2017 January | Hoops Rumors

Lakers Notes: Russell, Randle, D-Fenders

January 25th, 2017 at 1:30pm CST by Luke Adams

After a promising start to the season, the Lakers are now in a tie for the second-worst record in the NBA, as our 2016/17 NBA Reverse Standings show. While there was some optimism in Los Angeles in the fall that the team could compete for a playoff spot this season, the Lakers have lost 22 of 28 games since the start of December, effectively taking them out of the running.

As Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider-only link) details, D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle have slowed down after hot starts, and it’s not clear whether either of those players – or Brandon Ingram – is a future star. If there’s no future star currently on the roster, the Lakers may have to hope they can keep their 2017 first-round pick (top-three protected) and land a player that fits that bill in the lottery. As Pelton observes, the league’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement will make it less likely that a top player will change teams in free agency, so the draft looks like L.A.’s best bet to land an impact player.

Let’s round up a few more Lakers notes…

With Kobe Bryant no longer on the roster, the Lakers are lacking a definitive leader, writes Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Times. “We don’t have a guy who’s naturally that person for us, so it needs to come from multiple people,” said head coach Luke Walton.
In the post-Kobe era, David Aldridge of NBA.com takes an interesting and in-depth look at the Lakers’ current situation, including Jeanie Buss‘ views on the franchise.
The Los Angeles D-Fenders are being rebranded as the South Bay Lakers at the conclusion of the 2016/17 D-League season, the team announced this week in a press release. “This is an opportunity to leverage the iconic Lakers brand, celebrate our amazing community and emphasize our franchise’s accomplishments over the last 10 years while we continue to compete for an NBA D-League championship,” said Joey Buss, the president and CEO of the Lakers’ D-League affiliate.

Central Notes: Cavaliers, Pistons, Bucks

January 25th, 2017 at 12:24pm CST by Luke Adams

LeBron James‘ call this week for the Cavaliers to add a playmaker to their roster represented the latest development in his full-court press on the club’s front office, writes Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. Although he clarified that he doesn’t intend to criticize GM David Griffin or the job the club’s front office has done, James’ comments are meant to apply pressure to Cleveland’s decision-makers, as Windhorst details.

Cavaliers executives aren’t the only ones who took notice of James’ comments. As Emiliano Carchia of Sportando notes, multiple veteran free agents made an appeal to LeBron and the Cavs after the Finals MVP asked for another playmaker. Nate Robinson posted a message on Instagram imploring James to call him, while Jordan Crawford posted a similar message on Twitter. While Robinson and Crawford may be available, they probably won’t be the first players the Cavs pursue as the team looks to fortify its roster.

Here’s more from around the Central division:

The Cavaliers aren’t the only Central team whose point guard situation has been in the news. Reggie Jackson‘s name surfaced in a a trade rumor last week, but Rod Beard of The Detroit News makes the case that there just aren’t many point guards on the trade block that would be an upgrade over Jackson if the Pistons wanted to make a move.
With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope back in the lineup, the Pistons have a healthy roster for the first time in a while, creating some interesting decisions for Stan Van Gundy, Beard writes in a separate piece for The Detroit News.
The Oshkosh Common Council has approved plans for an arena that could serve as a home for the Bucks‘ D-League affiliate, according to a report from Fox 11 News. However, the Bucks have yet to commit to a specific city for a new D-League affiliate, and organizers say they won’t move forward and start building the $15MM arena until Milwaukee makes a decision. In addition to Oshkosh, the cities of Racine and Sheboygan are also believed to be in play for a D-League franchise.

Jameer Nelson A Primary Target For Cavaliers?

January 25th, 2017 at 11:07am CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have taken part in “repeated discussions” centered on point guard Jameer Nelson, league sources tell Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net. Nelson was one of three potential Cavs targets mentioned by Mitch Lawrence of Forbes earlier this week, and Amico suggests that the Nuggets guard appears Cleveland’s primary target from that group.

The Cavs have been in the market for a backup point guard all season, though their search may be intensifying with the trade deadline nearing and LeBron James‘ call for playmakers growing louder. After Cleveland suffered its fifth loss in the team’s last seven games, James said that he hopes the organization is “not satisfied” with the current roster.

Nelson, who turns 35 next month, has been a steady backup in Denver over the last two years, having averaged 8.7 PPG and 4.5 APG with a .446/.374/.706 shooting line in 44 games this season. Of course, the Nuggets remain in the hunt for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference, so it’s not clear how willing they’d be to sell off rotation players, particularly someone like Nelson, who is viewed as a mentor for Emmanuel Mudiay.

If the Cavs and Nuggets did get serious about a potential Nelson deal, there are a number of different forms a trade could take. Cleveland has one trade exception worth $4.8MM+, which would be more than enough to absorb Nelson’s $4.5MM+ salary, meaning the Cavs wouldn’t necessarily have to send out any salary in a swap. However, the Nuggets remain well below the salary floor, so the club likely wouldn’t be averse to taking on a contract or two as part of a deal.

Lawrence’s report for Forbes this week also mentioned Deron Williams and Rajon Rondo as players on the Cavaliers’ radar, but Cleveland’s level of interest in those players is unclear. General manager David Griffin has certainly considered many options on both the trade market and free agent market to solidify the team’s point guard position and provide the club with another playmaker. Griffin may ultimately wait until closer to the deadline to make a decision on the best direction for the Cavs.

Jodie Meeks Out Indefinitely With Thumb Injury

January 25th, 2017 at 10:31am CST by Dana Gauruder

JANUARY 25: After the Magic conducted a follow-up exam on Meeks’ injury, the team determined that surgery was necessary, according to a press release. GM Rob Hennigan announced that Meeks underwent that procedure on Tuesday and will be sidelined indefinitely — his return will depend on how he responds to rehab, per the team.

JANUARY 19: Magic shooting guard Jodie Meeks will be out an estimated 4-to-6 weeks after an MRI revealed two sprained ligaments in his right thumb, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel tweets. He will not need surgery, Robbins adds.

Meeks suffered the injury in a 118-98 loss to the Pelicans on Wednesday.

This is another injury setback for Meeks, who has been sidelined by a variety of ailments in recent seasons. Signed by the Pistons to a three-year, $18.8MM contract prior to the 2014/15 season, Meeks missed the first 22 games of that campaign because of a back injury. Last season, he fractured his right foot in the second game of the season and wound up making just one appearance the rest of the way.

The Magic acquired Meeks in June for a conditional second-round pick. He underwent foot surgery the following month, delaying his Magic debut until December 2nd.

Meeks, who earned nine starts in recent weeks, is averaging 8.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 24 games. He has given Orlando a boost on the perimeter, making 40.4% of his 3-point attempts. Meeks is one of the league’s premier spot-up shooters when healthy, as his 37.5% career average from long range attests.

Orlando’s other top option at shooting guard, Evan Fournier, is dealing with heel and foot issues. Meeks’ injury could lead to additional playing time for 2015 lottery pick Mario Hezonja. C.J. Wilcox could also be in the mix.

Mavs Re-Sign Pierre Jackson To 10-Day Deal

January 25th, 2017 at 9:47am CST by Luke Adams

The Mavericks have re-signed Pierre Jackson, the team announced today in a press release. Jackson’s initial 10-day contract with the club expired on Tuesday night, so Dallas has signed him to a second 10-day deal.

Jackson, 25, initially joined the Mavs in December, but was waived prior to the salary guarantee deadline, allowing the team to avoid locking in his full-season deal. Jackson was brought back to the club on January 15, and enjoyed his best game of the season this past Sunday, picking up 10 points and five assists in the Mavs’ 49-point rout of the Lakers.

As our 10-day contract tracker shows, Jackson becomes the third player this season to get a second 10-day deal with the same team, following in the footsteps of Quincy Acy with the Nets and Chasson Randle with the Sixers. If the Mavs want to keep the point guard when his new 10-day contract expires, they’d have to sign him to a rest-of-season deal, since teams can’t ink players to more than two 10-day pacts in a season.

Dallas is now back to a full 15-man roster, with 14 players on guaranteed contracts, plus Jackson’s 10-day contract.

Hollis Thompson To Join Spurs’ D-League Affiliate

January 25th, 2017 at 8:54am CST by Luke Adams

After being cut by the Sixers before this month’s salary guarantee deadline, swingman Hollis Thompson is headed to the D-League. According to Adam Johnson of D-League Digest (via Twitter), the Windy City Bulls have claimed Thompson, but will send him to the Austin Spurs, San Antonio’s affiliate, in exchange for Jarell Eddie. The deal will be finalized once both players pass physicals, tweets Johnson.

Thompson, 25, had been one of the longest-tenured players on the Sixers, having signed with the team back in September of 2013. In 256 games with the franchise, he averaged 7.9 PPG and 3.1 RPG, with a .417/.389/.709 shooting line. Although he has been a solid three-point shooter throughout his career, Thompson’s 36.6% mark this season was the worst of his career, and he also averaged just 18.1 minutes per game this year, another career low that led to his release.

Having signed a D-League contract, Thompson will remain an NBA free agent, meaning the NBA’s Spurs won’t hold his rights. However, San Antonio controls and operates the Austin Spurs, so the club will get a first-hand look at the Georgetown product during his time in the D-League.

Assuming Thompson plays well in the NBADL, he’ll be a strong candidate for at least a 10-day contract or two from an NBA team down the stretch this season, if not a rest-of-season commitment.

Fantasy Hoops: Lowry, Miles, Rivers

January 24th, 2017 at 11:07pm CST by ChrisCrouse

We’ve hit the third quarter of the NBA season and Hoops Rumors is examining the fantasy basketball landscape in order to help you dominate the competition. Check back weekly for more fantasy basketball analysis.

Overlooked Across The Border

With the level of great point guard play this season, it’s easy to overlook Kyle Lowry‘s impressive game. He got off to a slow start and it appeared that it was finally time for DeMar DeRozan to take sole reign of the Raptors franchise. However, with half a season worth of data, it’s clear that Lowry is still the team’s most important player.

Toronto has a -3.9 net rating when Lowry sits and a 9.9 net rating when he’s on the court, per NBA.com. The team actually has a worse net rating with DeRozan on the floor than it does with him off of it, though both ratings are still positive. Lowry ranks 7th in the league in total points added (TPA), a metric provided by NBAMath.com that examines a player’s effectiveness on both sides of the ball on a per-possession basis. On offense, he has the third-best TPA, behind only James Harden and Russell Westbrook, while DeRozan sits at a respectable, but less impressive, 29th-best.

Lowry’s slow start likely contributes to NBA fans overlooking his exceptional season. He was merely above-average for the first few weeks of the season, but since Thanksgiving, he’s done the following:

Hit 47.5% of his three-pointers, which is the best mark in the league among guards seeing at least 28 minutes per game.
Made 51.9% of his shots overall, a figure which is tops among guards not named Giannis Antetokounmpo (putting him here as a guard for now).
Rank in the top-10 among guards in points, assists and steals per game.
Rank inside the top-10 in rebounds per game among point guards.
Made more three-pointers per game than any player in the league with the exception being Eric Gordon.

As I wrote last week, savvy fantasy basketball players should always look for an undervalued/overvalued player because there lies an opportunity to improve your squad. Lowry is having a phenomenal season. He’s playing like a top-12 fantasy player overall and the only guards I wouldn’t trade for him are Stephen Curry, Westbrook, Antetokounmpo, and Harden.

If you can trade any of the following for Lowry, you should pull the trigger: Thomas, John Wall, Damian Lillard, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Draymond Green or Kyrie Irving (a player who now starts for the Eastern Conference All-Stars despite averaging fewer assists, rebounds, and steals per game than Lowry and having a lower field goal percentage, three-point percentage, Player Efficiency Rating, Win Share and Assist Ratio than Lowry does. However, we’re not here to talk about an exhibition game).

The 30-year-old point guard will be a free agent after the season and he is setting himself up for a massive payday. Enjoy his production if you have him on your fantasy team and target him in trades if you don’t.

Here’s more fantasy analysis and notes from around the league:

C.J. Miles is a player worth monitoring. He replaced Glenn Robinson in the starting lineup on Monday, and should be in line for a larger role after Monta Ellis, someone who shouldn’t be rostered in re-draft leagues, sprained his right ankle. Miles could provide nice production for a team that ranks in the top 10 in pace.
Austin Rivers is taking advantage of Chris Paul‘s absence. He’s averaging 21.0 points per game while shooting 51.1% from the field over his last three contests.
Looking for a point guard in daily fantasy? Target players going against the Pistons, Nuggets and Nets. Each of those team have given up at least 27.1 points and 7.6 assists per game to opposing point guards over their last 10 games.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Community Shootaround: Orlando Magic

January 24th, 2017 at 9:47pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Magic would like to turn the season around and make the playoffs and GM Rob Hennigan said the team would look to be aggressive in its attempts to improve. Hennigan said the front office was disappointed by the team’s play on the defensive end and added that he wouldn’t rule out trading anyone on the roster.

So that leads us to tonight’s topic: How would you fix the Magic if you were sitting in Rob Hennigan’s chair? What moves would you make to improve the team?

Orlando’s defense ranks in the middle of the pack, giving up 105 points per game. That’s an area which could use some help, but it’s the offense that’s in dire need of reinforcements. The Magic are scoring just 99.9 points per game, which is the sixth-worst mark in the league. They have the third-worst shooting percentage from behind the arc and they have the sixth-worst shooting percentage overall. Evan Fournier being sidelined certainly hurts the team, but the problem goes beyond missing the shooting guard’s play-making ability.

The team fell to the Bulls tonight to bring its record to 18-29 on the season. Orlando is 5.5 games behind Chicago for the eighth seed in the conference. However, the team is also just 7.5 games ahead of the Nets for the worst record in the East. The Magic could rally and make a run at the eighth seed, but they could easily fall in the standings and end up with another high-end lottery pick.

Be the GM in tonight’s shootaround. Let us know what moves you would make to get the team into the playoffs in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

Eastern Notes: Williams, Payton, Biyombo

January 24th, 2017 at 8:24pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Nuggets are waiving Mo Williams for the second time in a week, but this time, the Sixers are not expected to claim him, Marc Stein of ESPN.com tweets. Philadelphia is planning to keep Chasson Randle on the roster, so they don’t have a spot open for the retired point guard.

Williams’ contract holds value for the Nuggets and it would for the Sixers as well since both teams are under the salary floor, as Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors detailed earlier today. The point guard has already been paid over half of his salary, which is worth slightly under $2.2MM, but the whole amount would count toward a team’s salary cap. If the team doesn’t reach the salary floor, the transaction of waiving Williams would save the franchise roughly $1MM this season.

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

Magic GM Rob Hennigan is “encouraged and excited” about the play of Elfrid Payton this season, as he tells Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. “I think especially over the last few weeks he appears to be gaining a level of aggressiveness and comfort at the position that I think bodes well for our team,” Hennigan said. “I think, like anyone on our team, our goal is to improve. Our goal is to get better. And we need to explore any means necessary to do that. But certainly with E.P.’s play and his work ethic and our belief in how good he can become he’s certainly an integral part of our team and very, very valuable to us.”
Hennigan said free agent addition Bismack Biyombo has brought the Magic exactly what they were looking for when they signed the big man, as Robbins passes along in the same piece. “I think Biz has brought to our team exactly what we anticipated: his toughness, his energy, his spirit, his ability to be a paint presence defensively. Like most of our players, we think his best basketball is still ahead of him based on his age and his work ethic,” Hennigan said.
Rookie center Willy Hernangomez is earning a larger role on the Knicks, Al Iannazzone of Newsday writes. “He’s got great knowledge of the game, understanding and feel,” coach Jeff Hornacek said. “He has no fear when he gets out there about who he’s playing against. When you have a guy who knows how to play the game, a lot of good things happen.”

Bulls’ Mediocrity Could Impact Wade’s PO Decision

January 24th, 2017 at 6:54pm CST by Austin Kent

The mediocrity of this year’s Bulls team could influence Dwyane Wade‘s decision to opt out of the final year of his contract, says Nick Friedell of ESPN. In 40 games with Chicago, Wade has posted averages of 18.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists but the 22-23 Bulls haven’t done much to prove that they’re ready to compete for much more than a possible eight-seed playoff berth.

“I can’t play this game forever. I just turned 35 and I have a number in my head how long I want to play,” Wade said. “At the end of the day you want to be in a situation where it’s a competitor situation, whatever the case may be.”

Despite that, Wade was quick to clarify that he wasn’t a “ring chaser,” citing the three titles he won with the Heat as the major difference between his mentality and those of players who’ve never competed for a championship.

There have been positives to come out of the first few months of the 2016/17 campaign, however, as uncompetitive as the team has been at times.

“Obviously I’m not happy with being 22-23. Who would be? But there are things around here that I am happy with,” he said. “Obviously I’m happy with Jimmy Butler‘s growth and our relationship. I’m happy with the organization, how they’ve approached things, but I’m not happy with our record.”

This summer Wade will have the option to turn down a $23.8MM option for the 2017/18 campaign, but he insists he hasn’t concerned himself with it. Though the salary cap is slated to rise, bringing with it an influx of available money, the 35-year-old may not yield offers as weighty as the one he signed with Chicago.

Worth noting is that, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, no teams were willing to give the veteran a guaranteed third year in 2016.

Month: November 2024