Community Shootaround

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/8/16

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

While the NBA will always be a game that favors size, there have been a number of diminutive players who have made their mark on the league over the years. The most recent example of a player overcoming his lack of size, or physical shortcomings, if you’ll forgive the pun, is the Celtics’ Isaiah Thomas, who is averaging an outstanding 22.4 points and 6.3 assists per contest this season. While Thomas’ success is hardly the norm for a player standing 5’9″ in shoes, he has certainly proven that heart and talent can trump stature in the league.

One of the next players who will look to find success in the league despite being undersized is Kentucky point guard Tyler Ulis, who has declared for the draft and is reportedly going to hire an agent, a move that would eliminate the possibility of him returning to the Wildcats for another campaign. Like Thomas, Ulis also stands 5’9″, though that measurement may be a tad on the generous side for the sophomore. Ulis, who was arguably Kentucky’s best player this past season, averaging 17.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists to accompany a slash line of .434/.344/.856. The freshman is currently ranked No. 20 overall by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com slots him at No. 17 overall.

Here’s today’s topic: How successful will Tyler Ulis be in the NBA?

Sound off in the comments section with your predictions for Ulis once he takes the floor in the NBA. Do you think he’ll achieve a similar level of success as the aforementioned Thomas, end up as a bench player, or is he destined to toil away in the D-League or overseas? Give us your best predictions for his career, take a guess at his stat line or share your own scouting report on the player. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/7/16

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

The sudden resignation of Sixers GM Sam Hinkie on Wednesday night brought an end to one of the more controversial front office tenures the NBA has experienced in recent memory. Philadelphia went 47-195 in Hinkie’s time, its winning percentage decreasing in each of his three seasons. Now, it appears the task of rebuilding the Sixers will fall to Bryan Colangelo, whom the team is reportedly poised to hire as its new GM, and his father, Jerry Colangelo, the team’s chairman of basketball operations.

In his somewhat bizarre 13-page letter of resignation, Hinkie wrote, “There has been much criticism of our approach. There will be more. A competitive league like the NBA necessitates a zig while our competitors comfortably zag,” Hinkie wrote. “We often chose not to defend ourselves against much of the criticism, largely in an effort to stay true to the ideal of having the longest view in the room. Given all the changes to our organization, I no longer have the confidence that I can make good decisions on behalf of investors in the Sixers — you. So I should step down. And I have.”

Love him or hate him, Hinkie was certainly a GM cut from a different cloth than most. His plan of rebuilding through bottoming out was met with much derision around the league, but Hinkie was steadfast in his belief in “the process.” It remains to be seen how the young assets and future draft picks Hinkie accumulated during his tenure will pan out, as well as who will receive the bulk of the credit should Philadelphia turn things around in the near future. It does appear that better things are on the horizon for the Sixers, who are awaiting the NBA debuts of Joel Embiid and Dario Saric, both of whom were draft picks of Hinkie’s. Plus, Jerry Colangelo has indicated that the team intends to be active on the free agent market this offseason, which is likely music to coach Brett Brown‘s ears, seeing as how he’s been saddled with rosters of D-League quality throughout his time in Philly.

Now it’s time for today’s topic: How would you grade Sam Hinkie’s tenure in Philadelphia?

If you are going to judge Hinkie strictly on wins, the result won’t be pretty. After all, managing just 47 wins in three seasons is certainly not a statistic one would place at the top of a résumé. But there is far more to rebuilding a team than short-term gains, and it is in the big picture where Hinkie needs to be judged. Will the collection of young big men and future draft picks he acquired allow Philadelphia to become a perennial power in the near future? Or do you believe Hinkie squandered those picks and set the franchise back even further with the players he chose? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts, vent your frustrations or defend the former GM’s actions. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/6/16

April 6th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA is giving serious consideration to allowing advertising on the jerseys of teams beginning in 2017/18 and the Raptors have reportedly suggested to potential advertisers that the on-jersey ads will cost between $4MM and $5MM per season. During their sales pitches, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment executives have discussed the prospect of ads of about 2 1/2 inches in diameter, which would be the same size as the Kia Motors Corp. ad that appeared on the NBA All-Star Game jerseys this year in Toronto, according to a report by Rick Westhead of TSN.ca. It still remains unclear just how on-jersey ads would affect the revenue sharing around the league. One possible scenario drawing mention would see teams keep 50% of the revenue they generate from such ads and put the other half into a league-wide fund that is split equally between franchises, according to Westhead.

Fans of soccer and international basketball are no strangers to on-jersey ads, but they are a relatively new concept to professional sports in the U.S.. In the never-ending search to locate new revenue sources, advertisements on team uniforms are the logical next step for the NBA. But it is also a change that may ruffle the feathers of some purists out there who believe the game should keep paid advertisements off of the players.

This brings me to the topic for today: Should the league allow on-jersey advertising?

Does the thought of potentially seeing advertisements on your favorite team’s uniforms distress and annoy you? Or do you think its no big deal and a change that the NBA should make to increase its earning power? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and feelings on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/5/16

April 5th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Oklahoma shooting guard Buddy Hield‘s draft stock has risen markedly over the course of the 2015/16 campaign. The 22-year-old began the season as a projected second-round pick, but his stellar play now has Hield in line to be an early lottery pick this June. NBA scouts and front office personnel will have to make the call as to whether Hield’s senior season breakout was a fluke or if the scorer has the potential to be the next Stephen Curry, who is arguably the best player in the NBA right now. Curry was severely underestimated coming out of college and lasted until the No. 7 overall pick in 2009. He was selected after Ricky Rubio, Tyreke Evans and Jonny Flynn, which certainly proves that the scouts don’t always get it right when evaluating and projecting how well players will transition into professional ball.

Hield appeared in 33 games for the Sooners this season and notched career-best numbers in virtually every statistical category. The shooting guard averaged 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists to accompany a shooting line of .498/.462/.890 for the 2015/16 campaign. While Hield certainly has scouts buzzing about his potential, it remains to be seen if he was a one-year wonder or if he’s set to become the next big thing in the NBA.

That brings me to the topic for today: How successful will Buddy Hield be in the NBA?

There have been numerous players throughout the years who filled up stat sheets and lit up scoreboards in college but were unable to succeed in the NBA. Will Hield be the next Jimmer Fredette, or is he in line to follow in Curry’s footsteps and prove all of his doubters wrong once he hits the NBA hardwood? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and predictions for Hield’s professional career. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/4/16

April 4th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The NBA took a break on Monday, ceding the spotlight to the NCAA title game between Villanova and North Carolina. The championship is sure to attract a big audience but the ratings, compared to recent seasons, are virtually certain to drop.

Why? College basketball’s championship landed on cable this year, with TBS paying for the broadcast rights. According to a New York Times article, CBS and TBS will take turns broadcasting the title game through 2024.

While a majority of Americans have cable, it’s still somewhat controversial to not broadcast a major sports championship on network TV. Not too long ago, it would have been considered taboo to deny anyone without cable the opportunity to watch a championship game.

Of course, times have changed, with more people watching sports on their phones and computers. Yet, selling the broadcast rights for a major sports championship to a cable company still raises some eyebrows.

For the most part, top professional championships have remained on broadcast TV, including the Super Bowl, NBA Finals and World Series. But many playoff games can only be seen on cable TV.

Some other big events, such as the new College Football Playoff and top tennis tournaments, have been moved to ESPN and other cable stations.

The NBA broadcasts many of its playoff games on TNT, ESPN and even NBA TV. But the Finals have remained on ABC, allowing everyone with a TV access to the best-of-seven series.

This leads us to our question of the day: Would you have a problem with the NBA broadcasting the Finals on a cable network, like the NCAA has done with its major basketball and football title games?

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 4/3/16

April 3rd, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young aren’t injured, but Nets GM Sean Marks announced today that they will be held out of games for the rest of the season. The Kings began resting their best players earlier this week, and coach George Karl said Friday that DeMarcus Cousins won’t play any more road games this season.

Sacramento has incentive to protect its first-round draft pick, which will go to Chicago if it falls outside the top 10. The Kings are currently seventh in Hoops Rumors’ reverse standings with a 31-46 record, but only one and a half games separate them from 11th-place Orlando. The Knicks, Nuggets and Bucks are also in that mix. That’s likely why Cousins, Rajon Rondo and Rudy Gay were held out of last Monday’s game, along with Marco Belinelli, who has an aching right foot.

Brooklyn doesn’t have to worry about its first-rounder, which is already pledged to Boston with no protection. The Nets are more concerned about possible injuries to Lopez and Young, who are their most productive players and best potential trade assets. “I think two people had gotten injured playing in meaningless games finishing up the season,” Lopez said to ESPN.com’s Mike Mazzeo. “So [Marks] just wanted to take sort of a precautionary angle going forward.”

Resting healthy players isn’t a new issue in the NBA. Contending teams have been doing it for years, especially once their playoff fates are sealed. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has been willing to risk league discipline for giving his stars a night off when he believes a grueling schedule calls for it. In 2012, he was famously fined $250K for leaving Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green in San Antonio for a televised game in Miami.

But resting players to keep them fresh for the playoffs is different than keeping them out to avoid losing a draft pick or to prevent a late-season injury. There are ethical concerns, especially when fans pay high ticket prices to watch stars perform. That leads us to tonight’s question: Should the NBA adopt new rules to prevent the resting of healthy players and should the Nets and Kings be punished for their actions?

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

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 4/1/16

April 1st, 2016 at 9:14pm CST by Arthur Hill

Stories of unhappiness continue to emerge from Washington, and coach Randy Wittman seems most likely to pay the price. It has been a disappointing season for the Wizards, who entered tonight 10th in the Eastern Conference, three games out of a playoff spot at 36-39. With seven games remaining, they would need to leapfrog both the Pacers and Bulls just to earn a place in the postseason.

Much more was expected from a team that went 46-36 a year ago and won a playoff series. Injuries have been part of the problem, but the real reasons for the Wizards’ poor showing go much deeper, as J. Michel of CSN Mid-Atlantic details. The team is making too many poor decisions on the court, Michael writes, and there has been constant feuding between veterans and younger players. There are also charges that the backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal can be too stubborn and difficult to approach during games.

Another problem Michael addresses is communication, especially on defense where he says the team does a poor job of switching on screens. Much of the blame for that falls on Wittman, who Michael says is slow to make in-game adjustments and who has seen his authority questioned publicly several times this season.

Wittman had a dispute with Marcin Gortat in November when he criticized the center for finishing a game with just one rebound. Gortat went months without talking to his coach about the incident, and hard feelings persist between them. Michael claims they have had a “checkered” relationship since Gortat first arrived in Washington in 2013.

Wittman guided poor teams in Cleveland and Minnesota before being promoted to head coach of the Wizards midway through the 2011/12 season. His overall record in Washington is 173-197, and Washington’s back-to-back playoff appearances are the only two winning seasons of his career. He has one year remaining on his contract, but next season only carries a partial guarantee.

That brings us to the topic for tonight. Should the Wizards fire Wittman once the season is over, and who should replace him if they do? There are plenty of proven coaches on the market right now. David Blatt, Tom Thibodeau, Kevin McHale and Monty Williams all guided teams into the playoffs last season. If the Wizards believe they have a real shot at Kevin Durant in free agency, maybe former Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks should get some consideration. Or should the Wizards concentrate on the college ranks and try to duplicate the success that Billy Donovan has brought to the Thunder?

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

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/31/16

March 31st, 2016 at 11:29pm CST by Arthur Hill

A year after giving Jimmy Butler one of the richest contracts in franchise history, the Bulls are reportedly thinking about putting the All-Star shooting guard on the trading block. Back in July, Butler turned down a host of other suitors and signed a five-year, $92.34MM deal to stay in Chicago.

It was supposed to mark the continuation of a dream backcourt alongside point guard Derrick Rose, but the injury-plagued Bulls have struggled to gain traction in the Eastern Conference and are in danger of missing the playoffs as the regular season enters its final two weeks. Moreover, rumblings have emerged about a power struggle behind the scenes involving Butler and Rose.

When Butler made comments in December suggesting that new coach Fred Hoiberg was too “laid back” to be successful, Nick Friedell of ESPN.com saw it as an effort to step out of Rose’s shadow and claim leadership of the team. Friedell also indicated that Butler was speaking for several players in the Bulls’ locker room, but it wasn’t clear if Rose was among them. Rumors of a rift between the star guards had been simmering since Butler signed his new contract, and a Chicago Sun-Times report in October indicated through an unidentified source that Butler doesn’t respect Rose’s work ethic.

There’s little doubt that changes are coming in Chicago this summer, whether or not the Bulls can squeak into the playoffs. Pau Gasol has already said it’s likely that he will opt out of his contract. Joakim Noah, who has been sidelined since mid-January with a separated shoulder, is also headed toward free agency and may be leaving town.

But the most important decision for GM Gar Forman may be whether to bring an end to the Butler-Rose pairing. Butler still has four years and $72.475MM left on the deal he signed last summer, although the final season is a player option, while Rose is under contract for one more year at $21,323,250.

That brings us to the topic for this evening: If the Bulls decide to break up their backcourt, should they trade away Butler or Rose? Butler is 26 and has become the team’s most reliable scorer, putting up his second straight season with a scoring average above 20 points per game. Rose is 27 and appears to be leaving behind the effects of the ACL injury that cost him the entire 2012/13 season. Tonight’s game is his 63rd of the season, which is the most he has played since 2010/11, although his scoring and assist numbers are well below what they were five years ago.

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

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/30/16

March 30th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell has reportedly upset the bulk of the team’s roster thanks to a prank gone terribly wrong. Teammates are ostracizing Russell, who recorded a private conversation in which Nick Young spoke about being with women other than his fiancee, the Australian rapper Iggy Azalea, according to a report by Baxter Holmes and Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Some within Lakers brass are upset with Russell, too, but they’ve left the matter to the players thus far, Holmes and Stein write. Coach Byron Scott has notoriously harped on Russell’s maturity, work ethic and attitude, and several team sources who spoke with Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News had levied the same criticisms even before the video was exposed.

Young and Russell were friends, with the swingman at times publicly sticking up for the 2015 No. 2 overall pick, but sources who spoke with Medina believe the now-strained friendship is beyond repair. Young went out of his way to avoid crossing Russell’s path at Staples Center before Friday’s game, according to Medina. No Lakers would sit with Russell for a recent breakfast meeting, Holmes and Stein hear. Another time, Lou Williams stood up and walked away when Russell sat next to him in the locker room, according to Holmes and Stein.

The sanctity and privacy of the locker room is one of the most important unwritten rules in all of team sports. Athletes are under the microscope from media and fans almost constantly and the locker room is supposed to act as a buffer and a safe haven where players can be free to relax and be themselves. Russell’s actions, while likely not malicious in intent, definitely crossed a line, and it remains to be seen if the relationship between Russell and his teammates can be repaired.

Russell has had a difficult rookie campaign on the court as well, struggling to make the jump to the NBA as a point guard after one season at Ohio State. He’s appeared in 72 contests, including 40 as a starter, and is averaging 13.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists on the year. His play of late has shown improvement, but this rift between him and his teammates could set back the progress of the entire franchise. Chemistry and trust are vital to the success of any team, even more so between a point guard and his running mates, and if the rest of the Lakers are freezing him out off the court, it’s fair to wonder how this may impact the team in the long run.

This brings me to the topic for today: Should the Lakers look to trade D’Angelo Russell?

In all fairness to Russell, he is just 20 years old, which leaves him plenty of time to mature and grow as a person. The point guard certainly has a wealth of talent and has shown flashes of greatness on occasion this season, which bodes well for his future as a player, but it remains to be seen if his teammates will get over this act of betrayal. There may be serious personal consequences for Young, whose relationship could end over Russell’s clandestine video being made public. Regardless of what you think of Young’s actions in a moral sense, it wasn’t Russell’s place to reveal them to the world. The Lakers are a rebuilding team and many of their current players likely won’t be returning next season, so the current locker room dynamic may be altered as a result. But the question still remains as to how any new teammates will react to Russell and if it will hurt the franchise’s free agent recruiting efforts.

Now it’s time to turn the discussion over to you. Do you think that Los Angeles should part ways with Russell as a result of his actions? Or do you believe he is too valuable a player to trade? Will this scandal blow over, or do you think the Lakers’ locker room is irreparably broken? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/29/16

March 29th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Timberwolves will need to make a tough decision this summer regarding whether or not interim coach Sam Mitchell will remain in the position going forward. Mitchell had the difficult task of taking over the reigns after the tragic passing of Flip Saunders, and the team has gone 25-49 under his command this season. Team owner Glen Taylor will be the one to make the call on whether or not Mitchell leads the team in 2016/17, and he has indicated that he’ll evaluate both Mitchell and GM Milt Newton to determine the employment status of each. When asked directly if both Mitchell and Newton would be retained, Taylor was non-committal, saying, “I like my coach, I like my general manager, they’re really nice people,” Taylor said. “We’re working together. What I told them is in this business of basketball, we’re going to do the whole season first and then at the end of the season we’ll do the evaluation.” While that may not have been the strongest endorsement, Taylor’s comments certainly allow for the possibility that Mitchell could stick around in Minnesota. More recent comments from Taylor have lent credence to the idea that Newton will remain in his job through the summer, at least.

This brings me to the topic for today: Should the Wolves retain Sam Mitchell as head coach for next season?

Minnesota, while not expected to be a playoff contender heading into the 2015/16 campaign, hasn’t taken as much of a step forward as many would have liked this year. The team has already eclipsed its woeful 16 wins of a season ago, but given the amount of young talent the franchise has, struggling to get to 30 victories cannot be considered a successful run in my book. To be fair, Mitchell took on the daunting task of keeping the team together and focused after Saunders’ death and certainly deserves praise for how well he has managed that difficult dynamic. But questions have emerged about his rotation patterns and how well he has developed some of his younger players, which should be the primary consideration when the team chooses its next coach.

So now I turn the discussion over to all of you. Is Mitchell the right man to entrust with the future of the team and budding star Karl-Anthony Towns? What do you think about the job the coach has done this season? If you don’t think Mitchell should be retained, share with us whom you think the Timberwolves should pursue this offseason in his stead. Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

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