2021 | Hoops Rumors

Wizards Extend, Promote Tommy Sheppard

November 17th, 2021 at 9:28am CST by Luke Adams

The Wizards have signed general manager Tommy Sheppard to a contract extension and promoted him, as reported by Ava Wallace of The Washington Post and confirmed by the team in a press release. Sheppard will now hold the title of team president in addition to GM.

Sheppard took control of the Wizards’ front office in 2019, replacing longtime head of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld. He finalized a short-term extension with Bradley Beal during his first few months on the job and has since reshaped the roster around the star guard.

After winning just 25 games in Sheppard’s first season at the helm, the Wizards earned a playoff spot in 2020/21 and are off to a 10-3 start this season, putting them atop the Eastern Conference. Sheppard has received praise for his offseason deal that turned pricey star Russell Westbrook into several reliable rotation players and allowed the team to add Spencer Dinwiddie via sign-and-trade.

In addition to extending and promoting Sheppard, the Wizards have done the same for chief planning and operations officer Sashi Brown. The team says Brown will be the president of Monumental Basketball, as well as a special advisor to the Office of the CEO at Monumental Sports & Entertainment, the group that owns and operates the Wizards.

“Tommy has effectively improved our team each year of his tenure by following the plan he laid out to us as his vision when we hired him as general manager and Sashi has been instrumental in making us a leader in analytics, research and player engagement while efficiently streamlining operations across all of our basketball teams and venues,” Wizards owner and Monumental Sports & Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis said in a statement. “Their combined efforts have put us in a position to compete now with an exciting and hard-working team while also having the flexibility to execute our long-term strategy of building a championship program that is a leader in the community.”

L.A.’s Staples Center To Become Crypto.com Arena

November 17th, 2021 at 8:11am CST by Luke Adams

One of the NBA’s most iconic arenas is getting a new name. Los Angeles’ Staples Center, the current home of the Lakers and Clippers, will become Crypto.com Arena later this year, according to a press release.

The arena, which is also the home of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA’s L.A. Sparks, will officially be rebranded on December 25, the day the Lakers host the Nets in a prime-time showdown.

According to Sam Dean of The Los Angeles Times, the naming rights agreement between Crypto.com and AEG, which owns and operates the arena, will cover the next 20 years and is worth more than $700MM, making it one of the biggest such deals in sports history.

Although the Lakers and Clippers share the arena for the time being, Steve Ballmer‘s Clippers are building their own arena in Inglewood, California. That arena is on track to be opened in 2024, so – barring setbacks – the Clips will only play in the newly-renamed Crypto.com Arena for a couple more years before moving into the Intuit Dome.

The Lakers aren’t the first NBA team to partner with Crypto.com — the Sixers currently wear the company’s logo on their uniforms. Crypto.com also isn’t the first cryptocurrency brand to enter into a naming rights deal with an NBA franchise. The Heat’s arena was renamed earlier this year as a result of a deal with cryptocurrency exchange FTX.

Lakers Waive Sekou Doumbouya, Add Chaundee Brown

November 17th, 2021 at 2:34am CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

NOVEMBER 17: The Lakers have issued a press release confirming the signing of Brown and the waiving of Doumbouya.

NOVEMBER 16: Two-way Lakers forward Sekou Doumbouya is set to be waived by L.A. as he recovers from a foot ailment, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

The banged-up Lakers are replacing the injured Doumbouya with the healthy Chaundee Brown, a 6’5″ wing currently with the team’s NBAGL affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. Brown will now occupy Los Angeles’ second two-way roster slot, alongside Jay Huff.

Brown, 22, went undrafted out of Michigan this summer. He was initially inked to an Exhibit 10 contract and logged time on the Lakers’ preseason roster before being waived and subsequently added to the club’s South Bay affiliate. Brown, the 60th-ranked prospect on ESPN’s 2021 predraft big board, averaged 8.0 PPG and 3.1 RPG with a .419 3PT% during his senior season in 2020/21.

The 6’8″ Doumbouya, still just 20, was selected by Detroit with the No. 15 pick in the 2019 NBA draft. After not establishing himself as a cornerstone for a rebuilding Pistons club during his first two NBA seasons, Doumbouya signed a two-way deal with the Lakers this year. He appeared in two contests, averaging 7.0 PPG and 3.0 RPG.

Ramona Shelburne of ESPN notes (via Twitter) that Doumbouya’s foot injury is fairly minor. Meanwhile, Dave McMenamin of ESPN tweets that Brown is not traveling with the Lakers, who are set to kick off a five-game road jaunt tomorrow against the Bucks.

Buddy Hield Signs With New Agent

November 16th, 2021 at 10:01pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Kings swingman Buddy Hield has changed his representation, signing with Icona Agency’s Diana Day, per Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). Hield had previously been represented by Brandon Rosenthal of Landmark Sports Agency.

During the 2019 offseason, Hield inked a four-year, $86MM rookie contract extension with Sacramento. The deal also included $20MM in certain contract incentives, tied in to All-Star and NBA Finals appearances. He’s in the second year of that contract, which will expire in 2024.

Hield is enjoying a strong individual season with the Kings as a reserve shooting guard. He is averaging 17.1 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 SPG and 0.9 SPG. Through 14 contests for the 2021/22 season, Hield is shooting .421/.408/.833.

The 6’4″ wing was selected with the sixth pick in the 2016 draft out of Oklahoma by the Pelicans, and was a key part of the trade that sent DeMarcus Cousins to New Orleans.

As of this writing, the 6-8 Kings remain squarely in the hunt for a Western Conference play-in spot. Sacramento is currently the 10th seed in the West.

Klay Thompson Participated In First Post-Injury 5-On-5 Practice

November 16th, 2021 at 9:00pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Ahead of tonight’s marquee contest against the Nets, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told Allie LaForce of TNT (Twitter video link) that long-injured shooting guard Klay Thompson partook in his first five-on-five practice since tearing his Achilles last year.

Thompson had already participated in several three-on-three practices at this point, according to LaForce, who noted that five-on-five workouts marked the “next step” for Thompson’s recuperation. A Christmas Day return for Thompson has long been targeted. Without him, the Warriors are a league-leading 12-2, thanks in large part to the MVP caliber play of Thompson’s backcourt mate Stephen Curry.

It’s been a rough two years for Thompson. The former five-time All-Star and three-time champion first missed the entire 2019/20 NBA season due to a torn ACL, then tore his Achilles before the 2021/22 season.

LaForce added that injured Golden State center James Wiseman, meanwhile, has yet to participate in five-on-five workouts with the club. Wiseman suffered a season-ending right meniscus tear last season. He was cleared to begin practicing with the club earlier this month. LaForce cautioned that this isn’t necessarily an indicator that Wiseman would return to the floor for Golden State after Thompson. Wiseman was drafted with the second pick out of Memphis last year.

Khris Middleton Clears COVID-19 Protocols, Will Return To Bucks

November 16th, 2021 at 6:48pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Bucks wing Khris Middleton is set to take the floor once again when Milwaukee faces the Lakers on Wednesday, according to Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Middleton has been in the NBA’s health and safety protocols since testing positive for COVID-19 at the beginning of the month.

The 6’7″ wing, a two-time All-Star, has not played for the Bucks since an October 30 loss against the Spurs. Middleton, who rejoined the team for a practice today, has missed eight contests so far. Across his healthy six games this season, Middleton is averaging 20.0 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 4.5 APG, with a shooting line of .43/.257/.852.

The 30-year-old swingman is among several key players who have been sidelined for the Bucks. Starting shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo, starting center Brook Lopez, and reserve point guard George Hill are all currently absent with injuries. The reigning champs are just 6-8 this season, partially as a result of all these unavailable contributors. Starting point guard Jrue Holiday has also missed six games himself in this early going for the 2021/22 season.

Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer indicated, following a team practice today, that he would impose a minutes restriction on Middleton upon his return.

Pelicans OK One-On-One Drills For Zion Williamson

November 16th, 2021 at 5:33pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Pelicans have green-lit one-on-one contact drills for All-Star forward Zion Williamson, according to a team press release.

The third-year forward, drafted with the top pick out of Duke in 2019, has missed all of the 2021/22 season to this point due to fractured right foot he sustained during the offseason.

The Pelicans add that further medical imaging next week will determine if Williamson can partake in full team practices at this juncture. The latest imaging, conducted on November 11, led to the decision to clear Williamson for the one-on-one drills.

Whenever the 6’7″, 284-pound forward does hit the floor, it will be a massive salve for New Orleans. As of this writing, the club is the No. 14 seed in the Western Conference with a 2-13 record. Forward Brandon Ingram, an All-Star in 2020, missed seven of those 13 losses due to a nagging hip injury.

Williamson has struggled to manage his health and fitness thus far in his NBA career. He played in just 24 games during his rookie season due to a meniscus tear. The 21-year-old holds career averages of 25.7 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 3.2 APG, on .604/.333/.683 shooting, across 85 contests.

Giannis Antetokounmpo Talks Bucks, Knee, Harden, More

November 16th, 2021 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was named GQ Magazine’s Athlete of the Year, made some interesting comments to GQ’s Zach Baron as part of the cover story for the magazine. Discussing the championship the Bucks won earlier this year, Antetokounmpo seemingly opened the door to potentially leaving Milwaukee down the road.

“One challenge was to bring a championship here and we did,” Antetokounmpo said. “It was very hard, but we did. Very, very hard. I just love challenges. What’s the next challenge? The next challenge might not be here.

“… Me and my family chose to stay in this city that we all love and has taken care of us—for now. In two years, that might change. I’m being totally honest with you. I’m always honest. I love this city. I love this community. I want to help as much as possible.”

While Antetokounmpo’s comments will likely raise some eyebrows, his agent Alex Saratsis told Baron that he doesn’t believe the two-time MVP, whose five-year super-max contract began this year, will give any real consideration to leaving Milwaukee anytime soon.

“I don’t think it’s, ‘I’m thinking about leaving the Bucks,'” Saratsis said. “But I think he’s genuinely like: ‘Okay, I have reached the pinnacle. The next challenge is, let’s repeat.’ But what happens if you do repeat? What’s the next challenge? What is that next barrier? When you think about it from a basketball perspective, by the age of 26, this kid has accomplished everything. So sometimes you’re going to have to manufacture what those challenges are.”

Here are a few more highlights from the GQ feature on Giannis:

Before he signed his long-term extension with the Bucks in 2020, Antetokounmpo was getting text messages from rival players encouraging him to leave, he told Baron. Some of those players haven’t talked to him since he decided to stay.
Although the injury didn’t sideline him for very long, the left knee hyper-extension Antetokounmpo sustained during the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals has had a lasting effect on him, he told Baron. “My leg was the opposite way. To this day, I feel the effect, the traumatic stress,” he said. “I still feel it, and I think I’m going to feel it until I die.”
Unlike many of his fellow superstars, Antetokounmpo insists he doesn’t view himself as a brand and isn’t concerned about how best to market himself, as Baron writes. “I don’t want to be the face of the league,” Giannis said. “I want to play great basketball. After that, if I disappear in the night, good. Don’t even talk about me, don’t even remember me. I don’t care.”
Antetokounmpo owns a collection of framed jerseys from past and current NBA players, and James Harden‘s is among them. It’s “not true” that he has any beef with Harden, Giannis told Baron.

Luka Doncic’s Ankle Injury “Not Too Serious”

November 16th, 2021 at 3:01pm CST by Luke Adams

All-NBA guard Luka Doncic turned his left ankle on Monday and exited the Mavericks‘ win over Denver with less than a minute remaining on the clock. However, a source tells Tim MacMahon of ESPN (Twitter link) that Doncic’s ankle injury is “not too serious.”

Tests on Doncic’s left ankle and knee showed no structural damage, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link), who says the club will continue to evaluate its franchise player on a daily basis. MacMahon adds that Doncic will likely miss a little time, but Dallas isn’t expecting it to be a lengthy absence.

Doncic is with the Mavs as they embark on their four-game road trip, tweets Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News, though he won’t play on Wednesday in Phoenix, notes Marc Stein (Twitter link).

While Doncic’s shooting numbers (43.4% from the field, 30.8% on threes) are below his career rates so far this season, he’s still putting up his usual eye-popping stats, averaging 24.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 7.9 APG in his first 13 games (34.8 MPG) and leading the Mavs to a 9-4 start.

If Dallas has to get by without Doncic for a few games, Jalen Brunson and Frank Ntilikina are among the top candidates for increased roles. Trey Burke, who has been out of the rotation so far this season, could also see some playing time.

DeRozan Thought Offseason Move To Lakers Was “Done Deal”

November 16th, 2021 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Before he agreed to a three-year, $81MM+ deal with the Bulls over the summer, veteran forward DeMar DeRozan believed he’d be headed to the Lakers, he told Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports.

According to Haynes, DeRozan’s agent Aaron Goodwin was working “feverishly” behind the scenes with the Spurs in the days leading up to free agency to orchestrate a sign-and-trade deal that would send his client to Los Angeles. However, the Lakers’ talks with San Antonio tapered off as they pivoted to a trade for Russell Westbrook, forcing DeRozan to go in another direction as well.

“I felt like going to the Lakers was a done deal and that we were going to figure it out. I was going to come home,” DeRozan told Haynes after the Bulls’ victory over the Lakers on Monday. “The business side of things just didn’t work out. A couple of things didn’t align. It didn’t work out. It’s just part of the business, part of the game. My next option was definitely Chicago. So, looking back at it, it worked out well.”

Although there were multiple offseason reports linking DeRozan to his hometown Lakers, this is the first indication we’ve gotten that a potential deal gained real traction. The Lakers also reportedly seriously considered the possibility of trading for Buddy Hield before instead opting for Westbrook.

Acquiring a player via sign-and-trade would’ve hard-capped the Lakers’ team salary at $143MM in 2021/22, so it makes sense that the club preferred to trade for a player on an existing contract, avoiding that hard cap. Given how DeRozan and Westbrook have played so far this season, Los Angeles may be regretting its decision, but DeRozan told Haynes he doesn’t look at it that way.

“Nah, Russ is a Hall-of-Fame player,” DeRozan said. “It’s hard to turn down that caliber of player. I can’t speak for the Lakers, but they went with what they felt was best for them. And all due respect to them. No hard feelings. No animosity, but I just look at it as part of the game. A deal is never done until it’s done. I learned that. It just didn’t work out. I’m just happy I’m in Chicago.”

The Clippers were also considered a viable suitor for DeRozan during free agency, and the 32-year-old acknowledges L.A.’s other team was in the mix. However, he told Haynes it “didn’t get as far as the Lakers situation.”

Since the Lakers agreed to trade for Westbrook on draft day (July 29), four days before free agency opened, DeRozan’s comments and Haynes’ report suggest the Spurs and Lakers may have violated the NBA’s gun-jumping rules if they were exploring a sign-and-trade that early in the offseason. Given that the Bulls are currently being investigated for possible gun-jumping in their Lonzo Ball sign-and-trade, perhaps DeRozan’s insinuation that other teams were engaging in similar conversations wasn’t an accident.

Year: 2024