Hoops Rumors Originals

Community Shootaround: Rookie Of The Year Race

Widely considered a strong contender to be picked No. 1 overall leading up to the 2020 draft, LaMelo Ball ultimately fell to No. 3, where he was snatched up by the Hornets. Now, less than two months into his rookie year, he’s showing why picking him first overall may have been the right move.

Through his first 26 games, Ball is leading all NBA rookies in PPG (14.3), APG (6.1), and SPG (1.4), and his 5.8 RPG ranks second only to James Wiseman‘s 6.1. Ball has been even better as of late, pouring in 21.6 PPG on .488/.440/.900 shooting to go along with 6.8 APG and 5.4 RPG in his last eight games.

That hot streak included Ball’s first NBA start, on February 1, and John Hollinger of The Athletic suggests it’s hard to imagine the rookie ever coming off the bench again. The 19-year-old has already improved by “leaps and bounds” since even the start of the season, according to Hollinger, who says Ball may already be the best player on Charlotte’s roster and looks fully capable of destroying the narrative that the 2020 draft didn’t have a superstar-caliber at the top of the class.

So far, Ball’s full-season numbers aren’t as impressive as those put up by Luka Doncic in 2018/19 or Ja Morant in ’19/20, but he’s quickly emerging as the overwhelming favorite to join those players in earning Rookie of the Year honors. Few other players from the 2020 class have had a major impact on their respective teams so far, and not many are in position to enter a starting lineup and take another huge leap forward like Ball has.

For now, Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton and Warriors big man Wiseman look like Ball’s top challengers for the Rookie of the Year award. Haliburton is averaging 12.0 PPG and 5.3 APG with a .455 3PT% off the bench for Sacramento, while Wiseman, who began the season as Golden State’s starting center, has recorded 12.2 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 1.3 BPG.

However, it’s hard to imagine Haliburton taking on a much greater role this season than the one he already has (he’s averaging 29.4 minutes per game), while Wiseman figures to experience some ups and downs as he continues to adjust to the NBA on a veteran-led squad competing for a playoff spot.

We want to know what you think. Are you already penciling in Ball as the probable Rookie of the Year winner, barring an injury? Or is this race still very much up in the air, with Haliburton and Wiseman in the mix along with other potential challengers like Anthony Edwards, Cole Anthony, and Immanuel Quickley?

Head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!

Eight Notable Players Who Recently Became Trade-Eligible

Most of the players who signed new contracts as free agents in the fall of 2020 became eligible this past weekend to be traded. That list includes a handful of major offseason additions, such as Hornets forward Gordon Hayward, who can now technically be dealt.

Of course, just because a player can be traded doesn’t mean there’s any chance he will be. While many notable players became trade-eligible on February 6, it’s merely a technicality for the ones like Hayward who aren’t going to be brought up in any trade discussions this season.

Today then, we’re focusing on several newly trade-eligible players who are noteworthy not because of their star power but because they’re viable candidates to be moved in advance of this season’s March 25 trade deadline.

Approximately 90 players became trade-eligible on Saturday, so the list below makes up less than one-tenth of that group. You can check out the full list here.

Here are eight notable players who are now eligible to be traded:

  1. Rajon Rondo (Hawks): The Hawks signed Rondo to be a reliable backup to point guard Trae Young, but that hasn’t happened yet — the veteran has battled injury issues and is averaging career lows in several categories, including PPG (3.4) and FG% (.345). If Atlanta gets impatient and seeks out a new backup for Young, Rondo would be a clear candidate to be included in a deal, though his second guaranteed year will hurt his trade value.
  2. Aron Baynes (Raptors): Like Rondo, Baynes was signed to a deal worth a little less than the full mid-level in the hopes he could bring a much-needed consistency to his role for a new team. Like Rondo, Baynes has struggled and has posted a career-low field goal percentage (39.7%) so far. The veteran center continues to start game for the Raptors, but he has been outplayed by backup Chris Boucher, and his pseudo-expiring contract (next season is non-guaranteed) could be dangled if Toronto pursues a frontcourt upgrade.
  3. Wayne Ellington (Pistons): The offseason signing of Ellington to a guaranteed minimum-salary contract looked like an odd move for a rebuilding Pistons team, but the veteran sharpshooter has thrived in Detroit this season, knocking down a career-best 49.1% of his three-point attempts. The 6-18 Pistons appear unlikely to contend for a play-in spot, so teams in need of a low-cost floor-spacer will likely be inquiring on Ellington.
  4. Willie Cauley-Stein (Mavericks): Cauley-Stein was a regular part of the Mavericks’ rotation in the early going this season, starting 10 games and playing reasonably well. But since Kristaps Porzingis has shifted to center, Cauley-Stein’s playing time has plummeted — he hasn’t seen the floor at all in Dallas’ last two games. The big man’s contract gives him the ability to veto trades, but if he isn’t going to be part of the Mavs’ rotation, he may welcome a change of scenery.
  5. Elfrid Payton (Knicks): Payton has established himself as the Knicks’ starting point guard and seems to have emerged as a Tom Thibodeau favorite. However, with Derrick Rose and Immanuel Quickley also in the point guard mix, the Knicks have the flexibility to consider moving Payton and his expiring contract — at least one playoff contender has reportedly shown interest. The 26-year-old does have the ability to veto a trade, however, so he’d have to be sent to a destination he’d approve.
  6. Hassan Whiteside (Kings): Sacramento signed Whiteside late in free agency for the veteran’s minimum, and his role so far reflects the fact that he may not have been part of the team’s initial plans. He’s averaging just 14.1 minutes per game, easily his lowest mark since he returned to the NBA in 2014. Whiteside’s impressive box-score numbers generally oversell his impact on winning, but a team in need of depth at center could do worse than adding one of the league’s best shot-blockers on a minimum-salary deal.
  7. Tristan Thompson (Celtics): While Thompson has been fine as the Celtics’ starting center, the team figures to be in the market for a frontcourt upgrade prior to this year’s deadline. Unless the C’s find a move that allows them to use their big trade exception without sending out any salary, Thompson and his $9.3MM salary would be a logical outgoing piece.
  8. Meyers Leonard (Heat): If the Heat attempt to make a splash on the trade market, they have no shortage of players on sizeable expiring contracts who could be used for salary-matching purposes. Leonard, who will miss the rest of 2020/21 after undergoing shoulder surgery, looks like the most expendable of the bunch now, since he’s the only one who won’t be able to contribute on the court this season.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

G League Ignite Eager To Start Season Under Veteran Leadership

Driven by veteran leadership and featuring several high-level young players, the G League Ignite are finally ready to tip off their inaugural season, with games set to begin on Wednesday in a familiar bubble format at Walt Disney World in Florida.

The Ignite, founded as a development program by the NBA last year, possess a unique roster: veterans Jarrett Jack, Amir Johnson, Reggie Hearn, Donta Hall, Bobby Brown, Brandon Ashley, Cody Demps, and Jessie Govan will play alongside young prospects Jalen Green, Jonathan Kuminga, Isaiah Todd, Daishen Nix, Kai Sotto, and Princepal Singh. It’s an intriguing mix that has quickly gelled during its time together, led by former NBA head coach Brian Shaw.

“Jarrett Jack, Amir, Donta, Reggie, Bobby Brown, Brandon Ashley, Cody Demps — they’re all like big bros to us,” said Green, a projected 2021 lottery pick. “They get on us when we’re not doing good, they talk to us, watch film with us, talk about life with us. We connect with them on that level. It’s been very helpful just to have someone there that we call a big bro.”

A professional alternative to college basketball, this program aims to give young players like Green unique training and education — both on and off the court — to ensure they’re prepared for the road that lies ahead. They learn from veterans, participate in essential life programs coordinated by the G League, and compete against other professionals, all while being eligible to earn up to $500K in salary, depending on the specific terms of their contract.

Green became the first player to join the Ignite back in April 2020, bypassing top schools such as Auburn, Memphis and Oregon. Soon after his announcement, fellow five-star recruits Todd and Nix also formally committed to the Ignite, with the 7’3″ Sotto making his decision to leave the Philippines and join the team a short time later. Kuminga, who was touted as the top player in the class of 2021, re-classified to the class of 2020 and fortified the Ignite’s young core by signing in July. Singh joined shortly thereafter.

“I think everybody understands that our team is unique in terms of the other G League teams. We’re not a feeder team for one particular NBA team,” Shaw said. “So, in terms of that, even though our title is the ‘G League Ignite,’ we’re not a ‘G League’ team, per se. This team was specifically created for this pilot program to develop and teach these young guys how to be professionals on and off the court. 

“Everyone here was kind of hand-selected and pieced together to fit as best possible. That part has been nice because I think the group of veterans we have fit seamlessly with the young guys we have. They all like each other. They’ve all been good teammates to each other. It’s been a pleasure to coach them all.”

Brian Shaw speaks to Luka Walton prior to the Lakers' game against the Kings at Golden 1 Center in December 2016.Shaw started his coaching career as an assistant with the Lakers in 2004. The run included two NBA championships and lasted until 2011, when he left to join the Pacers’ coaching staff. Shaw helped guide Indiana to Eastern Conference Finals berths in 2012 and 2013, then served as head coach of the Nuggets from 2013-15 before returning to the Lakers as an associate head coach for the next three seasons. He was hired as the Ignite’s first coach last summer. 

Simply put, the man knows basketball, but he also recognizes the importance of giving back. Shaw entered the league in 1988 as part of a veteran-laden Celtics team, with future Hall-of-Famers such as Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish showing him the ropes as a rookie. The process has continued with the Ignite this year, where veterans have done their best to assist young players as the regular season nears.

“For us young guys, it was great having a steady core of veterans to teach us the right way to do things — how to have some longevity in the league, eat right, take care of your body and things of that nature,” Shaw explained. “In putting this whole thing together, it was important to get the right veterans to do the same thing for these young guys.”

The Ignite added veterans in waves. Johnson, Hearn, Brown, Demps and Ashley joined the team in November, with Jack and Hall coming aboard in January and Govan filling out the roster last week. The final two additions are certainly noteworthy; Jack holds 13 years of NBA experience, while Hall logged NBA minutes with the Pistons and Nets last season. Hall played with Brooklyn during the 2020 summer restart, meaning he’s back for a second stay at the Disney bubble, a subject his teammates constantly joke about with him.

“I feel like the talent around, the up-and-coming (ability) of these guys is just amazing,” Hall said of his teammates. “And we have Coach Shaw. I’m telling you, the man is intelligent with the game. And he breaks it down so simple for the guys. Even me, I’m still learning small aspects of the game. He’s been in (coaching) about 13, 14 years. It might be even longer than that. But I’ve been picking his brain a little bit also. I’m learning the game just like the rest of us. The whole process has been great.”

Despite being 23 years old and the youngest veteran on the team, Hall holds valuable experience — and he’s eager to help his teammates in any way possible. The 6’10” big man might have been thrown into the mix late, but that hasn’t stopped him from sharing any knowledge he can.

“When I first got here, it was nothing but love,” Hall said. “I was getting my brain picked about small stuff I do on and off the court. Especially guys like JG (Green), Prince (Singh), IT (Todd), and those guys, asking me a couple questions and stuff. It’s good that I can be there. I’ve experienced (the NBA) for a year or so now. I’ve been through the upper league and the G League, stuff of that nature.”

The Ignite initially began training in Walnut Creek, California back in August. The team started without its veterans, but as they arrived, things started to change. Like all new teams, the Ignite required a feeling-out process. After all, this wasn’t just the first time most of the players were sharing the court together — it was the first time most had even met one another.

“At first, I think the young guys were a little shy,” Shaw recalled. “They kind of kept to themselves. But as they started working with the vets, started developing a little bit more trust and started opening up and sharing things — they’ve all kind of gravitated toward different vets at different times — but it’s been really organic, the way that it’s come together. 

“I haven’t had to script anything or premeditate any messaging that I want the veterans to get across to the young guys. They’ve just kind of done it organically and naturally. When they see an opportunity to jump in and make a point of saying something on the court, they do it.”

When the team first began its workouts, young players mostly held individual sessions. But as the veterans joined and the bubble continued to near, practices were gradually ramped up. The competitive fire of both the veterans and prospects increased, with scrimmages later being introduced to the schedule.

“It gets very intense,” Green said. “We talk trash. My team always wins for sure, though.”

Even as the intensity of practices and scrimmages has escalated, the goals have remained the same: make sure the team is ready for Disney, but at the same time, keep an eye on the future by ensuring each young player is mentally and physically prepared for what comes next. Some veterans may be looking to prove they still have something left in the tank, but that hasn’t interfered with those overarching goals.

As Shaw noted, different players have gravitated to different veterans to this point. One veteran from whom Green has frequently sought advice is Hearn, a 29-year-old otherwise referred to as “Uncle Reg” by his teammates (don’t believe us, check out this recent social media post by the man himself). This is Hearn’s eighth season in the G League, making him one of the NBAGL’s longest-tenured players — only four players have appeared in more career G League games than Hearn’s 271.

“Uncle Reg was one of the first veterans here,” Green said. “We got to connect on a good level. He was already open to sharing the problems that he went through and just trying to help us. So that was a big, cool thing for us, just so we could feel comfortable. With us in general, you know, they’ve been here before. They’ve been in this position. They just try to give us as much knowledge as they can.”

As one of the first veterans to arrive, Hearn set the tone early. He embraced the role of a veteran leader and was always willing to give advice and pointers, sometimes in the middle of practice.

“When situations come up or I see various things that happen when we practice, if it’s not right away pointing it out, I might take a guy aside afterward, show them particular things that I’ve seen and give them suggestions,” Hearn explained, noting that the onus isn’t just on the coaches to do this. “In both of those ways, like I’ve said before, help them to prepare for what the program is like. Help them transition from what I think is a very different style of ball in high school and AAU to what they need to be prepared for in the NBA.”

This month’s Disney bubble will provide most G League players with the opportunity to play in competitive games for the first time in several months — or even upwards of a year. COVID-19 has complicated the Ignite’s plans, but it hasn’t diminished the palpable energy within the team. Despite the wide gaps in age and experience among various members of the roster, the Ignite are a well-connected unit. 

“They’re young, but they learn very, very quick,” Hall said of his teammates. “Small things on and off the court. They love the game, they study the game — stuff they should and shouldn’t do — they already know things of that nature. With them picking our brain and stuff like that, it also helps them in the long run.”

“Most of what any of us learned comes from what we’ve seen or been taught,” Hearn added. “So, as a leader, someone has taught me. I would be neglecting the natural chain of events, the natural way of things moving if I didn’t try to teach what I know. Hopefully the guys can take some of the best of what I do and say, along with some of the best of what other vets do and say and combine it all. 

“Going forward into these games, I would hope some of the things we’ve been saying to them will stick in their mind. Hopefully we could get them into pretty solid routines and habits that will just naturally come out when they play. Most people will tell you that when you’re out there on the court, most things are subconscious and instinctual. So we’re going to see what’s been sticking with them once we get out on the court. We’re going to see what’s come out based on what we’ve practiced.”

At long last, the Ignite are ready to show what they’re about. The condensed G League season officially starts on Wednesday, and the Ignite will tip things off later this morning with a matchup against Jeremy Lin and the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Each team will play a total of 15 regular-season games between February 10 and March 6, with the top eight teams advancing to a single-elimination playoff tournament from there.

“My mindset is locked in on that championship,” a confident Green said. “I’m very happy with where our team is right now and how much we’ve grown together. We’re just locked in.”


Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

2021 NBA Free Agent Stock Watch Series

Over the course of the 2020/21 NBA league year, we’re keeping an eye on 2021’s free-agents-to-be, monitoring their value and assessing how their play on the court will impact upcoming contract negotiations. Each of these looks at potential 2021 free agents focuses on a specific division, as we zero in on a handful of players from those few clubs.

Each installment in our Free Agent Stock Watch series looking ahead to the 2021 offseason is linked below, along with an outline of which players we discuss in each piece.

We’ll continue to update this page – which can be found under the “Hoops Rumors Features” sidebar of our desktop page, or in the “Features” section of our mobile site – as we add new entries over the coming weeks and months.


Eastern Conference

Playoffs

  • June 17
    • Lou Williams (Hawks) ⬆️
    • Jeff Green (Nets) ⬆️
    • Reggie Jackson (Clippers) ⬆️
    • Mike Conley (Jazz) ⬇️
  • June 11
    • Andre Drummond (Lakers) ⬇️
    • Serge Ibaka (Clippers) ⬇️
    • Langston Galloway (Suns) ⬇️
    • Tim Hardaway Jr. (Mavericks) ⬆️
  • June 5
    • Elfrid Payton (Knicks) ⬇️
    • Evan Fournier (Celtics) ⬇️
    • Duncan Robinson (Heat) ⬆️
    • Alex Len (Wizards) ⬇️

Atlantic

  • April 16
    • Blake Griffin (Nets) ⬇️
    • Dwight Howard (Sixers) ⬇️
    • Reggie Bullock (Knicks) ⬆️
    • Gary Trent Jr. (Raptors) ⬆️
  • March 12
    • Bruce Brown (Nets) ⬆️
    • Nerlens Noel (Knicks) ⬆️
    • Aron Baynes (Raptors) ⬇️
    • Jeff Teague (Celtics) ⬇️
      • Note: Teague has since been traded to the Magic and waived.
  • January 22
    • Chris Boucher (Raptors) ⬆️
    • Dennis Smith Jr. (Knicks) ⬇️
      • Note: Smith has since been traded to the Pistons.
    • Furkan Korkmaz (Sixers) ⬇️
    • Daniel Theis (Celtics) ⬆️
      • Note: Theis has since been traded to the Bulls.

Central

  • April 23
    • Frank Jackson (Pistons) ⬆️
    • Denzel Valentine (Bulls) ⬇️
    • Doug McDermott (Pacers) ⬆️
    • Bryn Forbes (Bucks) ⬆️
  • March 5
    • T.J. McConnell (Pacers) ⬆️
    • Saben Lee (Pistons) ⬆️
    • Jarrett Allen (Cavaliers) ⬆️
    • Thaddeus Young (Bulls) ⬆️
  • January 29

    • Wayne Ellington (Pistons) ⬆️
    • Andre Drummond (Cavaliers) ⬆️
      • Note: Drummond has since been bought out.
    • Tomas Satoransky (Bulls) ⬇️
    • Bobby Portis (Bucks) ⬆️

Southeast

  • May 7
    • Nemanja Bjelica (Heat) ⬇️
    • Daniel Gafford (Wizards) ⬆️
    • John Collins (Hawks) ⬆️
    • James Ennis (Magic) ⬇️
  • March 19
    • Moritz Wagner (Wizards) ⬇️
      • Note: Wagner has since been traded to the Celtics.
    • Kris Dunn (Hawks) ⬇️
    • Duncan Robinson (Heat) ⬆️
    • Devonte’ Graham (Hornets) ⬇️
  • February 5
    • Malik Monk (Hornets) ⬆️
    • Tony Snell (Hawks) ⬇️
    • Kendrick Nunn (Heat) ⬇️
    • Ish Smith (Wizards) ⬇️

Western Conference

Northwest

  • May 14
    • Norman Powell (Trail Blazers) ⬆️
    • Georges Niang (Jazz) ⬆️
    • Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Thunder) ⬇️
    • Austin Rivers (Nuggets) ⬆️
  • March 26
    • Mike Conley (Jazz) ⬆️
    • JaMychal Green (Nuggets) ⬇️
    • Kenrich Williams (Thunder) ⬆️
    • Harry Giles (Trail Blazers) ⬇️
  • February 19
    • Hamidou Diallo (Thunder) ⬆️
      • Note: Diallo has since been traded to the Pistons.
    • Naz Reid (Timberwolves) ⬆️
    • Gary Trent Jr. (Trail Blazers) ⬆️
      • Note: Trent has since been traded to the Raptors.
    • Will Barton (Nuggets) ⬇️

Pacific

  • May 28
    • Kawhi Leonard (Clippers) ⬆️
    • Cameron Payne (Suns) ⬆️
    • Alex Caruso (Lakers) ⬆️
    • Hassan Whiteside (Kings) ⬇️
  • April 9
    • Nicolas Batum (Clippers) ⬆️
    • Andre Drummond (Lakers) ⬆️
    • Damion Lee (Warriors) ⬇️
    • Frank Kaminsky (Suns) ⬇️
  • February 27
    • Kelly Oubre (Warriors) ⬆️
    • Markieff Morris (Lakers) ⬇️
    • Langston Galloway (Suns) ⬇️
    • Jabari Parker (Kings) ⬇️
      • Note: Parker has since been waived.

Southwest

  • May 21
    • DeMar DeRozan (Spurs) ⬇️
    • Lonzo Ball (Pelicans) ⬆️
    • Josh Richardson (Mavericks) ⬇️
    • Kelly Olynyk (Rockets) ⬆️
  • April 2
    • Justise Winslow (Grizzlies) ⬇️
    • Gorgui Dieng (Spurs) ⬆️
    • Boban Marjanovic (Mavericks) ⬇️
    • Avery Bradley (Rockets) ⬇️
  • February 12
    • Lonzo Ball (Pelicans) ⬆️
    • Trey Lyles (Spurs) ⬇️
    • Tim Hardaway Jr. (Mavericks) ⬆️
    • DeMarcus Cousins (Rockets) ⬇️
      • Note: Cousins has since been waived.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Southeast Division

Throughout the season, Hoops Rumors takes a closer look at players who will be free agents or could become free agents this off-season. We examine if their stock is rising or falling due to performance and other factors. This week, we take a look at players from the Southeast Division:

Malik Monk, Hornets, 23, SG (Up) – Signed to a four-year, $15.7MM deal in 2017

Monk has forced his way back into Charlotte’s rotation — 36-point explosions will do that for you. Monk’s scoring outburst led the Hornets to an overtime victory against Miami on Monday. That was sandwiched by an 18-point game against Milwaukee and a 13-point output against Philadelphia. A 2017 lottery pick, Monk has never shot better than 34.2% from deep in his first three seasons and bottomed out at 28.4% last season. He’s made 52.5% of his long-range shots this season. Charlotte would have to extend Monk a $7MM+ qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent this summer. The Hornets might opt to deal him this winter but Monk will continue to pump up his value if he keeps shooting like this.

Tony Snell, Hawks, 29, SG (Down) – Signed to a four-year, $46MM deal in 2017

Snell had a player option that was much too lucrative to turn down last offseason. When he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, he’ll be looking at substantially smaller offers that the one he received from Milwaukee in 2017. Snell started regularly for Detroit last season but he hasn’t gotten much floor time with Atlanta despite several injuries to wing players. He played a season-high 24 minutes against Utah on Thursday but once De’Andre Hunter and Bogdan Bogdanovic return to action, Snell will reside at the end of the bench once again.

Kendrick Nunn, Heat, 25, SG (Down) – Signed to a three-year, $3.1MM deal in 2018

Nunn was one of the league’s feel-good stories last season, an undrafted rookie who graduated from the G League to become a starter with the Heat, then finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting after averaging 15.3 PPG and 3.3 APG in 67 regular-season games. However, he lost his starting job in the Orlando bubble following a bout with COVID-19 and hasn’t regained it this season. Nunn was playing regularly when Jimmy Butler battled the virus last month but he has fallen completely out of the rotation the last three games. Avery Bradley‘s latest injury should allow him to regain his spot. Nunn’s qualifying offer is a meager $2.1MM if he doesn’t meet the starter criteria, so he’ll likely become a restricted free agent. Still, it’ll be harder to land a big offer sheet from another club if his playing time continues to wildly fluctuate.

Ish Smith, Wizards, 32, PG (Down) – Signed to a two-year, $12MM deal in 2019

Smith has carved out a nice career as a second-unit sparkplug. He’s always been capable of tossing in a 20-point night with his quickness and driving ability. Those outings haven’t occurred this season. He’s only reached double digits once despite averaging a steady 20.7 MPG. He’s still making a positive contributor with his passing – he’s averaged 7.0 assists the last five games – but he’s 1-for-12 from the field in his last two games despite playing 54 minutes. At 32, Smith will find it increasingly difficult to get offers ahead of younger players. That reality could strike as early as this summer.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

NBA Dates, Deadlines To Watch In February

In a normal NBA season, the 2021 trade deadline would be right around the corner, but due to the league’s new-look calendar for the 2020/21 campaign, it won’t arrive until March 25 this year. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still a number of dates and deadlines in February worth keeping an eye out for. Here’s a roundup of some of the most notable ones:


Ninety players will become eligible to be traded

Typically, December 15 marks the date that most offseason free agent signees become eligible to be traded. This season, that date is February 6. A total of 89 players will have their trade restrictions lifted on Saturday, with Raptors wing Paul Watson joining that group later in the month, on February 25.

All 90 of those players just signed new contracts with their respective clubs in November or December, so not many will become immediate candidates to be dealt. Still, not having to deal with those trade restrictions should make it easier for teams to negotiate and complete deals in the coming weeks.

The NBA G League season tips off

It took a while to come together and it certainly won’t look like a normal G League season, with only 18 of 29 teams in action at a bubble location in Walt Disney World. But there’s an extra incentive to keep an eye on the NBAGL in this abridged 2020/21 season, with the G League Ignite entering the fold.

The new select team is made up of several G League veterans and a handful of NBA prospects who chose to play in the NBAGL for a year instead of attending college. Jalen Green and Jonathan Kuminga are the biggest names on the squad — both are projected top-five picks in the 2021 draft. They’re on track to make their professional debuts on February 10 against the Santa Cruz Warriors on the G League’s opening night.

Teams can begin signing players to 10-day contracts

Tim Frazier, Yogi Ferrell, and Jordan Bell have technically signed 10-day contracts already this season, but those transactions were only permitted because their teams – the Grizzlies, Cavaliers, and Wizards, respectively – were approved for a hardship exception, allowing them to temporarily add a 16th man. If a team doesn’t qualify for the hardship provision, it can’t sign a player to a 10-day contract until February 23.

Once that date arrives, we should expect to see a handful of teams begin completing 10-day deals, whether to meet minimum roster requirements, to add a short-term injury replacement, or to take a flier on a young player with upside.

We extensively outlined the details of 10-day contracts and explained how they work in our glossary entry on the subject.

Non-guaranteed salaries become guaranteed

Instead of the usual January 10 date, February 27 is the day that all non-guaranteed NBA contracts for 2020/21 will officially become guaranteed. However, February 24 will really be the day to watch.

If a team wants to avoid having a salary become guaranteed, the player must clear waivers before February 27, which means he needs to be cut on February 24 at the latest.

Many players without fully guaranteed salaries are in no danger of being waived by that deadline, but some teams will take the opportunity to save a little money and open up a roster spot. Currently, there are 29 players with non-guaranteed salaries, for an average of about one per team.

Community Shootaround: Mavericks’ Outlook

A year ago, the Mavericks had one of the best offenses in NBA history, led by MVP candidate and First Team All-NBA guard Luka Doncic. Dallas led the league with a 115.9 offensive rating, and while the team was only the seventh seed in the West, there was a sense that it would build on its 43-32 record in 2020/21 and solidify itself as a contender.

Instead, the Mavs have gotten off to a disappointing start in ’20/21. Hampered by some health issues and additional absences related to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, Dallas currently ranks 13th in the West with an 8-13 record, and is in the midst of a six-game losing streak.

The Mavericks’ defense is posting similar numbers to the ones it did a year ago, but the offense has taken a major step back. Dallas’ 109.0 offensive rating is 21st in the NBA, and the club has been the worst three-point shooting team in the league so far — its 32.8% mark from beyond the arc is dead last by a full percentage point.

Outside of Tim Hardaway Jr., who is converting 39.0% of his 7.7 three-point attempts per game, the Mavs’ top long-distance shooters simply aren’t making enough shots. Doncic (29.3%), Kristaps Porzingis (30.2%), Dorian Finney-Smith (32.3%), and Josh Richardson (28.6%) launch a combined 24 threes per game and are all making well below their career rates — all but Finney-Smith have posted career-worst percentages so far.

While it’s safe to assume that the Mavs’ fortunes will reverse to some extent if some of those shots start falling, there are still reasons to be concerned about the club. Porzingis, who is coming off another knee procedure, may not be capable of being the second star who can take some of the pressure off of Doncic, and the rest of the supporting cast is somewhat hit and miss.

As the Mavs look to break out of their slump against Atlanta tonight and Golden State tomorrow, we want to get your thoughts on their outlook. Is it just a matter of time until they regain the form that made them the NBA’s best offense a year ago? Are there any adjustments they need to make to their lineup, rotation, or game plan? Are roster changes necessary, or should the team wait until the offseason – when it will have a significant chunk of cap room open – to make any major moves?

Head to the comment section below to weigh in with your two cents on Dallas’ recent struggles and what they mean going forward!

NBA G League Affiliate Players For 2020/21

Throughout the offseason and preseason, NBA teams are permitted to carry 20 players, but that total must be cut down to 15 (plus a pair of two-way players) in advance of opening night. However, up to four players waived by teams prior to the season can be designated as “affiliate players” and assigned to their G League squads.

As we explain in our glossary entry on the subject, if a player’s NBA team has designated him as an affiliate player and he signs a G League contract, he is automatically assigned to that team’s NBAGL roster.

Affiliate players represent just one group of players who can be found on an NBA G League roster. Teams can also carry returning-rights players (whose G League rights carry over from a previous season), players selected in the NBAGL draft, players who earned spots via tryouts, players who are on assignment from an NBA roster, and players on two-way contracts.

Each year, we list the affiliate players on G League rosters because they share a common noteworthy trait — they were all on NBA rosters, at least briefly, prior to the start of the regular season. But if you’re curious about the rest of a given G League team’s roster, you can find it on that team’s official website.

Here are the 58 NBA G League affiliate players who will be part of the 17 NBAGL affiliate squads to start the 2020/21 season:

Brooklyn Nets (Long Island Nets):

Charlotte Hornets (Greensboro Swarm):

Cleveland Cavaliers (Canton Charge):

Golden State Warriors (Santa Cruz Warriors):

Houston Rockets (Rio Grande Valley Vipers):

Indiana Pacers (Fort Wayne Mad Ants):

Los Angeles Clippers (Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario):

Memphis Grizzlies (Memphis Hustle):

Minnesota Timberwolves (Iowa Wolves):

New Orleans Pelicans / Washington Wizards (Erie BayHawks):

Note: The Pelicans and Wizards are sharing operating costs of the BayHawks and are both permitted to assign affiliate players to the roster.

New York Knicks (Westchester Knicks):

Oklahoma City Thunder (Oklahoma City Blue):

Orlando Magic (Lakeland Magic):

Philadelphia 76ers (Delaware Blue Coats):

San Antonio Spurs (Austin Spurs):

Toronto Raptors (Raptors 905):

Utah Jazz (Salt Lake City Stars):

NBA G League Affiliations For 2020/21 Season

In recent years, the NBA has gradually moved closer to establishing a 30-team G League, with each NBAGL club directly affiliated with an NBA franchise. During the 2019/20 season, 28 of the NBA’s 30 teams had their own affiliates — the Trail Blazers and Nuggets represented the only outliers.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic and a handful of other factors, that march toward a G League full of 30 NBA affiliates has taken a detour in 2020/21.

The G League has introduced one franchise, the G League Ignite, that’s not affiliated with any NBA team, with another unaffiliated squad on the way for 2021/22, when the Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico are expected to enter the fray.

Meanwhile, the Pistons purchased the Suns‘ G League affiliate and will relocate the team to Detroit in ’21/22, leaving Phoenix without an affiliate of its own. However, neither the Pistons nor the Suns will have an NBAGL squad in action in ’20/21 anyway, since the revamped G League season at Walt Disney World will only include 17 of 28 affiliates.

Here’s the full list of the G League affiliates who will be participating in the 2020/21 season:

  1. Brooklyn Nets: Long Island Nets
  2. Charlotte Hornets: Greensboro Swarm
  3. Cleveland Cavaliers: Canton Charge
  4. Golden State Warriors: Santa Cruz Warriors
  5. Houston Rockets: Rio Grande Valley Vipers
  6. Indiana Pacers: Fort Wayne Mad Ants
  7. Los Angeles Clippers: Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario
  8. Memphis Grizzlies: Memphis Hustle
  9. Minnesota Timberwolves: Iowa Wolves
  10. New Orleans Pelicans: Erie BayHawks
    • Note: The Washington Wizards will be sharing the costs and operations of the BayHawks this season.
  11. New York Knicks: Westchester Knicks
  12. Oklahoma City Thunder: Oklahoma City Blue
  13. Orlando Magic: Lakeland Magic
  14. Philadelphia 76ers: Delaware Blue Coats
  15. San Antonio Spurs: Austin Spurs
  16. Toronto Raptors: Raptors 905
  17. Utah Jazz: Salt Lake City Stars

This group of teams will be joined by the unaffiliated Ignite, whose roster is made up partly of NBA prospects who chose to play in the NBAGL (rather than attend college) before entering the draft, and partly of G League veterans who will serve as mentors to those young prospects.

Here’s the full list of G League franchises that won’t be in action this season:

  1. Atlanta Hawks: College Park Skyhawks
  2. Boston Celtics: Maine Red Claws
  3. Chicago Bulls: Windy City Bulls
  4. Dallas Mavericks: Texas Legends
  5. Detroit Pistons: Grand Rapids Drive
  6. Los Angeles Lakers: South Bay Lakers
  7. Miami Heat: Sioux Falls Skyforce
  8. Milwaukee Bucks: Wisconsin Herd
  9. Phoenix Suns: Northern Arizona Suns
  10. Sacramento Kings: Stockton Kings
  11. Washington Wizards: Capital City Go-Go

This would have been the last season that Grand Rapids was the Pistons’ affiliate and Northern Arizona was affiliated with the Suns. The Northern Arizona franchise will be relocated for 2021/22 and will become the Motor City Cruise, the new affiliate for the Pistons.

The Grand Rapids franchise reportedly hopes to remain in the G League as an unaffiliated team. Theoretically, an NBA club without an affiliate could enter into an agreement with the Drive, but the location wouldn’t be very geographically convenient for the Suns, Trail Blazers, or Nuggets.

Additionally, the plan is for Mexico City’s Capitanes to enter the G League in 2021/22, with the Erie BayHawks (the Pelicans’ affiliate) relocating to Birmingham, Alabama for the 2022/23 season.

If the Suns, Trail Blazers, and Nuggets look to establish affiliates in the coming years, we could eventually see a G League that features upwards of 32 teams. For this season though, barely over half that number will be in action when the NBAGL regular season schedule tips off on February 10 at Disney World.

Two-Way Players Making Bids For Promotions

Players on two-way contracts are free to appear in NBA games, but there are limitations on the amount of time they can spend with their respective NBA teams. Even in 2020/21, with those restrictions loosened a little, each two-way player can only appear in 50 of his team’s 72 games, assuming he signed before the season began.

[RELATED: Hoops Rumors Glossary: Two-Way Contracts]

While 50 games should be more than enough for most teams to get through the season without maxing out the eligibility of their two-way players, some have emerged as regular rotation pieces for their respective clubs and are likely to reach the 50-game mark before season’s end, barring an injury.

In order to remove those restrictions, a team has to promote a two-way player to its 15-man roster, either converting him to a rest-of-season, minimum-salary contract or negotiating a new multiyear deal.

While it’s a little early in the 2020/21 season to determine which two-way players will ultimately end up being promoted to 15-man rosters, a handful of players on two-way deals have made strong cases for standard contracts in the early going.

Here are some of the top candidates to receive promotions among this year’s two-way players:


Jordan McLaughlin (Timberwolves)

McLaughlin spent the 2019/20 season on a two-way contract with the Timberwolves and played well enough to earn a standard deal in the offseason, having averaged 7.6 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game with a .489/.382/.667 shooting line in 30 contests (19.7 MPG).

A restricted free agent, McLaughlin reportedly received a multiyear contract offer from Minnesota, but it would’ve been a team-friendly deal that included multiple non-guaranteed years. The 24-year-old opted to bet on himself instead, playing another year on a two-way contract and hoping for a better opportunity when he returns to the free agent market in the summer of 2021.

We’ll have to wait to see whether or not that was the right call, but so far it doesn’t look like last season was a fluke. With D’Angelo Russell, Ricky Rubio, and Anthony Edwards in the picture, there are fewer backcourt minutes to go around, but McLaughlin has played well in a limited role, with 5.5 PPG, 4.1 APG, and .455/.375/.800 shooting in 17.2 MPG (11 games).

Garrison Mathews (Wizards)

Like McLaughlin, Mathews was on a two-way contract last season and played well, but ended up having to take another two-way deal. He’s once again proving that he deserves consideration for a promotion, with 8.9 PPG and 1.4 SPG on .429/.405/.889 shooting through 10 games (19.7 MPG).

Unfortunately for Mathews, the Wizards currently have a full 15-man roster made up of mostly non-expendable players. If the team cuts recent signee Alex Len at some point or makes a trades that opens up a roster spot, that could create an opportunity for Mathews.

Yuta Watanabe (Raptors)

Invited to training camp on an Exhibit 10 contract alongside other NBA veterans like Henry Ellenson and Alize Johnson in the fall, Watanabe played his way onto the 17-man regular season roster, with the Raptors converting his non-guaranteed camp deal into a two-way contract at the end of the preseason.

Since then, Watanabe who spent the last two years on a two-way deal with the Grizzlies, has gradually been making a case for more playing time. His box-score numbers (3.9 PPG and 3.4 RPG) are modest, but he’s been hot from three-point range so far, knocking down 12-of-25 attempts (48.0%) and is providing energy and defensive itensity off the bench.

In Toronto’s last five games, Watanabe has been one of the team’s most-used bench players, logging 18.8 minutes per game and bumping his averages to 8.0 PPG and 5.0 RPG.

Since releasing Len, the Raptors have been holding an open spot on their 15-man roster. If that spot doesn’t get filled in a trade at some point in the coming weeks, Watanabe looks like the best bet to fill it before the end of the season.

Others to watch:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.