- The Pistons have assigned rookie guard Khyri Thomas to their G League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Thomas, who has averaged 19.7 PPG in six NBAGL games so far, figures to suit up for the Grand Rapids Drive when they host Long Island tonight.
- Glenn Robinson III, a 39.3% three-point shooter during his three years with the Pacers, got off to a bit of a slow start with the Pistons. However, Robinson – who is shooting 33.3% from downtown so far this season – tells Chris McCosky of The Detroit News that he’s still confident he’ll be a good fit in Detroit once he gets fully up to speed after missing most of the 2017/18 season.
Over the course of the 2018/19 NBA season, up until February’s trade deadline, we’re keeping an eye on potential trade candidates from around the NBA, monitoring their value and exploring the likelihood that they’ll be moved. Each of these looks at possible trade candidates focuses on a specific division, as we zero in on three players from that division.
When we launched our 2018/19 Trade Candidate series last month, we began with the Central, where Kyle Korver and Robin Lopez were among the players that appeared to be available. Having worked our way through the NBA’s other five divisions since then, we’re circling back to the Central, which features several more viable candidates to be dealt, including one veteran who made headlines today.
Here’s our latest look at a few possible trade candidates from the Central…
J.R. Smith, G
Cleveland Cavaliers
$14.72MM cap hit; partially guaranteed salary ($3.87MM of $15.68MM) in 2019/20
Shortly after Smith reiterated his desire to be traded and expressed his belief that the Cavaliers aren’t trying to win, word broke that he and the team would be spending some time apart. Smith was already one of the league’s most obvious trade candidates. Now, he’s entered the Carmelo Anthony zone — Smith will remain away from the Cavs while his reps and the team’s front office try to find a trade.
If Smith was still making 37.5% of his three-pointers and providing the Cavs with solid minutes like he did last season, it’d be easier for the club to make a deal. Instead, he’s struggling with his shot (.342 FG%, .308 3PT%), raising uncertainty about whether he’s worth the investment for any potential suitors.
If they hope to get even a low second-round pick for Smith, Cleveland will have to be willing to take on some multiyear money from a team that needs another wing and wants to maximize its 2019 flexibility. The Pelicans, who could offer Solomon Hill‘s contract, could be one viable option.
Justin Holiday, G
Chicago Bulls
$4.38MM cap hit; unrestricted free agent in 2019
Like teammate Robin Lopez, Holiday is a veteran on an expiring contract who looks expendable for the lottery-bound Bulls. Holiday may not provide as much on-court value as Lopez, but he has a more team-friendly cap hit and is on track for a career year.
In 17 games (all starts) so far this season, Holiday is averaging 11.9 PPG and 3.6 RPG to go along with career highs in APG (2.3), SPG (1.6), and 3PT% (.400). Not only is he making 40% of his three-point attempts, but he’s knocking down a career-best 2.9 per game.
The 29-year-old isn’t an elite three-and-D wing and his advanced numbers are a little troubling — the Bulls have a -15.4 net rating when Holiday plays, compared to +4.0 when he sits. Still, he’s a solid low-cost, low-risk contributor who could net the Bulls a second-round pick at the deadline.
Jon Leuer, F/C
Detroit Pistons
$10MM cap hit; guaranteed $9.51MM salary in 2019/20; UFA in 2020
Leuer’s on-court value has slipped in the last couple years as he has battled injuries and has been mostly relegated to the bench even when he’s healthy. However, he could be the salary-matching piece the Pistons need to include in a deal to upgrade on the wing.
Leuer’s $10MM cap hit for this year matches up well with a number of mid-level type players, and his deal, which declines in value to $9.5MM next season before expiring in 2020, isn’t an albatross.
The Pistons currently rank 29th in the NBA in three-point shooting percentage, so improving that 31.6% figure will be a priority this winter, even after Luke Kennard returns to action. Courtney Lee could be a target, using Leuer and a draft pick as bait. Even J.R. Smith, discussed above, could be a potential match for the Pistons using a similar package.
Previously:
- NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Central (10/25)
- NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Atlantic (10/31)
- NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Southeast (11/6)
- NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Northwest (11/8)
- NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Southwest (11/15)
- NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Pacific (11/16)
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he would discuss holding a future All-Star Game in the city of Detroit with Arn Tellem, the vice-chairman of the Pistons, Gregg Krupa of the Detroit News reports. The Pistons are playing their second season at Little Caesars Arena, which is also the home of the NHL’s Red Wings. “I’m sure we’ll be talking about it,” Silver said during a business trip to the city. The state of Michigan hasn’t seen an All-Star Game since 1979, when it was held in the Pontiac Silverdome. The Pistons’ former home, The Palace of Auburn Hills, never hosted the event.
We have more news from around the basketball world:
- Former Heat and Cavaliers big man Okaro White is close to signing with Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to a Eurobasket.com report which was relayed by Sam Amico. White appeared in six games with Miami last season after seeing action in 35 games with the Heat the previous season. The Cavaliers signed him to 10-day contracts last season but he didn’t play. He was waived by Cleveland in August and then by the Spurs in October after joining them for training camp.
- The G League’s Austin Spurs acquired the returning rights to guard John Holland and a 2019 second-round pick from the Canton Charge, the Cavs’ affiliate, in exchange for small forward Jaron Blossomgame, according to a press release from the G League club. Holland had a two-way contract with the Cavaliers last season and played 24 games, posting an average of 2.3 PPG in 7.3 MPG. Holland appeared in one game this season with the Cavaliers before being waived on November 9th. Blossomgame, the Spurs’ second-round pick in 2017, spent the last two seasons with Austin but has yet to make his NBA debut.
- The Warriors, Sixers, Lakers and Pelicans are the most likely landing spots for Carmelo Anthony once he’s waived by the Rockets, Matt Eppers of USA Today opines. Anthony could help each of those teams to varying degrees, mainly as a second-unit player.
Here are Sunday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Magic recalled rookie wing Melvin Frazier from their Lakeland affiliate, according to the team’s PR department (via Twitter). Frazier has only appeared in two games for the Magic so far this season.
- The Pistons recalled Henry Ellenson, Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown from the Grand Rapids Drive, according to a press release from the team.
- Pistons shooting guard Luke Kennard will be out a few more weeks, according to the team’s latest medical update. Kennard suffered a right shoulder AC joint sprain on October 25th. Kennard’s rehabilitation process will continue for an additional two weeks with a gradual intensification towards basketball activity. That suggests Kennard, a second-year guard, won’t be back until sometime next month.
Here are Friday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Pistons have assigned third-year forward Henry Ellenson and rookie guards Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown to the Grand Rapids Drive, Keith Langlois of the team’s website tweets. That will allow the trio to play in two Drive home games this weekend, Langlois notes. The Pistons are in the midst of a rare four-day layoff and there’s no need for any of them to remain with the NBA club during that stretch.
- The Celtics have recalled center Rob Williams, forward Guerschon Yabusele and guard Brad Wanamaker from the Maine Red Claws, the team’s PR department tweets. All three started in the Red Claws’ loss to Raptors 905 on Thursday, combining for 52 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.
- The Magic have assigned guards Isaiah Briscoe and Melvin Frazier Jr. to Lakeland, allowing them to get some game action against Greensboro on Friday, the Magic’s PR department tweets. Briscoe, an undrafted point guard, has played five games with Orlando this season. Frazier, a second-round pick in June, has seen action in two NBA games.
- The Grizzles recalled rookie guard Jevon Carter for the team’s morning shootaround, re-assigned him to the Memphis Hustle for afternoon practice, then recalled him once again in time for the team’s game against the Kings on Friday, the team’s PR department tweets. Carter, an early second-rounder, is still looking to make his NBA debut.
Dwane Casey made his return to Toronto on Wednesday, guiding the Pistons to a 106-104 victory over the Raptors in his first game back since being fired as Toronto’s coach. The Raptors made the surprising decision to let go of Casey after his team was swept by the Cavaliers in the spring.
“Nobody likes getting fired,” Casey told Rod Beard of The Detroit News. “If anybody expects you to like who fired you or be happy with that, that’s not realistic. The fans are some of the best fans in all of sports, whether it’s soccer, baseball or basketball.
“From that standpoint, there are no hard feelings, but you always have a (figurative) two-by-four on your shoulder for the person who fired you when you were doing well.”
Casey’s peers believed he was doing well, voting for him to win the Coach of the Year award around the time he was dismissed from Toronto. Wednesday’s victory could signify a sense of revenge against his former team.
“It is specifically pointing the finger at me — and that’s their prerogative,” Casey said. “They said I was the problem. I know what we did over a seven-year period there and starting from the rebuilding, developing and in the lottery to where they are now.
“They can’t take that away. A lot of people can take credit for all the good and put all the bad on me — and that’s fine.”
There’s more out of the Atlantic division tonight:
- The Celtics could benefit from starting Marcus Smart, A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston writes. “I’d like to see us find some consistency at some point,” head coach Brad Stevens said. “I think that it’s not consistent, whatever our issues are.” The Celtics have started the 2018/19 season with an 8-6 record.
- Kyrie Irving downplayed his call for the Celtics to sign another veteran, explaining his comments to the media this week. “I wasn’t speaking about anyone specific,” Irving said, according to Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. “I just was speaking to like a vet that’s been through a championship run, through championship runs, that’s able to be patient with this team as well as understand what we’re going through of just figuring out the pieces and how they mesh well together.” Celtics general manager Danny Ainge claimed he hasn’t spoken to Irving about his comments.
- Nets training camp invitee Mitch Creek is continuing to pursue his dream of becoming an NBA player, as relayed by NetsDaily. Creek, 26, called the Nets “an elite program everywhere you go” and praised the coaching staff, performance team and others. He currently plays for the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate.
Here are Thursday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Bucks have recalled Sterling Brown from the Wisconsin Herd, the team announced (Twitter link). Brown scored 23 points and made five threes in the Herd’s loss to the Mad Ants on Wednesday.
- The Sixers reassigned Jonah Bolden to the Delaware Blue Coats, tweets Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Bolden has played six games with Philadelphia this season.
- The Pistons assigned and then later recalled Henry Ellenson, Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown, announcing the news in a pair of press releases.
- The Celtics assigned Guerschon Yabusele and Brad Wanamaker to the Maine Red Claws, the team announced (Twitter link). The Red Claws played the Raptors 905 on Thursday, with the Celtics set to play the Raptors on Friday.
- The Wizards have assigned Thomas Bryant to the Capital City Go-Go, announcing the news on their website. Bryant will travel with the Go-Go for their game against the Wisconsin Herd on Friday.
- The Grizzlies recalled then assigned Jevon Carter to the Memphis Hustle, the team’s G League affiliate, announcing the news on Twitter.
- The Magic have recalled Isaiah Briscoe and Melvin Frazier Jr. from the Lakeland Magic, the team tweets. Orlando hosts the Lakers on Sunday.
Here are Sunday’s assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Kings assigned rookie big man Harry Giles to their G League affiliate in Stockton, according to a press release from the team.
- The Hornets recalled rookie point guard Devonte’ Graham from the Greensboro Swarm, per a press release from the team.
- The Magic recalled Isaiah Briscoe and Melvin Frazier Jr. from their Lakeland affiliate, according to a tweet from the team’s PR department.
- According to a tweet from the Clippers‘ PR department, the team has assigned rookie guard Jerome Robinson and Sindarius Thornwell to the Agua Caliente Clippers.
- The Timberwolves recalled rookie Keita Bates-Diop from their G League affiliate in Iowa, according to a press release from the team.
- The Grizzlies assigned rookie point guard Jevon Carter to the Memphis Hustle, per a tweet from Grizzlies’ PR.
- The Wizards have assigned Chasson Randle to their G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go.
- The Thunder announced in an email that they have assigned Abdel Nader to the Oklahoma City Blue.
- The Pistons recalled both Henry Ellenson and rookie guard Khryi Thomas, according to an email sent from the team.