Western Notes: Lakers, Clippers, Kings
Lakers coach Byron Scott said a decision will come Monday on the team’s final cut, but offered no further details on whether it will be veteran Metta World Peace or second-year guard Jabari Brown, notes Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com (ESPN Now link). Both players practiced on Sunday, Holmes adds.
Because players need 48 hours to clear waivers, the Lakers will be required to pay either World Peace or Brown for two days of salary, Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times points out (assuming one is kept and the other is not). The waived player will receive only the two days of pay, so the Lakers will either owe World Peace approximately $18,000 or Brown $10,000, Pincus adds.
Here is more news out of the Western Conference:
- Luc Mbah a Moute earned the Clippers‘ final regular season roster spot over Chuck Hayes mostly because of his defense months after the Kings voided his contract after a failed physical, Rowan Kavner of Clippers.com writes. In regards to the Kings, Mbah a Moute said, “I wish them luck. No hard feelings. I’m excited about the opportunity I have here now,” per Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times (
Twitter link). - While the Kings are expected to be better this season than in recent years, the team could just as likely implode with several interesting personalities, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee writes. The vibe around the team, Jones adds, has been positive since training camp.
- Rookie point guard Emmanuel Mudiay cut down on his turnovers and showed promise in what should be considered a mostly successful training camp for the Nuggets under new coach Michael Malone, Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post writes.
Jazz Sign Eric Atkins
The Jazz signed free agent point guard Eric Atkins, the team announced. The move is considered to be for the D-League roster, Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune tweets.
Earlier on Sunday, the Jazz claimed Phil Pressey off waivers. The Jazz currently have 17 players on the roster. The allowed maximum by opening night is 15. Falk tweets that both point guards could provide insurance for the Jazz because the team currently has only two healthy point guards.
Atkins spent the 2014/15 season with KAOD BC of Greece. He appeared in 26 games (19 starts) and averaged 7.0 points per game, 2.2 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists per game. Atkins played overseas after spending the previous four years at Notre Dame. In his senior season, Atkins averaged 13.9 poins per game to go along with 4.9 assists per game.
Southeast Notes: Johnson, Heat, Murry
Heat shooting guard Tyler Johnson will have his contract fully guaranteed for the season on opening night, becoming the 14th of the 15 players on the roster to have such security, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel reports. Winderman tweeted Saturday that the terms of Johnson’s contract were reworked so that his full guarantee kicks in with the start of the regular season instead of the leaguewide guarantee date in January.
Here’s more from around the Southeast Division:
- In discussing the composition of the team’s roster Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said cutting John Lucas III was a tough decision, Winderman relays. Lucas was among five players the Heat waived educe Miami’s roster to 15 players, the regular season maximum.
- Damien Wilkins, who was recently waived by the Hornets, has signed a deal overseas to play for Guaros de Lara of Venezuela, Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia reports. Wilkins, 35, had spent the 2012/13 season with the Sixers. He has played overseas and in the D-League since.
- Toure’ Murry, who was waived by the Wizards, will start the season in the D-League, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports tweets.
- Magic rookie Mario Hezonja seems to be adjusting well to life in the United States and the caliber of play in the league, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel writes. “He’s progressing for sure,” coach Scott Skiles said. “What we’ve been talking to him about is he has a tendency, like a lot of young players, [where] he checks into the game at whatever point we put him in and teams either go right at him or plays are occurring that he’s not yet comfortable with, and he gets taken advantage of often.”
Jazz Claim Phil Pressey Off Waivers
5:35pm: The team announced the move.
4:16pm: The Jazz have claimed Phil Pressey off waivers after the point guard was waived by the Blazers, Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports reports (on Twitter).
Pressey’s deal with the Blazers was non-guaranteed. Pressey, 24, who signed with Portland shortly after the Celtics waived him this summer, averaged 4.8 points, 2.0 assists and 1.0 turnover in 16.4 minutes per game across four preseason appearances.
Pressey has been viewed by many as a natural point guard with good passing instincts, but he is not considered a good shooter. The Jazz currently have 15 players on the roster, the allowed maximum by opening night. Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune tweets that it seems like the move is to secure Pressey’s D-League rights.
Atlantic Notes: Joseph, Raptors, Knicks
Cory Joseph, who is Canadian, said he has always wanted to play for the Raptors, but the decision to join Toronto on a four-year year deal worth $30MM had more to do with it being the right fit financially and basketball-wise, the point guard told Eric Koreen of the National Post in an interesting Q&A.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- There is a decent chance that Patrick Patterson played himself out of the starting power forward role for the Raptors with a poor preseason, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun writes. Patterson played well defensively, but he is more of an offensive player. In 19 minutes per game in seven appearances during the preseason, Patterson averaged only three points per game, as Wolstat points out.
- From the Knicks‘ point of view, there is plenty riding on Carmelo Anthony‘s ability to recover from major knee surgery this season, Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News relays.
- In response to a question on Twitter, Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis said he wanted to be with New York for the rest of his career (h/t Sportando.com).
Reactions To The Death Of Flip Saunders
Hoops Rumors extends its condolences to the family of the late Flip Saunders and to all who knew him. Many around the league were hurt, surprised and saddened upon learning the news that Saunders died at the age of 60.
Here are some sentiments, memories and messages passed along on Twitter regarding Saunders:
- Marc Stein of ESPN.com called this one of the saddest days in the NBA that he could remember.
- In Chicago, members of the Bulls media learned about the news just as head coach Fred Hoiberg was addressing reporters after the team’s practice. Hoiberg said you won’t find anyone who knew Saunders who didn’t like and respect him, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
- Upon learning what happened, Dan Woike of the Orange County Register said he shared the news with a chatty Clippers media room and it became silent.
- Nets GM Billy King called Saunders “one of the best guys in the NBA.”
- Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press shared that his baby daughter was wearing a pink bib, which was a gift from Saunders, this morning before the announcement was made.
- LeBron James echoed the sentiment of many when he tweeted that Saunders died at too young of an age.
- Veteran Kris Humphries said Saunders was one of the most caring and genuine people he ever met.
Flip Saunders Dies At Age 60
Wolves coach/executive Flip Saunders has died, the team announced via Twitter. Saunders was 60.
Saunders has been battling the effects of cancer treatment and his health situation became dire earlier this month. Changes to way that Saunders‘ body had responded to chemotherapy for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma placed him in a life-threatening situation.
The team called the ailment a “very treatable and curable form of cancer” in August, when it announced his diagnosis along with the news that Saunders would continue his duties as head coach and president of basketball operations. A shift occurred last month, when Saunders took a leave of absence. Sam Mitchell has been coaching the team and GM Milt Newton running the team’s basketball operations since Saunders went on leave. The team said at that point that he’d experienced complications related to the treatments he was receiving and that he was undergoing tests and further treatment at a hospital.
As Saunders’ condition worsened recently, owner Glen Taylor said that Saunders would not return to the team this season because of the complications.
Saunders coached the Wizards, Pistons and Wolves in a career that spanned 17 seasons and included 654 victories. Saunders’ death was shocking and saddening to many around the league. Saunders was both well-liked and well-respected for a variety of reasons.
Wolves Exercise Options On Five Players
4:00pm: The Wolves have officially announced that they have picked up the options on the five players (Twitter link).
WEDNESDAY, 3:20pm: The Wolves have indeed picked up the options, as Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports hears (Twitter link), though the team has yet to make an official announcement.
SUNDAY, 1:26pm: The Wolves plan to exercise options on Andrew Wiggins, Zach LaVine, Shabazz Muhammad, Gorgui Dieng and Adreian Payne early this week, Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press reports (on Twitter).
The moves are largely expected and do not come as a surprise, as Krawczynski tweets. All the options are for the 2016/17 season and the deadline is November 2nd.
All five players are young and each have high ceilings. They each are also affordable. Wiggins’ option is for $6,006,600, LaVine’s is $$2,240,880, Muhammad’s is $3,046,299, Dieng’s is $2,348,783 and Payne’s is $2,022,240.
The options for Wiggins, LaVine and Payne are for the third years of their respective rookie scale contracts and the options for Muhammad and Dieng are for the fourth. We regarded Wiggins’ option as a slam dunk, Dieng’s option as highly likely and the other three as generally expected.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 10/18/15
The NBA preseason can be mindless and boring at times, but for serious fans, who follow teams intensely, it can be pretty interesting, too. Especially when roster spots are up for grabs.
For example, Jared Cunningham has a non-guaranteed deal, but he’s the Cavs‘ leading scorer in the preseason. Obviously, that does not indicate Cunningham will be anywhere near the team lead once the season starts, but for right now, it bodes well for his future.
It’s always fun to see how long certain young players can stay hot once the preseason is over. With it winding down, Pistons rookie Stanley Johnson is continuing to turn heads.
That brings us to today’s question: Which player has been the biggest surprise of the preseason?
By all means, view this question from both sides — while some players have surprised in a good way, several others have disappointed.
Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. Also, be sure to check back later on, as we’ll be responding to readers throughout the evening. We look forward to what you have to say.
Eastern Notes: Biyombo, Hornets, Hawks
The Raptors‘ signing of Bismack Biyombo for two years and $6MM appears to be a steal so far because of the center’s defense and how vocal he is on the court, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun writes. While the Raptors have several capable scorers, Biyombo fills the role of setting screens and grabbing offensive rebounds, which should help the team a great deal, Wolstat adds. Biyombo, as Wolstat points out, is also only 23.
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- Veteran Damien Wilkins, undrafted rookie Aaron Harrison and third-year player Elliot Williams appear to be the candidates for the Hornets‘ final roster spot, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer details. Wilkins, Bonnell contends, has the best chance to play among the three because of his experience at small forward. The Hornets are thin at the position after Michael Kidd-Gilchrist‘s season-ending injury, as Bonnell points out. Williams likely has the smallest chance because the Hornets are deep at point guard, Bonnell adds.
- Though he was mentored by Gregg Popovich, Mike Budenholzer, who is entering his third season as head coach of the Hawks, has put his own mark on the franchise and its style of play, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. While the Hawks use a system similar to the Spurs, Budenholzer has crafted it to fit his personnel, Vivlamore adds.
- Dahntay Jones, a native of New Jersey, said he always wanted to be on the Nets, but Tim Bontemps of the New York Post writes that it’s going to require a surprising move for the team to keep the 34-year-old. That’s because the franchise has made an effort to get younger and there likely just is not a spot for Jones, Bontemps adds. The Nets, as Bontemps includes in his piece, have 13 guaranteed contracts and will likely use one of the two remaining spots on a point guard. The Nets signed Jones to a non-guaranteed deal in September.