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Hoops Rumors Weekly Mailbag 10/4/15-10/10/15

October 10th, 2015 at 3:05pm CST by Eddie Scarito

In addition to our weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap, or the NBA draft? Drop me a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com or @EddieScarito on Twitter. Now for this week’s inquiries:

“What’s with Markieff Morris‘ sudden change of heart regarding Phoenix? Is he for real, or just putting on a show for the media?” — Stu

I’d think it’s a combination of both at this point. Morris most likely realized that rocking the boat publicly is not a great way to boost your perceived value around the league, and it also makes the front office’s job that much more difficult to swing a deal and get anything of value in return for him. I’d also think that getting around his teammates in Phoenix calmed him down a bit, and changed his perspective.

Is everything fine between Morris and the team now? Probably not. But with the Suns better served to hold off trading Morris until at least December 15th, which is the date when most players around the league can be dealt, it’s certainly in both sides’ best interests to remain somewhat cordial with each other. It should be noted that Morris is eligible to be traded immediately, but the franchise will have a much wider pool of players to discuss after December 15th passes. In the end, I do think Morris gets traded at some point this season, but I’d expect Phoenix will perform its proper diligence and not just give Morris away. At least he’s currently saying the right things to the press…for now. That will only serve to help his cause, though I’m not so sure he’ll end up in Detroit with his twin brother when all is said and done.

“Let’s get your preseason predictions for who will be Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Most Valuable Player. Who do you have?” — Juan

I have to throw out the obligatory caveat that it’s still early, so these will be major guesses, but here goes:

  • Coach of the Year: This is a tough one. I’ll go with Jason Kidd of the Bucks. Milwaukee, with the addition of Greg Monroe, looks poised to take a major step forward in the East, and if so, Kidd could take home the award.
  • Rookie of the Year: Jahlil Okafor. He’ll likely end up being the focal point of Philly’s offense, which should translate into some decent stats this season.
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert. The “Stifle Tower” appears tailor-made to win this award, and if he can avoid a backslide this season, he’ll have a great shot at snagging this honor.
  • Most Valuable Player: James Harden. It’s tough to go against LeBron James on this one, but there were arguments made that Harden should have won the award last season, and this year’s Rockets team is superior (on paper) to last year’s squad, which bodes well for Harden’s hardware chances.

“Should the Knicks start Kristaps Porzingis this season?” — Kyle

If he earns it, then absolutely. If not, then the Knicks have themselves a bit of a conundrum. Porzingis certainly has talent, and the more I see of him, the more I like what he can bring to the franchise. The problem for New York is that it has an aging star in Carmelo Anthony, who’s not getting any younger, which adds quite a bit of pressure to win immediately. The young Latvian rookie is still extremely raw, and he needs to take his lumps on an NBA court, not in the D-League or practice, if he is to reach his potential. But throwing him into the fire too soon as a starter could hurt his confidence and development, which is something the team cannot afford.

I’d think the best course of action is for Porzingis to begin the season in the rotation, but have him coming off of the bench. If the season starts going downhill, then throw him into the starting lineup and see what he can do. If the Knicks are winning, then they should stick with what’s working, and if Porzingis shows he can handle the job, then possibly have him start toward the end of the season. It really doesn’t matter if Porzingis is the starter as much as how many minutes he logs this season. I’d say that playing 20+ minutes per night, regardless of whether he’s on the court for the opening tip or seeing duty as a reserve, would be a solid target for him during his rookie campaign.

“Who will be the better NBA player…Emmanuel Mudiay or D’Angelo Russell? Please say Russell!!” — Lyle

I’m guessing that you’re a Lakers fan. … Both players have had mixed preseason results thus far, and Russell has been slowed by a minor injury, so the jury is still most assuredly out for deliberation on this one … and will be for some time. But I won’t shy away from taking a crack at calling this one. Both rookies are extremely talented, and I believe each of them will have successful NBA careers, but now I have to disappoint you and opine that Mudiay will ultimately be the better player in the long run. Sorry about that, but here is my reasoning. …

Mudiay is the superior athlete and physical specimen, and he has barely scratched the surface of his potential. Remember, he barely played last season while over in China due to injury, so he’s way behind the curve as far his development goes. So I think that Russell’s career will have a brighter start, but I put quite a bit of stock in physical tools when trying to predict a player’s career arc, and that edge clearly goes to Mudiay. Don’t get me wrong though, I love Russell as a player, and Lakers fans should be stoked that the team nabbed him in this year’s draft. But I see Mudiay becoming a future All-Star and franchise centerpiece, whereas I think Russell will top out as an above-average point guard who will certainly justify his draft position, but he will be more of a second-star type of player, and not a superstar.

That’s all the space I have for this week. I’d like to thank all those who sent in their inquiries. Please keep them coming, and I’ll be back here next Saturday with more responses.

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The Beat: Jerry Zgoda On The Timberwolves

October 10th, 2015 at 12:38pm CST by Chuck Myron
Jerry Zgoda

Jerry Zgoda

Nobody knows NBA teams better than beat writers, save for those who draw paychecks with an NBA owner’s signature on them. The reporters who are with the teams they cover every day gain an intimate knowledge of the players, coaches and executives they write about and develop sources who help them break news and stay on top of rumors.

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer about the Sixers. Click here to see all the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Timberwolves from Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. You can follow Jerry on Twitter at @JerryZgoda, and check out his stories right here.

Hoops Rumors: In what way will the absence of Flip Saunders most profoundly affect the Timberwolves?

Jerry Zgoda: In every way, probably. He’s not only head coach and president of basketball operations, but he owns a small piece of the team, too. Probably the most powerful non-majority owner in the league and the guy who put this roster together with a vision. Now it’s up to GM Milt Newton and coach Sam Mitchell to carry on. The most interesting thing to watch is the older guys – Flip went and signed Kevin Garnett, Andre Miller, Tayshaun Prince to mentor what he has called the Young Pups and they still have Kevin Martin, too – now that Mitchell has said again that the team’s future is two, three years down the road. Hence his decision announced already to start Zach LaVine over Martin, at least for now. Some Wolves fans understandably are tired of always waiting for three years down the road.

Hoops Rumors: Trade rumors about Ricky Rubio popped up on occasion during the offseason, though Rubio, Saunders and Newton all seemed to do their best to bat them down. Do you think that either Rubio or the team will push for a trade between now and the deadline in February?

Jerry Zgoda: And play who there? They’d trade him if they could upgrade at the position and get more of a scoring point guard, since the league has really gone that way with the likes of Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, Derrick Rose, John Wall, etc., etc. But don’t believe it if you hear they’re going to trade him because they signed Andre Miller and traded for rookie Tyus Jones on draft night. That’s nonsense. If they could swing a deal – probably would have to be a three-team trade – and get a guy like Eric Bledsoe, they’d probably do that. But something like that is unlikely at this point, at least until Rubio (injured again these first couple weeks) shows he can stay healthy.

Hoops Rumors: What are the chances we see the team’s other two mid-career veterans, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic, on the block at some point this season?

Jerry Zgoda: Pekovic is virtually untradeable. They would if they could, but who’s going to take three years left on his contract at nearly $36MM owed? Their best hope probably is to get him back on the court for games by the New Year and hope he can give them 20-25 minutes a night, off the bench. If he can stay on the court, he’s valuable or at least he becomes tradeable at some point.

One of two things will happen with Martin: Either they trade him by February before he opts out next summer on the final year of his contract, or they decide he’s good enough at what he does – efficient scorer, best three-point shooter on a team that really lacks them – to keep either as a reserve or starter. But it’d take some kind of contract extension to keep him here. Otherwise, he opts out and signs elsewhere for next season.

Hoops Rumors: What went wrong with Anthony Bennett? What made the Wolves conclude that they were better off with a buyout after he’d spent only one season in Minnesota and two in the NBA?

Jerry Zgoda: Well, for starters he never should have been the No. 1 overall pick. That created unrealistic expectations. But forget that. He couldn’t stay healthy and when he was, he wanted to stay outside and prove he could shoot and they want him to go to work inside and do more of the dirty work. No question he has major talent. I wouldn’t have traded him, but they were already so loaded at that spot: they have Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica, Adreian Payne (who they still owe Atlanta a first-round pick for) and Gorgui Dieng, Karl-Anthony Towns and Damjan Rudez all can play there, too. And that’s not even counting KG. Bennett’s agent wanted him out of there and in Toronto, so the Wolves saved $2MM-plus on the deal and it cost Bennett a little more than $1MM to get out of Minnesota and back home. It was arrangement both sides consider mutually acceptable, but will the Wolves regret the decision someday? Probably.

Hoops Rumors: Speaking of former No. 1 overall picks, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns have no shortage of potential. Aside from them, which of the other young Wolves has the best chance to become a star?

Jerry Zgoda: The Wolves are hoping LaVine is that guy. No doubt he has great athleticism and an underrated shot. But he’s got a whole lot of learning to do. He struggled big time trying to learn point guard as a rookie and now has been moved to shooting guard, but there he’s going to have to learn to play without the ball in his hands all the time. Another guy you shouldn’t sleep on is Shabazz Muhammad. He got himself in great shape coming into camp and could get himself into the Most Improved Player conversation as a scorer off the bench if he can stay healthy. He might have gotten there last year if he hadn’t missed the season’s last six weeks or so.

Hoops Rumors: Do you think the Wolves have any true aspirations of contending for a playoff spot this season, or is the focus solely on player development for now?

Jerry Zgoda: No, not if they’ve already given a starting job to LaVine. That message seems to be clear: They’re in it for another high lottery pick this season and the hope their young guys progress like Kevin Durant and Westbrook did that season the Thunder started 3-29 and then started to grow into what they are today.

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Hoops Rumors Originals 10/4/15-10/10/15

October 10th, 2015 at 10:05am CST by Eddie Scarito

Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week…

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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 10/9/15

October 9th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Paul George has reportedly voiced some displeasure with the Pacers’ plan to move him to power forward, though he did say that he’s willing to stick with it for the time being. George added that he felt overmatched trying to guard Pelicans superstar Anthony Davis in the team’s first preseason game, but after meeting with coach Frank Vogel and president of basketball operations Larry Bird, George said on Monday afternoon that he would remain in that role. “We’re going to still stick with it, see how it works,”  he told Candace Buckner of The Indianapolis Star. The fact that George lobbied to scrap the team’s entire offseason plan after one game is “lunacy,” Indianapolis Star columnist Gregg Doyel opined. But Vogel told Doyel that he’s not worried about George’s reluctance to play the four. “Well, he’s going to buy in, so I’m not really sure how to answer that,” Vogel said. “We’re going to work together to figure out the best combination of all these things.”

This brings me to the topic/question of the day: What are your thoughts on the Paul George at power forward experiment the Pacers are trying out?

Indiana is essentially moving its best player to an unfamiliar position where he may find himself physically outmatched from time to time. With George still working his way back from the devastating broken leg he suffered last year while playing for Team USA, is this a wise move by the franchise with one of its cornerstone players? How do you think George will fare at the four spot if he remains there for the entire campaign? 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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Hoops Rumors On Social Media/RSS

October 9th, 2015 at 10:26pm CST by Chuck Myron

The start of the NBA regular season is less than three weeks away, with about 120 players set to hit waivers between now and then. Shortly after that comes the deadline for players eligible to sign rookie scale extensions. Hoops Rumors gives you a handful of ways you can keep tabs on the latest news and rumors as those stories unfold.

We have a Google Plus account that you can follow for headlines and links to all of our posts. You can also Like us on Facebook and see our content through your account there. Follow us on Twitter to have all our posts and updates sent directly to you. Our RSS feed is located here if you’d like to follow us using your reader of choice.

If you prefer to receive updates only on roster moves such as signings, cuts, and trades, you can follow our transactions-only feeds via RSS and Twitter.

And, as always, the easiest way to stay up to date on the go is with our free Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android. You can set up notifications and set up custom filters to tailor the news to your favorite teams and players, so go download it!

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Poll: 2015/16 Team Power Rankings (No. 14)

October 9th, 2015 at 8:20pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA preseason has officially begun, and teams are now in the process of paring down their preseason rosters. Every new season brings with it the hope for each franchise that it will conclude with the hoisting of the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. But for the more jaded fans — or practical, depending on your outlook — not every team has a realistic shot at making the playoffs, much less at being the last team standing when all is said and done and the playoffs have concluded.

We at Hoops Rumors want to know what you, the reader, think about each team’s chances this coming campaign. To help facilitate that, we’ll be posting a series of polls asking you to vote on where in the standings each franchise is likely to end the season. So please cast your vote below for the franchise you expect to end the season with the 14th best overall record. But don’t end your involvement with the simple click of a button. Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on why you voted the way that you did. We look forward to what you have to say.

Previous Selections:

  • No. 30: 76ers
  • No. 29: Knicks
  • No. 28: Nuggets
  • No. 27: Lakers
  • No. 26: Nets
  • No. 25: Timberwolves
  • No. 24: Trail Blazers
  • No. 23: Magic
  • No. 22: Pistons
  • No. 21: Kings
  • No. 20: Hornets
  • No. 19: Jazz
  • No. 18: Suns
  • No. 17: Celtics
  • No. 16: Pacers
  • No. 15: Mavericks
The No. 14 Ranked Team For the 2015/16 Season Is...
Bucks 27.50% (77 votes)
Pelicans 18.93% (53 votes)
Heat 17.50% (49 votes)
Raptors 16.07% (45 votes)
Wizards 7.14% (20 votes)
Hawks 3.57% (10 votes)
Cavaliers 2.14% (6 votes)
Warriors 2.14% (6 votes)
Bulls 1.43% (4 votes)
Clippers 1.43% (4 votes)
Grizzlies 1.07% (3 votes)
Spurs 0.71% (2 votes)
Thunder 0.36% (1 votes)
Rockets 0.00% (0 votes)
Total Votes: 280

If you’re a Trade Rumors app user, click here.

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Top Bloggers: Jason Patt On The Bulls

October 9th, 2015 at 4:45pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Anyone can have a blog about an NBA team, but some set themselves apart from the rest with the dedication and valuable insight they bring to their craft. We’ll be sharing some knowledge from these dialed-in writers on Hoops Rumors in a new feature called Top Bloggers. As with The Beat, our ongoing series of interviews with NBA beat writers, it’s part of an effort to bring Hoops Rumors readers ever closer to the pulse of the teams they follow. Last time, we spoke with Ian Levy of Fansided’s Hardwood Paroxysm. Click here to see the entire Top Bloggers series.

Next up is Jason Patt, who is the Managing Editor of TodaysFastbreak.com and a contributor at SBNation’s Blog a Bull. You can follow Jason on Twitter at @Bulls_Jay and click here to check out his stories.

Hoops Rumors: The franchise is apparently banking on the coaching change from Tom Thibodeau to Fred Hoiberg making a big impact in the standings since the team’s roster is essentially intact from a season ago. Do you think the Bulls’ main impediment was Thibs’ system, or are there deeper personnel issues that the team should have addressed over the summer?

Jason Patt: While I anticipate “Hoiball” being a breath of fresh air for this group, it’s not totally fair to pin all of their problems on Thibs’ system. Thibs clearly had his flaws as a coach. He was stubborn. He had some maniacal tendencies with minutes/injuries. The offense too often got stagnant, especially during last year’s playoffs. It was clearly time to move on given those issues and the problems with management.

But the roster had/has its own problems as well. Joakim Noah was a shell of himself last season and has to show he can bounce back. Taj Gibson was playing hurt and is coming off surgery. Derrick Rose remains a question mark. The backup point-guard play was atrocious in the playoffs, and that’s an area that could be a problem this season. Instead of looking to upgrade the position, the Bulls opted to just roll with Aaron Brooks, Kirk Hinrich and E’Twaun Moore to fill that spot. Using Jimmy Butler as more of a point guard could be a solution to this, but it’s something to monitor.

It also remains to be seen if the Bulls can improve on D. Even with the defensive-minded Thibs, they regressed defensively last season to outside the top 10 in efficiency, and Hoiberg isn’t exactly known as a defensive guru. Playing Pau Gasol big minutes helped contribute to this, but Butler also wasn’t great on that end and the bench had issues defensively as well.
So while Thibs had his problems and I like the Hoiberg hire, there are no guarantees Fred will be some magical elixir, as there are still some flaws with the roster.

Hoops Rumors: Even though Derrick Rose‘s latest injury was a fluke and can’t be blamed on the player, his durability will always be a concern for all involved with the franchise. With him not helping his cause among the team’s fan base when he said that he was looking forward to free agency in 2017, is it time for the Bulls to consider parting ways with the point guard? If so, what kind of market do you see for Rose’s services given his cap figure and injury concerns?

Jason Patt: I don’t think the Bulls will actively look to trade Derrick Rose, as there’s still some hope he can be a really good player moving forward. He may not be MVP Rose ever again, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he reaches All-Star level.

That being said, they shouldn’t completely dismiss the idea of trading him. If he’s looking for that big payday in 2017, the Bulls have to think long and hard about whether or not they’d give it to him. That decision could be made easier if Rose comes out and looks great over the next year-plus, but if it’s more of the same inconsistent play we saw last year, it’s hard to endorse handing out another huge contract.
The problem, of course, is finding a suitor that’d be willing to give up something of value for an expensive player who’s inconsistent and injury prone. If it gets to a point where the Bulls want to trade him, I doubt there’d be much of a market for him. Maybe some desperate team hoping to catch lightning in a bottle.

Hoops Rumors: The Bulls have a glut of power forwards on the roster, including 2015 first-rounder Bobby Portis. How do you see the team’s rotation at the four shaking out this season? Should the team consider dealing one of its power forwards, and if so, who should Chicago look to swap? Why take Portis when the team had other needs, like a backup point guard for instance?

Jason Patt: The Bobby Portis pick was an interesting one given the crowded frontcourt rotation, but I still liked it considering he was the consensus best player available there. He was viewed as a possible lottery pick who fell to 22, so it’s hard to pass that up. Plus, several guys in the frontcourt rotation (Jo/Taj/Pau) are injury prone and getting up there in age, so even though Portis is buried on the depth chart right now, I expect he’ll play at some point due to injuries.

As for how the rotation at the 4 shakes out, I’d love to see Nikola Mirotic start. It makes all the sense in the world considering Hoiberg’s system and the style of play they’ll be utilizing, but I’m not sure if Hoiberg is going to come in and send one of Gasol or Noah to the bench. There’s already been talk about using the Gasol/Noah duo again, so it wouldn’t surprise me if that’s how it starts. Then obviously both Niko and Gibson will get minutes as well, and we may unfortunately see Mirotic at the 3 just to get him on the court.

A way to alleviate some of this logjam would be to make a deal. Gibson’s name has come up in trade rumors, and while I’m a big fan of Taj, it’d behoove the Bulls to explore the market in order to add a wing. Mirotic is the 4 of the future anyway, and now with Portis on board, he could slide into Gibson’s spot in the rotation. While that’s a downgrade, the potential upgrade at the wing/backcourt could make up for it. There’s always the danger of trading Taj and then the other bigs getting hurt, but that’s a risk they may have to take. I don’t think anything will happen now, but depending on how things play out, look for something at the deadline.

Hoops Rumors: 2014 first-rounder Doug McDermott‘s rookie season was unspectacular, to put it nicely. Will he ever justify his status as a lottery pick as well as what the Bulls gave up to acquire his draft rights? How much will the arrival of Fred Hoiberg help/hurt McDermott’s development?

Jason Patt: Doug McDermott’s rookie season was an utter disaster. He was bad, then hurt and then benched. I thought Thibs could’ve given him more of a chance on the wing later in the year, especially with Hinrich offering nothing, but it’s not like Doug showed much in his limited minutes to earn that time.

Living up to that draft status will be hard given the treasure trove of assets the Bulls gave up to acquire him, but all I’m really looking for out of McDermott at this point is the ability to be a competent role player. He’ll likely never be a strong defender, but if he can couple passable defense with elite outside shooting, that’s enough for me. There’s plenty of value in today’s NBA in a dude who can really shoot it, and spacing the floor for slashing guards like Rose and Butler is important.
The arrival of Hoiberg is probably the best thing to happen McDermott. He’ll have more of an opportunity in a free-flowing offense that should take advantage of his strengths. The second-year man also has a big opportunity to step up in this new system with Mike Dunleavy out for several months with a back injury, so we’ll find out right away if he’s going to make a noticeable impact this season.

Hoops Rumors: Jimmy Butler essentially parlayed one stellar season into a five-year, nearly maximum-salary contract that he inked this offseason. Will Butler live up to such a lofty deal, as well as all the expectations that come with the extra zeros on his paycheck? What do you see his stat line being this season under Hoiberg?

Jason Patt: There’s every reason to believe that Butler’s breakout campaign wasn’t a fluke. He’s one of the hardest workers in the league, and he spent all offseason refining his game and looking to improve. He’s trying to take on more of a leadership role this season, and as mentioned, look for him to take on more ball-handling responsibilities. We’ve already seen his improved playmaking in the preseason.

Jimmy’s stat line last season was 20/5.8/3.3 in 38.7 minutes per game. I anticipate him playing a bit less this season, but in Hoiberg’s uptempo system, I can see his numbers going up. Something like 22/6/4 on similar efficiency as last year (46%/38%/83%) is reasonable.

Hoops Rumors: There was quite a bit of talk two seasons ago, prior to Carmelo Anthony re-signing with the Knicks, that had Chicago as one of Melo’s preferred destinations. Looking back with the benefit of hindsight, would the Bulls have been better off today if they had acquired Anthony? Keep in mind that the team would likely have had to part ways with a number of valuable assets to facilitate a sign-and-trade with the Knicks, of course.

Jason Patt: The Melo question is an interesting one, especially in light of his own knee problems and some questions about his star status. Some of it depends on what the Bulls actually would’ve had to give up. Losing Butler and Mirotic in a trade wouldn’t have seemed like a huge deal at the time, but knowing what we do now about everything, that would’ve been a terrible deal for the Bulls. And even if you get Melo without giving up Butler, Jimmy probably doesn’t break out like he does, and/or you have a weird dynamic with Rose/Butler/Melo. In the end, I think it’s OK the Bulls didn’t end up with Melo, although it certainly would be interesting to see how that would’ve turned out because he’s still one of the best scorers in the league.

Hoops Rumors: Finally, it’s crystal ball time. What is your best (educated) guess on how the Bulls will fare in 2015/16?

Jason Patt: Even with all their problems, the Bulls still won 50 games last year, and that same team is back with a refreshing new philosophy. I anticipate them being around that win total again and challenging for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. Ultimately, I think they’ll again fall short in the postseason, likely to the Cleveland Cavaliers, although if things break right, the talent is there for a run to the NBA Finals.

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Battle For Roster Spots: Northwest Division

October 9th, 2015 at 1:15pm CST by Chuck Myron

Hoops Rumors will be taking a team-by-team look at the battles for regular season roster spots going on around the NBA this month, the last before rosters shrink from the offseason limit of 20 to the 15-man regular season maximum. First, we’ll check out the five Northwest Division franchises:

JAZZ

13 full guarantees (Smallest full guarantee: Grant Jerrett — $947,276; Raul Neto makes smaller salary this year but has 2016/17 fully guaranteed, too.)

Non-guaranteed players

Analysis: Utah’s opening night roster is tough to predict. Withey ostensibly seems as safe a bet as any among the seven without full guarantees, given his $200K partial guarantee and his status as a recent former second-round pick. Graham and O’Brien have partial guarantees, too, but theirs seem more like enticements to sign with Utah’s D-League affiliate after an end-of-preseason release from the NBA roster. The guess here is that Cotton gets the nod, since the Jazz only have two other healthy pure point guards, but the team could go in a different direction if it decides it’s OK with Alec Burks handling some point guard duties.

NUGGETS

15 full guarantees (Smallest full guarantee: Mike Miller — $947,276; Nick Johnson makes smaller salary this year but has 2016/17 fully guaranteed, too.)

Non-guaranteed players

Analysis: Green was a second-round pick in 2013 and Denver signed him just last year, so it’s somewhat surprising the Nuggets put the squeeze on him when they inked Miller, whom the team almost certainly won’t release. The Nuggets don’t have anyone among their 15 full guarantees whom they’d owe less than $1.5MM in the event of a waiver, so it would appear that if Green is to make the regular season roster, a trade will have to take place.

THUNDER

15 full guarantees (Smallest full guarantee: Andre Roberson — $1,210,800; Josh Huestis makes smaller salary this year but has 2016/17 fully guaranteed, too.)

Non-guaranteed players

Analysis: No real competition exists here, as no obvious cut candidate exists among the 15 fully guaranteed players. Stone, the only camp invitee with NBA regular season experience, holds some intrigue, but he, like the other three with non-guaranteed contracts, seems destined for the Thunder’s D-League team.

TIMBERWOLVES

15 full guarantees (Smallest full guarantee: Andre Miller, Tayshaun Prince, tie — $947,276)

Non-guaranteed players

  • Lorenzo Brown — $75K partial guarantee
  • Kleon Penn
  • Nick Wiggins

Analysis: The Wolves made it easier on themselves when they completed a buyout deal with Anthony Bennett, since they had 16 full guarantees prior to that. It would be odd to see them waive either Miller or Prince, since they just signed them this summer, or offseason trade acquisition Damjan Rudez, who has the next lowest amount of guaranteed money coming his way, so Brown, a holdover from last season and 2013 second-round pick, is in a tough spot. He probably saved his spot on the camp roster when he adjusted the amount of partially guaranteed money that was to kick in on certain offseason dates. His contract originally called for him to have locked in $375K if he were still on the roster at this point, a price Minnesota likely wasn’t willing to pay. The affiliate of the Pistons owns Brown’s D-League rights, further complicating any future he might have with the Wolves organization.

TRAIL BLAZERS

12 full guarantees (Smallest full guarantee: Allen Crabbe — $947,276; Pat Connaughton makes smaller salary this year but has 2016/17 fully guaranteed, too.)

Non-guaranteed players

Analysis: So much is unsettled in Portland, and that extends to the opening night roster. The partial guarantees to Alexander and Montero give them an advantage, but $100K isn’t much, and if either of them fails to impress this month, it wouldn’t be a shock to see them hit waivers. Frazier is averaging 19.4 minutes per game in the team’s two preseason contests thus far, and he has incumbency on his side. Pressey’s right behind him with 18.7 MPG, and he looked sharp at times the past two seasons with the Celtics. The playing time that Frazier and Pressey are getting might be the product of a desire on the part of the team to see if one or the other distinguishes himself, since they’re both point guards, and the Blazers already have Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum at the position.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Top Bloggers: Ian Levy On The NBA

October 9th, 2015 at 10:59am CST by Zachary Links

Anyone can have a blog about an NBA team, but some set themselves apart from the rest with the dedication and valuable insight they bring to their craft. We’ll be sharing some knowledge from these dialed-in writers on Hoops Rumors in a new feature called Top Bloggers. As with The Beat, our ongoing series of interviews with NBA beat writers, it’s part of an effort to bring Hoops Rumors readers ever closer to the pulse of the teams they follow. Last time, we spoke with Eric Griffith of Blazer’s Edge. Click here to see the entire Top Bloggers series.

Next up is Ian Levy of Fansided’s Hardwood Paroxysm.  You can follow Ian on Twitter at @HickoryHigh and click here to check out his stories. You can also follow Hardwood Paroxysm at @HPBNetwork.

Hoops Rumors: Carmelo Anthony is adamant that he won’t demand a trade from the Knicks. Given all of their struggles, are you buying that?

Ian Levy: Anthony had an opportunity to leave last summer but chose to stay in New York, one would assume for the money, consistency and continuity. I don’t believe for a second that he thought they were a playoff team last season, or that he thinks they’re competing for a championship this year. I think part of the attraction of New York is the blind optimism that help is on the way. I can absolutely see him hanging out and waiting for the cavalry to arrive.

Hoops Rumors: The Tristan Thompson issue is still dragging on. How do you see the Cavs resolving things with the 24-year-old?

Ian Levy: I don’t think the Cavs are budging and I don’t blame them. Thompson is a useful piece but the contract he’s asking for is out of whack with his actual value, even in the context of Cleveland’s roster. I think things get resolved when Thompson decides to compromise.

Hoops Rumors: Who do you think will be the surprise team of the 2015/16 season?

Ian Levy: The Oklahoma City Thunder. After their struggles last season it seems like everyone assumes they’re now a second-tier team in the Western Conference. Assuming health, I think they could be right there with the Warriors, Clippers and Spurs.

Hoops Rumors: Which team do you think will be the biggest bust this year?

Ian Levy: I’m not sure it will happen, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Miami Heat fell apart. They don’t strike me as particularly deep and the top of their rotation, while extremely talented, seems extremely fragile as well. Even nagging injuries for Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Goran Dragic or Chris Bosh seems like they could pull the whole house down.

Hoops Rumors: What can the Hornets do to try and offset the loss of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist?

Ian Levy: I think they’d be better off trying to mix in some small lineups and spread the floor a little. It’s difficult because they’re already stacked up front but giving Nicolas Batum more minutes at power forward than at shooting guard is probably good for the overall health of their offense.

Hoops Rumors: The rumors continue to swirl about Kevin Durant and where he might end up when he’s a free agent. What’s your gut feeling on what KD will do?

Ian Levy: Honestly, I don’t pay much attention to this sort of thing. Thinking about possible landing spots for Durant is far less interesting to me than thinking about how Billy Donovan will use him and Westbrook, what their bench rotations will look like, how minutes are managed between Steven Adams and Enes Kanter, and whether Dion Waiters can ever get out of his own way. As far as I’m concerned Durant is a member of the Thunder until he’s not.

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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 10/8/15

October 8th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With projected starter Dante Exum likely lost for the entire 2015/16 campaign, Utah will look to 2013 No. 9 overall pick Trey Burke to take over as the team’s primary point guard. While Burke is no stranger to the starting role, having started a total of 111 contests during his first two seasons in the NBA, he hasn’t shown enough for the Jazz to view him as their point guard of the future, which in turn led to the 2014 NBA Draft lottery selection of Exum.

In a recent article, Brad Rock of The Deseret News speculated that this season would likely be the final chance for Burke to establish himself as an NBA starter, and noted that Utah’s playoff hopes in 2015/16 hinged on the play of the 22-year-old playmaker. Burke is certainly a fiery competitor and he has excellent intangibles that don’t show up in the nightly box score, but he also hasn’t shown the ability to shoot consistently since entering the league, with Burke owning a .374 mark from the field for his career. With today’s emphasis on guards who can stretch the floor and make it rain from beyond the arc, this certainly puts Burke at a disadvantage in the eyes of NBA scouts and front offices in regards to his future prospects.

This brings me to today’s topic: Is Trey Burke a viable long-term starting point guard in the NBA?

Do you believe that 2015/16 will be Burke’s breakout season, or is he more likely to disappoint with his play this year? Do you view him as a starting-caliber point guard, or is he better suited to be a reserve? Whichever side of the fence you are on regarding Burke, let’s have your best predictions for his stat line 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.

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