Month: November 2024

Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Butler, Celtics

February 15th, 2015 at 9:27pm CST by Zachary Links

At Canada’s Lakehead University, coach Scott Morrison took one of the nation’s worst programs and developed them into one of the better teams in just two seasons. Now, he seems to be working a similar turnaround with the Celtics‘ D-League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, as A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes. In his first season as the team’s head coach, Morrison has led the squad to an impressive 20-10 record in addition to leading the “Futures” D-League All-Star team to a 129-94 win over the “Prospects” All-Star team on Sunday.

“Learning how to win is what coaching is,” said Danny Ainge, Boston’s president of basketball operations. “When you win, that’s fun. That keeps players’ attention; that gives the coach credibility when you win. Scott has guys listening a little bit more because he’s had some success.”

Here’s more from the Atlantic Division..

The Sixers did not sign Tim Frazier to a second 10-day deal, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter). The Penn State product appeared in three games for the Sixers and started in two of those contests. He averaged 5.0 PPG, 8.7 APG, and 4.7 RPG in 35.7 minutes per game. Pompey notes that by not re-signing Frazier, the 76ers now have an available roster spot to take on an expiring contract before Thursday’s deadline. That could be an indication that the 76ers won’t be inking anyone to another 10-day pact in the coming days.
In an alternate universe, Bulls standout Jimmy Butler could have been a member of the Knicks this season, Tim Bontemps of the New York Post writes. If Carmelo Anthony had decided to go to Chicago, Butler quite possibly would have been one of the pieces coming to the Knicks in a sign-and-trade with the Bulls. Butler, of course, has emerged as a rising star in the NBA while the Knicks are out of playoff contention.
With Celtics coach Brad Stevens and his players making a public pitch for continuity, Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com wonders if Ainge might take the cautious approach at the deadline. If a team offers a first-round pick for Brandon Bass or Marcus Thornton, Forsberg thinks he should jump on it. If it’s just a mid-to-late second round pick for a player like that, however, there’s little reason for the C’s to do it, especially when they’ll likely have to take back salary to complete a swap.

Bobby Brown In Talks With Multiple Teams

February 15th, 2015 at 8:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Bobby Brown, a top free agent guard, is in talks with several NBA teams in need of a point guard, according to Shams Charania of RealGM (via Twitter). Brown’s Chinese team – the Dongguan Leopards – was recently bounced from the playoffs and he has returned to the United States in search of a deal.

Brown inked a three-year deal with Dongguan in May of 2014, though the pact was said to include NBA escape clauses. It’s not immediately clear if Brown has already triggered his out-clause. If he hasn’t, then an NBA team signing Brown might have to cut a check to the Chinese squad. At the time of the signing, our own Chuck Myron speculated that the buyout was likely under $600K, which would allow an NBA team to pay the buyout without the money counting against the cap. As a sought-after free agent, it would be surprising if Brown agreed to a deal with a prohibitive buyout clause.

Last month, the Cavs were said to have interest in Brown and the 30-year-old made no secret of his affinity for Cleveland.

“I will say this about Cleveland: How could anyone not want to play with LeBron [James]? First off, he is the best player in the league and second, you have a chance to be a part of a championship team,” Brown said. “Plus, playing in Europe, I was a big fan of [David] Blatt] and always wanted to play for him. Also, I have known [David Griffin] since I was in the draft and have always been a huge believer in him.”

Brown went undrafted out of Cal State Fullerton in 2007 but eventually found his way to the NBA, playing for four teams across two seasons. In 113 career games with the Kings, Wolves, New Orleans, and the Clippers, Brown averaged 5.1 PPG and 1.8 APG in 12.8 minutes per contest. He has not appeared in the NBA since 2009/10.

Bobby Brown

Northwest Notes: Wolves, Wiggins, Jazz

February 15th, 2015 at 6:55pm CST by Zachary Links

LaMarcus Aldridge figures to be among the most sought-after free agents this summer and it’s safe to say that he’s probably heard a few recruitment pitches this weekend in New York City. On Saturday, Aldridge cited “winning and being happy” as his top priorities in free agency and the Blazers certainly hope that they can sell him on both fronts. A look at the Northwest Division..

Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (on Twitter) sees Lorenzo Brown sticking with the Timberwolves for the remainder of the season. However, he doesn’t envision any news on that front today. The Wolves can wait a few days and see if they need that roster spot for trade purposes between now and the deadline. In a later tweet, Wolfson (link) said a new deal “will happen.” Brown’s second 10-day deal expires after Sunday night.
Timberwolves rookie Andrew Wiggins has no regrets about the trade that sent him from Cleveland to Minnesota, Holly MacKenzie of The National Post writes. “I think it was the best move for me,” Wiggins said this weekend. “It gave me more room and put me in a position where I could grow up faster. In the league, that’s always what’s best for you.” Wiggins also noted that the deal has given him a chance to “shine.” The guard is averaging 15.2 PPG with 4.3 RPG and 1.9 APG in 34.5 minutes per game. Needless to say, Wiggins wouldn’t be seeing that kind of burn with the Cavs.
As one of the teams sending multiple players to All-Star Weekend, the Jazz have to feel pretty good about how they’ve been evaluating, drafting, and developing talent, EJ Ayala of Basketball insiders writes. Rudy Gobert seems like a potential cornerstone for Utah and they have plenty of other talented young players who could be a part of their core with Dante Exum, Trey Burke, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Gordon Hayward, Alec Burks, and Rodney Hood.

Hoops Links: Adams, LeBron, Russell

February 15th, 2015 at 5:10pm CST by Zachary Links

On this date in 2001, Wizards guard Mitch Richmond became the 26th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points when he tallied 18 points in a 102-78 loss to San Antonio. The Scorelord achieved the milestone with a 16-foot jump shot in the second quarter.

Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…

Posterized Basketball discussed the Steven Adams injury.
Slam Dunk Zone says there’s a price to play with LeBron James.
The Sixer Sense profiled Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell.
Legion Report looked at some potential deadline deals.
Denver Stiffs has some advice for Brian Shaw.
Liberty Ballers made the case for Karl Towns.
Swish Appeal looked at how Diana Taurasi‘s absence affects the Phoenix Mercury.

Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.

Categories:
Hoops Links

Hoops Rumors Originals

February 15th, 2015 at 3:36pm CST by Zachary Links

Here’s a look at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..

Chuck Myron looked at the teams with tax concerns at the trade deadline.
Mark Porcaro rolled out the 2014/15 International Transactions Log.
Chuck examined Deron Williams, whose stock has fallen in recent years, as a trade candidate.
If the Wolves can get a return for Thaddeus Young that rivals what they gave up for him, they should jump on it, opines Chris Crouse.
Arthur Hill sees Lance Stephenson as someone who could benefit from a change of scenery.
Eddie Scarito fielded your questions in this week’s mailbag.
Eddie gave us the latest edition of the Hoops Rumors Prospect Power Rankings.
Eddie looked at Nik Stauskas as a trade candidate.
Your favorite team might not be near No. 1 in the standings, but they’re in the thick of it for the No. 1 pick. Keep track of the race to the bottom with our Reverse Standings.
If you missed out on this week’s chat, read up on the transcript here.

Categories:
Hoops Rumors Originals

Week In Review: 2/9/15 – 2/15/15

February 15th, 2015 at 1:59pm CST by Zachary Links

Our look at the week that was..

The Kings bounced Tyrone Corbin in favor of George Karl. Corbin will serve as an adviser to the front office.
Paul George is targeting a mid-March return.
Carmelo Anthony might shut things down after the All-Star break.
LeBron James is “widely expected” to opt out of his contract this summer and sign a new contract that covers two years with a player option for the final season.
The Heat are the latest team rumored to have interest in Goran Dragic, but the Rockets and Lakers appear poised to take another go at him before Thursday’s trade deadline. Meanwhile, the Suns are more apt to try and trade Isaiah Thomas than to deal Dragic prior to the deadline.
The Kings are interested in several players, including Reggie Jackson, Jonas Jerebko, Arron Afflalo, and Wilson Chandler.
The Ray Allen saga continues. Several teams have interest and the Warriors are hopeful enough that they’re keeping their last roster spot open until he decides.
The Nuggets have also discussed Afflalo with the Blazers, Bulls, Clippers, and Heat.
Amar’e Stoudemire’s representatives are still discussing a buyout with the Knicks, but the player still hasn’t made a definitive decision about his future yet. The Mavs would be the favorites to land him but the Warriors would also have interest.
Andray Blatche could wind up staying in China.
Mo Williams was traded to the Hornets on Tuesday. Williams and Troy Daniels were shipped to Charlotte along with some cash considerations while Gary Neal and a second-round pick were sent to Minnesota.
Enes Kanter wants a trade.
The Nuggets hammered out a multiyear deal with two guaranteed seasons for Joffrey Lauvergne.
The Rockets are likely to pursue Jeremy Lin.
The Magic are open to trading Andrew Nicholson.
Brandon Bass has been included in trade discussions since the early going of the season, but teams aren’t beating down Boston’s door to acquire him.
The Hawks traded Adreian Payne to the Timberwolves for a first-round pick. The pick going to Atlanta will become a second-rounder if it’s not conveyed within the protected years.
The Wolves plan to explore a buyout with Gary Neal and the Hawks are among the teams with interest.
The Cavs are shopping backup center Brendan Haywood with the intent of acquiring a backup point guard or inside player.
The NBPA rejected a salary cap smoothing proposal.
Stan Van Gundy insists that the Pistons won’t trade Greg Monroe.
The Knicks plan to target Reggie Jackson, Jimmy Butler and Wesley Matthews, among others, this summer.
The Kings and Quincy Miller plan to discuss a deal to cover the remainder of the season.
The Pelicans will give Toney Douglas a second 10-day.
The Pistons signed John Lucas III to another 10-day deal.
Three-year NBA veteran Josh Harrellson has signed a deal to play in Puerto Rico with Brujos de Guayama.
The Mavs signed Bernard James to a 10-day deal.

Categories:
Week in Review

Eastern Notes: Stephenson, Dawkins, Celtics

February 15th, 2015 at 12:49pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Although Lance Stephenson says returning home and playing for the Nets would be a “blessing,” the guard is just focusing on getting back on track with his current team, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “I’m just trying to get my mind off of basketball, go to my neighborhood and get my hunger back,” Stephenson said. “With me, it’s all mental. I feel like once I get mentally into it, coming back to get that hunger. ‘Cause sometimes you lose your hunger. You’ve been doing it for so long you forget all the hard work that got you here. So I’m just getting back on that, getting focused.” Stephenson was mentioned in trade discussion with the Nets, as Arthur Hill of Hoops Rumors notes in his trade candidate piece.

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

The Sioux Falls Skyforce, the D-League affiliate of the Heat, have reacquired Andre Dawkins after his second 10-day contract with the Celtics expired, tweets Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. Dawkins was a member of the Heat earlier this season but the team waived him right before his contract was set to become guaranteed. Dawkins had appeared in four games this season for Miami, accumulating a total of three points and two rebounds. The Duke product did not see court time during his two 10-day stints with Boston.
The Celtics can learn from how the Hawks play on the court and how the franchise constructed its roster, writes Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. “The thing that stands out is just the quick decision making,” coach Brad Stevens said of the Hawks. “I’m hoping that’s a function of age.” Murphy believes it’s also a function of good scouting and drafting. The Celtics’ own picks over the next two years will most likely be the team’s only chance to draft in the top five. Like the Hawks did with Al Horford, who was drafted third overall in 2007, the Celtics need to land at least one elite talent with these opportunities. The Hawks also nailed their mid-to-late first-round picks, which helped elevate the team’s talent without adopting a complete tanking strategy. The Celtics have plenty of opportunities to nab good, young talent as they have several first rounders in addition to their own, as our Future Draft Pick Tracker indicates.
If anyone understands what Bradley Beal is going through, it’s teammate John Wall, writes J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. Wall, like Beal, had injuries keep him out of games while he was still under his rookie contract. “You do [think about it]. The main thing he can learn from what I did was come back and try to have a great end to the season and try to finish the season well,” Wall said of Beal, who is eligible for an extension this summer of up to four years. “If you have a good end of the season they (know) where you are and you’re taking the right steps. I was fortunate to have the chance to come back from injuries and play well … and let them see what I can do.”

Wolves Notes: Wiggins, Rubio, Veterans

February 15th, 2015 at 10:57am CST by ChrisCrouse

The Timberwolves are well represented in the NBA All-Star festivities this weekend. Minnesota had four players competing in Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge, which was the most from any team in the league. Andrew Wiggins, who scored 22 points, was named MVP of the contest and on Saturday night, Zach LaVine won the dunk contest. The fans of the team certainly have something to look forward to in the coming years as the future looks bright for the franchise.

Here’s more from Minnesota:

Andrew Wiggins told Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun that being traded to Minnesota was the best thing for his career. Wiggins was the centerpiece in the deal that brought Kevin Love to the Cavaliers. “There I would have been more of a role player,” Wiggins said of Cleveland. “Here, I’m getting more time to shine and do what I was put in this league to do and I’m enjoying the process.” Wiggins is also looking forward to earning a spot on the Canadian Olympic team this summer.
Ricky Rubio is key to Minnesota’s success and should remain in the team’s long-term plans, opines Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune. The Wolves have scored 1.1 more points per game and allowed 4.9 less points per game with the point guard in the lineup compared to games in which he has missed this season due to injury. Hartman believes that if the team can add one more viable piece through the 2015 draft, Minnesota could find itself contending for a postseason berth next season. The Wolves are currently in second place in our Reverse Standings with a record of 11-42.
President of Basketball Operations Flip Saunders doesn’t plan to make any more moves because he wants to let his roster settle, writes Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. Minnesota has already dealt veterans Corey Brewer and Mo Williams this season and Zgoda believes it would be wise to survey the market to see what Kevin Martin and Thaddeus Young could net in a trade. The Mavs and the Wizards were rumored to have interest in acquiring Martin, while Young, who I examined as a trade candidate, was mentioned in trade discussions with the Nets.

Arthur Hill contributed to this post

Categories:
Minnesota Timberwolves

Western Notes: Kings, Karl, Matthews, Suns

February 15th, 2015 at 8:59am CST by Arthur Hill

The hiring of George Karl as coach of the Kings shows that second-year GM Pete D’Alessandro has won a power struggle in Sacramento, writes Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee. D’Alessandro and Karl have a history together with the Nuggets, as do Kings assistant GM Mike Bratz and analytics expert Dean Oliver. It was the GM who pushed for Karl’s hiring and prevailed despite rumored opposition from minority owners and star player DeMarcus Cousins. “I think any time there’s a coaching vacancy, if you’re a serious team, and George Karl is a free agent, he should be the first name that pops into your mind,” D’Alessandro said. “He’s top tier, both in terms of basketball acumen and what he has accomplished.”

There’s more from the Western Conference:

As Karl assembles a staff, a name to watch is Tim Grgurich, tweets Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com. The veteran coach could be Sacramento’s top assistant next season.
In New York for Saturday’s three-point shooting contest, the Trail Blazers’ Wesley Matthews didn’t sound like a man with plans to leave Portland, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. “To be honest with you, I haven’t even really thought about being a free agent, man,” Matthews said in response to a question. “I’m extremely happy in Portland and we have a great thing going there and that is where my mind is.” Matthews, who has become one of the elite three-point threats in the NBA, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The Suns are more apt to try and trade Isaiah Thomas than to deal Goran Dragic before the trade deadline and the guard understands the trade rumors surrounding his name, writes Shlomo Sprung of Sheridan Hoops. “I can’t comment on it too much just because it’s out of my control,” Thomas told Sprung. “The game of basketball, especially the NBA, is a business and nobody is ever safe. You just have to be professional and come to work every day.” Thomas signed a four-year deal worth slightly more than $27MM last offseason.

Chris Crouse contributed to this post.

Trade Candidate: Lance Stephenson

February 14th, 2015 at 11:11pm CST by Arthur Hill

When they signed Lance Stephenson as a free agent last summer, the Hornets never envisioned unloading him a few months later. But Stephenson’s erratic play and the team’s disappointing season have put the fifth-year guard on the trading block.

Charlotte gave Stephenson a three-year, $27.4MM contract to leave the Pacers in July, hoping he would help the Hornets improve on last year’s 43-39 record. Instead, both the player and the team got off to rough starts. Stephenson struggled with his shot in November, connecting at just 38% from the field and a paltry 19% from three-point range. Not coincidentally, the Hornets sank to the bottom of the Southeast Division, sitting at 3-15 after a 10-game losing streak that stretched over November and December.

Stephenson’s luck got even worse in mid-December when he suffered a strained pelvis that sidelined him for 14 games. Charlotte won its first four games in Stephenson’s absence and gradually crept back into the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Hornets reached the All-Star break tied for seventh place in the conference at 22-30, a game ahead of the Nets and a game and a half better than the Celtics.
But Stephenson has played only a small role in this resurgence. Since returning to the court January 14th, he has logged more than 30 minutes in just one game and has often played 20 minutes or less. He was held scoreless in the team’s final pre-break game, a 28-point loss to the Pistons, and had just three rebounds and four assists — far short of the flashy numbers he put up last season in Indiana.

Stephenson has continued to have problems with his shot since returning. He shot 32% from the field in January and made just 1 of 10 three-point attempts. His February numbers are little better — 34% from the field and 19% from long distance.

With Stephenson struggling on the court and faced with a diminished role, it may be a case where both sides could benefit from a deal. Stephenson, who was born in Brooklyn, has been linked to the Nets in recent trade talks, including a rumored three-way deal last month that also involved the Thunder. More recent discussions have focused on a one-on-one deal between the Nets and Hornets, with Joe Johnson possibly being sent to Charlotte in return. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported January 25th that Gerald Henderson and Marvin Williams could also be part of the trade package.

Conflicting reports had the Hornets so close to dealing Stephenson and Cody Zeller to Brooklyn last month that they were ready to call the league office. Even though that trade didn’t get finalized, some version of it could reappear before Thursday’s trade deadline.

Charlotte has already shown a willingness to shake things up. On Tuesday, the Hornets sent Gary Neal and Miami’s second-round draft pick in 2019 to Minnesota in exchange for Mo Williams, Troy Daniels and cash considerations.

Despite Stephenson’s recent problems, he remains an intriguing gamble for any team seeking help for a postseason run. The 24-year-old broke through as a star for the Pacers in 2013/14, putting up 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game and helping Indiana secure the best record in the Eastern Conference. His numbers were almost identical in the playoffs —13.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG and 4.2 APG — as the Pacers reached the conference finals before losing to the Heat.

However, Stephenson’s on-court production has been mixed with erratic behavior, such as the much-publicized incident when he blew in LeBron James‘ ear during last year’s playoffs. Larry Bird, the Pacers’ president of basketball operations, sent a text message to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today expressing his displeasure with the James incident at the time, and that undoubtedly played a role in the decision not to retain Stephenson.

In addition, Stephenson was third in the NBA last season with 17 technical fouls and reportedly had a scuffle during practice with teammate Evan Turner. Stephenson also gained a reputation for being moody and having his mind wander during games.

The question for any team considering a Stephenson trade is whether he can get beyond his recent physical and behavioral issues and recapture the on-court brilliance he displayed with the Pacers. He would have to find a team that is willing to absorb a contract that pays him $9MM next season and $9.4MM in 2016/17, but he could be the type of player who benefits greatly from a change of scenery.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.