The Beat

The Beat: Mark Medina On The Lakers

October 29th, 2015 at 10:59pm CST by Chuck Myron

Mark Medina

Nobody knows NBA teams better than beat writers, save for those who draw paychecks with an NBA owner’s signature on them. The reporters who are with the teams they cover every day gain an intimate knowledge of the players, coaches and executives they write about and develop sources who help them break news and stay on top of rumors.

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun about the Raptors. Click here to see all the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Lakers from Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. You can follow Mark on Twitter at @MarkG_Medina, and check out his stories right here.

Hoops Rumors: Is the top priority for the Lakers this season to foster the development of D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and their other young players, or is it to make a run at a playoff spot after two non-competitive years?

Mark Medina: As of now, the Lakers hope they can do both. On paper, the Lakers’ young core of players (and Kobe) represent the team’s most talented players. Russell, Randle and Clarkson also represent the Lakers’ long-term future. But they are obviously bound to make some rookie mistakes. And it will be interesting to see how much Byron [Scott] prioritizes maximizing his wins versus giving them room to figure things out. My hunch is Byron will have a shorter leash to start on the season if mistakes continue. If it ever becomes clear the Lakers are not playoff-bound, Byron will change his priority on solely developing the team’s young talent.

Hoops Rumors: What’s Kobe Bryant‘s approach to this season been like so far? Does he appear willing to defer to others, or does he seem to want to put the team on his back and carry it the way he has in the past?

Mark Medina: So far, Kobe is doing the right things. But there are two unanswered questions. Can Kobe stay healthy? How much patience will Kobe have with the young players once they start making mistakes and the team starts losing? The Lakers will try to be conservative with Bryant’s minutes and workload, but that will not guarantee anything about his health. Kobe will look to take a less-is-more approach at the beginning. But Kobe will take matters into his own hands if he feels his teammates are taking too long to develop. For better and for worse, Kobe has not shown a lot of patience with that.

Hoops Rumors: The Lakers have a chance to essentially give Roy Hibbert a one-year audition, since he’s on an expiring contract. What does he need to accomplish this season to make a compelling case that he’s the long-term answer at center for the Lakers?

Mark Medina: Defense, defense, defense. That’s mainly all he was brought here for, since the Lakers were awful in that department last season. It will also help that Hibbert has a good attitude after things soured in Indiana. Roy has played well on defense, but he will need a stronger supporting cast around him. As for his attitude, Roy’s done the right things thus far with embracing his role and inviting teammates out for paintball as a bonding activity.

Hoops Rumors: Jordan Clarkson was a revelation last season, and Mitch Kupchak said he envisions Clarkson and Russell as the team’s backcourt for the next decade or more. What is it that has the Lakers so confident that a player who was only the 46th pick in the draft last year can keep it up?

Mark Medina: Jordan proved that he was ready with the opportunity. And he is an endless grinder that embraces self improvement. Clarkson’s dropping draft stock stemmed from his decline of play at the end of his junior season [at Missouri]. But that coincided with Clarkson grieving over his dad possibly dying of cancer. His dad survived the ordeal, and Clarkson quickly proved that his struggles had nothing to do with his skills. Jordan has a long ways to go with his defense and passing. But he’s a natural scorer and never seems to get tired.

Hoops Rumors: The additions of Russell and Lou Williams and the return of Kobe appear to threaten Nick Young‘s playing time. What sort of role do the Lakers plan for him this season?

Mark Medina: It remains to be seen. As of now, Young will be a backup small forward. And he has said/done the right things in listening to Byron and complementing Lou well. But again, the chapter on this will be written based on Young’s play in games that count as well as how he handles negative circumstances that could possibly include lots of losing and Scott’s demands.

Hoops Rumors: Do the Lakers expect No. 27 overall pick Larry Nance Jr. to contribute in a meaningful way this season, or are they taking it slow with him?

Mark Medina: The Lakers love his energy. He will gradually get more and more minutes throughout the season. He brings a lot on defense and hustle plays, which is something that defines how Byron wants his teams to play.

The Beat: Ryan Wolstat On The Raptors

October 19th, 2015 at 9:29am CST by Chuck Myron

Ryan Wolstat

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press about the Pistons. Click here to see all the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Raptors from Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. You can follow Ryan on Twitter at @WolstatSun, and check out his stories right here.

Hoops Rumors: Jonas Valanciunas plateaued last season, but the Raptors signed him to a four-year, $64MM extension this summer. What can they do to help him improve and get the most out of their investment?

Ryan Wolstat: Getting him the ball more often would be a good start. Too often last season, Valanciunas was frozen out of the offense, with DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry and Lou Williams needing to get theirs before the big center was fed in the post. He also needs to play more later in games, something Dwane Casey has said will happen. Valanciunas will need to get better defensively and improve as a passer out of the post to justify a bigger role.

The team has adjusted its defense a bit with [assistant coach] Andy Greer coming over from Chicago and the changes should help Valanciunas out, because the Raptors are now forcing opponents to the sideline on pick-and-rolls instead of to the middle of the floor, where Valanciunas usually couldn’t get to quickly enough.

Hoops Rumors: Where do the Raptors and Terrence Ross stand as the deadline for an extension draws near?

Ryan Wolstat: Wait and see mode. Ross played well defensively two seasons ago, but was brutal last year. An ankle injury that he had fixed in the offseason seemed to work, with Ross again looking like a plus defender early in the preseason (team-best eight steals, along with five blocks in five appearances through Sunday’s game) before rolling the surgically-repaired ankle. Offensively, Ross had really struggled though.

If Ross would sign a bargain extension, the Raptors would bite and bet on continued improvement, but most likely, they’ll see what the market will bear next year after another year to figure out exactly what Ross is.

Hoops Rumors: DeMarre Carroll swiftly turned into a quintessential three-and-D player in his two years with the Hawks. Do the Raptors need more from him to justify his four-year, $58MM contract, or is that simply the going rate for a player with his skills?

Ryan Wolstat: Considering how insane the money is getting in the NBA, the Carroll deal seems pretty fine to me. His track record isn’t as long as you’d like, but he’s been a very good player for a while now, and was by far Atlanta’s best performer in the playoffs, and that was a very good team. He’s a perfect fit both on and off the floor. He gives Toronto badly-needed size at small forward, another outside threat in the starting lineup and above-average defense and a willingness to compete against any of the NBA’s top swingmen. He also is a leader with an infectious style of play. His relentlessness, similar to how Lowry plays, already seems to be rubbing off.The Raptors would love to see the postseason version of Carroll every night, but if the regular season guy shows up, that will be fine.

Hoops Rumors: The Raptors don’t appear to have an obvious starting power forward, though they have a bunch of options at that position, with Patrick Patterson, Luis Scola, Anthony Bennett, James Johnson and Carroll. Is it enough to get by?

Ryan Wolstat: At some point, Masai Ujiri intends to field a true contender. He knows they aren’t there yet, but he also knows that to get there, an excellent two-way power forward is required. A Chris Bosh-caliber player needs to arrive at some point. For now, this group is going to have to make it work. Each gives the team something different: Patterson is an elite three-point shooter and a solid defender, but can’t rebound or score off of the dribble; Scola is still workable, but getting older and a poor fit alongside Valanciunas; Bennett has turned some heads and should be useful off of the bench as long as he continues to defend well; Carroll will play some small-ball four, but Johnson likely won’t be a factor.

Amir Johnson will be missed, but he was breaking down and was no longer reliable every night, which is a shame.

Hoops Rumors: Do the Raptors have any expectation that Bennett will produce this season, or is whatever he gives them simply a bonus?

Ryan Wolstat: Originally, the team thought he’d see most of his time in the D-League, getting huge minutes there, but Bennett has exceeded expectations. He’s been OK offensively but quite solid on the boards and defensively. He has earned a longer look, but in order to be in the rotation behind Patterson and Scola he will have to do something he never has before — stay healthy.

Hoops Rumors: How can the Raptors make up for the loss of the 15.5 points per game that Lou Williams gave them last year?

Ryan Wolstat: It won’t be as hard as it looks on paper. Williams won the team some games, but he also lost a few and took other players out of rhythm offensively because he would shoot so often.

Scola and Ross should replace a lot of that scoring and Valanciunas should get more touches as well. Cory Joseph, who has been superb in the preseason, should take care of the rest.

The Beat: Vince Ellis On The Pistons

October 16th, 2015 at 11:30am CST by Chuck Myron

Vince Ellis

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune about the Timberwolves. Click here to see all the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Pistons from Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. You can follow Vince on Twitter at @Vincent_Ellis56, and check out his stories right here.

Hoops Rumors: Where do the Pistons and Andre Drummond stand as the deadline for an extension approaches?

Vince Ellis: Stan Van Gundy told reporters in Chicago on Wednesday night that they would have something soon, but he didn’t specify details. I’ve heard that it’s something the Pistons are still working through. Remember this isn’t a negotiation in a traditional sense. Drummond will eventually sign a five-year, $120MM contract extension off his rookie deal. It’s just a matter of when he signs it. If he signs it next offseason, the Pistons will have roughly $12MM more in cap space to chase free agents or facilitate trades — although with the rising cap it’s debatable how much that extra space would help the Pistons. But Drummond has to feel comfortable knowing that if he doesn’t sign now — he will still get the deal if for some reason things don’t go well this year. But the Pistons may decide to just do the deal to give Drummond peace of mind.

Hoops Rumors: Last week, you reported that the Pistons are keeping an eye on the relationship between Markieff Morris and the Suns. However, the Pistons traded for a starting stretch four in June when they acquired Ersan Ilyasova. Why do you think the Pistons are interested in Morris?

Vince Ellis: Simple, they think he is a good player. Grantland had a recent piece on the value of the assist and continued telling us the foolishness of the midrange jump shot. The article points out that Markieff is one of the guys who actually can do work from midrange area. Guys with a heat map that covers the three-point circle are valuable. Also he is locked up for four more years at $8MM per. With the escalating salaries the contract is a bargain. The Pistons will have competition IF the Suns decide to make a move.

Hoops Rumors: What does Reggie Jackson have to do on the court to make a convincing case that he’s truly worthy of the five-year, $80MM deal he signed this summer?

Vince Ellis: After a subpar game in the first preseason game, Jackson has been more than solid, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three-point range in the next three games. If he can have those numbers be 45% and 35% in the regular season, you have a guy living up to his contract – at least by today’s standards when a lot of guys have got eye-opening numbers.

Hoops Rumors: Van Gundy seemed to make backup big men a priority, committing $9MM in combined salaries this season to Aron Baynes and Joel Anthony. Why do you think he found it so important to pour resources into that part of the roster?

Vince Ellis: I’m assuming you are referring to why he did this when the trend is small ball. I really don’t think $9MM is that much of a $70MM payroll. They have four guys (Ersan Ilyasova, Marcus Morris, Anthony Tolliver and human utility belt Stanley Johnson) more than capable of playing the stretch-four position. Van Gundy is stressing the need to play all styles. There are good teams with traditional starting fives (San Antonio, Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies). It’s simply a matter of wanting to match up against those teams.

Hoops Rumors: The Pistons have 17 fully guaranteed salaries and 15 regular season roster spots to go around. How do you think the Pistons resolve this logjam? Who is most likely to go?

Vince Ellis: Getting rid of two — Danny Granger and Cartier Martin — will probably be easy. There were indications Granger would be waived or traded as soon as he was acquired from the Suns. Health is an issue and he has been allowed to stay away from the team during camp to rehab. Martin was a disappointment in his first season with the Pistons and an issue with his right hand has prevented him from getting time during the preseason. The last roster spot appears to come down to Reggie Bullock and camp invite Adonis Thomas. But Bullock has been a revelation and Thomas has been hampered by a sore Achilles.

Hoops Rumors: What do you think Van Gundy learned in his first season balancing the duties of both coach and executive that he can take into this season?

Vince Ellis: Really hard to compare the two. He took over in May and spent the summer on the sidelines for the most part except for a couple of free agent signings because he didn’t feel comfortable making major personnel decisions without the apparatus in place. But he was stunning the NBA by Christmas with the waiving of Josh Smith and wound up moving to get Reggie Jackson at the trade deadline. I think most of the lessons he will take into this season will come at the coaching end. He was probably caught off guard with just how much teams have come to rely on the three-point shot. He is adjusting his defense there and also on how the team guards the pick-and-roll.

The Beat: Jerry Zgoda On The Timberwolves

October 10th, 2015 at 12:38pm CST by Chuck Myron

Jerry Zgoda

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer about the Sixers. Click here to see all the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Timberwolves from Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. You can follow Jerry on Twitter at @JerryZgoda, and check out his stories right here.

Hoops Rumors: In what way will the absence of Flip Saunders most profoundly affect the Timberwolves?

Jerry Zgoda: In every way, probably. He’s not only head coach and president of basketball operations, but he owns a small piece of the team, too. Probably the most powerful non-majority owner in the league and the guy who put this roster together with a vision. Now it’s up to GM Milt Newton and coach Sam Mitchell to carry on. The most interesting thing to watch is the older guys – Flip went and signed Kevin Garnett, Andre Miller, Tayshaun Prince to mentor what he has called the Young Pups and they still have Kevin Martin, too – now that Mitchell has said again that the team’s future is two, three years down the road. Hence his decision announced already to start Zach LaVine over Martin, at least for now. Some Wolves fans understandably are tired of always waiting for three years down the road.

Hoops Rumors: Trade rumors about Ricky Rubio popped up on occasion during the offseason, though Rubio, Saunders and Newton all seemed to do their best to bat them down. Do you think that either Rubio or the team will push for a trade between now and the deadline in February?

Jerry Zgoda: And play who there? They’d trade him if they could upgrade at the position and get more of a scoring point guard, since the league has really gone that way with the likes of Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, Derrick Rose, John Wall, etc., etc. But don’t believe it if you hear they’re going to trade him because they signed Andre Miller and traded for rookie Tyus Jones on draft night. That’s nonsense. If they could swing a deal – probably would have to be a three-team trade – and get a guy like Eric Bledsoe, they’d probably do that. But something like that is unlikely at this point, at least until Rubio (injured again these first couple weeks) shows he can stay healthy.

Hoops Rumors: What are the chances we see the team’s other two mid-career veterans, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic, on the block at some point this season?

Jerry Zgoda: Pekovic is virtually untradeable. They would if they could, but who’s going to take three years left on his contract at nearly $36MM owed? Their best hope probably is to get him back on the court for games by the New Year and hope he can give them 20-25 minutes a night, off the bench. If he can stay on the court, he’s valuable or at least he becomes tradeable at some point.

One of two things will happen with Martin: Either they trade him by February before he opts out next summer on the final year of his contract, or they decide he’s good enough at what he does – efficient scorer, best three-point shooter on a team that really lacks them – to keep either as a reserve or starter. But it’d take some kind of contract extension to keep him here. Otherwise, he opts out and signs elsewhere for next season.

Hoops Rumors: What went wrong with Anthony Bennett? What made the Wolves conclude that they were better off with a buyout after he’d spent only one season in Minnesota and two in the NBA?

Jerry Zgoda: Well, for starters he never should have been the No. 1 overall pick. That created unrealistic expectations. But forget that. He couldn’t stay healthy and when he was, he wanted to stay outside and prove he could shoot and they want him to go to work inside and do more of the dirty work. No question he has major talent. I wouldn’t have traded him, but they were already so loaded at that spot: they have Euroleague MVP Nemanja Bjelica, Adreian Payne (who they still owe Atlanta a first-round pick for) and Gorgui Dieng, Karl-Anthony Towns and Damjan Rudez all can play there, too. And that’s not even counting KG. Bennett’s agent wanted him out of there and in Toronto, so the Wolves saved $2MM-plus on the deal and it cost Bennett a little more than $1MM to get out of Minnesota and back home. It was arrangement both sides consider mutually acceptable, but will the Wolves regret the decision someday? Probably.

Hoops Rumors: Speaking of former No. 1 overall picks, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns have no shortage of potential. Aside from them, which of the other young Wolves has the best chance to become a star?

Jerry Zgoda: The Wolves are hoping LaVine is that guy. No doubt he has great athleticism and an underrated shot. But he’s got a whole lot of learning to do. He struggled big time trying to learn point guard as a rookie and now has been moved to shooting guard, but there he’s going to have to learn to play without the ball in his hands all the time. Another guy you shouldn’t sleep on is Shabazz Muhammad. He got himself in great shape coming into camp and could get himself into the Most Improved Player conversation as a scorer off the bench if he can stay healthy. He might have gotten there last year if he hadn’t missed the season’s last six weeks or so.

Hoops Rumors: Do you think the Wolves have any true aspirations of contending for a playoff spot this season, or is the focus solely on player development for now?

Jerry Zgoda: No, not if they’ve already given a starting job to LaVine. That message seems to be clear: They’re in it for another high lottery pick this season and the hope their young guys progress like Kevin Durant and Westbrook did that season the Thunder started 3-29 and then started to grow into what they are today.

The Beat: Keith Pompey On The Sixers

October 5th, 2015 at 9:29am CST by Chuck Myron

Keith Pompey

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman about the Thunder. Click here to see all the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Sixers from Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. You can follow Keith on Twitter at @PompeyOnSixers, and check out his stories right here.

Hoops Rumors: GM Sam Hinkie said that he feels like the difference between where the Sixers are now and where they were two years ago is “night and day.” Is that exaggeration, or do you think the Sixers have really made that much progress?

Keith Pompey: Some not familiar with the 76ers would label Hinkie’s comments as an exaggeration. However, he’s actually right when you consider the Sixers finally have several players that fit into their long-term plan on the floor. They added the shooter they wanted to get with their second first-round pick in the 2014 draft in Nik Stauskas. Jahlil Okafor will be the first top-10 draft pick to play as a rookie. They’re also excited about this summer’s additions to their staff. So yes, they are night and day even though this an inexperienced and young team.

Hoops Rumors: As you alluded to, Jahlil Okafor will become the first top-10 pick to take the floor for the Sixers in the same year that he was drafted since Hinkie took over as GM, barring something unforeseen in the next few weeks. Do you think the Sixers hold him in higher regard than anyone else on the roster?

Keith Pompey: They don’t hold him in higher regard than anyone else on the roster. They see him as one of the core pieces, not the core piece. Noel and Joel Embiid (if healthy) will be the other core pieces in the future.

Hoops Rumors: Do you think the Sixers view Nik Stauskas as likely to develop into a cornerstone piece or as just one of many players on the roster with a vague possibility of panning out?

Keith Pompey: The Sixers hope that he can develop into a cornerstone player. However, they realize that will be up to him. He has a lot to prove this season following his struggles last season in Sacramento. As we learned with the Michael Carter-Williams trade, the Sixers aren’t afraid to part ways with projected cornerstone players that don’t pan out.

Hoops Rumors: A strong chance exists that the Sixers will have four first-round picks in 2016. If it still looks that way at the trade deadline, do you think they would attempt to move one or more of them for an intriguing veteran?

Keith Pompey: Don’t rule out anything. The Sixers have shown that they will make any move to advance the franchise.

Hoops Rumors: The Sixers signed Kendall Marshall for four years and $8MM, a relatively cheap deal that’s nonetheless the most lucrative free agent contract Hinkie has handed out to date. Do you think the Sixers made the expenditure because they believe Marshall has a decent chance to become the long-term solution at point guard, or were they just looking for a stopgap at a position of need?

Keith Pompey: Kendall Marshall will get every opportunity to show that he can become a long-term solution at point guard. Marshall will determine if he’s a stopgap or not. But if the Sixers get a chance to upgrade the position, they’ll do it in a heartbeat. Personally, I see him as a long-term backup.

Hoops Rumors: I’ll ask you this one since you were the reporter Markieff Morris talked to when he made his trade demand: Are you surprised that he now says he wants to be with the Suns?

Keith Pompey: I’m not surprised, because Markieff Morris’ trade value dropped after saying he no longer wanted to play there. His best option was to become a happy camper and make people think things are mended with the organization to drive up his trade value.

The Beat: Anthony Slater On The Thunder

October 2nd, 2015 at 11:00am CST by Chuck Myron

Anthony Slater

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with John Reid of The Times Picayune about the Pelicans. Click here to see all of the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Thunder from Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman. You can follow Anthony on Twitter at @anthonyVslater, and check out his stories right here.

Hoops Rumors: Kevin Durant seems like such a low-key guy. How do you think he’s going to handle all the questions he’ll face about his future this season as next summer’s free agency approaches?

Anthony Slater: Proactively. He’s already laid some of the ground work. At summer camp with Team USA, Durant told reporters that if sourced stories didn’t come from him, his best friend and manager Charlie Bell or his agent Rich Kleiman, then they aren’t true. Then he announced a partnership with The Players Tribune, giving him a potential outlet to handle circulating rumors and his eventual decision. That, of course, won’t stop the free agency stories from surrounding his entire season. There’s no way to avoid it. Every major market the Thunder visit, media packs will be awaiting Durant with these questions. I expect him to answer all inquiries with a “I’m focused on this season, I’ll worry about free agency when it gets here” type of approach.

Hoops Rumors: What gave the Thunder the confidence to entrust this most critical of seasons to Billy Donovan, a rookie NBA head coach?

Anthony Slater: Sam Presti loves Donovan. Raves about him. In past offseasons, he’s even hired a few guys off of Donovan’s previous staffs. I think this is a move the Thunder GM would have preferred to make a couple years ago, but Scott Brooks had a longer contract and the excuse of injuries. This May, with that health excuse still there, Presti finally decided to pull the trigger. He views Donovan as long-term fit with this organization and, I think, felt giving Durant a taste of that would help keep him here, not hurt it. Plus, to help his transition, Presti hired Monty Williams and Mo Cheeks to his staff. That’s two former NBA head coaches who both have great relationships with Durant and Russell Westbrook.

Hoops Rumors: Does a legitimate chance exist that the Thunder will sign Dion Waiters to an extension before the deadline this fall, or are both sides content to see if he can bounce back this season before making any long-term commitments?

Anthony Slater: No. I’m not sure the Thunder has even presented Waiters with the idea. Before committing to him long-term, I think OKC wants to see how he fits into a stacked lineup with better playmakers around him. How will he handle limited shots? Less minutes on some nights? Can he play better defense? Can he improve his efficiency? Waiters, due for an offseason payday, needs to show Presti and other GMs he’s willing to accept a secondary role. Because he’ll never be a star in this league. If he doesn’t, I’d guess the Thunder will use that freed up money next summer to bring over Spanish sharpshooter Alex Abrines, a 2013 draft-and-stash shooting guard prospect that they love.

Hoops Rumors: With Enes Kanter, Steven Adams and Serge Ibaka all on the interior, plus the occasions that Durant will play as a small-ball power forward and whatever playing time Nick Collison and Mitch McGary get, do the Thunder have enough minutes at the four and the five to keep everyone happy?

Anthony Slater: Besides the health of Durant, that’s one of the key questions this season. It’s a loaded frontcourt rotation and, in theory, a good problem to have. Each of the options has varying and useful skill sets. But you do have to wonder how a few of them will handle the time share. Will Kanter, a newly minted $17MM per year man, accept a bench role? Will an increasingly confident McGary be frustrated if he’s still a fringe rotation guy? If McGary does get those added minutes in his second year, will a 12-year vet like Collison happily slide to the back of the line? They are all saying the right things. But it’s preseason. Not mid-February.

Hoops Rumors: The anticipation over Durant’s 2016 free agency has largely obscured the specter of Russell Westbrook’s ability to become a free agent in 2017. Do you think Westbrook is more likely or less likely than Durant is to sign elsewhere when he gets the opportunity?

Anthony Slater: One may be linked to the other. If KD signs back for the long term, inking a five-year deal, you’d have to assume he’s been assured by Westbrook — one of his best friends — that the superstar partnership will remain in OKC for the foreseeable future. But if Durant leaves, then Westbrook may look around, realize his shot at a title with the Thunder has disappeared and follow his friend out the door. Or it’s possible that Durant does a LeBron James-type one-plus-one contract this summer, giving himself an opt out after the 2017 season and the duo enters free agency together and reassesses from there. That’s what I’d expect to happen.

Hoops Rumors: The top of the Western Conference seemed to grow even stronger this summer, with the Spurs signing LaMarcus Aldridge and David West, the Rockets trading for Ty Lawson and the Clippers adding Paul Pierce and Lance Stephenson. Should the Thunder have made a bold move to distinguish themselves from the pack, or are they better served to ride it out as just one of a handful of contenders?

Anthony Slater: The Thunder’s bold move came this past February. When they realized the Reggie Jackson situation had become toxic, they moved him in a mega-deal to land Enes Kanter, Kyle Singler and D.J. Augustin. That gave them Kanter’s and Singler’s restricted free agency rights. Already over the cap, they would’ve only had around $5MM to go out and spend in free agency, which wouldn’t have landed much in this inflated market. So they retained Singler and Kanter, even though they were forced to overpay, instead of going after the bargain bin of leftovers.

The Beat: John Reid On The Pelicans

September 28th, 2015 at 11:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

John Reid

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Jabari Young, who covered the Blazers last season for Comcast SportsNet Northwest and will cover the Spurs this season for the San Antonio Express-News. Click here to see all of the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Pelicans from John Reid of The Times Picayune. You can follow John on Twitter at @JohnReid64, and check out his stories right here.

Hoops Rumors: Most of the roster is back, and so is GM Dell Demps, so the shift from Monty Williams to Alvin Gentry was the most significant change for the Pelicans. Why do you think the front office singled out coaching as the one part of the team in need of a shakeup?

John Reid: After Monty Williams was fired in May, Pelicans executive vice president Mickey Loomis acknowledged that they thought their group needed something different to get them to the next level. If the Pelicans had not blown a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter in Game 3 against the Warriors in their first-round playoff series and not been swept in four games, Williams probably would have kept his job. The Pelicans’ front office felt they had enough talent, but the team wasn’t consistent enough despite finishing with a 45-37 record and landing the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Throughout the regular season, the Pelicans underperformed on the road, going 17-24, a record that included losses to the lowly Knicks and 76ers.

Hoops Rumors: Which player do you think will benefit most from the coaching change, and whose game is most liable to suffer with Williams out of the picture?

John Reid: Anthony Davis is likely to benefit the most from the coaching change because Alvin Gentry is going to get him the ball more in his choice spots that increase his usage rate. Davis is most effective in the open court and Gentry’s up-tempo offense is ideal for him. Also, Davis’ ofensive game will be more extensive and expect for him to take more three-pointers, which is something he worked on improving this offseason.

Omer Asik probably will not play as many minutes this season under Alvin Gentry as he did for Monty Williams. Asik’s minutes are going to be split with backup Alexis Ajinca, who is a more polished scoring threat in the post. Asik has limited offensive skills and with the Pelicans’ plan to push the tempo, Asik could struggle to emerge because he is more of a back-to-the-basket, low-post player who is more effective in the slow-down halfcourt game.

Hoops Rumors: Anthony Davis, Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca all signed long-term deals with the team this summer, but Ryan Anderson is on an expiring contract. Given the crowded frontcourt, do you think the Pelicans still see Anderson as part of their long-term plan?

John Reid: I think Ryan Anderson is part of the franchise’s long-term plans.

There are not many players in the league like Anderson, a stretch four with three-point shooting ability. However, it has been difficult for him the past two seasons trying to overcome injuries. Anderson admitted last week that he is in the best shape of his career and could be poised to have a breakout season. If that happens, Anderson will be a priority for GM Dell Demps to re-sign next summer.

Hoops Rumors: Is the qualifying offer a better deal for Norris Cole, a better deal for the Pelicans, or simply a fair outcome for both sides?

John Reid: The qualifying offer was a better deal for the Pelicans since they had the leverage from the start because Norris Cole was a restricted free agent. The Pelicans wanted Cole to let the market dictate his value but in the end he couldn’t land a deal that would play him more than the Pelicans’ $3MM qualifying offer. So in turn, the Pelicans signed him to a one-year deal at the price they thought was warranted without having to overspend to re-sign him. But next summer, Cole will become an unrestricted free agent.

Hoops Rumors: The Pelicans have traded their last three first-round picks. Do you think the team will be especially hesitant to trade this year’s first-rounder as a result?

John Reid: The Pelicans have not had a first-round pick since the 2012 NBA Draft when they selected Anthony Davis as the No. 1 overall pick. Although the franchise appears to be stable, they still have to look ahead and there is a need to develop young talent instead of just relying on trades and free agency.

Hoops Rumors: What are reasonable expectations for the season ahead? Can the Pelicans compete with the top six teams in the West, or will they once more find themselves fighting for one of the last playoff spots?

John Reid: The Western Conference is so tough and even with the Pelicans re-signing all of their top returning players in free agency this offseason, they will still be in a tough fight to earn a playoff spot. But I think this team is capable of landing a sixth or seventh seed under Alvin Gentry, if they can avoid injuries. I think the Pelicans are clearly ahead of Portland, who lost LaMarcus Aldridge in free agency and the Mavericks, who were unable to sign Clippers center DeAndre Jordan in free agency. The Pelicans will be in a fight with Phoenix and Oklahoma City for one of the final three seeds.

The Beat: Jabari Young On Blazers, Spurs

September 22nd, 2015 at 10:59am CST by Chuck Myron

Jabari Young

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group about the Warriors. Click here to see all of the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Spurs and the Trail Blazers from Jabari Young, who’s moving from Comcast SportsNet Northwest to the San Antonio Express-News. You can follow Jabari on Twitter at @JabariJYoung, and check out his archive of material for Comcast SportsNet Northwest right here.

Hoops Rumors: You spent the past season covering the Blazers and LaMarcus Aldridge, and now you’re following his footsteps to San Antonio to once more cover the Spurs. So, given your unique insight here, what do you think he found so appealing about the Spurs, and what persuaded him to change his mind about staying with the Trail Blazers?

Jabari Young: It’s well-known LaMarcus has always been intrigued by the Spurs. His respect for Tim Duncan is also well-documented. I think his decision to end his tenure in Portland was a mixture of an opportunity to learn from Tim firsthand, be coached by Gregg Popovich, be closer to winning a championship than any point of his career, and return to Texas (his home state). He likes the team’s unselfish style, and will not try to emulate Tim one bit, but leave his own mark with the Spurs playing his game and becoming a part of their championship history. The Spurs have everything Aldridge needs from top to bottom to finally win a ring, which is important to him. After all, he took less money to join the Spurs.

Hoops Rumors: The last time the Spurs made a free agent signing nearly as splashy, it was Richard Jefferson, and that didn’t go so well. What have the Spurs learned since then that will help them incorporate a star like Aldridge into their system?

Jabari Young: With Popovich at the helm, the Spurs have learned not to fall in love with just any big name. It has to be someone they feel will enter the organization and fit right into the way they do things, led by Popovich/Duncan. LaMarcus was the perfect fit because of his willingness to adapt to this philosophy, but at the same time play his game. I feel the Spurs will allow Aldridge to play his style and he’ll also adjust. Plain and simple, Aldridge is arguably the best power forward in the NBA and wanted to be in San Antonio. It’s not every day the Spurs experience a top free agent like Aldridge wanting to join. With Duncan possibly in his final year(s), Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili on their last run, Aldridge, along with Kawhi Leonard, will be handed the keys to usher the Spurs into a new era. The Spurs trust that Aldridge has the right tools to help them stay afloat after the “Big Three” have departed. He has the basketball IQ and wants to win at this point in his career. It should be a good fit for both parties.

Hoops Rumors: Why do you think the Blazers signed Enes Kanter to a max offer sheet but haven’t done so, at least so far, with Tristan Thompson?

Jabari Young: The Blazers wanted to add a more established offensive threat in Enes Kanter to the mix. It’s not that they aren’t high on Mason Plumlee, but adding Kanter would’ve helped take pressure off Damian Lillard on offense. Tristan Thompson doesn’t pose the same threat on offense as Kanter does, and the Blazers are invested in power forwards Meyers Leonard and Noah Vonleh. Adding Thompson would only disturb the progress of Leonard and Vonleh. Kanter, as a center, would’ve been a different type of signing.

Hoops Rumors: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and David West won’t make as much put together this season as Danny Green will on his $10MM salary, and Green probably could have signed elsewhere for more money. What is it about the Spurs that convinces all these guys to make financial sacrifices?

Jabari Young: For a player like Danny Green, I feel he’s learned the grass isn’t always greener (see what I did there :-) ) on the other side. Take less money, be in contention for another championship, no pressure as being an overpaid signing. He’ll still earn more money than last season and already has a solid role within the Spurs system. Most guys would chase the money, ignoring everything else. Those players who have taken less to stay put realize they will not only be taken care of financially, but personally, and have the opportunity to win championships. Add that to the fact the Spurs are well-known for protecting their players, and the community support, some just feel it’s better to remain and take less than to take more, be on a bad team, have a bad role, and no real chance to win. Sometimes less is more, but it takes a certain player to realize this. Danny Green is that type of player.

Hoops Rumors: The Blazers had seven free agents at the end of the season, including Aldridge, and they didn’t re-sign any of them. Is there any one of them who you’re surprised they didn’t bring back once they learned Aldridge was going elsewhere?

Jabari Young: So much was depending on the future of Aldridge that once he walked, even if all their free agents were still available, it would’ve been hard to see them re-signing. What Blazers GM Neil Olshey did was alter the face of the franchise with Lillard at the helm, adding younger players who will buy into it being Lillard’s team. With that said, you would think Wesley Matthews, with all he’s given the Blazers over the years and the respect he’s earned among the fans in Portland, would have gotten some kind of offer from the Blazers. His injury was serious, so it’s hard to knock the Blazers for not pursuing his services again, but the injury did occur in a Portland uniform; hence, one would think the Blazers would take care of him. But it’s a business, and they treated it like one by moving on.

Hoops Rumors: Does Jimmer Fredette have what it takes to stick with the Spurs?

Jabari Young: He’s a shooter, which is always welcome in San Antonio (see Matt Bonner). Thing is, will he make enough of an impact to stay? The Spurs will not just give him a roster spot. He’ll have to earn it. How bad he wants to be a part of this team, time will tell. But if he makes the opening night roster, he could be a threat. Right now, I’d say it’s 50/50 he sticks.

The Beat: Diamond Leung On The Warriors

September 21st, 2015 at 3:30pm CST by Chuck Myron

Diamond Leung

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe about the Celtics. Click here to see all of the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Warriors from Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group. You can follow Diamond on Twitter at @Diamond83, and click here to check out his stories.

Hoops Rumors: It all came together so well for the Warriors this past season. It would be tough to duplicate 67 wins and a title. Do the Warriors feel like this level of performance is sustainable?

Diamond Leung: I think the 67-win total won’t be easily duplicated given how the Warriors stayed pretty healthy last season, but they can certainly win the title again. They entered last season having to adjust to a new coaching staff that implemented a new offense. Steve Kerr made that transition go well, but I think the team expects to improve and build on last season now that the roster has remained relatively intact. The Warriors have the reigning MVP and players in their prime. Draymond Green, Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli still have room to grow. If Andrew Bogut and Andre Iguodala don’t show much sign of aging, this team should be able to sustain success.

Hoops Rumors: The Warriors have a history of tying up key players on extensions rather than letting them hit free agency. Do you get the sense that they’ll be able to sign Harrison Barnes to an extension this fall, or will the lure of next summer’s free agency, when the cap is set to spike and teams will have so much money to spend, be too strong for Barnes to resist?

Diamond Leung: Barnes has expressed a strong interest in re-signing, and we’ll have to see what his change in representation means. The Warriors, of course, understand that negotiations for a potential extension will be different than the ones they’ve had that led to previous contracts they’ve been able to get done. With the salary cap rising dramatically the following summer, how much more might the Warriors give to Barnes in acknowledgment of that? How much are the Warriors willing to risk losing Barnes as a restricted free agent to a number of teams that will have money to throw around? What the Warriors do know is that they love Barnes’ work ethic and the role he played in a playoff run as a 23-year-old. The Warriors also prefer continuity and achieved their stated goal of keeping last season’s roster intact this offseason.

Hoops Rumors: It seems surprising that the Warriors have expressed a willingness to do an extension with Festus Ezeli, too, since he’s played so little over his three-year career. How far do you sense that the Warriors are willing to go to reach an extension with him?

Diamond Leung: General manager Bob Myers has expressed that he wants Ezeli to be with the Warriors for a long time and understands how much potential he has. The Warriors know the value of big men. They made a controversial trade for Bogut to get an impact big man, and it helped turn around the team’s fortunes. Bogut has dealt with his share of injuries and could even consider retirement when his current contract expires, so Ezeli then becomes an important piece of the puzzle. He’s a muscular big man who plays good defense and is developing offensively after starting to play basketball later than others. It’s difficult to know what the ceiling is, but the Warriors should know what they have.

Hoops Rumors: Do the Warriors have plans to incorporate Jason Thompson into the rotation, or do you think that they’d rather flip him and further reduce their tax bill as they did with Gerald Wallace?

Diamond Leung: The Warriors are planning to incorporate Thompson into their rotation. He’s a veteran that they see as someone who can fit onto a championship roster given that they noticed he played hard for losing teams. He can play center and power forward on a team that values versatility.

Hoops Rumors: The Warriors are reportedly close to hiring Steve Nash as a player development consultant. In what regard do you think Nash would be of most help to the team?

Diamond Leung: Nash would certainly bring another respected voice to the organization. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are All-Stars in their prime, yet continue to look for ways to improve. Nash would seem to be a fit there as someone with a keen eye for pushing the boundaries for what is possible.

Hoops Rumors: Hypotheticals like this are challenging, but do you think the Warriors would have won the title last season if they’d have stuck with Mark Jackson as coach?

Diamond Leung: It would be unlikely and would have to depend on the situation Jackson was coaching. If he would have returned for the final season of his contract without an extension, there would have been even more distractions than the previous season. Then there would be the question of who would have replaced the two assistant coaches he lost in what ended up being the final season. The biggest question marks on the roster would have been if Barnes could bounce back from a difficult season while playing from off the bench again and if Bogut would have felt alienated after missing the playoffs the previous season. The Warriors ended up winning the title under Kerr based upon a “Strength in Numbers” mentality.

The Beat: Adam Himmelsbach On The Celtics

September 14th, 2015 at 8:58am CST by Chuck Myron

Adam Himmelsbach

We at Hoops Rumors will be chatting with beat writers from around the league and sharing their responses to give you a better perspective on how and why teams make some of their most significant moves. Last time, we spoke with Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer about the Cavs. Click here to see all of the previous editions of this series.

Today, we gain insight on the Celtics from Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. You can follow Adam on Twitter at @AdamHimmelsbach, and click here to check out his stories on BostonGlobe.com.

Hoops Rumors: Where does the David Lee trade fit in with Danny Ainge‘s larger strategy of roster building? For as much as the rebuilding process has been about draft picks and young players, why bring in a 32-year-old whose production doesn’t match his outsized salary?

Adam Himmelsbach: Well you have to remember, to acquire Lee and his $15.494MM expiring contract, the Celtics unloaded Gerald Wallace and his also significant $10.106MM expiring deal, and Wallace had essentially been reduced to little more than an extra assistant coach.

The Celtics are hopeful that Lee can flash the form he showed as a two-time All-Star. He is a reliable passer, a post-up threat and a good rebounder. But there is no long-term commitment by the Celtics here, either. They could let his deal expire at season’s end or even use it as a trade chip depending on how the season unfolds.

Hoops Rumors: On top of the Lee trade, the addition of Amir Johnson and retention of Jonas Jerebko seem to signal that the Celtics are serious about supplementing their young players with veterans and making the playoffs this year. What are the team’s expectations for this season?

Adam Himmelsbach: After the Celtics traded Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green and stumbled to a 13-26 start last year, there was a perception that they were in full rebuild mode. But both trades seemed to help team chemistry and Boston was energized by the February arrival of Isaiah Thomas. And thanks to a dismal Eastern Conference, the Celtics were able to secure the No. 7 seed despite a 40-42 record. And, it’s worth noting, the final two wins came against a Cavaliers team that was mostly resting its regulars.

But the playoffs happened, and now the Celtics — and their fan base — will not want to see regression. Boston has absolutely improved its roster since last season, but not to the point where it is likely to leapfrog any of the six teams that finished ahead of it in the Eastern Conference last season. And the Heat appear primed to move past the Celtics, too. So the reality is that this team might have to scuffle for a playoff berth, just like last season.

Hoops Rumors: Why do you think there’s been talk of an extension for Tyler Zeller? Do you think the Celtics see him as a legitimate long-term option as a starting center?

Adam Himmelsbach: Right now it’s nothing more than talk. I spoke to Danny Ainge two weeks ago and he indicated that there would be discussions about extending Zeller and Jared Sullinger. That doesn’t mean either will happen. Having said that, the Celtics like Zeller. He averaged career highs across the board last year and actually had the highest win-share rate on the team. He is a consistent finisher and he is solid in the pick-and-roll, and 7-footers do not grow on trees. And with the salary cap set to balloon after this season when the league’s massive new TV deal kicks in, a deal around $10MM a year for Zeller would probably end up being a bargain. But for the Celtics, the price will have to be right.

Hoops Rumors: What’s the most likely scenario for resolving the team’s roster logjam? With 16 fully guaranteed contracts and only 15 regular season roster spots to go around, do you see the Celtics unloading the extra contract via trade, or will they have to waive somebody and eat one of those salaries?

Adam Himmelsbach: With Ainge at the helm, you can rest assured that trades will be explored. The Celtics had salary cap space this summer for the first time in nearly 20 years, and that allowed them to get creative. They acquired a future second-round pick and forward Perry Jones III from the Thunder essentially just for helping OKC clean up its books. So Boston will give Jones a long look during training camp, but right now the 23-year-old forward is probably the most likely to be cut if a deal can’t be completed.

Hoops Rumors: Isaiah Thomas has said he wants to start, but Marcus Smart is in his way at point guard, and now Terry Rozier‘s there, too. Thomas has three more seasons left on his contract, including this one. Do you think he’ll still be on the Celtics by the time his contract is up?

Adam Himmelsbach: Thomas has an extremely team-friendly contract, as he’ll make less than $7MM per year over the next three seasons, with his salary actually decreasing a bit each year. While Thomas has been vocal about his desire to start, Celtics coach Brad Stevens has made it clear he prefers to have Thomas be a sparkplug off the bench. If the Celtics are mired in a losing skid this season, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Thomas get a chance as a starter. As for his long-term future in Boston, it’s impossible to say. The Celtics are not in a position to have “untouchable” players. But the guess here is that yes, he’s here all three years.

Hoops Rumors: What do you think the Celtics learned from the Rajon Rondo trade that could help them the next time they make a major deal?

Adam Himmelsbach: The Celtics will eventually hope to kind of flip the script a bit. With the Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Green trades, they filled Ainge’s treasure chest with assets. It’s possible Boston could have three lottery picks next year. Moving forward, though, the Celtics will look to swap some of those assets for more proven talent, or even to move up in the draft. Of course, this June showed that’s not always easy, as they were rebuffed in their many attempts to trade up and acquire Duke’s Justise Winslow.