D-League Updates: Cavaliers, Roberson, James
Here is a look at some of the D-League moves around the NBA:
- The Cavaliers have recalled both guard/forward Carrick Felix and center Henry Sims from their D-League affiliate, the Canton Charge. The rookie Felix has appeared in 3 games for the Cavaliers this season, averaging 5.0MPG and 1.3PPG. Sims has appeared in 6 games so far for Cleveland, averaging 1.7PPG in 5.8 minutes played per contest.
- The Thunder have recalled rookie forward Andre Roberson from the Tulsa 66ers. While Roberson has only appeared in six games for the Thunder this season, he averaged 17.3PPG in his three starts with the 66ers.
- Small forward Damion James has signed with the D-League Bakersfield Jam. James signed with the Nuggets in September but was waived prior to the start of the season. James has played two games so far with the Jam and has filled the stat sheet with 11PPG, 3.5RPG, and 1.5BPG in his short return tenure.
Thunder Willing To Trade Jeremy Lamb
The Thunder are open to trading Jeremy Lamb for a more experienced and consistent bench player, according to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, who tucks the news into his leaguewide notes column. Lamb, the 12th overall pick in 2012, came to Oklahoma City as part of the James Harden blockbuster on the eve of last season.
The onus has been on the 6’5″ shooting guard to step up this year following the departure of veteran Kevin Martin in an offseason sign-and-trade. Lamb spent much of last year shuttling back and forth between the Thunder and their D-League affiliate. He’s averaging 8.9 points on 45% shooting in 19.9 minutes per game, but that’s hardly the impact that Harden or Martin, who preceded Lamb in the role as backup wing player, had during their tenures in Oklahoma City.
There hasn’t been any drop-off in the win-loss column for the Thunder in spite of the lack of an established sixth man, as they’re 15-4 following last night’s blowout of the league-best Pacers. Lamb, just 21, is still developing and in the second season of a four-year rookie contract that will give him a little more than $2.1MM this year, but GM Sam Presti is apparently willing to seize on an opportunity for an immediate upgrade. The Thunder’s flexibility is limited, since they’re only about $1.4MM shy of the luxury tax line.
Western Links: Trail Blazers, Bogut, Mavericks
Beckley Mason of the New York Times examines the chemistry and cohesiveness that have galvanized the Trail Blazers this season, prompting LaMarcus Aldridge to call this the ‘happiest time in his career’: “Guys are playing so (unselfishly) — our team chemistry is unreal right now…Coach Stotts gives us the freedom to play loose and make plays, and guys aren’t abusing it.”
Veteran point guard Earl Watson also weighed in: “Everyone accepts their role, and the roles were never defined. It’s the truth of our team, the DNA of our team. The way we fit together, it’s like the perfect storm, so to speak.”
Here’s more out of the Western Conference tonight:
- Sean Meagher of OregonLive.com provides a roundup of the latest links coming out of Portland (including Mason’s piece).
- Andrew Bogut is well past the the talk of the Warriors’ efforts to acquire Dwight Howard this past offseason and doesn’t think it’s worth discussing anymore since he’s shown team brass the type of production that he’s capable of, says Carl Steward of the San Jose Mercury News.
- The 7th or 8th seed should remain a goal for the Mavericks, writes Tim Cowlishaw of SportsDayDFW, who adds that tanking wouldn’t really guarantee anything for them.
- Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today (via Twitter) reports that the Thunder have named Russell Westbrook and Reggie Jackson as their NBPA team player representative and alternative player rep, respectively.
- Matthew Coles of the Associated Press discusses the notable difference that Trey Burke has brought to the table for the Jazz from a point guard standpoint (hat tip to The Detroit News).
- Paul Coro of AZcentral.com talks about the competitive Western Conference playoff chase that lies ahead as it pertains to the Suns.
L.A. Notes: Nash, Luxury Tax, Frank
The two New York teams are making plenty of headlines lately, thanks in large measure to their poor play. There’s lots of drama going on in Los Angeles, too, where the Clippers are mulling a Lamar Odom signing and the Lakers await the returns of Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash. Here’s the latest on both teams, including an update on Nash:
- The Lakers had reportedly planned to gauge Nash’s progress in practice this week before deciding whether to pursue another point guard, but Nash said he isn’t rushing his recovery in light of Jordan Farmar‘s injury, notes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Nash doubts he’ll return in time for the team’s next game on Friday.
- The Clippers are set to pay the luxury tax for the first time in franchise history, and Mark Deeks of ShamSports explains why now might be the right time, as part of a piece for SB Nation that juxtaposes L.A.’s tax quandary with that of the Thunder. There’s a risk the expenditure could go for naught, as in the case of the Bulls, but it could help the Clippers re-sign Blake Griffin in a few years.
- Doc Rivers tried to recruit Lawrence Frank to join the Clippers coaching staff this summer, but the Nets wooed Rivers’ former Celtics assistant with a six-year deal worth more than $1MM per year, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter links). Frank and Nets head coach Jason Kidd appear to be at loggerheads.
Teague, Roberson Assigned To D-League
Derrick Rose‘s season-ending knee injury was expected to result in an increased role for Bulls point guard Marquis Teague. However, for at least the short term, Teague will play for the D-League’s Iowa Energy rather than for the Bulls. Chicago announced today that the team has assigned Teague to its D-League affiliate.
Teague, 20, received a bump in minutes for the Bulls in the three games following Rose’s injury, but failed to score a single point in about 45 minutes of action in those contests, missing all 11 shots he attempted from the field. While the Bulls don’t use their D-League affiliate often, they’ll take advantage of the opportunity to get the 2012 first-round pick more developmental time, as Kirk Hinrich and Mike James handle point guard duties in Chicago.
Meanwhile, the Thunder have also made their first D-League assignment of the year, announcing that Andre Roberson will join the Tulsa 66ers. Oklahoma City used its D-League affiliate more than any other NBA team in 2012/13, so this likely won’t be the last time we see Roberson assigned to the 66ers. The 22-year-old rookie out of Colorado has appeared briefly in six games for the Thunder so far this season.
To keep tabs on all of this season’s D-League assignments, be sure to check out our full list.
Western Notes: Farmar, Lakers, Pelicans, Spurs
Let’s round up a few afternoon updates from around the Western Conference….
- Jordan Farmar was diagnosed with a torn left hamstring today and is expected to be sidelined for about four weeks, according to the Lakers. Steve Nash is on the mend, but if Nash misses more time, the Lakers will be very shorthanded at the point, perhaps necessitating a roster move.
- Another team that finds itself shorthanded is the Pelicans, who will be without Anthony Davis for the next few weeks. As Grantland’s Zach Lowe writes, New Orleans is in trouble and almost certainly headed for the lottery if Davis misses significant time. With a full 15-man roster and no obvious help available via free agency or trades, the Pelicans may have to make do with their current roster while Davis recovers.
- A day after assigning them to the Austin Toros, the Spurs have recalled Aron Baynes and Nando De Colo from the D-League, the team announced today. The duo combined for 53 points, 18 rebounds, and 13 assists in the Toros’ win over the Delaware 87ers last night.
- Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman passes along a handful of interesting quotes from Thunder GM Sam Presti on the evolving identity of the Oklahoma City franchise.
Central Notes: Deng, Bulls, Pacers
The Cavaliers reportedly had interest in trading for Luol Deng this past summer but were rebuffed by the Bulls, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. As of now, Deveney adds, it doesn’t appear that anything on that front will change anytime soon, and unless Chicago can obtain a 2014 draft pick, there isn’t much sense in moving Deng. Here’s more out of the Central Division tonight, including much more from Deveney:
- That same piece explores the trade value of Carlos Boozer, who according to one general manager isn’t really being sought after by any team at this point. While the Bulls still have the former Duke product on their books until 2015, Deveney opines that the Knicks might become desperate enough to make a move for him to shore up their struggling front court.
- Deveney also writes that Joakim Noah still has high value around the league despite his battles with injury over the last few seasons. The Knicks would appear to be another logical landing spot for the 6’11 center, although the Pelicans, Thunder, and Mavericks are expected to be in pursuit should the Bulls place Noah on the trading block.
- Lastly, with reports that Nikola Mirotic – whose draft rights are still owned by the Bulls – has developed into a star in Spain, Deveney says that if Chicago were to package his rights in a deal including Deng, Noah, or Boozer, they would be looking to get a star player in return. According to one scout, Mirotic is currently the “best player who is not in the NBA right now.” If Mirotic weren’t included in a deal involving any of those three, the Bulls would supposedly settle for cap relief, draft picks, and/or young talent.
- Sam Smith of Bulls.com opened his mailbag and dissects trade suggestions sent in by his readers.
- Sports Illustrated’s Ian Thomsen thinks the Pacers currently have the requisite pieces in place to make a title run this season. However, considering Indiana’s vow to remain under the tax threshold, the team isn’t likely to maintain the same type of depth after this year, especially with Danny Granger‘s contract set to expire and Lance Stephenson due for a new contract.
Western Notes: Wolves, Thunder, Mavs, Kings
Following up on comments he made yesterday about trading Derrick Williams to the Kings, Timberwolves president Flip Saunders acknowledged that the deal could end up looking very short-sighted, but said he still felt comfortable pulling the trigger.
“You have to look and see: What is the value where you’re at?” Saunders said, according to Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. “What’s the value going to be in two months? What’s the value going to be at trading deadline? What’s it going to be next year?I just didn’t foresee Derrick being able to play much. And if a guy’s not playing, usually your value is not going to go up.”
Here’s more from around the Western Conference:
- Thunder GM Sam Presti is prioritizing longevity and sustainability when it comes to roster-building and culture-building in Oklahoma City, as Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman details.
- David Kahn‘s drafting of Williams in 2011 was understandable, since the forward was viewed as the consensus No. 2 pick at the time. But this week’s trade is the acknowledgment of another failure for the Timberwolves franchise and for the Kahn era, writes Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune.
- Chatting with Mavericks fans on Tuesday, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News discussed the possibility of moving Shawn Marion, Jordan Farmar as a potential trade target, and why a playoff berth could help the Mavs in free agency.
- After averaging 22.0 PPG in his first three contests with the Reno Bighorns, Ray McCallum has been recalled from the D-League by the Kings, the team announced today in a press release.
- Current Pacers assistant Nate McMillan spoke extensively to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com about his time as head coach of the Trail Blazers, including his regrets about how he handled Nicolas Batum.
Odds & Ends: Cunningham, Odom, Fisher
No one expected either the Suns or the Sixers to have half a dozen wins less than a month into the season, but both teams captured their sixth victories tonight. Stories about tanking have been few in the wake of their success, but there’s plenty other news to pass along:
- The Spurs and Lakers inquired with the Timberwolves about Dante Cunningham in the offseason, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, who figures those teams will be after him again when he hits free agency next summer (Twitter link).
- Neither the Clippers nor Lamar Odom are rushing toward a deal, and after a few weeks both sides will probably have a better idea of whether he’ll join the team, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
- Derek Fisher re-signed with the Thunder for just the minimum salary, but he’s played an outsized role for the team so far, as The Oklahoman’s Darnell Mayberry examines.
- Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com looks ahead to next summer for Jimmy Butler, who’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension. Sam speculates that the Bulls will offer Butler a deal for about $8MM a year, and the scribe registers a few more guesses about what other top wing players approaching free agency will see on their next contracts.
- The Mavericks made lots of changes to their roster in the offseason, and several newcomers are playing key roles in the team’s fast start. One of them is Jose Calderon, who discusses the smooth transition with HoopsWorld’s Alex Kennedy.
- The Wolves renounced their rights to former second-round picks Tanguy Ngombo and Loukas Mavrokefalidis, notes Mark Deeks of ShamSports (Twitter links).
Offseason In Review: Oklahoma City Thunder
Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees, and more will be covered, as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.
Signings
- Derek Fisher: One year, $1.4MM. Signed via minimum salary exception.
- Ryan Gomes: One year, $1.19MM. Signed via minimum salary exception. Partially guaranteed for $75K.
Trades
- Acquired the No. 26 pick in 2013 from the Warriors in exchange for the No. 29 pick in 2013 and $1MM in cash.
- Acquired the No. 40 pick in 2013 from the Trail Blazers in exchange for cash.
- Acquired the rights to Szymon Szewczyk from the Bucks in exchange for Kevin Martin (signed-and-traded to Timberwolves) and cash (to Timberwolves).
Draft Picks
- Steven Adams (Round 1, 12th overall). Signed via rookie exception.
- Andre Roberson (Round 1, 26th overall). Signed via rookie exception. Earning 80% of rookie scale amount in rookie season, and 120% thereafter.
- Alex Abrines (Round 2, 32nd overall). Playing overseas.
- Grant Jerrett (Round 2, 40th overall). Playing in D-League.
Camp Invitees
- Diante Garrett
- Rodney McGruder
Departing Players
- Ronnie Brewer
- DeAndre Liggins
- Kevin Martin
Rookie Contract Option Decisions
- Reggie Jackson (4th year, $2.20MM): Exercised
- Perry Jones III (3rd year, $1.13MM): Exercised
- Jeremy Lamb (3rd year, $2.20MM): Exercised
There was a perception that the Thunder took a step back last season after reaching the NBA Finals in 2012. That idea is a little unfair — Oklahoma City still racked up 60 wins, good for the top seed in the West, and would have been favored against Memphis in round two with a healthy Russell Westbrook. Losing James Harden prior to opening night a year ago may have meant taking a step back in terms of overall talent on the roster, but the Thunder are still a loaded team, with two elite players in Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
The belief that the Thunder had fallen behind other Western Conference contenders only gained traction this offseason, based on the club’s relative inactivity. And while it’s true that OKC’s presence on the free agent and trade market was virtually nonexistent, that’s not necessarily the worst thing for a team coming off back-to-back seasons with a .700+ winning percentage. Like the Bulls, the Thunder could look forward to having a star point guard return to their lineup. And unlike many title contenders, OKC tweaked the edges of its roster by continuing to add talent through the draft.
When the Thunder traded Harden last October, the club had two major goals: Maintaining financial flexibility and adding young, controllable talent. Even without a new, expensive contract for Harden, the team’s cap flexibility was limited this summer. There was already so much money committed to salaries for 2013/14 that OKC couldn’t make a serious run at a shooter like Dorell Wright — the free agent wing reportedly received his choice of one- or two-year offers from the Thunder before opting for the Trail Blazers instead. OKC eventually settled for Ryan Gomes on a non-guaranteed contract.
While the Thunder’s proximity to the tax limited its options in free agency, the draft picks and young players acquired in that Harden deal represented the team’s best chance to upgrade the roster. In addition to using its own late-first round pick (traded up from No. 29 to 26) to select Andre Roberson, Oklahoma City used one of the first-rounders obtained from Houston to select big man Steven Adams, who has looked better than expected in the early going.
In addition to Roberson and Adams, 2012 draftees Jeremy Lamb and Perry Jones III appear poised to take on bigger roles after spending good chunks of last season in the D-League. While the duo’s frequent D-League assignments had some observers eager to write them off as busts, it looked to me like their time with the Tulsa 66ers was always part of OKC’s developmental plan. With Kevin Martin playing significant minutes in 2012/13, it made more sense for Lamb to get more frequent minutes and a more prominent role under the Thunder’s hand-picked coaches in Tulsa rather than sitting on the bench in Oklahoma City.
Of course, even with youngsters like Lamb, Adams, and Reggie Jackson expected to become a major part of the Thunder’s rotation, the team was reluctant to part with its veteran insurance. OKC’s apparent infatuation with Derek Fisher resulted in another guaranteed one-year deal worth the minimum salary. It’s not a major investment, and Fisher certainly isn’t the de facto coach that Juwan Howard has been in Miami in recent years. But presumably the Thunder would prefer to rely on the veteran point guard more for leadership than for crucial minutes in the spring.
Similarly, the Thunder continued to hang on to Kendrick Perkins, despite the team’s cap restrictions and Perkins’ dwindling usefulness. Amnestying Perkins would have allowed OKC to make a bigger offer to a mid-level-type shooter like Wright without worry of tax penalties. However, the cost-conscious Thunder seem reluctant to pay Perkins to play elsewhere, particularly if there’s a chance he could come back to haunt them for another Western team in the postseason. Personally, I’m unconvinced that Perkins still has the ability to make OKC seriously regret losing him, but perhaps ownership wasn’t comfortable with waiving him via amnesty.
The summer of 2013 probably isn’t one Thunder fans will be wistfully recalling years down the road. OKC didn’t land a huge free agent like the Clippers (Chris Paul) and Rockets (Dwight Howard), or pull off a big sign-and-trade like the Warriors (Andre Iguodala) and Timberwolves (Martin). The team didn’t even use the mid-level exception to add useful veterans like the Spurs (Marco Belinelli, Jeff Ayres). But by keeping their core intact and continuing to add complementary young pieces around their stars, the Thunder are ensuring they’re still very much a part of the championship conversation, and should remain a part of it for the next few years.