Community Shootaround Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 9/5/15

September 5th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

New Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry calls Anthony Davis a “generational player” who compares to some of the greatest stars the NBA has ever seen. As an assistant with the Warriors, Gentry coached last season’s MVP in Stephen Curry, and he believes Davis will capture that same honor before he’s through.

“It is up to us to make him as good as he can possibly be, and not settle for him to be less than great in this area or that area,” Gentry said to Ian Thomsen of NBA.com. “I told him that I have no doubt that he is going to be an MVP in this league. And I said to him, ‘We are going to be really, really good if you also win Defensive Player of the Year.”’

It’s natural for a newly hired coach to make gushing remarks about his best player, but it’s also easy to understand why Gentry is so excited. At age 22, Davis is already a two-time All-Star. Last season, he earned first-team All-NBA honors and led New Orleans to the playoffs for the first time since 2011. In addition, he won an NCAA championship at Kentucky and a gold medal in the 2012 Olympics.

Some scouts questioned his physical strength and mid-range shooting when he came out of college, but Davis has improved in both areas. He posted career highs last season with averages of 24.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 2.9 blocks.

Today’s topic is: Will Anthony Davis be the NBA’s best player over the next decade or do you see another young star who can come along and eclipse him?

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

Note: Since these Shootarounds are meant to be guided by you the reader, we certainly welcome your input on the topics we present. If there is something you’d like to see pop up here for a discussion, shoot us a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 9/4/15

September 4th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

One of the more challenging aspects of being a first round draftee in the NBA is that you generally have a complete lack of control as to where you will play throughout the duration of your rookie scale deal. Some first year players find themselves in the ideal situation, and their development is hastened as a result. But there are other draftees who are not so lucky for one reason or another, and they begin their careers at a slight disadvantage.

These reasons can include being blocked on the depth chart by already established players, ending up in a system that is a poor fit for a player’s skillset, or even landing smack in the middle of a toxic locker room situation, which can certainly act as a demotivating factor that early in a professional career. There are also some players, who, based on their draft position, are weighted down with unrealistic expectations that they will single-handedly elevate their new clubs into the company of the league’s elite during their rookie seasons.

This brings me to today’s topic: Which 2015 NBA first round draft pick is entering the most difficult situation, and why?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on which 2015 NBA Draft pick’s professional career will have the roughest beginning, and why you believe that to be the case. We look forward to what you have to say.

Note: Since these Shootarounds are meant to be guided by you the reader, we certainly welcome your input on the topics we present. If there is something you’d like to see pop up here for a discussion, shoot us a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 9/3/15

September 3rd, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Their have been quite a few prognostications of doom unleashed regarding the Nets’ 2015/16 campaign, and much of this pessimism revolves around Jarrett Jack, who is projected to be the team’s starting point guard this season. While Jack is not likely to earn an All-Star nod anytime soon, it’s not like he’s replacing Chris Paul or Stephen Curry in the team’s rotation. Former starter Deron Williams certainly wasn’t getting the job done for the franchise, and the team was all too happy to reach a buyout deal with him earlier this offseason.

Jack started 27 games for the Nets last season, and they went 11-16 overall in those contests. For the season, the 31-year-old averaged 12.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.7 assists to accompany a slash line of .439/.267/.881. The veteran isn’t a neophyte to starting in the NBA, with a total of 310 starts over the course of his 10 year NBA career. But it should also be noted that Jack hasn’t been a starter for an entire season since the 2006/07 campaign, when he was on the court for the opening tip during 79 times for the Trail Blazers that campaign. That season Jack notched averages of 12.0 points and 5.3 assists and Portland finished an underwhelming 32-50.

This brings me to the topic/question of the day: Do you feel that the Nets are better off with Jarrett Jack as the starter, or would the team have been better served to retain Deron Williams?

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 9/2/15

September 2nd, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Restricted free agent Tristan Thompson, who has already rejected a five-year, $80MM contract offer from the Cavaliers this offseason, also nixed a four-year, $52MM extension offer from the team last fall. The power forward’s agent, Rich Paul, has reportedly informed the Cavs that his client would not put pen to paper on a new deal unless it was a maximum salary arrangement, and that Thompson would be OK with signing his one-year qualifying offer worth $6,777,589 if a deal can’t be worked out between the two sides prior to the deadline in October.

One reason that Thompson is reportedly willing to risk playing without the security of a long-term pact in 2015/16 is that Paul believes he can wrangle a max deal out of the Raptors next offseason, as was noted by Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher. Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops had previously broached the possibility of Thompson, a native Canadian, joining the Raptors in 2016/17. Raptors GM Masai Ujiri has stated that he considers it a priority to add Canadian born players to the team, which obviously makes Thompson a natural target for the franchise.

This brings me to the topic for the day: Which would be a better situation for Tristan Thompson long-term, re-signing with the Cavaliers or joining the Raptors next Summer?

Would the young forward be better served to remain a key reserve in Cleveland, and have the opportunity to chase NBA titles for as long as LeBron James is still on the roster? Or would he be better served to chase the bigger dollars and a likely role as a starter for the Raptors back in his country of birth? 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 9/1/15

September 1st, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

During the offseason it’s OK for teams to carry as many as 20 players, but franchises must pare down their rosters down to a maximum of 15 by opening night. The Pistons find themselves in a bit of a difficult situation, with the team currently possessing 17 players with fully guaranteed pacts, as Hoops Rumors’ Chuck Myron examined last week.

This brings me to the topic of the day: Looking at the Pistons’ roster below, which two players with fully guaranteed deals should the team waive or trade prior to the start of the regular season?

The players who own fully guaranteed deals are listed below alphabetically, and I’ve also included the 2015/16 salary for each player, courtesy of the Basketball Insiders salary pages, for your convenience.

Joel Anthony (C) — 6’9″/32 years old/$2,500,000
Aron Baynes (F/C) — 6’10″/28 years old/$6,500,000
Steve Blake (G) — 6’3″/35 years old/$2,170,465
Reggie Bullock (G) — 6’7″/24 years old/$1,252,440
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (G) — 6’5″/22 years old/$2,891,760
Spencer Dinwiddie (G) — 6’6″/22 years old/$845,059
Andre Drummond (C) — 6’11″/21 years old/$3,272,091
Danny Granger (F) — 6’9″/32 years old/$2,170,465
Darrun Hilliard (F) — 6’6″/22 years old/$600,000
Ersan Ilyasova (F) — 6’10″/28 years old/$7,900,000
Reggie Jackson (G) — 6’3″/25 years old/$13,913,044
Brandon Jennings (G) — 6’1″/25 years old/$8,344,497
Stanley Johnson (F) — 6’7″/19 years old/$2,841,960
Cartier Martin (F) — 6’7″/30 years old/$1,270,964
Jodie Meeks (G) — 6’4″/27 years old/$6,270,000
Marcus Morris (F) — 6’9″/25 years old/$5,000,000
Anthony Tolliver (F) — 6’8″/30 years old/$3,000,000

Keep in mind that Detroit has no choice in the matter, and will have to part ways with a minimum of two of the players listed above prior to the regular season tipping off. Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on which two players need to go, and more importantly, why? We look forward to what you have to say.

Note: Since these Shootarounds are meant to be guided by you the reader, we certainly welcome your input on the topics we present. If there is something you’d like to see pop up here for a discussion, shoot us a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/31/15

August 31st, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

There was plenty of drama and intrigue regarding this summer’s free agent class, highlighted by All-Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge signing with the Spurs and the DeAndre Jordan saga, which ultimately left the Mavs fuming and the Clippers rejoicing.

Next summer promises to be another fascinating chapter in the league’s annual player sweepstakes but no other situation bears more watching than Kevin Durant’s decision on his long-term future. Durant, who will make more than $20MM this season, becomes an unrestricted free agent in July. The prospect of one of the league’s true superstars going on the market will have executives and fans around the league salivating. As Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding recently put it, Durant’s foray into the open market is shaping up as the “biggest non-LeBron free agency the NBA has ever seen.”

It’s no secret that the Wizards have been clearing salary-cap space to make a run at the Washington, D.C. native. The Mavs, Lakers, Heat, Knicks and Nets are other teams expected to make a spirited run at Durant. Several other suitors are likely to surface in the Durant sweepstakes by the time next summer rolls around.

Of course, it’s no lock that Durant will change uniforms. If he fully recovers from the foot injuries that plagued him last season, Durant could lead the Thunder to their second appearance in the NBA Finals. The dynamic duo of Durant and Russell Westbrook now has an interior scoring threat with the presence of Enes Kanter, and Serge Ibaka is still around to provide rebounding and defense in the middle. A deep playoff run, perhaps even a championship, could convince Durant to stay right where he is.

Thus, our question of the day is as follows: Will Kevin Durant re-sign with the Thunder or will he change uniforms next summer? If he leaves, which team has the best chance to land his services?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on Durant’s future.

Note: Since these Shootarounds are meant to be guided by you the reader, we certainly welcome your input on the topics we present. If there is something you’d like to see pop up here for a discussion, shoot us a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/30/15

August 30th, 2015 at 10:35pm CST by Will Joseph

As we learned earlier today, the Rockets‘ Dwight Howard is generating little buzz with his potential 2016 free agency. Howard signed a four-year deal with Houston worth more than $87MM, but has a player option for 2016/17. With the salary cap expected to soar next summer, he will likely test the market once again. While there may not be much buzz now, there is intrigue when the variables in play are brought up. There’s Howard’s age (he’ll soon be 30) and injury history, for starters.

Thus, the question of the day: What type of deal will Howard land if he becomes a 2016 free agent?

Personally, I see Howard — if he stays healthy and produces this season — getting a long-term deal from the Rockets worth at least $100MM.

Being mindful of our commenting policy, let us know in the comments section below what you think is the most underrated signing of the summer so far.

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Community Shootaround

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/29/15

August 29th, 2015 at 6:45pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Earlier today, Eddie Scarito of Hoops Rumors handed out his draft grades to each team in the Central Division. The Pacers earned the highest grade with their selections of Myles Turner and Joseph Young. Turner is a defensive presence and he has the potential to be the team’s anchor down low for years to come. The Texas product is extremely raw and is likely to struggle early, but Scarito believes he could end up being one of the best players in the entire draft.

The Pistons and Bucks both earned high marks for their selections of wing players. Rashad Vaughn gives Milwaukee a high upside project in its backcourt. The guard will certainly take some time to develop, but based on the team’s current roster, he won’t feel the pressure to produce immediately. Vaughn could end up one of the best players in this year’s draft based on potential and he’s in a good spot to expand his game.

Detroit’s selection of Stanley Johnson has been criticized, not because of Johnson’s talent, but rather because the Pistons took him over Justise Winslow, as Scarito points out in the column. Johnson’s poor outside shooting will be something the rookie has to overcome, but the Arizona product should be able to slip into the Pistons’ rotation immediately. He’s already a solid defender, but he’ll need some work on the offensive side of his game in order to reach his ceiling.

Bobby Portis was a surprising pick by the Bulls with the No.22 overall pick as the team already has Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol and Nikola Mirotic at the four spot. The Arkansas product likely won’t see significant playing time this season unless the team’s frontcourt suffers an injury or two. However, Portis is an offensive threat with decent range. If he develops into a reliable low post defender over the next few seasons, it wouldn’t be out of the question for him to become the team’s starter at four and eventually earn a few All-Star appearances.

So here’s the topic of the day: Which Central Division rookie will have the best career?

Which player will become the cream of the crop in the division? Will it be Turner, Johnson, Vaughn or Portis? Or will a second rounder turn into the steal of the draft and dominate for years to come?

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 8/28/15

August 28th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA fined the Clippers $250K for a violation of the league’s rules against circumventing the salary cap during their free agency pitch to DeAndre Jordan. During their meeting with the big man on July 2nd, the Clippers presented Jordan with a potential third-party endorsement opportunity with Lexus that would pay the center $200K annually. That was before Jordan gave his commitment to the Mavericks, an agreement that later came undone when he expressed second thoughts about leaving the Clippers, who convinced him to re-sign.

The league’s investigation concluded that the violation didn’t influence Jordan’s ultimate decision to return to the team. But the NBA imposed the fine anyway, since rules prohibit teams from arranging compensation for players outside of the salary set forth via the contractual terms allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. The violation was unintentional, owner Steve Ballmer wrote in an internal memo he sent to members of the Clippers organization that Dan Woike of the Orange County Register obtained.

“As I shared with everyone on day one of purchasing the Team, being part of the Clippers family means operating with the highest integrity,” Ballmer wrote in part. “We believed we were doing this the right way, and any circumvention was inadvertent. In our effort to support our players in every way possible, we as an organization must be diligent in complying with the CBA.”

This brings me to the topic of the day: Was the league’s punishment of the Clippers fair? If not, what penalty should have been handed down from the NBA?

If you were a member of the Mavericks organization, would you feel satisfied with the Clippers simply having to pay a $250K fine? Or would you argue that no matter what the official findings, the endorsement deal could have indeed played a part in Jordan reversing course and heading back to L.A.? Would a penalty as severe as a forfeiture of a future draft pick be warranted in your eyes? Or are you on the other side of the argument and feel that the punishment was too severe? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the issue. Feel free to expand the boundaries of the discussion if need be. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/27/15

August 27th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Wednesday brought with it an entertaining Twitter debate (hat tip to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel) between Heat center Hassan Whiteside and Warriors forward Draymond Green, who had a back-and-forth exchange regarding the merits of small ball versus traditional big men holding down the pivot. It should go without saying that Whiteside was in the pro-big man corner, while Green, whose Warriors captured the NBA crown this past season using a smaller lineup, was firmly in the opposing camp.

The last four NBA titles have been won by teams willing, and in the case of Golden State, preferring, to utilize smaller, faster, non-traditional lineups to get the job done, so that helps Green’s point. It would appear in today’s NBA that outside shooting and positional versatility, and perhaps ambiguity, are more valuable than size and strength. Having grown up with the privilege of watching the likes of Patrick Ewing, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Alonzo Mourning, and Shaquille O’Neal play in their primes certainly makes it difficult at times for me to embrace the league’s new style of play. The basketball purist in me still bristles at 6’8″ power forwards playing center, or seeing 7-footers who are more adept at launching three-pointers than they are at scoring with their backs to the hoop. But on the flip side of the coin, I can certainly appreciate the skill and athleticism that today’s taller players possess.

This segues into the topic of the day: Is the traditional NBA big man a thing of the past, or is small ball just a passing fad?

Do you think that the league has completely moved on from the concept of back-to-the-basket big men, or will the next revolutionary concept be a return to the post-up game? Is this shift more a result of a lack of talent at the position, or is the ever-increasing athleticism of players rendering the traditional ideas we had regarding positions obsolete? Do you miss the older style of play and watching two 7-footers wrestling for post position, or are you a fan of the quicker tempo and reliance on the deep ball of today’s frontcourt players?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions, or to just wax nostalgic about your favorite big man you watched while you were growing up. We look forward to what you have to say.

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Community Shootaround