Community Shootaround

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/23/16

March 23rd, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Sixers face a long climb if they wish to return to prominence in the Eastern Conference. The effectiveness of GM Sam Hinkie‘s rebuilding through tanking plan is certainly debatable given the team’s woeful record the past few seasons. One major critique levied against Hinkie is his failure to build a cohesive roster, a valid criticism given his lack of attention to the team’s backcourt the past two years. The executive has used three lottery picks in a row to select big men, players whose skills don’t appear to complement each other, which will likely become a bigger issue when and if Joel Embiid finally makes his NBA debut.

Hinkie did land point guard Michael Carter-Williams in the 2014 NBA Draft, a player who snagged Rookie of the Year Honors for the 2013/14 campaign. While Carter-Williams’ game certainly has its flaws, he did provide the team with steady production at a critical position. Since dealing away the 24-year-old to the Bucks during the 2014/15 season, the Sixers have struggled to find a playmaker who could run the team as well as help their young big men develop.

Philadelphia made an attempt to fix this glaring roster hole this season with its acquisition of Ish Smith from the Pelicans in December, a move that hasn’t translated into wins, but there is no denying that the Sixers are a better team since Smith arrived. In 39 games since joining Philly, Smith has notched 14.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 31.7 minutes per night. Smith certainly has his negatives as a player, namely his high turnover rate (2.5 per game) and shaky shot selection (39.7% from the field overall), but he has certainly performed better than anyone the team has trotted out at the one spot since Carter-Williams was dealt.

This brings me to the question/topic for today: Is Ish Smith the long-term answer at point guard for the Sixers?

The Sixers aren’t viewed as a free agent destination around the league given their current state, which doesn’t bode well for landing a big name free agent to lead the team this offseason. This means that the team will either need to pin its hopes on Smith, who is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, attempt to upgrade via the draft or to try and strike gold on the free agent market with a lower-tiered player.

So what say you? Should the Sixers look to re-sign Smith this offseason and hand the team over to him, or is he just a placeholder in your eyes? If you don’t believe Smith is the solution, who is a realistic target for the team either via the draft, free agency or the trade market? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/22/16

March 22nd, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com reported earlier today that Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons will likely have season-ending surgery this week on a torn meniscus in his right knee. Parsons, 27, left Friday’s game early with what the Mavs called a sore right hamstring. He sat out Sunday’s game, and an MRI revealed Monday that the torn meniscus was causing the hamstring pain, according to MacMahon. If going under the knife is indeed in Parsons’ future, it would be the second consecutive campaign to end prematurely for the player due to injury.

Though his current malady isn’t as severe as the one that required microfracture surgery last spring, this is still an alarming trend for the player. Parsons is still expected to opt out and hit free agency this summer, with the Mavericks the favorites to re-sign him, according to the ESPN scribe. Prior to his latest injury, Parsons was expected to be pursued by the Heat, Lakers, Nets, Knicks, Trail Blazers, Rockets and Nuggets. The Magic have also reportedly been primed for an aggressive run at Parsons in free agency this summer, and they loom as his top non-Dallas choice, as MacMahon previously reported, though it’s unclear how his latest injury affects how teams view the player.

This brings me to the topic for today: Is Chandler Parsons worth a maximum salary deal this offseason?

The Mavericks may be inclined to pony up that amount given the front office’s apparent fondness for Parsons as well as the team’s difficulties in landing upper-tier free agents the past few seasons. But even with the salary cap set to jump into the $90MM-$95MM range, inking Parsons to a deal in excess of $20MM per season is a major risk given his injury history. It’s also arguable whether Parsons would be worthy of the amount based on his numbers alone. He’s averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game to go along with his shooting line of .474/.380/.705.

While Parsons is a versatile contributor who possesses a solid skill set, I’d find it difficult to justify paying Parsons top-dollar on his next deal even if he was completely healthy. But that’s merely my opinion and we’re looking for yours. So what say you? Is Parsons worth a salary in excess of $20MM per season given his production and injury history? If so, which team is the likeliest to break the bank to sign him this summer? If you don’t believe Parsons is worthy of top-dollar compensation, what contract parameters do you deem fair for all parties? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/20/16

March 20th, 2016 at 9:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Sacramento point guard Rajon Rondo is in New York tonight for his only game of the season at Madison Square Garden. Next year, there’s a chance he’ll be playing there 41 times.

The market for Rondo was limited when he hit free agency last summer after a disastrous experience in Dallas. He clashed constantly with Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle after Boston traded him there and was benched midway through Dallas’ first-round playoff series, although both sides reportedly agreed to say he was out with a back injury. With few suitors to pick from, Rondo accepted a one-year, $10MM offer from the Kings.

He’ll be a free agent again in a little more than three months, and this time the demand should be much greater. Rondo is averaging a league-best 11.9 assists per game to go with 11.8 points. He’s shooting 45% from the floor, which is his highest mark in four years, and his 3-point percentage is a career-best 35%.

New York is expected to be among the teams lined up for Rondo. The Knicks have made no secret of their desire to improve at the point guard position, and they are projected to have between $21MM and $27MM available to chase free agents.

While Rondo would be an upgrade in New York, there are questions about his ability to run the triangle offense and to adapt to an unfamiliar system after his experience in Dallas. Rondo made some disparaging comments about the philosophy earlier in the season, but he was much more open to it when meeting with reporters prior to tonight’s game. Interim coach Kurt Rambis apparently believes Rondo can succeed in the triangle, though there’s no guarantee Rambis will be with the team next season.

And Rondo won’t be the only available option on the market. Bobby Marks of the Vertical on Yahoo Sports ranks the Grizzlies’ Mike Conley as the top free agent point guard. Conley said he hasn’t ruled out anything when it comes to free agency, and the Knicks are believed to have strong interest in him.

Marks puts Rondo second, followed by Deron Williams, Jeremy Lin, Brandon Jennings, Tyler Johnson, Ish Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, Jerryd Bayless and Mario Chalmers. A return of “Lin-sanity” to New York seems unlikely, given the rumored tensions with Carmelo Anthony, but the Knicks may be looking at every other name on the list.

That brings us to tonight’s topic: Who will be the Knicks’ starting point guard next season? Will this be the year they finally land a big name in free agency? Can Conley be persuaded to leave Memphis, where he has spent his entire career? Would Rondo be able to fit into the triangle? Or will the top free agents pass up New York, leaving the Knicks to solve their point guard problem through a trade?

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

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/19/16

March 19th, 2016 at 7:43pm CST by Arthur Hill

The NBA’s top two teams are meeting tonight for the second time this season as the 58-10 Spurs host the 62-6 Warriors in San Antonio. The Spurs have done their best to present themselves as the most formidable challenger to the Warriors’ throne, lagging just behind Golden State’s record-setting pace all season. However, when the teams met on January 25th, it was a complete mismatch. Stephen Curry put up a 37-point performance as Golden State grabbed a 120-90 victory.

San Antonio made the biggest free agent splash of last summer, adding LaMarcus Aldridge to a franchise that has remained among the NBA’s best throughout Tim Duncan‘s 19-year career. Add in All-Star small forward Kawhi Leonard and a veteran crew loaded with playoff experience, and the Spurs have grabbed their annual spot among the league’s elite teams.

The Warriors made few changes from their title-winning 2014/15 team, keeping their core together when they re-signed Draymond Green to a five-year, $82MM deal and inked Leandro Barbosa to a one-year contract at $2.5MM.

Golden State blitzed through the league for a scintillating 24-0 start, and only the Spurs have gotten close to challenging for the NBA’s best record at any time this season. Both teams have been nearly unbeatable anywhere this season, but especially at home, where the Spurs are 34-0 and Golden State is 32-0.

Each of Golden State’s six losses this season have come in road games against the Bucks, Mavericks, Nuggets, Pistons, Blazers and Lakers. Portland enters tonight in sixth place in the Western Conference playoff race at 36-34, with Dallas in eighth at 34-35, so either would at least know how it feels to beat the Warriors if they wind up as Golden State’s first-round opponent.

That brings us to tonight’s topic: Which team has the best chance of taking down the Warriors in a seven-game series? Is it the Spurs with their experienced roster and one of the league’s best coaches in Gregg Popovich? Or are the Thunder more of a threat with two unstoppable scorers in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook? The Clippers have an intense rivalry with Golden State and appeared headed to a Western Conference Finals showdown last season before letting their series with Houston slip away. Do any of the other Western Conference contenders have matchup advantages against the Warriors that could lead to a major upset?

How about in the East? The Cavaliers put up a good fight in the NBA Finals, despite missing Kevin Love and not having Kyrie Irving after Game 1. Does Toronto have the right mix to challenge Golden State, or maybe Miami, Boston, Atlanta or someone else?

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

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/18/16

March 18th, 2016 at 11:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

Losing a player like Marc Gasol midway through the season would be enough bad luck for any franchise. But for this season’s Grizzlies, it was just the beginning.

Since Gasol had his season ended prematurely by a broken right foot last month, the Grizzlies have been hit by a near-unprecedented rash of injuries. Star point guard Mike Conley developed soreness in his left foot last week and was diagnosed with Achilles tendinitis. Doctors expect to re-evaluate him near the end of the month. Rugged power forward Zach Randolph has missed seven straight games with an aching right knee.

And the injury problems continue all the way down the roster. Here’s a sampling:

Veteran swingman Vince Carter has been out since straining his left calf last Friday.
Center Chris Andersen is rehabbing a left shoulder subluxation, and the Grizzlies are hoping for his return soon.
Second-year shooting guard Jordan Adams is working to recover from surgery on his right knee, and Memphis isn’t sure when he might be available again.
Forward/center Brandan Wright is trying to recover from a sprained right MCL, and the Grizzlies don’t know if he’ll be back before the regular season ends.
Swingman P.J. Hairston was hit with a left groin strain Monday and will be re-evaluated next week. As with many of his teammates, there is no set timetable for his return.

Injuries have struck the Grizzlies so hard that the NBA approved a request to permit the team to carry 18 players, three above the standard minimum. In total, eight players are currently trying to overcome some type of injury, and many nights it’s difficult for coach Dave Joerger to fill out a full rotation.

The only good news in Memphis is that the team built a huge cushion for the playoffs before all the injuries began. Despite losing their last four games, the Grizzlies are 39-30 and still in fifth place in the Western Conference. They hold a five and a half game lead over ninth-place Utah with 13 games left in the season. However, the Grizzlies’ schedule is challenging the rest of the way. Memphis still has two games left with the Clippers and Spurs, as well as meetings with the Raptors, Bulls, Mavericks and Warriors. Seven of their final 13 games are at home.

That leads me to tonight’s Shootaround topic: Can the Grizzlies overcome their injuries and hold on to a playoff spot? What is a realistic record over the final 13 games for a team that used Matt Barnes, JaMychal Green, Ryan Hollins, Tony Allen and Lance Stephenson as its starting lineup Thursday night, backed up by a collection of former D-Leaguers and 10-day signings? Memphis has seen 26 players pass through its roster this season, which would be the most ever for a playoff team.

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

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/17/16

March 17th, 2016 at 11:20pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The NBA regular season has approximately four weeks to go and two teams have created separation from the pack in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavs and Raptors are virtual locks to nab the top two seeds in the East, with the only question being whether Toronto can catch Cleveland and steal away the No. 1 seed. The Raptors are two games back in the loss column.

The real intrigue surrounds which teams will nail down the bottom playoff seeds in the conference. Entering Thursday’s action, the Pistons and Bulls were tied for the seventh and eighth spots but the suddenly revived Wizards are just one and a half games back.

Detroit has lost three of its last four but plays its next eight games at home. The Bulls, who have gone 3-7 over their last 10 games to put their playoff lives in jeopardy, have two fewer home games remaining than the Pistons. However, they do have top scorer Jimmy Butler back in the lineup after he missed 15 of 17 games with a knee injury.

The Wizards have just six home games remaining but have seemingly regained their stride, knocking off the Pistons and Bulls in blowout victories this week.

The sixth-place Pacers have built a four-game cushion on the Wizards, but they cannot feel totally comfortable with their position.

This leads us to our question of the day: Among the Pacers, Bulls, Pistons and Wizards, which Eastern Conference team currently fighting for a playoff berth will fail to reach 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.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/16/16

March 16th, 2016 at 10:54pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Sources close to Knicks team president Phil Jackson recently floated the notion to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com that the Zen Master would consider coaching home games and have interim coach Kurt Rambis lead the team when on the road next season. Jackson has often cited his health as he’s maintained in recent years that coaching is out of the question, but people around the 70-year-old say he appears to have more energy than usual, and he’s reportedly lost 20 of the 30 pounds he gained since taking the Knicks job, according to Shelburne.

It’s unclear what the chances of this kind of arrangement coming to pass are, but it would certainly make for an intriguing compromise if Jackson meets resistance to the idea of hiring Rambis full-time, according to Shelburne’s report. Jackson hasn’t officially committed to keeping Rambis beyond the season, but he has hinted that he’d like to see him earn the removal of his interim tag, which jibes with an earlier report that Jackson was pulling for Rambis to win the permanent job when he named him interim boss. The executive has yet to give any indication he is considering other candidates besides Rambis and many league executives believe he is the Zen Master’s one and only choice for the slot.

Knicks star small forward Carmelo Anthony wasn’t enthusiastic about the notion of Jackson coaching part time and didn’t think it was a realistic option given the executive’s age and health concerns. “Nah, nah, nah. I don’t think that should be accepted,” Anthony said. “I wouldn’t accept that if that was the case. Phil is cool man. He doesn’t need to be on the sidelines no more. He put so many years into this game. He’s cool. He doesn’t need to be on the sideline. I don’t think he’s thinking about coming back down on the sideline. I hope not. Let him ride on out. Let him sit out and be the president.”

This brings me to the topic for today: Would the Knicks benefit from Phil Jackson returning to coaching on a part-time basis?

Jackson’s coaching resume certainly speaks for itself, but he hasn’t patrolled an NBA sideline since the 2010/11 campaign. The game has certainly changed over the past few years and the jury is still out on whether or not the triangle offense, a staple of Jackson’s, is still a viable system in the league. There is also the matter of how players would respond to two coaches leading them and doling out minutes. It could cause a schism within the locker room, especially if Jackson and Rambis differed on the rotation and substitution patterns. It could also place Rambis in an extremely difficult position if players saw him as just a placeholder while on the road and his authority suffered as a result.

But what say you? Is having Jackson as a part-time coach a better alternative to retaining Rambis or hiring a new coach altogether? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/15/16

March 15th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Lakers are going to miss the playoffs for the third straight season, something that almost assuredly won’t sit well with team ownership or the fans. With Kobe Bryant set to retire, the franchise will look markedly different next season. What remains to be seen is if the team will build around its younger players or attempt to remake itself by chasing big-name free agents. Los Angeles certainly has a number of young, intriguing players, but it remains to be seen if any among them are stars who are capable of carrying the franchise back to glory.

According to an informal poll of NBA front office executives, point guard D’Angelo Russell is viewed as having the potential to develop into a franchise-player, but the same sentiment wasn’t shared in regard to 2014 lottery pick Julius Randle, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. The dozen executives Berger polled relayed that Randle is seen more as a piece to the puzzle or an energy guy than a bonafide franchise cornerstone. The scribe also noted that it was conceivable that the Lakers could deal one or both of the duo to land a proven star, adding that the organization’s decision-making this summer will be shaped by whether or not it retains its 2016 first-rounder. The Lakers must convey their pick to the Sixers if they fall out of the top three selections.

This brings me to the topic for today: Should the Lakers focus on building around younger players like D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle, or should the team look to deal them for an established star?

If you think the team should look to trade the young pair, who would be a realistic target? Or do you believe Los Angeles needs to take it slow and rebuild through the draft instead of chasing big names on the open market? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/14/16

March 14th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Dana Gauruder

DeMarcus Cousins was back in the news last week and, not surprisingly, it involved a disciplinary issue. The mercurial Kings big man received a one-game suspension from the team following a verbal tirade directed at head coach George Karl. Cousins then complained that Karl was responsible for the suspension, not the front office.

Cousins’ relationship with the coach has been volatile since Karl took over during the middle of last season. It hasn’t gotten any better this season as Sacramento has fallen out of the playoff race over the past six weeks. Cousins recently aired some his grievances to Yahoo Sports’ Marc J. Spears, complaining that there’s “a lot of chaos” and “extra unnecessary stuff” going on in the organization.

Of course, Cousins’ hot temper often rubs officials the wrong way as well. He leads the league with 15 technical fouls and has also received an ejection.

It’s been widely speculated that Karl won’t return next season, but that doesn’t mean Cousins will get along with his potential replacement. However, Nuggets coach and former Kings head man Michael Malone recently said it’s possible to coexist with Cousins by using as a no-nonsense approach.

“I was real with him, I was honest with him, I coached him, I disciplined him, I held him accountable,” Malone told Mark Kiszla of The Denver Post. “I never tried to be his buddy. I never tried to coach around him.”

No one questions Cousins’ talent. In his sixth NBA season, the 25-year-old is averaging a career-high 27.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.3 blocks per game. With a dearth of quality centers in the league, Cousins would certainly draw plenty of interest if the Kings decided to move him. The Kings could get plenty in return for him, despite all the baggage.

Any possible suitor would have to determine whether Cousins would thrive in another environment, or whether his abrasive personality would lead to locker room strife anywhere he goes.

This leads us to our question of the day: Will the Kings trade DeMarcus Cousins this summer? If so, where do you think he’ll end up?

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.

Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/13/16

March 13th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Millions of people will be watching the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this week in hopes of hopes of filling out a winning bracket and claiming victory in an office pool. But NBA scouts, coaches and executives pay close attention to the tournament for a different reason. The pressures of “March Madness” can reveal a lot about the NBA readiness of players who hope to be selected in June’s draft.

Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress released a new mock draft today, and most of the top prospects will be on display in the tournament. One glaring exception is projected No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, whose college career is over now that LSU has chosen not to participate in any postseason tournament. Brandon Ingram, Givony’s No. 2 selection, is part of a Duke team that is seeded fourth in the West Region. Teammate Grayson Allen is also a projected first-round choice, with Givony listing him at No. 29.

The rest of the U.S. college players in Givony’s first round who made the tournament are as follows.

California: Jalen Brown [3] and Ivan Rabb [14], fourth in the South.
Providence: Kris Dunn [5], ninth in the East.
Utah: Jakob Poeltl [6], third in the Midwest.
Kentucky: Jamal Murray [7], Skal Labissiere [10] and Tyler Ulis [26], fourth in the East.
Oklahoma: Buddy Hield [9], second in the West.
Notre Dame: Demetrius Jackson [11], sixth in the East.
Michigan State: Deyonta Davis [13] and Denzel Valentine [19], second in the Midwest.
Vanderbilt: Damian Jones [15] and Wade Baldwin [17], play-in game in the South.
Maryland: Diamond Stone [16], fifth in the South.
Baylor: Taurean Prince [20], fifth in the West.
Gonzaga: Domantas Sabonis [24], 11th in the Midwest.
North Carolina: Brice Johnson [30], first in the East.

That sets up tonight’s Shootaround topic: Which of these players is most likely to improve his draft position with a standout tournament performance? Hield has been putting up jaw-dropping point totals all season; can he go on a barrage and vault himself into the top five? Can Kentucky’s trio move up the draft board with another trip to the Final Four? Can Johnson, Davis or Valentine impress by making a deep tournament run with a high seed, or is someone like Sabonis or Dunn in better position with a dark horse?

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