Southeast Notes: Heat, Wizards, Stephenson
The two best Eastern Conference teams outside of Canada reside in the Southeast Division, where the Wizards and Hawks are separated by only a game atop the division. Still, there’s turmoil elsewhere in the Southeast, where the Hornets are apparently engaged in trade talks regarding Lance Stephenson and the Heat are suffering from injury woes. Here’s the latest:
- The Heat are thinking about bringing in another big man with Josh McRoberts sidelined perhaps for the rest of the season, writes Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald.
- John Wall insisted this past offseason that the Wizards retain coach Randy Wittman, as TNT’s David Aldridge writes in his Morning Tip column for NBA.com. Wittman’s job security was reportedly still in limbo until Washington dispatched the Bulls in the first round of the playoffs last season, and the Wizards signed him to an extension in June.
- Miami has recalled Shabazz Napier and Hassan Whiteside from the D-League, the team announced. The team sent them down to Sioux Falls on Saturday in advance of the Skyforce’s game that day. Napier scored 22 points and Whiteside put up 21 points and 12 rebounds in a win for the Heat‘s affiliate.
- The Hornets are finding out that Stephenson is more attractive from a distance than he is as a day-to-day presence on the team, as Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star believes.
Southeast Notes: Stephenson, Wall, Butler
If the Hornets decide to move Lance Stephenson before February’s trade deadline, Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders sees a handful of teams that could be interested. Stephenson left the Pacers for Charlotte in the offseason, signing a deal that pays him $9MM each of the first two seasons, with a $9.4MM team option for 2016/17. However, the Hornets have stumbled to a 6-16 start, fueliing speculation that Stephenson might be moved. Koutroupis speculated that the Nets, Mavericks, Hawks, Nuggets and perhaps the Spurs would be
potential fits for the shooting guard.
There’s more news from the Southeast Division:
- John Wall wasn’t convinced that he had earned a maximum extension before the 2013/14 season, reports J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. Luckily for him, the Wizards had no doubt. “I was still in shock,” he said. “I thought I was still the player that hadn’t developed, hadn’t proved anything.” The Wizards’ belief in Wall paid off as he became an All-Star last season and led Washington to the playoffs. The first pick in the 2010 NBA draft, Wall is making nearly $15MM this year and is under contract through the 2018/19 season.
- Wizards teammate Rasual Butler is making the most of his second chance in the NBA, writes Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post. Unable to find an NBA job in 2012/13, Butler spent the season in the D-League, then played limited minutes last year in Indiana. But at age 35, he has become a valuable part of Washington’s rotation, ranking third in the league in three-point shooting percentage. “I was able to learn a lot about myself during that time,” Butler said. “I knew I had something more to give to this game. . . . I kept going to work out, wanting to have another opportunity, but also telling myself that when the opportunity would come, I would be prepared for it.”
- New Hawks diversity and inclusion officer Nzinga Shaw told Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today that she hopes to establish a diversity and inclusion counsel made up of team employees and community members. Shaw, who had been with the Edelman PR agency, was formally hired by Atlanta this week. The Hawks were embarrassed this summer when a racially insensitive e-mail from co-owner Bruce Levenson and racially tinged comments by general manager Danny Ferry about free agent Luol Deng were made public.
Latest On Lance Stephenson
Four or five teams have let the Hornets know they have strong interest in acquiring Lance Stephenson, sources tell Shams Charania of RealGM. The shooting guard wouldn’t mind if he wound up on the Nets, who are talking about trades involving their three most highly paid players, but Stephenson has made it clear to Charlotte that he wants to be part of a turnaround after a 6-15 start to the season, Charania hears. Stephenson and the Hornets share a mutual belief their partnership can still work, Charania also hears.
There’s been “fluctuating trust” in the Charlotte locker room this season, Charania writes. The Hornets have been aggressive in trade talks of late, as Grantland’s Zach Lowe reported on the first of the month, adding that few would be surprised if the Hornets had brought up Stephenson’s name in those discussions. Charlotte can’t trade Stephenson until Monday, the date that most offseason signees become eligible for inclusion in swaps. The Alberto Ebanks client inked a three-year, $27.405MM contract in the offseason that was supposed to boost Charlotte another few notches in the Eastern Conference standings after the team grabbed the No. 7 seed last year.
That hasn’t been the case so far, as the 24-year-old’s scoring has dipped from 13.8 points per game last season to 10.5 PPG this year, and he’s followed his 35.2% rate of success from three-point territory in 2013/14 with a disconcerting 15.9% mark this season. The majority of Hoops Rumors readers who voted in a poll last week thought that Charlotte should trade Stephenson. Hornets coach Steve Clifford has sought to temper expectations, declaring last month that while Stephenson has the capacity to become a star, he’s yet to reach that level.
Stephenson is a native of Brooklyn and would like someday to play for the Nets, Charania writes, even if that doesn’t take place immediately. Still, his comfort level is growing in Charlotte, according to Charania, who notes that his play has been better in December.
And-Ones: Cousins, Clifford, Knicks, Covington
We heard yesterday that DeMarcus Cousins has been out for the past two weeks with a case of viral meningitis and could miss another week or two as he recovers. Kings head coach Michael Malone said today that Cousins is out “indefinitely,” reports Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee (via Twitter). After a 9-5 start, Sacramento has lost four of five without its emerging superstar. Let’s take a look at what else is going around the Association:
- The Hornets‘ playoff appearance last season automatically triggered a team option for the third year of head coach Steve Clifford‘s contract, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Clifford, hired in May 2013, signed a three-year, $6MM deal with Charlotte that is now officially fully guaranteed through next season.
- While the disappointing Knicks might not be ready to turn their focus toward the draft, team president Phil Jackson also said that he doesn’t plan to make any in-season moves that might jeopardize the team’s long-term flexibility, writes Ian Begley of ESPN.com. “I’m not going to make movement for movement’s sake,” Jackson said. “There is sometimes addition by subtraction but I don’t see anybody that doesn’t want to be part of this organization, doesn’t want to play with his teammates, doesn’t want to learn… What we have to do is protect our future… If we evaluate a player and see he’s going to be a long-term player who is going to fit in our organization, we’ll do that.”
- Duke center Jahlil Okafor remains the top prospect in the latest update to Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress rankings, while high school senior Jaylen Brown, a small forward, is No. 1 on Givony’s 2016 mock draft.
- Robert Covington has quickly worked his way into Brett Brown‘s rotation in Philadelphia, writes Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The Sixers added Covington in mid-November and he has averaged 9.5 points in 11 games since arriving in Philly. However, the Tennessee State product has scored 63 points and played significant minutes in Philadelphia’s last three contests, two of which the success-starved Sixers have won.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Southeast Notes: Stephenson, Heat, O’Quinn
After a month of struggling in Charlotte, Lance Stephenson might be starting to settle into his role on the team, writes Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. Some have suggested that the Hornets should part ways with their new acquisition but Bonnell notes that teammates have seen a different vibe from Stephenson recently. “The best thing about him is he was super-positive, playing with energy,” Kemba Walker observed. “We need his energy. He pushed the pace, he got guys involved. He always makes the right plays. We’ve got to try our best to keep him like that; get him the ball in transition and let him make his plays.”
Here’s more from the Southeast Division:
- With a record of 9-10, the Heat possess a losing record for the first time this season, but the team realizes that this year is different than past seasons, writes Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald. Dwyane Wade knows what to expect from the team at this point in the year. “I understand where we’re at right now with the team that we have. Can we get better? Yeah, we can get better. But we’re not at that point yet. This is the kind of team we have, and we got to figure out how to be as good as we can with this unit. We’re all trying to figure it out, players and coaches,” Wade said.
- Despite the Heat’s early season struggles, the team remains upbeat, writes Shandel Richardson of the Sun Sentinel. “We have to stay positive,” Chris Bosh said. “We have to continue to find our game. The easiest thing to do is to fall apart, blame each other and have every excuse in the book but we’re not going to do that. We’re going to continue to come to work. We’re going to continue to find a way and just really stay together. That’s what it’s about. You have so many instances where teams kind of shoot themselves in foot over and over just because of attitude. Every guy in that locker room has a great attitude.”
- Kyle O’Quinn has been one of the most productive players for the Magic this season, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. Robbins notes that O’Quinn, who is set to become a restricted free agent after the season, could be in line for a big payday due to his high player efficiency rating (26.2 coming into Saturday), age (only 25 years old), and ability to play the center position, which is becoming scarce in today’s NBA.
And-Ones: Rondo, Waiters, McMillan
With the trade speculation regarding Rajon Rondo heading to Los Angeles swirling again thanks to a seemingly innocent breakfast with Kobe Bryant, Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders examines the potential trade market for the soon-to-be unrestricted free agent. Koutroupis believes the two most likely teams to acquire Rondo would be the previously mentioned Lakers, or the Kings, whom he believes could offer Boston the best possible combination of assets.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio runs down some of the bigger names whom he believes could be dealt prior to February’s trade deadline. His list includes Arron Afflalo (Nuggets); Dion Waiters (Cavs); Patrick Patterson (Raptors); and Lance Stephenson (Hornets).
- Waiters has been struggling to find his role on the Cavs this season, and his difficulties led to him getting on the court for just nine minutes Tuesday night against Milwaukee. But the young guard is trying to remain positive, Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com writes. “I think all of us, we know he’s a very, very good basketball player,” teammate LeBron James said. “And when his number is called, I think the best thing is to come in with a lot of energy and effort and you can’t worry about the ball going in. All of us, we all know that. We can’t control it. It’s a make-or-miss league. One thing you can control is how hard you play and how much you give to the team, how much you sacrifice for the team and we’re all trying to do that.”
- Former head coach and current Pacers assistant Nate McMillan is happy being out of the spotlight that comes with being the man in charge, Jabari Young of CSNNW.com writes. “I’ve enjoyed it,” McMillan said of being an assistant coach. “You learn a lot and really the enjoyment for me is you get to coach and you don’t have to deal with the other stuff. I coach and I get to go home. Frank [Vogel] has to coach and come talk to the press. You’re able to coach and work with the guys and do all of those things, but the other part, you don’t have to do.”
Eastern Notes: Stephenson, Knicks, Butler
The Hornets are one of the league’s more prominent early season disappointments after their success last season. The team’s biggest offseason acquisition, Lance Stephenson, hasn’t produced as expected, and he is still trying to learn Charlotte’s system and fit in with his new teammates, Steve Reed of The Associated Press writes. Head coach Steve Clifford said he’s not down on Stephenson, and he said expectations for him coming into organization might have been too high, notes Reed. “To be fair, one of the things that’s made it more difficult for him is that he came here and people proclaimed him as the next superstar,” Clifford said. “He’s not a star. He’s a guy that has talent to become a star. To be a star in this league, you have to do it over years.”
Here’s the latest from the Eastern Conference:
- The Knicks aren’t seeing much from the Tyson Chandler trade, and with the confidence from Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace and teammate Zach Randolph that free agent target Marc Gasol will stay in Memphis, times are tough in New York, opines Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.
- Marcus Smart‘s assignment to the D-League by the Celtics today is to get him some reps since the rookie hasn’t gone through a full practice with scrimmaging since suffering a left ankle injury on November 7th, Jay King of MassLive.com notes. “I didn’t think he looked ready,” head coach Brad Stevens said. “Nothing to do [with] physically; he hasn’t practiced. I felt like it would be better to go with Phil Pressey and Gerald Wallace. They would give us the same things that Marcus gave us and they’ve been traveling with the team and everything else. It’s kind of tough to just throw him in there. I hadn’t even seen him until we got to the gym today.“
- The Wizards‘ Rasual Butler is the perfect example of how hard work can lead to success for a journeyman player, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today writes. Butler was asked why he kept working out for over a year when no NBA teams came calling, to which he responded, “Because I wanted to play basketball. It’s very easy. It’s a simple answer. If you’re serious about doing what you love to do, then you’re going to do whatever it takes for you to continue to do what you love to do. Some people say they love to play the game. If you love to play the game, you’ve got to go through the steps. You can’t give up on your story.” Butler is a key reserve for Washington, and is third in the league in three-point shooting percentage at a blistering 56.4%, notes Zillgitt
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Southeast Notes: Stephenson, Jordan, Hawks
The Hornets‘ Lance Stephenson has made an issue about not getting the ball at the end of games, to which head coach Steve Clifford has responded, “To be truthful, Lance has never been a closer. That would be a new role for him,” Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) writes. Clifford went on to say that Stephenson is “not a star,” something that Charlotte has discovered rather quickly after signing him to a three-year, $27MM contract this past summer, notes Haberstroh. But Stevenson also isn’t being paid like a star player, and can come off of the Hornets’ books in 2016 when Charlotte can decline his team option for $9.4MM, unless he is dealt prior to then, Haberstroh adds.
Here’s the latest out of the Southeast Division:
- Michael Jordan is finding his role as the team owner of the Hornets a humbling experience, especially this season with the team underachieving mightily thus far, Michael Wallace of ESPN.com writes. Jordan does believe that he has grown as an executive since his time with the Wizards, notes Wallace. “I’ve always considered myself a very successful owner that tries to make sound decisions,” Jordan said. “And when you make bad decisions, you learn from that and move forward. I think I’m better in that sense. I’ve experienced all of the different valleys and lows of ownership and successful business. If that constitutes me being a better owner, then I guess I am.”
- The Hawks‘ Al Horford and Paul Millsap are still trying to develop their on-court chemistry despite this being their second season together on Atlanta’s roster, Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution writes. This is thanks to Horford only logging 29 games last season before a torn pectoral muscle ended his 2013/14 campaign, Vivlamore adds.
- With LeBron James gone and the added title expectations removed along with him, the Heat‘s season thus far feels far more “normal” to Dwyane Wade, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today writes. Miami is also waiting for all its injured players to return to see just what kind of team it actually possesses prior to making any new roster moves, notes Zillgitt.
Poll: Should The Hornets Trade Stephenson?
The Hornets came into the season with ambitions of making a playoff run and challenging for one of the top seeds in the East, but a 4-14 start has team executives worried. The team has reportedly been aggressive in its attempts to find potential trades with other teams. Charlotte made a few big splashes last offseason, as recently noted by Hoops Rumors’ own Chuck Myron. From a financial standpoint, the biggest move was the acquisition of Lance Stephenson via free agency. His arrival hasn’t panned out the way the team had hoped and although it’s unclear whether the Hornets have dangled him in trade discussions, it’s obvious they are looking for upgrade on the wing, Stephenson’s primary position.
It has also been reported that Charlotte is receptive to moving fellow wing Gerald Henderson, so an addition to Stephenson on the court is just as likely, if not more likely, than a replacement. However, as Grantland’s Zach Lowe points out, Henderson’s $6MM player option for next season severely damages his trade value, which should dampen the hopes of getting an impact player in a trade.
The Hornets still have two quality young prospects in Noah Vonleh and Cody Zeller as well as their own 2015 first round pick. Those are three valuable assets, but finding a team willing to give up on a quality player this early in the season could be problematic. Few teams have the urgency to make that sort of move at this juncture.
Stephenson, who cannot be traded until December 15th, represents the player with the most value this season to a playoff contender. Do you think Charlotte should trade him?
Hornets Active In Trade Discussion
6:33pm: Gerald Henderson has been very available for a few weeks, according to Sam Amick of USA Today (Twitter Link).
11:08am: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is probably among those the Hornets would make off-limits as they speak with other teams, Lowe tweets.
10:08am: The Hornets have been aggressive in reaching out to other teams about potential trades, Grantland’s Zach Lowe writes. GM Rich Cho and company are seeking upgrades at the wing and power forward, according to Lowe. That would cover every position except the ones where Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson play, and they’re essentially the only players the team isn’t willing to discuss, Lowe hears. It’s unclear whether the Hornets have dangled Lance Stephenson, but few would be surprised if they did, as Lowe writes, noting that Charlotte can’t trade the newly signed shooting guard until two weeks from today.
Charlotte is off to a surprisingly poor 4-14 start, the same record through 18 games as the franchise put up in 2004/05, its very first season, as Michael Lee of The Washington Post points out. The Hornets were roundly expected to continue their ascent up the Eastern Conference standings after grabbing the No. 7 seed last season and signing Stephenson to a three-year, $27.405MM deal this past summer, but it hasn’t worked out so far.
Fellow offseason additions Marvin Williams, Brian Roberts and Jason Maxiell can’t be traded until later this month, either, as our register of trade-eligibility dates shows, and the same is true of Jannero Pargo, who re-signed with the club. Walker apparently isn’t under consideration for a trade, but even if he were, the Poison Pill Provision would make salary-matching difficult in any swap, thanks to Walker’s four-year, $48MM extension. The Hornets have exhausted their cap space and are without a trade exception, further erecting barriers to any deal.