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Griffin Interviews For Rockets Coaching Job

May 23rd, 2016 at 11:57am CST by Dana Gauruder

The Rockets are interviewing Magic assistant coach Adrian Griffin for their head coaching job today, Mark Berman of Fox26 tweets. “Very special,” Griffin told Berman when he arrived for the interview. “I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”

The 41-year-old Griffin, Scott Skiles’ lead assistant in Orlando, also interviewed for the Magic job before the franchise decided to hire Frank Vogel.

Before joining the Magic last summer, Griffin spent several years in Chicago as an assistant coach on Tom Thibodeau‘s staff. He also reportedly interviewed with the Blazers in 2012, the Pistons and twice with the Sixers in 2013, and the Jazz twice as well as the Cavs in 2014.

Spurs assistant coach James Borrego is also expected to be interviewed on Monday, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported this weekend. Griffin and Borrego will apparently have an uphill climb to get the job. The Rockets reportedly whittled down the prospective candidates to Sixers assistant coach Mike D’Antoni and Hornets assistant coach Stephen Silas prior to those interviews.

The process toward hiring a new coach has been long-winded, with plenty of big names popping up along the way. New Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, former Cavs coach David Blatt, Raptors assistant coach Rex Kalamian‎, Grizzlies assistant coach Jeff Bzdelik, San Antonio Spurs assistant Ettore Messina, TNT analyst Kenny Smith, Clippers assistant Sam Cassell, current Rockets assistant Chris Finch and ABC analyst Jeff Van Gundy were also linked to the opening at one time or another.

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Draft Rumors: Dunn, Pacers, Trimble

May 23rd, 2016 at 10:35am CST by Dana Gauruder
The results of the lottery probably damaged Providence point guard Kris Dunn’s draft prospects more than any other player, Derek Bodner of USA Today opines. Dunn was a strong possibility to go in the top five prior to the lottery but the teams at the top are unlikely to prioritize a point guard, Bodner continues. It’s possible Dunn could move back into the top five if the Celtics at No. 3 or Suns at No. 4 trade their pick, otherwise another lottery team could wind up with a bargain, Bodner adds. ESPN Insider Chad Ford still has Dunn ranked No. 4 overall on his Big Board, while Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress has Dunn ranked No. 5 overall.
In other draft-related news:
  • Oakland University point guard Kay Felder is among six players working out for the Pacers on Monday, according to the team’s official Twitter feed. Felder is considering a second-round prospect by both Ford (No. 43 overall) and Givony (No. 58). Purdue power forward Caleb Swanigan, Providence power forward Ben Bentil, Tennessee shooting guard Armani Moore, North Carolina State point guard Anthony Barber and Maryland shooting guard Rasheed Sulaimon are the other prospects working out for Indiana.
  • Maryland point guard Melo Trimble will make his final scheduled workout with the Hawks on Monday before deciding whether to stay in the draft, according to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman (Twitter link). Trimble is ranked No. 71 by Ford and No. 76 by Givony.
  • Xavier sophomore forward Trevon Bluiett is likely to withdraw from the draft and return to school, a source told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link). Bluiett was not ranked among the Top 100 draft prospects by either Ford or Givony.
  • Villanova’s Josh Hart will work out for the Hawks on Tuesday and then decide whether to stay in the draft, Zagoria tweets. The junior shooting guard is ranked No. 46 by Ford and No. 43 by Givony.
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Heat Notes: Durant, Deng, Johnson

May 23rd, 2016 at 9:17am CST by Dana Gauruder

Oklahoma City’s surprising playoff run means there’s virtually no chance that Kevin Durant will land with the Heat as a free agent, Dave Hyde of the Sun Sentinel opines. Unless he’s desperate to get out of Oklahoma City, Durant has no real incentive to leave a team that can win championships, Hyde continues. While the Heat still must make an effort to contact Durant during free agency, it’s now clearcut that re-signing center Hassan Whiteside is their biggest offseason priority, Hyde adds.

In other news regarding the Heat:

  • Retaining free agent small forward Luol Deng will be difficult if the Heat manage to retain Whiteside, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. It will be tough to make the salary-cap math work in that scenario, as Deng likely will have suitors willing to immediately pay a number the Heat would hesitate to match while wooing Whiteside, Winderman continues. Starting point guard Goran Dragic could be traded to free up cap space, while Dwyane Wade is likely to finish his career in Miami, Winderman adds while examining the roster.
  • Restricted free agent Tyler Johnson might interest the point-guard starved Knicks, Marc Berman of the New York Post speculates. Johnson is quite versatile and would be a good fit if New York continues to run the triangle offense under new coach Jeff Hornacek.
  • Continuity under team president Pat Riley and a stable coaching staff are the Heat’s greatest assets, Hyde writes in a separate piece. The belief that the Heat will regain their status as a prime title contender starts with Riley, according to Hyde, adding that Riley’s biggest decision this summer is whether the team should splurge on an outside free agent or wait until next year.
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Draft Notes: Sixers, Dunn, Bentil, Briscoe

May 22nd, 2016 at 8:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

Fresh off securing the No. 1 pick in next month’s draft, the Sixers won’t limit their options to LSU’s Ben Simmons and Duke’s Brandon Ingram, writes Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. Philadelphia is planning workouts for California forward Jaylen Brown, Providence point guard Kris Dunn and Kentucky combo guard Jamal Murray, Spears reports. The Sixers may also offer invitations to Oklahoma’s Buddy Hield and Israel Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Dragan Bender. “The media has their darlings and that is perfectly fine,” Brown said of the attention surrounding Simmons and Ingram. “I’m just here to prove that I’m in the conversation with those two, if not better.” Brown also issued a challenge to the projected top two picks, saying, “Do they want to work out [against] me? I think that’s the question.”

There’s more draft-related news as Wednesday’s deadline for underclassmen to return to school approaches:

  • The results of Tuesday’s lottery may push Dunn out of the top five, according to Derek Bodner of USA Today. Bodner believes the best scenario for Dunn would have been for the Lakers to drop to No. 4 and ship their pick to the Sixers, who need help at point guard. If Simmons and Ingram are the first players selected, the next three teams — the Celtics, Suns and Wolves — all have established point guards on their roster.
  • Providence power forward Ben Bentil, who announced earlier today that he is staying in the draft, will work out for the Pacers Monday, tweets Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. The sophomore will have a session in Orlando later this week.
  • Kentucky freshman Isaiah Briscoe has a workout scheduled this week for the Hawks, Zagoria tweets. Briscoe hasn’t decided whether to stay in the draft or return to school.
  • Briscoe will work out for the Wolves Monday, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities (Twitter link). Joining Briscoe will be Wichita State’s Fred VanVleet, BYU’s Kyle Collinsworth, Florida’s Dorian Finney-Smith, Louisiana-Monroe’s Majok Deng and South Carolina’s Michael Carrera.
  • The Jazz believe in volume when it comes to workouts, writes Jody Genessy of The Deseret News. Utah hosted Oregon’s Tyler Dorsey, Indiana’s Yogi Ferrell, Finney-Smith, Wisconsin’s Nigel Hayes, Xavier’s Jalen Reynolds and Mississippi State’s Gavin Ware on Sunday, and expects to work out dozens more before draft day. “We’re trying to find players, not only possibly for the Jazz but also for the [D-League Salt Lake City] Stars,” said vice president of player personnel Walt Perrin. “Get to know as many people as possible.”
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Hoops Rumors Weekly Mailbag 5/16/16-5/22/16

May 22nd, 2016 at 8:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

In addition to our weekly chat every Wednesday, we have a second opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com. Here are this week’s inquiries:

Is Michael Carter-Williams and/or Greg Monroe in a Bucks uniform next season? Record wise, it was a bit of a disappointing year, but I still have high hope for the future. What kind of new pieces could we see for this bench next season? — Ryan

HR: When the Bucks signed Monroe last summer, they didn’t think they were getting a maximum-salaried backup, but that’s how coach Jason Kidd used him for a while. At 15.3 points and 8.8 rebounds per game, Monroe’s stats don’t look bad, but he never became the dominant force in the middle the Bucks were hoping he would be. Carter-Williams’ problem continues to be outside shooting, as he attempted just 55 3-pointers all season and connected on 27% of them. A report in the Journal Sentinel last month said the Bucks plan to shop both players, so their future in Milwaukee depends on what teams are willing to give up.

If the Cavs don’t win it all, how realistic does a Kevin Love trade become? And what would they be able to get for him since surely it won’t get as much as they gave up for him? — Matt

HR: Love’s fit in Cleveland seems like less of an issue than it was last season, but if the Cavaliers fall short they may decide to unload some salary to reduce the crushing burden of the luxury tax. In April, Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post mentioned the Nuggets as a team that might be interested, with Cleveland possibly getting Kenneth Faried and some younger players who would be more comfortable in Tyronn Lue’s up-tempo attack. The Cavs can’t expect to get talent on the level of Andrew Wiggins in return, but it won’t be hard to find a taker for Love.

What are the chances of the Lakers trading their potential top 3 draft pick for an established superstar? — Jason

HR: The Lakers might prefer to do that and speed up the rebuilding process, but the question is who could they get in return. L.A. is known to covet Paul George, but the Pacers would probably want a lot more than the pick to part with their best player. If the Kings decide to explore offers for DeMarcus Cousins again, maybe the No. 2 pick will help make a deal happen.

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Community Shootaround: Next Rockets Coach

May 22nd, 2016 at 7:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

In the 1970s, Mike D’Antoni used to compete against Paul Silas on the court. Now he’s competing against Silas’ son for the Rockets’ head coaching job.

Hornets assistant Stephen Silas is receving serious consideration for the position, according to a report Friday by Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Silas impressed GM Daryl Morey and owner Leslie Alexander in a pair of interviews and is now rivaling D’Antoni, who was once thought to be the clear favorite.

Silas is among the youngest 16-year veterans ever in the coaching profession, having started his career with the original Charlotte Hornets at age 27. He is also very much in demand. Silas has an interview scheduled Monday with Warriors coach Steve Kerr about becoming his lead assistant, and the Trail Blazers have been granted permission to talk with Silas about becoming Terry Stotts’ top assistant.

Although D’Antoni and Silas are co-front runners in Houston, the Rockets haven’t stopped the interview process. They will talk to Spurs assistant James Borrego on Monday, and plan to bring in Magic assistant Adrian Griffin as well. Former Cavs coach David Blatt, Raptors assistant Rex Kalamian‎, Grizzlies assistant Jeff Bzdelik, Spurs assistant Ettore Messina, Clippers assistant Sam Cassell and current Rockets assistant Chris Finch were among the others interviewed. TNT analyst Kenny Smith and former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy are no longer considered candidates for the position.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Who should the Rockets hire as their next coach? Should they take a veteran like D’Antoni, whose free-flowing offense paved the way for much of what Houston does now? Should it be Silas, who seems ready for the opportunity after more than a decade and a half as an assistant? Will Borrego or Griffin shake up the status quo, or is there someone else who should be considered?

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

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Heat Notes: Durant, Whiteside, McRoberts, Johnson

May 22nd, 2016 at 6:10pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Heat are treating Kevin Durant like a long shot and concentrating their free agency efforts on keeping Hassan Whiteside, according to Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. Miami intends to make an offer to Durant, but Jackson says the team’s intentions were clear when president Pat Riley called Whiteside the priority this week.

Miami might have a better shot at signing an outside free agent next summer, Jackson writes, even if Whiteside returns at a max or near-max contract. Dwyane Wade can free up some money if he agrees to another one-year contract or a two-year deal with an opt out after one season. Even if Chris Bosh is able to keep playing and his $25.3MM counts against the Heat’s cap, the franchise could have about $26MM to use next summer, possibly closer to $32MM if it can find a taker for Josh McRoberts. That would be enough to re-sign Wade and add a player such as Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay, Danilo Gallinari, Taj Gibson, Andre Iguodala, Tony Allen or J.J. Redick.

There’s more out of Miami:

  • The Heat will gauge the trade market for McRoberts, but the front office recognizes his value in case Bosh can’t play, Jackson writes in the same story. Miami might prefer to keep Luol Deng, who filled in for Bosh this season, but the offers he will get in free agency might be more than Miami can afford. “When you watch players play with [McRoberts], who know how to play with him, they’re very effective,” Riley said. “… We’re still high on him. We’re praying all the time he stays healthy.”
  • Joe Johnson may not stay with the Heat if he wants a quick decision in free agency, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Winderman expects many variables to play out, including whether coach Erik Spoelstra wants to make Justise Winslow his starting small forward. If that happens, the Heat would prefer to add another shooter to the starting lineup, a role Bosh can fill if he’s healthy. The Heat may want to fill their salary cap with other players first and then offer Johnson its $2.9MM “room” mid-level exception. However, he could get a better offer from another team before that happens.
  • After passing on Devin Booker to draft Winslow last year, the Heat need to concentrate on finding shooters this summer, Winderman contends in a separate piece. Their 7-for-25 performance from 3-point range in Game 7 against the Raptors underlined the need for improvement, but Spoestra said the team won’t be searching for just one skill. “Teams are built differently; teams can win in different ways,” he said. “… The most important thing is finding the best fits around the players you currently have, and can players bring out the best in each other?”
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Ben Bentil Will Remain In NBA Draft

May 22nd, 2016 at 5:13pm CST by Arthur Hill

Ben Bentil, a 6’9″ sophomore power forward out of Providence, will keep his name in the NBA draft, reports Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com. Underclassmen who haven’t hired agents face a deadline of Wednesday to decide whether to remain in the draft or return to school.

“I think it’s the best decision for me and my family,” Bentil said. “I know I’m ready for the next chapter in my life.”

Bentil improved dramatically during his second season with the Friars, averaging 21.7 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. NBA exectives see Bentil going anywhere from 25th to 45th in next month’s draft, according to Goodman. ESPN’s Chad Ford has Bentil 26th on his list of top 100 prospects, while Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranks him 45th.

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Hoops Links: Irving, Curry, Ulis

May 22nd, 2016 at 4:49pm 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 us at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s rundown …

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

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Blazers Notes: Silas, Crabbe, Draft

May 22nd, 2016 at 3:28pm CST by Will Joseph

The Blazers were granted permission Sunday to talk to Hornets assistant coach Stephen Silas about being the top assistant to Portland coach Terry Stotts, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. The Blazers have plenty of competition for Silas’ services. Silas will meet with Golden State coach Steve Kerr Monday in Oklahoma City to discuss the top assistant position with the Warriors. Silas also has a growing candidacy to become the Rockets next head coach.

Here’s more out of Portland:

  • Allen Crabbe has emerged as one of the most appealing restricted free agents in the league and is sure to receive contract offers exceeding $10MM per year, Haven Kaplan-Miner of RealGM writes. The combination of elite shooting and impressive on-ball defense makes Crabbe stand out, Kaplan-Miner adds. Crabbe’s midrange game, in particular, developed and that opened up the floor for his teammates this year and created the biggest problems for opposing defenses, Kaplan-Miner surmises.
  • The Blazers need to target a rim protector in the draft and preferably one who can add some scoring, NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper opines (transcribed by John Canzano of The Oregonian). “It’s not about how many points he’ll score for you, but how many points he’ll save for you,” Cooper said, referring to the Blazers’ need for a big man.
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