Community Shootaround Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Community Shootaround: Nate McMillan

May 15th, 2016 at 7:47pm CST by Arthur Hill

Pacers president Larry Bird had seen enough of Frank Vogel and his old-style offense. While other teams were spreading the court, moving the ball and raining down threes, Indiana was doing something more traditional — and slow.

It didn’t matter that Vogel had made the playoffs in five of his six seasons on the Pacers’ bench, missing only in 2014/15 when a broken leg sidelined Paul George for virtually the entire season. It didn’t matter that Vogel produces top 10 defensive teams every year or that at age 42 he has developed a reputation as one of the NBA’s best coaches.

None of that mattered because Bird didn’t like the product he saw on the court and wanted things to change.

So he’s apparently hiring one of Vogel’s assistants.

The Pacers were finalizing contract details Saturday night with Nate McMillan, who has been serving as an assistant coach with the team since 2013. McMillan has nearly 12 years of head coaching experience in Seattle and Portland, where his teams were usually the complete opposite of what Bird says he’s looking for. None of McMillan’s teams ever managed to average 99 points per game.

Indiana had better alternatives, contends Gregg Doyel of The Indianapolis Star, who notes that Brian Shaw already has a strong relationship with George, Mike D’Antoni virtually patented the type of offense that Bird desires and David Blatt and Mark Jackson are playoff-level coaches who deserve another chance.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Is Nate McMillan a good choice to be the Pacers’ next coach? If Bird was unhappy with Vogel, does it make sense to promote someone from his staff? And if not McMillan, who should Indiana have tried to hire?

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: Duncan, Ginobili, Parker

May 14th, 2016 at 9:47pm CST by Arthur Hill

In a league of constant change, one thing we could count on was the San Antonio Spurs.

Tim Duncan was always going to be the Big Fundamental, effortlessly banking in shots while dominating the boards and protecting the paint. Manu Ginobili was the balding Argentinian guard with the quirky game who knew how to keep defenders off balance and drove coach Gregg Popovich crazy with his shot selection, even when they went in. Tony Parker was the speedy French guard who knew how to get into the lane and had endless tricks for making shots over taller defenders.

The Spurs’ Big Three have rewritten the NBA history books in their combined 48 years of service. They helped bring five titles to San Antonio, although only Duncan was there for the first one. They set a league record for the most career wins by three teammates. They made the Spurs a postseason fixture, with a run of playoff appearances that dates back to Duncan’s rookie season. They played the game the right way — sharing the ball, helping on defense, making the extra pass — and became an example that coaches across the world could point to. They were called boring, but the fans in San Antonio never got tired of watching them. They were classy in victory and defeat. They were dependable. They were always there.

But now they may not be.

After 67 regular-season wins, the Spurs saw their playoff run end in shocking fashion Thursday with a one-sided loss to the Thunder in Game 6 of their Western Conference semifinal series. There will be no sixth title coming to San Antonio this year and no dream matchup with the 73-win Warriors. As the younger, more athletic Thunder raced past the Spurs, it felt like not just the end of the series, but the end of an era.

Duncan and Ginobili both said they will wait to make decisions on retirement. Duncan, 40, has a player option for next season worth nearly $6.4MM, including incentives. Ginobili, 38 with another birthday looming in July, has a player option at a little more than $2.9MM. Parker’s situation is more complicated, as he is signed for the next two seasons at $14,445,313 and $15,453,126. He will turn 34 this week and the Spurs may want to start rebuilding if Duncan and Ginobili don’t return. There are already rumblings that San Antonio will make a run at Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley when he hits free agency in July.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Have we seen the last of the Big Three in San Antonio? Do you expect Duncan and Ginobili to end their careers or will they take one more shot at another title? And will the Spurs try to find a taker for Parker and go in a different direction at point guard?

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: Kenneth Faried

May 13th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Nuggets power forward Kenneth Faried saw his playing time dip this season thanks to the emergence of big men Joffrey Lauvergne, Jusuf Nurkic and Nikola Jokic, as well as late season struggles with soreness in his back. The 26-year-old made 67 appearances for the team this season and averaged 12.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 25.3 minutes per outing. While those numbers weren’t far off his career averages, the energetic forward didn’t appear to be a good fit in coach Michael Malone‘s offense at times, which raises some questions about his long-term future in Denver.

Faried has three years and more than $38.764MM left on the extension he signed in 2014. The forward’s salary is likely end up below market value after the expected free agent feeding frenzy that is set to occur this summer, courtesy of the significant increase in the salary cap that is set to kick in, which is good for the team. But if Faried is forced into a reserve role in the future it could prove to be a distraction if he is unwilling to accept the change, as Ben Dowsett of Basketball Insiders noted.

This brings me to today’s topic: Should the Nuggets look to trade Kenneth Faried this summer?

Take to the comments section to share your thoughts on whether or not Denver should hang onto Faried at all costs, or if you believe it is time for the team to find a new home for the player. If you are of the mind that Faried should be shipped out, regale us with your trade ideas for him. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Top Executive

May 11th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

On Monday, the NBA announced that Spurs GM R.C. Buford won the Executive of the Year award. It was the second time in three years that Buford has come away with the honor, for which fellow team executives vote. Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey finished a close second, beating Buford in first-place votes 10-9 but falling short in the balloting system that gives five points for every first-place vote, three points for second-place votes and one point for third-place votes.

Listed below is how each vote-getter ranked, with first-place votes noted where applicable:

1. R.C. Buford (Spurs) — 9
2. Neil Olshey (Trail Blazers) — 10
3. Bob Myers (Warriors) — 5
4. Masai Ujiri (Raptors) — 2
5. Rich Cho (Hornets) — 1
6. Danny Ainge (Celtics) — 1
7. David Griffin (Cavaliers)
8(tie). Stan Van Gundy (Pistons)
8(tie). Pat Riley (Heat)
10(tie). Sam Presti (Thunder) — 1
10(tie). Sam Hinkie (Sixers)
12(tie). Wes Wilcox (Hawks)
12(tie). John Hammond (Bucks)
12(tie). Dennis Lindsey (Jazz)

Today’s topic is a straightforward one: Who deserved to win the NBA’s Executive of the Year award for 2015/16?

Did the executives around the league get it right with their selection of Buford? Or is there another candidate whom you strongly believe should have gotten the nod, and if so, why? Take to the comments section to share with us your thoughts and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Coaches In Jeopardy

May 10th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

One of the most difficult aspects of being an NBA coach is that they have frighteningly very little job security. The pay is certainly good, but in a player-driven league, the first person to shoulder the blame when things head south for a team is its coach. In fact, there have been 11 franchises that have made a change since we last ranked NBA head coaches by the length of their respective tenures this past August. On Monday, Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors ran down the list of the longest-tenured coaches in the league, which for convenience, I’ve posted below:

Gregg Popovich, Spurs: December 1996
Erik Spoelstra, Heat: April 2008
Rick Carlisle, Mavericks: May 2008
Dwane Casey, Raptors: June 2011
Terry Stotts, Trail Blazers: August 2012
Mike Budenholzer, Hawks: May 2013
Steve Clifford, Hornets: May 2013
Doc Rivers, Clippers: June 2013
Brad Stevens, Celtics: July 2013
Brett Brown, Sixers: August 2013
Stan Van Gundy, Pistons: May 2014
Steve Kerr, Warriors: May 2014
Quin Snyder, Jazz: June 2014
Jason Kidd, Bucks: July 2014
Billy Donovan, Thunder: April 30th, 2015
Scott Skiles, Magic: May 29th, 2015
Alvin Gentry, Pelicans: May 31st, 2015 (remained Warriors assistant through playoffs)
Fred Hoiberg, Bulls: June 2nd, 2015
Michael Malone, Nuggets: June 15th, 2015
Tyronn Lue, Cavaliers: January 22nd, 2016
Earl Watson, Suns: February 1st, 2016
Kurt Rambis, Knicks: February 8th, 2016 (interim coach)
Kenny Atkinson, Nets: April 17th, 2016 (Hawks assistant through Atlanta’s playoff run)
Tom Thibodeau, Timberwolves: April 20th, 2016
Scott Brooks, Wizards: April 26th, 2016
Luke Walton, Lakers: April 29th, 2016 (Warriors assistant until end of Golden State’s season)
Dave Joerger, Kings: May 9th, 2016

Note: The Grizzlies, Pacers and Rockets head coaching posts have yet to be filled.

For today’s topic: Which current NBA coach do you believe is likeliest to be fired next?

Take to the comments section to share with us and your fellow readers which NBA coach you believe will be the next to be issued his walking papers, justified or not. We look forward to what you have to say.

Community Shootaround: Warriors’ Title Drive

May 9th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The breaking news on Monday, as reported by ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, that Stephen Curry would be named the league’s Most Valuable Player again came as no surprise. The only mystery regarding Curry’s second straight MVP is whether anyone else got a first-place vote after the Warriors’ historic season.

As for Curry’s health, there’s plenty of uncertainty. Curry has only appeared in two of the Warriors’ eight postseason games, first because of an ankle injury and currently due to a sprained right MCL. Golden State managed to win four of those six games, but his absence may be wearing on the club, as evidenced by its 12-point loss to Portland in Game 3 on the Western Conference semifinals on Saturday.

Curry returned to action Monday night, but it’s fair to wonder how the injuries will affect him going forward. Physically, he may not have full mobility until he can rest and rehab in the offseason.

Moreover, it’s always difficult for an athlete to completely trust their body if there’s any lingering pain or fear that certain movements could aggravate the injury.

The Warriors certainly don’t have an easy road to a second straight title, even if Curry is feeling spry. They’ve got to get past the pesky Trail Blazers, and face either a veteran, deep perennial contender in the Spurs or a revived, hungry Thunder unit with two of the league’s top players.

Should they survive that acid test, they’ll probably see the Cavs and their trio of stars, who have been playing lights out thus far in the playoffs.

This leads us to our question of the day: Can the Warriors still repeat if Stephen Curry isn’t 100% healthy the remainder of the postseason?

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: Coaching Vacancies

May 8th, 2016 at 7:03pm CST by Arthur Hill

For NBA players, free agency doesn’t start until July 1st. But for coaches, it began weeks ago.

The coaching carousel kept spinning this week, with Indiana’s Frank Vogel and Memphis’ Dave Joerger both getting tossed off. In addition, the Rockets will have to continue their coaching search without interim mentor J.B. Bickerstaff, who has withdrawn his name from consideration. Five teams are currently in the market for new coaches, and there are ups and downs to all of them:

Pacers — Whoever takes over in Indiana will inherit a playoff team with one of the league’s best players in Paul George and a budding young star in Myles Turner. But the new coach will be under pressure to keep winning while scoring more points to please executive Larry Bird, who wants faster-paced Pacers than Vogel could provide.
Grizzlies — There’s a culture of success in Memphis, created over the years by the Grit ‘n Grind core of Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Tony Allen. Their veteran leadership and early-season success helped the Grizzlies reach the playoffs in a nightmarish year that saw 28 players pass through the roster. The next coach will be expected to keep winning with a rapidly aging team and possibly without Conley, who is easily the top point guard on the free agent market.
Rockets — Maybe this season was nothing to brag about, but a year ago Houston was on its way to a conference finals showdown with the Warriors. The Rockets have been accused of quitting on coach Kevin McHale and barely got started under Bickerstaff, but an intriguing amount of talent still remains, even if Dwight Howard finds a new home in free agency.
Knicks — Bright lights, big city, an established star in Carmelo Anthony and a popular rookie in Kristaps Porzingis. Only trianglers need apply, at least in the eyes of team president Phil Jackson. Jackson is so devoted to the offense that won him 11 rings that he has become a strong proponent of keeping interim coach Kurt Rambis. Or if not him, then someone else who learned the triangle system with the Lakers.
Kings — George Karl survived with his health, a little bit of hair and a few scraps of dignity, but he was clearly shaken by the year and a half he spent in Sacramento. Karl was locked in a constant feud with DeMarcus Cousins and says management always sided with the player. Beyond that, there were numerous levels of front-office red tape and an expectation to win right away. Despite Karl’s warnings, Sacramento is willing to spend to improve and could be an attractive job for someone with a firm hand and the support of management.

That brings us to tonight’s question: If you were an NBA coach, which of the five openings would you consider most attractive? 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: Dave Joerger

May 7th, 2016 at 6:45pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Another head coaching job became available earlier today when the Grizzlies parted ways with Dave Joerger. “After careful consideration, I concluded that a change was needed to foster the strong culture required to achieve sustainable, long-term success for this organization, the city and our fans,” said GM Chris Wallace. “On behalf of the Grizzlies organization I would like to thank Dave for his work and time in Memphis. We wish Dave and his family all the best and success as he moves forward in his career.”

Joerger reportedly asked management for permission to interview for other vacancies with an eye on openings in Sacramento and Houston. Joerger led the Grizzlies to a 42-40 record this season with a makeshift roster that saw 28 different players suit up for them because of various injuries and trades. Without stars Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, Memphis wasn’t able to win a game in the playoffs. Management applauded his coaching ability, but they reportedly did not see eye-to-eye on personnel matters. “Being an NBA head coach is about more than just coaching a 48-minute game,” Wallace said.

If you were Joerger, what coaching vacancy would you target? Would you want to coach DeMarcus Cousins in Sacramento, where just getting to the playoffs may grant you job security? Would you want the challenge of trying to bring a James Harden-led Rockets team to the finals in a Western Conference that’s so strong at the top? Maybe you prefer Indiana or New York. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. We look forward to what you have to say!

Community Shootaround: Festus Ezeli

May 6th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Lakers reportedly have interest in signing Festus Ezeli, who is set to become a restricted free agent this offseason. While the big man could likely garner more playing time elsewhere, Ezeli prefers to re-sign with the Warriors, believing he’ll inherit a job in the starting lineup once Andrew Bogut‘s contract expires after next season, according to Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Golden State has the ability to match any offer for Ezeli, though several league executives have suggested that it will take a three-year, $50MM deal for any team to secure the 26-year-old center.

While Ezeli remains a solid option off the bench, the 6’11” former Vanderbilt player has struggled with injuries throughout his career, only appearing in 170 regular season games since becoming the 30th overall pick in the 2012 draft. A left knee surgery helped limit him to 46 regular season appearances this year. Still, he’s impressed when he’s made it onto the court, and his performance in Tuesday’s playoff game was vital to Golden State’s win over Portland.

Ezeli’s agent, Bill Duffy, reportedly talked him out of signing what would have been a team-friendly extension with the Warriors last fall, but the center said shortly after extension discussions broke down that he wants to remain with Golden State for his entire career. Warriors assistant GM Kirk Lacob had suggested in January that the team would be willing to pay whatever is necessary to retain Ezeli. The Warriors may find it difficult to keep him, given they already have more than $73MM in guaranteed salary against a projected $92MM salary cap. The Lakers have much greater flexibility with only $23MM in guaranteed salary. Plus, they will have an opening at center with Roy Hibbert hitting free agency.

This brings me to the topic for today: How much do you think Festus Ezeli is worth for his next contract?

The center has career averages of 4.2 points, 4.3 rebounds and one block per game in 14.1 minutes per appearance. His career shooting numbers are .513/.000/.557. While those numbers aren’t earth-shattering, they represent a small sample size of what Ezeli may be capable of if given additional playing time. But is his potential worth the risk of signing him to a long-term deal for upward of $14MM-$16MM per season? That is the question that prospective suitors will need to ask themselves, and the same is true for the Warriors, who could benefit by keeping their roster as intact as possible, given the team’s success and stellar chemistry.

But what say you? Is Ezeli a starting-caliber center in your eyes? What do you believe a fair contract would look like for the big man? 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: Ryan Anderson

May 5th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA is about to enter its most exciting and unpredictable offseason in recent memory thanks to the projected jump in the salary cap to upward of $92MM. There will likely be more than a few deals inked this summer that will have folks around league scratching their heads. One player who is reportedly in line for such a pact is the Pelicans’ Ryan Anderson, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

Anderson is reportedly considering a change of scenery this summer when he hits the open market. Teams expressing interest in Anderson leading up to the February trade deadline included the Wizards, Pistons, Cavaliers, Clippers, Kings and Suns. It’s unclear just how many of those teams will pursue Anderson this summer, with Washington acquiring Markieff Morris, Detroit landing Tobias Harris, Channing Frye ending up in Cleveland and Jeff Green now a member of the Clippers as a result of various deadline trades.

The stretch four is expected to attract a salary starting of $16MM-$18MM when he hits the market this summer, which is quite a princely sum for a player with a career 13.1 points per game scoring average who isn’t a strong defender or rebounder. But with the league placing a premium on bigs who can stretch the floor on offense, Anderson is certainly hitting free agency at the right time.

That brings me to the topic for today: What is the maximum annual salary that Ryan Anderson is worth on his next contract?

Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the subject, as well as to chime in on where you think Anderson will be playing next season. We look forward to what you have to say.