Community Shootaround Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/5/15

August 5th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

In the NBA, the point guard is arguably the most important player on the floor, and in today’s era of small-ball, having an effective floor general is growing increasingly vital to the success of any franchise. There are quite a few superstars who man the one spot around the league, though it is certainly up for debate as to whom the top playmaker currently is. The debate began yesterday when we discussed the merits of Phoenix’s Eric Bledsoe versus Detroit’s Reggie Jackson.

This brings me to the topic and duo of the day: Damian Lillard (Blazers) vs. John Wall (Wizards). Which of the two point guards would you prefer to start for your team?

Both of these players are amongst the best at the position, and each is counted on to be one of the primary scoring options on their respective teams. Each of these point men has his own style, with Wall relying more on his speed and a slashing style that depends more on him getting to the rim than lighting it up from deep. Wall entered the league first, becoming the No. 1 overall pick back in 2010. While his first three campaigns were marred by injuries, Wall has managed to remain relatively healthy the last two seasons. In 2014/15 he posted averages of 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 10.0 assists to go with a slash line of .445/.300/.785. Wall’s career marks are 17.6 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and 8.7 APG.

Lillard didn’t arrive in the NBA with quite the hype that Wall did, but was instead a fast-riser during the pre-draft process, and it surprised a few when the Blazers selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in 2012. But Portland certainly knew what it was doing, and Lillard quickly elevated his game to become one of the top guards and closers in the league. I’m sure the Kings (and their fans) would love to redo that draft and nab Lillard instead of Thomas Robinson with pick No. 5. While Lillard can take it to the hoop with the best of them, his game relies much more heavily on the deep ball. The 25-year-old appeared in 82 contests last season, averaging 21.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists with a slash line of .434/.343/.864. Lillard’s career averages are 20.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 6.1 APG, and he’ll certainly need to improve on those in the wake of LaMarcus Aldridge‘s departure if Portland is to have any shot at the playoffs this coming season.

If you were the GM of a team and were given the choice between the two players, which one would you choose? Why did you pick one over the other? Take to the comments section below to sound off with your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/4/15

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

In the NBA, the point guard is arguably the most important player on the floor, and in today’s era of small-ball, having an effective floor general is growing increasingly vital to the success of any franchise. There are quite a few superstars who man the one spot around the league, though it is certainly up for debate as to whom the top playmaker currently is. I’d like to approach this subject a bit differently than past topics, and rather than simply asking you to chime in on who you believe to be the top point guard in the NBA, I’m going to present this in a versus format that we’ll run periodically in these Shootarounds throughout the Summer.

Today’s matchup is: Eric Bledsoe (Suns) vs. Reggie Jackson (Pistons). Which of the two point guards would you prefer to start for your team?

Both players began their NBA careers as backups to All-Star caliber point guards and were traded prior to becoming starters. The two players are also similar in that they are score-first guards, rather than pure ball-distributors. Bledsoe has shown himself to be the better defender of the two, which certainly helps his cause, but I’d argue that Jackson’s ceiling as a player offensively is much higher. The Suns’ guard has had two seasons to display his wares as a starter, though his 2013/14 campaign was shortened due to injury, and Bledsoe is likely to continue to put up averages in the range of 17-19 points and 5-7 assists per night. Very respectable stats, though Bledsoe has yet to demonstrate that he has the ability to elevate and carry a team into contention. Bledsoe, 25, made 81 appearances for Phoenix last season, averaging 17.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 34.6 minutes per contest, and his shooting line was .447/.324/.800. His career numbers through five NBA campaigns are 10.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 4.1 APG.

Jackson, who is also 25, played in a total of 77 contests split between the Thunder and the Pistons during the 2014/15 season. He notched 14.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 29.5 minutes per night, with a slash line of .434/.299/.830. Jackson’s career stats through four NBA seasons are 9.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, and 3.6 APG. The jury is still out on Jackson as a starter, though in a small sample size with the Pistons last season he was quite impressive, notching 9.2 assists in his 27 starts with the team. It remains to be seen if Jackson can maintain those numbers over the long haul, as well as become a leader who can take his squad to the next level.

If you were the GM of a team and were given the choice between the two players, which one would you choose? Why did you pick one over the other? Do you believe each is worth their 2015/16 salary ($13,913,044 for Jackson and $13.5MM for Bledsoe)? Take to the comments section below to sound off with your thoughts and opinions. 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 me a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com or hit me up on Twitter at @EddieScarito to submit topics or ideas for what we should present in future posts.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 8/3/15

August 3rd, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Warriors and Sixers hooked up on a late Friday afternoon trade last week, with each team flipping a newly acquired player. Golden State sent Gerald Wallace, who had arrived in the David Lee trade, to Philadelphia for Jason Thompson, one of the three players the Sixers received in their deal with the Kings in early July. The Warriors also sent cash — $1MM worth, as Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders reports (Twitter link) — and gave the Sixers the right to swap the less favorable of the 2016 first-rounders the Heat and Thunder owe them for Golden State’s 2016 first-round pick. The move gave the Warriors a trade exception of more than $3MM, and perhaps most importantly, it allowed the team to save some $8MM in luxury tax payments.

The trade looks like a positive for the Warriors, but with the margin for error so razor thin in the Western Conference, every move carries risk. For the Sixers, the trade allows for the collection of another draft asset, but unless the Thunder or Heat finish with a better regular season record than the defending champs, who are coming off a 67-win season, Philadelphia won’t see any benefit from the pick swap. The Sixers may well have simply rented out $3MM worth of cap space for a cash payment of $1MM. So, how would you grade the trade for both teams?

The Warriors and Sixers are in opposite places in the NBA hierarchy, so it would be difficult to grade them on the same rubric. Still, you’re free to give any grade you wish. To leave your comment, just enter your name and email address, write what you want to say, and submit it; there’s no need to become a registered user. Just make sure you comply with our commenting policy.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 7/30/15

July 30th, 2015 at 11:59pm CST by Chuck Myron

The identity of the best remaining free agent, restricted or unrestricted, is pretty clear. Tristan Thompson‘s value was on full display after Kevin Love went down with a shoulder injury in the playoffs. The 2011 No. 4 overall pick gave the Cavs size, muscle and skill that helped them topple the Bulls and a 60-win Hawks team on the way to the Finals. Thompson averaged a whopping 4.4 offensive rebounds per game in postseason play. Still, no one will mistake the ambidextrous Canadian for a true NBA superstar.

The Rich Paul client has spent the past month as a restricted free agent, much of it in a stalemate after he and the Cavs were reportedly close to a deal on July 1st. Thompson was apparently ready to settle for $80MM over five years, but he reportedly asked for $85MM after it seemed that fellow restricted free agent forward Draymond Green would get that much in his deal with the Warriors. Green wound up with $82MM instead. In any case, Cavs GM David Griffin expressed confidence two weeks ago that he and Thompson would reach a deal.

Not much progress appears to have taken place since. So, we ask: What do you think will happen with Thompson, and how much will he see on his next deal? The Cavs have leverage, since they can match any offer, and only the Sixers and Trail Blazers have the cap room necessary to tender a max offer sheet. Still, Thompson has the nuclear option of signing his qualifying offer of nearly $6.778MM to hit unrestricted free agency next summer, just when the salary cap is set to vault, giving teams loads of cash to burn. Thompson and LeBron James share Paul as an agent, and James wants Thompson to return to Cleveland, so the Cavs face pressure.

So, tell us what you think happens and how much Thompson will make next season. To comment, simply enter your name and email address, write what you want to say, and submit it; there’s no need to become a registered user. Just make sure you comply with our commenting policy.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 7/29/15

July 29th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Thunder will almost certainly be better than they were last season, provided Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka miss fewer than the 88 combined games they sat out because of injury in 2014/15. They’ll have Enes Kanter for a full season after matching a max offer sheet from the Blazers this month, and their supporting cast looks strong, with Steven Adams, Dion Waiters, Anthony Morrow, D.J. Augustin, Nick Collison and the newly re-signed Kyle Singler, among others vying for minutes.

Still, the top of the Western Conference appears even more monstrous than usual this season. The Warriors, Spurs, Clippers, Rockets and Grizzlies all seem to have decent chances to win the title. Thus, our question(s) of the day: Do you think the Thunder are the favorites? If not, what do they need to do to change that?

Oklahoma City is more than $10MM over the $84.74MM tax threshold but only has 14 guaranteed contracts, and the $3.376MM taxpayer’s mid-level exception is still available. That doesn’t provide much flexibility, but it’s more recourse than many teams have, and the right role player can swing a postseason series. The Thunder can’t take in a player via sign-and-trade, but they’re otherwise free to explore the trade market. Of course, their roster isn’t exactly ridden with holes.

So, tell us what you think about Oklahoma City’s chances this year. To comment, simply enter your name and email address, write what you want to say, and submit it; there’s no need to become a registered user. Just make sure you comply with our commenting policy.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 7/28/15

July 28th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Hornets could have had four first-round picks if they’d just been willing to give up the ninth selection to the Celtics, as Grantland’s Zach Lowe detailed earlier today. Boston also offered four first-rounders to the Heat for pick No. 10, as Dan Le Batard of the Miami Herald and ESPN reported last month. Both Charlotte and Miami said no and kept their top 10 picks.

The Heat and the Hornets had no guarantee from the Celtics that any of the four picks would be as high in the order as the ones they already held. Still, the ninth and 10th selections aren’t generally places where superstars come from. Justise Winslow looks like a steal at No. 10 for Miami, but Frank Kaminsky, whom Charlotte took at No. 9, has a limited ceiling. Neither is certain to pan out.

Thus, the question for today: Would you rather your team have one pick in the back half of the lottery, or four picks later in the first-round? Kawhi Leonard, a former No. 15 pick, and Jimmy Butler, once the last pick of the first round, signed deals this month that will give them maximum salaries this coming season, proving that top-flight talent can come from any point in the round. Still, the outlook for lottery picks is generally better than it is for anyone else, and teams picking higher in the order have the power of choice. But sometimes, the best choice involves a trade.

Tell us what you would do if you had a late lottery pick and received an offer for four first-rounders. To comment, simply enter your name and email address, write what you want to say, and submit it; there’s no need to become a registered user. Just make sure you comply with our commenting policy.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 7/27/15

July 27th, 2015 at 11:29pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Celtics made their long-awaited acquisition of David Lee official today, one of a flurry of moves that took place as the team used up the last of its cap space. Boston also traded for Zoran Dragic, though it appears the C’s will let him go and simply pocket the second-round pick they acquired as part of the deal. Boston formally announced its deal with Jae Crowder and signed first-round picks Terry Rozier and R.J. Hunter, too.

Today’s moves still represent just a fraction of a busy month that also saw the Celtics sign Amir Johnson, re-sign Jonas Jerebko, sign No. 33 overall pick Jordan Mickey, trade for Perry Jones III and reportedly agree to camp deals with Levi Randolph and Corey Walden. Thus, the question of the day: How would you grade the offseason for the Celtics so far?

The team didn’t end up with a star, though it did bring in a former All-Star and 20-10 guy in Lee. The Celtics placed a heavy focus on youth, signing three of their four draft picks, and they also picked up another pair of future second-rounders in the Jones and Dragic trades. The team isn’t necessarily done, either, with 17 guaranteed contracts on the books, counting Dragic’s deal, so more moves appear to be in the offing. Still, in late July, the picture of Boston’s summer seems fairly clear.

So, being mindful of the commenting policy, let us know how the Celtics grade out. Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there’s no need to become a registered user.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 7/24/15

July 24th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With the month of July nearly over most of the bigger name free agents have already locked down their new deals and know what jerseys they will don for next season. The most notable remaining unrestricted free agent is J.R. Smith, who left $6.4MM on the table when he declined his player’s option with Cleveland for the 2015/16 campaign back in June. While there’s still a good chance that Smith will re-sign with the Cavs, his chances of topping that salary amount for next season are rapidly dwindling along with most of the teams’ available cap space. Smith experienced a bit of a career revival after escaping New York at midseason, though his postseason shooting woes, and ill-advised elbow to Jae Crowder‘s face that earned him a two game suspension, could not be considered closing out the season on a high note.

This brings me to the topic of the day: Where does J.R. Smith play next season, and how much do you predict he’ll earn for 2015/16?

Smith can be an explosive scorer when he’s “on” and playing under control. He’s also only two seasons removed from winning Sixth Man of the Year honors, and he did manage to steer clear of trouble while with the Cavs, except for that one postseason incident. The 29-year-old also fit into the Cavs’ rotation quite well, and the team has expressed a desire to re-sign Smith, though they reportedly weren’t pleased at him opting out of his deal.

Is remaining in Cleveland the best option for Smith, or do you see another team being a better fit? What sort of deal can Smith expect to land at this stage of the offseason? Does anyone out there believe he’ll top the $6.4MM he was set to earn? All these questions and more are fair game. Take to the comments section below to express your opinions, share your thoughts, and kill some time with your fellow hoops fans. 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 me a message at hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com or hit me up on Twitter at @EddieScarito to submit topics or ideas for what we should present in future posts.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 7/23/15

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

Last season’s version of the Clippers secured the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs with an overall record of 56-26, despite playing with what could be considered a flawed roster. Los Angeles lacked a productive starting small forward, a reliable backup to Chris Paul at the point, as well as depth at center behind DeAndre Jordan. The Clippers fell in the second round of the playoffs to the Rockets in seven games, thanks in large part to the previously mentioned holes in the team’s rotation. One of the biggest miscalculations made by coach/executive Doc Rivers last season was his decision to ink Spencer Hawes to a four-year, $23MM pact instead of addressing the team’s other glaring needs. Hawes didn’t provide much production, and it can be argued that if Rivers had instead signed a wing player who could provide offense and stretch the floor, someone like a Paul Pierce, the team may have advanced deeper into the postseason.

Well, Rivers apparently agreed, judging by the franchise’s offseason moves thus far. Gone is Hawes, and in comes Pierce, as well as the wildcard that is Lance Stephenson, to provide some needed scoring and production from the wing. The team didn’t stop there with the overhaul with Rivers also adding veteran point guard Pablo Prigioni to backup Paul, Josh Smith to provide frontcourt depth and matchup options, and retained both J.J. Redick and Austin Rivers, not to mention staving off the Mavericks and re-signing Jordan.

This brings us to the topic of the day: What are your predictions for the Clippers’ 2015/16 campaign?

Have the Clippers improved enough that they are the team to beat in the West? Or do you think the team merely kept pace with the other conference contenders this Summer? Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts, opinions, and predictions. Are any of you ready to crown them the preseason favorites in the West, or do you sense a backslide is in the cards for the franchise? How big an impact will the new additions have? If you believe the team still has holes, then what can be done to plug them? We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 7/22/15

July 22nd, 2015 at 11:59pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon recently led San Antonio’s entry in the Las Vegas Summer League to the Summer Championship title. Hammon has drawn rave reviews from players and coaches alike for her basketball knowledge, as well as ability to relate to players. The Spurs had made Hammon an unofficial coaching intern in 2013/14 when she accepted their invitation for her to shadow the coaching staff during games, practices and meetings, and she’s since become a regular member of San Antonio’s staff under coach Gregg Popovich. While she’s not the first woman to coach in the NBA — Lisa Boyer was on the Cavs’ bench back in 2001/02, and Natalie Nakase served as an assistant coach in the summer league with the Clippers last year, she may have the best shot to date of any female to land an NBA head coaching gig.

So here’s our question of the day for you: What are Becky Hammon’s chances of landing a head coaching position in the NBA?

The Spurs’ organization, in addition to being simply one of the best in all of sports, is also one of the more forward thinking franchises in all of basketball. If Hammon indeed has the chops to run a team full-time, she could potentially become the coach in waiting for when Popovich finally decides to retire from the game, as well as stymieing inquisitive reporters with his incredibly succinct responses. But is the league ready to accept a female coach? How far is the NBA actually away from adding a woman to its head coaching ranks? Do you see Hammon becoming Pops’ eventual successor? Sound off in the comments section below with your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

Of course, there will always be differing opinions. While we absolutely encourage lively discussion and debate, we do expect everyone to treat each other with respect. So, please refrain from inappropriate language, personal insults or attacks, as well as the other taboo types of discourse laid out in our site’s commenting policy. Speaking of commenting: we’ve made it much easier to leave a comment here at Hoops Rumors. Just put in your name, email address, and comment and submit it; there is no need to become a registered user.