2018 June | Hoops Rumors

Michael Porter Jr. Slips To Nuggets At No. 14

June 21st, 2018 at 7:59pm CST by Luke Adams

In one of the major surprises of draft night so far, Michael Porter Jr. – who was once considered a frontrunner to be the No. 1 pick of 2018 – nearly slipped out of the lottery, going to the Nuggets at No. 14.

According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter), Denver strongly considered selecting Zhaire Smith before deciding to roll the dice on Porter.

Word began circulating hours before the draft that Porter could slide out of the top 10 due to concerns about the long-term health of his back and hip. Many teams were said to be put off by a medical report on Porter earlier this week.

As Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders tweets, at least one team’s doctors believe that Porter will require surgery on his back, and the possibility that he’d miss most or all of his rookie season was apparently enough to scare several clubs away. According to TNT’s David Aldridge (Twitter link), the Wizards wouldn’t have taken Porter at No. 15 if Denver had passed.

Still, Porter makes for an interesting gamble for the Nuggets, who already have several core building blocks in place. He’ll join Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, and Nikola Jokic as long-term cornerstones in Denver.

Clippers Acquire Shai Gilgeous-Alexander From Hornets

June 21st, 2018 at 7:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander came off the board at No. 11 to the Hornets, but he won’t remain with Charlotte, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Wojnarowski reports that the Clippers are sending the No. 12 pick and two second-round picks to the Hornets in exchange for Gilgeous-Alexander, Woj adds (via Twitter).

With their newly-acquired No. 12 pick, the Hornets selected Miles Bridges, per Jeff Goodman (Twitter link). The deal is now official.

Gilgeous-Alexander, who remained out of sight through most of the workout process, gets his reported wish to play in L.A. At 6’6″, his size and versatility make him attractive to NBA scouts, some of whom believe he could become the best point guard in the draft. A late bloomer at Kentucky, Gilgeous-Alexander became a starter midway through the season and averaged 14.4 points and 5.1 assists in 37 games.

Bridges failed to raise his draft status after a surprise decision to return to Michigan State for his sophomore season, but he could still be a nice pickup for the Hornets. In two years with the Spartans, he averaged 17.0 points per game and shot 38% from 3-point range.

As for the future picks changing hands in the deal, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer reports (via Twitter) that the Hornets will get second-rounders in 2020 and 2021.

Arthur Hill contributed to this post.

Draft Updates: Porter, Jackson, Knicks, Doncic

June 21st, 2018 at 6:45pm CST by Arthur Hill

There are conflicting views among lottery teams over the medical report on Michael Porter Jr., tweets ESPN’s Jeff Goodman. Doctors from some teams advised staying away from Porter entirely, but medical staffs from other organizations don’t believe the risk is all that high. Concerns about the long-term condition of Porter’s back have caused ESPN’s Jonathan Givony to drop him to 12th in his latest mock draft.

Porter’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, provided newer and more detailed medical information to lottery teams today, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link). Bartelstein hopes the updated info will help ease concerns about Porter’s condition.

There are a few more draft notes to pass along:

Jaren Jackson Jr. has softened his stance on going to Memphis now that it appears the Grizzlies might select him at No. 4, relays Wojnarowski. (Twitter link). Jackson, who refused to work out for Memphis, has given team officials all the personal information they asked for. Wojnarowski adds that coach J.B. Bickerstaff helped to sell Jackson on his future with the organization.
The Knicks have narrowed their focus to Kevin Knox and Miles Bridges if they hang on to their No. 9 pick, reports TNT’s David Aldridge (Twitter link). It’s possible that Aldridge meant to type Mikal Bridges, who has been projected as a possible lottery pick.
Luka Doncic confirmed on ESPN’s draft telecast that he plans to play in the NBA next season. That had been widely anticipated, but Doncic’s comments removed any doubt before the draft began.
With the draft about to begin, the Jazz are still open to moving up, down or keeping their first-round pick, tweets Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune. Utah holds selections No. 21 and 52.

Suns Select Deandre Ayton With No. 1 Pick

June 21st, 2018 at 6:39pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Suns picked up their center of the future by taking Arizona’s Deandre Ayton with the first selection in tonight’s draft.

The 19-year-old out of the Bahamas has been projected as the top pick for several weeks now, separating himself from the field with a strong performance during his freshman year with the Wildcats. Standing 7’1″, Ayton was dominant in the collegiate ranks, averaging 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

Confident that he would be the overall top choice, Ayton conducted his only pre-draft workout for the Suns. Phoenix also brought in Duke’s Marvin Bagley III, Texas’ Mohamed Bamba and Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr. at various times during the process, but the assumption all along has been that Ayton would be the pick.

The selection of Ayton kicks off what could be a very busy night for the Suns. They also hold pick No. 16, although they have reportedly been trying to trade up in hopes of acquiring one of the draft’s top-rated point guards in Trae Young, Collin Sexton or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Phoenix also has picks No. 31 and 59 in the second round.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Mavs’ Pursuit Of No. 3 Pick Losing Momentum?

June 21st, 2018 at 6:11pm CST by Luke Adams

6:11pm: There’s a sense around the NBA that talks between the Mavs and Hawks have stalled, but aren’t dead, as there’s some incentive for both sides to get something done, tweets Jeremy Woo of SI.com.

Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com notes (via Twitter) that the Hawks asked for at least one future draft pick from Dallas in addition to the package noted below by Marc Stein, while Stein adds (via Twitter) that Atlanta was asking for an unprotected first-rounder.

5:59pm: While the Mavericks reportedly made a push for the No. 3 pick in the hopes of drafting Luka Doncic, it doesn’t seem like a trade with the Hawks will materialize, according to reports. Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports suggests (via Twitter) that those discussions have “lost momentum” in recent hours.

Meanwhile, Marc Stein of The New York Times reports (via Twitter) that the Hawks and Mavericks are still engaged in talks, but Dallas has been unwilling to send Wesley Matthews to Atlanta in exchange for Kent Bazemore. The two players’ salaries are comparable, but Bazemore is under contract for two more years, while Matthews will be on an expiring deal, so the swap would essentially amount to paying $19MM+ to move up two spots.

Mike Fisher of 247Sports.com and Sean Deveney of The Sporting News (Twitter links) are among those suggesting that a trade is still possible. However, at this point it seems more likely than not that the Mavs will stay put at No. 5, as president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson hints.

“We feel very comfortable with where we’re at (No. 5) and that’s probably how it’s going to play out,” Nelson said tonight, per Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News (Twitter link).

Eastern Notes: Raptors, Gilgeous-Alexander, Winslow

June 21st, 2018 at 5:36pm CST by Luke Adams

While we’ve heard a couple times already this offseason that the Raptors are open for business and won’t make anyone on their roster untouchable in trade talks, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca notes that the team may be especially focused on shaking up the “top end of its top-heavy roster.”

That could mean that a player like DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas, or Serge Ibaka is on the move in the coming days or weeks, since those four players are on track to earn nearly $100MM in 2018/19. For what it’s worth, one source told Grange that he believes at least one of the Raptors’ big – or “medium” – three won’t be back next season, referring to Lowry, DeRozan, and Ibaka.

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference as we wait for the 2018 NBA draft to get underway:

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst suggests that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t interested in playing for the Cavaliers, reporting that Gilgeous-Alexander refused to work out for Cleveland and made a point to tell the team he didn’t want to be there (Twitter link). The Kentucky point guard is considered a candidate to come off the board in the top 10.
The Heat, who have explored the possibility of trading back into the draft, have made Justise Winslow available in their discussions, tweets Jake Fischer of SI.com. Like the Raptors, the Heat have suggested no one on their roster will be off-limits this summer, so that doesn’t come as a real surprise.
The Pistons are making a “hard push” to hire Bucks assistant Sean Sweeney for Dwane Casey‘s new staff in Detroit, league sources tell Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link). Stein notes that Sweeney has worked as closely with Giannis Antetokounmpo as any coach in Milwaukee.

2018 NBA Offseason Previews By Team

June 21st, 2018 at 5:03pm CST by Luke Adams

The 2018 NBA offseason is officially in full swing, and over the last several weeks, Hoops Rumors has been previewing this summer’s roster moves and decisions for each of the league’s 30 teams, asking – and doing our best to answer – five key questions for every club.

Our previews for all 30 NBA teams are below:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Atlantic Division

Central Division

Southeast Division

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Northwest Division

Pacific Division

Southwest Division

Draft Rumors: Hawks, Bazemore, Porter, Suns

June 21st, 2018 at 4:42pm CST by Luke Adams

With Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley III viewed as near-locks to be the first two players off the board in the 2018 NBA draft, the No. 3 pick is worth keeping a close eye on. Zach Klein of WSB in Atlanta hears (via Twitter) that the Hawks trading back to No. 5 is a viable possibility. In that scenario, the Mavericks would select Luka Doncic and Atlanta would grab Trae Young.

Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer follows up on Klein’s report, tweeting that the Hawks and Magic – who hold the No. 6 pick – have also been connected, according to a source. In either trade scenario, Kent Bazemore may be involved in a deal, per Klein and O’Connor.

As we wait to see what happens with the No. 3 pick, here are a few more draft-related rumors and notes:

In the latest version of his mock draft at ESPN.com, Jonathan Givony reports that there’s a chance Michael Porter Jr. will slip out of the top 10 due to concerns about his back and hip. Givony has Porter coming off the board at No. 12 to the Clippers.
The Suns continue to gauge the market as they explore a possible move up from No. 16, but it will be “extremely hard” to make a deal, tweets John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7, adding that most teams in the top 10 are reluctant to trade. If Phoenix stays at No. 16, keep an eye on Maryland’s Kevin Huerter as a possible “sleeper” pick, Gambadoro adds (via Twitter).
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks details (via Twitter), the Hawks, Bulls, Mavericks, and Sixers are ineligible to acquire any cash in trades tonight, while the Cavaliers and Heat can’t send out any cash. Although those teams have reached their 2017/18 limits, they could always reach a tentative trade agreement and finalize it in July, after those traded-cash restrictions reset.

Timberwolves Exploring Trade Down From No. 20

June 21st, 2018 at 4:18pm CST by Luke Adams

The Timberwolves have looked into the possibility of moving down from No. 20 in the draft, according to Jon Krawcyznski and Michael Scotto of The Athletic. League sources tell Krawczynski and Scotto that the Wolves have talked to at least three teams picking below them in the first round about possible deals.

The specific details of those conversations aren’t known. Krawczynski notes that Minnesota may be either looking to pick up an extra selection, as we heard earlier today, or shed some salary. Krawczynski also cautions that the Wolves’ front office has a track record of making a lot of exploratory trade calls, so it’s unclear how serious those discussions might get tonight.

While several scenarios are in play for the Wolves, one would involving attaching the No. 20 pick to Gorgui Dieng, whose contract the club would like to move. Dieng is owed more than $48MM over the next three years, and Minnesota’s roster will start getting expensive with Andrew Wiggins‘ maximum-salary extension set to take effect and a max deal for Karl-Anthony Towns likely to follow in 2019/20.

Still, sources inside and outside of the organization are “skeptical” about the Wolves’ chances of finding much of a market for Dieng, Krawczynski writes.

Spurs’ Danny Green Likely To Pick Up Option

June 21st, 2018 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Spurs swingman Danny Green will likely forgo free agency and exercise the 2018/19 player option on his current contract, league sources tell Jabari Young of The San Antonio Express-News. The option would pay Green a $10MM salary for next season.

Green, who will celebrate his 31st birthday on Friday, has been a mainstay in San Antonio’s lineup for years, averaging between 23 and 29 minutes per game for the franchise every season since 2011/12. In 70 games in 2017/18, Green averaged 8.6 PPG and 3.6 RPG with a shooting line of .387/.363/.769.

Although Green profiles as a three-and-D wing, his ability to knock down outside shots has wavered a little in recent years. He has converted just 35.7% of his three-point attempts over the last three seasons, after hitting 42.3% in the four years prior to that.

Given his modest numbers, Green isn’t viewed as a lock to match or exceed his $10MM salary on the open market, particularly since league-wide spending is expected to be tighter in 2018 than it was the last two summers. League sources tell Young that Green is more likely to see offers in the mid-level range ($5-8MM) if he opts out.

If Green exercises his player option, it would further reduce the Spurs’ odds of opening up cap room this offseason. The club would have about $88.4MM in guaranteed salaries on its books counting Green’s deal. That figure doesn’t include cap charges for free agents Tony Parker and Kyle Anderson, or for Rudy Gay and Joffrey Lauvergne, who also hold player options — Gay is expected to opt out.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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