Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

Community Shootaround

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 1/15/16

January 15th, 2016 at 8:36pm CST by Arthur Hill

Today marks an important date on the NBA calendar, as 26 more players became eligible to be included in trades. January 15th is the date that free agents can be dealt if they re-signed with their teams through Bird rights or Early Bird rights and received a starting salary greater than the league minimum and at least 20% more than what they made last season. Also, this applies only if their teams were over the cap when the signings took place.

There are several names on that list who obviously aren’t going to be moved, such as Jimmy Butler, Marc Gasol, Draymond Green, Reggie Jackson, DeAndre Jordan, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Love and Dwyane Wade. A few others seem likely to stay put but could be moved under the right circumstances, such as Jae Crowder, Goran Dragic, Tobias Harris, Enes Kanter, Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton.

At least one newly eligible player has already been the subject of trade rumors. The Rockets have reportedly had serious discussions about moving swingman Corey Brewer to the Suns, along with Terrence Jones, in exchange for Markieff Morris. In Chicago, a slow recovery from offseason back surgery has limited the trade possibilities of the Bulls‘ Mike Dunleavy.

The other names on the list, all of whom are eligible to be traded as of today, are Alexis Ajinca, Lavoy Allen, Patrick Beverley, Norris Cole, Drew Gooden, Danny Green, Brandon Knight, Austin Rivers, Iman Shumpert and Kyle Singler.

That brings me to today’s topics: Which of these offseason signees would benefit most from a change of scenery? Or if you prefer, who on the list would have been better off signing with a different team in the first place?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Retweet 3 Share 1 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 1/14/16

January 14th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal acknowledged that he’ll “probably” have to deal with a minutes limit for the rest of his career as he continues to have trouble with injuries, according to TNT’s David Aldridge and J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic.com. Concern about his health reportedly played a role in Washington’s part of a mutual decision not to extend Beal’s rookie scale contract this past fall, though Sean Deveney of The Sporting News reported at the time that the Wizards were planning to offer Beal a new maximum-salary contract when he hits restricted free agency in July.

Beal is only 22 years old, so any possibility of an injury that will hinder him for the remainder of his career is alarming, especially for the team that will sign his paychecks. The fourth-year pro missed 26 games his rookie season, nine the next year and 19 last year with various ailments, though it was a high right ankle sprain Beal played through as a rookie that led to the stress reaction he’s dealing with now, according to Michael’s report.

Washington appeared to have every intention of  re-signing Beal for the maximum this summer when he is eligible to become a restricted free agent. The Mark Bartelstein client will be able to negotiate with other teams, but the Wizards can match any offer sheet he were to agree to. Beal could also simply sign his qualifying offer, which would be worth about $7.471MM, and hit unrestricted free agency the following offseason, but that would entail a significant discount from his projected maximum salary of $20.4MM for next season. But these choices are dependent upon Washington still being willing to pony up a max offer, or to match another team’s offer sheet worth that amount, which isn’t necessarily a given at this point.

This brings me to the topic/question for today: In light of Bradley Beal’s potential minutes cap and increased risk of injury, should the Wizards follow through with their intent to ink him to a max salary deal?

It was debatable prior to Beal’s minutes cap statement whether or not he was worthy of a max contract, but this latest news certainly makes the Wizards’ decision regarding him much more difficult. Do you feel that the franchise should still take the gamble and lock down Beal for the long term, regardless of the injury concerns? If so, what sort of contract do you believe would be fair for both parties? Or are you a pessimist who believes that the young swingman is no longer worth the risk and that the Wizards should allow him to explore the free agent market, even if it means potentially losing Beal to another team? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Retweet 6 Share 2 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 1/13/16

January 13th, 2016 at 11:59pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Warriors interim coach Luke Walton, the NBA’s Western Conference Coach of the Month for November, has guided the Warriors to a 36-2 while Steve Kerr continues to recover from two back surgeries, which is quite impressive given Walton’s relative inexperience as a coach [Edit: the Warriors lost Wednesday to fall to 36-3]. To be fair, he did inherit a roster that won the NBA title a season ago, but nevertheless, Walton has done remarkable work this season, especially considering that he’s just three years removed from his playing days and was thrust into his role with little warning or prep time.

The 35-year-old has expressed an interest in formally becoming a head coach some day, though it’s “nothing I’m trying to rush into,” as he told Ben Golliver of SI.com in November. Walton is likely to be a hot commodity this offseason for teams seeking a new head coach, and the Nets are reportedly eyeing him as they seek a long-term replacement for the fired Lionel Hollins, sources informed Sam Amico of Amico Hoops and Fox Sports Ohio. While the Brooklyn post may not be ideal given the team’s current state and lack of future draft picks, the Nets do happen to have just $45MM in guaranteed salaries against a projected $89MM cap committed for next season. While the franchise may not have much in the way of talent to sell top tier free agents on, the presence of Walton could be an asset when recruiting.

This brings me to the topic/question for today: Would hiring Luke Walton as coach be the right move for the Nets, or should the team look to add a more experienced leader?

There’s no doubt that Walton has done an excellent job holding the team together in Kerr’s absence, but the question still remains as to whether or not Walton is merely a caretaker in Kerr’s absence, or if he is actively making the roster better with his coaching talents. Would the Nets be a good fit for Walton, as well as Walton for the Nets? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Retweet 1 Share 1 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 1/12/16

January 12th, 2016 at 11:59pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The window to cast votes for the the 2015/16 NBA All-Star game closes on January 18th, and the starters for both conferences will be announced on Thursday, January 21st. The league revealed the latest standings this past Thursday, and Kobe Bryant, who is set to retire at season’s end, leads all players in fan votes by a solid margin. While it may be virtually impossible to argue that Bryant deserves to be an All-Star, much less a starter, based on his play this season, the All-Star game is an exhibition for the fans, and by that standard the Mamba should certainly deserve an invite.

The inclusion of Bryant will likely mean that a more deserving player, based on performance this season, will be watching at home rather than participating. But this is hardly a unique situation, and deserving players are omitted every season. Such are the difficulties in playing in a talent-laden league like the NBA. The All-Star game is also a fan-driven event, and as a result there are occasionally some players voted in due to their popularity who haven’t quite performed like All-Stars. This makes for an opportune time to segue into the question/topic for today:

Which Eastern Conference frontcourt player listed below is the LEAST deserving of All-Star consideration?

Listed below, courtesy of the NBA’s official press release, are the top frontcourt vote recipients along with their vote totals:

  1. LeBron James (Cavaliers) — 636,388
  2. Paul George (Pacers) — 457,554
  3. Andre Drummond (Pistons) — 261,158
  4. Carmelo Anthony (Knicks) 255,536
  5. Pau Gasol (Bulls) 209,006
  6. Chris Bosh (Heat) 194,429
  7. Kevin Love (Cavaliers) 172,517
  8. Hassan Whiteside (Heat) 168,549
  9. Kristaps Porzingis (Knicks) 160,170
  10. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks) 48,768
  11. Jonas Valanciunas (Raptors) 30,023
  12. Marcin Gortat (Wizards) 27,185
  13. Joakim Noah (Bulls) 23,121
  14. DeMarre Carroll (Raptors) 22,797
  15. Paul Millsap (Hawks) 21,625

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.

Retweet 4 Share 1 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 1/11/16

January 11th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

No team has endured a more disappointing season than the Pelicans.

A glance at the bottom of the conference standings yields few surprises. Teams such as the Sixers, Nets, Lakers, Timberwolves and Suns weren’t expected to make any noise, either because they’re in rebuilding mode or they simply don’t have enough talent. That wasn’t the case with New Orleans, which appeared to be on the rise after making a playoff appearance last season.

Superstar Anthony Davis signed an extension and the Pelicans kept their core group intact, with the expectation they would continue to build chemistry after winning 45 regular-season games. Veteran coach Alvin Gentry was hired away from the NBA champion Warriors to get the franchise to the next level.

Instead of another jump in the standings, the Pelicans have floundered throughout the first 35 games of the season, recording just 11 victories and possessing the Western Conference’s second-worst record.

Injuries are partially to blame. Tyreke Evans has missed about half of the team’s games, Jrue Holiday was eased back into action after a couple of injury-plagued seasons and Davis has sat out all or most of six games with assorted issues. Then came word on Monday that Quincy Pondexter, who hasn’t played this season but was expected back this month, will need season-ending surgery.

That still doesn’t explain away the team’s woeful showing during the first half of the season. The Pelicans rank in the bottom third of the league in defensive field-goal percentage and rebounding, and in the middle of the pack offensively in adjusted field-goal percentage.

New Orleans has four other players besides Davis averaging at least 12.9 points per game — Ryan Anderson, Evans, Eric Gordon and Holiday — yet none has emerged as the clearcut No. 2 option. Anderson and Gordon become unrestricted free agents after the season, with Anderson generally considered to be the team’s most movable piece if they decide to make a significant trade before the February deadline.

Adding to the intrigue is that the Pelicans are reportedly interested in hiring NBA Hall of Famer and longtime Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars for a major front office role.

This leads us to our question of the day: What is the Pelicans’ biggest need in order to reverse their downward spiral and become a perennial playoff contender?

Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.

Retweet 6 Share 1 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 1/10/16

January 10th, 2016 at 10:53pm CST by Will Joseph

Nets center Brook Lopez has now had eight different coaches and will likely be playing for a ninth by the start of next season. Assistant Tony Brown has been named the interim coach for Brooklyn after Lionel Hollins was fired earlier today. The organization seems to be in shambles, but one good thing, at least, is that there is no shortage of potential candidates with prior head coaching experience.

Tom Thibodeau, Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson highlight a list of available candidates. It’s also worth noting that CEO Brett Yormark is reportedly enamored with John Calipari. Hiring any one of those four would make for a splashy headline, but is what any of them presents what will fix the Nets? Maybe. Hollins, however, inherited a mess and the real issue with Brooklyn is that they are paying for short-sighted transactions from recent years, Tim Bontemps of the Washington Post opines. While I agree with Bontemps’ assessment that Hollins was dealt a bad hand, the Nets are 10-27 and part of that falls on the coach.

That leads us to today’s shootaround topic: Who should be the next head coach of the Nets?

If it was my call, I’d make a run at Luke Walton, who has done an admirable job filling in for Steve Kerr with the Warriors. Obviously, coaching Golden State does not present the kind of challenges coaching the Nets would, but I believe Walton has earned his shot. Hiring someone like Jackson would represent everything that has gone wrong for the Nets to this point, in my opinion, because he is a big-name, old-school basketball mind.

Being mindful of our commenting policy, let us know in the comments section below what your thoughts are. We look forward to what you have to share.

Retweet 5 Share 1 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 1/9/16

January 9th, 2016 at 5:10pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Thursday was the final day for NBA teams to waive players signed to non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed deals without their contracts becoming fully guaranteed. Only six players were waived this week, which means that most players who were on the bubble had their salaries lock in for the season. Listed below, courtesy of Hoops Rumors’ Chuck Myron, are all the players whose contracts became fully guaranteed on Thursday:

While none of the players listed above possess cap crippling salaries, retaining them could potentially restrict their respective team’s flexibility to make trades or to add players via 10-day contracts for the remainder of the season. Which brings me to the topic/question for today: Which of the players listed above should have been released by his team prior to Thursday’s leaguewide contract guarantee date?

Who do you feel should have been jettisoned by their team, not only to clear their salary off the books, but to allow for a roster slot for a potential 10-day signing or addition via trade in the future? If you are an eternal optimist and feel that all of the listed players should have been retained, who do you believe will make the biggest impact over the remaining games this campaign? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.

Retweet 3 Share 1 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 1/8/16

January 8th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov has seen himself go from a starter to a reserve this season, which has multiple teams inquiring about his availability via trade, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. Cleveland has not expressed any desire to move the center publicly, but the team’s daunting luxury tax bill, as well as Mozgov’s pending free agency, could eventually persuade the team to deal him, Spears noted.

Mozgov’s role has been diminished by the insertion of Tristan Thompson into the starting lineup, and the results of have been positive thus far for the team. The 29-year-old Russian has appeared in 30 games for the Cavaliers this season, including 25 as a starter, and he is averaging 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per night. While he may be going through a rough patch currently, Mozgov’s addition was most certainly a turning point in Cleveland’s 2014/15 season, with the big man solidifying the team’s interior defense after his acquisition from Denver.

Cleveland is likely concerned about the luxury tax, and parting ways with Mozgov and his $4.95MM expiring contract could help alleviate a bit of the exorbitant sum the team is in line to be on the hook for this season. But is saving money worth the potential risk of parting ways with a valuable defensive asset like Mozgov? Well, that’s the question I’m posing to all of you for today’s topic, which is: Should the Cavs look to deal Timofey Mozgov prior to the February trade deadline?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter, as well as to weigh in on what sort of return the team should look to extract if it does decide to trade the big man. We look forward to what you have to say.

Retweet 4 Share 2 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 1/7/16

January 7th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Hornets small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist vowed to return to action this season, three months after suffering a torn labrum in his right shoulder that appeared likely to cost him all of 2015/16, according to a report by Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. “For sure. No question I’m going to play this season,” Kidd-Gilchrist told Bonnell. “I’m going to play. It’s a matter of when now.” Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports originally reported that the former No. 2 overall pick faced a six-month recovery, though he later deemed him likely to miss the entire season.

Charlotte has managed to stay afloat this season despite the loss of Kidd-Gilchrist as well as center Al Jefferson to injury and a drug-related suspension. While the return of the defensive-minded swingman would certainly bolster the team heading into the playoffs, there is certainly a danger in him returning too soon from such a serious injury, as Chris Barnewall of SB Nation’s At the Hive noted. But the scribe also posited that the team may be rushing Kidd-Gilchrist’s return in an effort to improve its playoff chances, which could make Charlotte a more attractive place to sell potential free agents on this offseason. Barnewall also noted that the young forward has been prone to injury throughout his brief career, and the prospect of luring a big name player to Charlotte isn’t worth risking the long-term health of Kidd-Gilchrist, whom the Hornets signed to a four-year, $52MM extension before the season.

Now here’s the topic for today’s discussion: Should the Hornets allow Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to return to action this season?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Retweet 4 Share 2 Send via email0

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 1/6/16

January 6th, 2016 at 6:45pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA D-League Showcase event kicks off today and GMs and scouts from around the league will be in Santa Cruz, California, to watch 19 games over the next five days. This event is significant because it allows league personnel to eyeball potential 10-day contract candidates who can be utilized to bolster NBA rosters. According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, the headliners of this showcase are: former Nuggets point guard Erick Green; shooting guard Elliot Williams, who was with the Pelicans, Hornets and Jazz last season; point guard Lorenzo Brown; shooting guard Orlando Johnson; and power forward Perry Jones III.

Other notable players who will participate in the event and are worth keeping tabs on, according to Spears, are:  Westchester center Jordan Bachynski; Bakersfield forward Earl Clark; Rio Grande Valley guard Will Cummings; Westchester guard Jimmer Fredette; Santa Cruz guard Darington Hobson; Reno forward Vince Hunter; Idaho guard Pierre Jackson; Rio Grande Valley swingman Nick Johnson; Sioux Falls guard DeAndre Liggins; and Raptors 905 big man Greg Smith.

The 10-day contract has been the starting point for several players who’ve gone on to successful NBA careers, like Anthony Mason, Bruce Bowen, Raja Bell, Kurt Rambis, Howard Eisley and a number of others. More recently, C.J. Watson saw his first NBA action on a pair of 10-day contracts with the Warriors in 2008, and he’s since developed into a solid backup point guard. Watson signed a three-year, $15MM deal with the Magic this past offseason, which is quite a jump from what he earned while signed to those 10-day pacts.

Now that the preamble is out of the way it’s time for today’s topic: Which of the 10-day contract candidates mentioned above is the likeliest to make an impact in the NBA this season?

I would say that Erick Green has the highest potential to make his mark this season given the number of teams in need of point guard depth around the league. But for teams seeking to take on a project who may bear fruit in the future, I’d highly recommend taking a flier on Bachynski, who has the potential to develop into a useful stretch-four in the NBA. He has a ways to go in terms of his development, but he is a skilled and mobile big man who could have a future as a rotation player in the league if given the right opportunity.

But what say you? Which of the above mentioned players would you like to see your favorite team sign? Who do you think will make the most significant impact in the league in 2015/16? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

Retweet 4 Share 1 Send via email0
Load More Posts