- 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.
- Dwight Powell‘s absence from the Mavericks is preventing the team from getting a look at him alongside Kristaps Porzingis, writes Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. Powell, who suffered a left hamstring strain on the fifth day of training camp, is expected to miss the rest of the preseason. “There are no excuses,” head coach Rick Carlisle said after the team’s loss against Milwaukee on Friday. The Bucks finished the game shooting 50% from the field. “We would be doing better, certainly, if Powell was out there, but that isn’t how this game works. You have to concentrate on the guys that you have available.”
- The Mavericks have brought back Nick Van Exel to the organization as a pro personnel scout, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times (Twitter link). Van Exel holds coaching experience with the Texas Legends, G League affiliate of the Mavericks, from 2014-16, also suiting up for Dallas as a player during the 2002/03 season.
The Mavericks have waived Yudai Baba, as Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News relays (via Twitter).
Baba played in three preseason games for the Mavericks. The Japanese shooting guard scored 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per contest.
Baba was never expected to make the regular season roster for the Mavericks, though playing for the Texas Legends of the G League remains a possibility. Dallas’ roster now sits at 19 players.
Kristaps Porzingis “felt natural” as he returned to the court tonight for the first time since suffering an ACL injury in February of 2018, tweets Eddie Sefko of Mavs.com. Porzingis’ shot was rusty as he hit just 7-of-18 from the field and 2-of-7 from 3-point range. Still, he manged 18 points in 19 minutes, along with seven rebounds and two assists.
“All good,” he said afterward. “The main thing for me is to be calm. Be focused and be calm on the court.”
The game marked Porzingis’ debut in a Mavericks uniform and his first time playing alongside Rookie of the Year Luka Doncic, who led the team with 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
“It’s easy to play with him, super-easy,” Porzingis said. “The looks he got us and how much attention he draws away from me and everybody else, it makes it so much easier. I’m excited going forward.” (Twitter link)
There’s more from the Lone Star State:
- Mavericks guard J.J. Barea is back to normal nine months after surgery on a ruptured right Achilles tendon, Sefko writes in a full story. Barea didn’t accompany the team on its current road trip, but expects to play Friday night. “I’m feeling better than I thought I was going to,” he said. “I still got a way to go. But the more I play, the more I move, it gets better.”
- Chris Clemons is hoping his scoring prowess is enough to earn a roster spot with the Rockets, relays Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. The 5’9″ guard won’t get regular playing time in a backcourt that includes James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Eric Gordon, but he may catch on as an extra point guard or possibly on a two-way contract. “I’m just enjoying the opportunity I’ve been given and working every day to try to make this roster,” Clemons said. “Hopefully, I’ll make the roster and be a full-time NBA player. But that’s stuff I can’t control. I’m just playing my game.”
- The Spurs are limiting Dejounte Murray‘s playing time to 20 minutes per game as he works his way back from an ACL injury that cost him all of last season, according to Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. Coach Gregg Popovich said Murray has more gained trust in his knee after playing in two preseason games. “We worry, as you would with someone who hasn’t played in that long of a time, but he went full bore with every minute we gave him,” Popovich said. “He got knocked down a couple times and twisted all around, and I think he gained a lot of confidence.”