Hoops Rumors Originals

2019 NBA Free Agent Power Rankings 2.0

December 7th, 2018 at 2:20pm CST by Luke Adams

When we published the first installment of our 2019 NBA free agent power rankings back in September, there were a few more big names on track for the open market next summer. However, Karl-Anthony Towns – who placed No. 2 on that list – signed a rookie scale extension with the Timberwolves and Myles Turner did the same with the Pacers.

With those top restricted free agents off the board, there are still a handful of 2019 RFAs-to-be who show up in our top 20, but the very top of our list consists almost exclusively of players who will be unrestricted free agents.

That should make 2019’s free agent period particularly interesting. After all, even if Towns hadn’t signed an early extension with Minnesota and was still on our list, there would be little drama surrounding his free agency — the Wolves had the ability to match any offer and would have done so, if necessary.

That’s not the case for unrestricted free agents though. This year’s top FAs, including Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, and Kawhi Leonard, could secure slightly longer and more lucrative contracts if they stay with their current teams, but otherwise there’s nothing stopping them from jumping ship. And there are no guarantees they won’t do so, which could make 2019 one of the most exciting NBA offseasons in recent years.

With all that in mind, our updated list of the top potential free agents for 2019 is below. Extensions, injuries, breakout years, trades, and poor performances figure to affect these rankings over the course of the 2018/19 campaign, so we’ll be revisiting the list again before the end of the season to make updates and changes.

Our list reflects each player’s current expected value on the 2019 free agent market, rather than how we think they’ll perform on the court for the 2018/19 season. For instance, older players like J.J. Redick and Brook Lopez have solid short-term value, but didn’t crack our top 20 because they’re unlikely to sign huge, long-term deals next summer. In other words, age and long-term value is important.

Here’s the second installment of our 2019 NBA free agent power rankings:

Kevin Durant, F, Warriors (player option)
Kawhi Leonard, F, Raptors (player option)

While Durant is probably 2019’s clear-cut top free agent, he and Leonard belong in a tier of their own as the only players who are mortal locks to get long-term, maximum-salary contracts if they stay healthy the rest of the way. They’re two-way monsters who are among the NBA’s top five players when they’re at their best. Durant is three years older than Leonard, but that won’t prevent him from securing a huge payday next summer.

Jimmy Butler, G/F, Sixers (player option)
Kyrie Irving, G, Celtics (player option)

If Durant and Leonard are Tier 1 free agents, Butler and Irving are in Tier 1A. They’ll surely get maximum-salary offers, but there’s uncertainty about whether they’ll get five full years at the max.

While Butler is an elite two-way player, interested teams may have concerns about his stints in Chicago and Minnesota ended. As for Irving, he has battled multiple injuries in recent years and isn’t nearly as strong a defender as the three players ahead of him on this list, though the 26-year-old’s offensive play-making and shot-making make him one of the league’s best players.

Khris Middleton, G/F, Bucks (player option)
Klay Thompson, G, Warriors

It’s possible I’m weighing this year’s performance too heavily here, but the truth is there may not be much difference between Middleton and Thompson in terms of their market value. Both players are excellent three-and-D wings who can knock down outside shots in bunches and handle tough assignments on the defensive end.

Middleton is a year and a half younger than Thompson and is more of a play-maker than Klay (4.0 APG vs. Thompson’s 1.8). He’s also knocking down 41.9% of his three-point attempts this year, while Thompson is making a career-worst 35.0%. Thompson may very well surpass Middleton on this list by season’s end, but for now I want to reward the Bucks swingman for his terrific start.

Tobias Harris, F, Clippers
Kemba Walker, G, Hornets

It seems unfair to rank Walker this low, given how good he has been for Charlotte this season. But his shooting numbers (.440 FG% and .358 3PT%) aren’t elite and he’ll be 29 when he reaches free agency. His position and size also make him less versatile than Harris, the 26-year-old forward who has posted a red-hot .508/.416/.852 shooting line this season as the scoring leader for one of the NBA’s best teams. Both of these guys will get paid big money, and would be among the top five free agents available in many other years.

Kristaps Porzingis, F/C, Knicks (RFA)
Nikola Vucevic, C, Magic

It’s hard to judge the relative value of these two players. One is a 23-year-old unicorn who was a lock for a five-year max before suffering an ACL tear. The other is a veteran who has taken a massive leap so far this season and is putting up career-best numbers virtually across the board. I’m giving Porzingis the edge because I think teams would still be more willing to heavily invest in him long-term, given his age and potential.

It will be interesting to see how motivated the Knicks are to get Porzingis back on the court this season — if he returns and looks great, he might inadvertently sabotage the Knicks’ tanking efforts while increasing his appeal to rival suitors.

Nikola Mirotic, F, Pelicans
DeMarcus Cousins, C, Warriors

Between these two bigs, I’m giving Mirotic the edge over Cousins, since an Achilles injury is one of the most difficult ailments for an NBA player – particularly a center – to come back from. It’s certainly possible that Cousins could move into the top 10 by season’s end. For now though, he’s still rehabbing that Achilles injury in an effort to get back on the court, while Mirotic is posting career-best numbers (18.9 PPG, 10.0 RPG, .465 FG%) as the stretch four in New Orleans.

Harrison Barnes, F, Mavericks (player option)
Marc Gasol, C, Grizzlies (player option)
Al Horford, C, Celtics (player option)

I’ve grouped these three players together because they all fall into a similar boat, as their massive player options for 2019/20 may dissuade them from actually opting out and becoming free agents. While they could do very well for themselves on the open market, they might not be able to exceed the amount of those option salaries on new deals. Barnes’ and Gasol’s options are both worth $25MM+, while Horford’s is worth $30MM+.

As for their rankings, Barnes gets the edge due to his age and his versatility. Gasol is having the best season of the three, but will turn 34 in January, limiting his ability to get a long-term contract. Horford is in a similar position, as he’ll be 33 by next July.

Eric Bledsoe, G, Bucks
D’Angelo Russell, G, Nets (RFA)
Terry Rozier, G, Celtics (RFA)

Of these three point guards, Bledsoe is having the best season so far, running the point for one of the NBA’s top teams and scoring more efficiently than ever (.519 FG%). He’s also a strong defender and will still be on the right side of 30 when he reaches the open market.

Rozier and Russell are trickier players to assess. Rozier has taken a step backward in 2018/19 after proving his worth down the stretch last season. Russell is having his best season, but still hasn’t made huge strides toward stardom, and continues to face questions about his defense. Given the nature of restricted free agency, I think they’ll both do very well on their next contracts.

Julius Randle, F/C, Pelicans (player option)
DeAndre Jordan, C, Mavericks

Randle gets the nod over Jordan here due to his youth and the fact that he still has room to improve. Still, despite his abilities as an inside scorer and rebounder, Randle won’t become a truly elite free agent unless he develops more as an outside shooter or rim protector.

While Jordan’s rim protection was once his calling card, he’s blocking just 1.1 shots per 36 minutes over the last two seasons after averaging 2.3 up until that point. As he enters his 30s, he’s no longer the defensive anchor or Defensive Player of the Year candidate he used to be, though he’s still a solid interior defender. His improvements at the free-throw line also increase his value — he’s making foul shots at a 75.8% rate this year after flirting with 50% for most of the rest of his career.

Also receiving strong consideration (in alphabetical order):

Trevor Ariza, F, Suns
Malcolm Brogdon, G, Bucks (RFA)
Willie Cauley-Stein, C, Kings (RFA)
Spencer Dinwiddie, G, Nets
Goran Dragic, G, Heat (player option)
Danny Green, G, Raptors
Enes Kanter, C, Knicks
Brook Lopez, C, Bucks
J.J. Redick, G, Sixers
Derrick Rose, G, Timberwolves
Ricky Rubio, G, Jazz

Disagree strongly with any of our rankings? Feel like we omitted any players that should be in the top 20? Weigh in below in the comment section to let us know!

And for more names, be sure to check out our full 2019 free agents lists, sorted by position/type or by team.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Hoops Rumors’ 2018/19 NBA Reverse Standings

December 7th, 2018 at 8:50am CST by Luke Adams

Throughout the 2018/19 NBA season, Hoops Rumors will be maintaining a feature that allows you to keep an eye on what the 2019 draft order will look like. Our 2018/19 Reverse Standings tool, which lists the NBA’s 30 teams from worst to first, will be updated daily to reflect the outcomes of the previous night’s games.

Our Reverse Standings are essentially a reflection of what 2019’s draft order would look like with no changes to lottery position. We’ve noted each club’s odds of landing the No. 1 overall pick, based on the league’s updated lottery format.

In instances where two non-playoff teams or two playoff teams have identical records, the order in our standings isn’t necessarily definitive — for draft purposes, the NBA breaks ties via random drawings, so those drawings would happen at the end of the year. Of course, the 14 non-playoff teams all draft before the 16 playoff teams, even if some non-playoff teams have better records than playoff teams. Our reverse standings account for that.

Traded first-round picks are included via footnotes. For example, the note next to Cleveland’s pick says that the Cavaliers will send their pick to the Hawks if it’s not in the top 10. As of today, Cleveland has the NBA’s fourth-worst record, meaning that pick wouldn’t change hands.

Our Reverse Standings tracker can be found at anytime on the right sidebar under “Hoops Rumors Features” on our desktop site, or on the “Features” page in our mobile menu. It’s a great resource not just for monitoring a team’s draft position, but also for keeping an eye on whether or not traded picks with protection will be changing hands in 2019. So be sure to check back often as the season progresses!

Note: Mobile users are advised to turn their phones sideways when viewing the Reverse Standings in order to see team records and lottery odds.

NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Southwest Division

December 6th, 2018 at 2:35pm CST by Luke Adams

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.

The NBA’s Southwest division continues to defy expectations as the 2018/19 season nears its one-third mark. Dallas and Memphis were expected to sit at the bottom of the Southwest this year, but the Mavericks currently have a better record than their fellow Texas teams in San Antonio and Houston, while the Grizzlies are in first place in their division. The unpredictability has resulted in some unexpected trade candidates.

Here’s our latest look at a few possible trade candidates from the Southwest…

Carmelo Anthony, F
Houston Rockets
$1.51MM cap hit; unrestricted free agent in 2019

It has been three weeks since the Rockets confirmed they’d be parting ways with Anthony, but the veteran forward remains in limbo. It’s possible that Houston is putting off releasing Anthony because there’s concern he’ll be claimed off waivers by a team he doesn’t want to join — or perhaps the Rockets, who already have one open roster spot, don’t want to have to replace him on their roster, which would increase their projected tax bill.

However, it also seems likely that the Rockets are waiting until December 15 before making any final decisions on Anthony. That’s the date he’ll become eligible to be traded.

It’s not clear whether there are teams in there with immediate interest in acquiring Anthony, but if there are, a trade should be simple enough — because he’s on a minimum-salary contract, the 34-year-old can be acquired using the minimum salary exception, negating the need for salary-matching, and Houston certainly won’t be asking for anything of value in return.

If there has been no resolution on Anthony by December 15, that resolution should come shortly thereafter, as the Rockets assess whether there’s a deal to be made for the 10-time All-Star.

Pau Gasol, C
San Antonio Spurs
$16.8MM cap hit; $16MM salary for 2019/20 partially guaranteed ($6.7MM)

The Spurs are only two games out of a playoff spot in the West, but their 11-14 record places them 14th in the conference. They’ve dropped 12 of their last 17 games, including three recent losses by 30 or more points. If this slump continues, there’s a real possibility that selling will make more sense than buying at the trade deadline.

In that scenario, Gasol could become a trade chip. Typically, a 38-year-old who is earning $16.8MM and recovering from a stress fracture is an albatross, but if Pau gets healthy, he should have some appeal in the right situation.

Gasol’s partial guarantee for next season makes his contract a bit more manageable, and he’s the sort of veteran who could fit into just about any situation, playing 15 minutes or so off the bench. Again though, he has to get back to 100% first before he’ll have any value, and at his age, that’s not necessarily a given.

Dennis Smith Jr., G
Dallas Mavericks
$3.82MM cap hit; on rookie contract; eligible for restricted free agency in 2021

There have been no reports this season suggesting that the Mavericks are mulling the possibility of trading Smith, but Luka Doncic‘s emergence has increased the pressure on Dallas’ 2017 lottery pick. While it may be too early to dub Doncic the Mavs’ next franchise player, the early returns on this year’s No. 3 selection suggest that he should be the team’s primary play-maker for years to come.

If that’s the case, the Mavericks will need to determine whether Smith makes sense alongside Doncic for the long term. If management believes the two youngsters can coexist and thrive together, there’s no reason to do anything with DSJ except look ahead to his next contract. If there are doubts about the pairing, the Mavs should start thinking about a potential deal.

After all, outside of perhaps Wesley Matthews‘ expiring contract and one or two others, the Mavericks don’t have a ton of attractive trade chips. Smith would be a big one, and if moving him allows the franchise to acquire another long-term piece that fits better alongside Doncic, it’s worth considering.

While I don’t expect Smith to go anywhere this season, we’ll be monitoring this situation going forward.

Previously:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Trade Rumors App For iOS/Android

December 6th, 2018 at 2:24pm CST by Luke Adams

If you enjoy Hoops Rumors on your smartphone or tablet, be sure to check out our free Trade Rumors app!

Trade Rumors, available for iOS and Android, is the best way to consume our content on a mobile device. Here’s what it delivers, all for free:

All the articles from Hoops Rumors, MLB Trade Rumors, Pro Football Rumors, and Pro Hockey Rumors in an easy-to-navigate, eye-catching format. Swipe through stories to quickly consume all the news and rumors from our four sites. Not into all four sports? No problem – any sport can be easily removed.
Customize what you see. You can create feeds for any team or player across any of our sites.
Notifications. For any team or player, you can set up push notifications to ensure you always get breaking news instantly. Notifications can also be set up at the sport level.
Commenting. You can read and contribute comments on the app seamlessly.
Customer service. If you find a bug, we’ll fix it. If you have a feature request, we’ll consider it. The app is continually evolving and improving.
Did we mention Trade Rumors is a free app? What do you have to lose? Download it now!

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Hoops Rumors Originals

Fantasy Hoops: Spread The Floor, It’s The Brooklyn Way

December 6th, 2018 at 1:17pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson‘s season continues to be a disaster. The fourth-year wing was expected to make a leap this year, but so far, injuries and inefficient play have defined his season, and the Nets’ style of play doesn’t suggest his real-life or fantasy stock is going to improve drastically anytime soon.

Brooklyn is one of many clubs emphasizing the long-ball — only four teams attempt a higher percentage (39.0%) of their total field goals from downtown. This style doesn’t play to Hollis-Jefferson’s strengths. He’s shooting just 15.8% on 19 attempts from behind the arc this season (22.7% on his career) and it’s fair to wonder whether he will ever be able to incorporate this facet into his game at anywhere near a league-average level.

There are some positives for the former No. 23 overall pick. The athleticism is there and his raw talent gives him the ability to overcompensate for being out of place on the defensive end. He’ll have games, like his 14-point, 11-rebound effort against Utah last week, where you can see the potential that made him a first-round pick.

Back when my undergraduate days were dwindling down, I was interviewing for positions and one potential manager gave me some advice that I carry with me to this day: Potential gets you in the door; it doesn’t pay your rent. Hollis-Jefferson’s potential got him in the building, but examine his resume and it’s not clear that he’ll ever be able to produce to the level that the Nets need him to.

It’s year four in the NBA for RHJ. He has had an internship in offensive moves, a defensive principles co-op, and little experience in truly meaningful NBA games. Although he established career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and shooting percentage during the 2017/18 season, it appears a bit of regression has hit him this season.

He’s still out of place way too often on the defensive end. However, with Brooklyn struggling again (8-18 on the season), he should continue to see opportunities to improve in this area in addition to his offensive game as Brooklyn attempts to unlock his full potential. The Nets, like fantasy owners who drafted him, are hoping to see progress soon.

Coach Kenny Atkinson put RHJ in the starting lineup against the Sixers in late November and the results since then haven’t been great. During his first 16 contests, he played 21.1 minutes per game and shot 40.0% from the field with a plus/minus of -0.7. Since being inserted into the starting five, he’s seen 28.0 minutes per game, making 42.8% of his attempts, and hasn’t ended a game a single start with a positive plus/minus (-6.3 over this stretch).

Joe Harris returned from injury this week and scored 19 points starting alongside Hollis-Jefferson, D’Angelo Russell, Allen Crabbe and Jarrett Allen. All four players are better fantasy options than RHJ, though he and Crabbe are rather close in value.

Neither Crabbe nor Hollis Jefferson is a must-own in re-draft leagues. Crabbe is a streaky shooter who’s seen more opportunity since Caris LeVert injured his foot and his higher ceiling gives him the edge if I were picking between the two inconsistent players.

The environment in Brooklyn isn’t as fantasy-friendly as it has been in year’s past. The Nets are playing a slower brand of basketball this season, ranking 24th in pace of play after finishing 6th last season and first the season prior. Fewer possessions mean fewer opportunities to go around.

The rotation appears fluid. Spencer Dinwiddie should be owned in all leagues, though he could become a candidate to be traded. DeMarre Carroll looms as a potential contributor but he’s not an inspiring fantasy option and the team could look to give its younger players more run as the season progresses.

One candidate for an increased role is Rodions Kurucs. The 2018 second-round pick isn’t close to warranting a fantasy roster spot right now, but he’s someone to keep an eye on. He saw 28 minutes over his last two appearances, scoring a total of 20 points on 17 shots. He’s 6-of-20 on three-pointers this year, which isn’t great, but it’s a huge upgrade over Hollis-Jefferson. Should the Nets decide to phase away from the RHJ project, Kurucs could be the guy to benefit.

It’s likely the Nets continue to give Hollis-Jefferson a chance this season to prove he belongs in their long-term plans. He and the franchise couldn’t come to an agreement on an extension before this year’s deadline and they’ll want to get as much data on him before he hits restricted free agency next summer.

Brooklyn hopes that RHJ will produce more as the year goes along, as do fantasy owners. However, as we pass the quarter mark of the season, it appears as if the Nets will be looking at other options—ones that better fit the style they want to play—at the end of the season. Fantasy basketball owners shouldn’t wait that long to scour for Hollis-Jefferson alternatives.

Fantasy questions? Take to the comment section below or tweet me at @CW_Crouse.

Missed an earlier edition of Fantasy Hoops? Check out the entire series here.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Community Shootaround: 2018/19 MVP Race

December 6th, 2018 at 11:04am CST by Luke Adams

We’re about 25 games into the 2018/19 NBA season, which is enough of a sample size to start taking stock of which players have been the most valuable to their teams so far.

Coming into the season, LeBron James was viewed by oddsmakers as the slight favorite to win this season’s MVP award. He has certainly built a strong case so far, leading the Lakers to a 15-9 record with averages of 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 6.6 APG, plus his usual efficient shooting rates (.525 FG%, .369 3PT%). Despite averaging a career-low 34.8 minutes per game, James’ 28.4 PPG would be his highest per-game scoring rate since 2009/10, the final year of his first stint in Cleveland.

Still, LeBron probably isn’t the frontrunner for the MVP award at this point. That honor belongs to Giannis Antetokounmpo, whose Bucks rank second in the Eastern Conference at 16-7. Antetokounmpo, who turns 24 today, has been a one-man wrecking ball in Milwaukee, establishing new career highs so far in PPG (27.0), RPG (13.0), APG (6.0), and FG% (.575), among other categories. While he’s struggling more than ever to make three-pointers (.111 3PT%), Giannis is contributing in just about every other area on either end of the court.

Among the other strong candidates for MVP consideration so far? Kawhi Leonard, who has a team-high 26.1 PPG and 8.6 RPG for the Raptors, the best club in the NBA so far; Anthony Davis, whose Pelicans have a +8.9 net rating when he plays, compared to -10.3 when he sits; and Joel Embiid, who has taken his game to another level for the Sixers.

There’s no shortage of other stars who should be in this discussion. Kevin Durant is probably a top-three player in the NBA and might be the second-best MVP candidate on his own team, given how the Warriors have played without Stephen Curry. James Harden is currently leading the league in scoring for the Rockets. Damian Lillard, Blake Griffin, and Kemba Walker are arguably playing as well as they ever have for the Trail Blazers, Pistons, and Hornets, respectively. Nikola Jokic has helped lead the Nuggets to the best record in the Western Conference so far. Russell Westbrook is once again averaging a triple-double for the Thunder, who have the second-best record in the West.

It’s way too early to make a call here, but we want your early assessment of the MVP race. Is this Giannis’ award to lose, or do you view another player as a stronger bet to become the frontrunner over the course of the season?

Head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!

NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Northwest Division

December 5th, 2018 at 3:12pm CST by Luke Adams

When we last checked in on the Northwest, the Timberwolves held the NBA’s top trade candidate in Jimmy Butler. Now that Butler has been moved, there are far fewer obvious trade chips in the division, where teams like the Jazz, Trail Blazers, and Nuggets have doubled down on their current cores within the last year or two.

Here’s our latest look at a few possible trade candidates from the Northwest…

Jerryd Bayless, G
Minnesota Timberwolves
$8.58MM cap hit; unrestricted free agent in 2019

Bayless was traded by the Sixers before we could profile him as an Atlantic division trade candidate, but the same traits that made him a useful trade chip for Philadelphia will give him some value for the Timberwolves.

Whether or not Bayless will be able to contribute anything on the court in 2018/19 is somewhat irrelevant — it’s his $8.58MM salary and his expiring contract that make him useful in trade talks. That cap hit makes him ideal for matching mid-level type contracts, or packaging him with other pieces (after January 12), as the Sixers did. And the fact that he’ll be a free agent at season’s end could appeal more to a team looking to create 2019 cap space than it will to the Wolves, who will likely remain over the cap even after clearing Bayless from their books.

It’s possible that Minnesota is done dealing for now, in which case Bayless could become a buyout candidate, rather than a trade candidate, assuming he gets healthy later in the season.

Jusuf Nurkic, C
Portland Trail Blazers
$11.11MM cap hit; under contract through 2021/22

Nurkic just re-signed with the Trail Blazers over the summer, securing a lucrative new four-year deal from the club, so he’s not likely to be traded anytime soon — he’s not even eligible to be moved until January 15.

Still, in past years, big men like Blake Griffin and Nene Hilario have been traded just months after signing even longer-term contracts than Nurkic’s. And it’s worth noting that Zach Collins‘ ongoing development has made the idea of a Nurkic trade more viable for Portland, as ESPN’s Zach Lowe observed last month.

The Blazers have been reluctant to break up their core in recent years, and if they decide to do anything drastic, it will probably happen during the offseason rather than at the trade deadline. However, I suspect that if they do take a big swing, they’re more likely to move their veteran center than one of their star guards, given Collins’ potential to fill a similar role at a fraction of the price. If that happens, Nurkic could be the key to helping Portland acquire a much-needed impact player on the wing.

Patrick Patterson, F
Oklahoma City Thunder
$5.45MM cap hit; $5.71MM player option for 2019/20

Like Bayless, Patterson is a trade chip by virtue of his cap hit, which the Thunder might need for salary-matching purposes if they make a deal.

Patterson’s salary is more modest than Bayless’, but of the eight Oklahoma City players earning more than $2.2MM, seven are starters or important rotation players who may not be expendable. The eighth is Patterson, who has struggled mightily since arriving in OKC, making him the club’s most logical chip, even if his contract extends beyond this season and won’t be appealing to trade partners.

If Patterson’s value is too limited to make a deal work, Alex Abrines could be the Thunder trade candidate to watch — he’s earning almost exactly the same salary as Patterson and is on an expiring contract.

Previously:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Community Shootaround: In-Season Coaching Changes

December 5th, 2018 at 1:06pm CST by Luke Adams

After Larry Drew replaced Tyronn Lue on the Cavaliers‘ bench earlier this season, we took a closer look at the NBA’s in-season head coaching changes from the last several years.

Our deep dive revealed that, outside of 2016/17 – the rare NBA season that featured no firings – and the 2013/14 campaign – in which Pistons head coach Maurice Cheeks was the only one replaced – there have been at least three in-season coaching changes during every season so far this decade.

That didn’t necessarily mean that we should have expected two more coaches to be dismissed after Lue was fired, but it seemed like a safe bet that Lue wouldn’t be the last one to go this season. That turned out to be the case, with the Bulls announcing on Monday that they’ve parted ways with Fred Hoiberg.

With two head coaches down, we could still have at least one more firing to go, if recent history is any indication. But it’s unclear which coach is most at risk now that Lue and Hoiberg have been ousted.

Many of the NBA’s very worst teams, including the Suns, Hawks, Knicks, Cavaliers, and Bulls, have hired new coaches within the last year, reducing the odds that additional changes are on the way. And many of the league’s biggest underachievers so far, including the Celtics, Jazz, Rockets, Heat, and Spurs, have highly respected coaches who should be in no danger of losing their jobs.

Scott Brooks (Wizards) and Luke Walton (Lakers) seemed to be on the hot seat earlier in the season, but their teams have been on the upswing lately, as have Tom Thibodeau‘s Timberwolves. There has reportedly been friction between Dave Joerger and the Kings‘ front office, but it seems hard to believe Sacramento would make a change in the midst of the team’s most surprisingly successful start in years.

What do you think? Will there be a third head coach fired during the 2018/19 season? If so, which coach do you view as most at risk of losing his job?

Head to the comment section below to share your two cents!

Poll: Will The Pelicans Make The Playoffs?

December 4th, 2018 at 3:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Several Western Conference playoff teams from last season, including the Jazz, Rockets, Spurs, and Timberwolves, rank outside the top eight in the conference in the early going this season. While all four of those teams would be disappointed to miss the postseason, you could make a case that a lottery finish wouldn’t be quite as devastating for any of those clubs as it would be for the Pelicans, who also find themselves on the outside looking in for now.

The 12-13 Pelicans currently place 11th in the West, with a tough road ahead. In order to crack the top eight, they’ll need to surpass overachieving clubs ahead of them – like the Mavericks and Kings – while holding off would-be contenders behind them, such as the Jazz and Rockets. And they’ll have to do with the uncertainty surrounding Anthony Davis‘ future hanging over the season.

While Davis can’t become a free agent until at least 2020, this is a crucial season for the Pelicans. Next summer, they’ll be able to offer Davis a designated veteran extension, paying him the “super-max.” If he turns down that offer, the Pelicans will likely have to start thinking seriously about whether to trade their star big man.

That sort of thinking is premature for now. As Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reports, sources say that Davis is happy in New Orleans and wants to win there. However, Kyler also cautions that Davis won’t be satisfied with simply finishing in eighth place in the West and failing to make a deep playoff run — he’s counting on the team to do all it can to improve the roster and to give him reason to believe he can eventually win a title with the Pelicans.

In other words, there’s plenty of pressure on the Pelicans to add reinforcements to this year’s roster and/or to position themselves to make a major splash in the offseason. And missing out on the playoffs this season would be a huge red flag for the organization.

With all that in mind, we want to know what you think about the Pelicans’ outlook this season. Is this a playoff team? Will they need to make a trade or two to nab a top-eight spot? And how will this year’s outcome impact Davis’ long-term future?

Vote below in our poll, then head to the comment section to weigh in on the Pelicans!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

NBA Waiver Order Now Based On 2018/19 Records

December 3rd, 2018 at 1:39pm CST by Luke Adams

As of December 1, the NBA’s waiver priority order is determined by teams’ current-year records, rather than the previous season’s standings. That means that the waiver order for this season is now based on teams’ 2018/19 records, with the worst teams getting the highest priority.

Waiver claims are fairly rare in the NBA, but it’s still worth noting which teams will have the first crack at intriguing players who may be cut over the next few weeks or months.

[RELATED: 2018/19 NBA Waiver Claims]

For instance, let’s say the Rockets were to release Carmelo Anthony and the Heat were interested in making a claim. Up until the end of November, the NBA’s waiver order was based on 2017/18 records. So a team like Miami, which made the playoffs last year, would have been 16th in waiver order. Now that it’s December, the 9-13 Heat would rank eighth in waiver order.

Here’s what the teams currently at the top of the NBA’s waiver order look like:

Phoenix Suns (4-19)
Cleveland Cavaliers (4-18)
Chicago Bulls (5-19)
Atlanta Hawks (5-18)
New York Knicks / Brooklyn Nets (8-16)
Washington Wizards (9-14)
Miami Heat (9-13)
Utah Jazz (11-13)
San Antonio Spurs / Minnesota Timberwolves / Orlando Magic / Charlotte Hornets (11-12)
Houston Rockets / Sacramento Kings / New Orleans Pelicans (11-11 or 12-12)

Note: Head-to-head record for the current season is used to break ties, if possible. Otherwise, a coin flip determines priority for those tied teams.

If a waived player can’t be claimed using the minimum salary exception, a team must use a trade exception, a disabled player exception, or cap room to absorb his salary. So a club with a top priority won’t be in position to nab just anyone who reaches waivers.

The Suns, for example, have no cap space or exceptions available to place a waiver claim on any player earning more than the minimum, so despite their spot at the top of the waiver order, their ability to claim players is fairly limited.

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