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NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 11/27/16

November 27th, 2016 at 7:21pm CST by Arthur Hill

Here are Sunday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

Forwards Anthony Bennett and Chris McCullough were recalled by the Nets after being assigned to Long Island earlier today for the D-League team’s game against Grand Rapids, the team announced in an email. Bennett had 22 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while McCullough put up 15 points and nine rebounds.
The Raptors have recalled Jakob Poeltl, Bruno Caboclo and Fred VanVleet from Raptors 905, according to The Toronto Sun. All three had been sent down to participate in Satuday’s game against Maine.
The Spurs assigned rookie guards Dejounte Murray, Bryn Forbes and Nicolas Laprovittola to Austin, writes Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio News-Express. They are expected to be recalled in time for San Antonio’s game on Tuesday.
The Pelicans have recalled rookie forward Cheick Diallo from Austin, the team announced in an email. He has played six games in the D-League and just one for New Orleans.
The Mavericks recalled rookie center A.J. Hammons from the Texas Legends, according to an email from the team. He was assigned Saturday for a game against Salt Lake in which he scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds.
The Bulls have recalled forward/center Cristiano Felicio and guards Jerian Grant and R.J. Hunter from their Windy City affiliate, the team announced in an email.

NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 11/26/16

November 26th, 2016 at 10:22pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Here are Saturday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

10:22pm:

The Hornets have recalled Aaron Harrison from their D-League affiliate, the team announced on its website. A second-year guard, Harrison has appeared in two games for Charlotte this season.
The Mavericks have sent rookie center A.J. Hammons to the Texas Legends, the team announced through email. Hammons has played seven games for the Mavericks, averaging 1.3 points and 1.1 rebounds in 3.4 minutes.

2:42pm:

The Suns assigned Derrick Jones Jr. to Northern Arizona, their D-League affiliate, according to the team’s website. This is his second D-League assignment, as Jones has averaged 15.5 points and 7.0 rebounds in two games with the NAZ Suns. The undrafted 6’7” small forward made his NBA debut on November 19th, playing three minutes against the Sixers.
The Bulls assigned big man Cristiano Felício, and guards Jerian Grant and R.J. Hunter to their D-League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, the D-League team tweets. After defeating the Sixers on Friday, the NBA Bulls have a gap in their schedule, as they don’t play again until Wednesday. The assignments will allow those three reserves to get playing time and stay sharp. All are expected to see action in Windy City’s game against Delaware on Saturday. Felicio has appeared in 11 games with Chicago, while Grant has played in 10 games — including two starts. Hunter has seen action in just two games.
The Bucks assigned guard Rashad Vaughn to the Westchester Knicks under the flexible assignment rule, according to a team press release. Vaughn was previously assigned to Westchester from November 19-23, appearing in two games and averaging 11.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 15.9 minutes. Vaughn has appeared in nine games for the Bucks, averaging 6.0 points and 1.2 rebounds in 14.5 minutes.

Carter-Williams Has Bone Chip In Wrist

November 26th, 2016 at 8:41pm CST by Arthur Hill

A bone chip in his left wrist is the latest health setback for Michael Carter-Williams, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. The Bulls had hoped to get the fourth-year guard back as early as next week from a bone bruise on his knee that has kept him out since October 31st. Carter-Williams, who has played just three games for Chicago since being acquired in an offseason trade, will have the wrist re-evaluated in two weeks.

Injury Updates

November 24th, 2016 at 11:32am CST by ChrisCrouse

The Bulls could have Michael Carter-Williams back on the court next week, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times reports. “I’m definitely ahead of schedule,’’ Carter-Williams said. “My knee feels great. I just got to find the measure between how hard I can go without hurting it furthermore, so I’m just testing the limit right now. Just trying to get back to 100 percent.’’

Hoiberg On Free Agency

November 22nd, 2016 at 10:59pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg believes it’s a different era now than when he played in the NBA in regard to how players communicate in the offseason, Nick Friedell of ESPN.com writes. Hoiberg notices that players are forming relationships with each other at the AAU level and its impacting free agency.

Dwyane Wade On Free Agency, Decision To Join Bulls

November 22nd, 2016 at 9:27pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Dwyane Wade believes free agency is “different today” than how it used to be, Nick Friedell of ESPN.com writes. “The league is all about relationships, player relationships,” Wade said. “Obviously presidents and GMs have their job to do to put teams together, but when it comes to free agency, that’s player relationships more than anything. It’s where an individual wants to go, so you have to feel comfortable with where you’re going and who you’re going with. And it starts in that process. Maybe you have a relationship with a guy, maybe you don’t, but it starts in that process when guys are able to reach out to you and you see.”

Wade stressed how important it was for Jimmy Butler to reach out him over the summer. “If Jimmy don’t reach out to me then I’m not coming to Chicago because I don’t think Jimmy wants me here. But Jimmy reaches out to me and says, “D, I want you to come,” it’s a different — that’s simple right there. It’s hard to change my mindset and everything,” Wade added.

The 34-year-old went on to reiterate how hard it was to leave Miami, a place where he’s played his entire career. He said it was a very difficult decision for him and his family. “I cannot sit here and explain to anyone what it’s like to be a free agent,” Wade said. “And what it’s like to have to make a decision about where you’re going. And no one ever thought I would leave Miami. No one ever thought I would be in a Chicago Bulls jersey, but I am, so things happen. And you never know what can happen when it comes to free agency.”

Wade said earlier today that the Nuggets were the first team to contact him during the free agency period and added that they did an “unbelievable job” of recruiting him. His two-year, $47MM deal with the Bulls includes a player option for next season, so he could go through the free agent process again next summer should he choose to turn down that option.

Bulls Notes: Rondo, Butler, Hoiberg

November 22nd, 2016 at 7:57pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Rajon Rondo doesn’t see playing alongside Jimmy Butler–a player who can dominate the ball–as an obstacle this season, Vincent Goodwill of Comcast Sportsnet relays. “[Butler is] so unselfish, he’s gonna get a lot of the plays,” Rondo said “He’s our best player so never really fought him for anything like that. I know when teams make a run, who we get the ball to. They know as well. It’s no secret. When you play with a guy as unselfish as him, I don’t need to control the ball as I used to back in the day.”

Rondo also said that his time in Dallas helped him to expand his game. “You find a ways to make yourself effective and efficient on the court when you don’t have the ball,” he added.

Here’s more from the Bulls:

Coach Fred Hoiberg is a fan of what Rondo brings to the Bulls, Goodwill passes along in the same piece. “You look at our pace when he’s on the floor, it’s so much better than when he’s off,” Hoiberg said. “You can see the impact Rondo can have by getting us out early in the first; he’s got great energy out the gate. He’s been so good.”
Ben Dowsett of Basketball Insiders believes signing Rondo was one of the worst moves of the offseason. The Bulls entered the day with a record of 9-5 and Dowsett argues that the team would be just as good without the 30-year-old point guard. Rondo missed two games this season with an ankle injury and the team won both games.

Wade: Nuggets Did “Unbelievable Job Of Recruiting Me”

November 22nd, 2016 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

While most NBA observers didn’t believe Dwyane Wade would leave the Heat in free agency, Denver seemed like a particularly far-fetched landing spot for the former Finals MVP. When rumors surfaced in July suggesting Wade and the Nuggets were having serious talks, it was viewed by many as a leverage play. However, as he prepares to take on the Nuggets as a member of the Bulls, Wade tells Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post (Twitter links) that he seriously considered signing with the team.

“We had a lot of discussions toward the end. And it came down to Denver and Chicago,” Wade said. “I chose to go back home, but definitely was something that I didn’t go into free agency thinking was a possibility. They did an unbelievable job of recruiting me. The first call I got was from them on July 1.”

Wade acknowledged that the Nuggets were an unlikely home for him, one that he hadn’t considered at all prior to his free agency. However, he also pointed out that no one anticipated he would leave Miami for Chicago either, adding that unexpected things happen in free agency when you’re making major decisions about your future. As Dempsey notes (via Twitter), Wade was impressed by the “family atmosphere” within the Nuggets’ organization, and suggested that it should help the franchise land a marquee free agent in the future.

“I think they have a lot to sell, and I thought they did a great job for me,” Wade said. “They’ve got a lot of young talent here as well. As a free agent you never know where you’re going to go, what kind of free agent is going to come help the team with these young guys and kind of veteran guys. I know they’re not going to stop working, but I know they’re looking for the right person as well to come here and not just get anyone.”

The Nuggets currently have about $58MM on their books for 2017/18, not counting Danilo Gallinari‘s player option, so they should have plenty of flexibility to make a run at another free agent or two in the summer if they choose.

Check out Dempsey’s full piece at The Post for more quotes from Wade on the Nuggets and head coach Michael Malone.

Chemistry Problems Solved In Chicago

November 20th, 2016 at 7:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bulls have solved the chemistry issues that plagued them all last season, writes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. A power struggle ended when Derrick Rose was traded to the Knicks and Joakim Noah joined him there as a free agent, leaving Jimmy Butler as the clear leader in Chicago. He helped the team replace its lost talent by recruiting free agents Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo. “We all enjoy each other’s company, man,” Butler said. “Even when we’re not playing basketball. Even if we’re throwing a football, if we’re playing cards or just sitting there talking. Everybody’s locked in. Everybody’s having fun and everybody wants to get to know each other a little bit better. I think that’s the major difference. We spent a lot of time off the floor together, which I didn’t know could help so much, but it really does.”

Is Jimmy Butler An MVP Candidate?

November 19th, 2016 at 3:32pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Jimmy Butler is averaging career highs in points, rebounds and steals per game while ranking among the top-10 in player efficiency rating this season and Sam Smith of NBA.com wonders if the 27-year-old could realistically win the MVP award. The Bulls are 8-4 this season with impressive wins over the Jazz and Blazers this past week.