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Top Bloggers: Braden Shackelford On The Pistons

September 21st, 2015 at 11:31am CST by Zachary Links

Anyone can have a blog about an NBA team, but some set themselves apart from the rest with the dedication and valuable insight they bring to their craft. We’ll be sharing some knowledge from these dialed-in writers on Hoops Rumors in a new feature called Top Bloggers. As with The Beat, our ongoing series of interviews with NBA beat writers, it’s part of an effort to bring Hoops Rumors readers ever closer to the pulse of the teams they follow.

Today’s interview is with Braden Shackelford of Fansided’s Piston Powered, where he serves as editor.  You can follow Braden on Twitter @Shack_attack03, and click here to check out his stories.

Hoops Rumors: Brandon Jennings isn’t expected back from his torn left Achilles tendon until mid-to-late December. Right now, Detroit sees Jennings as a strong sixth man when he returns, but one has to imagine that they’ll be listening to trade offers if he looks sharp. Do you envision the Pistons trading Jennings before the trade deadline?

Braden Shackelford: Jennings has actually said he likes Detroit and willing to accept a role off the bench.  Then again, he is in a contract year and coming off of a serious injury, so what else can he say? If Jennings comes back strong, I fully expect the Pistons to explore offers for him.  But, if he’s healthy, why not see if he’s willing to return as a long-term sixth man too? At the right price, Jennings would be a great sixth man in Van Gundy’s offense.

Hoops Rumors: Greg Monroe says that he simply wasn’t wanted back in Detroit. Do you think the Pistons should have made a better effort to retain him?

Braden Shackelford: Yes, the Pistons should have tried, but I’m not sure it would have mattered.  Even if the Pistons decided to offer Monroe a contract, I doubt he’d accept.  As a free agent he can choose who he plays for.  Why sign with Detroit knowing that there’s a good chance you could be flipped at any time?  Sure the money was a little better if he signed with the Pistons, but Monroe said it’s not about the money.

Monroe was a bad fit next to Drummond, but the Pistons could’ve flipped Monroe later on for a piece that did fit the nucleus of the team.  The argument for not pursuing Monroe is that money would’ve been tied up, hindering the pursuit of other free agents. Of course, the Pistons swung and missed on all of their free agent targets early, so it wouldn’t have been a huge deal.

Hoops Rumors: After giving Reggie Jackson a hefty $80MM deal, it’s clear that the Pistons think very highly of him. Exactly how good is Reggie Jackson and where do you think he’ll rank amongst the league’s top point guards after this season is through?

Braden Shackelford: Statistically, Jackson has a very good chance of finishing as a top ten point guard.  In 27 games under Van Gundy he averaged [17.6 PPG and 9.2 APG] and it’s not far fetched to think he can do the same this season.  He’s also reportedly been working on the mechanics on his jump shot, which is his most glaring flaw.  I think Jackson has a very good chance at making the All-Star team this season, but it remains to be seen just how high his ceiling is.

Hoops Rumors: Speaking of big contracts, the Pistons gave Aron Baynes a three-year, $20MM deal that includes a player option after year two.  Many consider that deal to be an overpay. Where do you stand on that?

Braden Shackelford: I would say that it wasn’t a great deal, but not because of the salary, but rather the terms of the contract. $20MM over three years with a rising salary cap isn’t overspending – it’s the player option on the deal that makes this a reach.  If Baynes doesn’t live up to the salary he will opt-in and play an extra season at a salary he isn’t worth.  If he outperforms his contract, he will opt-out and get more money in free agency.  His contract puts the Pistons in a lose-lose situation.

Hoops Rumors: Now that you’ve had a few months to watch summer league action and digest things, how do you feel about the Pistons’ decision to draft Stanley Johnson over Justise Winslow?

Braden Shackelford: I love the pick. The Pistons would’ve been happy with either player, but Johnson’s personality – tough, confident, competitive, hardworking – really embodies the city of Detroit.  He felt underappreciated, falling all the way to the eighth pick and he’s on a mission to prove he’s the best player in the draft.  I don’t know that he’s the best player in the draft, but he has a chance to make a tremendous impact in his first season. I expect him to be in the Rookie of the Year discussion all season long.

Hoops Rumors: Do you think Markieff Morris will end up in Detroit this year? If so, what do you think the Pistons would have to give up?

Braden Shackelford: I don’t think it would take a [big] package of players to land Markieff Morris.  He’s a really good player, but his attitude brings his value down.  We answered this question in-depth on PistonPowered and came to the conclusion that the risks far outweighed the reward. There are a number of factors to consider here, but one thing that tipped the scales was that Marcus Morris said he wanted to grow as a player, something he felt he couldn’t do playing next to Markieff. The Pistons like what they have in Marcus and getting away from his often troubled brother is probably the best thing for him.

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Cavs, Tristan Thompson Still $14MM Apart

September 21st, 2015 at 10:09am CST by Zachary Links

There’s still a $14MM gap between the Cavs and Tristan Thompson as the start of training camp nears, sources tell ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst. The Cavs have held firm with their offer of $80MM over five years while Thompson’s camp wants a max deal worth $94MM over the same span, according to Windhorst’s sources.  Talks have been stagnant since early July, he adds, and there isn’t much optimism on either side.

If no deal is reached by the end of the week, Thompson may sign the Cavs’ one-year qualifying offer of nearly $6.8MM to become an unrestricted free agent next year. His agent, Rich Paul, recently claimed that if Thompson will not re-sign with the Cavs long-term in 2016 if he signs that offer.  Paul also has reportedly heard from three NBA teams that are willing to offer his client a max salary next summer if he hits unrestricted free agency.  The agent reportedly believes he can get a max deal from the Raptors for Thompson, a Toronto native, but it’s unclear if they are one of the three.

Windhorst writes that Thompson’s camp is very aware that Cavs big men Kevin Love (shoulder), Anderson Varejao (Achilles) and Timofey Mozgov (knee) are all coming into training camp after surgeries.  That additional leverage has only strengthened Thompson’s resolve to stand by his desire for a max deal.

The value of Thompson’s qualifying offer is nearly $10MM less than what he would make on the starting salary of a max deal, but the power forward could nonetheless benefit financially from taking the qualifying offer if max offers from other teams are indeed waiting for him next year. Max salaries go up in accordance with the salary cap, and with the cap set to spike for 2016/17, next summer’s projected maximum for a player with Thompson’s experience is $20.4MM. With 4.5% raises over a four-year contract, the best terms he could get if he doesn’t re-sign with Cleveland, a max deal with a new team next summer would be worth a total of $87.108MM, based on that $20.4MM starting salary projection. Combined with the qualifying offer, Thompson would make almost as much going that route as he would signing a five-year max with Cleveland this year.

Recently, Hoops Rumors’ Chuck Myron looked at different contract scenarios for the former No. 4 overall pick.   Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer told Hoops Rumors earlier this month that there was little communication between the two sides and he also cited a ~$14MM schism in proposals.

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Warriors To Sign Tony Mitchell

September 21st, 2015 at 9:22am CST by Zachary Links

The Warriors have agreed to sign forward Tony Mitchell, league sources tell Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).  The forward was a former No. 37 overall pick of the Pistons in 2013.  Agent Brian Elfus of Impact has confirmed the deal, Charania adds.

Mitchell was one of the top players coming out of high school in 2010, but academic issues cost him his true freshman season in 2010/11. As a redshirt freshman, he put up 14.7 PPG, 10.3 RPG and 3.0 blocks per game for North Texas, leading him to consider entering the draft.  He wound up staying one more season with the Mean Green before finally going pro and becoming a second-round draft choice of Detroit.

Despite his tremendous athleticism, Mitchell has yet to make his mark at the NBA level.  In 2013/14, the forward saw just 3.8 minutes per game for the Pistons with averages of 1.0 PPG and 1.2 RPG.  This past season, Mitchell did not see a single second of NBA action as Pistons coach/exec Stan Van Gundy kept him in the D-League for seasoning to start the year.  A late December trade sent Mitchell to the Suns, but he dropped from the roster early on in the New Year.  In February, Mitchell signed on with a Puerto Rican club when there was ostensibly little or no NBA interest.

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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 9/20/15

September 20th, 2015 at 10:55pm CST by Will Joseph

Tristan Thompson‘s salary dispute with the Cavs is ready to carry into training camp because the two sides have been in an impasse since negotiations began in July. Regardless, Thompson appears headed toward signing the Cavs’ qualifying offer and entering unrestricted free agency next summer.

It’s been widely believed that Thompson’s immediate future is in Cleveland, but for how long? If Thompson has a big season how likely is it that he would bolt from the Cavs?

That brings us to today’s topic: What do you think Thompson’s future in the league is and where will he be playing after this season (assuming he signs the Cavs’ qualifying offer for this season)?

 

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say!

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Hoops Links: Bucks, Knicks, Suns

September 20th, 2015 at 10:30pm CST by Will Joseph

Every Sunday, we link to some of the very best work from around the basketball blogosphere. Do you have a link to a great basketball blog post – either your own or someone else’s – that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Then you should send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s rundown…

Please send submissions to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.

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Suns Notes: Teletovic, Morris, Chandler

September 20th, 2015 at 9:35pm CST by Will Joseph

After battling breathing issues last season, Mirza Teletovic, whom the Suns signed to one-year, $5.5MM deal, believes his 3-point shooting ability should help him fit in nicely with his new team, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic writes in a worthwhile feature on the player from Europe. Teletovic chose a one-year deal in Phoenix over multiyear offers from the Kings, Bucks and his former team, the Nets.

“Coach Jeff [Hornacek] has the center rolling and the four-man [power forward] popping and spreading the court,” Teletovic said. “They like shooting 3s. I like the energy around the team. Goran really liked the place and the people around the place. And Phoenix had wanted me before I went to Brooklyn [in 2012].”

Here’s more on the Suns:

  • While what happens with Markieff Morris is the obvious daily storyline to watch regarding the Suns, the New York Post’s Tim Bontemps writes (on Facebook) that since Morris has a team-friendly long-term contract, Phoenix has no need to rush into a trade just to make one.
  • Nothing the Suns did — or didn’t do — during the summer suggests the team is headed in the right direction, writes Shaun Powell in his 30 teams in 30 days series for NBA.com. Powell criticizes a few of the Suns’ biggest moves this season, notably the decision to sign Tyson Chandler, who is 32, to a four-year contract worth $52MM. Besides Chandler’s age, Powell questions the move because it takes minutes away from Alex Len. Powell also second-guesses the Suns’ decision to re-sign Brandon Knight because, according to Powell, the team gave him the kind of money that the Bucks wanted to avoid.
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And-Ones: Nets, Clippers, Blazers

September 20th, 2015 at 8:34pm CST by Will Joseph

The non-guaranteed deal that 11-year veteran Dahntay Jones signed with the Nets earlier this month doesn’t fit with the rest of the team’s offseason signings, NetsDaily writes, because he is the oldest Net at 34 and averaged less than a point, less than a rebound and less than an assist per game in a mere 33 games for the Clippers. Jones, however, is known for his toughness and leadership and those are the kind of qualities coaches like on a contender, not a rebuilding team, NetsDaily adds.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • D’Angelo Russell, whom the Lakers chose with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, believes he can win the Rookie of the Year award this season and that the Lakers will be in the playoffs, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders writes.
  • With size, strength and athleticism, there’s a decent chance Cliff Alexander, who has a non-guaranteed contract worth a reported $525,093, will be a low-risk, high-reward building block for the Blazers‘ future, Mike Richman of The Oregonian writes.
  • Former Mavs center Greg Smith did not have an impressive showing in a workout for the Guangdong Tigers, international correspondent David Pick reports (via Twitter).
  • The Kentucky Wildcats will showcase their players to league executives in a combine on October 11th, tweets Basketball Insiders’ Alex Kennedy, who cites sources.
  • After a productive offseason that was highlighted by the re-signing of DeAndre Jordan and the additions of Paul Pierce, Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith and Pablo Prigioni, the 2015/16 version of the Clippers is the most talented team the franchise has ever assembled, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders opines.
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Warriors Offer Harrison Barnes Extension

September 20th, 2015 at 7:26pm CST by Will Joseph

The Warriors have offered Harrison Barnes a four-year, $64MM contract extension proposal, reports Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, who cites league sources.

The offer wasn’t accepted, Wojnarowski adds, but this appears to be a starting point in talks that could last until the November 2nd deadline for rookie extensions. Golden State has been reportedly seeking a deal with Barnes and fellow extension-eligible Festus Ezeli.

The offer of $16MM per year annually had been negotiated by Barnes’ former agent, Jeff Wechsler, according to Wojnarowski. After that initial offer, Wechsler countered with a figure north of $16MM annually before he and Barnes parted ways, league sources told Wojnarowski. Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports is representing Barnes now. Former Nets executive Bobby Marks tweets that the proposed deal would allow the Warriors to stay under the tax in the 2016/17 season and allow them to re-sign Stephen Curry in 2017/18 and still have money left for free agents.

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Eastern Notes: Heat, Pistons, Wizards

September 20th, 2015 at 6:40pm CST by Will Joseph

Heat assistant Dan Craig was hired as head coach of the franchise’s D-League affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski reports, citing league sources. Craig, who has worked for the Heat for 12 years, has coached the Heat’s summer league teams for the past three years, as Wojnarowski points out.

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

  • There’s a good chance it won’t happen until February, but it is difficult to imagine the Pistons not making a trade involving one of their point guards, David Mayo of MLive.com writes. That’s because, Mayo adds, once Brandon Jennings — who is not expected back from his Achilles injury until December — returns, the Pistons could have three reserve point guards with trade value. Jennings will be on a high-value expiring contract, and Steve Blake will be on a more affordable expiring contract, Mayo writes. Blake was acquired to give the Pistons three healthy point guards to start the season, according to Mayo. Spencer Dinwiddie is also expected to see time at point guard for the Pistons.
  • Tim Bontemps of the New York Post believes the Wizards are once again a middle-of-the-pack kind of playoff team (Facebook link). Bontemps adds that the Wizards improved during the summer with a series of small, but smart moves, such as acquiring Kelly Oubre in the draft, signing Gary Neal and trading for Jared Dudley.
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Western Notes: Williams, Pressey, Blazers

September 20th, 2015 at 4:15pm CST by Will Joseph

While Deron Williams was regarded as one of the league’s top point guards not too long ago, just being a serviceable option seems to be the goal nowadays for the former All-Star, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com writes in a lengthy explanatory piece on Williams’ decline. The Mavs signed Williams to a low-risk, two-year contract worth about $10MM with the hopes that the 31-year-old will regain some form.

“I don’t think he’ll be an All-Star again because of how good the West guards are,” one longtime executive told Berger. “I don’t think he’s a top-15 point guard right now, but I think he can eventually get there.”

Here’s more from around the Western Conference:

  • Entering his third NBA season, Phil Pressey will begin his first season with the Blazers and enter another training camp competing with Tim Frazier for a backup point guard role, Mike Richman of The Oregonian writes. Both young guards will compete for minutes behind All-Star Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. In his assessment of the player, Richman writes that Pressey is a pure point guard with natural passing instincts who struggles to shoot the ball. Pressey, as Richman points out, has a non-guaranteed contract worth $947,276.
  • Frazier, who has a non-guaranteed contract worth $845,059, has a shot for more playing time, according to Richman in another story, because he loves to push the pace in transition and is a natural, willing passer.
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