Stauskas Eager For Fresh Start
- Shooting guard Nik Stauskas, who was included in the deal that sent Jahlil Okafor to the Nets, is eager for a fresh start with Brooklyn, Nets website writer Tom Dowd relays. Stauskas appeared in 80 games, including 27 starts, with the Sixers last season but only saw action in six games this season after the off-season signing of J.J. Redick. “I’m just happy with the new change of scenery,” Stauskas said. “I feel like I get a chance to press the reset button.”
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/11/17
Here are Monday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:
- The Nets assigned guard Isaiah Whitehead to their Long Island affiliate, according to the G League team’s Twitter feed. Whitehead has averaged 22.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 3.3 APG in three G League games this season. He has also appeared in nine games for the Brooklyn Nets, averaging 7.0 PPG, 2.0 RP and 1.7 APG in 12.1 MPG.
Sean Marks Has Been Actively Acquiring Second-Round Picks
- The Nets opted to take a flyer on Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas this week but the aspect of the trade that they’re most excited for could very well be the second round pick, Zach Lowe of ESPN says (via Nets Daily). General manager Sean Marks has been busy the last few years, acquiring second-rounders to replenish those that his predecessor traded away.
Nik Stauskas Gives Nets Low-Risk, High-Reward Option
- When the Nets acquired Jahlil Okafor from the Sixers earlier this week, Nik Stauskas — who the Nets also acquired in the deal — flew under the radar. Stauskas had fallen out Philadelphia’s rotation and played in just six games this season. As Bryan Fonseca of NetsDaily writes, Stauskas provides the Nets with a low-risk, high-reward option who has had some good stretches in the NBA.
- After New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio questioned the Nets’ success as a franchise after moving to Brooklyn in 2012, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the team has exceeded expectations, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes.
Nets Recall Isaiah Whitehead From G League
- Second-year guard Isaiah Whitehead has been recalled from the G League by the Nets, according to a press release from the club. Whitehead, who will join the Nets in Mexico City, has played in eight NBA games and three G League games so far this season.
Sixers/Nets Trade Notes: Reactions, Analysis, More
After spending the better part of 2017 on the trade block, Jahlil Okafor finally has a new NBA home, with the Sixers and Nets completing a trade on Thursday that sent Okafor, Nik Stauskas, and a 2019 second-round pick to Brooklyn in exchange for Trevor Booker. We’ve got several notes related to that deal to pass along this morning, so let’s dive right in…
Analysis:
- Acquiring Okafor is another shrewd move for the Nets as they continue to rebuild their roster, writes Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports. While Okafor didn’t generate a ton of interest on the trade market, one Western Conference exec tells Mannix that his team would have had “strong interest” in the third-year center as a free agent. “He’s a good player,” said that Western exec. “He’s probably never going to be a great player, but he will always be a very good scorer. You go get guys like that when you can.”
- In the view of Derek Bodner of The Athletic, the Sixers essentially traded a future second-round pick for Booker, prompting Bodner to examine whether the veteran forward is worth it. Although the Athletic scribe isn’t quite sure about Booker’s fit, he notes that the deal improves Philadelphia’s bench and doesn’t put much of a dent into the team’s draft-pick stash.
- Okafor has a chance to be a very good offensive player for the Nets, says Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype.
- ESPN’s Kevin Pelton (Insider link) isn’t overly bullish on the trade for either team, giving the Nets a grade of B, and the Sixers a C. Even though Pelton likes Brooklyn’s side a little better, he notes that opening up a roster spot and adding some extra depth at power forward could pay off for Philadelphia.
Reactions:
- Okafor is “extremely” excited to be a Net, a source close to the former third overall pick tells Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports.
- Speaking to Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype, Booker said that he wasn’t too surprised by the deal, since he felt like he might be moved at some point in 2017/18. More than anything, Booker says, he’s excited to go to an “up-and-coming team” like the Sixers, adding that he could picture himself in Philadelphia long-term if the team wants to keep him around beyond this season.
- Joel Embiid engaged in some playful trash talk with his longtime teammate in the wake of the trade, as Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports Philadelphia tweets. “I made sure to let [Okafor] know that I was going to kick his ass,” Embiid said. “We play them four times a year.” The Sixers’ star center added – on a more serious note – that he’s “really happy” for Okafor, who is a good friend (Twitter link).
Other notes:
- We typically like to break down the salary cap implications of each major NBA trade, including how the deal creates trade exceptions or impacts a club’s long-term cap outlook. However, there aren’t many cap-related items to pass along on the Sixers/Nets swap. The Nets remain under the cap, so they can’t create a trade exception, and the 76ers won’t get one either.
- Booker, Okafor, and Stauskas all have expiring contracts, meaning neither team will create or give up any cap room for the summer of 2018. Booker will be an unrestricted free agent, while Stauskas will be eligible for restricted free agency, though he seems unlikely to get a qualifying offer. As for Okafor, he’ll be unrestricted, but the Nets won’t be able to offer him a starting salary worth more than about $6.3MM (the value of his declined 2018/19 option) if they want to re-sign him.
- CBA rules prevent a team from acquiring a player with an exception and then aggregating his salary with another salary in a trade during the next two months. For instance, the Sixers couldn’t immediately combine Booker’s $9MM+ salary with Amir Johnson‘s $11MM salary to trade for a player earning $20MM+. However, that two-month restriction will lift just before the 2018 trade deadline, which falls on February 8.
Nets Release Sean Kilpatrick
5:21pm: The Nets have formally released Kilpatrick, the team announced in a press release (h/t Adam Zagoria of the New York Times).
3:30pm: In order to make roster space for the acquisitions of Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas, the Nets will waive guard Sean Kilpatrick, Shams Charania of The Vertical tweets.
Since signing a 10-day contract with the Nets back in 2015/16, the 27-year-old has played in 109 games for the franchise, starting 24 of them. Kilpatrick averaged 13.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in just over 25 minutes per game during the 2016/17 season.
This year Kilpatrick saw his role decrease and has only played 11.4 minutes per game despite Brooklyn’s backcourt injury woes.
New York Notes: Lee, Porzingis, Crabbe, Russell
With Tim Hardaway Jr. expected to be sidelined for at least two weeks – and possibly longer – the Knicks’ performance during his absence may go a long way toward dictating the team’s approach to the trade deadline, writes Ian Begley of ESPN.com. If New York can tread water and remain in the playoff hunt during that time, the front office could stand pat or even attempt to bolster the roster in February. If not, perhaps the Knicks will become deadline sellers.
In the event that the Knicks do decide to move veterans, Courtney Lee is one player to watch. Lee, who scored 24 points on Wednesday, continues to draw interest from opposing teams, league sources tell Begley. Lee’s contract, which is guaranteed through 2019/20 at about $12MM per year, is somewhat onerous, limiting his trade value, but his shot-making ability (.465 3PT%) should certainly appeal to teams around the NBA.
Here’s more on the two New York teams:
- Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis was represented by Andy Miller, who relinquished his certification as an agent this week, but his primary agent is his brother Janis Porzingis, who also works at ASM Sports. As such, Porzingis is expected to remain at the agency with his brother despite Miller’s situation, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.
- Knicks owner James Dolan was named as a defendant in a civil suit filed against movie producer Harvey Weinstein. Begley has the details at ESPN.com.
- Nets guard Allen Crabbe was fined $15K by the NBA after throwing a ball at the basket stanchion on Monday (link via Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today). Crabbe is set to earn more than $19.3MM this season, so the $15K hit to his salary is a drop in the bucket.
- While Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t provide an official update on D’Angelo Russell‘s recovery timetable this week, his comments suggest that Russell’s return isn’t exactly imminent, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post details.
Nets One Of NBA's Most Active Teams In Global Markets
- The Nets have been aggressive in trying to expand their brand across the globe, something that has not gone unnoticed by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. “They’ve been to China with us, they’ve been to London and now Mexico City. I credit team president Brett Yormark, who seems particularly interested extending the Brooklyn Nets brand globally,” Silver said.
- Speaking of the Nets‘ weekend visit to Mexico to face the Thunder and Heat, the team is keeping their plan to stay hydrated and prepare for the trip mum, Lewis writes in a separate story.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/03/17
Here are Saturday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:
- The Nets have assigned guard Isaiah Whitehead to their affiliate, the Long Island Nets, the team announced in a press release on Sunday. Whitehead has averaged 6.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG and 1.8 APG in eight games with Brooklyn this season.
- The Timberwolves have assigned center Justin Patton to their affiliate, the Iowa Wolves, according to the team’s media relations department (via Twitter). The Timberwolves acquired the draft rights to the 20-year-old Patton in the same deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota, but he has yet to play this season due to surgery on his left foot.
- The 76ers have recalled guard Furkan Korkmaz from their affiliate, the Delaware 87ers, per Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter). Korkmaz has appeared in five games for the Sixers this season.
- The Hawks have recalled forward Nicolas Brussino from their affiliate, the Erie Bayhawks, per Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter). Brussino has appeared in four games for Atlanta this season.