Elliot Williams To Join Warriors D-League Team

Five-year NBA veteran and Hornets camp cut Elliot Williams will sign with the D-League affiliate of the Warriors, his agent tells Adam Johnson of D-League Digest (Twitter link). The Santa Cruz Warriors still hold his D-League rights from his time with their squad last season. The No. 22 overall pick from the 2010 draft went up and down between Santa Cruz and the NBA last season, when he signed five 10-day contracts with three NBA teams.

The Hornets were one of them, and they gave him a partial guarantee of $80K when he signed with Charlotte this past summer. That was slightly more than the $75K the team gave rookie Aaron Harrison, but the team kept Harrison and released Williams at the end of the preseason. Williams saw action in only two preseason games for Charlotte, averaging 5.5 points in 13.0 minutes per contest.

Santa Cruz is also adding Daniel Orton, another former first-round pick who last appeared in the NBA during the 2013/14 season, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). It’s yet more talent for a team that won the D-League championship last spring, matching the NBA title that the parent club won, but Williams and Orton have no direct ties to Golden State and remain free to sign with any NBA franchise.

Eastern Notes: Celtics, Nets, Hawks

The Nets are still feeling some negative effects from the team’s big acquisitions and moves in the past (Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, for example) and severely need help at the point guard position, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com writes. The Nets are one of only three teams in the league that remain without a win. While it is obviously still early in the season, Mazzeo does not see a turnaround for the Nets in the near future with the way the roster is currently composed.

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

  • The Celtics assigned power forward Jordan Mickey and shooting guard/small forward James Young Sunday to their D-League affiliate, the team announced in a press release. It is the second time the pair has been sent to Maine already this season. Young and Mickey were assigned to the D-League on Tuesday, but were sent back up to the Celtics later in the week. Mickey played three minutes in Friday’s NBA game while Young has yet to play this season.
  • Kent Bazemore, who is entering the final season of his current deal, has long been known as a defensive player, but the Hawks‘ new starting small forward is producing offensively as well so far this season, as Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution details.
  • Jason Smith, whom the Magic signed to a one-year, $4.3MM deal in July, has supplied Orlando with some energy and toughness, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel writes. Smith, as Robbins adds, has taken on a larger role since starting center Nikola Vucevic suffered an injury.

Western Notes: Bryant, Lakers, Spurs

Kobe Bryant appears to be leaning toward retirement at the end of the year, but he hasn’t made a decision just yet, Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News writes. “If you asked me today, this would be my last year. But you never know,” Bryant said. “We’ll keep it open. Whatever happens, happens.” Regardless of when the five time NBA champion decides to retire, he has no desire to get into coaching. “I don’t feel like dealing with divas,” Bryant said jokingly.

Here’s more from around the Western Conference

  • The Lakers passed on Kristaps Porzingis in part because of how long they thought it would take him to develop, Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News writes. “[Porzingis] really didn’t show any fear. We just thought it would take him some time,” coach Byron Scott said. “Obviously we’re a little wrong about that. He’s playing pretty well right now.”
  • The Spurs are taking a hands-off approach to integrating LaMarcus Aldridge into their system, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News writes. “We still haven’t coached him much,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “We just watch him.” San Antonio is using the same strategy that the team employed with Tim Duncan during the 1997/98 campaign. “Coaching [Duncan] didn’t seem too smart to me,” Popovich said. “If there’s something you might add to his game, you do it after you’ve seen what he does naturally.” 
  • The Spurs have assigned Jonathon Simmons to their D-League affiliate in Austin, the team announced. This is the first D-League assignment of the season for San Antonio. You can keep track of all of the D-League assignments and recalls made during the 2015/16 campaign here.

Eddie Scarito contributed to this post.

Los Angeles Notes: Bryant, D-League, Russell

Kobe Bryant hasn’t gone on record about his plans for next season, but he remains adamant that he’ll never play for another NBA team besides the Lakers, Baxter Holmes of ESPNLosAngeles.com relays. “I’ve said it so many times. I’m here, I’m a Laker for life,” Bryant said Friday night. “I’m not playing anywhere else, no matter what. It’s just not going to happen. I bleed purple and gold, and that’s just how it’s going to be.

Bryant, who is in the final year of his deal with the Lakers, was addressing some comments made by Phil Jackson, his former coach, and current president of the Knicks, Holmes notes. Back in September, Jackson had said, “I don’t think it’s his last year. It sounds like it may be his last year as a Laker.” Kobe made light of Jackson’s remarks, adding, “That’s Phil baiting you [members of the media] like he always does. He’s a master at it.

Here’s more from L.A.:

  • It was a mild surprise when the Clippers announced that Branden Dawson and C.J. Wilcox were assigned to the D-League this week, considering that executive/coach Doc Rivers had been on record as being hesitant about sending players down to the D-League without the Clippers having an affiliate of their own. Rivers explained his change in thinking to Rowan Kavner of NBA.com, saying, “We’re sending them to the right place. We talked to them beforehand, we tried to identify somebody that plays somewhat similar offensively to us. The Phoenix group came and it was good.
  • Rivers also told Kavner that it was possible that the Clippers could have their own D-League affiliate at some point in the near future, though there are no plans in the works currently. “We haven’t even decided if we’re going to get one yet,” Rivers said. “But it doesn’t take long to get one.
  • Lakers coach Byron Scott is preaching patience with D’Angelo Russell, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft, notes Bill Oram of The Orange County Register. “He’s learning,” Scott said of Russell. “I wouldn’t say ‘struggling.’ He’s learning, and that’s what people got to understand, that this is a 19-year-old kid. Even I sit back at times and say, ‘Wait a minute guys, he’s 19. We got to cut him some slack, this is all new to him.’ But fans and people they don’t understand that.

Pacific Notes: Rondo, Ezeli, Price

The Kings‘ top priority in free agency this past offseason was Rajon Rondo, who was viewed as the perfect fit on a young Sacramento squad, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports writes. “I knew he was going to be available,” Vlade Divac, the Kings’ president of basketball and franchise operations, told Spears. “He was my first choice when I went after some free agents. Honestly, we weren’t a perfect destination in free agency and that was something we could take advantage of. He works well for us. We have things to turn around. I was very honest with him. I knew people were talking. But this is a great opportunity not only for him, but for us. Honestly, we were probably the first ones to approach. Everyone was scared. I wasn’t. As a player, I knew what he could do.

Here’s more from the Pacific Division:

  • Festus Ezeli hasn’t played much during his time with the Warriors, but an injury to Andrew Bogut is giving him a chance at spot starts this season, and he’s making the most of the playing time he’s getting, as Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group examines. The rim protector is showing off the strides he’s made as he’s poised for restricted free agency, with extension talks breaking down before Monday’s deadline.
  • Ronnie Price‘s affection for his time with the Lakers last season is clear, but he instead wound up signing this summer with Phoenix, where coach Jeff Hornacek says he’s been impressed with him since their days together with the Jazz, as Matt Petersen of Suns.com details. “Ronnie’s always been on our list,” Hornacek said. “He’s that veteran guy who understands what his role is. He plays hard in practice. You put him in the game, he’ll be the guy that’s picking guys up full-court. I like that energy.”
  • The Clippers could have a D-League team by next season if they want to, but coach/executive Doc Rivers isn’t sure whether that’s the choice they’ll make, tweets Dan Woike of the Orange County Register. The Clips are one of 11 teams without an affiliate this season but, with the Hornets and Nets already with deals to start their own affiliates and the Bulls not far behind, they’re part of a quickly shrinking group of holdouts. The Clippers, Hawks and Wizards are among the teams close to starting D-League teams, according to USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt (Twitter link).

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Nets Formally Add D-League Team For 2016/17

FRIDAY, 5:55pm: The Nets have officially announced via a press release that the franchise has acquired the right to own and operate an NBA D-League team, which will be called the Long Island Nets. “Today’s announcement is an exciting one – not only for the NBA D-League, which welcomes the league’s record 21st team; or the Nets, who will have a place for young talent to develop; but for Nets fans,” said Malcolm Turner, NBA D-League President.  “The NBA D-League is a place where talented young athletes refine their skills and develop into NBA contributors, and fans in Brooklyn, and later on Long Island, are sure to enjoy watching current and future NBA talent in an affordable, family-friendly atmosphere.  I’m excited to work with the Nets’ executive staff as we ramp up to the start of the 2016/17 season together.

The creation of a D-League club goes hand in hand with the building of a younger, more athletic Brooklyn Nets team,” said team owner Mikhail Prokhorov.  “It will provide additional roster opportunities that will serve us well as we focus on realizing the full potential of our coaches and players, current and future.

THURSDAY, 11:19am: The Nets will officially announce Friday that they’re starting up a D-League team to serve as their one-to-one affiliate for the 2016/17 season, reports Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. The team has repeatedly said that finding a D-League affiliate of their own for 2016/17 has been a goal, and CEO Brett Yormark tipped his hand today, saying that a “major announcement” would take place about a pro basketball team coming to the renovated Nassau Coliseum in the future, Bontemps notes. The team will play at Barclays Center for a year before moving into Nassau for 2017/18, according to Bontemps, and it’ll be called the Long Island Nets, according to NetsDaily.

The Brooklyn Nets will own the D-League team outright, NetsDaily reports, unlike their former one-to-one D-League affiliate, the Springfield Armor, which had independent ownership. That team moved to Michigan for the 2014/15 season and is now the Pistons affiliate. The Nets are paying the NBA a $6MM startup fee, the same amount of money the Knicks paid when they began the D-League Westchester Knicks before last season, NetsDaily also reports.

It’ll be one of at least two new D-League teams for next season, as the Hornets and the D-League finalized a deal last month for an expansion team in North Carolina. The Bulls also recently announced tentative plans to start an Illinois-based D-League team in 2016/17, as Eric Peterson of the Daily Herald detailed. The D-League would have 22 teams next year if the Nets, Hornets and Bulls all add affiliates, leaving the Hawks, Nuggets, Clippers, Bucks, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Wizards as the only NBA teams without D-League partners.

And Ones: Love, Kidd, Morris, D-League

Kevin Love and LeBron James didn’t get along during the 2014/15 campaign, Love’s first with the Cavaliers, and much of the discord stemmed from Love arriving to the team out of shape, which frustrated James immensely, Jason Lloyd of The Akron Beacon Journal writes. Love, who was an unrestricted free agent this offseason, says that he always intended to re-sign with Cleveland, and he approached James shortly after the NBA Finals to let LeBron know that he wanted to play a larger role in the team’s offense, Lloyd relays. “More than anything I just wanted to see what he thought about where the team was going and what we wanted to accomplish,” Love said. “It was always ‘we’ or ‘us.’ It was never like, ‘You need to tell me this.’ Never.

Many within the Cavs’ organization believe that James, who loves challenges, has taken Love on as his own special project this season, and his primary goal is to build up Love’s confidence, Lloyd adds. “Some of the finer points and perhaps things people overlook is how he influences his teammates and how he influences the flow of the game just by recognizing what helps other guys function better when he trusts in something or someone on the court,” coach David Blatt said of James. “Bron also understands this is a long season and the more he empowers those around him, the better it’s going to be going down the line.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Jason Kidd‘s move from the Nets to the Bucks was certainly a wise one given Milwaukee’s much brighter future outlook, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com writes. For his part, Kidd enjoys the challenge of developing and coaching the team’s younger players, Mazzeo notes. “Coaching is hard no matter what — whether you’re coaching veterans or young guys,” Kidd said. “Being able to use certain vocabulary with the older guys — they get it and they can go out and execute it. Sometimes with the younger guys, you have to show them on video or walk through it and then have them do it. So you might have to spend a little more time teaching, but that’s fun. That’s why I like being in Milwaukee, to help put these young guys in a position to have success.
  • Pistons combo forward Marcus Morris said that he has learned from his negative experience of being traded away from his twin brother, Markieff Morris, after inking a contract extension with the Suns, David Mayo of MLive.com writes. “This is the NBA. I let relationships overcome business. That will never happen again,” Morris said. “I’m learning from it. My brother’s learning from it. We’re going to continue to grow.
  • The Clippers have assigned Branden Dawson and C.J. Wilcox to the D-League, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets. Since Los Angeles does not possess its own affiliate, both players are going to the Bakersfield Jam, the Suns‘ affiliate, Pincus adds.

Atlantic Notes: Fredette, Saric, Prokhorov, Celtics

Jimmer Fredette is working with Knicks D-League GM Allan Houston on shooting and the triangle offense, but he said he hasn’t heard from Knicks team president Phil Jackson or coach Derek Fisher, observes Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. Fredette downplays the notion that he’s gunning for the team’s open NBA roster spot, though he acknowledges that roster construction plays into his decision-making, as Zagoria relays. It wasn’t a certainty that Fredette would join the Westchester Knicks when he signed with the D-League, but when the Jazz affiliate took Jeff Ayres No. 2 in Saturday’s D-League draft, Westchester was free to pounce on Fredette with pick No. 2, a move that was apparently designed chiefly to draw fans. See more from around the Atlantic Division:
  • Draft-and-stash prospect Dario Saric wished he could have joined the Sixers this past offseason and confirmed to the Croatian outlet Vecernji list that he intends to sign with Philadelphia when his overseas contract allows him to this coming summer (translation via Matt Lombardo of NJ.com). Saric, the 12th pick of the 2014 draft, added that he’s in constant communication with Sixers officials.
  • The NBA blocked Mikhail Prokhorov’s plan to borrow money against his share of the Nets to purchase the minority portion that Bruce Ratner owns because it would give the team more than $250MM in debt, sources told Josh Kosman and Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. NBA teams can’t borrow more than that amount without a waiver. So, Prokhorov and Ratner are attempting to restructure the deal that would give Prokhorov 100% of the team, the Post scribes write, and it’s still on track to be complete by year’s end, a league source tells NetsDaily.
  • The Celtics recalled Jordan Mickey and James Young from the D-League, the team announced. They received some extra practice reps while with the farm team after the C’s assigned them Tuesday. Keep tabs on all this year’s D-League assignments and recalls with our tracker, which we’ll be updating throughout the season.

2015/16 D-League Assignments, Recalls

The NBA’s relationship with the D-League continues to grow, and this season a total of 19 NBA teams will have one-to-one affiliations with D-League clubs. The 11 NBA teams without their own D-League squads this season will need to assign players to D-League clubs associated with other NBA franchises. D-League teams can volunteer to take on the assigned players, and if no volunteers emerge, the players will be assigned at random. This significant change from the 2014/15 season came about after the Pacers purchased the Fort Wayne Mad Ants and turned them into their one-to-one partner.

The Raptors avoided the disappearance of their shared affiliate this summer when they created Raptors 905, a D-League expansion team, to serve as their one-to-one affiliate. Other NBA teams have interest in following suit in the years ahead, and the NBA’s ultimate goal for the D-League is for all 30 NBA franchises to have their own D-League squads. You can view the complete list of D-League affiliates here.

Players assigned to and recalled from the D-League differ from those who receive D-League “call-ups.” A “call-up” happens when a player on a D-League contract signs a new contract with an NBA team. Those whom NBA teams assign and recall are already under contract with NBA teams, and they remain on NBA rosters even while they toil on the farm team.

We’ll use this space to track this year’s assignments and recalls, team by team, throughout the season. You can find this page, which we’ll update throughout the season, anytime on the right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features.” Here are the NBA’s D-League assignments and recalls for 2015/16:


Atlanta Hawks (No Affiliate)


Boston Celtics (Maine Red Claws)


Charlotte Hornets (No Affiliate)


Chicago Bulls (No Affiliate)


Cleveland Cavaliers (Canton Charge)


Dallas Mavericks (Texas Legends)


Detroit Pistons (Grand Rapids Drive)


Golden State Warriors (Santa Cruz Warriors)


Houston Rockets (Rio Grande Valley Vipers)


Indiana Pacers (Fort Wayne Mad Ants)


Los Angeles Clippers (No Affiliate)


Los Angeles Lakers (Los Angeles D-Fenders)


Memphis Grizzlies (Iowa Energy)


Miami Heat (Sioux Falls Skyforce)


Milwaukee Bucks (No Affiliate)


Minnesota Timberwolves (No Affiliate)


New York Knicks (Westchester Knicks)


Oklahoma City Thunder (Oklahoma City Blue)


Orlando Magic (Erie BayHawks)


Philadelphia 76ers (Delaware 87ers)


Phoenix Suns (Bakersfield Jam)


Portland Trail Blazers (No Affiliate)


Sacramento Kings (Reno Bighorns)


San Antonio Spurs (Austin Spurs)


Toronto Raptors (Raptors 905)


Utah Jazz (Idaho Stampede)


*Note: The numbers in parentheses after each player’s name are a running total denoting how many D-League assignments the player has this season.

Atlantic Notes: Green, D-League, Ross

Spurs shooting guard Danny Green acknowledged that the Knicks had reached out to him over the summer, but said that he couldn’t gauge their sincerity and he instead agreed to re-sign with San Antonio when the free agent signing period began back in July, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “I was very much leaning towards [the Spurs] than anywhere else,’’ Green said. “New York reached out, but I don’t think they were as interested as I thought they’d be. My deal was done pretty quick.’’

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:

  • The Celtics have assigned power forward Jordan Mickey and swingman James Young to the Maine Red Claws, their D-League affiliate, the team announced (via Twitter). This marks the first assignment of the 2015/16 season for each player. The Red Claws don’t officially open their season until November 12th, so this is likely a move designed to get the duo more practice time, though that is merely my speculation.
  • Terrence Ross, who signed a three-year contract extension with the Raptors on Monday, will earn $10MM in 2016/17, and $10.5MM per year for the 2017/18 and 2018/19 campaigns, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com tweets.
  • The Nets have officially added Randy Ayers and Bob Bender to their player personnel scouting staff, the team announced. Ayers was named to the position of college scout, while Bender was named pro scout, according to the press release.
  • Jared Sullinger, who failed to reach an agreement with the Celtics on an extension prior to Monday’s deadline, said that he’ll be playing the rest of the season with a chip on his shoulder, and added that even some of his own family members have doubted his abilities, Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe relays (via Twitter).
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