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Marc Gasol Talks Between Hornets, Grizzlies Not Dead

February 6th, 2019 at 2:38pm CST by Luke Adams

The trade discussions involving Marc Gasol between the Hornets and Grizzlies aren’t completely dead yet, sources tell Jake Fischer of SI.com (Twitter link). We heard on Tuesday night that Charlotte and Memphis were becoming skeptical that they’d get something done, but according to Fischer, the two teams remain hopeful of completing a deal.

While Gasol doesn’t really have a say in his destination, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer hears from a source close to the veteran center that he expects to ultimately end up with the Hornets (Twitter link).

With talks between the two teams apparently heating up on Tuesday, the Grizzlies held Gasol out of their game against Minnesota. According to Fischer (via Twitter), some people involved in the process believe Memphis may have forfeited some leverage by prematurely sitting Gasol while the Hornets played all their veterans.

There are a number of different player combinations the Hornets could use to match Gasol’s $24MM+ salary, but Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported today that the Charlotte’s offer would likely include Bismack Biyombo, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and a protected first-round pick.

According to O’Connor, a difference in opinion over the protections on that first-rounder was the main hold-up, though Fischer suggests that the two sides may also not have agreed on the contracts required for salary-matching purposes. Memphis’ proximity to the luxury tax line could also be an issue — assuming the Grizzlies take on Biyombo and Kidd-Gilchrist, they’d likely want to attach at least one more player to Gasol to avoid going into tax territory.

The Grizzlies have less than 24 hours to determine whether they’ll move Gasol and/or Mike Conley before this season’s trade deadline. What Memphis does with those two players could have a ripple effect on the rest of the roster, with veterans like JaMychal Green, Garrett Temple, and Justin Holiday also believed to be on the trade block.

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Forbes Releases 2019 NBA Franchise Valuations

February 6th, 2019 at 1:03pm CST by Luke Adams

A year ago, when Forbes released its annual NBA franchise valuations, the Knicks were reeling from the news that Kristaps Porzingis has suffered a torn ACL, but still earned the top spot on Forbes’ list of the league’s most valuable teams.

This time around, Knicks fans are reeling from the trade that sent Porzingis to Dallas. Once again though, the franchise is still considered the most valuable of any of the NBA’s 30 clubs, according to a report from Kurt Badenhausen and Mike Ozanian of Forbes.

For the first time, all 30 NBA teams have a perceived worth of $1.2 billion or more, per Forbes’ annual report. While all 30 teams’ valuations cracked the $1 billion threshold for the first time last year, 10 franchises were below $1.2 billion.

The league-wide average of $1.9 billion per team in 2019 is also a new record, with franchise valuations up 13% in total over last year’s figures. NBA franchise values have once again tripled over the last five years, according to Badenhausen and Ozanian.

Here’s the full list of NBA franchise valuations, per Forbes:

  1. New York Knicks: $4 billion
  2. Los Angeles Lakers: $3.7 billion
  3. Golden State Warriors: $3.5 billion
  4. Chicago Bulls: $2.9 billion
  5. Boston Celtics: $2.8 billion
  6. Brooklyn Nets: $2.35 billion
  7. Houston Rockets: $2.3 billion
  8. Dallas Mavericks: $2.25 billion
  9. Los Angeles Clippers: $2.2 billion
  10. Miami Heat: $1.75 billion
  11. Toronto Raptors: $1.675 billion
  12. Philadelphia 76ers: $1.65 billion
  13. San Antonio Spurs: $1.625 billion
  14. Portland Trail Blazers: $1.6 billion
  15. Sacramento Kings: $1.575 billion
  16. Washington Wizards: $1.55 billion
  17. Phoenix Suns: $1.5 billion
  18. Oklahoma City Thunder: $1.475 billion
  19. Utah Jazz: $1.425 billion
  20. Indiana Pacers: $1.4 billion
  21. Denver Nuggets: $1.375 billion
  22. Milwaukee Bucks: $1.35 billion
  23. Orlando Magic: $1.325 billion
  24. Atlanta Hawks: $1.3 billion
  25. Cleveland Cavaliers: $1.275 billion
  26. Detroit Pistons: $1.27 billion
  27. Minnesota Timberwolves: $1.26 billion
  28. Charlotte Hornets: $1.25 billion
  29. New Orleans Pelicans: $1.22 billion
  30. Memphis Grizzlies: $1.2 billion

The Sixers are this year’s big riser, moving from 21st on the 2018 list to 12th in 2019. Conversely, the Cavaliers fell the most. After losing LeBron James, Cleveland was the only franchise to see its valuation dip from year to year, as it decreased from $1.325 billion (15th) in 2018 to $1.275 billion (25th) in 2019.

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O’Connor’s Latest: Gasol, Conley, OKC, Prince, More

February 6th, 2019 at 11:16am CST by Luke Adams

As we relayed earlier today, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer hears that the Hornets‘ offer for Grizzlies center Marc Gasol is Bismack Biyombo, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and a protected first-round pick. That would be an underwhelming return for Gasol, but there hasn’t been much league-wide interest in the 34-year-old, O’Connor writes.

The Kings and Pistons were among the teams potentially in the mix for Gasol, according to O’Connor, but Memphis didn’t have any interest in Detroit center Andre Drummond and Sacramento was unwilling to part with promising young wing Bogdan Bogdanovic, whom the Grizzlies wanted.

The Raptors reportedly explored a potential Gasol deal, initially attempting to come up with an individual trade for one Grizzlies veteran before turning it into a package for both Gasol and Mike Conley, O’Connor writes. However, those talks didn’t advance and league sources tell The Ringer that it’s unlikely Toronto ends up with Gasol or Conley.

Elsewhere on the Conley front, the Jazz continue to make a strong push, with an offer that includes Ricky Rubio, Derrick Favors, and a first-round pick, per O’Connor. The sense around the NBA is that the Grizzlies won’t settle for a modest return for Conley, which is something we heard in relation to the Pistons’ offer earlier today.

O’Connor’s latest piece for The Ringer features several more trade-related tidbits, so we’ll round them up here…

  • The Thunder are believed to be among the teams with interest in Cavaliers guard Alec Burks, league sources tell O’Connor. However, Burks wouldn’t fit into OKC’s $10.88MM trade exception. The Thunder, along with the Sixers and Trail Blazers, have expressed interest in Hawks wing Taurean Prince, O’Connor adds.
  • Following up on his report from last week about the Rockets and Grizzlies discussing a Brandon Knight trade, O’Connor suggests that Marquese Chriss and a first-round pick would also go to Memphis in that proposed deal. Houston would be targeting JaMychal Green and Garrett Temple in the swap, though it remains in the discussion stage for now.
  • The Kings have made calls about veteran forwards Harrison Barnes (Mavericks) and Otto Porter (Wizards) but have found no traction on a Porter deal, writes O’Connor.
  • While DeAndre Jordan looks like an obvious trade candidate, it wouldn’t be a major surprise if the Knicks keep him around as a potential recruiter for Kevin Durant, according to O’Connor, who notes that Durant and Jordan are good friends. Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News wrote about this subject on Tuesday.
  • League sources don’t expect the Celtics to do anything at the deadline with Terry Rozier, since he could serve as potential Kyrie Irving insurance or a sign-and-trade sweetener for Anthony Davis in the offseason, says O’Connor.
  • According to O’Connor, the Pacers remain open to moving one of their two veteran point guards, Cory Joseph or Darren Collison. Both players are on expiring contracts.
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Hornets, Grizzlies Skeptical Over Completing Gasol Trade

February 6th, 2019 at 9:54am CST by marksuleymanov

FEBRUARY 6, 9:54am: The trade the Grizzlies and Hornets have discussed would see Gasol head to Charlotte in exchange for Bismack Biyombo, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and a protected first-round pick, league sources tell Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer. However, the two sides haven’t been able to agree on the protections for the draft pick, according to O’Connor, who confirms that the impasse might be enough to derail the deal entirely.

FEBRUARY 5, 11:06pm: There is “increasing skepticism” that a trade sending Gasol to the Hornets will happen, sources tell Sean Deveney of Sporting News. Deveney notes that a deal has “not progressed” despite Charlotte’s interest in the veteran center.

9:25pm: While the Hornets and Grizzlies have discussed Gasol, no trade has been agreed upon yet, tweets Chris Herrington of The Daily Memphian. Gasol joined his Memphis teammates on the bench for tonight’s game against Minnesota.

5:01pm: The Grizzlies are in “strong talks” to send veteran center Marc Gasol to the Hornets, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). As both sides negotiate the framework of the deal, including Gasol’s $24.1MM salary, the Grizzlies will sit the big man tonight against the Timberwolves, Charania adds.

Gasol, along with longtime Memphis teammate Mike Conley, has been at the forefront of trade rumors since the team put both players on the trade block last month. We relayed earlier today that the Raptors reportedly expressed interest in both Gasol and Conley. The Kings and Pistons have previously expressed interest in Conley.

The 34-year-old has spent his entire 11-year career with the Grizzlies, making three All-Star teams. While injuries have slowed the Spaniard in recent years, he’s still an above average contributor, averaging 15.7 PPG and 8.6 RPG in 53 games this season.

Per Marc Stein of the New York Times (Twitter link), Hornets owner Michael Jordan wants the team to make the playoffs. Therefore, he has let teams know that the team intends to be a buyer approaching Thursday’s trade deadline. At 26-26, Charlotte is currently the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference, trailing the Nets by half a game.

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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/31/19

January 31st, 2019 at 9:17pm CST by JD Shaw

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

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Teams Calling About Grizzlies’ Green, Temple

January 25th, 2019 at 1:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Grizzlies are making Mike Conley and Marc Gasol available for trades, but there’s more interest in two other Memphis players, according to Sean Deveney of Sporting News.

Sources tell Deveney the Grizzlies are getting more calls about power forward JaMychal Green and veteran guard Garrett Temple, with the Trail Blazers and Hornets especially interested. Green ($7,666,667) and Temple ($8MM) both have expiring contracts.

“(The Grizzlies) want picks. They want to rebuild,” an unidentified executive said to Deveney. “They’ve given away a lot in the draft, and they need to find ways to get that back. A guy like Green can have a role on any team as a rebounder, and he’s been better offensively. A guy like Temple can come in and help anyone.”

Memphis owes this year’s first-round pick to the Celtics (top-eight protected) and its second-rounder to the Bulls. The team may get a second-round pick from Boston, but it’s protected from spots 31 through 55, which means it will only convey if the Celtics have a top-five record. The Grizzlies are also sending their 2020 second-rounder to Chicago or Houston and their 2021 second-round choice to Sacramento.

Trading Temple and Green, even if only for second-round picks, could help fill some of that void as the Grizzlies embark on a rebuilding plan, Deveney notes that the team still has hopes of dealing both players in return for a first-rounder.

Memphis has gained little traction in the market for Gasol or Conley because of age and contract status. Gasol, who has a $25.5MM player option for next season, will turn 34 next week and is no longer considered an elite defender. Deveney suggests the Grizzlies may have to take back a player with significant contract to move Gasol, such as Charlotte’s Nicolas Batum, who is owed $52MM over the next two seasons.

Conley is having a strong season after returning from last year’s heel surgery, but he’s also in his 30s and has two years and $67MM left on his contract. Deveney suggests that the Pacers might have been interested before Victor Oladipo‘s season-ending injury, but salary matching would force them to part with Darren Collison, Tyreke Evans and either Doug McDermott or Cory Joseph, leaving the team with little depth.

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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 1/24/19

January 24th, 2019 at 9:16pm CST by JD Shaw

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

  • The Sixers have assigned Justin Patton and Zhaire Smith to the Delaware Blue Coats for rehab purposes, the team announced. Patton will begin practicing with limited and controlled contact as he works back from right foot surgery, while Smith will participate in non-contact practices as he returns from a Jones fracture in his left foot.
  • The Celtics assigned rookie forward Robert Williams to the Maine Red Claws, announcing the move on social media. Williams was selected by the Celtics with the No. 27 pick in the 2018 draft, appearing in 22 games so far this season.
  • The Hornets have recalled Dwayne Bacon from the Greensboro Swarm, the team announced in a press release. Bacon is holding season averages of 4.6 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 23 games with Charlotte on the year.
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NBA Announces 2019 All-Star Starters

January 24th, 2019 at 6:26pm CST by JD Shaw

The NBA announced the starters and captains for the 2019 All-Star Game on Thursday, with the Lakers’ LeBron James and Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo being named team captains for their respective conferences.

The Western Conference starters are comprised of James, Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, Rockets guard James Harden, and Thunder forward Paul George.

Antetokounmpo, Hornets guard Kemba Walker, Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, and Sixers center Joel Embiid were named starters in the Eastern Conference.

James (4,620,809 votes) and Antetokounmpo (4,375,747 votes) received the most fan votes from each conference in the past month, giving them the honors of being captains this season.

James and Antetokounmpo will draft their teams from the list of these starters and reserves on Thursday, February 7, hours after the NBA’s trade deadline. The All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, February 17, with the reserve players set to be announced next Thursday night.

We made our All-Star picks for the Western Conference and Eastern Conference earlier this week.

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Larry Drew Unlikely To Coach Cavs Long-Term

January 24th, 2019 at 3:38pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have begun searching for a permanent head coach for 2019/20 and beyond, and Larry Drew isn’t believed to be a serious candidate, according to a report from Joe Vardon and Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. While Drew has served as Cleveland’s interim coach since Tyronn Lue‘s dismissal earlier this season, he’s unsure he’d want to return next season and doesn’t appear likely to be asked, per Vardon and Lloyd.

“I don’t know if I ever want to be a head coach again after this year,” said Drew, who has dealt with a constant stream of injuries since Lue’s ouster, guiding the Cavs to a 9-34 record.

According to Vardon and Lloyd, the Cavaliers will likely seek a first-time NBA head coach who has experience developing players and/or coaching in the G League. The club hasn’t yet begun reaching out to candidates or their agents, since the search is still in its infancy. However, The Athletic duo identifies six candidates who have ties to the Cavs or GM Koby Altman and could be fits. Those six candidates are:

  • Nuggets assistant Jordi Fernandez
  • Hornets assistant Steve Hetzel
  • Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin
  • Hawks assistant Chris Jent
  • Mavericks assistant Jamahl Mosley
  • Jazz assistant Alex Jensen

It’s not entirely clear whether Vardon and Lloyd are just speculating based on the criteria outlined by the Cavs and Altman’s history with those coaches, or if they have inside info on the club’s wish list. Either way, it seems safe to assume that at least a few of those assistants will receive consideration from Cleveland.

For now, Drew is still running the show and the 60-year-old coach admits that he’s happy Lue was let go early in the season — not because he wanted to supplant Lue, but because he believes the Cavs’ struggles this year would have been hard on the team’s former head coach, who battled stress and health issues last season.

“I wouldn’t want to see him go through this,” Drew said. “I wouldn’t want him to go through it from a physical and mental standpoint after some of the things that he went through. He deserves better after having won a championship. He deserves much, much better.”

When the Cavs initially replaced Lue with Drew, he resisted taking on the title of interim head coach until the team gave him a raise and a small financial guarantee for next season. Several months later, he still doesn’t sound like someone who wanted the job to begin with, as Vardon and Lloyd relay.

“I wasn’t looking to do this. I was not looking to do this at all,” Drew said. “But it happened. Ain’t a whole lot you can do about it.”

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Heat Notes: Ellington, McGruder, Grizzlies, Olynyk

January 23rd, 2019 at 8:40pm CST by Arthur Hill

Trading Wayne Ellington would give the Heat just enough cap relief to escape the luxury tax, writes salary cap expert Albert Nahmad for HeatHoops. Miami currently projects to be $6.2698MM over the tax line and Ellington’s salary is $6.27MM, so if the Heat can find a deal in which they don’t take any money back, they would be in the clear by $159.

However, Nahmad notes that won’t be easy to accomplish. Only six teams have the ability to make such a trade with Miami, but the Hornets and Pistons would put themselves into tax territory, the Thunder and Wizards are already over the threshold and may not want to take on more salary and the Kings aren’t likely to be interested in using their cap room because they already have Buddy Hield.

Nahmad identifies the Nuggets, who are $6.9MM below the tax line and have a pair of trade exceptions worth $12.8MM and $13.8MM, as the most likely team to take on Ellington. His salary would be pro-rated at $2.2MM if he’s acquired at the February 7 deadline, and the Heat can trade up to $5.3MM in cash to help offset that.

However, it’s not certain that another shooter is Denver’s top priority. Any other club that trades for Ellington would have to send out at least $3.5MM in salary, which means a third team would have to get involved to make it work for Miami. Nahmad cites the Lakers, Rockets and possibly the Thunder as other potential contenders for Ellington.

There’s more news from Miami:

  • The Heat have been working on deals to ease their overcrowded roster and Rodney McGruder may be a candidate to get traded, a source tells Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald. The source adds that McGruder would be a good fit for the Celtics, who could use an all-around role player and wouldn’t mind adding his expiring $1.5MM contract. The Heat may not get more than a second-round pick for McGruder, but won’t be in a great position to re-sign him this summer because of their cap situation.
  • In the same story, Jackson states that the Heat don’t seem like a good fit for the Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol or Mike Conley, who are reportedly now available on the trade market. Jackson cites Conley’s $32.5MM salary for next season and $34.5MM in 2020/21 as too much for Miami to take on, while Memphis may not be interested in the collection of players — James Johnson, Kelly Olynyk and Dion Waiters — that would need to be included to match the salaries of Gasol and Chandler Parsons, whom the Grizzlies would like to move in a trade involving the center.
  • Olynyk is the latest player to fall out of the Heat’s frequently changing rotation, notes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel. The backup center didn’t play in the second half Saturday, then was held out of Monday’s game. “You look at the game saying, ‘I definitely think I can help out there. I can make an impact, make a difference,'” Olynyk said. “But Coach has to do his job and I don’t envy him, because it’s not an easy job.
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