2017 July | Hoops Rumors

Celtics Sign Shane Larkin

July 31st, 2017 at 11:15am CST by Luke Adams

JULY 31, 11:15am: The Celtics have officially signed Larkin, the team announced today in a press release.

JULY 20, 12:35pm: Larkin’s deal will be for one year, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype. Larkin’s one-year deal with the Celtics will be fully guaranteed, a source tells Jay King of MassLive.com.

JULY 20, 10:10am: The Celtics have reached an agreement with Shane Larkin that will bring the point guard back to the NBA, reports international basketball journalist David Pick (via Twitter). Terms of the deal aren’t known, but Larkin and the C’s have agreed to terms, according to Pick, who suggests that the point guard is leaving $6MM+ on the table by returning stateside (Twitter link).

Larkin, the 18th overall pick in the 2013 draft, spent time with the Mavericks, Knicks, and Nets before heading overseas last season. Having signed with Spanish team Baskonia for the 2016/17 campaign, Larkin was one of the most productive point guards in Europe, averaging a team-high 14.1 PPG and 4.9 APG in 37 Spanish League games for Baskonia. He also led the club in PPG (13.1) and APG (5.7) in 33 Euroleague games.

Larkin didn’t exactly turn heads during his first stint in the NBA, averaging a modest 5.8 PPG and 3.2 APG in 202 regular season games. However, he’s still just 24 years old, and Pick suggests that Larkin was widely viewed as the top Euroleague free agent point guard after Milos Teodosic signed with the Clippers.

While Boston appears willing to roll the dice on Larkin, it’s not clear if the Miami alum will be guaranteed a spot on the regular season roster. With Avery Bradley and Demetrius Jackson no longer on the team, I’d expect Larkin to have an inside track on a 15-man roster spot to provide backcourt depth, particularly since he reportedly turned down a far more lucrative offer from Barcelona in order to join the C’s. Still, the back of the roster could get a little crowded, given the arrivals of players like Abdel Nader, Semi Ojeleye, Daniel Theis, and possibly Guerschon Yabusele.

The Celtics are virtually out of cap room and have used the room exception on Aron Baynes, so Larkin appears likely to receive a minimum salary deal.

Agent: Rose Had No Interest In Rejoining Knicks As Veteran Mentor

July 31st, 2017 at 8:55am CST by Luke Adams

Derrick Rose is now a Cavalier, but in the months leading up to free agency, there were several reports indicating that he hoped to return to the Knicks, and there was a belief that the franchise may have reciprocated that interest. However, after the Knicks drafted Frank Ntilikina and signed Tim Hardaway, Rose’s interest in returning to New York faded, and the team appeared prepared to go in another direction, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post.

[RELATED: Cavaliers sign Derrick Rose]

B.J. Armstrong – Rose’s agent – tells Berman that the Knicks and his client were on different short-term paths, with Rose wanting to contend immediately, while the Knicks could still be “three [or] four years” away.

“Did we miss something?,” Armstrong said of the Knicks. “Is there something going [on] in New York we didn’t see? We all would agree they are on a different timeline than Derrick — a young team with great young talent there and trying to build something for the future. They’re not on the same timeline as players who are a little older and experienced.”

The Knicks entered free agency intent on finding a veteran mentor for Ntilikina, who just turned 19 and may not be ready to take on major minutes right away. Rose was believed to be a candidate, but the club ultimately signed Ramon Sessions, and Armstrong suggests that his client was never interested in that sort of mentor role.

“You’re a mentor when you no longer can play,” Armstrong said. “This league you get paid to perform. You don’t get paid to be a mentor.”

While Rose seemingly had little interest in the Knicks before joining the Cavs, New York also wasn’t making the former MVP a high priority. Although the Knicks kept in contact with Rose until the end, the team never offered him even the veteran’s minimum, a source tells Berman.

According to the Post, the Knicks’ front office believes Sessions will be better suited to mentor Ntilikina. Knicks brass also thinks Sessions could develop better chemistry with Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis than Rose ever did (assuming Anthony isn’t traded).

Thunder Will Reportedly Sign Bryce Alford

July 30th, 2017 at 9:47pm CST by Austin Kent

The Thunder will reportedly sign guard Bryce Alford, Erik Horne of the Oklahoman writes. The UCLA product, Horne relays, stated as much in an Instagram post earlier today.

While there has been no formal verification, it’s not unlikely that the club added the point guard via a non-guaranteed to deal in order to get a good look at him at training camp. The addition of Alford brings Oklahoma City’s roster to 16 players.

The Thunder are in the market for a reliable backup point guard. After playing 2016/17 with Semaj Christon manning the position behind Russell Westbrook, Sam Presti has brought veteran Raymond Felton on board and now Alford, a volume three-point shooter that put up 7.5 triples per game in his senior season with the Bruins.

Pacific Notes: Gallinari, Williams, Ennis

July 30th, 2017 at 9:25pm CST by Austin Kent

Newly acquired Clippers forward Danilo Gallinari has broken his hand punching an opponent in an exhibition match with the Italian national team, a EuroHoops.net report (via NBA.com) reveals.

The 28-year-old recently picked up by the Clippers in a three-way sign-and-trade deal lashed out at Jito Kok of the Dutch national team and promptly left the game to visit the hospital, the report says.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, it was his thumb that Gallinari injured but the setback isn’t expected to keep him out of Clippers training camp. Surgery is not expected.

There’s more from the Pacific Division:

While Alan Williams‘ $5.5MM contract with the Suns isn’t guaranteed for the 2018/19 season, $1MM will become guaranteed if he meets certain minimum weight/body fat requirements, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
Contrary to what was previously reported, the second year of Tyler Ennis‘ two-year deal with the Lakers will not feature a team option for 2018/19. Instead, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets, it will come with a non-guaranteed second season.
The Clippers interviewed Knicks‘ player of personnel Mark Hughes for a position as assistant general manager, Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times tweets.

Lakers Sign Thomas Bryant

July 30th, 2017 at 8:33pm CST by ChrisCrouse

July 30: The Lakers announced that they have officially signed Bryant in a press release on their official website.

July 27: The Lakers have reached an agreement with second-round pick Thomas Bryant, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. The pact will be for two seasons and it will be guaranteed for the 2017/18 season. It will contain a team option for the 2018/19 campaign.

Bryant spent two seasons at Indiana, where he scored 12.2 points and grabbed 6.6 rebounds per game. Los Angeles selected the big man with the No. 42 overall pick in the 2017 draft and he shined for the organization’s Summer League team, helping it to win a championship in the Las Vegas league.

The Lakers no longer had the cap room necessary to offer Bryant more than a two-year contract, but the two-year limit may not be a major concern for L.A. The structure of Bryant’s new deal will allow the Lakers to part ways with him after one season if the team needs to create as much cap room as possible in 2018 for a maximum-salary player or two.

Southwest Notes: Smith Jr., Anthony, F. Jackson

July 30th, 2017 at 7:56pm CST by Austin Kent

Count Chauncey Billups among those who think that Mavs rookie Dennis Smith Jr. will be able to make a serious case for Rookie of the Year, Adam Grosbard of the Dallas Morning News writes.

“I think he’s the most polished out of all the point guards that were out there this year,” the former All-Star said of the Mavs’ ninth-overall pick. “I think he’s the most polished, pro-ready in my opinion and there’s some really good ones that came into the draft this year.”

Smith Jr. has been perceived as an early leader for the Rookie of the Year after an impressive summer league showing and will join the Mavs as an explosive playmaker cut from the same cloth, Billups believes, as Baron Davis.

“I’m happy that he’s going to get to play for Rick Carlisle, who’s a guy that I believe in,” Billups added. The current Mavs head coach, of course, coached Billups and his 2002/03 Pistons to the Eastern Conference Finals.

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

Although he isn’t a free agent, Carmelo Anthony holds his fate in his own hands. Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders writes about how it’s in his best interests, financially, to end up with the Rockets sooner than later.
One of the things that sets Mavs icon Dirk Nowitzki apart is his willingness to work with young players, Harrison Barnes said in an interview on The Fan’s Ben and Skin. “The biggest thing for me when I came to Dallas was how open and willing he was to work with young guys. Work on the court every day, be willing to talk, have access to. Guys of his status, All-Stars or future Hall of Famers, can kind of be distant,” he said.
The majority of Frank Jackson‘s contract with the Pelicans is guaranteed, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets. Jackson’s first two seasons are guaranteed at the league minimum, as is $506K of his third season.

Rockets Waive Jarrod Uthoff

July 30th, 2017 at 6:40pm CST by Austin Kent

The Rockets have waived forward Jarrod Uthoff, Ben DuBose of Locked On Rockets tweets. The club had previously acquired Uthoff from the Mavs amid a flurry of deals on June 29 prior to trading for Chris Paul.

Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders has since corroborated the report.

Uthoff saw action in just nine games for the Mavs last season, averaging 4.4 points per game in just 12.8 minutes. A $200K portion of the undrafted big man’s would-be $1.3MM deal was scheduled to become guaranteed had he remained on the roster through today.

[RELATED: View our Salary Guarantee List for the Summer of 2017]

After making his NBA debut with the Mavs on a 10-day deal in March, Uthoff signed a second 10-day pact and eventually a multi-year deal with the squad. The big man, however, spent considerable time in the G League with both Dallas’ Texas Legends affiliate and other clubs.

And-Ones: J. Thompson, Franklin, G League

July 30th, 2017 at 6:27pm CST by Austin Kent

Former Kings big man Jason Thompson has signed a contract with EuroLeague champion Fenerbahce S.K., Orazio Cauchi of Sportando writes. The 31-year-old played in China in 2016/17.

Per international basketball reporter David Pick, Thompson’s deal will be worth $1.8MM over one year with potential bonuses that could bring the total up to $2MM.

After an impressive seven-year stint in Sacramento, including a 2009/10 campaign in which he posted 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a 23-year-old, Thompson quickly fell out of the NBA.

His last professional season stateside in 2015/16 included brief stints with the Warriors and Raptors.

There’s more from around the NBA world:

After exploring his NBA options, former Grizzlies point guard Jamaal Franklin has opted to sign a two-year, $4MM deal in China, Shams Charania of The Vertical tweets.
While it’s a given the Warriors did well to retain their championship core, the club also nailed their supplemental signings. Inking Nick Young and Omri Casspi, David Yapkowitz of Basketball Insiders writes, was one of the best coups of the offseason.
As of this season, fringe NBA players offered more than $50K in partial guarantees can not play for that team’s G League affiliate, Chris Reichert of 2 Ways & 10 Days writes. Reichert offers a detailed explanation of how the new contract wrinkle may affect the league in the recent feature article.

Five Notable Wings Still Available In Free Agency

July 30th, 2017 at 5:13pm CST by ChrisCrouse

While the Grit and Grind Era will always represent a special time in Memphis, the Grizzlies have moved on and Tony Allen appears to be a casualty of the transition. Fellow grinder Zach Randolph was able to secure a two-year, $24MM with the Kings, but Allen hasn’t been able to land a lucrative deal of his own.

Early in free agency, the Clippers were reportedly interested in working out a sign-and-trade deal for Allen, but after making several additions, Los Angeles isn’t in a position to offer much more than a minimum salary arrangement. The Wolves also had interested in the swingman, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reported several weeks ago, though we haven’t heard much on Allen joining either of those clubs since.

Allen previously indicated that he wasn’t looking to break the bank in free agency. He also said he’ll be a Memphian for life. It’s possible he returns to the Grizzlies on a minimum salary deal, something they may have planned for him. However, it remains to be seen whether taking a hometown discount and taking the minimum are the same in Allen’s eyes.

At age 35, Allen isn’t going to learn how to shoot at a league-average level, something that becomes more of an issue during the NBA’s second season. He remains one of the better perimeter defenders in the league and he was a useful rotation player last season.

The Grizzlies could use a swingman to help solidify their rotation; so could the Wolves, Clippers, Mavericks, and Pacers. Allen should be able to help out a team in need of wing depth, though he’s not the only option on the market. Here are some other notable options available:

Anthony Morrow— Shooting is as important as its ever been in the NBA, which bodes well for Morrow should he find his three-point shot again. He’s a career 41.7% shooter from behind the arc, but he shot under 31% last season. Morrow, who turns 32 in September, will likely see another opportunity in the league. However, his flaws on the defensive end may force him to wait until closer to training camp to find a home.
Gerald Green — Green saw some minutes for the Celtics on the backend of their rotation last season before seeing a slightly larger role in the postseason. It’s plausible to think that his work in the NBA’s second season would boost his stock, but we haven’t heard much about him garnering much interest on the market. The 31-year-old has enough left in the tank to help a team in need of wing depth, though he’s another athlete who will likely have to play the waiting game.
Brandon Rush — Several teams have reportedly checked in with Rush, including the Mavericks, Heat, and Pacers. Dallas makes the most sense for the 32-year-old, as I recently detailed.
Shabazz Muhammad — Muhammad may be the most talented wing left on the free agent market. The Wolves pulled his qualifying offer earlier in the month, which rendered him to unrestricted free agency and the Hawks, Nets, Bucks, Knicks, Bulls, and Magic all were reportedly interested in the swingman. Yet, the UCLA product remains unsigned. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of deal and what kind of role Muhammad lands. It’ll also be interesting to see if the 24-year-old can expand his game beyond scoring, as he took 598 shots last season but dished out just 35 assists.

Kings Hire Brandon Williams As Assistant GM

July 30th, 2017 at 4:04pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Kings have hired Brandon Williams to be their new assistant GM, Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated reports (Twitter link). The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are so excited that Brandon is joining our front office team,” GM Vlade Divac said (via Sean Cunningham of ABC 10). “He is an experienced and talented basketball executive. His knowledge of player development and basketball operations combined with his legal skills will be a strong addition to our team.”

Williams most recently served as the Sixers VP of Basketball Administration and GM of Delaware 87ers, the team’s G-League affiliate. Williams also previously worked within the NBA’s league office, taking on the role of Director of Player Development before becoming the Associate Vice President of Basketball Operations.

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