2014 June | Hoops Rumors

Raptors Extend Offers To Vasquez, Patterson

June 28th, 2014 at 11:51am CST by Cray Allred

11:51am: The team has announced that a qualifying offer for each player has been officially extended.

11:07am: The Raptors will extend qualifying offers to Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, and Nando De Colo today, tweets Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. The players will all become restricted free agents as a result of the offers, giving Toronto the right to match any offers they secure on the open market.

Both Vasquez and Patterson were acquired as pieces in the Rudy Gay trade with Sacramento this season. Vasquez, who has played well as both a starter and backup in his short career, triggered an increased qualifying offer of $4.7MM. Patterson, a steady rotation big who excels as a shooter, will receive a reduced offer at roughly $4.3MM.

De Colo’s offer will be roughly $1.8MM. De Colo arrived in Toronto via a trade deadline deal with the Spurs, and played limited minutes as a backup wing. All three will assuredly seek more lucrative offers from other teams for Toronto to match or decline, as qualifying offers will remain on the table during that process.

Haslem Opts Out, Wade And Bosh To Follow?

June 28th, 2014 at 10:13am CST by Cray Allred

Udonis Haslem has opted out of the the final year of his contract, tweets Ethan J. Skolnick of Bleacher Report. Skolnick suggests that the move is a part of a concerted strategy by the Heat’s Big Three to provide cap flexibility in Miami, and that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will exercise their early termination clauses for the same purpose. Haslem will forgo $4.6MM in salary for 2014/15 in hopes of re-signing a multi-year deal that rewards him financially while giving the Heat some much needed breathing room as it seeks to retain and build around its championship core (all Twitter links).

As soon as LeBron James terminated his contract with Miami for this season, the onus shifted to the Heat management and players to find a way to convince the league’s best player of their viability as a long-term contender. Haslem shares representation with Wade and Bosh, and had the trio opted to remain on their original contracts, there would have been virtually no room for team president Pat Riley to significantly improve the roster outside of re-signing aging veterans.

While Bosh has maintained his willingness to accept a reduced deal in order to keep the team in tact, Wade has been mum on his decision. Wade stands to sacrifice the most by terminating his deal, as he would give up over $41.8MM over the next two years in salary. That’s a number he is very unlikely to fetch on the open market, especially after a poor showing in the Finals despite regimented rest to keep him fresh throughout the year.

Knicks Confident About Re-Signing ‘Melo

June 28th, 2014 at 8:53am CST by Cray Allred

Sources tell Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com that the Knicks are “quietly confident” they will be able to re-sign Carmelo Anthony, in part due to the star forward’s growing bond with president Phil Jackson. ‘Melo will be chased by teams that appear closer to a championship than New York in free agency, but the Knicks are hoping that their recent trade with the Mavericks, which provided an upgrade at point guard with Jose Calderon, will make their roster more appealing to Anthony.

With head coach Derek Fisher and the newly acquired point guard Calderon, Jackson has put in place some of the pieces for his cherished triangle offense. If Anthony re-signs in New York, one of the biggest remaining gaps for the system would be a skilled big man. The ESPN scribes’ source says that Jackson is planning on pursuing Pau Gasol at a discounted rate to fill that need this summer, and the team has its eye on his brother Marc Gasol for the 2015/16 season, when the Grizzlies center will be a free agent. Currently, the most the Knicks could offer Pau would be the taxpayer’s mid-level exception of $3.278MM, a steep pay decrease from his $19.3MM salary in 2013/14.

This summer will be a highly intriguing one for the Knicks. The hiring of Jackson brought hope to a franchise that has bumbled away opportunities and flexibility for years. Knicks fans have been hoping the Zen Master could work his magic and turn the Knicks’ straw to gold. While a typical turnaround for a franchise as limited as New York requires some losing and patience to regain cap space and assets, Jackson would certainly increase his legend if he could jump start the turnaround in his first year as a front office executive.

And-Ones: Embiid, Draft, Trade Exceptions

June 27th, 2014 at 11:36pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Nuggets absorbed Arron Afflalo into Andre Iguodala‘s $9,868,632 trade exception in Thursday’s trade with the Magic, reducing its value to $2,368,632. Still, the deal lets them make a new exception worth $1,422,720, equivalent to Evan Fournier‘s salary, and offloading Anthony Randolph in Thursday’s pick swap with the Bulls allows the Nuggets to create another new trade exception worth $1.75MM.

Draft Grades: Central Division

June 27th, 2014 at 11:02pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With the 2014 NBA Draft officially in the books, it’s time to take a look back and see how each team used the draft to make improvements and fill needs. I’ve already ran down the picks for the Atlantic and Pacific Divisions. We’ll continue on with a look at the Central Division:

Chicago Bulls

Team Needs: Scoring, Power Forward, Point Guard

Draft Picks:

No. 11 Doug McDermott (Small Forward)*
No. 49 Cameron Bairstow (Power Forward/Center)

*Pick obtained via trade with Nuggets for the No. 16 & 19 picks, plus a 2015 second rounder.

The Bulls gave up two first rounders to move up and select “McBuckets.” They had need of a scorer — badly, and McDermott certainly fits that bill. Scouts were divided about his potential, as he’s seen as a bit of a tweener, and might not possess enough quickness to be an effective defender, one thing that coach Tom Thibodeau places a high priority on.

The trade also makes their pursuit of Carmelo Anthony a bit more difficult, as the trade added approximately $1MM onto their cap above what they would have spent if they had kept their two picks as they were, thanks to Anthony Randolph‘s inclusion. If the Bulls can get ‘Melo, McDermott also becomes redundant, and would be relegated to the sixth man role, which is one he ultimately might be better suited for long-term anyway.

Bairstow is a tough player with little athleticism. He seems destined to play overseas or in the D-League. I don’t see him ever cracking the Bulls rotation.

Overall Draft Grade: B+ —The Bulls get their desired player, and one who fits their biggest need. I’m not so sure they wouldn’t have been better served keeping picks 16 and 19 and adding more depth. They could have had their choice of Adreian Payne, James Young, Tyler Ennis, Rodney Hood, and Gary Harris. Two of them seem like a better value to me than McDermott.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Team Needs: Talent, Shooting, Perimeter Defense

Draft Picks:

No. 1 Andrew Wiggins (Small Forward/Shooting Guard)
No. 33 Joe Harris (Small Forward)
No 45. Dwight Powell (Power Forward)*

*Obtained via trade with the Hornets.

Despite all the rumblings about them trading down, the Cavs stuck it out and landed the player they wanted all along. Joel Embiid‘s injury might have been a blessing in disguise as it removed much of the temptation to draft him and the injury risk he carries.

Wiggins isn’t as sure a thing as the team would prefer. He has a world of upside and has the physical ability to become a top-10 player in the league. He can play and defend multiple positions and is a decent ballhandler and good passer. Wiggins needs to be more assertive and willing to be the “alpha” on the court. If he doesn’t change his mindset and become more of an attack oriented player, he’ll have a difficult time sharing the floor with Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters, both of whom are ball stoppers. I do like the pick and he should fit in nicely with what Cleveland is building.

Harris is a decent outside shooter and a strong defender. With Cleveland’s roster he has the chance to see some backup minutes this season, though I see some serious minutes being logged by him in the D-League along the way. Powell is a reach, and a player I don’t see making the roster anytime soon.

Overall Draft Grade: A — It’s hard to fault this pick. Wiggins has the most upside in the draft and is a freakish athlete. He’ll be judged alongside Jabari Parker for his entire career, which is par for the course. I see Wiggins taking a little longer to peak, but when he does he should be a more dynamic player than Parker.

Detroit Pistons

Team Needs: Shooting Guard, Backup Center, Stretch Four, Point Guard

Draft Picks:

No. 38 Spencer Dinwiddie (Shooting Guard)

The Pistons were unlucky, losing their first round pick to Charlotte thanks to the Pistons falling out of the top eight on lottery night. That one spot lost them the chance to nab a surefire rotation player. Ending up with Dinwiddie in the second round isn’t the worst possible outcome for the franchise.

Dinwiddie was projected as a mid first round pick, but an ACL injury that cost him the second half of last season caused his slide. Dinwiddie isn’t exceptionally athletic, but he’s a versatile player with a decent basketball IQ. If he can fully recover from his injury, he has the opportunity to be a contributor for a few years. It will most likely take him until the 2015/16 season to be at full-speed, so don’t expect much this year from him.

Overall Draft Grade: C+ —Under the circumstances, nabbing a first round caliber talent in the second round can be considered a small victory. That loss of the top-10 pick really hurts this year.

Indiana Pacers

Team Needs: Shooting Guard, Small Forward, Scoring, Stretch Four

Draft Picks:

No picks.

The Pacers first rounder went to the Suns as part of the Luis Scola trade. So judging Indiana’s draft is a matter of measuring his contributions against the potential of what was available at No. 27. Looking at the list, if the Pacers had kept the pick they would be looking at a draft and stash selection. So Scola’s production is more valuable in this instance, though he’ll rate like the team drafted a reserve player.

Overall Draft Grade: C+ —Scola is more valuable than what they would have picked up at No. 27, but he’s not a star player. A valuable one, but not a long term franchise player.

Milwaukee Bucks

Team Needs: Talent, Point Guard, Shooting

Draft Picks:

No. 2 Jabari Parker (Small Forward)
No. 31 Damien Inglis (Power Forward)
No. 36 Johnny O’Bryant (Power Forward)

I really like the Bucks’ draft. They stayed put and got exactly the player they wanted all along. Parker is probably going to end up as a stretch four, or in a role similar to ‘Melo’s when the Knicks go with one of their smaller lineups. Parker is ready to contribute immediately and though he needs some serious time in the gym, he’ll be a productive player and probable star for many seasons. If the “Greek Freak” continues to develop and Larry Sanders can stay on the court, the future in Milwaukee could be bright.

Inglis has a broken foot that will keep him out of the summer league, but he’s expected to be ready by the time training camp begins. Inglis is well-regarded by scouts, and has been compared to Boris Diaw as far as ability is concerned. His major flaw is that he’s not a good outside shooter. He’s shown flashes of being able to hit three pointers, but his mid range game is almost non-existent. Worth a flier because of his physical upside, but will see more D-League time than NBA time this season.

O’Bryant is a possible sleeper at No. 36. He’s not a big rebounder or defender, but he is a very good low post scorer. He’ll never be a starter, but has the makings of a solid rotation contributor.

Overall Draft Grade: A- —They did the smart and obvious thing on draft night and nabbed themselves a future star. The Bucks also took two potential rotation players, though Inglis might have been a reach considering K.J. McDaniels, Cleanthony Early, Jerami Grant, and Glenn Robinson III were still available. The Bucks did better than OK on Thursday, a small victory for fans of the franchise.

Western Notes: Nuggets, Blazers, Wolves

June 27th, 2014 at 10:36pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey will be busy once the free agent signing period begins, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Olshey will look to upgrade his bench and he will have the team’s mid level exception which would allow Olshey to spend as much as $5.305MM on a player for up to four years, and a biannual exception that will allow him to spend roughly $2.1MM on a player for up to two years, the article notes. Freeman also looks at some of the free agent possibilities the team might entertain signing this summer.

Draft Grades: Pacific Division

June 27th, 2014 at 9:59pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With the 2014 NBA Draft officially in the books, it’s time to take a look back and see how each team used the draft to make improvements and fill needs. I already took a look at the Atlantic and Central Divisions. Now I’ll check out the Pacific Division:

Golden State Warriors

Team Needs: Center, Point Guard, Depth

Draft Picks:

No picks.

The Warriors sent their selection this year to the Nuggets as part of the trade that netted them Andre Iguodala. Denver used the pick to select Rodney Hood, who is a good player with upside, but I think the Warriors are happy with their end of the trade.

Overall Draft Grade: B- —Instead of banking on the potential of a mid first-rounder, the team used the pick to nab a definite starter. Not having any second round selections though lowers the grade, especially in a draft this deep.

Los Angeles Clippers

Team Needs: Center, Small Forward, Point Guard, Shooting Guard

Draft Picks:

No. 28 C.J. Wilcox (Shooting Guard)

Wilcox is a solid, if unspectacular pick. He’s athletic, can shoot from deep, and should contribute as a role-player this season. It’s a bit of a puzzling pick though. Didn’t they draft a similar player last year in Reggie Bullock? Still on the board when they selected Wilcox were Kyle Anderson, K.J. McDaniels, Cleanthony Early, Jerami Grant, and Glenn Robinson III. All players who have more upside than Wilcox, and could have contributed more this coming season.

Overall Draft Grade: D+ —A safe, but underwhelming selection, which left players with more upside on the board.

Los Angeles Lakers

Team Needs: Talent, Depth, Small Forward, Point Guard

Draft Picks:

No. 7 Julius Randle (Power Forward)
No. 46 Jordan Clarkson (Shooting Guard)*

*Purchased pick from Wizards.

The Lakers were linked to Randle in most mock drafts, and while they failed to trade the pick for Kevin Love or to move up in the draft for a chance at Dante Exum, they still managed to nab one of the most NBA ready players in the entire draft in Randle. He’s not going to be a plus defender, but he should be a beast with the ball in the low post, and I also expect him to develop a decent mid-range game over time. Randle also makes for a ready made replacement if Pau Gasol doesn’t return. If he’s starting on day one, Randle is my favorite to win Rookie of the Year honors.

Clarkson is a combo guard with above average athleticism and a streaky jump shot. Depending on what the Lakers do about re-signing Nick Young, Clarkson could see some steady minutes next season. That might not be a great thing for the Lakers chances of making the playoffs though.

Overall Draft Grade: A- —They grab one of the few sure bets in the lottery, though his upside isn’t as high as some of the other players still available at No. 7. Randle should be a day one starter, and will pray the team signs some outside shooters so he will have room to operate down low.

Phoenix Suns

Team Needs: Star Player, Small Forward, Point Guard

Draft Picks:

No. 14 T.J. Warren (Small Forward/Power Forward)
No. 18 Tyler Ennis (Point Guard)
No. 27 Bogdan Bogdanovic (Shooting Guard)
No. 50 Alec Brown (Power Forward)

The Suns have been searching for NBA ready players that are upper-tier. They still hope to land a big name via free agency or trade, and also need to concern themselves with re-signing Eric Bledsoe. But having failed to package their multiple picks for a known asset, the team did very well on Thursday night.

Warren is an extremely talented scorer who can fill up a stat sheet. He’s a bit of a tweener which is always a concern, but he’s a polished player who will contribute off the bench next season and could grow into an effective starter. His lack of athleticism will hold him back, especially in the Western Conference.

Ennis was an excellent value pick, and a player who was openly coveted by the Raptors–which means there is still a possibility he gets dealt before the season begins. If the team keeps him, I believe Ennis has a wealth of potential and projects as a starter down the line. He’ll fit in nicely as a backup to Bledsoe and Goran Dragic next season.

Bogdanovic is a stash pick who could turn out to be a valuable sixth man candidate in a few years. He’s a flashy scorer who can handle the ball very well. He’s another player who could turn out to be a steal in a few years. Brown has D-League or overseas contract written all over him. Don’t see him being a factor in Phoenix.

Overall Draft Grade: B+ —The team picks up two immediate rotation players and another possibility in Bogdanovic. Not the haul the team was anticipating, nor as athletic a group of picks as they would have hoped for–but a very solid night.

Sacramento Kings

Team Needs: Power Forward, Shooters, Point Guard

Draft Picks:

No. 8 Nik Stauskas (Shooting Guard)

A bit of a puzzling pick. Not because of Stauskas, who was arguably the best shooter in the entire draft, but because of last year’s selection, Ben McLemore. The team needs help at power forward and point guard, and Noah Vonleh, Elfrid Payton, and Doug McDermott were all available at that spot.

It’s possible the team intends to trade McLemore, as there were rumblings of the Celtics possibly being interested. If not, either he or Stauskas will end up as the sixth man. Whatever his role, Stauskas is a talented pick who is a better all around player than many give him credit for. His ability to defend NBA level shooting guards is a question, but his ability to drain jumpers is not.

Overall Draft Grade: B — The team nabs a solid player who can fill up the stat sheet, but left other needs unfilled.

Eastern Notes: Bulls, Bucks, Magic

June 27th, 2014 at 8:58pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Bulls trade that sent the No. 16 and 19 picks to the Nuggets for the chance to draft Doug McDermott actually hurt the teams chances of landing Carmelo Anthony, writes Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders.The article notes that by adding Anthony Randolph‘s $1.825MM salary to McDermott’s $1.898MM cap hold as the 11th pick and the roster charge of over $500,000, Chicago actually now has about $1 million less to offer Carmelo in free agency than they would have had if they kept both picks.

Offseason Outlook Series

June 27th, 2014 at 8:21pm CST by Chuck Myron

The draft is in the books, but the NBA’s free agent scramble awaits. We’ve been taking an in-depth look over the past two months at each of the NBA’s 30 teams and the challenges they face as they try to improve their rosters this summer. All 30 Offseason Outlook pieces have been published, so if you missed any of your favorite teams, here’s a link to each piece, sorted by division:

Atlantic

Central

Southeast

Southwest

Northwest

Pacific

Draft Grades: Atlantic Division

June 27th, 2014 at 7:14pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With the 2014 NBA Draft officially in the books, it’s time to take a look back and see how each team used the draft to make improvements and fill needs. I’ve already looked at the Central and Pacific Divisions. Now it’s time for the Atlantic Division:

Boston Celtics

Team Needs: Power Forward, Shooting Guard, Point Guard

Draft Picks:

No. 6 Marcus Smart (Point Guard)
No. 17 James Young (Small Forward/Shooting Guard)

The Celtics find a potential replacement for Rajon Rondo in Smart, a player who should improve his shooting with some work, and who is capable of defending both backcourt spots. If Rondo isn’t dealt, Smart can slide over and play shooting guard. The biggest worry with a starting backcourt of Rondo and Smart will be their ability to stretch defenses as neither is a reliable outside threat. Good value for pick at that spot.

In Young, Boston gets the potential scoring threat that team so badly needs. Young is a still developing player who will take a few seasons to reach his potential. But he’s a fearless gunner with a sweet outside stroke who can also take it to the basket. Defense will be an issue for Young as he needs to add bulk as well as improve his on ball defense if he wants to get minutes under coach Brad Stevens.

Overall Draft Grade: B+ — The Celtics were hoping to flip these picks for Kevin Love, so that diminishes their overall score for the night. But they did snag two players who should be starters by 2015/2016.

Brooklyn Nets

Team Needs: Youth, Depth, Point Guard, Wing Players

Draft Picks:

No. 44 Markel Brown (Shooting Guard)*
No. 59 Xavier Thames (Point Guard)**
No. 60 Cory Jefferson (Power Forward)***

*Purchased pick from Timberwolves
**Purchased pick from Raptors
***Purchased pick from Spurs via Sixers.

The Nets needed to acquire some cheap depth, and that’s pretty much what they accomplished. The franchise had a better night than expected, acquiring three second-rounders on draft night. None of the players they selected project out as a starter, but Jefferson could prove useful this season, while Brown and Thames will take longer to bear fruit.

Overall Draft Grade: C — The team acquired some potentially useful pieces, but nothing that improved the franchise for next season. It was a better haul than expected, considering the team had zero picks heading into the draft.

New York Knicks

Team Needs: Center, Youth, Small Forward

Draft Picks:

No. 34 Cleathony Early (Small Forward)
No. 51 Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Small Forward)
No. 57 Louis Labeyrie (Power Forward/Center)*

*Purchased pick from Pacers

The Knicks went into draft night desperately attempting to acquire a first round selection. They weren’t able to move into the first round, so thanks to the recent Tyson Chandler trade with the Mavericks, Phil Jackson at least had a chance to make his first mark on the franchise. Early buzz was that the team was looking at Patric Young at No. 34. But when Early fell out of the first round, the Knicks couldn’t pass him up.

Early can play, but where that will be still remains unclear. He’s not fast enough to guard small forwards, nor is he big enough to be a power forward. Scouts also have serious misgivings about his ability to handle the ball. He’s also 23 years old, which means he’s close to his ceiling. Despite all the knocks, I think he’ll become a nice rotation piece for the Knicks in a season or two.

Antetokounmpo was a reach. Neither the Bucks, who employ his brother, nor the Sixers, who he played for in the D-League, decided to take him. That should tell you something right there. Granted, there wasn’t much left on the board at the time, so he might be worth the chance.

Labeyrie is unlikely to ever play in the league, which makes the move to purchase the draft pick a puzzling one.

Overall Draft Grade: C+ —Credit to Jackson for getting some picks in the draft. Early was a good value for the slot, but the team’s other two selections were probably just footnotes.

Philadelphia 76ers

Team Needs: Shooting Guard, Depth, Talent

Draft Picks:

No. 3 Joel Embiid (Center)
No. 12 Dario Saric (Small Forward)*
No. 32 K.J. McDaniels (Small Forward)
No. 39 Jerami Grant (Small Forward)
No. 52 Vasilije Micic (Point Guard)
No. 58 Jordan McRae (Shooting Guard)**

* Acquired from Magic for No. 10 overall pick, Elfrid Payton
** Acquired for No. 54 overall pick Nemanja Dangubic
***Also traded No. 47 Russ Smith to the Pelicans in exchange for the rights to Pierre Jackson, last year’s No. 42 overall selection.

The Sixers went into the night loaded with picks and high hopes. They were unable to trade up to select Wiggins, and when Parker went No. 2, it seemed all but assured they would select Dante Exum. But for the second draft in a row, Sam Hinkie took a chance on a player who might not set foot on the court all of next season.

Embiid is the most transformative player in the entire draft. But he could end up being the next Greg Oden just as easily as the next Hakeem Olajuwon. If Embiid can overcome his mounting injury concerns, this draft will be looked back on with great fondness. But this draft will also be looked at as tanking 2.0 for the team since it did nothing to get better for the 2014/15 season.

We just discussed Embiid, but Saric isn’t planning on coming over to the NBA for one or two seasons, minimum. The same with Micic. Both picks are decent values. Saric went right where he was slotted, and has a wealth of potential. The big question is if the team was better served to reach for that potential or better served selecting T.J. Warren, Adreian Payne, or Doug McDermott — and not having made the trade with Orlando that swapped picks.

Micic was predicted as a late first round selection in some mocks, so he’s a value where the team picked him. I’m very high on the selection of McDaniels, a player I thought had mid first round talent. He’s a ferocious defender who will make others around him better. Really like that pick. Grant was also a good value in round two, and he could develop into a nice role player for the team.

Overall Draft Grade: B+ —The final grade rests on Embiid’s health, but he might be worth the gamble. Saric was another good gamble, though the team might have gotten more value at the spot. The second round was filled with good value selections, though only McDaniels has starter potential. This is one that could easily change to an A+ if Saric and Embiid pan out. Passing on Exum could come back to haunt them.

Toronto Raptors

Team Needs: Center, Small Forward, Point Guard

Draft Picks:

No. 20 Bruno Caboclo (Power Forward)
No. 37 DeAndre Daniels (Small Forward)

If you shook your head and had no idea who Bruno Caboclo is, you’re not alone. Most experts didn’t even have him on their draft boards, much lest being taken in the middle of the first round. Caboclo has been described as the “Brazilian Kevin Durant.” Toronto would be happy if it turned out he was the Brazilian Giannis Antetokounmpo. This pick is a reach, especially considering the better known talent that was still on the board at that slot. This was easily the most puzzling selection of the night.

Snagging Daniels in the second round was a solid pick, and Daniels could develop into a productive reserve.

Overall Draft Grade: D- — I’m still having a difficult time processing the selection of Caboclo. Especially when Clint Capela, Mitch McGary, Rodney Hood, and P.J. Hairston were still on the board. The Raptors could have traded down and still nabbed their man. Daniels is a solid second-rounder, but went in range he was expected to go. The Raptors wanted Tyler Ennis, and were probably heartbroken when he was taken by the Suns at #18. Not a great night in Toronto.

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