2018 May | Hoops Rumors

Budenholzer Receiving Strong Interest From Bucks, Raptors

May 14th, 2018 at 9:34am CST by Luke Adams

9:34am: The Bucks will meet with Budenholzer for a second time on Tuesday, reports Matt Velazquez of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter link). According to Velazquez, Bucks ownership will be involved in the meeting.

9:00am: Former Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer has emerged as the focus of the Bucks’ and Raptors’ coaching searches, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).

Budenholzer has been considered a strong candidate for Milwaukee’s head coaching job for much of the year, with a report in early May indicating that he and Monty Williams are potential favorites to replace interim coach Joe Prunty. Budenholzer was reportedly one of several candidates to meet with the Bucks last week, and the team intends to re-engage with him early this week, sources tell Wojnarowski.

As for the Raptors, Budenholzer was the first outside candidate to surface in their coaching search, shortly after they parted ways with Dwane Casey. Wojnarowski reports that Toronto is “opening” conversations with the former Atlanta coach.

The Bucks and Raptors are two of four teams currently seeking a new head coach, joining the Pistons and Magic. While Budenholzer hasn’t been linked to the Orlando job at all, he’s said to be on Detroit’s radar. A source confirmed to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press that Budenholzer is “under consideration” by the Pistons.

International Star Bostjan Nachbar Announces Retirement

May 14th, 2018 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

Former NBA and EuroLeague forward Bostjan Nachbar has formally announced his retirement as a player, tweeting that his “journey” as a basketball player is over. The Slovenian veteran, who didn’t suit up for a team during the 2017/18 season, also penned a letter on his decision, as Emiliano Carchia of Sportando relays.

“Even though I haven’t stepped on the basketball court for a few months now, I felt that there could still be a possibility to return and play again,” Nachbar wrote. “After giving it a lot of thought I realized that the desire to return back to playing simply is not big enough and that I have different priorities than before. My basketball career is over.”

Nachbar, who began his professional career in the late-1990s in Slovenia, was selected 15th overall by the Rockets in the 2002 NBA draft. The 6’9″ forward ultimately appeared in over 300 NBA regular season games for the Rockets, the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, and the New Jersey Nets, averaging 7.1 PPG on .406/.375/.784 shooting.

After his stint in the NBA, Nachbar returned to Europe in 2008 and spent nine more seasons playing in the EuroLeague and in Spain’s Liga ACB. Over the course of his international career, he won championships in Slovenia, Germany, and Spain, and earned All-Star nods in Slovenia, Germany, and Turkey.

Free Agent Stock Watch 2018: Philadelphia 76ers

May 13th, 2018 at 10:19pm CST by Austin Kent

The Sixers have made it quite clear that they’re ready and willing to accelerate their timeline and make a serious bid for an elite free agent. That’s ambitious and admirable, but to assume that a player like LeBron James is around the corner is like buying lottery tickets to fund your retirement.

It’s commendable that the Sixers have their sights set on big fish, but let’s assume that the King decides to re-up in Cleveland and Philly is forced to see their original process through to the end. Sure, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid weren’t enough to win the East in their first ever playoff appearances, that doesn’t mean the organization is in any less of an enviable place than they were a month ago.

In the event that Philly strikes out in their pursuit of James, they’d be wise to continue what they set out to do in 2017/18, surround their obnoxiously promising young core with solid veterans capable of helping them flourish into superstars.

J.J. Redick, SG, 34 (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $23MM deal in 2017
The idea to overpay Redick for a one-year contract last summer was brilliant. The team was able to complement its young core with a capable veteran scorer while getting a feel for what the next phase of the process was. It turns out the next phase involves winning, though, which involves paying to keep the club’s young core in tact. Since July, when Redick signed his monster contract, the Sixers have extended both Embiid and Robert Covington, eating up $35MM in salary that they didn’t need to worry about this time last. While the club still has piles of cap room for 2018/19, Philadelphia may look to lock Redick down at a discounted rate now that the roster is looking less and less like a science fair project and more like a contender.

Marco Belinelli, SG, 32 (Up) – Signed to a one-year deal in 2018
Belinelli landed with the Hawks last offseason, a hired gun on a short-term deal, and eventually became one of the buyout market’s most desirable pieces. The Sixers prudently added the shooting guard in February and gave him a months-long opportunity to show what he’s capable of contributing to a contender. Belinelli is still young enough to command a contract in the $8MM-$10MM range and may be able to parlay his success in Philly into a longer-term contract. That could very well put him right back in a Sixers uniform.

Ersan Ilyasova, PF, 31 (Down) – Signed to a one-year deal in 2018
There are few players who fill an unheralded role more brilliantly than Ilyasova but that hasn’t helped him find any stability since getting traded away from Milwaukee in 2015. In the three years since, the veteran has plied his scrappy trade for five franchises, proving at every step along the way that he’s a solid rotation piece. Unfortunately for Ilyasova, the contenders that he could benefit most tend to be the ones with the least amount of cap space, so he may need to take a discount if he wants to win.

Amir Johnson, C, 31 (Down) – Signed to a one-year, $11MM deal in 2017
The Sixers are in a drastically different place than they were when they inked Johnson, a reliable if unexciting veteran, to an eight-digit contract. For one, the win-now Eastern Conference contender need not get creative just to meet the league’s salary floor and they also don’t need to be quite as cautious when it comes to Embiid insurance. If Johnson wants to remain in Philadelphia – or on any serious playoff team – he may need to take a significant pay cut.

Richaun Holmes, C, 24 (Up) – Signed to a four-year, $5MM deal in 2015
Thanks to Embiid’s reasonably healthy season, the Sixers didn’t utilize Holmes as much as they did the year prior but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t still high on the athletic big man’s long-term role with the franchise. Picking up his $1.6MM team option is a no-brainer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Southeast Notes: Wizards, Collins, Trade Landscape

May 13th, 2018 at 8:39pm CST by Austin Kent

The Wizards have a host of tradable assets that could help them shake things up, Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington writes. That may be the franchise’s best hope of appeasing John Wall considering that they don’t have anywhere near enough financial flexibility to sign a free agent.

Hughes writes that both Wall and Bradley Beal could be considered untouchable this offseason but doesn’t grant such immunity to Otto Porter, the forward they paid handsomely just last summer. The 24-year-old is under team control for two more seasons and could play a role in landing an All-Star.

Other players that could be earmarked as potential trade bait include veterans Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris and developing youngsters like Kelly Oubre and Tomas Satoransky. The latter may already be 26 years old but showed excellent progress in what was just his sophomore season.

There’s more out of the Southeast Division:

The fate of the Eastern Conference depends on what LeBron James decides to do this offseason. If he heads west, it could open new opportunities for other contenders. If the 15-year veteran decides to return to the Cavaliers, it could precipitate a trade market in which teams like the Heat and Wizards could be involved, Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel writes.
First-year Hawks big man John Collins won over plenty of fans during his rookie campaign, so much so that Mike Schmitz and Kevin Pelton of ESPN both rank him No. 7 in their list of the rookies from 2017/18 with the most future potential. That, according to the scribes, puts him ahead of players like Dennis Smith Jr. and Josh Jackson.
The Wizards made the ambitious decision to help 23-year-old two-way contract rookie Devin Robinson reinvent his jumpshot. NBC Sports Washington’s Chase Hughes reports that Robinson was a solid shooter at Florida but ran into issues with his low release point.

Northwest Notes: George, Mitchell, Patterson

May 13th, 2018 at 7:07pm CST by Austin Kent

There’s no indication that Paul George has decided what to do as a free agent this season but Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman writes that we’ve already seen a glimpse of what’s possible if he decides to stay with the Thunder and continue to suit up alongside Russell Westbrook.

The scribe writes that the forward’s decision to leave or stay with the Thunder will be seen, fairly or not, as a referendum on playing next to the club’s superstar. George himself lamented that it was a significant adjustment tweaking his game to complement Westbrook’s but the pair would occasionally fall in step and thrive.

George’s first season with the Thunder saw him touch the ball five fewer times per game and also hold possession for less. That’s not all that surprising given that he was necessarily obligated to play off the ball but it could play a role in the decision he makes heading forward.

There’s more out of the Northwest Division:

Yes, Donovan Mitchell had an impressive rookie campaign, but plenty of other players had solid first years before plateauing. One particularly intriguing perspective that may reassure Jazz fans that they’re not witnessing the next O.J. Mayo is teammate Thabo Sefolosha‘s. “I was a teammate with Derrick Rose when he was a rookie, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant when they were young in their first two seasons in OKC, and the talent level is right up there with those guys,” the 34-year-old told Eric Woodyard of The Deseret News.
There’s no denying that Patrick Patterson is a sharp-shooting veteran presence for the Thunder, exactly what he was expected to be when he signed a three-year, $16MM deal last summer, but declining athleticism limited his ability to contribute off the bench in 2017/18, Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman writes.
He may not win the Rookie of the Year award (according to our own staff) but ESPN’s Mike Schmitz believes that Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell has the highest future potential of any of this year’s rookies. Co-writer Kevin Pelton placed him No. 2 behind Ben Simmons but Schmitz raved about the Louisville product’s demonstrated ability to improve upon his weaknesses.

Community Shootaround: Boston’s Point Guard Depth

May 13th, 2018 at 5:59pm CST by Austin Kent

While the absence of ex-Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving may detract from some drama in the Eastern Conference Finals, it didn’t slow the Celtics down en route to a convincing victory over his former team in Game 1 of the series on Sunday.

As a matter of fact, the Celtics have thrived despite the Irving injury all postseason thanks in no small part to the contributions of two other point guards on the roster.

In a starter’s workload this postseason, which includes 37.3 minutes per game, third-year guard Terry Rozier has averaged 18.2 points and 5.5 assists per game. The 24-year-old may not star alongside Nick Kroll in an upcoming feature film this June* like Irving will but he’s looked every bit as capable at the helm, piloting the C’s through two playoff series already.

Another major component at play this postseason, a third asset that rounds out Boston’s elite point guard depth chart, is Marcus Smart. While Smart’s playing style has always been unique, the 10.3 points and 4.4 assists per game that he brings along with his toughness and other intangibles, have made him invaluable.

Regardless of how the Celtics fare this postseason, they’ll happily welcome Irving, a bonafide star, back into the starter’s role next season. That, unsurprisingly, could put a squeeze on the rest of the players at the position. Sure, Smart’s role as a reserve combo guard allows him to slot in alongside Irving, but Rozier saw just 24.4 minutes of nightly action in the regular season prior to the opportunity created by Irving.

Our question for you this evening is which of the two guards you’d value more heading into the 2018 offseason?

Should the C’s make bringing restricted free agent Smart back this summer a top priority or could they get by with Rozier and another third-string guard? Alternatively, should Danny Ainge potentially look to deal Rozier instead given that there’s more of an overlap between him and Irving than there is between Smart and Irving?

Is there room for all three long-term?

Consider Boston’s success this postseason proof that a surplus of point guard talent is a pleasant conundrum to have. Weigh in with how you think the situation will develop below.

*Hi film studio, all commissions happily accepted.

Central Notes: Lue, Love, Morris, Anigbogu

May 13th, 2018 at 4:57pm CST by marksuleymanov

The Cavaliers started their Eastern Conference finals series against the Celtics today, aiming to reach the NBA Finals for a fourth straight season. At times, it seemed that the Cavaliers would not make it to this point of the season, evidenced by a series of roster moves, LeBron James‘ pending free agency, and head coach Tyronn Lue‘s frequent changes.

As it turns out, Lue got the blessing of team president Dan Gilbert early in the season to tinker and experiment with different things throughout the season, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes.

“Dan Gilbert told me … you’ve gotta try new things,” Lue said. “Like, in business you gotta try new things. If it works, you’re a genius, if not, you change and do something else. I just think you gotta try things and kinda see how your team reacts to it.”

It was unconventional, but the Cavaliers were able to blow up their roster midseason and then win their first two playoff series.

Check out more Central Division notes below:

Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer writes that an effective Kevin Love will make the Cavaliers’ chance of advancing to the NBA Finals much easier. Love played well during Cleveland’s second-round matchup against the Raptors, helping the team sweep their way to the Eastern Conference finals.
Containing LeBron James in the Eastern Conference finals will be crucial for the Celtics if the team has any hopes of advancing to the NBA Finals. Big man Marcus Morris said before Game 1 that he is ready for the challenge of guarding James and feels he can do some successfully, per ESPN’s Chris Forsberg. “I’m a little older, a little more experienced. Personally, I think I’m probably the best guy defending him in the league, outside of Kawhi [Leonard],” he said.
NBA.com’s Mark Monteith reviewed Ike Anigbogu‘s first NBA season after he taken by the Pacers in the second round last season. Anigbogu only appeared in 11 games but the 19-year-old showed promise during his scare opportunities, Monteith writes.

Atlantic Notes: Ntilikina, Redick, Sixers Offseason

May 13th, 2018 at 3:50pm CST by marksuleymanov

With David Fizdale as the new head coach, one important storyline to watch will be how he helps teenage point guard Frank Ntilikina develop, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Ntilikina was the Knicks’ first-round pick (eighth overall) under the previous administration last year and his development will be key to New York’s future.

The Frenchman averaged 5.9 PPG and 3.2 APG in 78 games this season while showing potential on the defensive end. Fizdale made a series of media appearances, praising Ntilikina’s potential and being eager to coach him. In particular, Fizdale touted Ntilikina’s ability on both sides of the ball during an interview with ESPN.

“I see a possibility with a two-way player,’’ Fizdale said. “The kid takes real pride in defending. He’s got big-time wingspan. He’s a combo guard. We get him where he’s knocking down that three-ball every single time with his feet set, his shot always looks pretty good. I think he’s too unselfish. But he has the competitive streak I really like.”

Check out more Atlantic Division notes below:

J.J. Redick will be an interesting free agent to watch this summer after he was an important veteran presence for a young Sixers team. Frank Urbina of HoopsHype looks at four potential destinations for Redick this summer, including the Lakers, Cavaliers, Spurs, and reunion with the Sixers.
Dennis Chambers of Basketball Insiders writes that after a strong season that included a first-round postseason win and a strong effort versus the Celtics, the Sixers will need to be persistent. Chambers writes that Philadelphia’s young stars will need to develop their skill sets and that the organization will need to recruit outside talent.
In an earlier post of Atlantic Division notes, we relayed the Celtics’ strong play in the postseason, Fizdale’s tough upbringing in California, and fired Raptors coach Dwane Casey’s emotional farewell to Toronto.

Southwest Notes: Hammon, Nowitzki, Doncic, Pelicans, Gentile

May 13th, 2018 at 2:07pm CST by marksuleymanov

Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon will become the first woman to interview for an NBA head coaching job next week when she meets with the Bucks. While the former WNBA star only has four years as an assistant coach to her credit, many feel she has gained traction to be a serious head coaching candidate, Ansar Khan of MLive.com writes.

It remains unlikely that Hammon is hired as a head coach this summer, but interviewing for vacancies now means more interviews in the future. Also, while hiring Hammon would set a historic precedent, several NBA teams have already gone in unconventional routes to hire head coaches. Ansar points out that Brad Stevens was hired by the Celtics as a 36-year-old with just college coaching experience; David Blatt was hired by the Cavaliers with no experience in the United States; the Suns just hired Igor Kokoskov, the first European to fill an NBA head coaching post.

The 41-year-old Hammon has garnered support across the league. This week, European legend Pau Gasol, who has played with the Spurs under Hammon the past several seasons, penned a letter for The Players’ Tribune in support of Hammon. It remains to be seen if Hammon lands a job this summer but the progress she has already made only increases the likelihood in the future.

Check out more Southwest Division notes:

Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki — who will play in his 20th NBA season in 2018/19 — is out of his walking boot and rehabbing the foot injury that cost him the last four games of this season. In an exclusive interview with Dwain Price of Mavs.com, Nowitzki discussed his recovery and future. While it’s possible next season is Nowitzki’s last, he did not commit to retirement. “I think I guess at this age you kind of take it one year at a time,” Nowitzki said. “It sounds cliché, but that’s how it is — see how I come through (next year). I came through pretty good this year. I could have probably almost played 82 (games) if I wanted to.”
The Mavericks will find out their draft slot next week, which will make their plans for the June draft clear. Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News writes that Dallas must find a replacement for Dirk Nowitzki in this draft as the German big man’s career slowly winds down.
If the Mavericks somehow land the first or second overall pick in the NBA Draft, the fanbase should familiarize itself with Slovenian standout Luka Doncic, who is expected to be one of the first picks this summer, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes.
After a successful regular season and a competitive run through the postseason, the Pelicans enter the offseason with optimism in abundance. Scott Kushner of The Advocate looks ahead to New Orleans’ offseason and big decisions that will need to be made.
Alessandro Gentile, a 2014 draft pick whose rights belong to the Rockets, will be at the NBA Summer League with Houston, per La Gazzetta Dello Sport (via Sportando). Gentile suited up for the Italian club Virtus Bologna this season, averaging 16.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 3.4 APG in 24 games.

Weekly Mailbag: 5/7/18 – 5/13/18

May 13th, 2018 at 12:58pm 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.

Is there a market for the traditional big man? What can Greg Monroe/Enes Kanter expect to get paid on the open market? — Ryan O’Neal, via Twitter

There’s a two-part problem for Monroe, Kanter, DeAndre Jordan and any other traditional center who might be thinking of testing the free agent market. Not only are their contributions being de-emphasized as teams try to stretch the floor, but the few franchises that have money to spend this summer won’t be looking for veteran big men. There’s a very good chance that Kanter [$18,622,514 next season] and Jordan [$24,119,025] look at the market and decide to opt in with their current teams. Monroe’s contract is expiring, so he won’t have a choice, but remember that he wasn’t used much in Phoenix and the demand for him was fairly soft once he agreed to a buyout with the Suns.

How does the top of the draft look for the Dallas Mavericks? — Mark Eiserman

The Mavericks are looking for help in the middle and are very fortunate with this year’s draft class. Arizona’s DeAndre Ayton would be the dream pick, but Duke’s Marvin Bagley III, Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr. and Texas’ Mo Bamba could all be future stars. Much depends on the Mavs’ fate in Tuesday’s lottery, where they have a 13.8% chance to get the top pick and a 42.6% shot at landing in the top three. The odds are pretty good that Dallas will emerge from the draft with its center of the future.

Did the Raptors need to make a coaching change after a 59-win season? — J.L., via Twitter

Dwane Casey is one of the most respected coaches in the league and did a phenomenal job during his seven seasons in Toronto, amassing 320 wins and four Atlantic Division titles. However, once coaches reach a certain level of success, they stop being judged on the regular season. The Raptors reached the conference finals just once under Casey and were eliminated in the second round the past two years. It’s a stigma that has been hanging over the organization, and a coaching change is the easiest way to shake things up, whether Casey deserved it or not. If the Raptors had kept Casey and the same roster for next season, is there any reason to think they wouldn’t suffer the same fate again?

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