2017 March | Hoops Rumors

Reggie Evans Still Hoping For Return To NBA

March 30th, 2017 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

It has been nearly two years since Reggie Evans appeared in an NBA game, but the veteran power forward hasn’t necessarily resigned himself to retirement quite yet. As he tells Mitch Smith of HawkeyeNation.com, Evans would be interested in an NBA opportunity if a team in need of a rebounder and defender came calling.

“I’m still working out and waiting on an opportunity to present itself,” Evans said. “In the meantime, being home has provided me with more time to give back to the community.”

Evans, who will turn 37 in May, played 13 NBA seasons, spending time with seven different teams during that stretch. The Iowa alum averaged 4.1 PPG and 7.1 RPG in 809 career regular season contests, last appearing on the court in April 2015. While his rebounding ability could still appeal to an NBA team, Evans’ lack of a jump shot would be a liability in the modern game, where low-post players have fallen somewhat out of fashion.

Whether or not Evans gets another NBA shot at some point, you might have a chance to watch him play ball this summer. Evans is one of nearly 40 players who is in the draft pool for the BIG3, Ice Cube’s new three-on-three, half-court league which will begin play in June. If he’s selected by one of the BIG3’s eight teams, Evans will compete against other former NBA players for 10 weeks during the NBA’s offseason.

Knicks Notes: Elimination, Noah, Hornacek, Anthony

March 29th, 2017 at 10:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

After a season that began with great promise, the Knicks have nothing to look forward to but the lottery. New York was officially eliminated from the postseason race with tonight’s 105-88 loss to the Heat, capping off a fourth consecutive non-playoff season.

“I haven’t been excited like this in a long time to actually get going and get ready to create something,” Carmelo Anthony told Marc Berman of the New York Post when training camp opened. But Joakim Noah, who was signed to a four-year, $72MM deal over the summer, turned out to be a disappointment and finished the season under league suspension. Derrick Rose, the other major offseason addition, has been a letdown on defense and appears unlikely to be re-signed.

The Knicks now face a crucial offseason that may include a franchise-altering trade of Anthony, who was offered to the Clippers, Celtics and Cavaliers before last month’s deadline.

In the meantime, here’s some more news out of New York:

Noah said his decision to use an over-the-counter supplement to help with his rehab after surgery “backfired,” relays Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press. Noah apologized to his teammates when he returned to practice Tuesday and called his 20-game suspension excessive. “It’s a tough lesson to learn, but everything in life has its purpose,” Noah said. “I know that right now it’s a tough situation to be in not being there with my teammates out there on the court. But I’m going to take this suspension like a man and move on.”
Coach Jeff Hornacek said the substance that Noah took wasn’t provided by the Knicks’ medical staff, posts Ian Begley on ESPN Now. “Most of these guys, they want to do something on the side, they check with our trainers, analyze it, take a look at it,” Hornacek said. “Sometimes you can’t control these guys if they’re taking other supplements they buy in the store.”
With the playoffs officially out of reach, Anthony understands that his role will be reduced for the rest of the season, Begley relays (Twitter link). “I see the writing on the wall,” he said. “I see what it is. I see what they’re trying to do and it’s just me accepting that. That’s what puts me at peace. Just knowing and understanding how things work. I’m at peace with that.”

North Carolina May Repeal ‘Bathroom Bill’

March 29th, 2017 at 10:42pm CST by Arthur Hill

North Carolina may get rid of the controversial “bathroom bill” that resulted in this year’s All-Star Game being pulled out of Charlotte, according to Reuters.

Members of the state’s Republican-controlled legislature said tonight that they have reached a deal to repeal HB2, which bars transgender people from choosing which restroom to use based on their gender identities. A vote on the repeal measure is set for Thursday morning.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made the decision to move this year’s All-Star festivities to New Orleans, but said giving Charlotte the 2019 game would be a “high priority” if the law were removed.

“The issues that we are primarily focused on are those of acceptance and inclusiveness — and the bill goes far beyond directing what bathrooms people should use,” Silver said when the decision was announced in October. “From that standpoint, it has been misrepresented. Ultimately for us, it’s about creating the right environment, specifically for a celebratory event like our All-Star game.”

Community Shootaround: Rondo, Mirotic

March 29th, 2017 at 9:53pm CST by Arthur Hill

A month ago, it seemed clear that Rajon Rondo and Nikola Mirotic were on their way out of Chicago. Now it’s less certain than it used to be.

Rondo and Mirotic have emerged as unlikely leaders as the Bulls fight for one of the East’s final playoff spots. At 35-39, they entered tonight’s action one game behind the eighth-place Heat but just three games out of the fifth seed.

Rondo has reclaimed the starting point guard role and taken control of the Bulls’ offense. He barely missed a triple double Sunday in a crucial win at Milwaukee and looks comfortable running the team for the first time all season. It’s a far cry from mid-January when he was relegated to the bench and stayed in shape by playing pickup games at an area middle school.

Rondo proclaimed himself one of Chicago’s “three alphas” along with Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade after signing a two-year deal worth nearly $27.4MM in July. But it’s not clear if that view was ever shared by the Bulls’ front office, who traded for one point guard, Michael Carter-Williams, in October, and another, Cameron Payne, last month.

But Rondo may be changing minds with his recent play. Bulls.com beat writer Sam Smith recently stated that it’s “no longer ridiculous” that the team might pick up Rondo’s $13.397MM option for next season. Chicago’s desire for cap room will certainly factor into that decision, as just $3MM of Rondo’s deal is guaranteed through June 30th.

Mirotic’s turnaround may be even more remarkable. He was being held out of games just two weeks ago, but has bounced back to become a key part of the Bulls’ offense. He has scored 28, 15 and 28 points in his last three games. Mirotic will be a restricted free agent this summer, so Chicago will have the option to match any offer he gets.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Should the Bulls bring back Rondo and Mirotic next season or should they look for other players to fill those roles? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. We look forward to what you have to say.

Wade Working Out In Hopes Of Playoff Return

March 29th, 2017 at 8:51pm CST by Arthur Hill

Dwyane Wade is making an effort to be ready if the Bulls reach the postseason, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.

Wade, who has a small fracture in his right elbow, has been shooting and participating in non-contact drills, coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters today. However, he cautioned that it’s too early to tell if Wade might receive medical clearance.

“He got a really good sweat in [today],” Hoiberg said. “Just continue to try to increase his workload and hopefully he responds well. He just has a little bit of soreness and stiffness after [shooting], but they want him out there testing it. It’s a work in progress.

“He’s a true pro. He’s working every day. He’s in the weight room, he’s on the treadmill, he’s doing everything that he possibly can. And again, he’s upping his activity on the basketball court. That’s a good sign.”

It has been two weeks since Wade suffered the injury, which will sideline him for the rest of the regular season. The team has gone 3-3 without him and remains in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, just one game behind eighth-place Miami coming into tonight.

Wade’s teammates are confident the 35-year-old can be ready if they secure a postseason spot.

“We truly believe that,” Nikola Mirotic said. “We see him every morning working, stretching, doing his treatments, sweating. You can see that he really wants to get back, too. It’s important.”

Southeast Notes: Mahinmi, Ibaka, Ross, Ilyasova

March 29th, 2017 at 7:43pm CST by Arthur Hill

Ian Mahinmi‘s return from injury has brought a defensive presence to the Wizards‘ bench, writes J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic. He controlled the lane in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s comeback win over the Lakers, as L.A. shot just 5-of-21 in the final 12 minutes. Problems with both knees limited Mahinmi to just five games before the All-Star break, but he has played 19 since then and has shown why Washington was willing to give him a four-year, $64MM contract last summer. “He’s a great defender,” said teammate Kelly Oubre. “He’s what we’ve been missing in the paint. I can’t wait until he’s dunking on people like he used to.”

There’s more news from the Southeast Division:

Serge Ibaka wanted to be used more often at center during his time with the Magic, relays Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. Ibaka, who was acquired from Oklahoma City last summer and dealt to Toronto after 57 games, said he approached coach Frank Vogel about using him at the five spot in a small-ball lineup. The problem was that the Magic already had centers Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo in their rotation. Even though he’s with a playoff team now, Ibaka is disappointed that things didn’t work out better in Orlando. “I remember in the beginning, I was so excited,” he said. “Even mentally I was so fresh and excited about the season. But in life sometimes the way we try to do things, or the way we think things can go, may not happen. That’s the case out there in Orlando. But I had good moments there.”
Terrence Ross, who was sent to the Magic in that deal, got a friendly reception from the fans Monday in his return to Toronto, according to Mike Ganter of The Toronto Sun. The 26-year-old swingman spent four and a half seasons with the Raptors.
Ersan Ilyasova was both surprised and not surprised to be traded from the Sixers to the Hawks at the deadline, tweets Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly. He thought he fit well in Philadelphia, but adds that he understands the business side of basketball. Ilyasova has been with six teams since the 2014/15 season and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Jarell Eddie Gets Second 10-Day Deal From Suns

March 29th, 2017 at 5:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Suns have signed swingman Jarell Eddie to a second 10-day contract, the team announced on its website.

Eddie, who originally signed with the Suns March 19th, has appeared in five games, averaging 4.8 points in 12.5 minutes per night. He posted a career best 13 points in a March 19th game against the Pistons.

The Suns are the third NBA opportunity for Eddie, who played 26 games last season for the Wizards and signed a 10-day deal with the Hawks in 2015 but didn’t see any game action. He has spent most of the past three years in the D-League, and played for Windy City before coming to Phoenix.

The contract Eddie signed today will run through April 7th. The Suns will have two games remaining after that and must decide whether to release him or give him a longer deal.

And-Ones: BIG3, Francis, Coaching Candidates

March 29th, 2017 at 5:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The BIG3 basketball league, which will make its debut in less than three months, continues to add notable former NBA players to its ranks. According to a press release from the league, former star guard Steve Francis headlines the latest round of additions to the draft pool, along with Kendall Gill, DeShawn Stevenson, Joe Smith, Hakim Warrick, and others.

Meanwhile, one of Francis’ teammates from their Rockets days will be a co-captain on a new team called Power, per a press release. According to the announcement, Cuttino Mobley is joining forces with Corey Maggette on the club, which is one of seven to be confirmed so far. When BIG3 games get underway this June, the league will feature eight teams.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

In a piece for ESPN.com, Kevin Arnovitz identifies five head coaching prospects to watch, including Raptors 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse, Hawks assistant Darvin Ham, and TNT analyst Brent Barry.
Speaking of future head coaches, commissioner Adam Silver believes a woman will coach an NBA team at some point, and wouldn’t mind seeing it happen sooner rather than later, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com outlines. Spurs assistant Becky Hammon is currently viewed as the top candidate to break that barrier.
Silver got involved last week in the league-wide debate over resting healthy players, calling it a “significant issue” and suggesting that there will be penalties for teams who don’t provide sufficient notice when resting stars. In the view of Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, Silver’s involvement in the issue could create a “slippery slope” that contributes to undermining relationships around the NBA. Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com has the details, including the quotes from Popovich.
An ESPN.com panel is ranking each of the NBA’s front offices, assigning grades to each club’s coach, GM, and owner. The full list can be found right here, from the Spurs at No. 1 to the Knicks at No. 30.

Central Notes: Jackson, Pistons, Rondo, Mirotic

March 29th, 2017 at 4:16pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pistons are reportedly considering shutting down Reggie Jackson for the rest of the season, and if it happens, it would be the end to an extremely disappointing 2016/17 campaign for the team’s starting point guard. Jackson, who got off to a late start this season due to a knee injury, admits that he has felt like “a shell” of himself at times, per Aaron McMann of MLive.com.

“I wasn’t quite the same, and that’s something the organization saw, and I think they want to take care of it,” Jackson said. “Myself, like I said, it was a wall that I kept hitting, and it was one I was going to find a way to run through. … It’s tough. It’s very tough. It’s annoying, it’s frustrating. You know you’re better than what you’re putting out there on the court.”

As Detroit continues to compete for a playoff spot – without Jackson in the lineup for now – let’s round up a few more notes out of the division…

Even if the Pistons sneak into the playoffs, it has been a very disappointing season in Detroit, and major changes could be on the way this summer. As David Mayo of MLive.com writes, everything will be considered and everyone will be evaluated by the Pistons.
There were times this season when Rajon Rondo and Nikola Mirotic found themselves on the outs in the Bulls‘ rotation, but they’re playing some of their best ball of the season as of late, writes Sam Smith of Bulls.com. Rondo has a partially guaranteed salary for 2017/18, while Mirotic will be a restricted free agent, so both players are increasing their value at the right time.
Magic head coach Frank Vogel “really wants” veteran power forward David West to come and join his coaching staff whenever West retires as a player, tweets ESPN’s Zach Lowe. A 14-year veteran, West is playing a career-low 12.1 minutes per game this season, so Vogel may soon get an opportunity to hire him. The duo spent a few years together in Indiana when Vogel was coaching the Pacers.
With the postseason around the corner, Tyronn Lue is facing his toughest challenge since taking over as the Cavaliers‘ head coach. Terry Pluto of The Cleveland Plain Dealer explains.

Pelicans Re-Sign Quinn Cook

March 29th, 2017 at 4:01pm CST by Luke Adams

4:01pm: The Pelicans have signed Cook to a second 10-day contract, the team confirmed today (via Twitter).

10:52am: Quinn Cook‘s first 10-day contract with the Pelicans expired overnight, but the rookie guard will receive a second 10-day deal from the team, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Assuming the new contract is finalized before tonight’s game against Dallas, it will expire at the end of day on April 7.

Cook, who turned 24 last Thursday, made his NBA debut last month with the Mavericks, but wasn’t retained by Dallas and eventually made his way back to the Pelicans. The former Duke Blue Devil spent training camp and the preseason with New Orleans last fall, though he didn’t initially make the cut for the team’s regular season roster.

In his latest stint with the Pelicans, Cook’s playing time has been limited — he has averaged 1.0 PPG and 0.7 APG in three games (2.7 MPG) for New Orleans. Cook’s numbers in five games with Dallas were a little better (5.4 PPG, 2.4 APG), and he excelled in D-League play earlier this season, averaging 26.0 PPG and 6.7 APG in 39 contests for the Canton Charge.

Once Cook’s second 10-day deal with New Orleans expires, the club will have to decide whether to retain him for the rest of the season. The Pelicans also continue to carry an open spot on their 15-man roster, so they have the flexibility to add another new player at some point down the stretch.

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