And-Ones: Cauley-Stein, Warriors, Rondo
Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein could be climbing his way into top five of the 2015 Draft, Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders writes. Cauley-Stein has been projected as a mid-to-late first round pick in the last two years but each time opted to stay in school for more seasoning. It seemed unlikely that he could boost his stock further, but he has done just that this season. DraftExpress currently has the junior at No. 4 in their 2015 mock draft. More from around the league..
- The Warriors announced that they have recalled center Ognjen Kuzmic from their D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz. Kuzmic recorded six points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in last night’s 98-83 victory over the Canton Charge. The brief trip was Kuzmic’s third assignment of the year.
- Since the Rajon Rondo deal, the Celtics have seen a significant dip in rebounding, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Prior to the trade, Boston was ranked eleventh in the league in rebounding with 44.2 per game. In the eight games since, the C’s are down to 41.9 rebounds, which ranks 21st in the league.
- Trade season is fast approaching and EJ Ayala of Basketball Insiders looked at six players to keep an eye on over the next several weeks. Nets guard Deron Williams, who has been bumped from the starting lineup in favor of Jarrett Jack, tops the list.
- The Bulls‘ 2011 draft is shaping up to be one of the most influential in franchise history, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. The 2011 draft brought the Bulls both Nikola Mirotic and Jimmy Butler, two players who are pillars of their current squad.
Southeast Notes: Durant, Marble, Wizards
There has been much speculation already about Kevin Durant returning home to play for the Wizards when he becomes a free agent in 2016. Nuggets point guard Ty Lawson, who is also a native of the Washington, D.C. area, said he spoke with Durant recently about the possibility of the Slim Reaper eventually donning a Wizards uniform, Ben Standig of CSNWashington.com reports. “I’ve talked to him about it, but I probably can’t tell you what he said,” Lawson said. “We talked about it. Everybody going home and playing for their respective cities. It would be cool, especially playing with the people you grew up with. I grew up with KD. It would be fun to play with them on one team.”
Here’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Lawson can also become a free agent in 2016, but the Wizards appear to be set at the point for years to come with John Wall, Standig notes. As for his own thoughts on returning home to play, Lawson said, “Now, playing away, it’s cool. I haven’t really thought about coming home to play. Think about it more during free agency, but I haven’t really thought about it. But being away, makes you want to come back even more sometimes.“
- Devyn Marble said that he approached his recent D-League assignment with the Erie BayHawks as an opportunity to regain his timing and confidence, John Denton of NBA.com writes. Marble ultimately thinks that the two-game stint will better prepare him to get back into the Magic‘s rotation this season, Denton adds. “It felt good and I had a lot of fun. I was able to play a lot of minutes and get some time that I hadn’t been getting,’’ said Marble. “I always look at everything as an opportunity and look at the positives. So I didn’t have a bad attitude at all while I was there. I wanted the opportunity to play and to work on my game and I was able to do that.’’
- The Heat organization’s ability to develop young big men and turn them into useful rotation pieces has dried up in recent years, but Hassan Whiteside‘s progress this season offers some hope for the future, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald writes. “I’m very pleased and encouraged by how much he has grown in the last five weeks since he’s been with us,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It has been a specific, detailed plan. He’s embraced the work.”
D-League Notes: Kuzmic, Johnson, Young
The D-League has become an integral part of the NBA’s process of developing younger players, as well as a source for locating hidden gems to bolster rosters during the course of the season. You can easily stay on top of which players are coming and going from the D-League all season by checking out our 2014/15 D-League Assignments, Recalls tracker, which is updated daily. You can also find this page anytime on the right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features.”
Here are the latest D-League moves:
- The Warriors have assigned Ognjen Kuzmic to the Santa Cruz Warriors, their D-League affiliate, the team announced in a press release. This will be Kuzmic’s third trip of the season to Santa Cruz.
- Toure’ Murry has been recalled by the Jazz from the Idaho Stampede, their D-League affiliate, the team has announced. This was his second assignment to Idaho this season, and in seven D-League games Murry has averaged 13.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists.
- The Celtics have assigned James Young to the Maine Red Claws, the team announced. This will be Young’s eighth trip of the season to the D-League.
- Nick Johnson has been assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Rockets‘ D-League affiliate, the team has announced (Twitter link). This will be Johnson’s second stint in the D-League of the season.
Mavs Notes: Rondo, Ledo, Carlisle
Mavs coach Rick Carlisle believes that the Rajon Rondo trade was beneficial for both Boston and Dallas, Jimmy Toscano of CSNNE.com relays. “The trade has been great for both teams,” Carlisle said. “Boston’s in a much stronger position moving forward. They’ve got three more assets to add to their collection, and they’ve got more draft picks and we’ve got an experienced point guard and we got a young player in Dwight Powell that we really like too. And you like trades to be good for both teams, and I really believe this one is and will continue to be as history unfolds.”
Here’s more out of Dallas:
- If the remainder of the Mavs’ season goes well, then Dallas will have the best shot at signing Rondo when he becomes a free agent this summer, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News writes. The stiffest competition for the veteran point guard’s services will be from the Knicks and the Lakers, Deveney notes. Rondo’s preference would be to play for a winner, and the Mavericks are set up to contend for the next few years. “Depending on how things go from here, obviously, Dallas would get the first word,” a league source told Deveney.
- The Mavericks have assigned guard Ricky Ledo to the Texas Legends, their D-League affiliate, the team announced in a press release. This will be Ledo’s seventh trek to the D-League this season.
- Rondo is now playing for a contender, to solidify his reputation, and to prove that he is worthy of a max contract when he hits free agency this summer, Jackie MacMullan of ESPNBoston.com writes. “This second half of the year is a very big one for Rajon,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. “Dallas is getting a player who is very motivated to prove he’s a max guy.”
Celtics Notes: Bass, Green, Rondo, Young
The Celtics’ Brandon Bass said it’s always an emotional experience when an ex-teammate returns, writes Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald. Rajon Rondo has promised not to cry when he comes back to Boston tonight for the first time since the December 18th trade that sent him to Dallas. Bass, who has been through the experience a couple of times already, isn’t so sure. “It was tough for me to watch the videos, man,” Bass said. “Especially when Paul [Pierce] came back. I just felt like Paul had been here his whole life and it was very emotional for him. KG [Kevin Garnett] as well.”
There’s more news from an emotional day in Boston:
- Count Jeff Green among the Celtics who were sad to see Rondo leave, according to Scott Souza of the MetroWest Daily News [Twitter link.]. Green said one of the reasons he decided to stay in Boston when he became a free agent was because Rondo was there. Green added that he never wants a homecoming reception in Boston because he doesn’t want to be traded.
- Rondo said he hasn’t thought much about free agency since the trade, although the Mavericks are an obvious favorite now, reports Sam Amick of USA Today. “My focus has been basketball, basketball, basketball, not necessarily being a free agent,” Rondo said. “I mean obviously I think [the Mavericks will] have the upside [in free agency]. I wouldn’t say it’s wide open [in terms of considering other teams], but I wouldn’t say it’s closed [solely to the Mavericks] either because obviously they are the team that came and got me and from Day One they’ve been very loyal and very supportive in this transition for me.”
- Rookie James Young doesn’t figure to get much playing time soon, but A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes that the team is noticing his improvement in the D-League. Young has averaged 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in his time with the Maine Red Claws. “He does add something that we could very well need in the near future and that is the ability to play off screens and score and make passes off screens,” said Celtics coach Brad Stevens. “He’s a very fluid offensive player.”
And-Ones: LeBron, Thunder, Fisher
LeBron James is expected to miss the next two weeks of action thanks to injuries to his back and left knee, the Cavaliers have announced. Coupled with the season-ending injury to Anderson Varejao, Cleveland suddenly finds itself a bit short-handed. The league has approved the franchise’s request for a disabled player exception, but with the league maximum 15 players already on their roster the Cavs would need to waive or deal a player to be able to utilize it.
Here’s more from around the league:
- The Thunder are edging closer toward the summer of 2016, which is when Kevin Durant can elect to depart Oklahoma City as a free agent, and the speculation is that it will take an NBA title to keep him in town beyond then. The team’s play as of late has gotten it back on track for the season after enduring a multitude of injuries, Jeff Caplan of FOX Sports Southwest writes. “I’m excited. Obviously we need everybody healthy,” coach Scott Brooks said. “But I like the fact that our guys compete regardless of who’s on the floor. They get out there and compete. We haven’t had as many wins as we would like, but we’re competing every night. We put ourselves in a position to win games and we have a no-excuse mentality.”
- Derek Fisher said that the Lakers never reached out to him after last season, and the Knicks were the only offer he had to become a head coach, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “I never had any conversations with the Lakers of coaching the team,’’ Fisher said. “This was the only one. It doesn’t disappoint me in any way. I never pretended to run the Lakers or make decisions for them. I did the best I could when I played. They don’t owe me anything. I don’t owe them anything.’
- Brandon Jennings has emerged as a leader since the Pistons released Josh Smith, Brendan Savage of MLive.com writes. “Brandon has noticeably gotten back to probably what is his natural personality,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “He’s really having fun. He’s talking a lot, joking with guys, things like that. I think he had been suffering. He hadn’t been playing real well, we hadn’t been winning. He had gotten really quiet.” There were conflicting reports regarding Detroit shopping the veteran point guard prior to Smith being released.
- The Raptors have recalled Bruno Caboclo from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the D-League, the team announced in a press release. This was Caboclo’s first D-League assignment of the season.
Celtics Notes: Rondo, Young, Smart
Rajon Rondo will return to Boston on Friday night, and the veteran was was emotional when discussing the franchise that helped turn him into an NBA star, Mark Murphy of The Boston Herald writes. “That’s where I started. That’s where I got molded,” Rondo said. “That’s where everything happened for me. The best years are still ahead of me, but I was an All-Star four times, won a championship in Boston. I can’t thank the fans enough. Even when we were losing 18 in a row the first year, the fans still showed a lot of support. They came to every game. When I was out on the streets, they didn’t kill me or heckle me. It was always supportive. They’re true fans. They’re not fair-weather fans, when you’re losing, they’re gone. They ride it out and [want you to be] a Celtic for life.”
Here’s more from Boston:
- The Celtics announced Thursday that they have recalled guard/forward James Young from the Maine Red Claws, their D-League affiliate. Young is averaging 21.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.7 steals in seven contests with the Red Claws this season.
- Brandon Bass disputed the notion that Rondo wanted out of Boston prior to being dealt to the Mavs, Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com writes. “He wanted out? Why would he want out? I don’t think that,” Bass said. “He never told that to me. This is home for him. I thought he would want to finish his career here. I think he’ll finish his career in Dallas now. What better way to start and finish your career?“
- Pairing rookie Marcus Smart alongside the newly acquired Jameer Nelson is benefiting both Smart and the Celtics, Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald writes. “When you’re tasked with running the offense and getting people in spots, and playing well yourself, it’s a difficult job,” coach Brad Stevens said. “I think that being able to manage those duties a little bit with a guy like Jameer is helpful. We’ll see how it continues to play itself out, but [Smart is] going to have some ups and downs. I just hope he continues to play hard through them.”
Arthur Hill contributed to this post.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Hollins, Brown
Two Cleveland castoffs have been instrumental in the Nets‘ recent hot streak, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. When the Cavaliers were trimming salary last summer to sign LeBron James, they sent Sergey Karasev and Jarrett Jack to Brooklyn as part of a three-team deal with the Celtics. Both recently entered the Nets’ staring lineup and helped lead the team to within a game of .500 and back into the Eastern Conference playoff race.
There’s more news from the Atlantic Division:
- Nets coach Lionel Hollins credits “changing attitudes” for the turnaround, writes Tim Bontemps of The New York Post. “It’s getting everyone to buy in, it’s getting everybody to believe and trusting each other,” Hollins said. “You hear all coaches talk about team, and it’s not easy to get going, especially with a more veteran team when all the players have had success doing it their own way. To then get them to do it a little bit different for the group, and make sacrifices for the group is always difficult, but I see it coming.”
- The Nets made two roster moves Thursday, Bontemps tweets, sending rookies Markel Brown and Cory Jefferson to the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s D-League affiliate. Brooklyn no longer has its own affiliate in the league.
- Sixers coach Brett Brown understands that he hasn’t been given the talent to win right away, but he tells Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer that he is concerned about the effect losing is having on his players. “I don’t want our guys feeling embarrassed,” Brown said after Tuesday’s 40-point rout by the Warriors. “I don’t want them feeling ashamed. I want them finding a way to take a deep breath and understand this is where the Philadelphia 76ers program is at the moment. At times, it is painful. But we move on.”
Southeast Notes: Heat, Jefferson, Magic, Hawks
Doomsday predictions for the Heat in the wake of losing LeBron James are starting to come true, and Jason Lieser of The Palm Beach Post reports that players are searching for answers. “I just don’t even know what the point of this season — I don’t know. I have no idea,” Chris Bosh said after Wednesday’s loss to the Pacers. After four straight trips to the NBA Finals, Miami is struggling through a season beset by injuries and adjustment to life without its former superstar.
There’s more from the Southeast Division:
- Hornets coach Steve Clifford told Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer that the decision to shut down Al Jefferson came midway through Monday’s loss to the Bucks. “At halftime we spoke and agreed that we were going to sit Al down and say, ‘We appreciate you want to play, but…’” Clifford said. “It’s great that he wants to be out there and is team-first and wants to play. But he just can’t move.” Jefferson has been diagnosed with a strained adductor muscle in his left groin and is expected to be out of action for at least four weeks.
- Former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy likes Orlando’s roster but warns there will be some tough choices ahead, writes Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. “Like everybody, you get to the point in all of these projects where then you have to make decisions on money, and that’s actually in some ways tougher than assembling a lot of guys to begin with,” said Van Gundy, now coach and president of basketball operations for the Pistons. “Who are you going to pay and how much and how are you going to put the whole thing together?” Orlando’s decisions will start in July when Tobias Harris and Kyle O’Quinn are set to become restricted free agents.
- The Magic have recalled Devyn Marble from the D-League, Robbins tweets.
- The Hawks are among the best teams in the Eastern Conference, and Adam Fromal of Bleacher Report opines that they have a chance to be in that position for a long time. Atlanta has slightly more than $41MM committed in salary for next season, with Paul Millsap, DeMarre Carroll, Elton Brand and John Jenkins as expiring contracts. The Hawks also can exchange first-round draft picks with the Nets as one of the lingering benefits of the Joe Johnson trade, and they have an extra second-rounder coming from the Raptors.
D-League Notes: Dinwiddie, Vonleh, Suns
The D-League is becoming an integral part of the NBA’s process of developing younger players, as well as a source for locating hidden gems to bolster rosters during the course of the season. You can easily stay on top of which players are coming and going from the D-League all season by checking out our 2014/15 D-League Assignments, Recalls tracker, which is updated daily. You can also find this page anytime on the right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features.”
Here are the latest D-League moves:
- The Pistons have assigned Spencer Dinwiddie to the Grand Rapids Drive, their D-League affiliate, the team announced in a press release. Dinwiddie has appeared in eight games for Detroit this season, averaging 3.0 points and 12.4 minutes per game.
- The Suns have recalled Tyler Ennis, T.J. Warren, and Archie Goodwin from the Bakersfield Jam, their D-League affiliate, the team has announced. This was the second trip to Bakersfield of the season for Ennis and Warren, and Goodwin’s inaugural journey.
- Noah Vonleh has been recalled from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the D-League, the Hornets have announced. Vonleh saw action in two games with the Mad Ants, averaging 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 block in 13.0 minutes per game. With Al Jefferson set to miss at least a month, Vonleh will likely see increased action with Charlotte.
- Toure’ Murry has been assigned to the Idaho Stampede, the Jazz‘s D-League affiliate, the team has announced. This will be Murry’s second sojourn of the season to the D-League. In six games for the Stampede, Murry has averaged 14.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.3 steals in 31.5 minutes of play.