Wizards Remain Focused On Retaining Bradley Beal Long-Term
With just over three weeks until the February 10 deadline, there has been no real discussion on the trade market about Wizards star Bradley Beal, and the expectation is that there won’t be, writes Brian Windhorst of ESPN (Insider link).
As Windhorst details, Beal doesn’t plan to sign the extension offer that has been on the table since October and will likely opt out of his contract during the 2022 offseason. However, the Wizards are preparing to “roll the dice” on the veteran guard deciding to re-sign with the team this summer.
General manager Tommy Sheppard recently told The Athletic that both sides have been transparent in their communications, a point Windhorst reiterates. Beal has been involved in many of Washington’s recent major roster decisions, including the trade of Russell Westbrook and the free agent recruitment of Spencer Dinwiddie, team sources tell ESPN. Windhorst adds that Beal and his family have also become close with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, an offseason addition.
While there was some speculation entering the 2021/22 season that Beal might seek a change of scenery if things went south in D.C., Matt Moore of Action Network hears from two sources that – if anything – the 28-year-old has become even less inclined to jump ship. According to Moore, there’s a belief that Beal’s focus is on maximizing his next contract rather than finding a new team.
The Wizards will be able to offer Beal more years (five) and more money ($241MM+) in free agency than any other suitor would be able to, and the team’s apparent willingness to put a five-year offer on the table has resulted in “a measure of calm” within the organization about the All-Star’s future, says Windhorst. A rival team wouldn’t be able to go beyond four years and $179MM for Beal in free agency, based on the NBA’s most recent cap projections.
That doesn’t mean it’s a lock that Beal will re-sign with the Wizards in the offseason, but it appears the club’s plan in the coming weeks will be to seek roster upgrades to complement its leading scorer, rather than entertaining any offers that include him.
As Windhorst writes, the Wizards have already traded away one of their future first-round picks – along with several second-rounders – and are less than $2MM away from the tax line, so they’ll have to be careful about how they approach the deadline, given that they have no assurances yet about Beal’s future.
Knicks Waive Solomon Hill, Sign Ryan Arcidiacono To 10-Day Deal
The Knicks have made a change to their 15-man roster, announcing in a press release that they’ve re-signed guard Ryan Arcidiacono to a new 10-day contract and waived forward Solomon Hill.
The Knicks acquired Hill and Cam Reddish in a trade with Atlanta last Thursday, terminating Arcidiacono’s first 10-day contract a few days before it expired in order to create room on the roster for the incoming players.
However, Hill had been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a torn hamstring and was essentially a filler piece in last week’s trade, allowing the Hawks to get off his salary and open an extra roster spot of their own.
The veteran forward was never in the Knicks’ plans for this season, so the club has cut him in order to bring back Arcidiacono. Hill’s guaranteed $1,669,178 cap charge will remain on the team’s books after he clears waivers on Friday.
It has been an unusual month for Arcidiacono, who actually first signed a 10-day hardship deal with the Knicks on January 3. The NBA voided that contract a day later because New York no longer qualified for a hardship exception. The veteran point guard signed a standard 10-day pact on January 6, but hadn’t appeared in a game for the Knicks by the time they terminated the deal a week later.
New York’s decision to bring back Arcidiacono now, even after Kemba Walker returned to the lineup on Tuesday night, suggests the club wants to see more from him. When Aricidiacono first agreed to join the Knicks, Shams Charania reported that he might end up sticking around for the rest of the season — that scenario could still be in play, depending how the trade deadline plays out.
Arcidiacono, 27, went undrafted out of Villanova in 2016 and spent four seasons with the Bulls from 2017-21, averaging 4.8 points, 2.0 rebounds and 2.2 assists with a .431/.373/.807 shooting line in 207 games (17.6 MPG). He signed a training camp deal with the Celtics in September, but was waived before the start of the season and had been playing for Boston’s G League affiliate in Maine.
Celtics Explore Trading Al Horford
The Celtics are exploring the idea of moving Al Horford, according to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, who says the team is in the market for another center at this year’s trade deadline.
Horford’s trade value will likely be limited. The 35-year-old has been Boston’s starting center this season and is averaging 10.8 PPG, 7.4 RPG, and 3.6 APG in 36 games (29.0 MPG), but his .442 FG% is a career low and his 3PT% (.285) has dropped significantly. He’s also earning $27MM, a cap figure that won’t be palatable for some clubs.
As Weiss observes, Horford’s $26.5MM salary for 2022/23 is only partially guaranteed (for $14.5MM), which could appeal to teams looking to move a longer-term contract. Still, it’s hard to imagine Boston getting positive value for the veteran big man.
According to Weiss, the Celtics have been “surprisingly open” to discussing both Horford and Josh Richardson, both of whom were acquired during the 2021 offseason. Dennis Schröder, another offseason addition, has also been repeatedly mentioned as a trade candidate, and Weiss confirms that league sources consider the point guard to be available.
The Celtics are believed to be seeking another impact play-maker to complement Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, says Weiss. However, it may be a challenge to put together a package for such a player without relying heavily on draft assets. Due to their uneven development, former lottery picks like Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith don’t have as much trade value as they would have earlier in their careers.
At 23-22, the Celtics are currently the No. 10 seed in the East, hanging onto a play-in spot. Although they’ll likely approach the trade deadline as buyers, it remains to be seen whether the C’s are capable of making any noise in the playoffs. Weiss says multiple people in the locker room have suggested there’s a “lack of desperation” present, with attempts at vocal leadership from players like Brown, Marcus Smart, and Grant Williams sometimes being tuned out.
Kings Eyeing Domantas Sabonis, Discussing De’Aaron Fox
The Kings are interested in Domantas Sabonis and have recently ramped up their pursuit of the Pacers big man, a league source tells Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.
According to Anderson, Kings guard De’Aaron Fox, who was considered off-limits when the team talked to the Sixers in the summer about Ben Simmons, has now been included in separate trade discussions involving Sabonis and Simmons.
Sam Amick of The Athletic, who reported earlier in the month that the Kings no longer view Fox as untouchable, stated during a radio appearance on Sports 1140 KHTK (hat tip to HoopsHype) that the team is eyeing both Sabonis and Simmons, and suggested that he wouldn’t be surprised if Sacramento makes a “big-time” trade in the coming days or weeks.
“There is a fair amount of pressure for this roster to look pretty different after the deadline,” Amick said.
Multiple reports, dating back to early December, have indicated that the Pacers are open to the idea of trading one of Sabonis or Myles Turner, but wouldn’t move both players. Turner had long been considered the most likely trade candidate of the two, but his left foot injury may diminish his value leading up to the deadline, opening the door for a Sabonis deal.
The Pacers would want an All-Star caliber player in return for Sabonis, according to Anderson, who hears that the team has received offers meeting that criteria. Fox hasn’t made an All-Star team, but Anderson suggests an offer that includes the 24-year-old and at least one draft pick could pique Indiana’s interest.
As for the Simmons scenario, Amick said this week on The Athletic NBA Show that he believes the Kings are “actually pondering” the idea of acquiring both Simmons and Tobias Harris from Philadelphia (hat tip to HoopsHype).
The 76ers have reportedly explored the idea of attaching Harris to a Simmons trade, which is viewed as complicated due to the duo’s $69MM cap hit in 2021/22, as well as the $190MM+ they’re owed beyond this season. However, Amick suggests that scenario isn’t off the table for Sacramento. Marc Stein also recently reported that there’s a sense around the league the Kings could be convinced to take on Harris’ oversized contract in a Simmons deal.
In addition to Fox, players like Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley III, Tristan Thompson, and – to a lesser extent – Harrison Barnes have been cited as potential trade candidates for Sacramento. Presumably, if the Kings were to make a play for Sabonis, they’d also be open to discussing current starting center Richaun Holmes.
Lakers’ Frank Vogel On Hot Seat
9:20pm: The Lakers have “no current plans” to fire Vogel, sources tell Brad Turner and Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. This response certainly reads less like an emphatic denial of the rumor that Vogel is on the hot seat for Los Angeles, and rather a half-hearted vote of confidence.
Turner and Woike reveal that Los Angeles GM Rob Pelinka and Rambis spoke with Vogel and assistant coach David Fizdale following the team’s 125-116 loss to the Kings last Wednesday about figuring out how to improve the team’s on-court results, their third such meeting recently.
Rambis subsequently attended a Lakers pregame coaches meeting this past Monday for the first time this season and pushed for reinserting traditional centers Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan into the team’s rotation, despite both players not inspiring much confidence in their play to this point in the 2021/22 season.
8:40am: Frank Vogel was coaching for his job on Monday vs. Utah, according to Bill Oram and Sam Amick of The Athletic, who hear from sources that there’s a real chance the Lakers‘ head coach would’ve been let go if the team’s losing streak had extended to four games last night.
Oram and Amick report that Vogel “narrowly avoided being fired” after the Lakers’ 37-point loss to Denver on Saturday and that he continues to be evaluated on a game-to-game basis, meaning he’ll likely remain firmly on the hot seat going forward. It’s not clear to what extent Monday’s victory relieved the pressure on him, The Athletic’s duo writes.
The Lakers’ decision-makers are keeping a close eye on the situation and monitoring whether Vogel still has “command of the locker room,” per Oram and Amick.
Vogel has been under pressure for much of 2021/22 campaign, with Lakers executive Kurt Rambis informing the coaching staff in the fall that there was a mandate to right the ship after an underwhelming start to the season, sources tell The Athletic.
Shortly after Rambis conveyed the front office’s message, Vogel entered the health and safety protocols and missed six games. The Lakers went 1-5 under David Fizdale and then won four straight games when Vogel returned, which seemed to bode well for his job security. However, that streak was followed by three consecutive losses, including Saturday’s embarrassing blowout in Denver.
The Lakers, projected in the preseason as the favorites to come out of the West, currently have a 22-22 record and are in play-in territory at No. 7 in the conference.
Los Angeles has had to deal with a series of injuries that have hindered the team’s forward momentum. LeBron James has missed 11 games; Anthony Davis has been unavailable for 17 games and hasn’t played since December 17; and Kendrick Nunn, who got most of the team’s taxpayer mid-level exception in the summer, has yet to make his debut.
If the Lakers continue to fall short of their expectations, Vogel would be a convenient scapegoat. Despite leading the franchise to a championship in 2020, he had just one year tacked onto his current contract when he signed an extension in the offseason, so he’s only locked up through the 2022/23 season.
Donovan Mitchell Enters Concussion Protocol
All-Star Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol, per Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Eric Walden of the Salt Lake Tribune adds (via Twitter) that the Jazz think Mitchell suffered the concussion in the first half of the team’s 101-95 Lakers loss on Monday. Walden reports that the 6’1″ guard began dealing with symptoms following the game last night.
Mitchell, 25, is enjoying yet another All-NBA caliber season. Through 40 games, he is averaging 25.5 PPG, 5.2 APG and 4.0 RPG, with shooting splits of .450/.339/.876.
The Jazz, led by Mitchell, Defensive Player of the Year candidate Rudy Gobert, and veteran point guard Mike Conley, currently occupy the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a 29-15 record.
Nuggets’ Bol Undergoes Surgery On Foot, Out 8-12 Weeks
5:08pm: The Nuggets confirmed that Bol has undergone surgery on his right foot (Twitter link). The team didn’t provide an exact timeline for his recovery, announcing that he’ll be out indefinitely.
12:34pm: Nuggets forward Bol Bol will undergo foot surgery and will miss 8-to-12 weeks, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. The operation will be on his right foot, according to Mike Singer of The Denver Post (Twitter link). Bol had surgery on his left foot when he played at Oregon.
The news comes less than a week after the Pistons pulled out of a trade for Bol because their team doctors refused to give him medical clearance. He hasn’t appeared in a game since January 5, but that could be related to falling out of the rotation as well as his medical condition.
Bol, 22, has shown flashes of promise since being selected with the 44th pick in the 2019 draft, but he’s in the middle of a disappointing third season, appearing in just 14 games and averaging 2.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in 5.8 minutes per night.
He will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer if Denver makes a qualifying offer.
Latest On Jerami Grant
The Pistons aren’t a lock to trade Jerami Grant before the February 10 deadline, but the veteran forward may be this winter’s most popular trade candidate, writes Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.
“He’s the grand prize of this deadline,” one team strategist told Fischer. “… He fits everywhere.”
“He’s gonna have so many suitors,” an assistant general manager said. “They’re just gonna wait them all out.”
According to Fischer, the Lakers, Trail Blazers, Knicks, Jazz, Wizards, Celtics, Pacers, Timberwolves, and Kings are among the teams that have signaled some level of interest in Grant. Sources tell Bleacher Report that the Pistons are seeking multiple first-round picks, or one first-rounder along with a high-upside young player.
Fischer likens Grant’s situation this season to Aaron Gordon‘s in 2020/21, a comparison Shams Charania made when first reporting Grant’s availability in December. Like Gordon, Grant is a versatile frontcourt defender who has one-and-a-half seasons left on his contract and will be extension-eligible.
That extension eligibility will be important. Any team acquiring Grant will want assurances he’ll sign a new deal, according to Fischer, who hears from sources that the 27-year-old hopes to receive a four-year offer in the range of $112.7MM (the maximum he can get prior to 2023 free agency).
Fischer does share one complicating factor, writing that Grant wouldn’t be enthusiastic about joining a new team that doesn’t feature him as a “primary offensive option.”
Here’s more on Grant:
- A November report indicated that the Pistons may be willing to offer a package of Grant, Kelly Olynyk, Saddiq Bey, and a future first-round pick for Ben Simmons. According to Fischer, the Sixers weren’t particularly enthusiastic about that concept, but when it leaked, it alerted teams that Grant might be available, which has helped accelerate his market.
- Some people around the league view the Wizards as the favorites for Grant, says Fischer, noting that Wes Unseld Jr. coached the forward as an assistant in Denver. Sources tell Bleacher Report that Wizards center Montrezl Harrell, who is on an expiring $9.7MM contract, has been considered available via trade. Harrell could be included in any Washington offer, along with at least one of Rui Hachimura or Deni Avdija, Fischer suggests.
- Fischer classifies the Lakers and Jazz as unlikely destinations for Grant based on the limited assets those teams have to offer. He also downplays the possibility of the Celtics or Grizzlies acquiring the Pistons forward, writing that neither team is expected to seriously pursue him.
- As others have reported, the Bulls don’t appear comfortable with the idea of moving Patrick Williams in a deal for Grant, according to Fischer.
- According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, there’s a belief that the Pelicans will look to be buyers at this year’s trade deadline, and Grant is considered a possible target for them.
Paul George To Miss More Time With Elbow Tear
The Clippers appear to be playing the long game with their latest sidelined superstar. Los Angeles will let injured All-Star forward Paul George stay shelved for “a few more weeks,” per Adrian Wojnarowski and Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN (Twitter link). George is still recovering from a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
The seven-time All-Star was initially projected to miss at least three-to-four weeks of game action when he first incurred the injury in late December. Woj adds (via Twitter) that the team will assess George’s elbow after giving it more time for rest.
Through 26 games this season, the 6’8″ forward is averaging 24.7 PPG, 7.1 RPG and 5.5 APG. George had been one of the leading vote-getters in the West through the first All-Star fan voting returns. The injury seems to have impacted the fan vote, as George is now polling fourth among eligible conference forwards.
The Clippers are, of course, also missing their other All-Star forward, Kawhi Leonard, who remains shelved as he continues to recuperate from an ACL tear suffered during the Clippers’ 2021 playoff run to the Western Conference Finals.
As Bobby Marks of ESPN observes (Twitter link), the Clippers owe their unprotected 2022 first-round draft pick to the Thunder as part of their initial trade for George in the summer of 2019. There is certainly a chance that that pick could wind up in the lottery, especially if George and Leonard remain sidelined indefinitely.
That said, L.A. is still in good position to make the play-in tournament. The Clippers have gone 5-8 since George’s injury. At 22-23, the Clippers are currently the eighth seed in the Western Conference, 4.5 games clear of the current No. 11 seed, the 18-28 Kings.
Jazz Sign Danuel House To Second 10-Day Deal
2:14pm: The Jazz have officially announced House’s new 10-day contract.
8:14am: The Jazz intend to bring back forward Danuel House on a new 10-day contract, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link). House’s first 10-day deal with the team, completed using a hardship exception, expired on Saturday night.
House began the season with the Rockets and has signed 10-day contracts with the Knicks and Jazz since being waived by Houston.
After barely playing for New York, House saw action in three games with Utah, averaging 5.3 PPG and 2.3 RPG on .417/.444/1.000 shooting in 18.0 MPG. The 28-year-old was a rotation player for the Rockets for the last few years, but was no longer in Houston’s plans as the organization pivoted toward a full-fledged rebuild.
The Jazz appear likely to re-sign House to a standard 10-day contract rather than another hardship deal. Utah still has two players – Jared Butler and Hassan Whiteside – in the health and safety protocols after Elijah Hughes exited them, per Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link). However, the team also still has Denzel Valentine and Zylan Cheatham on active hardship contracts and wouldn’t be eligible for a third hardship addition.
On top of that, the Jazz currently only have 13 players on standard contracts. Our working assumption is that they’re required to add a 14th man very soon, since they dipped to 13 on January 4 and teams are only permitted to carry fewer than 14 players for up to two weeks at a time.
Given how many tweaks the league has made to its roster rules this season to account for COVID-related absences, it’s possible the hardship players Utah has signed in the last two weeks counted toward the team’s minimum roster count, but I don’t believe that’s the case.
House will earn $111,457 over the course of his new 10-day deal. Assuming it’s a standard 10-day contract, it will count for $95,930 against the Jazz’s cap.