Community Shootaround

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 12/29/15

December 29th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Eastern Conference standings more closely resemble a wild card race than the typical separation seen in most seasons. All but five of the 15 conference teams have records at or above .500 entering play Tuesday, a stunning development given the Western Conference’s dominance in the past 15 years.

As expected, the Cavaliers are at the top, though they lead the pack by just two games while dealing with inconsistency and point guard Kyrie Irving‘s absence. Irving returned to action last week and it’s generally assumed that Cleveland will pull away from the cluster of winning teams and grab the top seed in the playoffs.

Beyond the defending conference champions, it’s a game of musical chairs where a team could be in a comfortable spot one week and drop to the bottom half of the standings the next. The teams from No. 2 through No. 10 have at least 12 losses but no more than 14.

Even the team currently in the No. 12 spot, the Knicks, have realistic ambitions of getting into the playoffs this season. The Hawks, who led the conference during the regular season last year, got off to a mediocre start but have won six of their last seven games. The Raptors once again top the Atlantic Division but have the Celtics nipping at their heels.

Veteran, playoff-tested teams like the Bulls and Heat are still in the mix but look more vulnerable than they have in recent seasons.
This leads us to our question of the day: Assuming the Cavaliers will take the top spot in the East, which conference team will emerge as the No. 2 seed in the playoffs?

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.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 12/28/15

December 28th, 2015 at 8:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Many expected the Pelicans to challenge for a spot in the top echelon of the Western Conference. Instead, through two months of the season, New Orleans is idling in the cellar and the team’s defense is a major reason why. The Pelicans are hemorrhaging points, allowing 107.1 per game, with the Lakers the only team to allow more.

Despite the defensive letdowns and the 10-20 start, the team sits only three games back of the Jazz for the eighth seed in the conference entering Monday’s contests. There’s still time to turn the season around and tonight’s shootaround is about the moves that New Orleans should make. If I were in GM Dell Demps‘ seat, I would give a call to the Magic and try to work a trade for Channing Frye.

The Arizona product was reportedly available for very little return prior to the start of the season, according to Zach Lowe of ESPN.com, although the big man’s play, along with Orlando’s win total this season, probably raises the asking price. The Magic found success inserting Frye into the starting lineup last month, going 11-5 since the move, and they sit in the thick of the playoff hunt with a record of 17-13 on the year. Still, I speculate that an offer of Omer Asik and a protected first-round pick would get the attention of GM Rob Hennigan since the 32-year-old Frye doesn’t fit into the Magic’s long-term plans.

Frye has been a stalwart on the defensive end this season. He ranks fourth among power forwards in ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus/Minus and he ranks 14th among all players in Possession Adjusted Points Saved per 36 minutes, an advanced stat developed by Seth Partnow of Nylon Calculus to measure rim protection. His offense has been excellent, especially from downtown, where he is making 46.9% of his attempts, which is good for third in the league this season.

Frye has played less than 20% of his minutes this season at the center position, but he has proven over his career he is comfortable playing the five. New Orleans could form a lethal unit that could spread the floor with Anthony Davis, Ryan Anderson and Frye sharing the frontcourt. With the addition of Frye, the Pelicans could also shop Anderson in hopes of adding an upgrade on the wing.

Tell us what you think of this hypothetical trade and let us know what you would do if you were running the show in New Orleans. Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Chris Crouse contributed to this post.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 12/27/15

December 27th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

The positive momentum the Suns gathered from nearly landing LaMarcus Aldridge this past summer was short-lived. Markieff Morris demanded a trade later in the offseason, and though he seemingly recanted that at the start of training camp, Phoenix has apparently engaged in serious talks about dealing him away, and coach Jeff Hornacek is reportedly in danger of following him out the door. Eric Bledsoe isn’t going anywhere, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be on the court anytime soon, as the initial belief is reportedly that he’ll be out until the All-Star break is through with an injured left knee.

Suns ownership and management has been reluctant to fire Hornacek, but owner Robert Sarver and GM Ryan McDonough had one-on-one meetings with Suns players today to try to understand why the team has fallen to 12-20, a record that includes an ugly home loss to the Sixers on Saturday, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

Assistants Mike Longabardi and Earl Watson are possible replacements if the Suns oust Hornacek, Wojnarowski writes. A source with ties to the Suns who spoke with Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck a few weeks ago speculatively predicted that the Suns would get rid of Hornacek and go after Warriors interim coach Luke Walton in the offseason (Twitter link). Morris is in the middle of a two-game suspension the team handed down after he threw a towel that connected with Hornacek during Wednesday’s game, though Morris says he didn’t mean to hit the coach.

It all leads to our question for the day: What do the Suns need to do to fix their issues? Should they fire Hornacek? If so, with whom should they replace him for the short term and long term? Should they trade Morris? If so, who or what should they realistically try to obtain in return? If they keep Hornacek and Morris, what’s the solution to their problems?

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

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 12/26/15

December 26th, 2015 at 8:52pm CST by Arthur Hill

ABC analyst Mark Jackson is taking heat from fans, players and media in the wake of comments during Friday’s telecast that reigning MVP Stephen Curry has “hurt the game” because of his shooting prowess. Jackson, who coached the Warriors before being replaced by Steve Kerr prior to last year’s championship season, theorizes that young players are too focused on trying to shoot like Curry rather than developing their all-around talents.

This is the complete quote from Jackson, as reported by Marissa Payne of The Washington Post: “Steph Curry’s great. Steph Curry’s the MVP. He’s a champion. Understand what I’m saying when I say this. To a degree, he’s hurt the game. And what I mean by that is I go into these high school gyms, I watch these kids and the first thing they do is run to the 3-point line. You are not Steph Curry. Work on the other aspects of the game.”

Jackson’s broadcast partner, Jeff Van Gundy, also a former NBA coach, came to Curry’s defense, saying, “Those shots that he takes, if some high school joker takes them, and it’s allowed by their coach, shame on them.” Sam Moses, an AAU coach in the Oakland area, tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that Curry is a “perfect role model,” adding, “If a kid comes in and says they want to be like Steph, they talk about ball-handling more than his 3-ball. He gets to the basket more than he shoots 3-pointers. You would think kids just want to work on the long ball, but they’re working on their dribbling.”

After Friday’s game, Curry expressed confusion about the comments from his former coach. “I have to talk to him,” Curry said. “I don’t know what he means by that. If you can shoot, shoot. If you can’t, stop.”

This brings me to the topic for today: Does Curry’s remarkable shooting actually “hurt the game” because of its influence on young players? And are there other current or former players you can say the same thing about?

For decades, youths on playgrounds or in high school gyms have been dreaming about dunking like Michael Jordan, passing like “Magic” Johnson, blocking shots like Hakeem Olajuwon, rebounding like Moses Malone or handling the ball like Pete Maravich. When youngsters see their favorite players with an exceptional skill, it’s natural for them to try and copy it. Does that limit their overall development? Does Jackson have a legitimate point, or is he is speaking out of bitterness over how his tenure in Golden State ended?

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

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 12/23/15

December 23rd, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Rockets and representatives for Ty Lawson are reportedly working in tandem to look for possible deals that would send the point guard out of Houston, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Houston reportedly wants to keep Lawson, but the point guard’s camp is seeking a way for him to receive more playing time on another team, as was relayed by Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com.

The news that the Rockets are involved in trade discussions involving Lawson represents an apparent change from earlier this month, when Houston was holding off on the idea despite interested teams around the league believing that they’d be able to trade for him on the cheap, as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported. The level of interest in Lawson around the league is up for debate, with Ken Berger of CBSSports.com noting that there isn’t currently much of a market for the point guard, and teams are likely waiting to see if the Rockets will ultimately waive him.

This brings me to the topic for today: Should the Rockets look to trade Ty Lawson, even if the return is negligible?

Lawson’s contract has him slated to earn $12,404,495 for 2015/16, which will be a difficult salary to trade without taking back a bad contract or two. The only teams currently possessing enough cap room to absorb Lawson’s pact without needing to ship out a significant amount of salary are the Sixers and Blazers. Portland seems like an unlikely fit given the presence of Damian Lillard, so I’d rule them out as a potential landing spot for Lawson. The Sixers certainly could use help in the backcourt, but given Lawson’s off the court troubles, he doesn’t quite fit the bill as the veteran leader the team is looking to add.

The most logical fit for Lawson would be with the Knicks, given the team’s lack of production from the one spot. Lawson’s deal would not necessarily be an issue for the cap space conscious Knicks since his 2016/17 salary is non-guaranteed until either the day after the completion of the NBA Finals or the day after the 2016 NBA draft, whichever occurs later. Matching salaries for this season could be tricky, unless New York is willing to part with Robin Lopez, who could be dealt for Lawson straight up. It’s unclear if Houston would be interested in Lopez, but he could be viewed as a palatable replacement should Dwight Howard depart after this season as a free agent. A package of Jose Calderon and Derrick Williams, two players New York would likely love to part with, would also work salary-wise, though it’s unclear if the Rockets would be willing to take on Calderon, who still has one year remaining on his deal.

No matter which team Houston paired up with on a potential deal, the franchise isn’t likely to receive much in the way of value in return. So what say you? Should Houston look to cut ties with Lawson, no matter what the return? Or should the team hang onto him for the remainder of the season and hope he can pick up his play? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 12/22/15

December 22nd, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler has made some sharply critical comments about new coach Fred Hoiberg‘s laid back coaching style, a move that reportedly didn’t sit well with Butler’s teammates or the front office. “I believe in the guys in this locker room, yeah,” Butler had said after last Saturday’s loss to the Knicks. “But I also believe that we probably have to be coached a lot harder at times. I’m sorry. I know Fred’s a laid-back guy and I really respect him for that, but when guys aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do, you got to get on guys. Myself included. You got to do what you’re supposed to do when you’re out there playing basketball.”

According to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com, the Bulls are having difficulty adjusting to Hoiberg’s style after years of defensive-minded “taskmaster” Tom Thibodeau. Both Butler and Hoiberg are in the first year of their respective five-year deals, which makes any potential discord between Butler, the team’s star, and the new coach a dicey and uncomfortable proposition.

This bring me to the topic for today: Should the Bulls look to trade Jimmy Butler given his recent remarks and the rift that is reportedly developing between he and his teammates?

While there is little doubt that Butler is the team’s best player, it can be a chemistry killer if the face of the franchise isn’t on board with the coaching staff’s program. Butler has also reportedly rankled his fellow Bulls with his propensity to do his pregame warm ups on his own, a practice that caused Joakim Noah to have a talk with him recently, according to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Friedell had suggested that Butler’s remarks may have signaled “the beginning of the end” of his time in Chicago, though the controversy has seemingly died down since this past weekend.

But what say you? Were Butler’s remarks about Hoiberg out of line, or do they have merit? If you believe that the swingman was correct in his assessment, do you think he was justified in voicing his frustrations publicly? Would the Bulls be better served trying to deal Butler if a significant return could be garnered, or should the front office take the player’s comments to heart and look to make a change in the coaching staff? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround: 12/21/15

December 21st, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

In any game that involves DeAndre Jordan, Andre Drummond or Dwight Howard, the threat is always there. No, we’re not talking about those centers posting a 20-20 game. We’re talking about opposing coaches employing the “Hack-A-Dre” or “Hack-A-Dwight” strategy.

The tactic is occasionally used as a means to play catchup. Drummond and Jordan are the league’s worst free throw shooters, with both under 40%. Howard is making his free throws at a 51.8% rate, fourth worst among all qualifiers.

Last season’s otherwise highly entertaining Western Conference playoffs sometimes slowed to a crawl, with Jordan and Howard being grabbed off the ball for multiple possessions. That led to a fierce debate about whether the league should change its rules regarding intentional fouls off the ball.

Currently, teams can employ the tactic of sending a poor free throw shooter to the line during the first 10 minutes of a quarter. After that, it results in not only free throws but also possession.

Last week, Clippers coach Doc Rivers not only employed the “Hack-A-Dwight” tactic but also intentionally fouled his frontcourt partner Clint Capela. We’ve also seen the strategy used against the league’s poorest foul-shooting guard, Rajon Rondo.

The argument to change the rule is to preserve the entertainment value of the game. No one buys a ticket to see a bad free throw shooter go to the line 15-20 times.

Those in the favor of the status quo believe it’s up to the poor free throw shooters to improve their game, so that opposing coaches won’t be so eager to order their players to foul them.

This leads us to our question of the day: Should the league change the rules regarding intentional fouls off the ball in order to remove “Hack-A” tactics?

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.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 12/20/15

December 20th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Will Joseph

The Bucks entered this season with expectations of making a respectable postseason run. Despite adding Greg Monroe, however, the Bucks have regressed to a 10-18 record heading into action Sunday. It seems apparent to Bucks management, at least judging from recent reports, that adding a veteran presence would be beneficial, especially after four Bucks players were observed partying at a Los Angeles strip club last week.

To that end, Bucks management and Carlos Boozer, who has lingered in free agency since going unsigned over the offseason, met about the possibility of a deal. Milwaukee is also the likely destination for Wisconsin native Caron Butler, whom the Kings have promised to trade. Both veterans likely have enough left in their respective tanks to help, but to what degree? Glory days are behind both players. Off the court, however, is where either player would likely have more of an impact on the Bucks. Players who are willing to provide guidance and experience are often underrated commodities in the league because there are no statistics to determine the worth for that. It’s arbitrary, but there’s a decent chance it could very well be what is missing in Milwaukee.

That leads us to today’s question: How much would Boozer and/or Butler help the Bucks?

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

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Community Shootaround

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 12/19/15

December 19th, 2015 at 11:30pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Ty Lawson hasn’t impressed in 26 games with the Rockets and if the point guard’s camp has its way, the North Carolina product will be playing for another team before the end of the season. Although Lawson’s trade value has arguably never been lower, he is still a starting-caliber point guard and the Rockets should be able to garner a respectable return if they trade him. So tonight’s shootaround is about finding a new home for the troubled 28-year-old and here’s what I would do if I was sitting in GM Daryl Morey’s chair:

Rumors surfaced earlier in the week that Dwight Howard is unhappy with the current state of the franchise and although the center has since refuted those reports, the team expects him to turn down his player option, which would have paid him slightly more than $23.282MM next season. Signing a 30-year-old center with injury history to a long-term, possibly maximum salaried deal may not be the best option for the franchise, yet neither is losing him to another team in free agency.

The Rockets should attempt to trade both Howard and Lawson and build a new team around James Harden. The Nets were on Howard’s list of suitors when he was pushing for a trade from the Magic back in 2011 and while it’s unclear if Brooklyn remains a preferable destination, GM Billy King has the pieces to make a logical trade.

If Houston sends Howard, Lawson and Corey Brewer, who won’t be eligible to be traded until January 15th, to Brooklyn for Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez, who also isn’t eligible to be traded until January 15th, both teams would be better off, even if the Rockets have to include another reserve in the deal to make the salaries align. The Nets would get a new face of the franchise in Howard and a talented point guard in Lawson, who could play beside Jarrett Jack to give the Nets a somewhat exciting backcourt, something they lacked for quite some time. The Rockets would add two proven scoring options to help ease Harden’s burden on the offensive end and they would get younger at the center position. Adding Lopez, whose Player Efficiency Rating is 20.49 this season, would give the team an All-Star whose career is on the same trajectory as Harden’s and they would form a more lethal duo than the Harden-Howard pairing.

The parameters around this trade are purely speculative, as there have been no reports linking the Nets and Rockets in trade discussions.

Be the Rockets’ GM tonight. Let us know what you would do with Lawson and Howard if you were running Houston and tell us what you think about this hypothetical trade. Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 12/18/15

December 18th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Bucks were predicted by many to be a force in the Eastern Conference this season after finishing 41-41 a season ago and signing Greg Monroe over the summer. But the franchise has regressed thus far this season, stumbling out of the gate to a record of 10-17 and not looking at all like the budding young powerhouse of a season ago.

When things are going bad for a team everything becomes magnified, and this week Monroe, Khris Middleton, O.J. Mayo and Miles Plumlee showed up in TMZ Sports videos depicting them in a Los Angeles strip club late at night before the team’s loss to the Lakers this week. Coach Jason Kidd said he didn’t think their partying was a contributing factor to the loss, but, coincidentally or otherwise, the Bucks are reportedly the likely trade destination for veteran leader Caron Butler. The team also reportedly met with free agent Carlos Boozer to discuss a potential contract, as the team looks to add veteran leadership to aid its young core.

This brings me to today’s topic: Should the Bucks add veterans to the roster this season, or stick with the younger players and allow them to develop and mature on their own?

Adding veteran leadership could certainly improve the locker room culture and provide the younger players on the team with role-models, provided they are willing to listen. But the addition of veterans like Boozer and Butler could also cut into the minutes of some members of the team, and that could serve to hinder their on-court development. With this season likely a bust for the Bucks, the argument could be made that the team would be better served to play its younger players as much as possible in an effort to not only develop them, but also to allow the franchise to assess who can be a building block for the future.

But what say you? Should Milwaukee augment its roster with veterans no matter the cost of valuable minutes for the younger players who will be counted on in the seasons ahead? Or do you believe adding veteran leadership can only serve to improve the team in the long-run? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

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