Community Shootaround Rumors | Hoops Rumors

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.

Community Shootaround: NCAA Transfer Rules

September 12th, 2016 at 5:03pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NCAA’s rules regarding its restrictions on student-athlete transfers are facing a legal challenge. A lawsuit filed this past spring is asserting that these restrictions are illegal via antitrust laws. As it currently stands, the rule regarding student-athletes switching institutions is: If an athlete wishes to transfer from one four-year institution to another, he or she must sit out an entire academic year before being eligible to play again.

This rule doesn’t apply to coaches, who can change jobs at will without any penalty. So, as Tom Ziller of SB Nation points out, an athlete who chooses a particular school based on the desire to play for a specific coach and that coach then heads off to greener pastures (literally given the salaries these men/women pull down), would have to put his/her college career on hold for a full year. This system also creates circumstances where players wanting to transfer lose out because coaches generally prefer athletes who can contribute immediately.

I can’t see any circumstance or rationale where this is fair to the athletes. But it’s not just the NCAA who wants to keep things status quo, as many college basketball coaches fear what the elimination of the current transfer eligibility rules would do to the sport, as ESPN’s Jeff Goodman relayed. As Goodman notes in his article, there were a total of 750 transfers last year, and coaches claim that if the courts shoot down the transfer eligibility restriction, that number could rise to 1,000 or more.

Despite the current rules, transfers are on the rise as unhappy players are accepting the one-year penalty in order to find better situations for themselves. Plus, an increasing amount of players are using the graduate transfer rule to use their remaining NCAA eligibility while pursuing an advanced degree at a new school with no penalty. This is possible if players earn their Bachelor’s degree in three years or pick up a redshirt year, or both, as Ziller points out.

This brings me to the topic for today’s discussion: Should the NCAA transfer rules stay in place as is, or are alterations needed? If you believe that changes are in order, what would be a fair compromise for all parties?

One compromise that I believe should be implemented, is that if a head coach is fired, retires or leaves for another school, then his/her players should also be free to change schools without penalty. Many of these players based their decisions specifically on who would be their coach and who they felt comfortable with guiding them through their college years. Or year, in the case of many of the top players. The only sticky point with this idea is that coaches could theoretically switch schools and bring with them a large chunk of their roster. This could lead to some “package hires,” where coaches’ deals depend on who they can bring along with them. That could cause some major ethical issues, so perhaps some restrictions would be needed in those instances.

What do you think the answer is? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and potential fixes to the system. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Kevin Garnett

September 11th, 2016 at 7:21pm CST by Arthur Hill

Can Kevin Garnett return for a 22nd NBA season? As he once famously said, anything is possible.

The problem is that Garnett hasn’t informed the Timberwolves of his intentions. With training camp opening in two weeks and important roster decisions to be made, Minnesota officials are going to need a decision soon.

Garnett is entering the final year of his contract with the Wolves and will make $8MM if he suits up. However, he turned 40 in May and is probably pondering whether the rigors of another season are worth it at his age. With Tim Duncan retiring and Andre Miller still unsigned, Garnett would be the league’s oldest player if returns for another season.

Garnett has eased into a mentor’s role since he returned to Minnesota in 2015. He appeared in 38 games last season, averaging just 14.6 minutes and 3.2 points per night. However, he has provided valuable instruction to the team’s young players, especially Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns.

Wolves owner Glen Taylor doesn’t want to rush Garnett into a decision, even if one doesn’t come before camp begins.

“Kevin hasn’t told me or informed me yet if he’s coming back to play or if he isn’t coming back,” Taylor said recently. “I can only assume I’ll be hearing from him in the next three weeks.”

That brings us to tonight’s question: Should Garnett try to play one more season or should he accept some other role in the Wolves organization? 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: Hall Of Fame

September 10th, 2016 at 7:42pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inducted another star-studded class Friday night, headlined by NBA legends Shaquille O’Neal, Allen Iverson and Yao Ming. All three reached the hall in their first year of eligibility, which created a problem for some other players who are hoping to join them.

Former Suns point guard Kevin Johnson was a finalist for induction, but failed to receive enough votes. During a career that lasted more than 12 seasons, Johnson was a five-time All-Star who made five all-NBA teams and turned Phoenix into one of the league’s elite teams.

Johnson’s best opportunity at enshrinement will come next year, according to Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com. There won’t be any slam-dunk enshrinees joining the ballot in 2017, but that changes in 2018 when Jason Kidd, Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady become eligible.

Johnson will have plenty of fellow contenders when the votes are cast next year. There are several players who have been lingering on the ballot for a long time, and like Johnson, they may be approaching their last really good chance to reach the hall.

Along with K.J., these are the players with the best shot at induction in 2017, according to Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders:

Jack Sikma — The former SuperSonics and Bucks center has a championship ring and seven All-Star appearances on his resume. All other eligible players who reached the All-Star game at least seven times are already in the hall.
Shawn Kemp — He made it to the NBA Finals once and the All-Star Game six times. Kemp had more than 15,000 career points and 9,000 rebounds in 14 seasons. He is one of the greatest players in Sonics’ history and one of the most electrifying dunkers ever to play the game.
Mark Aguirre — The first pick in the 1981 draft, Aguirre won two rings with the Pistons’ “Bad Boys” teams. Aguirre was a three-time All-Star and averaged 20 points per game in his 14-year career.
Ben Wallace — The defensive anchor of the 2004 champion Pistons, Wallace could become the first undrafted player to reach the hall. He was named Defensive Player of the Year four times and was voted to the All-Defensive First Team five times.
Tim Hardaway — A member of the highly regarded “Run TMC” teams in Golden State, Hardaway also prospered in Miami. He made five All-Star teams and was a first-team all-NBA selection in 1996/97. He topped 15,000 points and 7,000 assists in a 14-year NBA career.
Chis Webber — He was the top star on the highly successful Kings teams from a decade ago. Webber made five All-Star teams and was a five-time all-NBA selection. He scored more than 17,000 points in 15 years in the league.
George McGinnis — An ABA legend and a three-time NBA All-Star, McGinnis is the only eligible MVP from the NBA or ABA who hasn’t reached the hall. McGinnis won two ABA titles with the Pacers and played in the 1977 NBA Finals with the Sixers.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Who is the best eligible player not currently in the Hall of Fame? 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: Western Conference Playoffs

September 8th, 2016 at 7:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Normally filled with 50-win teams, the Western Conference had a few “haves” and way more “have nots” last season. The Warriors and Spurs separated themselves from the pack quickly, while the Thunder and Clippers cruised to the third and fourth spots. No other team won more than 44 regular-season games and spots 5-9 were separated by a mere four games.

That suggests we could see some upheaval in terms of the playoff picture this season. The Thunder will struggle to match, or even come close, to the 55 wins they collected last season with Kevin Durant now wearing a Golden State uniform. The teams in the bottom half of last season’s playoff bracket could be in danger of falling into the lottery, as most of the non-playoff teams appear to be on the upswing.

The Jazz just missed out on the playoffs and have fortified their young core with playoff-tested veterans, including George Hill, Joe Johnson and Boris Diaw. The Nuggets have a deep team led by point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, who could be poised for a breakout season after getting a trial by fire in his rookie season.

The Pelicans were a colossal disappointment a year ago after making the 2014/15 playoffs but any team anchored by Anthony Davis has to be respected. If rookie guard Buddy Hield makes an immediate impact as a scorer, New Orleans could be poised for a turnaround.

Perhaps no team in the league has more young talent than the Timberwolves. Led by franchise player Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, the club could take a big jump with defensive-minded coach Tom Thibodeau at the helm.

The Suns added power forwards Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss in the draft and with better health for guards Eric Bledsoe and Brandon Knight, they should be much more dangerous.

The Kings made some curious off-season moves but they still have arguably the league’s top center in DeMarcus Cousins. The Lakers did some roster tinkering, including the addition of veteran forward Luol Deng, but their biggest hope is that lottery pick Brandon Ingram develops into a franchise player.

This leads us to our question of the day: Which Western Conference team that missed last season’s playoffs will make the postseason in the upcoming season and what will put that team over the top?

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: Paul Pierce

September 7th, 2016 at 7:23pm CST by Arthur Hill

No matter when he decides to retire, Paul Pierce will probably be five years away from the Hall of Fame. However, that day may come sooner than anyone anticipated. At age 38 and with training camp less than three weeks away, Pierce is reportedly still deciding whether to return for his 19th NBA season.

That bit of insider information comes from Pierce’s coach with the Clippers, Doc Rivers, who also coached Pierce during some of his best seasons with the Celtics. Although it was reported last month that Pierce was definitely returning, Rivers said he hasn’t decided for sure.

“Depends on the day I talk to him,” Rivers said during an appearance Tuesday in Boston. “Paul has had the summer, he’s gone back and forth. … Paul didn’t have the best year last year. I don’t think he wants to go out that way. So I think that’s why he’s working to try to come back. But he still may change his mind next week. So we just have to wait. I told him if I see him at training camp, I’m assuming he’s playing.”

Rivers added that Pierce needs to retire as a Celtic, presumably with a one-day ceremonial contract. And although Pierce will always be associated with Boston, he hasn’t worn kelly green since the 2012/13 season, playing one year each for the Nets, Wizards and Clippers since then.

Pierce has been slipping for a while, as can be expected of any player in his late 30s, but the dropoff last season was sharp. He played in 68 games, but averaged just 6.1 points in 18.1 minutes, both career lows. In addition, his shooting percentages were way down — 36% from the field and 31% from 3-point range. He played less than 11 minutes per game in the playoff loss to the Blazers.

Pierce still has two seasons and $7.2MM left on the contract he signed with the Clippers last summer, but he made it clear at the time that he didn’t intend to play out the entire deal. As the clock ticks toward training camp, the question seems to be whether he wants to put his body through the rigors of one more NBA season.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Should Pierce try to play in 2016/17 or should he join all-time greats Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan in what is shaping up to be a legendary 2021 hall of fame class? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.