Kendrick Perkins Expected To Miss Three Months
Pelicans center Kendrick Perkins is expected to miss three months of action while rehabilitating a right pectoral injury, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reports. This unwelcome news comes while New Orleans is dealing with an 0-4 start to the young season, as well as adding to the team’s growing list of players dealing with injuries that includes Omer Asik, Tyreke Evans, Quincy Pondexter, and Norris Cole.
The veteran big man wasn’t expected to play a major role for the team this season, but with Asik being limited to just 10 minutes of action this season courtesy of a calf injury, this forced coach Alvin Gentry to utilize Perkins in a larger role than intended. His presence has also been considered important to the Pelicans’ coaching staff, which considered him a needed veteran voice in the locker room, Wojnarowski adds. Perkins had been a starter in three Pelicans games, averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds, before going suffering the injury last Saturday against Golden State.
Perkins appeared in a combined 68 games for the Thunder and the Cavaliers during the 2014/15 campaign, averaging 4.0 points and 5.5 rebounds for OKC and 2.6 PPG and 2.4 RPG for Cleveland. His career numbers through 12 NBA seasons are 5.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 1.2 BPG to go along with a slash line of .530/.000/.597. Perkins signed a one-year, minimum salary deal with the Pelicans back in July.
Southwest Notes: Carlisle, McGee, Douglas, Hayes
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban usually doesn’t do extensions, but he made an exception with coach Rick Carlisle, whom he signed to a five-year, $35MM extension Thursday, notes Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News details.
“I don’t say, ‘Here, this is the way it’s always going to be.’ The worst policy in the world is to be dogmatic about your policies,” Cuban said. “It was clear he wanted to stay. He didn’t put pressure on us at all. We reached out. What it confirms is we’ll never put money over winning. Winning always comes first.”
It was the right idea for both the team and the coach to extend the contract now, given the questions about whether the Mavericks can do much winning this season, since it removes any doubts about Carlisle’s future, opines fellow Morning News scribe Kevin Sherrington. See more on the Mavs amid the latest from around the Southwest Division:
- It’s unlikely that JaVale McGee plays anytime in November, and his timetable for a return from his lingering leg injury is weeks, not days, tweets Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com. McGee’s with the Mavs on a $750K partial guarantee he locked in when he made the opening night roster.
- The Pelicans gave Toney Douglas a $50K partial guarantee as part of his deal with them, reports Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). It’s a prorated two-year, minimum-salary contract, according to Pincus.
- The deal that the Rockets signed with Chuck Hayes this past weekend covers one year at the prorated minimum salary and is non-guaranteed, Pincus also shows. Since it’s only a one-year deal, it counts toward Houston’s tax and hard cap at only the two-year veteran’s minimum rate instead of the full 10-year minimum that the 32-year-old Hayes is actually making. The league will pay the difference.
Southwest Notes: Hayes, West, Davis
Veteran power forward David West sacrificed both money and playing time to join the Spurs as a free agent this past offseason, a move that was necessary to keep his competitive fire burning after 12 NBA seasons, Harvey Araton of The New York Times writes. “For me, in terms of basketball, I needed every night to mean something, in order to keep going,” West said. The player also acknowledged that the Pacers’ treatment of center Roy Hibbert played a part in his decision to leave Indiana, Araton adds. “It was a great environment, but I got to the point where I felt it was time to move in a different direction,” West said of his former team.
Here’s more from out of the Southwest Division:
- Chuck Hayes, who was signed by the Rockets on Sunday, is thrilled to be back out on the court as a player after flirting with becoming an assistant coach, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes. “It was a good feeling to go out there in the second quarter,” said Hayes after his first game back. “I don’t know all the timing, the offensive rhythm yet. I consider myself a good defensive player. I figure that’s the best way I can dictate and put an imprint on the game is on the defensive end. The thing I did is talk to the guys, tell them where the screens are coming, be active, let my voice do the work for me.”
- Anthony Davis isn’t thrilled with his play in new coach Alvin Gentry‘s up-tempo system, and the Pelicans‘ slow start to the season isn’t helping matters either, John Reid of The Times Picayune writes. ”I’m always frustrated; I just want to be the best I can be to help the team win,” Davis said. ”I feel I’m not doing it right now. All the frustration is on me. They’re giving me great opportunities and I can’t find a way to put the ball in the basket.”
- As his career winds down, Spurs big man Tim Duncan has re-invented himself as a “glue guy,” and instead of looking to score, he must look to do “the little stuff” that impacts the game, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News writes. “I’m just trying to figure that out,” Duncan said when asked to describe his role. “I’m not sure what it is yet. It’s a little different now, because we added some different players. We’re all just trying to figure it out.”
And-Ones: Rockets, Knicks, Robinson
The Rockets remain skeptical that they will be able to reach agreements on signing rookie scale extensions for forwards Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports. The deadline for rookie scale extensions is Monday. It was recently reported that both players preferred to set themselves up for restricted free agency this coming summer. Both Motiejunas and Jones are considered “vitally important” to the team, according to Feigen.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Nikoloz Tskitishvili signed with Tochigi Brex in Japan, reports international journalist David Pick (Twitter link). Tskitishvili briefly attempted an NBA comeback with the Clippers this fall.
- Karl-Anthony Towns is off to a torrid start, but the rookie isn’t alone as this year’s crop of first-year players are much more talented than the groups from recent memory, Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post opines.
- Nate Robinson, who was waived by the Pelicans last week after just two games, seems to have lost a step and his days in the league might be over, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes in his Sunday column.
- It’s only a matter of time before Knicks rookie point guard Jerian Grant overtakes the starting role from Jose Calderon, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Knicks president Phil Jackson still thinks Calderon can be a force this season and chose against waiving him via the stretch provision, Berman adds.
Southwest Notes: Mavs, Pelicans, Spurs
Dirk Nowitzki said that he still is surprised by the decision made by DeAndre Jordan and added Jordan abruptly stopped texting with the Mavs star when he reversed course and elected to re-sign with the Clippers, Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com relays. Jordan declined to comment when asked about the decision. Mavs owner Mark Cuban said he has not spoken to Jordan since July 9th, MacMahon adds.
“I think we were disappointed, but we still have to move on as a franchise, and that’s what we did,” Nowitzki said. “That happens in free agency sometimes.”
Here’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry wants his team to play a better style of defense, with an emphasis on the perimeter, and to utilize their roster versatility to switch on pick-and-rolls, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News details. To that end, Gentry wants to limit the amount of time Anthony Davis spends in the post. That is in stark contrast to how Davis, the league’s leading shot blocker last year, has been used in the past, Deveney adds.
- Rasual Butler told reporters, including Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News, that he is delighted to have made the Spurs‘ regular season roster. “This is the gold standard of the NBA,” Butler said. “To have the opportunity to be part of this culture; to play for Coach [Gregg] Popovich just the way that we play the game is a huge deal for me. It’s very exciting to be a part of this.”
- Optimism surrounds the Mavs because of Chandler Parsons‘ impending return and Dallas’ ball movement in coach Rick Carlisle‘s motion-driven system on offense, opines Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News.
Western Notes: Hayes, Perkins, Brown, Alexander
A shortage of big men led to the Rockets signing Chuck Hayes earlier today, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. With Dwight Howard sitting out because of a back-to-back and forwards Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas out with injury, Houston needed emergency help in its frontcourt. The solution was Hayes, who received a non-guaranteed contract, an unidentified source told Feigen. “Sitting at home watching games is not a good feeling,” Hayes said. “I’m excited. I’m familiar with the organization, familiar with the coaching staff from meeting with them this summer. I’m looking forward to it.” During the summer, the Rockets were interested in having Hayes join their coaching staff, but he wanted to continue playing.
There’s more from the Western Conference:
- The Pelicans‘ Kendrick Perkins will be sidelined indefinitely with a right pectoral injury, tweets John Reid of The Times-Picayune. He suffered the injury in the first quarter of Saturday night’s loss to the Warriors.
- Jabari Brown, the last player waived by the Lakers during camp, is considering playing in China, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports. A source told Spears that Brown won’t play for the Lakers’ D-League team.
- Surgery is being considered for the Blazers‘ Cliff Alexander, according to Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Tests showed Alexander suffered torn cartilage in his knee, but the team is hoping the injury will heal with rest. If swelling or pain emerges again, surgery will be an option. “As of now, I’m fine, I feel no pain,” the 19-year-old rookie said. “I can run and jump, do everything. But if the swelling and pain comes back, then I might need surgery.”
- Warriors GM Bob Myers told Sam Amick of USA Today that even though an extension couldn’t be reached with Harrison Barnes, the discussions ended “in a very healthy place.” Barnes reportedly turned down a four-year, $64MM offer and will become a restricted free agent next summer. “The deal has to work for Harrison and the organization,” Myers said. “And I always — maybe it’s my background [as a player agent] — but I always respect the position that an athlete takes in these situations. And now, representing the organization, we’re going to make the decision the best decision for us.”
Southwest Notes: Douglas, Kazemi, Pachulia
Toney Douglas‘ new contract with the Pelicans covers two years, with the second year non-guaranteed, tweets Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops. New Orleans signed the 29-year-old guard Friday after waiving Nate Robinson. This is the second stint with the Pelicans for Douglas, who signed two 10-day contracts and a multiyear deal with the team last season. However, the Pelicans waived him in July to avoid guaranteeing his salary for this season. Douglas cleared waivers earlier this week after being released by the Pacers.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Arsalan Kazemi, who was with the Rockets briefly this preseason, will play overseas rather than in the D-League, tweets Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com. Kazemi was waived last week after being claimed on waivers from the Hawks on October 12th. He appeared in one preseason game with Houston.
- Dirk Nowitzki is a already a huge fan of new teammate Zaza Pachulia, tweets Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com. Pachulia, who came to Dallas in a July trade with the Bucks, had 10 points and 10 rebounds in his first game with the Mavericks. “I don’t think I’ve played with a smarter center than he is,” Nowitzki said.
“Just making smart plays, setting good picks, getting guys open. He’s a good passer for his size and just makes really, really smart plays.” - The Grizzlies know what to expect from their core starters, but their level of success could depend on complementary players, writes Chris Herrington of The Commercial Appeal. Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Tony Allen are established after playing in 279 games together entering this season, according to Herrington, but it’s the contribution of other players, such as offseason addition Brandan Wright, who could determine if Memphis makes a serious run at the title.
Southwest Notes: Conley, Robinson, Aldridge
The Grizzlies have every intention of re-signing point guard Mike Conley when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer, and based on Conley’s enthusiastic recruitment for center Marc Gasol to re-sign with the team this past offseason, the veteran playmaker also desires his time in Memphis to continue beyond this campaign, Michael Lee of Yahoo Sports writes. Gasol said he plans to leave Conley alone this season and won’t pester him to stay in Memphis, Lee adds.
“Yeah, but I cannot force him to do anything that he doesn’t feel that is right. He has to do what is right for him, that he believes in it,” Gasol told Lee. “If you feel forced to do something you don’t believe in, then you’re going to regret it. And whenever he makes his decision, whatever his decision is, he knows our relationship goes way beyond basketball and we’ll always be friends, past this five, 10 years left in our careers. As long as we live, we’re going to be friends. It’s not going to affect our friendship.”
Here’s more from out of the Southwest Division:
- Nate Robinson‘s stint with the Pelicans this season lasted less than two weeks, but his release wasn’t because of anything the diminutive guard failed to do, John Reid of The Times Picayune relays (Twitter links). Robinson was replaced on New Orleans’ roster by Toney Douglas, who was thought to be a better fit for the team’s roster, according to coach Alvin Gentry, Reid notes. ”We just thought it was a better fit [with Douglas], nothing against Nate,” Gentry said. “Nate came in and did everything we asked him to do.”
- Spurs power forward LaMarcus Aldridge is still finding his footing in San Antonio with his new team, and the player admitts that he’s “not even close” to the player San Antonio signed this offseason, Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com writes. “It’s not the same. I’m not the same person here that I was in Portland,” Aldridge said. “I don’t feel like they need me to be that person all the time. It’s learning how to be myself in the offense. I haven’t figured that out yet. I feel like the whole [team philosophy of] ‘good to great passes’ [is] in my head all the time. Hopefully as the season goes on I’ll figure it out. But right now, I’m just trying to fit in.“
- Rockets camp cuts Denzel Livingston, Will Cummings, Joshua Smith, and Chris Walker will join the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, as D-League affiliate players this season, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle relays (on Twitter).
Timeline: Injuries Force Pelicans Roster Shuffle
No team has made more moves since training camps began this season than the Pelicans, who’ve endured a seemingly unending stream of injuries. They began with Quincy Pondexter still recovering from offseason knee surgery, and he’s yet to play this season. It only worsened from that point, and executive VP of basketball operations Mickey Loomis and GM Dell Demps have been shuffling the roster ever since. Here’s a timeline of the past five weeks leading up to today, when the Pelicans made yet another move, their 17th transaction in October.
- September 24th — Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry announces that Jrue Holiday will be under a minutes restriction until January as he continues to recover from a stress reaction injury in his lower right leg that cost him 42 games last season, as John Reid of The Times Picayune details. That means no more than 15 minutes in regular season games and no back-to-backs, Gentry says.
- September 29th — The Pelicans open camp with 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts, shooting guard Bryce Dejean-Jones on a deal that’s partially guaranteed for $50K, plus non-guaranteed deals with wing players Chris Douglas-Roberts, Sean Kilpatrick and Corey Webster. Power forward Jeff Adrien, also on a non-guaranteed pact, is the team’s other player in camp, giving the Pelicans an 18-man roster.
- October 3rd — Backup center Alexis Ajinca suffers a right hamstring strain in the preseason opener for New Orleans. The team announces two days later that it expects him to miss four to six weeks. He misses the rest of the preseason but returns in time for the regular season opener.
- October 7th — Starting center Omer Asik suffers a right calf strain in practice. The team announces the next day that Asik is expected to miss three weeks. He hasn’t played yet, though a chance exists that he will Saturday, tweets John Reid of The Times Picayune.
- October 9th — The Pelicans sign center Greg Smith, who played for the Mavericks last season.
- October 10th — The team voids its contract with Smith, who failed his physical.
- October 11th — Jerome Jordan, who played for the Nets last season, signs a non-guaranteed deal with the Pelicans.
- October 11th — Backup point guard Norris Cole suffers a high left ankle sprain in practice. He’s reportedly expected to miss six to eight weeks.
- October 12th — Small forward Luke Babbitt, a candidate to start, strains his left hamstring in a preseason game. Three days later, the Pelicans announced that he would be out indefinitely. He hasn’t made it back yet, but like Asik, he may also play in Saturday’s game, Reid notes in the same tweet.
- October 13th — The Pelicans sign Mirza Begić, a 7’1″ center from Bosnia and Herzegovina who’d never been in the NBA before. He spent last season playing in Spain and Slovenia. His deal is non-guaranteed. The move takes New Orleans to 20 players, the preseason limit.
- October 15th — New Orleans waives Webster. The roster goes down to 19.
- October 15th — The Pelicans sign former University of New Orleans point guard Bo McCalebb, an NBA neophyte. It’s a non-guaranteed deal with a partial guarantee of $50K that would go into effect if he sticks for opening night. The roster goes back to 20.
- October 16th — Begic hits waivers, dropping the roster to 19.
- October 16th — The Pelicans sign point guard Nate Robinson, who’d been a free agent since a pair of 10-day contracts with the Clippers expired last spring. That takes the roster up to 20 players again.
- October 16th — New Orleans waives Jordan, knocking the roster down to 19 once more.
- October 20th — Swingman and occasional point guard Tyreke Evans undergoes right knee surgery that’s expected to keep him out six to eight weeks.
- October 23rd — The Pelicans waive Douglas-Roberts and Kilpatrick. The roster is at 17.
- October 24th — McCalebb goes on waivers before his partial guarantee kicks in. The team also releases Adrien and Dejean-Jones. That leaves New Orleans at 14 players, one below the regular season limit.
- October 26th — The Pelicans claim Ish Smith and his non-guaranteed contract off waivers from the Wizards. The well-traveled point guard was briefly a Pelican last season but never suited up for the team. He finished the season with the Sixers, playing well. The move gives New Orleans 15 players.
- October 26th — Dejean-Jones clears waivers, forcing the Pelicans to eat his partial guarantee of $50K.
- October 27th — Gentry increases the minutes restriction on Holiday to 20, as Reid detailed. Holiday sits out the opening game of the regular season, the first of a back-to-back for the Pelicans. Robinson starts at point guard at plays 19 minutes. Smith comes off the bench to play 38 minutes.
- October 28th — Holiday starts and plays 21 minutes, slighly exceeding his increased minutes limit. Smith plays close to 29 minutes off the bench. Robinson, in a reserve role, appears for only four minutes.
- October 29th — The Pelicans waive Robinson, and the roster goes back to 14.
- October 30th — Point guard Toney Douglas, who played for the Pelicans last year and whom they waived in July, re-signs with New Orleans. Again, the roster reaches 15 players.
The Pelicans, with playoff aspirations, sit 0-2 heading into their home opener Saturday against the Warriors in a rematch of Tuesday’s opener at Golden State. Still, for all their woes, Anthony Davis remains unhurt, so it could be much worse.
The RealGM transactions log was used in the creation of this post.
Pelicans Sign Toney Douglas
FRIDAY, 11:49pm: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.
THURSDAY, 3:44pm: The Pelicans have agreed to a deal with point guard Toney Douglas, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today reports (Twitter link). Marc Stein of ESPN.com first reported that the two sides were in discussions. New Orleans just waived Nate Robinson, which cleared a roster spot to add Douglas. The Pelicans roster count is now back at the regular season maximum of 15 players.
Douglas, 29, is no stranger to the Pelicans franchise, having signed a pair of 10-day contracts and a multiyear deal with New Orleans last season. The Pelicans waived Douglas in July rather than guarantee his salary for 2015/16, which led the former 29th overall pick to sign with Indiana. Douglas cleared waivers from the Pacers this week after being released by the team.
The point guard appeared in 12 contests for the Pelicans last season, averaging 4.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 14.8 minutes per night. His career numbers through 309 career regular season games are 7.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists to accompany a slash line of .405/.352/.816.