- According to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News, the Mavericks have recalled rookie forward Isaiah Roby from the Texas Legends, two days after originally assigning him.
Despite some speculation that they might shop him, the Kings aren’t believed to be entertaining trade offers for Bogdan Bogdanovic at this time, as one general manager tells Sean Deveney of Heavy.com.
“That’s not something they’re looking at too seriously now as far as anyone can tell,” the GM said. “They’re probably going to have to, but that’s not something to rush into. There would be a good market for Bogdanovic if they figure they can’t go far right now, but (the Kings) are still looking at how to make all of this work this season.”
There are number of factors contributing to trade speculation involving Bogdanovic. The Kings recently locked up Harrison Barnes and Buddy Hield to deals worth in excess of $20MM per season, and will likely have to invest heavily in De’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley III within the next few years, creating uncertainty about whether the club would also want to pay big money to Bogdanovic. The Kings reportedly offered him a four-year, $51MM+ extension, but he hasn’t accepted it, and two ESPN reporters have heard he’s not thrilled about the idea of coming off the bench long-term in Sacramento.
On the other hand, Bogdanovic has denied that he’s unhappy with his role, and Deveney hears from a league source that the Serbian swingman hasn’t expressed any dissatisfaction to the Kings. It’s also worth noting that Bogdanovic could still accept that four-year extension offer during the season, since his eligibility didn’t expire on opening night. Plus, the Kings will face no cap restraints when it comes to retaining Bogdanovic and their other players, since he, Fox, and Bagley would all reach the market as restricted free agents. It could simply come down to how much Sacramento wants to spend.
The Kings have plenty of time to assess their options on Bogdanovic and see if they can turn things around after an 0-4 start. Even if they keep the 27-year-old through the 2019/20 season and bring him back as a restricted free agent, it wouldn’t prevent Sacramento from considering a trade down the road.
If Sacramento does listen to inquiries on Bogdanovic, the Knicks and Mavericks are expected to be among the clubs kicking the tires, according to Deveney, who notes that Dallas has had interest in the past. Deveney believes that the Kings should be able to get a first-round pick in return for Bogdanovic. Currently, New York owns two of Dallas’ future first-round picks.
Every night during the NBA G League season, Hoops Rumors provides the assignments and recalls by each team. With training camps now open, here are Monday’s assignments and recalls from around the G League:
- Bulls swingman Chandler Hutchison was assigned to the Windy City Bulls, the Bulls’ PR department tweets. Hutchison, who recently had his contract option for the 2020/21 season picked up, is working his way back from a hamstring injury.
- As expected, the Grizzlies assigned former lottery pick Josh Jackson to the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ PR department tweets. That was the plan all along when Memphis acquired the former Suns forward this offseason and he attempts to jump-start his career.
- Undrafted rookie guard Jalen Lecque was assigned to Northern Arizona by the Suns, according to the team’s Twitter feed.
- The Jazz assigned Miye Oni to the Salt Lake City Stars, Tony Jones of The Athletic tweets. The rookie guard out of Yale was selected with the 58th overall pick in June.
- The Timberwolves assigned forward Keita Bates-Diop, guard Jaylen Nowell and center Naz Reid to their Iowa affiliate, according to a team press release. Bates-Diop was a second-round selection last year, while Nowell was chosen in the second round this June. Reid is an undrafted rookie out of LSU.
- The Mavericks assigned rookie forward Isaiah Roby to the Texas Legends, Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Roby, who played at Nebraska, was chosen in the second round in June and acquired in a draft-night deal.
- The Sixers assigned swingman Zhaire Smith to the Delaware Blue Coats, the team’s PR department tweets. Smith, a 2018 first-round selection, recently had his 2020/21 contract option picked up by Philadelphia even though he missed most of his rookie campaign due to injuries.
- The Hornets assigned rookie forward Jalen McDaniels to the Greensboro Swarm, according to a team press release. McDaniels, a second-round pick, made his NBA debut on Friday.
- Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts, who had Seth Curry on his roster last season, views the sharpshooter as a “really good fit” for the Mavericks, writes Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News.
Dennis Smith Jr. has become the scapegoat for Knicks‘ fans in an 0-3 start, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Smith turned in his third straight ugly performance last night in the team’s home opener, missing all three of his shots in 11 minutes and falling to 1-of-11 for the season. He was 3-of-17 in two preseason games after returning from a back issue. Fans booed loudly when he was in the game and started a “We want Frank” chant in the second half, referring to little-used guard Frank Ntilikina.
Smith is being singled out because he was the key piece the team received in the January trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to Dallas. Porzingis has recovered from a torn ACL and is averaging 23.5 PPG in his first two games with the Mavericks. The trade also gave the Knicks enough cap room to sign two max-level free agents, but they missed on their top targets, further angering their fans.
“Our fans are passionate. I get it,’’ Fizdale said of the reaction to Smith. “The kid is obviously struggling. We’ll look at the situation and continue to adjust. (The fans) know what they like and what they want. It doesn’t do anything to my mindset. I’m going to coach this team.’’
There’s more this morning from New York:
- Fizdale told reporters that Ntilikina will eventually get a chance to earn playing time and hinted that a shooting slump is keeping him out of the lineup, Berman adds in the same piece. The 2017 lottery pick has been on the court for three total minutes this season. “It’s three games in,’’ Fizdale said. “It’s not like 20 games into the season. But other guys will get opportunities. That’s how it will work. You either perform and get it done or you’re not. (Ntilikina is) overthinking it and pressing it. He’s mentally tough and he’s struggling right now, but he’ll find his way out of it.’’
- Marcus Morris had an unusual free agent experience this summer, verbally committing to the Spurs before switching to the Knicks when they made a better offer. However, that could have been avoided if the Celtics had tried to keep him, tweets A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. “I guess that’s the business,” Morris said. “I thought I at least deserved a phone call, but it is what it is.”
- At age 19, RJ Barrett looks ready for any challenge, including a game-deciding battle with Kyrie Irving, observes Steve Popper of Newsday.
Trevon Duval has signed a G League contract and is eligible for this Saturday’s draft, Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days tweets. Duval was a two-way player for the Rockets last season and became a free agent when the team didn’t give him a qualifying offer this summer. He was claimed by Houston in March after the Bucks waived him. The former Duke guard made three cameo appearances with Milwaukee.
We have more from around the basketball world:
- Journeyman center Hasheem Thabeet, former Lakers guard Vander Blue, and forward Trey Mourning, son of Alonzo Mourning, are some of the more interesting names on the list of players eligible for the G League draft, according to a league press release. The Northern Arizona Suns have the first pick.
- There are 108 international players from 38 countries and territories on current NBA rosters, according to a league press release. The most-represented countries among the 108 international players on opening-night rosters are Canada (16 players), Australia (nine players), France (eight players), Croatia (seven players) and Serbia (six players). The Mavericks lead the league with seven international players.
- Zion Williamson‘s knee injury created disappointment for the NBA’s TV partners, as Joe Vardon of The Athletic explains. TNT and ESPN wanted nationally-televised games featuring the Pelicans during the opening week of the season to showcase Williamson. They were stuck showing the Pelicans without the top pick in the draft on the court because it was too late to make a change. Vardon goes in-depth on how the national TV schedule is designed and notes that the Lakers play 21 of their 30 nationally -televised games after New Year’s Day because the networks wanted to feature LeBron James and Anthony Davis during the team’s playoff push.
- Amida Brimah, the former UConn center who was in training camp with the Pacers, has suffered a torn right ACL, Scott Agness of The Athletic tweets. He was slated to join Indiana’s G League team, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Brimah will undergo surgery next week, Agness adds.
The Mavericks have placed former UCF forward Chad Brown on waivers, according to a press release issued today by the club. Brown, who was just signed on Thursday, is expected to be designated as an affiliate player for Dallas’ G League team, the Texas Legends.
Brown primarily came off the bench during his four college seasons, averaging 4.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 1.0 BPG in 33 games (17.3 MPG) as a senior in 2018/19. He went undrafted this spring and joined the Magic for Summer League play in July.
Dallas now has 17 players under contract — 15 on fully guaranteed standard contracts and a pair on two-way deals. The roster is regular-season ready, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the Mavs are done making moves.
The 2019/20 NBA regular season will get underway in just four days, which means it’s time to get serious about predictions for the upcoming campaign.
With the help of the lines from a handful of sports betting sites, including Bovada and BetOnline, we’re running through the predicted win totals for each of the NBA’s 30 teams, by division. In a series of team-by-team polls, you’ll get the chance to weigh in on whether you think those forecasts are too optimistic or too pessimistic.
Having already looked at the other five divisions, we’re moving onto the Southwest today…
Houston Rockets
- 2018/19 record: 53-29
- Over/under for 2019/20: 54.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Rockets poll.
San Antonio Spurs
- 2018/19 record: 48-34
- Over/under for 2019/20: 46.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: DeMarre Carroll, Trey Lyles, Luka Samanic, Keldon Johnson
- Note: Dejounte Murray returning from season-long injury.
- Lost: Davis Bertans, Dante Cunningham, Quincy Pondexter, Donatas Motiejunas
- Added: DeMarre Carroll, Trey Lyles, Luka Samanic, Keldon Johnson
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Spurs poll.
Dallas Mavericks
- 2018/19 record: 33-49
- Over/under for 2019/20: 41.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Delon Wright, Seth Curry, Boban Marjanovic, Isaiah Roby
- Note: Kristaps Porzingis returning from season-long injury.
- Lost: Dirk Nowitzki, Trey Burke, Devin Harris, Salah Mejri
- Added: Delon Wright, Seth Curry, Boban Marjanovic, Isaiah Roby
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Mavericks poll.
New Orleans Pelicans
- 2018/19 record: 33-49
- Over/under for 2019/20: 39.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Pelicans poll.
Memphis Grizzlies
- 2018/19 record: 33-49
- Over/under for 2019/20: 27.5 wins
- Major offseason moves:
- Added: Ja Morant, Tyus Jones, Jae Crowder, Brandon Clarke, Grayson Allen, Marko Guduric, De’Anthony Melton, Solomon Hill, Miles Plumlee, Andre Iguodala (not expected to play), Josh Jackson (starting season in G League)
- Lost: Mike Conley, Avery Bradley, Delon Wright, Justin Holiday, Joakim Noah, Chandler Parsons, C.J. Miles, Jevon Carter, Tyler Dorsey, Tyler Zeller
Trade Rumors app users, click here for Grizzlies poll.
Previous voting results:
- Philadelphia 76ers (54.5 wins): Over (54.9%)
- Boston Celtics (49.5 wins): Under (57.0%)
- Toronto Raptors (46.5 wins): Under (59.1%)
- Brooklyn Nets (43.5 wins): Over (58.3%)
- New York Knicks (27.5 wins): Under (54.9%)
- Milwaukee Bucks (57.5 wins): Over (63.5%)
- Indiana Pacers (46.5 wins): Over (56.6%)
- Detroit Pistons (37.5 wins): Over (69.8%)
- Chicago Bulls (33.5 wins): Under (56.2%)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (24.5 wins): Under (70.0%)
- Miami Heat (43.5 wins): Over (61.8%)
- Orlando Magic (41.5 wins): Over (52.0%)
- Atlanta Hawks (33.5 wins): Over (60.2%)
- Washington Wizards (26.5 wins): Under (65.5%)
- Charlotte Hornets (23.5 wins): Under (71.2%)
- Denver Nuggets (53.5 wins): Over (51.8%)
- Utah Jazz (53.5 wins): Under (50.8%)
- Portland Trail Blazers (46.5 wins): Over (78.7%)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (35.5 wins): Under (57.5%)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (32.5 wins): Under (55.1%)
- Los Angeles Clippers (54.5 wins): Over (53.9%)
- Los Angeles Lakers (51.5 wins): Over (50.3%)
- Golden State Warriors (48.5 wins): Over (54.3%)
- Sacramento Kings (38.5 wins): Over (66.2%)
- Phoenix Suns (29.5 wins): Under (61.8%)
The Mavericks have signed former UCF forward Chad Brown to an Exhibit 10 contract, a league source tells Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Brown will likely be cut before Monday and designated as an affiliate player for Dallas’ G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.
Brown primarily came off the bench during his four college seasons, averaging 4.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 1.0 BPG in 33 games (17.3 MPG) as a senior in 2018/19. He went undrafted this spring and joined the Magic for Summer League play in July.
The Mavericks now have 18 players under contract, including 15 on guaranteed salaries and two on two-way contracts.
The Mavericks have waived Aric Holman and Dakota Mathias, the team announced today in a press release. The team’s training camp roster now sits at 17 players, as Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News tweets.
Mathias was not selected in the 2019 NBA Draft after spending four seasons at Purdue. The shooting guard is a candidate for the team’s G League affiliate, the Texas Legends.
The Mavericks claimed Holman off waivers earlier this offseason from the Lakers, though the big man was never expected to make the regular season roster. Like Mathias, Holman could also find his way onto the Legends.