Community Shootaround Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Community Shootaround: Duncan, KG, And Kobe

October 7th, 2016 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams

Kobe Bryant‘s final season was one of the NBA’s top stories throughout the 2015/16 season, capped with a 60-point performance in the Lakers’ regular-season finale against the Jazz. However, Bryant wasn’t the only longtime NBA star who called it a career in 2016. Tim Duncan announced his retirement in the summer, and Kevin Garnett did the same this fall.

Bryant, Duncan, and Garnett are three of the most accomplished players of the last two decades, having combined for four MVP awards, 11 NBA titles, and an incredible 48 All-Star appearances. While they were hardly at their best in 2015/16, their career résumés prior to last season were strong enough to ensure they’ll become Hall-of-Famers as soon as they become eligible.

In a community roundtable, the basketball writers at SI.com look at the three retired stars and attempt to determine which one they’ll miss the most. The trio had very different styles of play, with Garnett defined by his intensity on the court, while Duncan was more of a steady, calm presence in San Antonio. As for Kobe, his production was more unpredictable than that of the two forwards, but he also had the ability to put up 50 points on any given night.

As we enter the first NBA season since 1994/95 in which none of these three players will take the court, which one will you miss the most? Bryant, Duncan, or Garnett? Take to the comments section below to weigh in and share your thoughts on the three retiring stars.

Community Shootaround: Pistons’ PG Situation

October 5th, 2016 at 2:41pm CST by Luke Adams

Last week, one Central division team faced some uncertainty at its point guard spot, when the Cavaliers received news of Mo Williams‘ decision to retire, which left the team with just Kyrie Irving and Kay Felder at the point. Cleveland subsequently signed Toney Douglas to provide veteran depth, and now one of their division rivals is facing similar questions at the same position.

Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy revealed today that Reggie Jackson, who is dealing with knee tendinitis and a bone bruise, could miss up to six to eight weeks of action. According to Van Gundy, Jackson is considering treatment options and will make a decision soon (Twitter link via Keith Langlois of Pistons.com). If the point guard undergoes platelet-rich plasma therapy, his recovery timetable would be in that six-to-eight-week range, but it’s possible he’ll be back before then.

Faced with the possibility of being without Jackson for the first few weeks of the regular season, the Pistons are exploring their options. However, Van Gundy said today that it’s unlikely the team would cut one of its young players to add another point guard to provide short-term coverage (Twitter link via Langlois). He added that a trade is also unlikely, per Rod Beard of The Detroit News (Twitter link).

Still, without Jackson, the Pistons are somewhat thin at the point. Ish Smith would move into the starting role, with someone like Ray McCallum, Lorenzo Brown, or Trey Freeman potentially backing him up. McCallum and Brown are both on non-guaranteed deals, so if the team wanted to keep both players for depth purposes, it would mean waiving a player with a guaranteed contract, as Van Gundy noted today (Twitter link via Vincent Ellis of The Detroit Free Press).

Sam Amico of AmicoHoops.net hears that Mario Chalmers and Steve Blake are among the players the free agents the Pistons are considering. Kendall Marshall, Andre Miller, and Kirk Hinrich are also available, and Van Gundy said that the team is keeping an eye on players on other rosters who may be cut before the regular season (Twitter link via Ellis).

What do you think the Pistons should do to address the point guard position, if anything? Are their in-house options fine, or should they add a free agent? If they sign someone, which player would be the best fit? Are Jackson’s knee issues worrisome enough that they should consider adding a veteran guard for the season, rather than for just a few weeks?

Take to the comments section below to weigh in and share your thoughts on the Pistons’ point guard situation.

Community Shootaround: Philadelphia 76ers

October 1st, 2016 at 7:13pm CST by Arthur Hill

After a long summer of trade rumors involving Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, the Sixers are about to begin the preseason with both players still on the roster. And so is Joel Embiid, who finally looks ready for his NBA debut after being sidelined for two years with complications stemming from a broken bone in his right foot.

The abundance of talent in the frontcourt has been the target of many critics, including Noel himself, who recently called the situation “silly” and said the team doesn’t need three starting centers. The Sixers tried to use Noel and Okafor together last season with limited success, and Embiid’s arrival only complicates that situation.

The knocks against all three have been repeated often. Noel has no shooting range and limited offensive skills in general. Okafor doesn’t play defense and had too many troubling off-court incidents as a rookie. Embiid isn’t dependable and didn’t work hard enough to rehab his injuries.

Regardless of those criticisms, all three are exceptional talents. In fact, the Sixers have done very well in each of the past four drafts. Noel probably would have been the first player taken in 2013 if not for a severe ACL tear. Embiid drew comparisons to Akeem Olajuwon in college and was picked third in 2014 behind Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker. Okafor was projected to go second in 2015, but slipped to third when the Lakers opted for D’Angelo Russell.

Then there’s the Sixer who was a No. 1 choice, Ben Simmons, who is also the latest to join the disabled list. Simmons will need surgery after breaking a bone in his right foot at Friday’s practice and could be out of action three months or more.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Will Embiid, Noel, Okafor and Simmons ever play a game together as Sixers teammates? Simmons’ injury should keep him sidelined until at least early January, and the late-February trade deadline will be approaching by then. If Embiid looks healthy early in the season, Philadelphia may pull the trigger on a deal involving Noel or Okafor, especially considering the October 31st deadline for Noel to receive a rookie contract extension. If no deal is reached, he will be a restricted free agent next summer and the Sixers may have to decide whether to match a hefty offer sheet.

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the Sixers’ future. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Nik Stauskas’ Future

September 30th, 2016 at 11:28am CST by Luke Adams

In July 2015, the Sixers acquired Nik Stauskas in a trade with the Kings, just a year after Sacramento had used the 8th overall pick in the 2014 draft to land the Michigan standout. It looked like an ideal fit for Stauskas, who would get to play more minutes in Philadelphia, but wouldn’t necessarily be under any more pressure, since the Sixers weren’t viewed as a playoff contender.

For the season, Stauskas appeared in 73 games for the 76ers, starting 35 of them. He did indeed play more minutes (24.8 per game), and his other averages increased along with his playing time. However, his 8.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, and 1.9 APG marks weren’t all that impressive, and he continued to struggle with his shot, making 38.5% of his attempts from the floor, including just 32.6% from three-point range.

Heading into his third NBA season, Stauskas knows he has to take a big step forward. While he’s not likely to lose his roster spot prior to the regular season, there’s no guarantee that the Sixers will exercise his $3.81MM option for 2017/18 within the next month, so it could become a contract year for the Canadian guard.

“Coming into my third year now, I can’t really make excuses anymore, like I’m young and trying to figure things out,” Stauskas said this week, per John Smallwood of The Philadelphia Daily News. “It’s time for me to make the improvements that I’ve been trying to make over the last two years. It’s time to show that.

“I think there were times last year when I showed glimpses where I was getting to the basket well, shooting well and finishing,” Stauskas added. “But I think I let my confidence waver throughout the year. I think I am mentally stronger. I know I belong now. My first two years, there were so many times when I wondered if I belonged. I’d get to be wondering if I really belonged here. Is this where I’m meant to be? This is the first time in my NBA career where I’ve said I know I belong here. I know I can compete at this level.”

Head coach Brett Brown stressed that the team believes Stauskas still has “great potential,” and the Sixers’ backcourt isn’t nearly as crowded as its frontcourt, meaning the 22-year-old (23 next Friday) should have the opportunity to claim a significant role if he plays well. But if he struggles out of the gate, it’s not clear how much patience the Sixers will have.

What do you think? Is Stauskas poised for a breakout year, or is the former top-10 pick unlikely to be a part of the Sixers’ long-term plans? Take to the comments section below to share your opinions. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Community Shootaround: Cavs’ Point Guard Situation

September 27th, 2016 at 3:50pm CST by Luke Adams

When the Cavaliers announced their training camp roster on Monday morning, veteran point guard Mo Williams was one of the 20 players on the list. However, just hours later, general manager David Griffin informed the media that Williams’ agent had let him know his client had decided to retire rather than playing for one more year.

Williams’ decision puts Cleveland in a difficult spot. Currently, the only true point guards on the roster are Kyrie Irving and Kay Felder. Irving will play a lot, but the team will likely want to make sure he’s fresh for the postseason. Felder, meanwhile, is a 2016 second-round pick, and it’s not clear whether he’ll be able to play meaningful minutes out of the gate in his rookie season.

Given the Cavs’ lack of depth at the point guard spot, it comes as no real surprise that the club is considering adding a veteran player. According to a Monday evening report, Cleveland has been in touch with free agent guards like Norris Cole, Mario Chalmers, and Kirk Hinrich.

Of course, the Cavs can also rely on LeBron James to handle the ball for parts of each game, and the team does have a couple other combo guards on its roster, in Markel Brown and Jordan McRae. Brown and McRae certainly aren’t prototypical point guards, and neither player is a lock to make the roster, but if the Cavs like what they see in camp from one of those two players, they could carry them into the regular season, and perhaps count on them to spell Irving and Felder for a few minutes per game.

What do you think? Should the Cavs feel comfortable counting on Irving, Felder, and one of their other in-house guards to handle the point guard load, along with LeBron? Or does it make more sense to add a third true point guard to their roster, providing some veteran depth, as well as a safety net in case Felder isn’t ready to handle a key rotation role immediately? If they add a veteran, which player would be the best fit: Cole, Chalmers, Hinrich, or someone else?

Take to the comments section below to share your opinions on the Cavaliers’ point guard situation. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Community Shootaround: Chris Bosh

September 22nd, 2016 at 6:07pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Chris Bosh‘s medical issues have created a cloud of mystery heading into the Heat’s training camp next week. Bosh believes he’s ready to return to the court, while the team wrestles with the consequences of giving him the green light after two blood clotting episodes.

Bosh had his season cut short after 44 games two seasons ago when the medical condition initially surfaced. He made it through 53 games last season before a second blood clot was discovered in his leg.

At that time, team doctors told him that his career was probably over. Bosh has resisted that diagnosis, believing that the problem can be controlled by medication without significant risk. In recent years, the NHL’s Tomas Fleischmann has taken blood thinners that leave the body quickly and allow him to play and practice.

However, the team has not cleared him to play and as ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported this week, the franchise is concerned about bringing him back over the long term. Bosh has threatened to get the NBA Players Association involved if the Heat continue to block his attempt to play again. According to another ESPN report, there is no timetable for a resolution.

There’s no question that the Heat look like a much more serious contender in the Eastern Conference with Bosh in uniform. He averaged 21.1 points and 7.0 rebounds in 2014/15 and 19.1 points and 7.4 rebounds last season.

Bosh’s $23.7MM takes a big chunk of the team’s salary cap and the team has already spent over the cap for the upcoming season. Miami’s unimposing options at power forward besides Bosh – Derrick Williams, James Johnson, Josh McRoberts and Stefan Jankovic – reinforce the notion that the Heat need Bosh in the lineup to become a viable playoff contender.

That leads us to our question(s) of the day: Should the Heat allow Chris Bosh to play again despite his blood-clotting issues? If so, do you think Bosh can make it through the season without any setbacks?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: OKC Extension Candidates

September 20th, 2016 at 3:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Of all the players eligible for a rookie-scale extension this year, Giannis Antetokounmpo was the nearest to a lock for a maximum-salary deal. However, rather than playing hardball with the Bucks or potentially risking changes to the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement by the time he signed his new contract, Antetokounmpo agreed to an extension this week that will pay him less than the maximum. One report indicated that The Greek Freak wanted to help Milwaukee retain talent going forward.

With Antetokounmpo having settled for less than the max, Erik Horne of The Oklahoman wonders if two Thunder extension candidates – Steven Adams and Victor Oladipo – could be persuaded to do the same. While neither player is a bona-fide NBA star, the league’s rising salary cap and relative dearth of young, top-tier free agents means that both players are good bets to get a max offer if they reach restricted free agency in 2017. Whether or not either of them will receive an offer like that from the Thunder by this year’s October 31 extension deadline remains to be seen.

As Horne notes, Oladipo is reportedly seeking a max deal, while Adams has off-handedly stated that he’ll play negotiations “by ear.” We’ve examined the extension candidacy of both Oladipo and Adams, pointing out that if the Thunder want to be players in free agency in 2017, it might make sense to hold off on extensions for the duo. However, in that scenario, Oklahoma City would be more likely to have to pay the max to keep one or both players.

It also remains to be seen which player will be valued more highly by the Thunder. Adams has become a cornerstone frontcourt player for the franchise, particularly after the trade of Serge Ibaka, and his toughness and rim-protecting ability would be hard to replace. Oladipo, on the other hand, was the key piece of that Ibaka trade, and could be the backcourt partner for Russell Westbrook that OKC has long been seeking.

What do you think? Will either Adams or Oladipo be extended within the next few weeks, or will they head to restricted free agency next summer? If one or both of them signs an extension, will the Thunder be able to lock them up at a reasonable price, avoiding the max?

Take to the comments section below to share your opinions on the Thunder’s pair of of extension candidates. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Community Shootaround: First $200MM NBA Player?

September 19th, 2016 at 6:30pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Grizzlies signed Mike Conley to the largest contract in NBA history this summer, locking up the point guard for the next five seasons to the tune of $153MM. Conley hit the open market at the perfect time, with Memphis owning his Bird rights and the league’s salary cap jumping from approximately $70MM in 2015/16 up to $94,143,000 as a result of the new TV deal kicking in this season. With the cap expected to continue its upward trend over the next few seasons, Conley’s deal should soon be eclipsed. Salary cap expert Larry Coon writing for ESPN.com in an Insider only piece, took a stab at predicting who the first player to eclipse the $200MM total value mark will be.

It will require a specific set of criteria for a player to hit that staggering benchmark, according to Coon. A player would need to have 10 years of NBA service time, be 31 years of age or younger and re-sign for five-years with a team that holds his full Bird rights, Coon notes. If you are wondering which players might fit that criteria, Coon has you covered, noting that the likeliest to be in line for that jackpot are:

The next tier of players who could be in line to surpass the $200MM mark, according to Coon, are:

It should be noted that Coon isn’t suggesting that all of these players are worthy of that amount, but merely that they will meet his stated criteria and could be in line to sign five-year, maximum salary deals which could surpass the magical $200MM line.

Also, for those wondering why LeBron James isn’t on this list, he’s currently 31 years old and unless the next Collective Bargaining Agreement does away with the over-36 rule, he’s not eligible. The rule, as explained by Coon, states that: “In an Over-36 contract, the presumption is that the seasons at the end of the contract are likely to come after the player retires. Therefore, the salaries in those seasons are classified as deferred compensation. This is significant because deferred compensation is charged to team salary in the year it is earned, not the year it is paid.”

So here’s the question/topic of discussion for this evening: Which of the listed players do you believe will surpass the $200MM mark on their next contract? Who, if any, do you feel are worthy of pulling down that kind of salary?

Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Dwyane Wade

September 17th, 2016 at 8:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

Spending 13 years together as teammates can create a strong friendship. Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem both broke into the NBA with the Heat during the 2003/04 season, although they entered the league under vastly different circumstances. Wade was the fifth player taken in the 2003 draft, while Haslem went undrafted in 2002 and spent a year in France before signing with Miami as a free agent.

Wade is gone now from the Heat, signing a two-year, $47MM deal with the Bulls in July. He leaves with three NBA titles, two other finals appearances and a host of career franchise records. Haslem is still there, one of the few constants in an offseason roster shakeup. The bonds they formed through years of winning and losing are strong, so it’s understandable that they feel an absence as the opening of training camp nears.

Wade was back in Miami this morning, participating in a bike ride with police to promote unity. Asked what he’ll miss most about playing for the Heat, he immediately mentioned Haslem’s name. Haslem had the same reaction, but with an interesting addition.

“I was thinking more him of him coming here,” Haslem said when asked about the possibility of he and Wade ever joining forces again. “I never said [I’d leave the Heat]. I won’t ever say that. When I said play with him again, I never said leave.”

Wade’s deal with Chicago includes the chance to opt out of a $23.8MM salary for 2017/18 and become a free agent again. Although contract talks broke down with the Heat this summer, Wade didn’t leave on bad terms. Team president Pat Riley said he regrets how the negotiations worked out and admitted that he should have done more to keep Wade in Miami.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Will Wade ever decide to return to the Heat? He is still a beloved figure in Miami and is highly respected throughout the organization, It would create a buzz throughout the league if it happened next summer, and he would get a reception that would rival LeBron James‘ homecoming in Cleveland.

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on Wade. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: 2016’s Last Unsigned RFA

September 16th, 2016 at 10:17am CST by Luke Adams

With training camps fast approaching, only one restricted free agent remains on the market. Veteran forward Donatas Motiejunas still has a qualifying offer on the table from the Rockets, but has yet to receive a satisfactory multiyear offer from the team, or from a rival suitor.

Although Motiejunas struggled to stay healthy in 2015/16 and his production took a significant hit, he looked like a player on the rise in 2014/15, when he averaged 12.0 PPG and 5.9 RPG to go along with a .504 FG% and a .368 3PT%. He started 62 games for the Rockets that season.

Motiejunas received a qualifying offer worth $4,433,683 from the Rockets this summer, which gives Houston the right of first refusal, preventing the forward from signing outright with another club. The Lithuanian big man, who turns 26 next Tuesday, could sign that one-year qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but he would likely prefer some longer-term security and a bigger payday.

Earlier this week, Motiejunas’ agent B.J. Armstrong publicly expressed some concern with the situation, telling Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com that the Rockets have yet to make a serious contract offer for his client. According to Armstrong, October 1 will be the moment of truth for the Rockets and Motiejunas, with resolution expected to come by that point.

October 1 is the deadline for Motiejunas to accept his qualifying offer. After that point, the QO expires and he remains a restricted free agent, but he’s not longer able to sign that $4.434MM offer that was on the table for the previous three months. So if the Rockets still haven’t made a contract offer he likes by that point, he’ll likely take the QO and focus on unrestricted free agency in 2017.

Still, the Rockets have some incentive to get a longer-term deal done with Motiejunas. In addition to securing a solid young player for more than just one year, signing Motiejunas to a multiyear deal would also allow the team to explore trading him at this year’s deadline. If he accepts his QO, he has the ability to veto trades for the entire 2016/17 league year. Considering GM Daryl Morey nearly traded Motiejunas to the Pistons at the 2016 deadline, maintaining that flexibility could be important.

While Motijunas figures to return to the Rockets, it’s also possible that another team steps in at the 11th hour and puts a competitive offer sheet on the table for the former first-round pick. The Nets, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Sixers, Suns, and Jazz are all under the salary floor and would have more than enough room to accommodate such an offer.

How do you expect this situation to play out? Will the Rockets eventually relent and offer Motiejunas a satisfactory two- or three-year deal? Will he end up signing his qualifying offer instead? Will another team swoop in with an offer sheet? If so, which club would be the best fit for the RFA forward?

Take to the comments section below to share your opinions on the NBA’s last remaining restricted free agent in 2016. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.