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Month: November 2024

International Notes: Mayo, Robinson, Early, Meeks

November 25th, 2018 at 11:41am CST by Arthur Hill

O.J. Mayo is in Taiwan for the next step of his basketball career, tweets Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The 31-year-old signed with the Dacin Tigers and has already played a few games, Carchia adds.

Mayo recently became eligible for reinstatement into the NBA after serving a two-year ban for a second violation of the league’s Anti-Drug Program. He was hoping for an invitation to training camp, but no team made an offer. Mayo last played in Puerto Rico over the summer.

Mayo spent eight NBA seasons with the Grizzlies, Mavericks and Bucks, but hasn’t been in the league since fracturing his right ankle in March of 2016.

There’s more international news to pass along:

  • China may be the next stop for former lottery pick Thomas Robinson, according to Carchia. The Beikong Fly Dragons are negotiating with Robinson, who spent last season with Khimki Moscow Region in Russia. The fifth pick in the 2012 draft, Robinson played 313 games for the Kings, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Sixers, Nets and Lakers. He was in training camp this year with the Hawks, but was waived last month before the start of the season.
  • Cleanthony Early, who spent two seasons with the Knicks, has joined the Tokyo Hachioji Trains of the Japanese second division, relays Nicola Lupo of Sportando. The team officially announced the signing of Early, who averaged 4.3 PPG in 56 games with New York in 2014/15 and 2015/16.
  • Kennedy Meeks, who was in training camp with the Raptors last season and played for the organization’s G League affiliate, is also playing in Japan, Lupo adds in a separate story. The former North Carolina center is with SeaHorses Mikawa in the first division.
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Bucks Waive Jodie Meeks

November 25th, 2018 at 10:26am CST by clarkcrum

NOVEMBER 25, 10:26am: The move is official, according to a tweet from the team.

NOVEMBER 24, 12:41pm: The Bucks are waiving guard Jodie Meeks in order to maintain their roster at 15 players, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Meeks’ NBA-mandated suspension, which kept him off the team’s roster count while suspended, ends tonight.

As Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes, this move has been expected since the Bucks traded for Meeks in October. Yet, as we detailed earlier this week, the Bucks always had the option to trade or release another player on their roster and keep Meeks in the fold.

Ultimately, however, it appears as though the second-round pick and cash that the Bucks received from the Wizards in the Meeks’ deal was enough incentive for Milwaukee to absorb his salary, and the Bucks didn’t need any contribution from the 31-year-old guard to make the trade for him worth their trouble.

Meeks, a nine-year veteran who has averaged 9.3 points per contest in 531 career games, will now be on the lookout for a new team.

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Atlantic Notes: Fizdale, Leonard, Celtics, Brown

November 25th, 2018 at 10:21am CST by Arthur Hill

Knicks coach David Fizdale plans to keep his emotions in check today as he returns to Memphis to face the team that fired him after 19 games last season, writes Zach Braziller of The New York Post. Fizdale took the Grizzlies to the playoffs during his first season with the organization, but was discarded last year as the team got off to a rough start highlighted by an early-season injury to Mike Conley and Fizdale’s feud with Marc Gasol.

Fizdale became one of the hottest free agents on the coaching market, interviewing with several teams before accepting the job in New York. He insists he’s not bitter about the experience in Memphis, saying it taught him lessons that made him a better coach.

“Probably the emotional part will be me remembering the good part of it,” he said. “I got a standing ovation in that building from a great fan base, and that’s the moment I’m going to remember, in the playoffs when we fought our butts off against the Spurs, and those guys being able to give me that moment as a young coach, and to share that moment with them. I’ll never forget that.”

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

  • Heat forward James Johnson, who spent three and a half seasons in Toronto, believes Kawhi Leonard will find a lot to like about the city, relays Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. Leonard is averaging 24.4 points per game and has propelled the Raptors to a 16-4 start, the best record in the league. “I think guys are more focused on winning now and getting to a team that can get to those Eastern Conference finals or can get to the championship series,” Johnson said. “So I don’t think it’s about place anymore. It’s about building the right team.”
  • The slumping Celtics are having trouble finding the right roles for the younger players who helped them reach the Eastern Conference finals last season, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Terry Rozier has struggled in his return to a reserve role, Jaylen Brown‘s shot has been off all season and Jayson Tatum is settling too often for long two-point shots.
  • X-rays were negative after Brown landed hard on his back late in last night’s game, according to Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald.
  • The Celtics were counting on a draft pick bonanza in June with picks possibly coming from the Kings, Grizzlies and Clippers, but based on the current standings all of those would be later than Boston’s selection, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
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Bulls Notes: LaVine, Markkanen, Hoiberg, Tanking

November 25th, 2018 at 9:07am CST by Arthur Hill

Zach LaVine isn’t surprised by the success he’s having this season, and neither is his former coach in Minnesota, writes Kurt Youngblood of The Star Tribune. A key piece of the deal that brought Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves in the summer of 2017, LaVine is having a breakthrough season after getting a $78MM payday in July when the Bulls matched a four-year offer sheet from the Kings. He has responded by averaging 25.5 points per game, ninth best in the league.

“You work hard, you expect good things,” LaVine said.

LaVine appeared headed for stardom with the Wolves before being sidelined with a torn ACL in February of 2017. Minnesota opted to part with him to bring in Butler, but coach Tom Thibodeau still keeps an eye on LaVine’s progress.

“I think last year you saw glimpses of what he could do,” Thibodeau said. “I think now that he’s healthy, he’s gone to a different level. He loves the game. Those types of guys always get better.’’

There’s more this morning out of Chicago:

  • Three key players are making progress in returning from injuries, relays Dan Santaromita of NBC Sports Chicago. Lauri Markkanen is ready for “controlled contact” at practice as he rehabs a right elbow injury. Although there’s no timetable for him to return, Bulls coaches were encouraged by the way he shot at Friday’s practice. Kris Dunn and Bobby Portis, who are both sidelined with sprained MCLs, were both able to work out Friday. “That’s the most that Kris Dunn and Bobby have done really since the injury, so really just continue to ramp up their activities,” coach Fred Hoiberg said. “Those guys are not ready for any type of contact yet.”
  • Even though the Bulls appear headed for the lottery again after a 5-15 start, Hoiberg continues to stress the importance of trying to win every game, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Hoiberg remains optimistic that getting back to full strength will spark a surge similar to what the team did last December when Nikola Mirotic returned. “If you do go out there and get a couple wins … they lift everyone’s spirits because our guys are going out there and working hard in practices, and to be able to get over the hump is big for these guys and their development,’’ Hoiberg said. “For young players to see that when they continue to work, good things can happen.”
  • In a column, Cowley takes the opposite approach, noting that the organization needs to commit to tanking to have a shot at drafting a star such as Duke freshman Zion Williamson.
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Poll: Will The Jazz Make The Playoffs?

November 24th, 2018 at 9:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the last two days, we’ve gauged your thoughts on two surprise Western playoff contenders, asking if you expect the Grizzlies and the Clippers to make the playoffs. In each case, about two-thirds of the respondents in our poll voted yes. But if the Grizzlies and Clippers are pushing their way into the postseason conversation, that means at least one or two teams we expected to be in the playoffs may end up being pushed out.

One potential candidate to finish outside the top eight in the Western Conference is Utah. The Jazz entered the season with high expectations — they finished the 2017/18 regular season on a 29-6 run, then dispatched the Thunder in the first round before falling to Houston. Entering the 2018/19 campaign, many experts and fans viewed Utah as a probable top-four team in the West.

So far though, the Jazz have played more like the team that started last season 19-28, rather than the team that won 29 of its last 35 games. With Donovan Mitchell banged up and struggling to score efficiently, the Jazz have had problems getting the ball in the net as a team, ranking 26th in offensive rating. At a time when many NBA clubs are looking to score as many of their points as possible from outside the three-point line and at the foul line, Utah ranks 27th in 3PT% and 26th in FT%.

Even the Utah defense, which was considered one of the NBA’s best entering the season, has underperformed, ranking 14th in defensive rating so far, despite anchor Rudy Gobert not missing a game.

The season hasn’t been a total disaster for the Jazz. They’ve had good road wins in Houston, New Orleans, Memphis, and Sacramento, and they’ve beaten Boston twice. But they’ve also had their fair share of duds, including a 50-point loss in Dallas and a 27-point defeat in Indiana. In total, Utah is 8-11, which puts the team in a tie for the second-worst record in a competitive Western Conference.

The Jazz still have a ton of time to turn things around, and it would be surprising if they don’t go on a run at some point. Still, it won’t be easy to earn a top-eight spot in the West. Utah would have to leapfrog the Mavericks, Spurs, Pelicans, Rockets, and the surprising Kings just to get to No. 8. As the season nears the one-quarter mark, it’s worth questioning if we overrated the Jazz at all based on their red-hot finish to the 2017/18 season.

What do you think? Do you still consider the Jazz a strong bet to make the postseason, or do you believe they’ll end up on the outside looking in? Vote in our poll, then head down to the comment section to share your two cents.

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

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Latest On Markelle Fultz

November 24th, 2018 at 7:47pm CST by Luke Adams

It’s been an eventful week and a half for Markelle Fultz, who was removed from the starting lineup following the Sixers‘ acquisition of Jimmy Butler, then was advised by his agent a few days later to visit a shoulder specialist before returning to the court. There are also reportedly concerns about Fultz’s wrist, with one report suggesting the former No. 1 pick may prefer a change of scenery, a claim which agent Raymond Brothers denied.

In an in-depth piece for Philly.com, Keith Pompey checks in on where things stand for Fultz and the Sixers, providing an extensive timeline of the young guard’s 17 months with the franchise and sharing some interesting tidbits on his potential next steps.

While Pompey’s full article is worth checking out, here are some of the highlights:

  • Some sources have told Pompey that Fultz is no longer in the Sixers’ long-term plans, despite the fact that management has insisted otherwise publicly.
  • Pompey also cites multiple sources who say that Philadelphia has considered the possibility of trading Fultz. It’s not clear what sort of assets the 76ers would be looking for in return if they get serious about going down that path.
  • Fultz did suffer from scapular muscle imbalance last season, but multiple sources have insisted that his shooting woes were more mental than physical, according to Pompey. As Pompey details, the Sixers went along with the idea that a shoulder injury was causing Fultz’s shooting issues, even though several prominent doctors couldn’t find anything that would prevent him from making shots. This season, the 76ers believed Fultz was fully healthy, and it appeared they were caught off guard by the news that he’d be visiting a specialist next week.
  • According to Pompey, some sources say that Fultz is getting bad advice — those sources even suggest that the anxiety resulting from that bad advice has contributed to his shooting issues. “Some observers said there is no hitch in his shot when Fultz is in a good place mentally,” Pompey writes.
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NBA Draft Rights Held For 2018/19

November 24th, 2018 at 6:52pm CST by Luke Adams

When top college prospects like Deandre Ayton or Marvin Bagley III are drafted, it’s a given that their next step will involve signing an NBA contract. However, that’s not the case for every player who is selected in the NBA draft, especially international prospects and second-round picks.

When an NBA team uses a draft pick on a player, it gains his NBA rights, but that doesn’t mean the player will sign an NBA contract right away. International prospects will often remain with their professional team overseas for at least one more year to develop their game further, becoming “draft-and-stash” prospects. Dario Saric, Bogdan Bogdanovic, and Tomas Satoransky are among the more notable players to fit this bill in recent years.

However, draft-and-stash players can be former NCAA standouts too. Sometimes a college prospect selected with a late second round pick will end up playing overseas or in the G League for a year or two if there’s no space available on his NBA team’s 15-man roster.

While these players sometimes make their way to their NBA teams, others never do. Many clubs currently hold the NBA rights to international players who have remained overseas for their entire professional careers and are no longer viewed as top prospects. Those players may never come stateside, but there’s often no reason for NBA teams to renounce their rights — those rights can sometimes be used as placeholders in trades.

For instance, during the 2018 offseason, the Mavericks and Rockets agreed to a trade that sent Chinanu Onuaku, cash, and future draft-pick swap rights to Dallas. For Houston, the deal was just about getting off Onuaku’s guaranteed salary and the tax penalty that would have come along with it, but the Mavericks had to send something to the Rockets in the deal. Rather than including an NBA player or a draft pick, Dallas sent Houston the draft rights to Maarty Leunen, the 54th pick in the 2008 NBA draft.

Leunen is currently playing for Fortitudo Bologna in Italy, and at this point appears unlikely to ever come to the NBA, but his draft rights have been a useful trade chip over the years — the Rockets/Mavericks swap represented the third time that Preldzic’s NBA rights have been included in a trade since he was drafted.

Listed below are all the players whose NBA draft rights are currently held by NBA teams. These players may eventually arrive in America and join their respective NBA clubs, but many will end up like Leunen, plying their trade overseas and having their draft rights used as pawns in NBA trades.

Atlanta Hawks

  • Augusto Binelli, C (1986; No. 40): Retired.
  • Alain Digbeu, F (1997; No. 49): Retired.
  • Marcus Eriksson, G/F (2015; No. 50): Playing in Spain.
  • Alpha Kaba, C (2017; No. 60): Playing in France.

Boston Celtics

  • None

Brooklyn Nets

Charlotte Hornets

Chicago Bulls

Read more

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Latest On Stephen Curry

November 24th, 2018 at 6:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Warriors guard Stephen Curry isn’t ready to return yet, but he’s making good progress in his recovery from a strained left groin, the team announced today in a press release.

According to the Warriors, Curry was re-evaluated today and is ready to begin to intensify his on-court workouts. If he continues to progress as the Dubs expect, the two-time MVP will likely start practicing with the team next week, with the goal of playing at some point during Golden State’s upcoming five-game road trip.

That means that Curry will sit out tonight’s game vs. Sacramento and Monday’s game vs. Orlando, at the very least. The Warriors will then embark on a road trip that includes stops in Toronto (11/29), Detroit (12/1), Atlanta (12/3), Cleveland (12/5), and Milwaukee (12/7).

While it remains unclear if Curry will be ready for the showdown with the Raptors at the start of that road trip, the team sounds hopeful that he’ll be back in action in time for the showdown with the Bucks at the end of the trip.

Curry has missed Golden State’s last eight games and the team has endured some uncharacteristic struggles in his absence. Including the game Curry left early with the groin injury, the Warriors are 3-6 since their star guard went down.

It hasn’t helped that the Dubs have had to deal with other injuries while Curry has been on the shelf. Draymond Green and Alfonzo McKinnie will both remain out of action for tonight’s game, and are still considered day-to-day, tweets Anthony Slater of The Athletic.

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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 11/24/18

November 24th, 2018 at 5:24pm CST by Luke Adams

Here are Saturday’s G League assignments and recalls from across the NBA:

  • The Pistons have assigned rookie guard Khyri Thomas to their G League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Thomas, who has averaged 19.7 PPG in six NBAGL games so far, figures to suit up for the Grand Rapids Drive when they host Long Island tonight.
  • First-round pick Troy Brown has been recalled from the G League by the Wizards, according to the club (Twitter link). Brown was with the Capital City Go-Go for their loss to Canton on Friday night, posting 13 points and four assists.
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Five Key Stories: 11/17/18 – 11/24/18

November 24th, 2018 at 4:15pm CST by clarkcrum

In the event you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Below are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days.

Less than 24 hours after J.R. Smith expressed his belief that the Cavaliers are not interested in winning, the Cavs officially confirmed that Smith will no longer be with the team as the club and Smith’s reps work to resolve his situation and find a trade or buyout opportunity. The Cavs reportedly gave Smith the opportunity to take time away from the club earlier in the season, but he turned down the offer at the time. Now, it seems he has reconsidered his position after he deemed the team as playing for the future instead of trying to win this season.

At the direction of his agent and attorney, Raymond Brothers, Sixers point guard Markelle Fultz is holding himself out of further basketball action until he sees a shoulder specialist and receives an evaluation. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Fultz missed nearly all of his rookie season last year, in large part due to ongoing shoulder issues. And while he has appeared healthy this season, he has continued to struggle with his shot. Rumors have also surfaced that Fultz has a bad wrist and wants a trade, but Brothers has shot those rumors down.

Despite the Kings’ surprisingly good start to this season, head coach Dave Joerger may find himself on the hot seat at some point. Per reports, Joerger is locked in a philosophical battle with the front office over minutes for the team’s younger, potential-star players, such as rookie big man Marvin Bagley III. Management sees this as a developmental year for the organization, wanting to play Bagley and other youngsters like forwards Harry Giles and Skal Labissiere, while Joerger is focused on winning as many games as possible, opting instead to give big minutes to veterans such as 30-year-old Nemanja Bjelica, who has started every game this season.

The Grizzlies and Joakim Noah will meet next week to finalize a contract for the veteran big man. Noah, 33, was waived by the Knicks last month with two years left on his contract, and since reaching free agency, Memphis had consistently been the only team linked to him. Having waived Andrew Harrison last month, the Grizzlies have an open spot on their 15-man roster, but since they used their bi-annual exception last season and committed their entire mid-level exception to Kyle Anderson, the Grizzlies are limited to offering Noah a minimum salary contract.

Here are 11 more notable NBA headlines from the last week:

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