2017 July | Hoops Rumors

Western Notes: Bledsoe, George, Rondo

July 23rd, 2017 at 10:49pm CST by Austin Kent

While his name has been consistently floated in trade rumors over the course of the past season, Eric Bledsoe wants to remain in Phoenix. That said, the Suns guard recently told Scott Bordrow of azcentral that he also wants to win.

Most recently linked to the Cavaliers in a move that would help Cleveland honor a recent Kyrie Irving trade request, Bledsoe has once again been earmarked as a potential trade chip. If the Cavs are seeking established veterans capable of contributing to a contender, then a player like Bledsoe could be an appealing part of a larger Suns package.

There’s no denying Bledsoe’s value in the NBA — he posted a career best campaign with the Suns in 2016/17, averaging 21.1 points, 6.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. He just doesn’t line up with Phoenix’s “timeline” built around a young, rebuilding roster.

If the Cavaliers do choose to seek a buyer for Irving, then the question becomes whether or not the Suns are willing to package Bledsoe with enough assets to make a deal palatable for the Eastern Conference champions.

There’s more out of the West:

The Thunder shocked the NBA when they managed to trade for Paul George earlier this summer. It’s already easy to see the swingman’s impact on the franchise. Erik Horne of the Oklahoman details how George can help the team’s offense, defense and even second unit.
The decision to sign Ronnie Price to a two-year deal last summer has come back to haunt the Thunder. Fred Katz of the Norman Transcript has broken down the significant luxury tax impact the since-waived guard will have in 2017/18.
The Pelicans are excited about the addition of point guard Rajon Rondo, particularly big man Anthony Davis who will be one of the prime beneficiaries of Rondo’s playmaking abilities. “He and I will do very well in pick-and-rolls, especially the way I dive to the basket, or I can pick-and-pop,” Davis told Jim Eichenhofer of the Pels’ official website. “He’s great at finding guys at the right times with the ball. Anyone who’s been in pick-and-rolls with him has been very successful. Hopefully we can do the same thing.“

Sports Bloggers, Hoops Links Are Back

July 23rd, 2017 at 9:27pm CST by Austin Kent

After a short hiatus during the opening weeks of free agency, our weekly Hoops Links series is finally returning. Expect the next installment this Thursday.

Now that the dust has started to settle on a wild offseason and we don’t have to worry about our writers getting distracted by pesky Paul George trades, we can all get back to focusing on what really matters: scouring the internet for funny analogies that bloggers have come up with.

Every week, we collect all of the best original content we find throughout the blogosphere and shine a spotlight on it here. It doesn’t matter if it’s serious or light-hearted, if it’s a comprehensive oral history about a key moment in NBA history or an open letter to Greg Oden’s former neck beard. If it’s an engaging, original story, it deserves to be shared.

To be included in Hoops Links Vol. 11, submit your best links to Austin Kent over Twitter (@AustinKent). You may or may not bribe him with rare images of Shareef Abdur-Rahim but be forewarned that such nefarious appeals to nostalgia are only 85% effective.

Take a look back at the highlights from the 2016/17 season:

Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Irving, Perry

July 23rd, 2017 at 8:29pm CST by Austin Kent

The Knicks have come up as a possible landing spot for disgruntled Cavs guard Kyrie Irving but Fred Kerber of the New York Post wonders if the asking price for the All-Star may be a little too high.

The Knicks were one of four teams on Irving’s short list of preferred destinations but league sources say that New York is reluctant to part with young building blocks Kristaps Porzingis and Willy Hernangomez.

Whether the franchise would actually let the inclusion of Hernangomez be a deal breaker or not, remains to be seen. Per one unnamed league executive, the Knicks would be wise to ultimately deal the Spanish big man if necessary but lumping Porzingis in with an outgoing package is another story.

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Recently hired general manager Scott Perry has yet to meet his boss. Ian Begley of ESPN writes that the former Kings executive has yet to officially meet Knicks owner James Dolan.
As long as Kyrie Irving doesn’t go to the Warriors, Celtics forward Marcus Morris is happy. Per CSN New England, the recently acquired forward tweeted “Just don’t go to Golden State” shortly after news broke the the guard was looking to be traded.
For the third year in a row the Celtics may have a battle for their final roster spot, 16 players have guaranteed rosters for the 2017/18 season. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England breaks down how the roster looks after the addition of point guard Shane Larkin.

LeBron James Unwilling To Waive No-Trade Clause

July 23rd, 2017 at 7:02pm CST by Austin Kent

The Cavaliers will have their work cut out for them sorting through the drama of Kyrie Irving‘s recent trade request. The All-Star point guard is reportedly concerned about the roster he might be left with if LeBron James leaves the team next summer.

Simply getting ahead of the issue and trading James before he could possibly bolt via free agency, however, isn’t a realistic option. Per Chris Haynes of ESPN, James has no intention of waiving his no-trade clause to facilitate a rebuild.

James, one of three players in the NBA with such a clause, has signed a series of short contracts ever since he returned to the Cavaliers in the summer of 2014, a strategy that has helped him maximize his earning potential while applying consistent pressure to the team’s front office.

Given that 2017/18 is the last guaranteed year on his current deal, James could technically opt out of his 2018/19 player option, hit free agency and potentially join another club in less than a year, something that has been speculated about over the course of the last month.

While there’s no substantive indication that he will leave for the Lakers (or any other franchise), the fact that it’s a possibility is apparently concerning to Irving, who doesn’t want to be left out in the cold, alone with a roster built around James’ playing style.

That limits team owner Dan Gilbert and recently appointed Koby Altman in what they can do to resolve Irving’s concerns, if they do in fact decide to react at all.

Nets Interested In Jared Sullinger?

July 23rd, 2017 at 5:58pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Nets are in attendance at The Basketball Tournament in order to evaluate Jared Sullinger, according to ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla (h/t Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope).

Sullinger said he was aware of the Brooklyn’s presence, but wasn’t putting much stock into it. “I didn’t pay attention to it,” said Sullinger (via Net Income of SB Nation). “But I am unemployed at the moment. So just trying to get a job.”

Evan Turner, who played alongside the big man at Ohio State, was also in attendance Sullinger’s game. Turner believes the 25-year-old free agent deserves another chance in the NBA. “The numbers say enough,” said Turner of Sullinger’s game over the weekend. “21 points, 50 percent from the field, 50 percent from the three, all five free throws, nine rebounds, four assists, one turnover for a big man.”

Sullinger signed a one-year, $6MM deal with Toronto last offseason before injuring his foot during the preseason. He was only able to suit up in 11 games for the Raptors and the franchise dealt him to the Suns at the trade deadline. Phoenix subsequently waived him.

Weight has been an issue for Sullinger during his career, but he’s reportedly eating vegan, which has helped him manage this area. The power forward recently told Rob Oller of The Columbus Dispatch that he has this issue under control.

Community Shootaround: Kyrie Irving To The Sixers

July 23rd, 2017 at 4:16pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Kyrie Irving demanded a trade in what was arguably the NBA’s biggest news story this past week. The point guard’s most preferred destination is San Antonio, though he reportedly would be happy with being dealt to the Heat, Wolves or Knicks if it’s not the Spurs.

Irving didn’t name the Sixers as a preferred landing spot, but Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders argues that a trade to Philadelphia makes the most sense. Hamilton believes the Cavs must operate as though LeBron James will leave once he’s able to in the summer of 2018, meaning they should not trade for veteran players. Instead, the team should look to rebuild and target young players and assets.

The scribe contends that Irving could come to Philly and become the team’s No. 1 option, something that’s important to the 25-year-old. Hamilton believes a package of Markelle Fultz, Jahlil Okafor, and a couple future first-rounders would be a good haul for Cleveland.

Tell us what you think about an Irving-to-Philly trade. Do you believe a package centered around Fultz would be enough to entice the Cavs or should they go with a different offer from the Sixers or another team. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

Wizards Notes: Porter, Max Deals, Wall

July 23rd, 2017 at 3:15pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Otto Porter re-signed with the Wizards on a massive, four-year, $106MM this offseason. Although he’ll likely remain the third option on the team—behind John Wall and Bradley Beal—owner Ted Leonsis is happy to hand the small forward that kind of deal, as he tells Michael Lee of The Vertical.

“The market spoke, I said, ‘Done,’ ” Leonsis said about Porter’s deal. “There’s not that many transformative free agents out there and a lot of teams are paying a lot of money on free agents and they’re not quite sure how it’s going to work. I felt keeping Otto, maxing Otto, was way lower risk than saying, ‘Let’s let him go and we’ll get someone in free agency.’ I get a lot of emails, a lot of tweets, ‘Cut him loose!’ Oh, really? The coach loves him, teammates love him, he’s one of the best 3-point shooters in the league. Cut him loose? No. That’s not in the plan.”

Here’s more from Washington:

The Wizards are the first team to give out three max contracts to players who were drafted and developed by a single franchise, Michael adds in the same piece. Leonsis envisioned this feat for the organization years ago. “For us, if you articulate a strategy of, ‘We’re going to be bad and we’ll get high draft picks,’ and you realize NBA players come into their prime at 26, 27 years old, you’re hoping that this happens,” Leonsis said. “The worst thing that happens, you use a high pick, he’s a restricted free agent and you’re debating, ‘Do we want to keep him? Is he worth that?’ I said, ‘We want to be a ‘have’ team. ‘Have’ teams do whatever they want.”
Wall and Wizards have a partnership that’s rare in today’s NBA, Chase Hughes of Comcast Sportsnet contends. Hughes argues that the point guard has a devotion to the franchise as well as the City of Washington that’s isn’t typical with the current free agency landscape. Wall recently agreed to a four-year, $170MM extension with the team.

International Notes: Fredette, Hamilton, Seraphin

July 23rd, 2017 at 1:38pm CST by Arthur Hill

After considering a possible NBA return, Jimmer Fredette will spend at least one more season in China, tweets international basketball writer David Pick. Fredette has agreed to a one-year deal in the $1.8MM range to remain with the Shanghai Sharks. The 28-year-old is coming off an MVP season in the Chinese Basketball Association, averaging 37.4 points per game, along with 7.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists.

The 10th player taken in the 2011 draft, Fredette started his career in Sacramento but never developed into the player the Kings had hoped. He also spent time with the Bulls, Pelicans and Knicks before leaving the NBA after the 2015/16 season. He reportedly turned down several 10-day offers at the end of last season.

There’s more news on the international front:

Justin Hamilton, who was waived by the Raptors last week after being acquired in a trade with the Nets, has signed with the Beijing Ducks of the CBA, according to Orazio Carcia of Sportando. Hamilton, who was part of the deal that sent DeMarre Carroll to Brooklyn, averaged 6.9 points and 4.1 rebounds in 64 games with the Nets last season.
Barcelona has interest in Kevin Seraphin if he isn’t retained by the Pacers, according to Dario Destri of Sportando. Seraphin’s $1,974,159 salary for next season doesn’t become guaranteed until August 1st, and the Pacers already have 14 players with guaranteed deals. He signed with Indiana last summer after spending five years with the Wizards and one with the Knicks. In his only season as a Pacer, Seraphin appeared in 49 games, averaging 4.7 points and 2.9 rebounds per night.
Ryan Arcidiacono, a former Italian league star who spent last season with the Spurs’ affiliate in the G-League, will return to Italy with Juvecaserta, tweets Chris Reichert of 2 Ways and 10 Days. Arcidiacono was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Villanova.

Knicks To Hire Gerald Madkins as Assistant GM

July 23rd, 2017 at 12:14pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks will hire Gerald Madkins as assistant GM, tweets Brad Turner of The Los Angeles Times. The Kings and Bucks also expressed interest in him (Twitter link).

Madkins, 48, had been an assistant GM with the Clippers for the past two seasons. Since joining the organization in 2012, he also served as director of basketball operations and director of scouting.

Before joining the Clippers, Madkins held scouting positions with the SuperSonics and Rockets and was VP of player personnel for the Hornets.

A former NBA player, Madkins spent time with the Cavaliers and Warriors in the 1990s. He was named Continental Basketball Association Rookie of the Year in 1993.

Weekly Mailbag: 7/17/17 – 7/23/17

July 23rd, 2017 at 11:11am CST by Arthur Hill

We have an 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:

What are the chances that Kyrie Irving is traded to the Heat? And what would that trade have to look like? — Reid Parrish

Miami is one of four preferred destinations [along with San Antonio, New York and Minnesota] that Irving submitted to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert. Although Cleveland has no obligation to honor that list, it does bring the Heat into the conversation. Start with point guard Goran Dragic, whose $17MM salary for next season is close to Irving’s $18,868,625. Dragic is six years older than Irving and not on the same All-Star level, so Miami would have to sweeten the deal quite a bit. Justise Winslow is an obvious possibility, along with Josh Richardson or rookie Bam Adebayo. None of them moves the Cavs any closer to a title in what could be LeBron James‘ final season in Cleveland, so a third team would probably be necessary to get Irving to Miami.

What’s the most likely scenario for the Cavs with the turmoil going on? Will they still be strong enough to dethrone the Warriors with Irving gone? — Greg Dizon

There’s no way to tell until we know what they’re able to get back in an Irving trade, and we’re in the very early stages of that process. But this isn’t like the situation the Pacers faced with Paul George, where he was a year away from free agency and it was widely believed he plans to sign with the Lakers. Irving is under contract for two more seasons and has a player option for 2019/20. Whoever gets him will have an opportunity to keep him for the rest of his career, especially if it’s one of the teams on his list. So the Cavaliers should be able to get what they want in return, whether it’s veterans to make another run at a title or young players and picks to help them rebuild if LeBron James leaves next summer. That said, Cleveland is having an awful offseason so far, watching George and Jimmy Butler get traded elsewhere and settling for Jose Calderon and Jeff Green in free agency. With the Celtics signing Gordon Hayward, there’s no guarantee that the Cavs are headed to a fourth straight NBA Finals.

Since the end of their season, all members of the Mavericks’ front office (Mark Cuban, Donnie Nelson and Rick Carlisle) spoke of their view that Nerlens Noel was a part of their “young core,” suggesting that they would match any offer. Do you think the lack of an offer sheet has more to do with the assumption of the Mavs’ willingness to match or a true lack of interest? — Jonathan Dennis

Life is tough for restricted free agents. Most of the offer sheets they receive get matched, and teams don’t want to tie up resources on a fruitless effort in the middle of free agency. Look at what happened with the Nets and Otto Porter. They made a max offer of $106.5MM over four years on July 4th, which was a Tuesday. The offer sheet couldn’t be officially extended until the moratorium ended two days later. Despite announcing in advance that they planned to match any deal, the Wizards took almost the full 48 hours to reach an official decision, making their announcement on Saturday night. Porter then had two days to take his physical, and Washington had two days after that to send the results to the league. So the Nets didn’t have their resources freed up to complete the DeMarre Carroll deal until nine days after they made the offer to Porter. Things have slowed down now, but few teams have the cap space left to give Noel an offer that would make the Mavericks think twice. He’ll probably get a deal done soon, but he’ll have to decide if he wants to take a long-term contract on Dallas’ terms or sign for one year and try unrestricted free agency next summer.

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