Community Shootaround Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Community Shootaround: Return Trip For Warriors?

June 20th, 2016 at 6:44pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Warriors’ dream season came to a stunning conclusion on Sunday as they watched the Cavaliers celebrate their first NBA title at Oracle Arena. The team that set a league record with 73 regular-season victories also became the first team to blow a 3-1 lead in the NBA Finals.

The good news is that their three best players are under contract for next season. Regular season MVP Stephen Curry will enter the final year of his team-friendly deal that will pay him $12.1MM next season. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson have at least three years left on their contracts.

Sixth man Andre Iguodala and Andrew Bogut have one year left on their contracts and they can retain backup point Shaun Livingston, who had some big postseason games, who has a partially-guaranteed contract.

The remainder of the roster is in a state of flux. Harrison Barnes becomes a restricted free agent and several other rotation pieces will also enter the free-agent market.

Golden State will still come into next season as the team to beat in the Western Conference, especially if they add a top-tier free agent. While the odds are against Kevin Durant signing with them, the Warriors could be the kings of the West for years to come if they’re able to pull off that feat.

More likely, they’ll try to add to their depth and find a suitable replacement for Barnes if they deem him too expensive for their long-term budget.

Making the Finals three consecutive years is no easy feat and the Warriors will have plenty of hungry competitors nipping at their heels. The Spurs aren’t declining any time soon, even if Tim Duncan decides to retire. The Thunder were just one win away from knocking the Warriors off their perch and will remain a powerhouse if Durant re-signs. With better health, the star-laden Clippers could finally reach their potential.

This leads us to our question of the day: Do you think the Warriors will reach the Finals again next season? If not, who will take their place?

Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Cleveland Cavaliers

June 19th, 2016 at 11:06pm CST by Arthur Hill

After watching the Warriors make history all season long, the Cavaliers made some of their own Sunday night. Cleveland became the first team ever to rally from a 3-1 deficit to win the NBA Finals and the first to win Game 7 of the finals on the road since 1978.

LeBron James‘ return home in the summer of 2014 created the foundation for this year’s title, but so did the three No. 1 draft picks in four years that brought Kyrie Irving and Andrew Wiggins, who was traded to Minnesota to acquire Kevin Love.

Tonight’s victory served as vindication for Love, who has been the subject of criticism and trade rumors almost from the time he arrived in Cleveland. It also validated the controversial decision to fire David Blatt in January with a 30-11 record and turn the team over to first-time head coach Tyronn Lue. The win rewarded owner Dan Gilbert for his willingness to take on salary right up to the trade deadline, even though the Cavs were facing the highest luxury tax in the league.

Cleveland will almost certainly keep the core of this year’s team together to try to defend its title. James will be a free agent, but it’s unthinkable that he would leave town again after winning a ring. The Love trade talk should die down, at least for the offseason. J.R. Smith has a $5MM player option and Mo Williams has already said he will opt in for next season for $2MM. Richard Jefferson, who turns 36 on Tuesday, announced that he plans to retire. Also headed toward free agency are Timofey Mozgov, Matthew Dellavedova and James Jones.

The Cavaliers have traded both their picks in this year’s draft and have no cap room to chase free agents other than the $3.477MM taxpayer mid-level exception. They have a trade exception from the Anderson Varejao deal worth $9,638,554 that will be in effect until February 18th. They also have a $2,854,940 exception from the trade of Mike Miller and a $2,329,471 exception from a deal involving Brendan Haywood. Both of those expire July 30th.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Should the Cavaliers be favored to win the title again next season? 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: Derrick Rose On The Knicks?

June 18th, 2016 at 6:48pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Knicks are reportedly having internal discussions about adding Derrick Rose to the team. Point guard is clearly a need for New York, as trotting Jose Calderon out on the floor as the starting point guard when he’ll be 35-years-old next season clearly isn’t a favorable option. If the franchise wants to add a talented point guard this offseason, it could do worse than Rose.

The 2010/11 MVP has one year and $21.3MM left on his deal and although that’s a bit of an overpay based on Rose’s health and level of play these past few seasons, the contract isn’t a hindrance to acquire him. If Rose can stay healthy, New York is easily challenging for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. If it doesn’t work out, New York still hasn’t clogged up its cap sheet long-term and can enter the 2017 offseason searching for another option with money to spend.

So here’s tonight’s topic: If the Knicks are going to make an attempt to trade for Rose, what kind of package should they offer the Bulls?

Jerian Grant would probably need to head to Chicago and New York would likely want to offload some salary in the deal. Robin Lopez is a nice player, but Kristaps Porzingis‘ future should be at the five spot, so the Knicks may be open to trading its starting center. The Bulls presumable would want a future first, but if I was New York, I’d only offer a heavily protected pick, possibly one that’s top-20 protected.

Those are my parameters for a Rose-to-New York deal, tell us yours as well as your thoughts and opinions on Rose’s fit in the Big Apple in the comment section below. We look forward to what you have to say!

Community Shootaround: NBA Finals Game 6

June 16th, 2016 at 10:08am CST by Luke Adams

The sixth game of the 2016 NBA Finals takes place tonight in Cleveland, exactly one year after the Warriors dispatched the Cavaliers in Game 6 of the 2015 NBA Finals to win their first championship in 40 years. The Cavs are hoping history won’t repeat itself tonight — a Cleveland win would force a Game 7 in Oakland on Sunday.

After the series opened with a pair of dominant wins by the Warriors, the two teams have looked a little more evenly matched over the course of the last three games. The Cavaliers won at home in Game 3, then each team stole a game on the other club’s home court to give Golden State a 3-2 lead as the series returns to Quicken Loans Arena.

The Cavaliers have looked excellent at home throughout this year’s postseason, with the lone exception of their Game 4 loss to the Warriors, and they’re coming off an impressive Game 5 win in which LeBron James and Kyrie Irving each exploded for 40+ points. However, the Warriors were missing Draymond Green in that game, and if shots aren’t falling quite so easily for either James or Irving tonight, things could look very different.

Today’s Community Shootaround discussion question is a simple one: How do you expect Game 6 to play out? Will LeBron and Kyrie carry the Cavaliers to another win? Could another Cleveland player to step up to help lead the Cavs to victory? Or is tonight’s game going to be the final contest of the 2015/16 season? Will Green’s return result in the Warriors’ second straight road victory? Will the Stephen Curry and/or Klay Thompson show win out?

Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on Game 6. We look forward to hearing what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Bulls’ Offseason

June 14th, 2016 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

As Dana Gauruder noted in our preview of the Bulls’ offseason on Monday, this summer could be a period of major transition in Chicago, with big men Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah eligible for free agency, and trade rumors swirling around Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler. It’s possible the Bulls will try to keep their roster mostly intact, adding a free agent or two and attempting to contend immediately, but a significant retooling of the roster is also in play.

The Timberwolves reportedly have interest in pursuing Butler if he becomes available, and the Celtics are said to be eyeing the All-Star forward as well. However, a Butler deal would probably signal a full-fledged rebuild, and it’s not clear that the Bulls are willing to go that far, unless they get blown away by a trade offer they can’t refuse.

Moving Rose, who is entering the final year of his contract and has had trouble staying healthy since his MVP season, seems more plausible, and at least one report has indicated that Chicago is far more willing to consider a Rose trade than one involving Butler.

As for Noah and Gasol, it’s not clear if either player will re-sign with the Bulls. There have been rumblings that Noah is ready to move on from Chicago, though agent Bill Duffy downplayed those rumors. Gasol, meanwhile, expressed disappointment as the 2015/16 season wound down with the way the team fell apart during the second half.

Today’s discussion question focuses on Chicago’s upcoming decisions. How do you expect the Bulls’ offseason to play out? Will Noah or Gasol be back? Will Butler or Rose be dealt? Do you expect the team to make a splash in free agency, or sit back and make smaller moves? How will the club use its No. 14 overall pick?

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

Community Shootaround: Draymond Green

June 12th, 2016 at 7:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Warriors will have to play Game 5 of the NBA Finals without Draymond Green, who was suspended today when the league assessed him a flagrant 1 foul for an encounter with LeBron James in Game 4.

League officials called Green’s actions a “retaliatory swipe of his hand to the groin” after he and James collided. The flagrant foul was Green’s fourth of the playoffs, which triggers an automatic one-game suspension.

“The cumulative points system is designed to deter flagrant fouls in our game,” NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki Vandeweghe explained. “While Draymond Green’s actions in Game 4 do not merit a suspension as a standalone act, the number of flagrant points he has earned triggers a suspension for Game 5.”

Golden State has three double-digit wins in the series and has controlled the Finals except for a lopsided loss in Game 3. However, Green’s versatility is a major part of the Warriors’ effectiveness, and they won’t be the same team without him in the lineup.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Does Green’s absence in Game 5 give the Cavaliers a chance to win the series? The Warriors are returning home and will be aided by their raucous crowd, but the absence of Green gives Cleveland a fighting chance. If the Cavs can find a way to win Game 5 and then take Game 6 on their home court, that would set up a Game 7 next Sunday in Oakland. Is the series no longer a foregone conclusion, or will Golden State overcome Green’s absence and win the trophy Monday night?

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: Kevin Love

June 11th, 2016 at 7:18pm CST by Arthur Hill

When the Cavaliers traded for Kevin Love two years ago, they hoped he was the missing piece to a championship team. But in this year’s finals, they’ve looked more like a champion when Love was missing.

Cleveland’s only win came in a Game 3 blowout with Love unable to play because of a concussion. He returned for Friday’s Game 4, but managed just 11 points and five rebounds in 25 minutes as the Cavs fell into a 3-1 hole.

Love came to Cleveland in a trade with Minnesota to form a new Big Three with Kyrie Irving and the returning LeBron James. But questions about his compatibility started almost immediately and grew louder as Andrew Wiggins, the key player sent to the Wolves in the deal, blossomed into the 2014/15 Rookie of the Year.

Love and the Cavs had a chance to end their uneasy partnership when he became a free agent last summer. Instead, he re-signed in Cleveland for about $110MM over five years, agreeing to terms shortly after the July 1st start of free agency. Later in the offseason, the Cavaliers committed $82MM over five years to Tristan Thompson, also a power forward.

With another championship slipping out of reach and a huge luxury tax payment due, speculation is growing that the Cavs might try to trade Love this summer. The Denver Post’s Christopher Dempsey wrote in April that the Nuggets would be a willing partner, possibly parting with a group of young players who are a better fit for coach Tyronn Lue’s fast-paced offense. The Celtics, Trail Blazers, Suns, Wizards, Rockets, Mavericks, Magic and Hornets would also be interested, according to Tom Ziller of SB Nation.

Love clearly wants to be in Cleveland and is irritated by the talk that the franchise needs to get rid of him to win a title. He showed his loyalty during free agency and doesn’t want to be dispatched now as a scapegoat.

“I don’t know how to answer it, because I have a couple bad games last series [against Toronto], tough games, and have to come back and do whatever I needed to do to help the team,” Love told Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com. “Still, it’s just never enough.”

But the economic reality is that Love is owed $93MM over the next four seasons. Add in the more than $67.7MM the Cavs must pay Thompson over that span and the possibility that James will become a power forward as he gets older, and it’s easy to see that Cleveland is overloaded at one position.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Should the Cavaliers trade Love this summer, and where would be the best spot for him? 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: Cavs Winning The Finals?

June 6th, 2016 at 8:32pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Cavs lost their first two games of the NBA Finals by a combined 48 points. Neither Klay Thompson nor Stephen Curry had monumental games for the Warriors. Instead, it was the team’s depth that mechanically wore down Cleveland. Perhaps there are some adjustments that coach Tyronn Lue can make, but it seems unlikely that this team can compete with all the talent that Golden State has.

So that brings us to tonight’s topic: Is there any way the Cavs can wins this series?

Could they decide to dust off Timofey Mozgov and attempt to recapture some of the success they had during last year’s finals where they went big and governed the paint? Kevin Love is talented, but he’s hasn’t played like a traditional big man since he was in Minnesota. Is it time to reduce his minutes? Love has the ability to be a major force and perhaps the Cavs can make adjustments in order to benefit from their $110MM big man without sending him to the bench. Perhaps there are better solutions to make this series more competitive.

Should Richard Jefferson being playing meaningful minutes at this point in his career? That’s where I’d begin if I were tasked with mustering up a comeback performance for Cleveland during these finals. Tell us what you would do. What adjustments would you make if you were in control of the Cavs?

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: Kevin Durant

June 5th, 2016 at 7:28pm CST by Arthur Hill

Now that Kevin Durant‘s season has ended, the smart money seems to be on him re-signing with Oklahoma City this summer, probably on a two-year deal with a player option. That will allow him to become a free agent again next summer, when as a 10-year veteran and Tier Three Max player, he will be eligible for a five-year offer from the Thunder worth more than $200MM. It would also time his free agency with Russell Westbrook‘s and let both players decide at the same time if they want to remain in OKC.

But before Durant signs anything, he’s going to hear a lot of offers — from GMs and players alike. Boston’s Isaiah Thomas and Washington’s John Wall both said this weekend that they plan to aggressively recruit Durant. James Harden will make a similar pitch in Houston, as will Carmelo Anthony in New York. Even media figures are getting into the game, as the Ringer’s Bill Simmons, a well-known Celtics fan, penned a column advising Durant that his path to the NBA Finals would be much easier in the East.

The Spurs, Heat and Warriors are the front-runners to land Durant if he does leave Oklahoma City, and all three can sell him on the luxury of remaining with a title contender. More remote possibilities include the Clippers, who would have to trade Chris Paul, Blake Griffin or DeAndre Jordan to clear enough cap space, and the Lakers, who have plenty of cap room and a good young core in place, along with a tradition that Durant might find intriguing.

That brings us to tonight’s question: If Durant leaves the Thunder, where will he be playing next season? Should the Warriors be considered the favorites? Would he be better off in the Eastern Conference? Or is there another contender that we’ve overlooked?

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: Jeff Teague To The Sixers

June 4th, 2016 at 10:00pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Earlier this week, we learned that the Hawks and Sixers discussed a deal that would involve Jeff Teague going to Philadelphia and Nerlens Noel going to Atlanta. It was reported that Nik Stauskas and/or Robert Covington could also be on the move in the potential deal.

In tonight’s shootaround, tell us what you think about the rumored Teague-Noel deal and let us know your thoughts from each team’s perspective.

Should the Sixers bring aboard Teague in exchange for Noel and possibly other pieces or should they look to acquire a younger player who may better fit with the rest of the team’s core? Philadelphia reportedly has been shopping Jahlil Okafor and Noel with the goal of locating the best deal. Is this Teague trade it?

As for the Hawks, are they getting enough in return for an established veteran who was an All-Star last season and helped the team win three playoff series over the last two campaigns?

Please take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.