Southwest Notes: Roberts, Hamilton, Machado
Here’s a look at the latest out of the Southwest Division..
- Brian Roberts achieved a key milestone Sunday, starting his 41st game for the Pelicans this season. That means he’s met the NBA’s starter criteria for restricted free agents, and the value of his qualifying offer surged from $1,115,243 to $3,450,156, as we detailed. It’ll be interesting to see if that prompts New Orleans to decline to make that qualifying offer for a player who’d likely return to a backup role behind a healthy Jrue Holiday next season. Without the qualifying offer, Roberts would become an unrestricted free agent.
- The Nuggets did not pick up the fourth-year option on Jordan Hamilton’s contract before the season, assuring he will be a free agent this summer, but he’s making the most of his situation now with the Rockets. “It’s a contract year, so I’m definitely auditioning for whoever,” Hamilton said, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “I just have to come out every day and just play my ‘A’ game every chance I get when I’m out there. This is a great team, a great group of young guys. I’m young (24), as well. I think I would fit right in next year. I need to stay in shape and do all the little things they want me to do. This is a good situation.” Hamilton, who came to Houston in exchange for Aaron Brooks, went on to say complimentary things about coach Kevin McHale and the rest of the staff for helping him grow as a player.
- Former Rockets guard Scott Machado has signed in France with ASVEL Basket, according to a tweet from Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The team has also confirmed the signing via press release (French link).
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Southeast Rumors: LeBron, Heat, Magic
Last week, we learned that the Heat almost traded forward Udonis Haslem at the deadline this year. Aside from what he brings on the court, his locker room presence is perhaps even more valued, as Mario Chalmers explained to Bleacher Report’s Ethan Skolnick. “That’s a tough question,” the guard said when asked to quantify Haslem’s value to the team. “U.D., besides Dwyane [Wade] and [LeBron James] and [Chris Bosh], he is the heart and soul of this team. He is one of the captains, one of the leaders on this team. He sets a good example for everybody else. I don’t know. It wouldn’t have been a good thing.” More out of the Southeast..
- If LeBron opts out of his current contract, the most the Heat can pay him is about $20MM in 2014/15 thanks to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Of course, James is worth much more than that in reality, and Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel speculates that he could demand that the Heat bridge that gap by diving even further into the luxury tax to sustain a solid supporting cast. Mario Chalmers’ free-agent contract, a mini-mid-level replacement for Shane Battier, another deal for Ray Allen, or even a pay bump for Chris Andersen could be on LeBron’s mind this summer.
- Second-year forward Kyle O’Quinn says the secret to his success has been the ability to have a short memory and put bad games behind him, writes Ken Hornack of FOX Sports Florida. The Magic can match offers for the restricted free agent O’Quinn after this season with a modest qualifying offer of $1.18MM. Beyond that, Orlando will likely have to give him a significant pay bump.
- Earlier today, Magic chairman Dan DeVos emphatically stated that the team is not for sale.
Hoops Links: Monroe, McRoberts, Livingston
On this date in 1996, Charlotte’s Robert Parish became the NBA’s all-time leader in games played, surpassing the previous record of 1,560 set by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Parish went on to play a record 1,611 games in his career.
Got a great basketball blog post you want featured on Hoops Links? Email it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere..
- Six Championship Drive looks ahead to Greg Monroe‘s future.
- Shaw Sports runs down their favorite glue guys, including the Bobcats’ Josh McRoberts.
- The Brooklyn Game caught up with Shaun Livingston.
- Legion Report gives you waiver wire pickup ideas to help you win your fantasy league.
- Hardwood Paroxysm looks at the difference that one play can make.
- A Wolf Among Wolves brings us another installment of their suggestion box series.
You can send your submissions to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Prospect Profile: Joel Embiid
This wasn’t the year that Kansas had envisioned for themselves at the outset and it certainly wasn’t the season that Joel Embiid had hoped for. At least, it’s not how he wanted it to end. The 7-foot center saw his draft stock steadily rise throughout the year but the back injury he suffered earlier this year might eliminate him from contention for the first overall pick. Out of action since March 1st, the big man is now unsure of whether he will enter the June draft at all.
If Embiid decides to go pro, he’ll go through an medical exam that is stringent even by NBA Draft standards. He’ll also have to go in with absolute confidence in his ability to perform in workouts. Embiid could probably keep away from live competition and still land in the top three, but he’ll at least have to audition for teams and show that his mobility is still there.
In a season that was supposed to be all about teammate Andrew Wiggins, Embiid averaged 11.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game. While the preordained No. 1 overall pick in the draft failed to display a killer instinct at crucial times throughout the year, Embiid likely made scouts drool with his athletic ability. He could probably stand to add some weight to his 250 pound frame, but the 7-footer boasts a 7’5″ wingspan that allows him to disrupt any offense he goes up against.
On the other side of the ball, Embiid’s agility allows him to move quite well in transition for easy buckets. Meanwhile, in the halfcourt set, Embiid probably offers more low post ability than your average college big man. He can also convert from mid-range, making him a tough assignment for any center.
For all of the praise that Embiid received throughout his freshman campaign, no one has accused him of being a polished product. The 20-year-old came off of the bench for the first eight games of the KU season and while he took off like a rocket ship from that point, it’s clear that he still has a long way to go. In any given draft, you’ll find that the top prospects available were veterans of the AAU circuit with an eye on the NBA dating back to middle school. In Embiid’s case, the Cameroonian has only been playing hoops since 2011. That should mean a high ceiling for the Jayhawk, but it could also signal some rough patches early on in his NBA career.
Will Embiid ultimately enter the draft? Back in January, he confessed that he wasn’t sure if he was quite ready to make the jump and he sounds just as conflicted today. However, as Marcus Smart has reminded all of us, staying in school can be a risky and somewhat regrettable move. Sometimes life offers us opportunities before we’re actually ready for them and, usually, you can’t put them on hold. Embiid may not feel like he’s ready, but the only logical choice for him is to dive into the deep end and become a top pick while it’s still a lock. Returning for his sophomore season may be the more comfortable option, but it’s not the wise one.
Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- A growing number of free agents are signing deals with team options, Chuck Myron writes.
- Cray Allred looked at the draft prospects of Doug McDermott, an established shooter with a few question marks.
- Will Eric Bledsoe change teams for the second consecutive summer? Chuck doesn’t think so.
- We have some changes in the order of Hoops Rumors’ 2014 free agent power rankings.
- Chuck updated us on protected 2014 first-round picks.
- Syracuse guard Tyler Ennis has established himself as a likely lottery pick, writes Eddie Scarito.
- Is your team out of the playoff hunt? Keep up with their lottery prospects using our Reverse Standings.
- Eddie looked at UCLA’s Kyle Anderson.
- Here’s how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.
- We featured the best comments on Hoops Rumors in this week’s edition of Featured Feedback.
- If you missed out on this week’s chat, you can check out the transcript here.
Week In Review: 3/31/14 – 4/6/14
For a while, it seemed like Kyle Lowry was a goner in Toronto. This week, however, Raptors CEO Tim Leiweke came out and said that the Raptors will likely re-sign the veteran guard. The Raptors have Lowry’s Bird rights and only about $39MM in commitments for next season, so they appear to have the resources necessary to bring him back. However, Toronto has never been a free agent destination and the 28-year-old may choose to go elsewhere. More from the week that was..
- The Bulls, Cavs, and Bobcats will likely go after Pau Gasol.
- Tony Parker says Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili will return.
- The Knicks will reportedly fire Mike Woodson if they don’t make the playoffs.
- The Mavs want to re-sign Vince Carter. Ditto for Samuel Dalembert.
- Knicks president Phil Jackson met with Lamar Odom recently.
- The Lakers are leaning towards keeping Mike D’Antoni.
- The Lakers plan to keep both Steve Nash and Kendall Marshall.
- No surprise here: Andrew Wiggins is entering the 2014 draft.
- Dario Saric is likely entering the draft.
- The Jazz claimed Erik Murphy after he was waived by the Bulls.
- The Kings inked Jared Cunningham to a 10-day pact.
- The Bucks signed Chris Wright to a 10-day deal.
- The Bobcats gave DJ White another 10-day deal.
- The Cavs signed Scotty Hopson.
- The 76ers re-signed Casper Ware to a 10-day.
- Seth Curry joined the Warriors’ D-League affiliate.
- Agent Arn Tellem could be interested in buying the Bucks.
- The Spurs signed Damion James to a 10-day.
- The Wolves waived A.J. Price.
- The Rockets are eyeing German league point guard Malcolm Delaney.
- The Magic could be up for sale soon.
- North Carolina junior James Michael McAdoo announced his decision to enter the NBA draft.
- Missouri combo guard Jordan Clarkson will enter the NBA draft.
- Missouri junior Jabari Brown is entering the draft.
- Roscoe Smith is going pro.
- Michigan State sophomore Gary Harris will be in the draft.
- Johnny O’Bryant III is in as well.
- The Warriors are making some changes to their assistant coaching staff.
Bucks Sign D.J. Stephens To 10-Day Deal
MARCH 26TH: The Bucks have officially signed Stephens, the team announced (Twitter link).
MARCH 24TH: Milwaukee is circling back around to Stephens now that their 10-day deal with Chris Wright has lapsed, as the Bucks will sign Stephens to a 10-day contract on Wednesday, tweets Shams Charania of RealGM.
MARCH 14TH: The Bucks are set to sign former University of Memphis swingman D.J. Stephens to a 10-day deal, according to Greek site EBasket. Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype (on Twitter) has confirmed the news. Stephens had interest from several clubs heading into last year’s draft but was not selected.
In 18 games with Greek team Ilysiakos this season, Stephens has averaged 9.9 PPG and 8.8 RPG. The 23-year-old averaged less than eight points and seven rebounds in his senior season at Memphis, but his highlight reel of blocks and eye-popping dunks had scouts drooling. At the pre-draft combine, Stephens registered a 46″ vertical leap, the highest ever recorded by the NBA. For reference, LeBron James and Michael Jordan have never recorded more than a 44″ vertical.
And-Ones: Alexander, Kobe, Knicks, Sampson
The Warriors invited Joe Alexander to training camp over the offseason already knowing that the small forward was dealing with a serious injury, writes Andrew Matheson of the Santa Cruz Sentinel. “Joe was always a long term play,” said Kirk Lacob, GM of the Santa Cruz Warriors, the team Alexander is with now. “By the time he showed up, we did a lot more sensitive testing and realized he wasn’t ready to go for a while — if we wanted him to be healthy for the rest of his career and regain a lot of the athleticism he lost, because he used to be an absolute freak athlete,” Lacob said. “So we brought him to camp and told him, ‘Here’s the deal: You’re going to miss camp, you’re going to miss a couple of months, but we’re going to get you there. We promise that.’” More from around the NBA.
- After openly questioning Lakers management and declaring he has no patience for a rebuilding effort, Kobe Bryant has since opened up communication with the Lakers front office, the 18-year veteran said in a conversation with ESPN’s Darren Rovell. “[Jim Buss] and I actually talked after that and it’s important for us to have that conversation because this is their team, it’s been in their family for years and we all know what the track record is for that, but I’ve also been part of this franchise since I was 17 years old,” Bryant said, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. “I feel like I bleed purple and gold and I want to see this franchise be successful. I don’t want to hear the comments of dissension between Jim and [Lakers president] Jeanie [Buss]. We need to figure this thing out. We’re all moving in the same direction.”
- Irving Azoff is reportedly becoming Knicks owner James Dolan‘s closest confidant, but Azoff tells Scott Cacciola of The New York Times that he won’t play any further role with the Knicks after shepherding the hiring of Phil Jackson as team president.
- Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson is a leading candidate for the newly-vacant University of Houston job, sources tell Pat Forde and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The gig opened up earlier today when James Dickey stepped down after four years as coach. Dickey was 64-62 in his career at Houston
- Rodrigue Beaubois turned down an offer from Italian team Olimpia Milano, according to catch-and-shoot.com (on Twitter). With Beaubois still available, Paris-Levallois is set to bring him in for a tryout.
Spurs Rumors: Ginobili, Duncan, Spurs
A look at the Spurs as they face the Sixers on their home floor tonight..
- Manu Ginobili wasn’t sure he’d play both seasons of his two-year deal when he re-signed with the Spurs this summer, but now he’s “pretty sure” he’s going to return for 2014/15, as he tells Sam Amick of USA Today.
- When asked if he’d honor his contract through next season, Spurs star Tim Duncan said he’s taking it “game by game,” notes Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. Duncan, who turns 38 next month, is averaging 15 PPG and 10 RPG with a career-low PER of 21.1. Even if they’re not his best numbers, it’s clear that the big man still has lots of quality basketball left.
- While with the Spurs, Sixers coach Brett Brown watched Gary Neal and Danny Green, among others, thrive in the NBA after leaving Europe. Now, Brown is looking to do the same in Philly, writes Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com. This morning, the Sixers welcomed guard Casper Ware, who just finished up his second consecutive season in Italy.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Kris Humphries
So far in our Free Agent Stock Watch series, we’ve profiled Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James. Today, we look at Celtics forward Kris Humphries. While it’s true that one of these things is not like the other, the 29-year-old big man could get some serious attention when he hits the open market this summer.
Humphries, a late lottery pick of the Jazz in 2004, had a rather unremarkable career until January of 2010 when he was traded by the Mavericks along with Shawne Williams to the Nets for Eduardo Najera. The Nets quickly discarded Williams, but Humphries was given an opportunity to shine in New Jersey and made the most of it, posting 10 PPG and 10.4 RPG in a then career-high ~28 minutes per contest. Over the next two years, he proved that his stint with the Nets was no fluke as he proved to be a reliable low post scoring option and brought the tenacity on the glass that center Brook Lopez seemed to lack.
The move across the Hudson River over to Brooklyn may have been a step forward for the organization, but it was quickly apparent in the 2012/13 season that Hump left his best basketball in the Garden State. While he was supposed to be a fixture in the Nets rotation after inking a two-year, $24MM deal in July, he was bounced from Avery Johnson‘s rotation and couldn’t reclaim his spot under his replacement, P.J. Carlesimo. After a season to forget, Humphries found himself on the less-glamorous end of one of the biggest trades in NBA history.
Once again, Humphries was able to make the most of his situation as he was (eventually) able to get significant playing time with the rebuilding Celtics. In 20.2 minutes per contest, Humphries has averaged 8.5 PPG and 6.1 RPG and put up a PER of 18.5, an even stronger mark than his best years in New Jersey. The veteran has said that he would like to stay in Boston, but he could see lucrative offers come in from multiple suitors. It’s tough to say where Humphries will wind up, but in a league where size and toughness are valued, the big man should be in line for a nice payday.