Eastern Notes: Bucks, Arena, Nets
With a nucleus of young and mostly established players including Michael Carter-Williams, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe and John Henson, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders opines that there’s a strong chance the Bucks emerge this season as one of the top teams out of the Eastern Conference. Hamilton also adds that the young players respect head coach Jason Kidd, perhaps more than a veteran would, given Kidd’s age, and that should make winning come a bit easier for the team.
Here’s more out of the Eastern Conference:
- Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who signed a bill that calls for $250MM of public financing for a new arena for the Bucks, called the proposed investment “fiscally responsible,” on NBC’s Meet the Press (h/t SI.com’s Chris Mannix). Walker has long backed the arena project and said when the bill emerged from the state legislature late last month that he’d sign it. The team must still arrange for a land sale with Milwaukee County and receive approval for construction from the Milwaukee Common Council, but Bucks executives have said that can take place between now and the fall.
- After the worst statistical season since his second year in the league, Joe Johnson, judging from his physique in photos and videos posted on his Instagram feed, appears to be ready for this season, Robert Windrem of NetsDaily writes. Johnson, who was the subject of trade rumors earlier this summer, will likely start at shooting guard, according to Nets head coach Lionel Hollins.
L.A. Notes: World Peace, Russell, Clippers
If the Lakers sign Metta World Peace, which they are thinking about doing, as reports indicate, the primary job for the 15-year NBA veteran who turns 36 in November would be to mentor forward Julius Randle, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets. Randle, the Lakers’ first round draft pick in 2014, suffered a broken leg in his NBA debut last season, but is on track to be recovered by the start of the 2015/16 season.
Here’s more news out of Los Angeles:
- D’Angelo Russell, who reportedly has Lakers‘ part-owner Jim Buss excited about the upcoming season, plans to meet with current star Kobe Bryant and retired star Steve Nash to pick their brains about how to stick around in the league, Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News reports.
- Clippers owner Steve Ballmer turned down a $60MM per year offer for local TV rights and is going ahead with a plan to start his own streaming network, reports Claire Atkinson of the New York Post. While there has been talk since last year of the Clippers using a streaming service, the belief is that FOX Sports will find a way to keep them, Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com tweets. Atkinson cites experts who doubt that the 59-year-old owner would be able to pull it off. To make $60MM in revenue, the Clippers would have to sign up around 10% of the city’s five million households and get a pretty high price for the service, Atkinson writes.
Pistons Favorites To Sign Eric Moreland
Free agent Eric Moreland will soon decide between the Pistons, Lakers and Kings, with Detroit being the front-runner, league sources tell Shams Charania of RealGM. Details on any offers are not yet known.
There’s a strong chance Moreland would make the roster on any of the three teams. The Lakers and Kings have openings with 12 and 14 fully guaranteed contracts, respectively, as Charania points out. While the Pistons appear to be the favorite, they have a roster that provides much less flexibility. Detroit is carrying 17 fully guaranteed contracts, as our own Chuck Myron examined.
The Lakers worked out Moreland earlier this summer. The Kings waived Moreland in July because, reportedly, his playing style was too similar to that of No. 6 pick Willie Cauley-Stein. If the Kings had not released Moreland, his salary would have became guaranteed. Sacramento, however, is interested in re-signing Moreland, according to vice president of basketball and franchise operations Vlade Divac.
Moreland, 23, had a labral tear in his left shoulder end his rookie year prematurely after he’d made it into only three games this past season.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/23/15
Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant turned 37 today. What better time than now to discuss his future? He is back on the court practicing shooting drills for the first time since tearing the rotator cuff in his right shoulder, as Eric Pincus of The Los Angeles Times writes.
Bryant is in the last year of his current deal, which will pay him $25MM. He isn’t making any definitive statements about whether he’ll retire after this coming season, even though that seems the most likely outcome.
Thus, the question of the day: Depending on how it plays out, what should Kobe Bryant do after this season?
Personally, I’d like to see Bryant hang it up after this season for a few reasons. He’s obviously been limited because of injuries, he has nothing more to prove in the league and another contract — unless it is a one-year deal — would only hurt the Lakers’ rebuilding process more.
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: Lakers, Celtics, Lee
The Lakers have promoted Ryan West to director of player personnel, Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times reports. West was formerly the team’s assistant director of scouting. West is the son of Lakers legend Jerry West. An official announcement won’t be made until September, according to Pincus.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Celtics have been hesitant to make long-term investments to secure cap space, but Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe speculates that the team might look to extend Tyler Zeller. The team could agree to what Washburn writes would be a modest extension. The center averaged 10.2 points per game and 5.7 rebounds per game last season. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, in a recent report, wrote that Zeller has a better chance than Celtics teammates Jared Sullinger and Perry Jones III to receive a contract extension before the start of the regular season.
- David Lee is in a good situation now that he is with the Celtics, Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders writes. While Boston likely won’t make as deep a playoff run as the Warriors, the Celtics should be a pretty good young team and Lee should find himself in a starting role, Brigham adds. The Celtics acquired Lee in a deal with the Warriors in July.
Western Notes: Thunder, Mavs, Blazers
There’s a lot of excitement surrounding Oklahoma City and what new Thunder coach Billy Donovan will bring to the team. He has already received rave reviews from the community. In a lengthy profile, Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman discusses how Donovan’s up-tempo, fan-friendly style of play transformed Florida into a national power in college basketball.
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- With Al-Farouq Aminu now with the Blazers, the Mavs find themselves needing to replace Aminu’s spark off the bench, with the hopes that one of their new additions can fill the void, Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com writes. Aminu signed a four-year, $30MM deal with Portland. Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson believes coach Rick Carlisle‘s track record of developing players will help the growth of some of Dallas’ young players like rookie Justin Anderson, Sneed adds.
- Maurice Harkless was listed by Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders as a player who is in a better situation after changing teams this summer. Portland acquired Harkless in a trade with the Magic. Harkless is better off now, Brigham writes, because he has a solid opportunity to leap from a relative unknown in the league to a significant contributor for a respected team since the Blazers are rebuilding.
Extension Candidate: Jared Sullinger
There are signs that a breakout season for Celtics power forward Jared Sullinger is forthcoming. The biggest one being that Sullinger has seemingly committed to getting in much better shape this summer. Of course, each summer, there are a plethora of stories about players suddenly in the best shape they’ve ever been in. With Sullinger, however, there seems to be a lot of validity behind the claims.
Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, for one, has heard Sullinger has worked hard. There’s plenty of motivation for Sullinger, who was listed at 260 pounds last season, to get healthier, as Stevens alluded to.
“He’s been working out in a couple different locations,” Stevens said in late July on SiriusXM’s NBA Radio, as transcribed on ESPN Boston. “But everything that I have heard, every time I’ve spoken with him, every time I have spoken to people around him, it sounds like he’s doing great. Hey, he wants to be in the best shape of his life, he wants to be in great condition, and he’s working towards that, and I think he’s excited for a new season to show that’s been his focus and to show off the work that he’s put in to get there.”
Sullinger is eligible for an extension this summer, but Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com wrote in May that serious contract talks are more likely to happen when he becomes a restricted free agent in 2016. Sullinger, who will make $2.3MM next season, is trying to meet Boston’s front office challenge to get in better shape. The challenge specifically came from Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge, who said, “I think he’s hurting the longevity of his career and his play now by not being in as good shape as he can be in.”
Sullinger has until November 2nd to agree to a long-term contract extension. Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe doesn’t believe Sullinger will ink an extension, as Washburn writes that Sullinger’s agent, David Falk, told Washburn in February that an extension wouldn’t be possible unless it was for the maximum — an estimated $85MM. That won’t happen, according to Washburn. So that would mean Sullinger is headed for restricted free agency.
If Sullinger is in better shape — and maintains his conditioning throughout the season — he will likely enjoy a big scoring season, especially considering he has always been thought of by many as a very talented player. With better conditioning, there is reason to believe his jump shooting would be improved because of better leg strength. Still, if he ends up losing too much weight, there’s a chance Sullinger, who has been a good rebounder in the past, loses strength.
Despite the expected rise in the salary cap and the idea that Sullinger could walk after a big season, I do not think it would be wise for the Celtics to extend him mainly because health and injury concerns have followed Sullinger ever since he was drafted in 2012. What’s more, Sullinger could become a valuable trade chip for the Celtics down the road. It seems the Celtics are willing to move him. Boston discussed a package that included multiple draft picks and Sullinger with the Knicks before the draft. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Celtics inked power forward Amir Johnson and acquired David Lee, who might be better long-term fits than Sullinger. With Sullinger reportedly looking for the maximum and considering the team’s depth chart, it seems unlikely to me that the Celtics extend him.
Do you think the Celtics and Sullinger will do an extension, and if so, how much do you think he’ll get? Leave a comment to tell us.
Eastern Notes: Wizards, Celtics, Bulls
The Wizards expect Tomas Satoransky, a shooting guard whom Washington drafted 32nd overall in 2012, to finally join them after he completes the final year of his contract with Barcelona this season, J. Michael of CSN Mid-Atlantic writes. As Michael adds, for the past few years, it’s been questionable as to if Satoransky will ever join the team. Satoransky has told the Wizards that he intends to be in Washington for the 2016/17 season, Michael reports, citing a source. Last summer, as Michael points out, Satoransky wanted the team to sign him before he competed in the summer league, and he’s also pushed for a larger amount than the team was willing to give. Ultimately, the Wizards stood firm and used the mid-level to sign Paul Pierce.
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Jae Crowder, whom the Celtics re-signed to a five-year, $35MM deal, is participating in full workouts, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes. Crowder suffered an ankle sprain during the first round of the playoffs. Celtics coach Brad Stevens has yet to project a starting lineup, Crowder is expected to compete with Evan Turner at small forward, Washburn adds.
- In an interview with Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype, Nikola Mirotic had mostly positive things to say about his season under former Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau, but he also added that he’s looking forward to playing under Fred Hoiberg next year in a system that allows for more individual freedom from the players. “We had good and bad times, but we were always together,” Mirotic said. “When things were going badly, we never thought it was the coach’s fault or were thinking this could be his final year with the team. We have been very focused on the task ahead. We knew we had a good shot at the Finals. I can only say positive things about Thibodeau. He has helped me improve. He’s a difficult coach that perhaps doesn’t like to play the young guys much, but you learn from him and he makes you work hard. He got you ready for the time when that opportunity could come.”
Raptors Notes: Carroll, DeRozan, Valanciunas
DeMarre Carroll, who inked a four-year deal with the Raptors for $58MM in July, intends to remain focused on playing stout defense and said his large contract and big role with the team will not effect his mindset in terms of scoring, Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun writes. Still, if not for the emergence of Carroll’s outside shooting, Wolstat contends that the small forward likely would not have been the Raptors’ prized free agent signing this summer. As Wolstat points out, Carroll hit 27 3-pointers over his first four seasons before making 97 and then 120 as a member of the Hawks.
Here’s more on the Raptors:
- Speaking of shooting from beyond the arc, Carroll believes star Raptors shooting guard DeMar DeRozan‘s growth as a better shooter will be instrumental in the team’s success, Wolstat writes in the same piece. “I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of other things he worked on in his game and he’s a dominant offensive player [already],” Carroll said. “So I think if he adds that three-point to his game it’ll take us over the top.”
- In his weekly mailbag post, Doug Smith of The Toronto Star writes that the Raptors hope to see Jonas Valanciunas have a better anticipation and faster reaction to situations in games this upcoming season. The team recently extended Valanciunas to a deal worth $64MM over four years with a player option on the fourth year.
Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/16/15
As we learned earlier today, James Harden is confident that his new teammate Ty Lawson can overcome his alcohol-related issues and fit in well with the Rockets. Lawson, who recently completed a 30-day rehab program in the wake of his second DUI of the year, was shipped from Denver to Houston last month in a five-player deal.
Whether Lawson will be available for the season opener is subject to debate, according to an ESPN.com report. The league normally does not administer punishment until after court cases have been settled, the report points out. Lawson is due back in court on Aug. 20th in Denver.
There are more reasons to think Lawson and the Rockets won’t quite work so well besides his troubled past. Lawson does not exactly complement Harden because the two have similar skills — and similar deficiencies. Lawson is a ball-dominant player and is not a great defender. Despite that, I believe Lawson improves the Rockets because he is such a threat offensively. He also provides the team some speed that was seemingly missing during the playoffs.
Thus, the question of the day: Keeping in mind Lawson’s struggle with alcohol, how does Lawson fit with the Rockets?
Take to the comments section below to sound off with your thoughts and opinions. 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.