Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 9/6/15
Earlier today, we learned Jared Sullinger, David Lee and James Young are the players on the Celtics who have the most riding on this season, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.
All three make a lot of sense because Sullinger will be a restricted free agent if he does not get an extension, Lee is on a new team after losing his starting job last season with the Warriors and Young is a entering an important season in terms of his growth.
Those players are not alone in the league. From Wesley Matthews to Reggie Jackson, there are so many other players with something to prove this season because of large contracts, pending free agency, age and many other factors.
Thus, our topic of the day: Who are some players with the most to prove this season and why?
Please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below. We look forward to what you have to say.
Note: Since these Shootarounds are meant to be guided by you the reader, we certainly welcome your input on the topics we present. If there is something you’d like to see pop up here for a discussion, shoot us a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com.
Hoops Links: Afflalo, Morris, Mudiay
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 Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s rundown…
- Hooptrends.com began its “Game-changer” series with a look at the Knicks‘ Arron Afflalo.
- The Sports Quotient examined whether or not Markieff Morris and Marcus Morris can survive without each other.
- The Love Of Hoops ran down the league’s best “3 and D” players.
- Real Ball Insiders explains how the Nuggets‘ combination of Emmanuel Mudiay and Jusuf Nurkic seems poised for big things.
- Welcometoloudcity.com discussed Mitch McGary as a breakout player.
- Brightsideofthesun.com looked into the dire predictions for the Suns.
- Grizzlybearblues.com discussed the evolution of Mike Conley.
- Thedreamshake.com wrote about Clint Capela‘s playoff breakout.
Please send submissions to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
And-Ones: Davis, Sixers, Ware
Former All-Star Baron Davis is still set on completing his comeback to the league, as he details in a first-hand account for NBA.com. The 36-year-old explains his motivations and reasons for wanting to get back on the court. Earlier this summer, Davis said he feels like he could play 15-20 minutes per game. He hasn’t played since he suffered a devastating knee injury in the 2012 playoffs.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Expectations will be heavy for Jahlil Okafor this season with the Sixers, especially since he has a good chance to lead all rookies in minutes this season, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe writes. Joel Embiid’s absence will allow the big man to blend with Nerlens Noel for what could be an effective center/power forward combination, Washburn adds.
- Casper Ware, who last played in the league in 2013/14 as a member of the Sixers, signed a $350K deal with Tianjin Steel of China, a source told international reporter David Pick (on Twitter).
Western Notes: Thunder, Kings, Clippers
Despite occasional displays of frustration between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, the two stars have learned to co-exist and stick together with the Thunder, Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman writes. A lot of that, Mayberry adds, can be attributed to Durant’s efficiency: Durant has learned how to do more with less so Westbrook could be better with more. Of course, the relationship will be tested when Durant is set to hit free agency next summer.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- With several seemingly combustible elements and a few more characters added, there’s a decent shot that the Kings could have a chaotic season. At the same time, it’s also just as likely that because of those personalities and the players’ level of skill, Sacramento can experience a winning season, Shaun Powell of NBA.com writes in a 30 teams in 30 days series.With the saga between DeMarcus Cousins and coach George Karl appearing to have come to an end, the Kings seem like they’re in good position to shed the notion of a dysfunctional franchise, Powell adds. Adding Willie Cauley-Stein and Rajon Rondo will also likely help the franchise move forward, Powell writes.
- Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders believes Paul Pierce is in line to see a drop in production with the Clippers this season. Although he provided a key veteran presence for the Wizards last season, Pierce averaged a career-low 11.9 points per game and should see that average drop with a loaded Clippers team, Greene writes. Pierce signed a three-year deal with the Clippers in July.
Eastern Notes: Beal, Pacers, Celtics
Bradley Beal is a very talented player with a lot of upside and one who will receive a maximum deal from a different team if the Wizards don’t sign him to a max extension, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders opines. Hamilton takes into account the expected rise in the league’s salary cap and suggests that Beal is likely worth a large contract because of the league’s current market. Our own Chuck Myron recently examined Beal’s extension candidacy. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported in May that the Wizards were committed to paying him the max, but talks didn’t really begin until mid-July, and the sides apparently met with conflicting desires.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- The Pacers, with depth in the frontcourt, don’t appear to be a good potential trade partner with the Suns for Markieff Morris, who issued a trade demand, Scott Agness of VigilantSports.com writes. The four-year, $32MM extension that Morris signed last fall kicks in for this coming season, but a lack of communication between Morris and the team indicates that the relationship will be extremely difficult to repair. For the Pacers, landing Morris would be worth looking into in exchange for a bench player and a second-round pick, Agness adds, but that package would likely not be enough to reel him in.
- The main problem with the Celtics heading into this season, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com writes, is the team lacks an elite star. Forsberg compares this group of Celtics to last year’s Hawks and adds that although Atlanta had a remarkable season without a star, it ultimately ran out of gas without a big-time player.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Celtics, Sixers
Andrea Bargnani said his attitude toward winning has changed and he’s no longer focused on individual achievements in an interview with RAI, Italy’s biggest broadcaster, relayed by Robert Windrem of NetsDaily.
Bargnani has been criticized by Knicks president Phil Jackson for not seeming to care enough about the team. In an interview last month, Jackson told ESPN’s Charlie Rosen that Bargnani “was and still is a big tease who seemed like a malingerer.” Jackson added that he didn’t like Bargnani’s lack of intensity on the court and did not like the way Bargnani refused to engage in non-contact activities while he was recovering from an injury. Bargnani, 29, inked a two-year deal with the Nets this offseason. Bargnani has said he will comment about Jackson’s remarks before the season.
Here’s more on the Atlantic Division:
- Jared Sullinger, David Lee and James Young are the players on the Celtics who have the most riding on this season, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Sullinger, who was challenged by Boston’s front office to get healthier this offseason, is a no-brainer for this list. Barring a contract extension before the start of this season, Sullinger will be a restricted free agent next summer. I recently examined his case for an extension. Lee has something to prove this season after he lost his starting job with the Warriors last season, Blakely adds. Similarly, Young also has more motivation than many other players entering this season because of the uneven season he had last year, Blakely writes.
- Without Joel Embiid, who is expected to miss the entire 2015/16 campaign, the Sixers‘ season will be primarily used to develop Jahlil Okafor and see how he pairs with Nerlens Noel, Shaun Powell of NBA.com writes in a 30 teams in 30 days series.
Southeast Notes: Heat, Magic, Hawks
There’s a decent chance that the clause in James Ennis‘ contract with the Heat that makes it fully guaranteed if he makes the opening day roster will hamper Ennis from securing one of the final spots with Miami, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes in a mailbag Q&A. Ennis signed a three-year deal with the Heat in July. Ennis’ contract this season is worth $845,059. Ennis’ contract could still be modified, Winderman adds.
Here’s more from around the Southeast Division:
- The Magic missed on landing Paul Millsap, who re-signed with the Hawks, but Orlando locked up Tobias Harris and have built through the draft. The franchise would be best served if it continued to build through the draft after this upcoming season and then it has a better chance of being a preferred destination for free agents, Shaun Powell of NBA.com writes in a 30 teams in 30 days series.
- Citing Kyle Korver‘s age (34), Lang Greene of Basketball Insiders pegs the Hawks shooting guard, who was an All-Star last season, as a player who will likely see a decline in production this season. Korver has been very solid in Atlanta, but the Hawks added veteran Jason Richardson and acquired Tim Hardaway Jr. this summer to add depth to the shooting guard position.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/30/15
As we learned earlier today, the Rockets‘ Dwight Howard is generating little buzz with his potential 2016 free agency. Howard signed a four-year deal with Houston worth more than $87MM, but has a player option for 2016/17. With the salary cap expected to soar next summer, he will likely test the market once again. While there may not be much buzz now, there is intrigue when the variables in play are brought up. There’s Howard’s age (he’ll soon be 30) and injury history, for starters.
Thus, the question of the day: What type of deal will Howard land if he becomes a 2016 free agent?
Personally, I see Howard — if he stays healthy and produces this season — getting a long-term deal from the Rockets worth at least $100MM.
Being mindful of our commenting policy, let us know in the comments section below what you think is the most underrated signing of the summer so far.
And-Ones: Rubio, Hornets, Kidd-Gilchrist
Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher (video link) buys the idea that the Timberwolves will move Ricky Rubio and mentioned the Kings and Mavs. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, however, tweets that although both teams have tried in the past to obtain Rubio, Timberwolves’ head coach and president Flip Saunders isn’t shopping. There were conflicting reports in May regarding whether or not Rubio’s camp was making a push for a trade.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Hornets coach Steve Clifford believes the offseason roster changes have made his squad more skilled than last season and especially believes in the idea that Jeremy Lin and Kemba Walker can make the offense more dynamic, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports in a Q&A with the coach. “It’s always good to have two pick-and-roll players on the floor,” Clifford said. “That way you can put pressure on the defense at one side, then switch it to the other.”
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, who recently signed a four-year, $52MM extension with the Hornets, said the deal has not put any pressure on him and instead has added fuel to his fire, Scott Fowler of The Charlotte Observer reports in a Q&A with the small forward.
Western Notes: Upshaw, Claver, Franklin
The Lakers hope to have Robert Upshaw in training camp, but he has some private things he needs to take care of first, as Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders relays in a series of tweets. As Pincus points out, Upshaw has battled personal issues that plagued him in college. Pincus adds that Upshaw has the Lakers’ support. The undrafted center reportedly reached an agreement with the Lakers a month ago, but Pincus later clarified that he was merely a possibility for the team.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Victor Claver, who played in 10 games last season with the Blazers, is finalizing an agreement with Russia’s PBC Lokomotiv Kuban, international reporter David Pick tweets. Claver, whom Portland chose with the 22nd overall pick in 2009, averaged only 3.2 points per game in his three seasons in the league. The big man finished up this past season playing in Russia after the Nuggets waived him following his inclusion in the Arron Afflalo trade.
- China’s Guangdong Southern Tigers are considering signing Jamaal Franklin, Enea Trapani of Sportando reports. Franklin was waived by the Nuggets in July. Franklin is just two years removed from having been the 41st overall pick in 2013. The Grizzlies waived him using the stretch provision last summer, so the Brian Elfus client will continue to pick up NBA paychecks through 2018/19. The shooting guard spent time playing in China and for the Lakers D-League affiliate last season before the Nuggets picked him up.