Hoops Links: Wade, Grant, Wolves
On this date in 2001, with the No. 1 selection in the inaugural NBDL Draft, the Fayetteville Patriots selected Chris Andersen from Blinn (Texas) Community College.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…
- The Sports Quotient ran down some of the league’s most and least valuable players.
- The Love of Hoops supplies a guide to the 2015/16 season.
- The Hardwood Nation examines if Jerian Grant will start at point guard for the Knicks.
- Six Championship Drive takes a deep look at the Pistons’ fast start.
- Florida Sports View takes a look at Dwyane Wade‘s value going forward.
- New York Sports Guys wrote about the future of the Wolves.
- The OASN previewed the Northwest Division.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
And-Ones: Rockets, Knicks, Robinson
The Rockets remain skeptical that they will be able to reach agreements on signing rookie scale extensions for forwards Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports. The deadline for rookie scale extensions is Monday. It was recently reported that both players preferred to set themselves up for restricted free agency this coming summer. Both Motiejunas and Jones are considered “vitally important” to the team, according to Feigen.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Nikoloz Tskitishvili signed with Tochigi Brex in Japan, reports international journalist David Pick (Twitter link). Tskitishvili briefly attempted an NBA comeback with the Clippers this fall.
- Karl-Anthony Towns is off to a torrid start, but the rookie isn’t alone as this year’s crop of first-year players are much more talented than the groups from recent memory, Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post opines.
- Nate Robinson, who was waived by the Pelicans last week after just two games, seems to have lost a step and his days in the league might be over, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes in his Sunday column.
- It’s only a matter of time before Knicks rookie point guard Jerian Grant overtakes the starting role from Jose Calderon, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Knicks president Phil Jackson still thinks Calderon can be a force this season and chose against waiving him via the stretch provision, Berman adds.
Nets To Decline 2016/17 Option On Sergey Karasev
The Nets will not pick up Sergey Karasev‘s $2.5MM team option for the 2016/17 season, Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops reports (Twitter link).
Karasev underwent season-ending surgery on his right knee in March, but he entered the regular season at full health. Karasev, 22, is not an integral part of the Nets’ rotation. He played only two minutes in Friday’s game and did not play in Brooklyn’s other two contests. We noted that it was generally likely for Brooklyn to pick up the option, considering the cost, but as Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com points out (on Twitter), the decision indicates the Nets likely do not think too highly of Karasev. Brooklyn does not have any other pending rookie scale team options for this year. The Nets have $45,379,214 in guaranteed salary for 2016/17.
Karasev appeared in 33 games for Brooklyn last season season, averaging 4.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 16.8 minutes per contest. The swingman was originally drafted by the Cavs with the No. 19 pick in the 2013 draft.
Atlantic Rumors: Raptors, Knicks, Celtics
Greivis Vasquez said getting traded to the Bucks from the Raptors was hard for him, but he anticipated such a move after the way Toronto’s season ended, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca relays (All Twitter links). “It was going to be either me or Lou, and it was both,” Vasquez added in reference to Lou Williams‘ departure from the team.
Here’s more from around the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks picked Jimmer Fredette in Saturday’s D-League draft mostly to bring in fans, considering Fredette is a product of Glens Falls, and not strictly as a developmental move, Marc Berman of the New York Post reports.
- David Lee and Amir Johnson seem like good fits on the Celtics because they both bring experience, success and a blue-collar brand of basketball to the team CSNNE.com’s A. Sherrod Blakely writes. The Celtics have a young team and that youth will benefit from the experienced tandem of Lee and Johnson, Blakely adds.
- Tyler Zeller is working to improve his perimeter shooting skills, Blakely writes in separate story. It was previously reported that the Celtics are interested in rookie scale extensions for Zeller only if he consents to a decidedly team-friendly deal. The extension window closes Monday.
- Italian coach Andrea Mazzon is now an assistant for the Sixers‘ D-League affiliate, the team announced. Emiliano Carchia of Sportando originally reported that Mazzon joined the affiliate in an important role.
Southwest Notes: Mavs, Pelicans, Spurs
Dirk Nowitzki said that he still is surprised by the decision made by DeAndre Jordan and added Jordan abruptly stopped texting with the Mavs star when he reversed course and elected to re-sign with the Clippers, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com relays. Jordan declined to comment when asked about the decision. Mavs owner Mark Cuban said he has not spoken to Jordan since July 9th, MacMahon adds.
“I think we were disappointed, but we still have to move on as a franchise, and that’s what we did,” Nowitzki said. “That happens in free agency sometimes.”
Here’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry wants his team to play a better style of defense, with an emphasis on the perimeter, and to utilize their roster versatility to switch on pick-and-rolls, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News details. To that end, Gentry wants to limit the amount of time Anthony Davis spends in the post. That is in stark contrast to how Davis, the league’s leading shot blocker last year, has been used in the past, Deveney adds.
- Rasual Butler told reporters, including Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News, that he is delighted to have made the Spurs‘ regular season roster. “This is the gold standard of the NBA,” Butler said. “To have the opportunity to be part of this culture; to play for Coach [Gregg] Popovich just the way that we play the game is a huge deal for me. It’s very exciting to be a part of this.”
- Optimism surrounds the Mavs because of Chandler Parsons‘ impending return and Dallas’ ball movement in coach Rick Carlisle‘s motion-driven system on offense, opines Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News.
Northwest Notes: Blazers, Nuggets, Wolves
First-year Nuggets coach Michael Malone is frustrated with the lack of energy from his players and wondered if he has been pushing too hard, Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post relays. Specifically, Malone was referring to the Nuggets’ lopsided loss in their home opener.
“I have the propensity to push, push, push, push,” Malone said. “And after the game last night, I’m always going to look at myself in the mirror — hey, maybe we pushed too hard for too long. … So, today, we went hard, but we went short. So maybe I have to scale back a little bit, because we are banged up, we have guys who are playing fairly heavy minutes. So, I have to maybe be a little bit more judicious in how we practice.”
Here’s more from around the Northwest Division:
- Wolves owner owner Glen Taylor has granted GM Milt Newton and interim coach Sam Mitchell “autonomy” to make important decisions and both are dedicated to carrying out Flip Saunders’ blueprint of developing young talent, Chip Scroggins of the Star Tribune opines.
- Damian Lillard is probably deferring to his teammates too much so far for the Blazers, but in the long-term, that’s a good thing for Portland, Jason Quick of CSNNW.com opines. Lillard, who was signed to a max extension in the summer, is 1-for-15 from the field in the fourth quarter so far this season, Quick points out. With a new supporting cast, Quick argues that Lillard’s sacrifice will help the Blazers play more team basketball.
- Mason Plumlee, who came to the Blazers in a draft night trade with the Nets, has been impressing his Portland teammates and coaches with his ability to handle the ball and make plays since early in the summer, Mike Richman of The Oregonian relays. In contrast to his days with the Nets, Plumlee fits better in the Blazers’ faster-paced system because he has the freedom to use his full array of skills, including leading fast breaks, Richman adds.
Pistons Notes: Morris, Drummond, Van Gundy
Marcus Morris is thriving with the Pistons and although it is very early, Aaron McMann of MLive.com writes that Detroit appears to be a big winner in its summer trade with the Suns. The Pistons acquired Morris, Reggie Bullock and Danny Granger from the Suns in exchange for a 2020 second-round pick.Through three games, as McMann points out, Morris is leading the Pistons with 19.3 points per game. He averaged 14.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game as a part-time starter last season in Phoenix.
Here’s more out of Detroit:
- Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy’s decision to let Greg Monroe leave Detroit at the end of his contract was due to the belief that Andre Drummond has superstar potential as a throwback center, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders reports in his Sunday column. The idea looks smart, as Hamilton suggests, because through the first three games of the regular season Drummond is averaging 18 points, 15.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game. Drummond has agreed to hold off on signing an extension to allow the team to retain more cap space heading into next offseason.
- Under Van Gundy, the Pistons have gone from one of the league’s smallest front-office staffs to one of the largest, Michael Rosenberg of SI.com writes in an interesting story. For example, Detroit has four pro scouts, Rosenberg notes, and their jobs involve watching every team’s games this season. The Pistons have Van Gundy, GM Jeff Bower, three assistant general managers, a basketball-operations director, four pro scouts, six college/international scouts, two analytics software engineers and a director of strategic planning, according to Rosenberg, who also points out that in 2004, the Pistons only had five people in their front office. It’s clear Van Gundy has molded the franchise in his image and he told Rosenberg that, “If I had it to do over again, this is where I’d want to be.”
Southeast Notes: Wizards, Heat, Hawks
This is an important year for Wizards coach Randy Wittman, who has been referred to as “old-school” with a defense-first philosophy, but has adjusted his philosophy to fit his roster with the implementation of more speed and more shooting, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post writes in an in-depth piece. The season is key for Wittman, as Castillo points out, because his contract is only partially guaranteed for next season. Players are in favor of Wittman’s approach to having an offense suit the skills of the players he has, Castillo adds.
Here’s more from the Southeast Division:
- While the Heat need Hassan Whiteside, who is set to hit unrestricted free agency in July 2016, as a rebounder and shot-blocker, Miami has enough depth to play the hot hand if the center is struggling or seemingly sulking, Ethan Skolnick of the Miami Herald writes. Such was the case in the Heat’s season opener when head coach Erik Spoelstra elected to go with Udonis Haslem after the Hornets‘ Al Jefferson had his way with Whiteside, Skolnick adds.
- Tim Hardaway Jr., whom the Hawks acquired in June in a draft-night trade with the Knicks, was inactive for the season-opener and since Atlanta gave up its first-round draft pick to obtain Hardaway, it will be a move under scrutiny, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution relays.
- Speaking of Hardaway, the guard told Brian Lewis of the New York Post that he never received a reason for the trade and was surprised by the move. “No, nothing,” Hardaway said. “Just a call that said … I got a call from my agent first that broke the news to me. I was surprised. I was at Clyde Frazier’s. It was myself, Cleanthony Early, Langston Galloway, and some more of my friends. I was there for draft night, to see who we got — well, when I was part of the team, to see who we had. Then later on I didn’t know what was going to happen. It happened 30 seconds before they made the trade.’’
And-Ones: Kings, Pelicans, Mavs
Point guard Marshall Henderson, who was waived by the Kings two weeks ago, plans to accept an offer to play for Sacramento’s D-League affiliate, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports reports (on Twitter). Henderson, 24, went undrafted out of Mississippi in 2014. During his final season at Mississippi, Henderson averaged 19.0 points per game.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Cory Jefferson‘s versatility was key factor in him making the Suns‘ regular season roster, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic writes. “Guys like Cory and Jon Leuer are primarily power forwards but, the way the NBA is going, teams are placing premiums, as we are, on mobility, the ability to move your feet, guard multiple positions on the perimeter and switch, the ability to make an open shot and help with your spacing, the ability to run the floor and get out in transition,” Suns GM Ryan McDonough said. “The game is going more and more position-less. We try to balance the roster as much as we can but we look for guys who can potentially play multiple positions.”
- If Chuck Hayes, who was waived by the Clippers on Saturday, doesn’t get picked up by another NBA team, he is expected to turn to coaching, his agent Calvin Andrews tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). Hayes has received assistant coaching interest from several teams, including the Rockets, according to Spears (Twitter link).
- While veteran Nate Robinson has moved into the top backup spot behind starting point guard Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans might still be looking to acquire another guard, John Reid of The Times-Picayune reports. Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole are out with injuries.
- While many seem ready to write off Deron Williams, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News opines the point guard’s talent — and desire — has not disappeared since a few years ago, when Williams was considered one of the league’s best. While Sefko seems to think Williams is ready for a rebound season in his home state, the scribe also concludes that Williams is likely the most important part of the Mavs this season.
- Backup center Jeff Withey, whom the Jazz signed in August, has turned out to be a solid player and there is a good chance he sees a lot of minutes this season, Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News writes.
Eastern Notes: Sixers, Knicks, Pistons
The Sixers‘ reputation among several agents around the league likely won’t do the franchise any favors when the team expects to be a player in free agency in the future, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes in an interesting story after speaking with several sources and agents. One agent told Pompey that he doesn’t want his max-level players in Philadelphia, but he is open to his midlevel players signing with the Sixers only if they overpay. Agents also told Pompey that Sixers GM Sam Hinkie is hard to deal with, saying he doesn’t make it a priority to return calls.
- It’s doubtful the Pistons trade Danny Granger, reports David Mayo of MLive.com after asking coach/executive Stan Van Gundy about the possibility. Instead, it seems very likely the Pistons will waive Granger. Granger has a fully guaranteed salary of $2,170,465, one of 16 full guarantees on the Pistons. “We’re probably sort of at the end of the road with him,” Van Gundy said. “We took it as far as we could, hoping to get a look at him, but he hasn’t been ready to come back. So we’ll go with the 15 guys that are here.”
- The Knicks‘ D-League affiliate expects to have Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Darion Atkins, Travis Trice and Wesley Saunders to start season, Marc Berman of the New York Post reports (on Twitter). All four players were cut Friday by the Knicks.
- The Celtics‘ expected starting five on opening night – Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder, David Lee and Tyler Zeller – has been the most successful of the four different starting lineups used in the preseason, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes. That lineup, of course, notably does not include Isaiah Thomas.