Gerald Henderson Rumors

Gerald Henderson Announces Retirement

April 30th, 2019 at 2:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA shooting guard Gerald Henderson has ended his comeback effort and is officially calling it a career. He announced his retirement in an article at CloseUp360.com (written by Magdalena Munao), explaining that health issues are contributing in his large part to his decision to retire at age 31.

“This was not my original plan. My dad played in the NBA for 13 years. I thought that I would do that or more,” Henderson said. “But you find out in life that your plan is not the plan. For me, it’s all what God sets in your plan. So, I’m secure in that because at the end of the day, it’s already written.”

The 12th overall pick in the 2009 draft, Henderson spent the first six years of his career in Charlotte before playing one year for the Trail Blazers and one more year with the Sixers. He last played in the NBA in 2016/17, appearing in 72 games (41 starts) for Philadelphia.

As recently as the 2018 offseason, Henderson was attempting to make it back to the NBA after undergoing a third surgical procedure on his hip. According to Henderson, he was working out for teams in September 2018, but tore his Achilles tendon during a pickup game in Golden State.

“With a torn Achilles, I could have tried to come back and still play,” Henderson said. “But immediately, I was just was, like, ‘I’ve had enough,’ because the process of surgery, which a lot of athletes know, it’s painstaking.

“It takes time and you go through a lot of pain. You go through a lot of stress and mental pain and frustration—all that stuff. And I’ve been through a good amount of it with the amount of surgeries that I’ve had, especially coming back and the way that I did from the hip surgery. It was a big hit for me. So it’s not that I didn’t feel like I could come back, but it just wasn’t worth it to me.”

Over the course of his eight-year NBA career, Henderson averaged 11.2 PPG on .440/.327/.793 shooting in 535 regular season games. The former Duke standout also played in four postseason contests for Charlotte and was a key rotation player for the 2016 Blazers team that fell to the Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Henderson joined the Hornets’ broadcast team at FOX Sports Southeast in January for the second half of the 2018/19 season.

And-Ones: Henderson, Spoelstra, Bol, K. Allen

January 9th, 2019 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Gerald Henderson‘s efforts to make an NBA comeback will be put on hold for now, and perhaps for the rest of 2018/19, according to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link). Sources tell Haynes that the veteran guard is joining the Hornets’ broadcast team at FOX Sports Southeast, apparently for the remainder of the season.

Henderson, who missed the entire 2017/18 season due to a hip injury, spoke back in June about hoping to catch on with an NBA team for the ’18/19 campaign. However, it seems that no opportunities materialized for the former 12th overall pick.

Still just 31 years old, Henderson last played in the NBA for the Sixers, appearing in 72 games for Philadelphia in 2016/17. He averaged 9.2 PPG with a .423/.353/.806 shooting line in a regular rotation role for the club.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

After Tom Thibodeau became the fourth NBA coach in the last two years to lose his dual title of head coach and president of basketball operations, Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports writes that the trend has run its course. While that may be the case for now, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst believes it’s just a matter of time until we see another franchise try it. Windhorst suggests that Heat coach Erik Spoelstra will be a candidate to assume some or all of Pat Riley‘s personnel control when Riley eventually retires.
Within that same ESPN story, Windhorst reports that NBA teams remain “very high” on Oregon center Bol Bol, who was ruled out for the rest of his freshman season after undergoing foot surgery. Clubs will always be wary of big men with foot injuries, but Bol has a solid support system in place, and a number of executives believe he could still be a top-10 pick in June’s draft, per Windhorst.
Former Celtics guard Kadeem Allen, who is playing for the Knicks’ G League affiliate after spending the preseason with New York, spoke to Adam Zagoria for The Arizona Daily Star about his desire to get back into the NBA.

Gerald Henderson Aims For NBA Comeback

June 26th, 2018 at 3:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA shooting guard Gerald Henderson missed the entire 2017/18 season due to a hip injury, but aims to make a comeback for the 2018/19 campaign, writes Jeff Zilgitt of USA Today. Henderson, who had dealt with arthritis in his hip for several seasons, opted for a surgical procedure last year in the hopes of extending his NBA career.

“My hip had deteriorated so much, it was bone on bone,” Henderson said. “It was grinding all day whenever I wanted to move. Working out for any extended period was painful. It was just tough then going home with the family and you’re in pain, you’re just kind of on edge. … Just overall, I was not in a great state of mind, and I had to make that decision, and it was the best decision for myself and my family and for my health.”

After spending a year recovering and rehabbing, Henderson had been cleared for all basketball-related activities and he tells Zillgitt that he hopes to land with a team that’s “committed to winning and can realistically be in a position to win.” However, while the ability to contend will be an important factor for Henderson as he seeks a new NBA home, he doesn’t want to simply sit on the bench for a playoff club — he’d like to have a real role too.

“I don’t intend to go somewhere and just be the veteran voice on the team and watch everybody play and encourage guys, which I absolutely can do – be a great a teammates and a veteran voice – but I intend to do that along with playing and performing well and contributing like I very much have,” Henderson said. “I feel like I’m at my physical prime, and this hip injury is just a bump in the road. It will take me a new place in my career.”

Henderson, who is still just 30 years old, last played in the NBA for the Sixers, appearing in 72 games for Philadelphia in 2016/17. He averaged 9.2 PPG with a .423/.353/.806 shooting line in a regular rotation role for the club.

Gerald Henderson

And-Ones: Tanking, Henderson, Revenue Sharing

April 14th, 2018 at 3:51pm CST by clarkcrum

Despite the actions taken by NBA commissioner Adam Silver this season, tanking still seems to be an issue throughout the NBA, as the system rewards teams for finishing as low as possible in the final standings. Asked about the problem yesterday, Silver stated, “I find it an incredibly difficult issue,” reports Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press.

And while Silver hopes that new rules implemented next season will take some of the incentive of tanking away – the three worst teams will all have a 14 percent chance at the top pick – Silver realizes that the new rules may very well fall short of their intended purpose.

“We recognize that our goal is to put the best competition on the floor and it’s balanced against legitimate rebuilding of some teams. But I know we’re not there yet… I recognize that the incentives are not aligned right now that there’s a huge incentive to increase your chances in the draft lottery especially in the old system. As I’ve said we’re switching the system for next year we’ll see how much of an impact that has.”

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Stan Van Gundy echoes the sentiment that tanking is a serious issue, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. “We have about 10 teams that have gone out of their way to try to ensure they have a better chance to lose,” Van Gundy said. “To me, the essence of sports is two teams playing against each other trying to win… To me, it’s a lack of integrity in your league and lack of respect for your fans.”
Former lottery selection Gerald Henderson plans to make a return to the court next season after a hip injury sidelined him for the 2017/18 campaign, reports Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype. Now over seven months removed from surgery, Henderson says he is cleared for all basketball activities and is working himself back into shape.
During yesterday’s NBA Board of Governors meeting, the board voted to extend the league’s current revenue sharing plan, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. And while the tweaks are complex, the changes will only end up affecting one or two teams in a significant manner, adds Zach Lowe of ESPN.

Atlantic Notes: Russell, Henderson, Covington, Yabusele

August 17th, 2017 at 9:56pm CST by Arthur Hill

D’Angelo Russell‘s first reaction upon being traded from the Lakers to the Nets was excitement over the new opportunity, relays Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily. Russell touched on a wide variety of topics during an interview today on WFAN with Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts. He believes the Nets have an “underrated group of guys” with a mixture of young players and veterans who are ready to exceed expectations.

Russell also brushed aside comments from Lakers executive Magic Johnson about needing a leader and said he’s not upset about being traded. “It’s business, man. That’s how I got to look at it,” Russell said. “A lot of things happen in this league and you don’t agree with it or however you may feel about it and at the end of the day realize it’s business.”

There’s more news from the Atlantic Division:

The Nets will probably add one more veteran before camp, but not on a guaranteed deal, according to a tweet from NetsDaily. Brooklyn still has a little bit of cap space remaining.
Former Sixers guard Gerald Henderson underwent surgery today to repair his left hip, tweets Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. His agent, Jim Tanner, confirmed the surgery and said Henderson will start rehab next week in hopes of returning to the NBA, although there is concern he could be sidelined for the entire season. Philadelphia waived Henderson at the end of June before his $9MM salary for next year became guaranteed.
Sixers forward Robert Covington is an “X factor” on a roster filled with young talent, writes Dennis Chambers of Basketball Insiders. The 26-year-old has been a fixture in Philadelphia’s starting lineup over the past three seasons and provides a blend of 3-point shooting and defense, finishing third in the league last year in Defensive Real Plus-Minus. Covington is entering the final year of his contract at $1.577MM and Chambers speculates that the team wants to get an extension done soon.
Draft-and-stash Celtics big man Guerschon Yabusele is reporting progress after having bone spurs removed from both ankles in May, relays Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Yabusele is looking forward to joining the Celtics this upcoming season after spending last year in China and the G League. He believes he’s close to being medically cleared for a full-speed, on-court workout. “I’ve been running a little bit and doing some bike stuff and just keeping my ankle moving,” Yabusele said. “But I’m ready to go.”

Gerald Henderson May Miss Season With Hip Injury

August 2nd, 2017 at 2:01pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran guard Gerald Henderson is expected to undergo surgery on his hip, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN (via Twitter). Haynes reports that Henderson may miss the entire 2017/18 season as a result of the ailment, while a statement from Henderson’s agency confirms that he’s evaluating surgical options for his troublesome left hip.

“I have been playing through severe pain that has made it difficult to play to the best of my ability,” Henderson said. “Now the pain has started to impact my everyday life off the court. My family, my agent and I are working closely with my medical team to give me all of the information I will need to make the best decision, personally and professionally. I am as competitive as they come and want to play. I will fully commit myself to getting healthy. I am thankful for the many opportunities I’ve had and I look forward to returning to playing in the NBA.”

Henderson, 29, spent the 2016/17 campaign with the Sixers, averaging 9.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, and 1.6 APG in a part-time role for the team. He also had a shooting line of .423/.353/.806.

Despite posting solid numbers for a role player, Henderson was overpriced for ’17/18, with his contract calling for a $9MM salary. Only $1MM of that amount was guaranteed, however, so the Sixers waived the former lottery pick on the last day of June, ensuring that they wouldn’t be on the hook for the remaining $8MM. Henderson has remained on the free agent market since then.

If Henderson’s hip procedure does force him to miss the entire 2017/18 season, he’d be poised to seek out a new team next summer. Missing a full season can result in an uphill battle for a player attempting to work his way back into the NBA, but Henderson has eight solid seasons under his belt and will only be 30 years old in 2018, so he should be able to find a new NBA home if he makes a full recovery.

Cavaliers Notes: Crawford, Osman, Lue, Green

July 8th, 2017 at 7:33pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Cavaliers weren’t able to get into a bidding war for Jamal Crawford because they need to keep enough money to sign Cedi Osman, writes Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Cleveland is well over the cap for the upcoming season and wasn’t willing to give Crawford its entire $5.192MM taxpayer mid-level exception. The Cavs will need at least $816K to sign Osman, who has a $1MM buyout with his Turkish team. Crawford will reportedly sign a two-year, $8.9MM deal with the Timberwolves once he clears waivers. Vardon wrote on Friday that the Cavaliers were the favorites to land Crawford, but the Osman negotiations apparently changed that situation.

There’s more news out of Cleveland:

Coach Tyronn Lue stayed out of negotiations involving former GM David Griffin and front office recruit Chauncey Billups, Vardon writes in a separate piece. “You know how it affects me, he gave me my job,” was Lue’s only response to a question about Griffin at Friday’s summer league game. It was Griffin’s decision to fire David Blatt and replace him with Lue midway through the 2015/16 championship season. A few months after that title, Griffin rewarded Lue with a five-year, $35MM contract. Griffin could have been replaced by Billups, a close friend of Lue, but he turned down a below-market offer reported at $2MM per year. “Any time you get the chance to advance, be the president and GM, it’s always something great,” Lue said. “I know it’s something he always wanted to do. But I just kind of stayed out of the situation because I was so close to Griff, so close to Chauncey, so I didn’t want anything to do with it.”
The Cavs don’t seem worried about Jeff Green‘s drop in production last season, writes Marla Ridenour of The Akron Beacon Journal. They signed the 10-year veteran to a one-year, $2.3MM contract on Friday, with ESPN reporting that LeBron James had “active conversations” with Green before the deal was reached. Green has been with four teams in the past three seasons, and averaged just 9.2 points and 3.1 rebounds with the Magic last year, the lowest figures of his career in both categories.
Cleveland is limited is what it can offer, but Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com put together a list of seven free agents who might be willing to take a little less to join a team that has been to three straight finals. He names Thabo Sefolosha, Tony Allen, Gerald Henderson, Luc Mbah a Moute, C.J. Miles, Rodney Stuckey and Dewayne Dedmon.

Sixers Waive Gerald Henderson

June 30th, 2017 at 4:13pm CST by Austin Kent

The Sixers have waived Gerald Henderson, Sam Amico of AmicoHoops tweets. The eight-year veteran averaged 9.2 points in 72 games for Philadelphia last season.

Per TNT’s David Aldridge, Henderson’s contract worth $9MM in 2017/18 would have become guaranteed had he remained on the roster through the day. Instead Derek Bodner of The Ringer writes that the Sixers will merely be hit with a $1MM cap hold.

Sixers Notes: Noel, Okafor, Henderson, Brown

February 4th, 2017 at 8:51pm CST by Arthur Hill

Philadelphia’s desire to deal Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor is complicated by their declining trade value, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Noel is in the final year of his rookie deal and will be a restricted free agent after the season is over. Any team that acquires him faces the risk that he will receive a large offer that it would have to match to keep him. Okafor’s value is driven down by a hurting right knee, defensive problems and the feeling that his old-school game is only effective in certain systems. The Bulls have reportedly contacted the Sixers about Okafor, but Pompey suspects the best Philadelphia could hope for is a young player and a mid- to late-first-round pick.

There’s more out of Philadelphia:

Okafor has heard about the Bulls’ interest, and says trade talk is nothing new for him, Pompey relays in a separate story. “Trade rumors are something that’s going to be a part of my life probably for as long as I’m in the NBA,” Okafor said. “I’ve been hearing it since I’ve been in the NBA about being traded.”
Many of the players who are helping the Sixers improve now understand that they won’t be around when the team expects to become a contender, notes Steve Aschburner of NBA.com. One example he cites is Gerald Henderson, a 29-year-old guard who has has been an important contributor, averaging 9.7 points per night and starting 29 games. “That’s what the NBA is,” Henderson said. “… You come in and do your job. Focus on that, and you go home. The future of this franchise will be what it’s going to be. They’ll make a decision to get whoever they want to be in this locker room. But for the group that we have, we play for each other. We try to do our jobs and win every night, and that’s it.”
Brett Brown’s former boss, San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, has noticed the challenges Brown has faced in managing a team through “The Process” that involved three straight years of losing and rebuilding, writes Brian Seltzer of Sixers.com. “There’s nobody that could do the job that he’s doing, considering the situation as it has been,” Popovich said. “His demeanor and ability to stay positive and just teach, and get satisfaction out of watching young players absorb things is beyond my comprehension. He’s a consummate teacher, and upbeat individual.”

Eastern Notes: Baynes, Heat, Sixers, Humphries

November 16th, 2016 at 11:57am CST by Dana Gauruder

Aron Baynes is a “starting-caliber center” and Pistons coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy knows it will be difficult to retain him beyond this season, he acknowledged to the assembled media. Baynes, who can opt out of the final year of his three-year, $20MM contract after the season, racked up 20 points and eight rebounds against the Thunder on Monday with Andre Drummond sidelined by ankle injury. “As the president, I’m not supposed to say this because the guy can be a free agent,” Van Gundy said. “You’re not supposed to promote him but he’s a starting center in the NBA. He’s just playing behind an All-Star. You look around at all the starting centers and Aron’s a starting-caliber center in the league, so it’s not surprising he played as well as he did.” The Pistons signed restricted free agent Boban Marjanovic this summer to a three-year contract in part to protect themselves if they’re unable to re-sign Baynes.

In other news around the Eastern Conference:

Heat second-year forward Justise Winslow is out indefinitely with a left wrist injury, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Winslow, who is shooting 33.1% from the field, has been nagged by the injury for a few weeks, though X-rays were negative, Jackson adds. “I don’t want to come back too soon and then I take three steps forward and 10 steps backward,” Winslow told Jackson. “I want to get it to where it’s feeling 100 percent, where if I do hit against something, it doesn’t hurt. … I was doing my best to play through it. I could play through it, but it’s a long season.”
Gerald Henderson says the Sixers cannot use injuries as a crutch for another poor start, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Ben Simmons, Nerlens Noel and Jerryd Bayless have been sidelined but the veteran shooting guard is alarmed by the team’s lack of energy. “We do have some good, talented guys and good young guys, and we have enough to be able to compete better than we are,” Henderson told Pompey. “So, we just need to give better effort.” Henderson joined the Sixers on a two-year, $18MM contract this summer, though the second year is not guaranteed.
Hawks power forward Kris Humphries has re-signed with veteran agent Dan Fegan, Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal tweets. Humphries, who signed a one-year, $4MM contract with Atlanta this offseason, was being represented by Jason Renne and Josh Ketroser. Humphries fired Fegan, who works under the agency Independent Sports & Entertainment, in 2011. Fegan represents a number of NBA players, including DeMarcus Cousins and Chandler Parsons.