Sixers Sign Javonte Smart To Exhibit 10 Contract
AUGUST 13: The signing is now official, per a Sixers press release.
AUGUST 12: The Sixers are signing free agent point guard Javonte Smart to an Exhibit 10 training camp contract, sources inform Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
As Wojnarowski notes, Smart was previously signed to two-way contracts with the Heat and Bucks during the 2021/22 season. He spent ’22/23 playing for the Pelicans’ NBA G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron.
The 6’4″ point guard out of LSU appeared in a grand total of 17 games during his stints with Milwaukee and Miami. He posted averages of 3.0 PPG, 1.4 RPG and 0.9 APG.
Across 57 games in two G League seasons with the the Squadron and the Heat’s NBAGL affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Smart boasts averages of 16.9 PPG (on .427/.360/.939 shooting), 3.1 APG, 2.8 RPG and 0.9 SPG.
It could be an uphill battle for Smart to make Philadelphia’s roster, given that the team has all three of its two-way spots filled and has 14 of its 15 standard roster spots occupied.
Assuming Smart is ultimately cut during training camp but gets rostered with the Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, he could earn a bonus that would pay him up to $75K — assuming he spends 60 or more days with Delaware.
Atlantic Notes: Dinwiddie, Brown, Tatum
The Nets have a decision to make on their extension-eligible starting point guard Spencer Dinwiddie, notes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Injury-prone Ben Simmons has technically also become extension-eligible, but given how difficult it has been to find minutes for Simmons on the roster, Lewis doubts Brooklyn would be interested in extending the former All-Star.
Dinwiddie is currently earning $20.4MM in the last season of a lucrative three-year deal. Lewis notes that the 30-year-old’s veteran leadership and play-making remains valuable, and speculates that it might behoove team GM Sean Marks to re-sign him to a deal comparable to his current three-year, $54MM contract before he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Celtics All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum reflected on his All-NBA teammate Jaylen Brown‘s massive new five-year contract extension that could be worth as much as $304MM, per Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. “Much deserved, it was a no-brainer,” Tatum told Washburn. “So I’m happy for him and his family. It’s life changing. It’s a big deal. I’m happy we’re going to have him for however much longer we’ve got him for. I’m happy about that.” Brown averaged 26.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, and 1.1 SPG across 67 contests with Boston last season. He and Tatum have been the centerpieces of a team that has appeared in four Conference Finals across its last six seasons, and one NBA Finals.
- Washburn notes that, in the 2024 offseason, Tatum himself will become eligible for his own five-year super-max contract extension that would make him even higher paid than Brown. Washburn considers it inevitable that the Celtics will tender him an extension offer, given his standing on the team and in the league, but it’s not at the front of Tatum’s mind. “Nah, I don’t think about nothing of that,” Tatum said. “It’s one day at a time.”
- In case you missed it, Sixers point guard James Harden reportedly does not intend to suit up for Philadelphia as he awaits a trade. The former All-Star opted into the final year of his current deal with the team in an effort to force a trade, rather than signing with another club in free agency this summer.
Warriors To Work Out Glenn Robinson III
The Warriors are set to hold a private workout for longtime NBA wing Glenn Robinson III, sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Were he to sign on with Golden State, it would mark Robinson’s second stint with the team. A seven-year vet out of Michigan, he previously spent a portion of the 2019/20 season with the Warriors.
That Golden State team provided a unique opportunity for playing time for the 6’6″ swingman, as starting shooting guard Klay Thompson was out the entire season with a torn ACL and starting point guard Stephen Curry was sidelined for all but five games due to a hand injury.
Robinson played 48 games for the Warriors that year, starting all of them. Across those contests, he averaged careers highs of 12.9 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 1.8 APG and 0.9 SPG, across 31.6 MPG. He was eventually flipped to the Sixers midway through the season.
Since being selected by the Timberwolves with the No. 40 pick in 2014, Robinson has also suited up for the Pacers, Pistons and most recently the Kings in 2020/21. He hasn’t played professionally since then. Robinson is a career 37.3% three-point shooter, albeit on a relatively modest 1.7 attempts a night. The 29-year-old could theoretically help spread the floor for the Warriors, while offering solid defense on the other end in spot minutes.
A return to the Warriors this season could also provide him with a real minutes opportunity off the bench, as the 2023/24 iteration of Golden State could still use some veteran wings with size behind starters Thompson and Andrew Wiggins. Third-year wings Moses Moody and Jonathan Kuminga struggled to earn significant rotation time last season.
Golden State currently has 13 players inked to its standard 15-man roster.
Northwest Notes: Yurtseven, Edwards, Thunder, Simons
Omer Yurtseven tells Semih Tuna of Eurohoops that he received interest from two Turkish teams before deciding to sign with the Jazz last month. The 25-year-old center, who spent his first two seasons with Miami, said he wants to try to establish himself in the NBA before giving consideration to playing in his native country.
“Fenerbahce and Anadolu Efes were interested,” Yurtseven said. “Fenerbahce is my home, and I also love Erdem Can, my former coach, but even if I wanted to come here towards the end of my career, now is not the time.”
Yurtseven, who is spending this summer with the Turkish national team, became an unrestricted free agent when the Heat opted not to give him a qualifying offer. He had a promising rookie year, but was limited to nine games last season after undergoing ankle surgery. He’s happy to get a chance to start over in Utah.
“Having coach Will Hardy at Utah Jazz, playing with Europeans in significant positions, and being a young team, I couldn’t see any negatives, so it was an easy choice among my top three preferences,” Yurtseven said.
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- Anthony Edwards believes the Timberwolves would been much better if not for a calf injury that forced Karl-Anthony Towns to miss most of the season, per Sam Yip of HoopsHype. “I think if we get KAT for a whole season, we’ll be all right,” Edwards said. He added that the trade for Mike Conley in February brought a much-needed veteran presence to the team and expressed delight that Minnesota was able to reach an extension with Naz Reid.
- In a mailbag column, Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman projects the Thunder‘s 15-man roster for opening night. Mussatto expects Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Jack White, TyTy Washington and Victor Oladipo to all be waived at some point.
- Anfernee Simons expressed support for Trail Blazers teammate Damian Lillard to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian (Twitter link). Asked what it would be like to lose his mentor in a potential trade, Simons responded, “A lot of people ask me that question all the time, obviously, like what’s going on with Dame. I say, ‘They say he asked for a trade, he asked for a trade.’ That was it. Obviously, me and Dame have a close relationship. I’m always going to support him no matter what.”
World Cup Notes: Team USA, Portis, K. Antetokounmpo, Poirier
Team USA enjoyed its second straight rout in exhibition play ahead of the FIBA World Cup, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. The Americans pulled away in the second half Saturday for a 30-point win over a Slovenian team without Luka Doncic, who sat out the game with a minor knee issue.
Combined with Monday’s victory over Puerto Rico, the U.S. has outscored its opponents by 73 points in two games. The competition will get tougher in today’s matchup with Spain, but head coach Steve Kerr is happy to see his players buy into a team concept so quickly.
“We put together the team with the idea of having a lot of good passers and play-makers,” Kerr said. “And with this team, we’ve seen through the first two exhibition games, everybody can pass. And so we really want to push the tempo and attack closeouts because once we put it on the floor, we know these guys will distribute it and move it all over again.
“And you know, I thought we almost overdid it tonight. I thought at times we had over threes and we drove and kicked it down, which as a coach, you never want to criticize your players for that because you’re always trying to get them involved.”
There’s more on the World Cup:
- Bobby Portis is disappointed that he won’t get to match up with Bucks teammate Giannis Antetokounmpo when Team USA faces Greece in an exhibition contest next week and again in pool play, Vardon adds. Antetokounmpo announced Friday that he will miss the World Cup as he continues to recover from minor knee surgery. “Obviously I’m sad, he’s sad, that he can’t play in the World Cup, but maybe that’s good for the Bucks,” Portis said.
- Greece will also be without Kostas Antetokounmpo, who was declared out with an injury on Sunday, according to Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. A former NBA player with the Mavericks and Lakers, Antetokounmpo represented Greece in last year’s EuroBasket and the Olympic qualifying tournament in 2021.
- Former Celtics and Sixers center Vincent Poirier has joined the French team because of uncertainty surrounding Knicks draft-and-stash player Mathias Lessort, who is sidelined with an ankle issue, per Eurohoops. France is also adding Isaïa Cordinier in the wake of Frank Ntilikina‘s hamstring injury.
Mfiondu Kabengele Signs With AEK Athens
Mfiondu Kabengele, who was with the Celtics last season on a two-way contract, has signed with AEK Athens, the team announced in a press release. His new deal covers only the upcoming season and marks his first time playing in Europe.
The 25-year-old big man appeared in four games with Boston last season, but spent most of the year in the G League. In 27 regular season games with the Maine Celtics, he averaged 20.0 points and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 60.4% from the field. He was a second-team All-G League selection.
Kabengele has appeared in 55 career games with three NBA teams. He was selected by the Nets with the 27th pick in 2019 and was traded to the Clippers on draft night. L.A. sent him to the Kings in March of 2021, but Sacramento waived him three days later. He joined the Cavaliers on a pair of 10-day contracts and was signed for the rest of the season.
Kabengele is the latest notable signing for AEK Athens, which has been aggressive in adding former NBA talent. Ben McLemore joined the Greek team last week, and its roster also includes Jordan McRae, Chasson Randle and Mindaugas Kuzminskas.
Community Shootaround: Hall Of Fame Omissions
Saturday’s induction ceremony at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame featured another impressive class, many of whom have NBA ties. Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, Pau Gasol and Tony Parker all enjoyed long, illustrious careers and were easy choices for enshrinement in Springfield.
But even with more than 150 players in the Hall of Fame, there are some noteworthy omissions. Many players throughout the years have reached notable milestones or contributed to numerous championships without being rewarded by Hall of Fame voters.
Vince Carter, who scored more than 25,700 points in 21 NBA seasons, appears to be the only obvious choice among first-time-eligible players in 2024. That might open the door for a few others who have been waiting a long time for recognition.
Here are a few candidates with possible Hall of Fame credentials:
- With 20,049 career points, Tom Chambers is the highest-scoring NBA player who’s not already in the Hall. He was a four-time All-Star and was named MVP of the 1987 game.
- Antawn Jamison is right behind Chambers with 20,042 points, making them the only eligible 20,000-point scorers not in the Hall. Jamison was a two-time All-Star and was named Sixth Man of the Year in 2004.
- Chauncey Billups is one of two eligible Finals MVPs who haven’t been voted into the Hall. The Trail Blazers coach was a five-time All-Star, made three All-NBA teams and was twice named to the All-Defensive team.
- Shawn Marion and Amar’e Stoudamire starred during the Suns’ “Seven Seconds or Less” era. Marion was a four-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA honoree and won a title with Dallas in 2011. Stoudamire was Rookie of the Year in 2003 and picked up six All-Star appearances and five All-NBA designations during his career.
- A.C. Green set an NBA record by playing in 1,192 consecutive games. Even though he didn’t put up flashy numbers, he won three championships with the Lakers and was a steady contributor for his entire 16-year career.
- Shawn Kemp was a six-time All-Star and a three-time All-NBA selection. The “Reign Man” scored more than 15,000 career points and was among the game’s most ferocious dunkers.
- Bill Laimbeer epitomized the “Bad Boys” attitude during his years with the Pistons. He won two titles, made four All-Star teams and was an early pioneer among three-point shooting big men. Laimbeer also became a successful WNBA coach after retirement, winning three championships and earning Coach of the Year honors twice.
We want to get your opinion. Do you consider the names on this list to be Hall of Famers, and do you have some more to nominate? Please leave your responses in the space below.
James Harden Doesn’t Plan To Play For Sixers Again
A standoff between the Sixers and James Harden appears imminent after the team’s decision to take him off the trade market. A source close to Harden tells Sam Amick of The Athletic that the star guard is locked into his stance about not wanting to play in Philadelphia anymore and doesn’t plan to report to training camp if he’s still with the club.
A Sixers source confirmed to Amick that the organization has stopped trying to work out a trade involving Harden. There were some discussions earlier this summer with the Clippers, who are Harden’s preferred destination, but Amick states that they clearly weren’t productive.
Amick reported last month that executives from other teams were skeptical that Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey was making an honest effort to find a taker for Harden. Morey reportedly asked for a huge return from the teams he discussed Harden with, much as he did with Ben Simmons in the summer of 2021. In a radio interview last month, Morey said he was looking for a top-level player in return for Harden or enough assets to get one from another team.
Harden, who will turn 34 later this month, was counting on one more big contract and was hoping to create a bidding war between the Sixers and Rockets in free agency. Houston decided to target other free agents after hiring Ime Udoka as its head coach, leaving Harden without another bidder to drive up his price.
Unable to get an offer to his liking from Morey, Harden surprisingly decided to forgo free agency and pick up his $35.6MM option for next season. That move came with a trade request, as Harden made it clear that he was unhappy with Sixers management.
Training camp is still seven weeks away, so there’s still time for the situation to be resolved. However, even if Harden relents and shows up at camp, there could be plenty of awkward moments. Amick notes that Harden had “staring contests” with both the Rockets and Nets when he decided he no longer wanted to be with those teams. Harden went on a “party tour” in Las Vegas and Atlanta before reporting to Houston’s training camp in 2020, Amick adds, and he refused to back down on his trade request with either team.
For all the drama surrounding his frequent change of teams in recent years, Harden remains a productive player. He led the league in assists last season with 10.7 per game, along with 21.0 points and 6.1 rebounds, while shooting 38.5% from three-point range. The Sixers reportedly believe they have a chance to win a title with Harden and are unwilling to throw away that chance just to get Harden off their roster.
Harden is in the final year of his contract, which may be limiting his trade value, so no matter how the situation with the Sixers plays out, he will be on the free agent market next summer.
Australian Coach “Not Recruiting” Ben Simmons
Australian national team coach Brian Goorjian would like to have Ben Simmons on his roster for the 2024 Olympics, but he told Olgun Uluc of ESPN that the Boomers will be fine whether the Nets guard plays or not.
“This is very important,” Goorjian said. “In my dealings with Ben, it’s always been: I’m not recruiting you. It’s important for the country (to know), we’re not going, ‘Please, Ben, please, we don’t have anything if you don’t play’. We’re not like that at all.”
Basketball Australia announced in late June that Simmons would miss this year’s World Cup so he could continue to rehabilitate his back in preparation for the upcoming NBA season. Recent reports indicate that Simmons is fully healthy and will be ready when Brooklyn’s training camp begins.
Uluc points out that Simmons hasn’t played for Australia since a FIBA Oceania Championship game in 2013. He wasn’t selected for the Boomers’ World Cup squad in 2014, which Goorjian believes led to resentment. Simmons committed to taking part in the 2016 Olympics, the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 Olympics, but he never actually joined the team.
Australia has become a perennial contender in international competitions and it’s not as easy to earn a roster spot as it used to be, even for a former star like Simmons, Uluc adds. His expected role as primary ball-handler now belongs to Josh Giddey, although Simmons is versatile enough to help the Boomers in other ways if he’s healthy and fully committed to playing.
That’s a decision Simmons will have to make by next summer, and Goorjian is adamant that the Australians will be competitive with or without him.
“You have a game plan, and it’s like plan B,” Goorjian said. “You’ve got this sitting in here, and you just go, ‘I’d love to pull this out of my pocket; bring this out for a World Cup or bring this out for an Olympics.’ In the same breath, what is phenomenal about Australian basketball right now is, if he doesn’t play, and if it doesn’t work, we’re still on the same path. We’re still going for that gold, and we have the ability, long term, to get that done.”
Sixers No Longer Trying To Trade James Harden
The Sixers have halted trade talks involving James Harden and plan to have him on the roster when training camp opens, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
Sources tell Wojnarowski that Philadelphia had discussions with the Clippers, who are Harden’s preferred destination, but the teams weren’t able to make any progress toward a deal.
Harden and the Sixers’ front office agreed to work together to find a trade when he picked up his $35.6MM option for next season. However, team officials believe Harden gives them a chance to win a title and they don’t want to break up a potential championship roster, according to Wojnarowski’s sources.
Woj adds that Harden has remained insistent about a trade, so there could be an “uncomfortable situation” when training camp opens. There’s precedent for that, as Harden forced his way out of Houston and Brooklyn before arriving in Philadelphia. Even so, management isn’t willing to part with him unless the Sixers receive similar value in return.
Harden is a former MVP and a 10-time All-Star, and the Clippers don’t have anyone of that stature unless they give up Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, which they haven’t shown any willingness to do.
A more likely offer would include veterans such as Marcus Morris ($17.1MM), Nicolas Batum ($11.7MM) and Robert Covington ($11.7MM), whose expiring contracts could help match Harden’s salary, along with a young player or two and draft assets.
A report last month said L.A. has been reluctant to include guard Terance Mann in any offer for Harden.