Win Streak May Make Heat Buyers, Not Sellers
On January 13, at the season’s halfway mark, the Heat had just dropped their fourth straight game and sat at 11-30, on track for a top-three draft pick. Since that day, however, the team hasn’t lost a single game, and according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News, the improbable winning streak has drastically changed how Miami will approach the trade deadline. The team is now more likely to be a buyer than a seller this month, sources tell Deveney.
“They were willing to listen to whatever anyone wanted to offer,” one league executive said of the Heat. “But those calls have changed, because now they’re looking for pieces to help them as they are.”
According to one of Deveney’s sources, the Heat were never overly eager to trade marquee players like Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside during the season. However, Dragic, in particular, had drawn interest around the NBA. Deveney identifies the Bucks as one team that had interest in the veteran point guard, in addition to previously-reported suitors like the Kings and Magic.
Still, even if the Heat weren’t shopping Dragic or Whiteside, the team considered likely to move other veterans on the roster before the deadline. But that was before the current 12-game winning streak — now, the team is in the market for power forward help, sources tell Deveney. Miami is reportedly looking for a big man who can shoot from outside and play solid defense, which makes it unsurprising that the club was linked to Serge Ibaka this week.
The Heat’s trade assets are somewhat limited, since they’ve already moved their 2018 and 2021 first-round picks, which prevents them from sending out their 2017, 2019, or 2020 first-rounders. As such, any trade for veteran help would likely have to involve a young player such as Tyler Johnson, Josh Richardson, or Justise Winslow.
At 23-30, the Heat are still likely prioritizing their long-term goals over short-term success, so it would be a surprise to see the team give up much young talent to improve this year’s squad. But the fire sale of veteran players that appeared likely a month ago is no longer in the cards either, making it an interesting deadline for the franchise.
Parker's Injury Probably Cost Him Extension
- The latest knee injury to Bucks forward Jabari Parker probably cost him a lucrative rookie contract extension, Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated points out. Parker, who suffered the second ACL tear of his young NBA career on Wednesday, is eligible to receive an extension this offseason and was in line to get a deal worth $110MM over four years prior to the injury, Golliver continues. Instead, he’ll probably enter the 2018 offseason as a restricted free agent and the nine-figure offers may not materialize for a player who’s had multiple knee surgeries and only three or four months of game action to prove that he’s recovered, Golliver adds.
Jabari Parker Suffers Torn ACL
Bucks forward Jabari Parker has once again suffered a torn ACL, head coach Jason Kidd confirmed today (Twitter link). According to the team, Parker will require surgery and will undergo a 12-month rehabilitation process to recover from the injury, which was first reported by ESPN’s Zach Lowe (Twitter link). It’s the second injury of this kind for Parker, who had most of his rookie season wiped out by a torn ACL.
The news is a devastating blow for the Bucks and for Parker, who had been enjoying a breakout season in 2016/17. In 51 games, the former second overall pick averaged 20.1 PPG for Milwaukee, setting career-highs in several other categories as well, including RPG (6.1), APG (2.8), FG% (.490), and 3PT% (.365).
Parker, who turns 22 next month, will certainly miss the rest of this season and also seems likely to be sidelined for the first half of the 2017/18 campaign. A 12-month rehab process would put him on track to return next February.
In addition to creating a major hole on the court for the Bucks, Parker’s ACL tear will also complicate off-court matters for the two sides. The former Duke standout will be eligible for a rookie scale contract extension during the 2017 offseason, but it will be difficult for Milwaukee to make a significant long-term commitment while Parker is still recovering from his second major knee injury. If Parker doesn’t sign an extension during the offseason, he’d be just a few months away from potential restricted free agency when he returns to the court next year.
It remains to be seen how the Bucks will split up the available minutes with Parker out of action for the rest of this season, but power forwards like Michael Beasley and Mirza Teletovic are good bets to see increased roles. Khris Middleton‘s return from a groin injury should help patch up the rotation as well. Middleton made his season debut on Wednesday in the same game that Parker tore his ACL.
Bucks Not Afraid To Shake Up Roster
- It became clear that the Bucks are willing to shake up their roster when they moved Miles Plumlee for Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes. Now Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times believes that another trade – one for backcourt support – could be in order as the team struggles in the new year. Before Saturday’s victory over the Suns, the Bucks had lost 10 of their previous 11.
Bucks To Control D-League Affiliate In Oshkosh
FEBRUARY 7, 1:56pm: The Bucks will own and operate a D-League franchise in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, beginning in the 2017/18 season, sources tell Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gardner adds that the city’s new 3,500-seat arena is expected to be ready in time for next season.
FEBRUARY 6, 6:35pm: WBAY-TV in Wisconsin has confirmed a report that the Bucks will soon make an announcement regarding an affiliate D-League team. The announcement will be made in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Ted Miller writes for Action 2 News. Per Miller, Oshkosh is one of three cities vying for the Bucks’ D-League affiliate. According to a WBAY report in January, developers are hoping to begin work on a new basketball arena/entertainment complex by March.
Oshkosh mayor Steve Cummings expressed excitement at the prospect of a D-League team at a town meeting last month. “I think this will transform an area that has been blighted for years into the the crown jewel of this city,” Cummings told Nate Beck of USA Today.
The Bucks, who have used the flexible assignment rule throughout the 2016/17 season, would clearly benefit from having a D-League team in such close proximity to their arena in Wisconsin. The confirmation of a team in Oshkosh would be one step further toward each NBA team having an individual D-League affiliate.
Assuming Milwaukee’s affiliate comes to fruition, 25 of 30 NBA teams will no longer have to rely upon the flexible assignment rule. The Clippers, Nuggets, Wizards, Trail Blazers, and Pelicans are the five teams without their own D-League affiliate lined up for the 2017/18 season.
Here are the other D-League affiliate changes on the horizon:
- The Hawks will get an affiliate in Erie for the next two seasons before moving it to College Park, Georgia in 2019/20.
- The Magic, previously affiliated with Erie, will purchase and control a new D-League team in Lakeland, Florida.
- The Timberwolves will buy and control the Iowa Energy.
- The Grizzlies, previous affiliated with Iowa, will get a new D-League team in Southaven, Mississippi.
What’s The Next Move For The Bucks?
The Bucks dealt Miles Plumlee to Charlotte this week, getting out from under Plumlee’s $50MM contract while acquiring inexpensive big men Spencer Hawes and Roy Hibbert. Milwaukee GM John Hammond was widely lauded for the move, creating additional payroll while finding a willing trade partner for Plumlee, who had been relegated to 9.7 MPG through 32 games this season.
With the newfound future cap space, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical suggests Milwaukee may pursue a new deal for Tony Snell, who has averaged 8.1 points on 45.8% shooting in Khris Middleton‘s absence. A restricted free agent after 2016/17, Snell would command a significantly higher salary than the $2,368,327 he earned this season.
In the meantime, however, the Bucks have some roster configuring to do following this week’s trade. As Kevin Pelton pointed out for ESPN, Milwaukee’s depth chart at the five is suddenly loaded, with Hawes, Hibbert, John Henson, Greg Monroe, and Thon Maker all vying for court time.
At first glance, Hibbert appears the most likely to be traded or bought out by the trade deadline. The 30-year-old isn’t on the books for next season, and – if it’s any indication of his role on the team – has already been ruled a healthy inactive for Milwaukee’s game against Phoenix on Saturday. The Bucks have been linked to Hawes in the past, and the 28-year-old has a $6,021,175 player option for next season; a reasonable salary for a competent backup center, though there’s a good chance he’ll opt out.
If Monroe or Henson yield a more significant return on the trade market than the team’s newly-acquired veterans, it may not be a bad idea to trade one of them for a combo guard. As of right now, the Bucks are relying on a combination of Matthew Dellavedova, Malcolm Brogdon, and Jason Terry behind Giannis Antetokounmpo. Monroe has been subject to trade rumors throughout his two-year run in Milwaukee; last month, Monroe claimed to be undecided regarding his $17.8MM player option following the 2016/17 season.
The Bucks have already waived Steve Novak to accommodate Thursday’s trade, creating a center-heavy roster during a vital stretch of their playoff pursuit. In a league over-saturated with centers, Hammond’s challenge may involve finding a new home for one his five big men.
What do you think? Are the Bucks done dealing for now, or will they continue to be active before the trade deadline?
Khris Middleton To Return Wednesday
Khris Middleton announced on a Fox Sports Wisconsin telecast that he will make his return from a hamstring injury on Wednesday against the Heat. Middleton will be making his season debut, as a torn left hamstring caused him to miss the season’s first 50 games.
Middleton wasn’t given a timetable for his return after undergoing surgery in October, but remained optimistic that he would play in 2016/17, telling Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “I feel like I’ll definitely be back this year, barring a setback or anything like that.”
Middleton will be a much-appreciated presence in Jason Kidd‘s rotation. The Bucks currently sit one game out of the Eastern Conference eight-seed, having gone an anemic 1-9 over their last 10 games. Middleton, who averaged 18.2 points in a breakout 2015/16 campaign, will likely supplant Tony Snell in Milwaukee’s starting five.
The 25-year-old Middleton is in the second year of a five-year, $70MM contract.
Teams Contacted Bucks For Info On Sanders
- Three Southwest Division teams are possible destinations for former Bucks center Larry Sanders, according to Gery Woelfel of Woelfel’sPressBox. Sanders, who hasn’t played in the NBA since 2014/15, has hired an agent and will meet with teams next week in Miami. A source told Woelfel that the five clubs with the best shot at landing Sanders are the Rockets, Mavericks, Pelicans, Celtics and Timberwolves. Several teams have contacted the Bucks to get more information on Sanders, who is expected to receive about $300K for the rest of the season if he does sign somewhere.
Eastern Notes: Plumlee, Baynes, Farmar, House
The Hornets took a major risk by acquiring center Miles Plumlee from the Bucks, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer opines. Charlotte needed to do something to improve its playoff chances but taking on Plumlee’s contract was a questionable move, Bonnell continues. Plumlee signed four-year, $50MM contract with Milwaukee last summer and that’s a steep price for a backup center to Cody Zeller, Bonnell adds. The Hornets traded two other big men, Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes, in the deal. Hornets coach Steve Clifford and his staff have done well with reclamation projects such as Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lin, Bonnell points out, providing some reason for optimism that the trade will pan out.
In other doings around the Eastern Conference:
- Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said it’s “hardly a surprise” that backup center Aron Baynes intends to opt out of his contract this summer, Aaron McMann of MLive.com reports. Baynes holds a $6.5MM option and reportedly has been shopped, in part because he’s expected to enter the free agent market this summer. “We don’t want to lose him,” Van Gundy told McMann and other beat writers. “I would love to be able to bring him back here, I really would. But at the same time, we knew going into the summer that was going to be a possibility — and that’s why we went out and signed Boban (Marjanovic) a year in advance and we had money, because we anticipated it.”
- Point guard Jordan Farmar stood out during the Cavaliers’ tryout of free agent playmakers on Wednesday and he’s willing to sign a 10-day contract to join the team, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. Cleveland.com’s Joe Vardon also reported that Farmar made the biggest impression. Farmar received assurances that if anyone from the workout would get an offer, he would be the choice, a source told McMenamin. Lance Stephenson, Mario Chalmers and Kirk Hinrich also participated in the workout and the latter two were looking for a contract for the remainder of the season, McMenamin continues. The Cavs would prefer to keep their options open prior to the trade deadline, rather than offering a guaranteed deal at this point, McMenamin adds.
- Wizards swingman Danuel House will be assigned to the D-League if he’s cleared for full contact, J. Michael of CSNmidatlantic.com tweets. House, who has appeared in just one game with Washington this season, is progressing from a right wrist fracture that he suffered in November.
Bucks Trade Miles Plumlee To Hornets
3:19pm: The deal is official, with the Hornets acquiring Plumlee and cash considerations from the Bucks in exchange for Hibbert and Hawes, according to a pair of press releases. The Bucks also confirmed the release of Novak.
“We are excited to add Miles to our roster,” Hornets GM Rich Cho said in a statement. “He is an athletic big man who brings additional physicality and rebounding to our frontcourt rotation. He’s a proven player with a strong work ethic and we think he’ll fit in well with our core group.”
“Spencer and Roy are two proven NBA centers who give us additional depth and versatility in the front court,” Bucks GM John Hammond said of his team’s acquisitions. “The trade also gives us future cap flexibility as we continue to shape our roster. Miles and Steve are true professionals both on and off the court, and we wish them all the best.
1:22pm: The Bucks and Hornets have reached an agreement in principle on a trade that will send Miles Plumlee to Charlotte, according to Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Milwaukee will receive Roy Hibbert and Spencer Hawes in the deal, per the ESPN duo. The Bucks will release Steve Novak in order to clear a roster spot for the two incoming players, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter) that a trade call has been scheduled for later today to make the deal official.
Plumlee, 28, reached restricted free agency last summer, and eventually agreed to a four-year, $50MM deal with the Bucks. However, his role in Milwaukee has been reduced this season. Plumlee’s minutes per game have dipped from 14.3 to 9.7, and his other averages in several other categories have taken a hit as well. Most notably, he’s shooting just 44.1% from the floor this year after making more than 60% of his field goal attempts in 2015/16.
While the Bucks entered the season reportedly looking to move Greg Monroe, the former Piston has been a solid contributor for Milwaukee, and has split the majority of the club’s minutes at center with John Henson, leaving Plumlee on the outside looking in. In Charlotte, Plumlee should have the opportunity to earn a larger role, particularly with two Hornets big men – Hibbert and Hawes – heading the other way in the deal.
Hibbert and Hawes have each been part-time players for the Hornets this season, combining to average just under 34 minutes per game between them. Hawes has contributed 7.3 PPG and 4.2 RPG, while Hibbert has chipped in 5.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, and 1.0 BPG.
Considering there wasn’t much playing time available in Milwaukee for Plumlee, it may be difficult for both Hibbert and Hawes to carve out regular roles for their new team, but early indications are that the Bucks intend to keep both players, per Stein (Twitter link). It’s worth noting that the Bucks have been linked to Hawes in the recent past — his name came up in a Monroe trade rumor during training camp.
For the Bucks, the move represents a cost-cutting maneuver for the future. Although Hawes ($6.35MM) and Hibbert ($5MM) make nearly as much as Plumlee ($12.5MM) this season, neither player is under contract for long. Hibbert will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and Hawes could follow suit, if he turns down his $6MM+ player option for 2017/18. Plumlee, on the other hand, will earn a guaranteed $12.5MM salary annually through the 2019/20 season, limiting Charlotte’s spending flexibility down the road.
The Bucks will also eat a little dead money by cutting Novak, who had been on a one-year, minimum salary contract. Assuming he goes unclaimed on waivers, his $980,431 cap charge will remain on the books for Milwaukee.
While the trade is hardly a blockbuster, it’s an interesting move for two teams who are battling one another for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Currently, Charlotte maintains a tenuous grip on the No. 8 seed, with a 23-27 record, while Milwaukee is close behind, at 21-27.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.