Hawks Rumors

NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/30/18

Here are Sunday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

Free Agent Stock Watch 2019: Southeast Division

Every week, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents next offseason. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we turn our attention to the Southeast Division:

Jeremy Lin, Hawks, 30, PG (Up) – Signed to a three-year, $38.3MM deal in 2016
Lin suffered a season-ending knee injury last October with Brooklyn. He’s bounced back impressively as the backup point guard in Atlanta. He’s averaging 10.9 PPG and 3.2 APG in 18.5 MPG while posting an above-average PER. For a contender looking to fill the same spot, Lin would be a viable option prior to the trade deadline. He’ll have to accept a lower salary with his next contract but he shouldn’t have too much trouble finding work in July.

Frank Kaminsky, Hornets, 25, PF (Down) – Signed to a four-year, $11.8MM deal in 2015
Far removed from leading Wisconsin to the 2015 national championship, Kaminsky continues to disappoint as a pro. Under former coach Steve Clifford, Kaminsky was a steady presence in the rotation. First-year James Borrego has buried Kaminsky so deep on the bench that the stretch four hasn’t played the last three games. Kaminsky could be a restricted free agent if the Hornets extend a $4.9MM qualifying option but that’s not happening. He’ll be looking to hit the reset button in July.

Rodney McGruder, Heat, 27, SG (Down) – Signed to a three-year, $3.4MM deal in 2016
McGruder has started regularly for the Heat this season but that might not last much longer. He’s averaged 5.2 points in his last five outings while shooting 27.6 percent from the field. His PER is well below average. In McGruder’s favor is his team-friendly contract. He’ll be a restricted free agent if the Heat extend a $1.93MM qualifying offer. Whether he receives it will likely depend on how much cap space Pat Riley wants to open up.

Nikola Vucevic, Magic, 28, C (Up) – Signed to a four-year, $53MM deal in 2015
Orlando has some young, athletic bigs but Vucevic is so productive, he’s maintained his minutes under new coach Steve Clifford. The veteran big man is averaging a career-high 20.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG and 3.6 APG. Like many 7-footers his age, Vucevic came into the league as mainly a low post player but has extended his range beyond the arc. He’s made 39% of his attempts this season. Currently ranked No. 10 in our Free Agent Power Rankings, Vucevic should be a nice consolation prize for a team with significant cap space that strikes out pursuing the biggest names on the market.

Trevor Ariza, Wizards, 33, SF (Up) – Signed to a one-year, $15MM deal in 2018
Phoenix quickly moved Ariza to a team fighting for a playoff spot after giving him a nice one-year payday over the summer. The Wizards are just 1-4 since acquiring Ariza but what’s more significant is how many teams inquired about him before the trade. He reportedly drew interest from at least eight clubs. His 3-and-D skills remain in high demand and he should be able to land at least one more big-money contract before he retires.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Rockets Have Had Discussions About Bazemore

  • The Rockets have had discussions about Hawks wing Kent Bazemore, who is expected to draw interest from multiple contending teams, according to Charania.

    [SOURCE LINK]

Ex-Hawk Josh Magette To Play In Spain

Former Hawks guard Josh Magette has found a new home in the EuroLeague, tweets Michael Scotto of The Athletic.

Magette has agreed to a deal with Gran Canaria in Spain. He signed with Cedevita Zagreb in Croatia over the summer, but was released in November.

The 29-year-old got into 18 games last season as a two-way player for Atlanta, averaging 2.6 points and 3.2 assists per night. His numbers were much better in the G League at 15.1 PPG and 10.2 APG.

The Hawks elected not to tender a qualifying offer to Magette after the end of last season. He joined the Warriors’ Summer League team, but wasn’t in training camp with anyone.

NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Southeast Division

Over the course of the 2018/19 NBA season, up until February’s trade deadline, we’re keeping an eye on potential trade candidates from around the NBA, monitoring their value and exploring the likelihood that they’ll be moved. Each of these looks at possible trade candidates focuses on a specific division, as we zero in on three players from that division.

The Southeast continues to be perhaps the NBA’s most confounding division, as the 15-15 Hornets are still in first place, followed closely by sub-.500 clubs in Orlando, Miami, and Washington. By acquiring Trevor Ariza earlier this week, the Wizards signaled that they still consider themselves buyers, not sellers — it will be interesting to see how many other Southeast teams head into the deadline with the same attitude.

Here’s our latest look at a few possible trade candidates from the Southeast…

Wayne Ellington, G
Miami Heat
$6.27MM cap hit; unrestricted free agent in 2019

Ellington was recently identified as a potential target for the Lakers, but if the Heat make him available, there should be a long lineup of other teams with interest. A career 38.0% three-point shooter, Ellington has made at least 2.4 threes per game in each of the last three seasons despite playing a relatively modest 25.3 MPG over that stretch.

The Cavaliers received a pair of second-round picks and Alec Burks‘ expiring contract when they sent Kyle Korver to the Jazz, so Miami could probably extract a somewhat similar return for a player with a comparable skill set and contract. However, despite an underwhelming 14-16 record, the Heat are tied for the eighth seed in the East. As long as they remain in the playoff picture, they may prefer to hang onto Ellington, especially with injuries sidelining multiple other guards.

Because he re-signed on a one-year contract during the 2018 offseason, Ellington also has the ability to block any trade that involves him. It’s not clear whether he’d exercise that right — if the Heat slip into the lottery and an opportunity arises to join a contender, perhaps he’d sign off on a move. He’d lose his Bird rights in that scenario, however.

Terrence Ross, G/F
Orlando Magic
$10.5MM cap hit; UFA in 2019

Like Ellington, Ross was said last week to be a player the Lakers were eyeing. That report downplayed the idea that Ross would be a realistic option for L.A., but the swingman’s name has come up in multiple reports since then. Marc Stein of The New York Times and Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders both suggested that Ross is generating plenty of interest, and is a popular target for teams in need of help on the wing.

Of course, the Magic are the team tied with Miami for the No. 8 spot in the East, and they’ll need Ross’ help to contend for the postseason. With the 27-year-old headed for unrestricted free agency, Orlando may have to make a tough decision. Is it worth it to hang onto Ross if it just leads to a first-round playoff exit – or a near-miss of a playoff spot – and then he walks in free agency? Or should the club prioritize the long-term view and move Ross for a young player or a pick that could provide value for years to come?

The Magic are reportedly among the teams with interest in Markelle Fultz, and a swap involving Ross and Fultz could make some sense for both sides. Ross would be an ideal fit for a Philadelphia in need of depth, and Orlando’s front office – which has a reputation for rolling the dice on high-upside players – could be willing to take a risk on a former No. 1 overall pick.

Jeremy Lin, G
Atlanta Hawks
$13.77MM cap hit; UFA in 2019

Lin is the sort of player whom the Hawks would likely be happy to keep for the rest of the season if they don’t get any favorable trade offers for him before February 7. He has an expiring contract, so he won’t affect the team’s flexibility going forward, and it probably makes sense to have a veteran point guard like Lin around to help mentor rookie Trae Young.

Still, considering Lin probably isn’t part of Atlanta’s long-term plans, he’d likely be expendable in a deal that returns an asset or two. One report earlier this week indicated that Lin is among the Hawks veterans drawing some interest on the trade market, while another suggested the Hawks were involved in four-team Trevor Ariza trade discussions that would have seen them acquire Brandon Knight and a first-round pick in exchange for Lin (and possibly another asset).

That trade obviously didn’t happen, as the Suns and Wizards completed an Ariza deal on their own, but if the Hawks were on board with the structure, it’s an indication of what they’d be looking for in exchange for Lin — it seems they’d be willing to take on a multiyear contract like Knight’s and giving up some 2019 flexibility if it means acquiring another future first-round pick.

Previously:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Stein’s Latest: Melo, Bazemore, Ross, Davis

The Rockets continue to search for a taker for Carmelo Anthony, Marc Stein of The New York Times reports in his latest newsletter. Moving Anthony’s $2.4MM salary – which has a cap hit of $1.5MM, would afford the team roughly $2.6MM in luxury tax savings.

Stein notes that the Sixers and Lakers—two teams often mentioned as potential landing spots for Melo—appear uninterested in bringing the prolific scorer aboard. The Hornets have also resisted the idea of adding Anthony despite the connection between team owner Michael Jordan and Anthony through the Jordan Brand.

Anthony became trade-eligible on the weekend and perhaps as NBA clubs gather in Las Vegas for the G League showcase, a rival team will strike a deal with Houston.

Here’s more from Stein’s latest newsletter.

  • Kent Bazemore is generating interest from contending teams looking for a swingman, Stein reports. Bazemore has one more year and $19.3MM left on his deal with the Hawks after this season and the interest in the wing at that price speaks to how highly he’s regarded in the marketplace, Stein writes.
  • Hawks veterans Jeremy Lin and Dewayne Dedmon are also receiving interest from around the league. Both players are on expiring deals.
  • Terrence Ross is the Orlando wing who is generating the most interest. However, the Magic would prefer to trade Jonathon Simmons over Ross, who is on an expiring $10.5MM contract.
  • It’s unlikely that the Pelicans deal Anthony Davis this season but a critical point is approaching. New Orleans can offer Davis a massive contract extension worth over $200MM in total value this summer and should the big man decline it, the Pelicans will realistically have to trade him.

Hawks Were Involved In One Variation Of Ariza Talks

  • One of the other variations of an Ariza deal that was discussed before the Suns sent him to the Wizards featured the Rockets and Hawks, league sources tell O’Connor. In that scenario, Ariza would have gone to the Lakers and the Rockets would have acquired Caldwell-Pope. The Suns would have received Jeremy Lin and an additional asset, while the Hawks got Brandon Knight and a first-round pick.

    [SOURCE LINK]

Bulls Notes: Parker, Boylen, Alkins

Jabari Parker is refusing to lash out at the Bulls, even though he finds himself on the trading block after being pulled from the rotation, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Parker’s situation in Chicago soured quickly after he joined the team as a free agent in July. New coach Jim Boylen reportedly cites poor effort on defense and a selfish attitude on offense as the basis for his decisions, but Parker doesn’t want to get caught up in a war of words.

“I chose to come here,” Parker said. “I did everything I can to prove that I belong here. And I’m going to continue to do that. My job is to be ready to be on the court. My agent’s job is to just be my defense and be that voice for me that I’m not able to say.”

Parker is open to a deal, and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, is working with the team to resolve the situation. According to Johnson, the Bulls began seeking trade partners well before restrictions were lifted on newly signed free agents yesterday.

“It’s not easy,” Boylen said. “I’ve been direct and honest with him about what I expect and what I hope he can continue to work on.”

There’s more this morning out of Chicago:

  • The Heat, Suns, Cavaliers and Hawks are teams that might be good fits for Parker, writes Frank Urbina of HoopsHype.
  • Boylen had a strong supporter in Spurs coach Gregg Popovich even before the Bulls’ surprising win in San Antonio last night, Johnson adds in the same story. Boylen, who has been under fire since replacing Fred Hoiberg two weeks ago, spent two years as an assistant with the Spurs and was with the team when it won the 2014 NBA title. “He’s a pretty straightforward, honest individual, and he’ll do it the way he thinks is best for that group,” Popovich said. “And he’ll be fair, he’ll be demanding, and he will try to make everything clear so whatever system he wants to employ will get across. I’ve learned as much from him as he’s learned from us here.”
  • If there’s a bright side to Zach LaVine‘s injury, it gives the Bulls a chance to evaluate rookie Rawle Alkins, notes Michael Walton of NBC Sports Chicago. Alkins signed a two-way contract this summer and has spent the season in the G League at Windy City, where he is averaging 15.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He will be called up in time for tomorrow night’s game, tweets Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic.

Miles Plumlee Underwent Procedure On Knee

  • Hawks big man Miles Plumlee recently underwent a non-surgical procedure on his left knee and will be re-evaluated on December 18, according to a press release from the team.