Hornets Sign Jeremy Lamb To Extension
3:02pm: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.
“We were thrilled with the opportunity to add Jeremy Lamb to our roster this past summer,” Hornets GM Rich Cho said. “Through the preseason and start of our regular season, Jeremy has proven to be the type of player and professional we seek here in Charlotte. We’re excited to have him as a part of the Hornets for years to come.”
MONDAY, 10:30am: The sides have an agreement in principle, tweets Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
SUNDAY, 8:39pm: The Hornets and Jeremy Lamb are closing in on a three-year extension for around $21MM, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports.
Lamb is under contract for 2015/16, the final season on his rookie-scale contract, at a salary of $3,034,356. The 23-year-old shooting guard has long been considered to have high upside because of his athleticism and solid outside shooting ability. At 6’5″ and 185 pounds, Lamb also has good size for his position.
Ken Berger of CBS Sports recently touted Lamb’s potential but added that he needs to develop his drive game and get to the paint in order to take full advantage of his opportunity with the Hornets. Much of that has been said about Lamb ever since the Rockets drafted the former UConn player with the 12th pick of the 2012 draft. Houston then traded him to the Thunder as part of the James Harden deal.
Lamb was acquired by the Hornets from the Thunder in June in exchange for Luke Ridnour and a 2016 second-round pick. In 47 appearances last season he averaged 6.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists. Lamb was never able to consistently crack the Thunder’s rotation, and while he displayed range, he was also an inconsistent shooter. Thus, it is a risky move for Charlotte. Still, while $21MM may seem like a lot right now, it’s worth keeping in mind the expected rise in salary cap next year.
The league officially projects that the cap will leap to $89MM for 2016/17, though Sean Deveney of The Sporting News recently heard from many agents and executives around the league who believe it will end up at $95MM. Prior to the Lamb deal, Charlotte had been carrying about $34MM in guaranteed salary for 2016/17. Al Jefferson and Nicolas Batum, the team’s two most highly paid players this season, are on expiring contracts.
Extension Rumors: Sunday
It seems unlikely that Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal and Warriors center Festus Ezeli will receive rookie-scale contract extensions and thus will be restricted free agents come July, barring an unexpected late turnaround in negotiations, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports.
The news regarding Beal does not come as a surprise because though the Wizards fully intend to sign him to a maximum-salary contract, they prefer to do so next summer. Stein adds that the Wizards have been consistent with their message that they see Beal as a future and long-term star for the franchise. Reports have conflicted about how much negotiating has occurred between Ezeli and the Warriors, but an extension never seemed imminent.
The window for former first-round picks to sign contract extensions during the fourth and final year of their rookie contracts is Monday.
Here is more news on extensions:
- Players known to still be in negotiations entering the deadline include Raptors shooting guard/small forward Terrence Ross, Trail Blazers center Meyers Leonard and Thunder shooting guard Dion Waiters, according to Stein. Regarding Ross, it’s likely to go down to the wire and the Raptors would be open to giving him an extension, if the price is to their liking, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca. reports. “I mean it would be an honor to get an extension,” Ross told Lewenberg. “If that doesn’t happen then we’ll take it from there.”
- Extensions at this point are looking unlikely for Sixers shooting guard Tony Wroten and Celtics big men Tyler Zeller and Jared Sullinger, according to Stein.