And-Ones: Christmas, Calderon, Fultz, Parker, Dolan
A right Achilles tendon rupture has brought an end to Dionte Christmas‘ season, Jonathan Tannenwald of Philly.com reports. It’s an unfortunate development for the 30-year-old, as Christmas had averaged 14.9 points with 3.2 assists in 31 games with the Delaware 87ers. Delaware’s GM, Brandon Williams, lauded Christmas’ efforts in a team statement:
“[Christmas] has been a consummate professional, positive influence on the development of our young roster, and vital to our energy and drive. We will certainly miss his leadership on the court, but are inspired by his confidence as he attacks the next steps on the road to recovery.”
Other stories from around the league-
- Bobby Marks of The Vertical profiled the Lakers, Nets, and Heat in his trade deadline series; three teams “in the rebuilding process that have limited assets.” Marks cites Jose Calderon as a buyout candidate for GM Mitch Kupchak; Calderon has previously been reported as a target for the Cavs. Trevor Booker and Brook Lopez, who are each under contract for the 2017/18 season, would provide “good value” for contending teams. While Miami’s front office have made deals in three straight trade deadlines, the Heat may be quiet come February 23. Miami has “depleted draft assets,” and appear unlikely to trade Goran Dragic or Hassan Whiteside.
- The Vertical’s writing staff released their 2017 NBA Mock Draft, with Markelle Fultz, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Jackson going to the Celtics, Suns, and Lakers, respectively. The Vertical has Malik Monk of Kentucky falling to the Knicks at #10, calling him a good fit “under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.”
- Zach LaVine and Jabari Parker‘s ACL injuries will create “tricky” rookie extension negotiations, Kevin Pelton of ESPN writes. While Parker’s value has been better established than LaVine’s entering contract discussions, Milwaukee GM John Hammond could limit risk by adding “guarantees based on games played” in Parker’s next contract.
- James Dolan and Knicks management were subject to a scathing write-up from Michael Powell of the New York Times, who criticized Dolan’s lack of accountability in their confrontation. Phil Jackson, too, was targeted by Powell: “He [Jackson] fires off obscure Twitter posts poking Anthony in one rib or another, suggesting his skills are eroding and his hoop IQ low.”
Wizards Forward Otto Porter Tops Wish List
The Nets could land Wizards small forward Otto Porter if they offered him a max deal, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Porter will likely be at the top of the Nets’ wish list from what he’s heard around the league, Lewis continues. The Nets have the cap room to make a substantial run at the restricted free agent. Brooklyn could have as much as $39.4MM in cap room by renouncing its free agents this summer and the Wizards may be unwilling to max out Porter with nearly $97MM already ready on their books for next season, Lewis speculates.
- Point guard Greivis Vasquez hopes to return to the Nets next season, David Alarcon of Hoops Hype reports. Vasquez’s career has been sidetracked by ankle injuries the past two seasons. He signed a $4,347,826 contract with Brooklyn during the offseason, then was waived in November after appearing in just three games and injuring the ankle again. Vasquez said he’s been in contact with Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, who invited Vasquez to continue his rehab from ankle surgery with the team after the season ends. “He left the door open for me. He offered me to come back in April or May to work with them,” Vasquez told Alarcon. “I told him that I accepted his offer, and I will work with them with no strings attached. … Brooklyn is a very attractive team in a very attractive city.”
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/9/17
Here are Thursday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- Rookie big man Diamond Stone has been recalled by the Clippers, according to Rowan Kavner of Clippers.com (via Twitter). Stone averaged 19.7 PPG in three games during his latest stint with the Salt Lake City Stars, though he also received a pair of DNP-CDs. Since the Clips don’t have a D-League team of their own, Stone has played for other teams’ affiliates this season, including Golden State’s and Utah’s.
- Chris McCullough continues to bounce back and forth between the NBA and D-League, having been reassigned to the Long Island Nets today, the team announced in a press release. Brooklyn’s D-League affiliate isn’t in action again until Saturday, so we’ll see how long McCullough’s assignments lasts this time around.
- We missed this announcement on Wednesday, but the Pistons have sent Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije back to the Grand Rapids Drive. Stan Van Gundy expects the duo to remain on assignment through Friday’s game, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com (Twitter link).
Long Island Nets Acquire Prince Ibeh
- The Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s D-League affiliate, have acquired center Prince Ibeh and waived forward Lazar Hayward, according to a team press release.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/8/17
Here are Wednesday’s D-League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:
9:19 PM:
- The Nets have recalled McCullough, according to a team press release. He was recalled in time to suit up for the Brooklyn in tonight’s matchup against Washington.
3:47 PM:
- The Pacers have recalled Georges Niang from their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Niang chipped in 11 points and four rebounds for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants during Tuesday’s win.
- Chris McCullough was assigned to the D-League this morning, according to a press release issued by the Nets. The second-year forward played for the Long Island Nets in this afternoon’s loss to Canton — we’ll see if he’s recalled to Brooklyn in time for the team’s game tonight against Washington.
New York Notes: Lopez, Nets, Knicks, Jackson
Brook Lopez is no stranger to trade rumors, and joked this week that he “wouldn’t be comfortable” without the constant speculation, as Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes. Reiterating his desire to remain with the Nets, Lopez said that he’ll be happy as long as the team keeps him in the loop.
“I realize there’s a possibility of both things (staying with the Nets or being traded). I’ve said what I’d prefer,” Lopez said. “They’re going to make their decision, but I would hope that I’d be informed, and I have the confidence they would inform me if they were thinking [of doing] something or something was going down.”
Here’s more on New York’s two teams:
- The Nets have reached an agreement with enterprise software company Infor to display their patch on Brooklyn’s jerseys, according to Bloomberg’s Scott Soshnick. Soshnick hears from a source that the Nets will receive $8MM annually from Infor under the NBA’s three-year pilot program for jersey sponsorship. The company will also provide the franchise with “data analytics and technology to support the team’s business operations, fan experience initiatives and player performance,” per Soshnick.
- Asked about the possibility of Knicks management blowing up the roster and focusing on the future, Courtney Lee admits that he couldn’t blame the front office for considering that route. “But I’m still confident in the group, man,” Lee added, per Ian Begley of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
- Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post interprets Phil Jackson‘s Tuesday subtweet to Carmelo Anthony as a sign that the Knicks president wants out of New York.
- With the Clippers in town to face the Knicks, New York will be closely monitoring Austin Rivers, who could be part of an Anthony deal with L.A. Marc Berman of The New York Post has the story.
Pelicans Seeking Center, Dangling 2018 Pick
The Pelicans were at the center of an interesting trade rumor on Monday night, having been linked to the Sixers in a possible Jahlil Okafor deal. However, those Okafor discussions weren’t the only talks New Orleans has engaged in recently, as Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reports. According to Wojnarowski (all Twitter links), the Pelicans have been active on various fronts in their efforts to add a center, dangling multiple assets, including their 2018 first-round pick.
In addition to the Okafor discussions, New Orleans’ search for a center has resulted in a pursuit of Nets big man Brook Lopez, according to Wojnarowski, who reports that the Pelicans have been exploring larger deals in the hopes of unloading Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca. Asik and Ajinca, who will earn a combined $15.56MM next season, are under contract for multiple years and aren’t a part of the team’s rotation.
The Pelicans still own their 2017 first-round pick, but the team is reluctant to move that selection. This year’s draft class is expected to be one of the deepest and most talented in the last decade, and New Orleans is on track to have a lottery pick — our reverse standings show that the Pelicans are currently tied with the Kings for the NBA’s seventh-worst record.
While the Sixers are said to have some interest in a deal with the Pelicans, it’s not clear if a reported offer of Ajinca and New Orleans’ 2018 first-rounder will be enough for Philadelphia. Sam Amick of USA Today tweets that the protection on the 2018 pick is a sticking point for the Sixers, who may be looking for more value anyway. Meanwhile, various reports have suggested that Philadelphia would like to find a way to include Jrue Holiday in any deal.
As for the Nets and Lopez, multiple outlets have reported in recent weeks that Brooklyn wants to secure two first-round picks in any deal for its standout center. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders wrote this morning that Brooklyn is seeking a 2017 lottery pick – plus an additional first-rounder – in any package for Lopez, so the Nets would presumably be interested if the Pelicans wanted to discuss this year’s pick.
I’d be surprised if New Orleans is willing to meet the Nets’ asking price, and it remains to be seen what sort of deal the Sixers would accept. Still, the Pelicans are actively scouring the trade market, and appear to be a good bet to make a deal in the coming weeks.
Nets Seeking Lottery Pick, Additional First-Rounder For Lopez
- We’ve heard in the past that the Nets are seeking two first-round picks in any Brook Lopez deal. Kyler says that the team is specifically seeking a lottery pick in 2017, plus an additional future first-rounder. It seems unlikely that any team will meet that asking price, but Brooklyn appears content to wait until at least the offseason to get serious about moving Lopez.
[SOURCE LINK]
Sixers, Pelicans Discussing Jahlil Okafor Trade
8:49 PM: League sources tell Jon Johnson of WIP (Twitter link) that the Sixers and Pelicans are searching for a third team to get involved in an Okafor deal.
4:50 PM: Keith Smith of RealGM reiterated a previous report that a trade won’t be completed today, as the two teams missed a 5 PM EST cutoff. What’s more, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today notes that the Sixers are in no rush to trade Okafor, as multiple teams around the league are interested in him.
4:21 PM: While the trade has not been completed, its structure appears to be Alexis Ajinca and a future first round draft pick for Jahlil Okafor, according to Marc Stein of ESPN. Keith Smith of RealGM adds that the deal likely won’t be completed today, as the Sixers want to re-engage on bringing Jrue Holiday back to Philadelphia. David Aldridge of NBA.com provided a sobering view of trade talks, noting that the deal is “not imminent.”
3:39 PM: The Sixers and Pelicans are “in talks” about a Jahlil Okafor trade, according to Sam Amick of USA Today. Philadelphia would push for a first round pick from New Orleans, Amick adds. The report has been corroborated by Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
Marc J. Spears of ESPN shed further light on the potential deal, noting that Alexis Ajinca and a future first round pick could be sent to Philadelphia. Draft pick compensation could be a factor holding up negotiations, according to Keith Smith of RealGM; if the Pelicans give up a protected first round pick, they’d reportedly expect Philadelphia to take on Ajinca or Omer Asik‘s contract. Jahlil Okafor could fit the mold of an “offensive-minded big man” to use alongside Anthony Davis, Marc Stein of ESPN notes.
Unloading Asik’s contract has been a priority for the Pelicans, Wojnarowski reports. The Sixers are hesitant to take on Asik, who is in the second year of a five-year, $57,977,525 deal. Interestingly, Wojnarowski reports the Pelicans have discussed Brook Lopez in their pursuit of a center.
In Amick’s full report for USA Today, Okafor’s “marginalized” role is noted to have been a motivating factor for GM Bryan Colangelo, who has engaged with eight teams on the former No. 3 overall pick.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 2/6/17
Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the league:
2:26pm:
- The Spurs have assigned guard Bryn Forbes to Austin, according to a press release from the club. Forbes has been impressive in D-League action this season, averaging 23.0 PPG in 12 contests.
- Rookie big man Deyonta Davis has been assigned to the Iowa Energy, the Grizzlies announced today in a press release. Memphis has used its D-League affiliate sparingly this season — this will be Davis’ first assignment to Iowa.
12:06pm:
- The Pistons have recalled rookies Henry Ellenson and Michael Gbinije from the D-League, according to a press release issued by the team. The duo played a significant role in Grand Rapids’ Saturday win over the Raptors 905, with Gbinije scoring a team-high 29 points, while Ellenson added 25.
- Speaking of the Raptors, they’ve sent point guard Delon Wright to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today (via Twitter).
- Rookie forward Georges Niang has been assigned to the D-League by the Pacers, the team announced in a press release. Niang, who has played sparingly in 21 games for Indiana, has averaged 17.8 PPG in four games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.
- With their D-League affiliate not in action until Wednesday, the Nets have recalled Chris McCullough, per a team release. It’s already the 17th time this season that Brooklyn has recalled McCullough from Long Island.