2017 September | Hoops Rumors

Northwest Notes: Wade, Westbrook, Anthony, Favors

September 25th, 2017 at 2:27pm CST by Arthur Hill

Paul George has launched an electronic full-court press to try to convince Dwyane Wade to come to Oklahoma City, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today. Wade has become the hottest free agent on the market since agreeing to a buyout with the Bulls Sunday night. “I’m in his phone text, his DMs, Snapchat,” George said, “whatever it takes to get this dude here.”

Thunder GM Sam Presti is a little more reserved in his pursuit of Wade, but he would definitely like to have him as part of a Big Four with George, Russell Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony. OKC finalized its camp roster earlier today with the signing of Markel Brown, but a move would certainly be made to accommodate Wade. “He’ll go through the process and we’ll be in touch,” said Presti, who adds Wade may have already decided where he will sign next (Twitter link).

There’s more from the Northwest Division:

The Cavaliers, Thunder and Heat were consider the early favorites to sign Wade, but the competition may be more intense than originally believed, according to Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press (Twitter link), who adds that “many more teams” are pursuing him.
Westbrook declined to give a direct answer to questions today about the five-year, $207MM extension the Thunder have offered him, posts Royce Young on ESPN Now. “Man, it’s been a long, long summer,” Westbrook responded. “Had a baby. Been working on a little fatherhood. But like I’ve said before, this is a place I want to be.” Westbrook has an October 16 deadline to accept the deal, and former Oklahoma City center Enes Kanter believes he is leaning toward taking it. “I feel like he’s going to sign (the extension)” Kanter told reporters today in New York (Twitter link).
The Nuggets considered trying to bring Anthony back to Denver before the trade with the Thunder was announced, tweets Eric Goodman of Mile High Sports Radio. Although they weren’t among the teams Anthony said he would waive his no-trade clause to join, the Nuggets were interested in trying because the price for Anthony kept falling.
Jazz forward Derrick Favors has a chance to rebuild his reputation before heading into free agency next summer, relays the Associated Press. Favors says he has overcome the knee and back injuries that plagued him over the past two seasons and dropped 15 to 20 pounds during the summer. Utah needs to replace about 40 points per game with the loss of free agents Gordon Hayward and George Hill, and Favors is a prime candidate to increase his production. Favors will be an unrestricted free agent in July after making $12MM this season.
Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey isn’t concerned that his team is headed into a difficult Western Conference playoff race with one of the youngest rosters in the league, tweets Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Recently signed free agent Anthony Morrow is Portland’s only player older than 30. “It’s a roster that still has some upside to it, because of its age,” Olshey said. “We’re expecting a lot of internal growth.”

Knicks Notes: Porzingis, Hornacek, Anthony

September 25th, 2017 at 1:39pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks haven’t seen Kristaps Porzingis since he skipped an exit meeting in April, but the Latvian star was trying to smooth things over this afternoon at media day. Porzingis said he has no lingering bitterness toward the organization regarding the events of last spring or the offseason roster changes, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN. “No I’m coming into this season with a fresh mind,” Porzingis said. “It’s a new season.”

Porzingis is also in a new role as team leader after the trade of Carmelo Anthony to Oklahoma City. Porzingis denied reports that he clashed last season with coach Jeff Hornacek, insisting he has a “great relationship” with the coach and saying he doesn’t “know where it’s coming from,” tweets Marc Berman of The New York Post.

There’s more today from New York:

Porzingis got bigger and stronger over the summer, which will come in handy as he tries to carry the team, writes Al Iannazzone of Newsday. Anthony is gone, along with former team president Phil Jackson and his triangle offense, leaving the organization to rebuild around its 7’3″ center. “Moving forward in this league, he’s going to get a lot of opportunities to grow into that lead position,” Hornacek said of Porzingis. “We’re just excited to get back to coaching and moving forward with him and trying to develop him into that great player that we think he can become.”
With his trade to the Thunder becoming official today, Anthony penned a farewell note to New York fans on his website. He thanked owner Jim Dolan and the Knicks organization, along with everyone who supported him during his six and a half years with the team. “New York equipped me to make it in any other place in the world,” he wrote. “It taught me how to Be Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable. Saying Goodbye is the hardest thing to do. I never thought I would, especially to you. No one will ever take your place. It’s hard to find someone like you, so know you will always be missed. You helped me laugh. You dried my tears. Because of you, I have no fears. You came into my life and I was blessed. It’s time to raise my hand and say goodbye. It’s not the end, because like I’ve always said, NYC ‘til the end.”
Despite his fond memories, Anthony’s time in New York was a disappointment, contends Neil Best of Newsday. Best gives Anthony credit for the classy way he handled the feud with Jackson, but says he never delivered the playoff success the team expected when it acquired him from Denver.
Once Anthony expanded his list of possible destinations to three teams, the Knicks took the best deal they could find, writes Frank Isola of The New York Daily News. Although neither Enes Kanter or Doug McDermott may have a long future in New York, Isola says they are a better alternative than taking on Ryan Anderson‘s huge contract.

Sixers Notes: Okafor, Backcourt, Simmons, Embiid

September 25th, 2017 at 1:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

GM Bryan Colangelo told reporters today he is not seeking trade offers for Jahlil Okafor, tweets Jessica Camerato of CSN Philly. A report surfaced last week that the Sixers were planning to call around the league in an effort to find a new home for the 21-year-old center, who has been beset by injuries and off-court problems during his two years in Philadelphia. The third pick in the 2015 draft, Okafor has averaged 14.7 points and 6.0 rebounds, but has appeared in just 103 games. The Sixers had advanced trade talks with the Pelicans and Bulls about Okafor before the deadline in February.

There’s more from media day in Philadelphia:

Okafor will probably be limited in camp because of knee problems, Colangelo adds, as will Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who has tendinitis in his knee (Twitter link).
Colangelo also denied that he is working on a deal to thin out the team’s backcourt (Twitter link). The Sixers have a surplus of guards after drafting Markelle Fultz and signing J.J. Redick this summer.
After missing all of his rookie season while recovering from a broken foot, Ben Simmons heads into training camp with no medical restrictions, according to Derek Bodner of The Athletic (Twitter link). Simmons had surgery on a Jones fracture he suffered during training camp last year. Although there were reports during the season that he was close to returning, the Sixers decided the wisest move was to give him the entire year to recover. “I’m ready to go. 100%. Ready to play,” Simmons said today (Twitter link).
Joel Embiid hasn’t been cleared for five-on-five competition yet, but he is confident he’ll be ready when that happens (Twitter link). Embiid underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery in March to fix a meniscus tear in his left knee. He said two or three scans have been conducted on the knee since the operation and all have looked perfect. “I feel great,” Embiid said. “The past couple of months since the surgery I’ve been working pretty hard on my rehab.” (Twitter link). He adds that his target date to return is opening night, and he may not play during the preseason unless doctors decide he is fully ready (Twitter link). Embiid said he would like to play a complete season, but “I’ll be honest, I’m not playing 82 games.” (Twitter link). He also denied accusations that he is refusing to take part in five-on-five games until the team gives him an extension on his rookie contract. Embiid admits that he has little leverage because of his injury history, but emphasizes that he wants to play (Twitter link).

Raptors Sign Andy Rautins

September 25th, 2017 at 12:50pm CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 25: The Raptors have officially signed Rautins to complete their roster for training camp, the club confirmed today in a press release.

SEPTEMBER 22: The Raptors will fill the final spot on their roster with former Syracuse sharpshooter Andy Rautins, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports (via Twitter) that Rautins has agreed to a camp deal with Toronto. Wojnarowski notes that Rautins’ shooting made an impression on the Raptors in workouts.

Rautins, the 38th overall pick in the 2010 draft, only appeared in five NBA games with the Knicks, and hasn’t played in a regular season contest since the 2010/11 season. Since then, the 6’4″ shooting guard has played for a handful of teams overseas, in addition to spending time in the G League.

Most recently, Rautins has spent the last two seasons in Turkey playing for Gaziantep. In 2016/17, he appeared in 30 Turkish League games for the team, averaging 11.9 PPG and 4.7 APG to go along with a .391 3PT%.

While Rautins won’t enter training camp as a favorite to earn a regular season roster spot with the Raptors, the team is only carrying 13 guaranteed salaries, leaving up to two slots available on the roster. K.J. McDaniels, Kyle Wiltjer, Alfonzo McKinnie, and Kennedy Meeks also figure to be in the running for those spots.

It’s also worth noting that Rautins is the son of Leo Rautins, who has been covering the Raptors as a broadcaster since the team’s inception.

Thunder Sign Markel Brown, Finalize Camp Roster

September 25th, 2017 at 12:37pm CST by Luke Adams

The Thunder have announced their 20-man roster for training camp, confirming a few previously-reported agreements and announcing one new deal. The following players are now members of the Oklahoma City roster, according to the team:

Bryce Alford, G (previously reported)
Markel Brown, G
Isaiah Canaan, G (previously reported)
Rashawn Thomas, F (previously reported)

Brown, the 44th overall pick in the 2014 draft, spent two seasons with the Nets from 2014 to 2016, averaging 5.3 PPG on an unimpressive .382/.297/.781 shooting line. Unable to find an NBA job last season, Brown signed with Russian club Khimki for the 2016/17 campaign. Now, he’ll get a chance to head to camp with the Thunder.

The signing of Brown signals that the Thunder won’t bring center Yannis Morin to camp at this point. Multiple outlets reported in July that Morin had reached an agreement with OKC, but the French big man isn’t listed on the team’s training camp roster.

Cavaliers Hope To Have Isaiah Thomas Back By Christmas

September 25th, 2017 at 12:19pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Cavaliers are optimistic that Isaiah Thomas can recover from injuries to his right hip in time for their Christmas game with Golden State, relays Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.

The two-time All-Star has reportedly made “real progress” in rehab since joining the team in late August. Thomas was part of the package that Cleveland received from Boston in return for Kyrie Irving, and a dispute over Thomas’ medical condition help up the deal for about a week.

Cavaliers officials refused to answer questions about Thomas’ hip in a press conference after the deal was completed and offered no timetable for a possible return. Today’s news is the first indication of when he might be ready to play again.

Thomas suffered a torn labrum during the season and aggravated the injury in the Eastern Conference Finals, forcing him to miss the end of the series. It has been reported that he also has a loss of cartilage and some arthritis, which has slowed the recovery process.

Thomas has used a multi-faceted rehab plan to try to get back on the court, Vardon writes. In addition to weightlifting and stretching, he has been running in a pool and on a weightless treadmill and taking stationary shots on the court.

Thomas’ condition affects more than just the Cavaliers’ season. He is hoping for a max contract in free agency next summer after making about $6.3MM this year.

In other news out of Cleveland today:

Coach Tyronn Lue says free agent addition Derrick Rose will be the starting point guard until Thomas returns, Vardon tweets. The former MVP agreed to a one-year, minimum salary deal with Cleveland in July after spending one year with the Knicks.
The team has named Bernie Bickerstaff senior advisor of basketball operations, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link).

Rockets Re-Sign Bobby Brown

September 25th, 2017 at 12:07pm CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 25: More than two months after agreeing to terms with Brown, the Rockets have officially confirmed his new deal in a press release that announces the club’s 20-man training camp roster.

JULY 20: The Rockets have reached an agreement with free agent guard Bobby Brown, according to international basketball journalist David Pick (Twitter link). Brown confirmed to Alykhan Bijani of ESPN 97.5 Houston (Twitter link) that he’s re-signing with the club.

Brown, 32, returned to the NBA last year for the first time since the 2009/10 season, joining the Rockets after spending several years playing in Europe and Asia. Although he was a standout scorer during most of his international stops, Brown didn’t play much for Houston in 2016/17, appearing in 25 regular season games and seeing just 123 total minutes of action. He also played limited minutes in five postseason contests.

While Brown didn’t make much of an impact on the court, it sounds like he has played a key role off it for the Rockets. The California native was said to be one of the key players involved in the recruitment of Chris Paul to Houston, along with James Harden and Trevor Ariza.

Brown’s contract with the Rockets expired in June, and he didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the club to make him a restricted free agent, so his efforts to get Paul to Houston looked a little unusual. It makes sense that the club would be willing to bring him back on a minimum salary contract — it remains to be seen whether he’ll get a full or partial guarantee on his deal, however.

Pistons Re-Sign Beno Udrih, Finalize Camp Roster

September 25th, 2017 at 11:53am CST by Luke Adams

The Pistons have formally announced their training camp roster, confirming that 19 players will start the preseason with the club. In addition to the 16 players who were already officially under contract with the club, Detroit has announced the signings of point guard Beno Udrih, forward Derek Willis, and center Landry Nnoko.

The Pistons’ agreements with Willis and Nnoko were reported all the way back in July, so those moves have long been anticipated. However, the team’s deal with Udrih is new.

Udrih, 35, was a Piston last season, spending the year with the franchise after being claimed off waivers in the fall. The Slovenian guard provided some depth at the point, appearing in 39 games for Detroit and averaging 5.8 PPG to go along with 3.4 APG. As Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press tweets, Udrih has spent the offseason working out in Detroit, hoping to catch on with an NBA team.

Details of Udrih’s contract haven’t been reported, but I’d expect a non-guaranteed pact. If that’s the case, the Pistons would head into camp with 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts, and Udrih, Willis, Nnoko, and Eric Moreland also vying for roster spots.

Hawks Sign John Jenkins

September 25th, 2017 at 11:39am CST by Austin Kent

SEPTEMBER 25: The Hawks have officially signed Jenkins, the team announced today in a press release. Atlanta now has a full 20-man roster heading into training camp.

SEPTEMBER 24: The Hawks have agreed to a deal with swingman John Jenkins, Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders tweets. The addition of Jenkins brings Atlanta’s roster count up to 20.

The 26-year-old last saw action with the Suns in 2016/17 but only played four games, previously he has served with the Hawks and the Mavs.

While details of Jenkins’ agreement with the Hawks aren’t known, a non-guaranteed contract seems likely.

Tony Parker Cleared For Camp, Hopes To Play In November

September 25th, 2017 at 11:33am CST by Arthur Hill

Tony Parker has received medical clearance to participate in Spurs training camp, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN.

Parker was expected to miss a substantial part of the season after he ruptured a left quadriceps tendon during the Western Conference semifinals, but now he hopes to return in November.

“In my mind, hopefully, I can be back by mid-November, end of November,” Parker said. “But overall, it’s great news. Because at first, the doctors thought it would be the end of January. So it’s still like great news.”

Team doctors were encouraged by the results of an MRI conducted Friday, but Parker he will need about two more months to strengthen the leg back into playing shape. The 35-year-old shortened his recovery time with a “very disciplined” rehab schedule that included weight training from 8 am to 1 pm each day.

Some observers were concerned that the injury might end Parker’s career, but he says he never gave any thought to retirement. He added that the most difficult part was not being able to help the Spurs in the conference finals against the Warriors.

“Never in my mind was I sad or I thought I would never come back,” Parker said. “All those people were saying that. But I didn’t even listen. Because I was more frustrated that I couldn’t be there for my team in the conference finals. That was the most frustrating for me. The rest, for me, in my mind, I was coming back. There was no way I wasn’t coming back.”

Parker credits the Spurs for helping with his recovery over the summer. He spent two months in his native France and the team sent two representatives to help him maintain his regimen.

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