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Community Shootaround: Milwaukee Bucks

September 9th, 2018 at 3:59pm CST by Eric Spyropoulos

Having hired Mike Budenholzer as head coach and acquired several players who can help space the floor around Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks appear poised for a breakout season in the Eastern Conference. With LeBron James taking his talents west and depleting the Cavaliers’ chances of competing, the Bucks will look to take the next step and become a serious playoff contender.

After adding Eric Bledsoe during the 2017/18 season, the Bucks continued to struggle with inconsistency despite Antetokounmpo blossoming into a perennial MVP candidate and Khris Middleton enjoying a breakout season alongside him. While Bledsoe fit in well and averaged 17.8 points, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game to complement Middleton and Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee’s supporting cast failed to provide quality depth and a mediocre defense continued to hold the team back.

After finishing 25th in the NBA in 3-pointers attempted per game last season and 22nd in the league in 3-point percentage, the Bucks focused on adding shooting and floor-spacing bigs in the offseason. They were successful in achieving this goal, signing Ersan Ilyasova to a three-year, $21MM deal (the last year is non-guaranteed) and Brook Lopez on a one-year, $3.4MM contract to fill in at center.

Both Ilyasova and Lopez are capable shooters, providing more offensive weapons for Budenholzer to use alongside Bledsoe, Middleton and Antetokounmpo. Ilyasova shot 36% from beyond the arc in 2017/18 for the Hawks and 76ers, while Lopez hit 34.5% of his 3-pointers last season, attempting 4.4 per game.

With Budenholzer brought in as head coach, the Bucks should implement a more diverse and modern offense, utilizing the increased floor spacing and ball movement to maximize the talents of Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Bledsoe.

However, the more pressing issue regarding the upcoming season for the Bucks will be their defense, which must improve if they hope to become a legit threat in the playoffs. If Thon Maker can show more development this season and earn more minutes at center, Milwaukee would be able to utilize a more switch-heavy defensive scheme, a scheme in which Bledsoe, Middleton and Antetokounmpo could thrive.

The Bucks will also need strong supporting contributions from Malcolm Brogdon, Tony Snell and John Henson, while recent draft picks D.J. Wilson and Donte DiVincenzo will look to buck the recent draft struggles Milwaukee has had.

With a more modern offense and improved defensive strategies implemented, the Bucks could make a big jump in the Eastern Conference. Competing for the third seed in the conference isn’t out of the question, and the Bucks should certainly be aiming for home-court advantage in the playoffs this season, although the top three Atlantic teams and the Pacers will provide tough competition.

How do you think the Bucks will do this season? Do you think they had a strong offseason? Weigh in below with your thoughts and predictions on the Bucks.

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Community Shootaround: 2019 Free Agents

September 8th, 2018 at 7:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

Training camps haven’t opened yet, but it’s never too early to start thinking about next summer, which will feature one of the most impressive free agent classes in recent history. LeBron James may be off the market, signing a four-year contract with the Lakers after a series of one-year deals with options, but there are plenty of big names to replace him as we outlined Friday in our 2019 Free Agent Power Rankings 1.0.

The Warriors’ Kevin Durant holds the top spot and will probably be there all year. He has solidified his position among the league’s elite players by helping Golden State capture back-to-back titles in his two seasons with the team. While he’s in a great situation with the Warriors, Durant may decide he wants another challenge, and speculation has already started about possible destinations. He has played on one-year contracts with options the past two seasons, but at age 31 he may be ready for a long-term deal similar to LeBron’s.

Karl-Anthony Towns is currently No. 2 on the list, but there’s a good chance he’ll sign an extension with the Timberwolves before the October 15 deadline. If he doesn’t, that’s a strong sign that the locker room chemistry in Minnesota is even worse than we’ve been led to believe. If Towns hits the open market, his combination of skills and youth will create a league-wide demand, even though he’ll be a restricted free agent.

The Raptors’ Kawhi Leonard checks in at No. 3 with another situation that could change during the season. Leonard’s desire to play in Los Angeles is one of the factors that pushed him out of San Antonio, and a trade to the Lakers or Clippers could happen if Toronto isn’t confident about re-signing him when we reach the February trade deadline.

The reported dissension in Minnesota may also affect Jimmy Butler, who is fourth on our list. Butler brings an old-school mentality to the game and has reportedly clashed with Towns and Andrew Wiggins over their more relaxed attitudes. The Wolves surrendered a lot to get Butler just 15 months ago, so they may look to move him before the deadline if they decide it’s not a good fit.

Klay Thompson rounds out the top five heading into a pivotal offseason for Golden State. With two of the top five free agents plus Draymond Green eligible for an extension, it’s about to get a lot more expensive to keep the core of the back-to-back champions together.

Tonight we want you to predict how many of the top five free agents will be changing teams next summer. Incumbent teams hold the advantage of being able to offer longer contracts and bigger annual raises, but the 2019 free agent market looks unsettled with two sets of teammates in the top five and Leonard possibly in a short-term arrangement in Toronto. Please give us your feedback in the space below.

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Hoops Rumors Originals: 9/1/18 – 9/8/18

September 8th, 2018 at 3:51pm CST by clarkcrum

Every week, the writing team here at Hoops Rumors creates original content to complement our news feed. With the NBA offseason in full swing, here are our numerous segments and features from the past seven days:

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Poll: Best NBA Coaching Hire Of Offseason?

September 7th, 2018 at 3:59pm CST by Luke Adams

After no NBA teams made coaching changes during the 2017 offseason, the league seemingly made up for lost time this summer. Eight clubs have replaced their head coaches since the 2017/18 season ended, with a ninth (the Grizzlies) announcing that their interim coach (J.B. Bickerstaff) would get the permanent job.

In some cases, these coaching changes functioned as a game of musical chairs. Dwane Casey was fired by the Raptors but quickly caught on with the Pistons. Steve Clifford, having been dismissed by the Hornets, was hired by the Magic. David Fizdale joined the Knicks less than a year after being let go by the Grizzlies. And Mike Budenholzer was scooped up by the Bucks shortly after parting ways with the Hawks.

In other cases, teams opted for fresh blood in the head coaching ranks. New Hornets coach James Borrego and Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce are veteran assistants getting their first shot at a head coaching job. The same goes for new Suns coach Igor Kokoskov, the NBA’s first European-born head coach, and Nick Nurse of the Raptors, who got a promotion to replace the reigning Coach of the Year.

In today’s poll, we want to know which of these offseason hires you liked the best. Your choice doesn’t necessarily have to be the one that will improve his new team’s win-loss record most significantly in 2018/19, but rather the hiring that will pay the most dividends in the long run.

Here’s a recap of all eight coaching changes this offseason:

  • Atlanta Hawks: Hired Lloyd Pierce to replace Mike Budenholzer.
  • Charlotte Hornets: Hired James Borrego to replace Steve Clifford.
  • Detroit Pistons: Hired Dwane Casey to replace Stan Van Gundy.
  • Milwaukee Bucks: Hired Mike Budenholzer to replace Joe Prunty (interim).
  • New York Knicks: Hired David Fizdale to replace Jeff Hornacek.
  • Orlando Magic: Hired Steve Clifford to replace Frank Vogel.
  • Phoenix Suns: Hired Igor Kokoskov to replace Jay Triano (interim).
  • Toronto Raptors: Hired Nick Nurse to replace Dwane Casey.

What do you think? Which move did you like the best? Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section to share your two cents.

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

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2019 NBA Free Agent Power Rankings 1.0

September 7th, 2018 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

The list of remaining 2018 free agents continues to dry up, which means it’s nearly time to shift our focus to the group of players on track to reach the free agent market in 2019. We’ve got a full list of those 2018 free-agents-to-be, divided by position and FA type, and a separate list that sorts them by team.

Since we’re still nearly 10 months away from the 2019 free agent period opening, those lists look a little more star-studded now than they’ll end up being. A handful of top-tier restricted free agents figure to sign extensions with their current teams before opening night in October, and it’s possible that a couple veterans will be extended in the coming months as well. Kevin Love, for instance, was eligible to reach the open market in 2019 up until he signed a four-year, $120MM extension with the Cavaliers.

Still, even though not all of the top potential 2019 free agents will reach the open market – and not all of them will change teams if they do – the current list includes so many big names that it should still look pretty impressive when next July rolls around.

Below, we’ve taken our first crack at ranking some of the top potential free agents for 2019. While this is our first extended look at 2019’s top free agents, it certainly won’t be our last. Extensions, injuries, breakout years, trades, and poor performances figure to affect these rankings over the course of the 2018/19 season, so we’ll be revisiting the list every month or two to make updates and changes.

Our list reflects each player’s current expected value on the 2018 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 Trevor Ariza have solid short-term value, but weren’t considered for 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 first installment of our 2019 free agent power rankings:

  1. Kevin Durant, F, Warriors (player option): One of the top two players in the NBA, Durant has taken below-market deals in each of the last two years, but 2019 could be the summer in which he makes up for it — the Warriors will finally have his full Bird rights, meaning he could sign a five-year deal worth a projected $221MM+.
  2. Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Timberwolves (RFA): Towns is a near lock to sign an extension with the Timberwolves before the October 15 deadline, with both Tom Thibodeau and team owner Glen Taylor expressing confidence it’ll get done. While there are some concerns about Towns’ defense and reported tension in the Minnesota locker room, his age, his offensive game, and his durability would make him one of the NBA’s safest long-term investments if he somehow reached the open market.
  3. Kawhi Leonard, F, Raptors (player option): The fact that Leonard ranks this high after missing all but nine games with a quad injury last season and then forcing his way out of San Antonio is a testament to his talent. So far this offseason, reports on his health have been positive. If he looks like the old Kawhi in 2018/19, he has the potential to rise the top of this list by next July.
  4. Jimmy Butler, G/F, Timberwolves (player option): One of the best two-way wings in the NBA, Butler can do a little bit of everything — over the last four seasons, he has averaged 21.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.6 APG, and 1.8 SPG with a .461/.352/.848 shooting line, earning four consecutive All-Star nods. He should have several suitors when he reaches the open market next summer.
  5. Klay Thompson, G, Warriors: Thompson has earned a top-five spot on this list for now due to his otherworldly outside shot, his underrated perimeter defense, and his durability — he has missed just 21 total regular season games in seven NBA seasons. He may be the third option for the Warriors, but Thompson would be a bona fide star and a perennial threat for the league’s scoring title if he played for a team that leaned on him more heavily.
  6. Kyrie Irving, G, Celtics (player option): Irving will likely rise on this list if he shows that his knee issues are behind him and has a healthy 2018/19 campaign. He’ll only be 27 years old next summer, and teams will be willing to accept his defensive shortcomings to get his offensive play-making into their lineups, so his health will be the primary X-factor — he has missed at least seven games in each of his NBA seasons, including 61 over the last three years.
  7. Kristaps Porzingis, F/C, Knicks (RFA): Like others on this list, Porzingis’ upside outweighs his health concerns, but his ranking could fluctuate depending on how he looks upon returning from his ACL tear. Of course, the Knicks could take his name off this list entirely by locking him up to a rookie scale extension by October 15.
  8. Khris Middleton, G/F, Bucks (player option): Giannis Antetokounmpo deservedly receives the lion’s share of the attention in Milwaukee, but Middleton has developed into one of the most effective wings in the NBA, averaging 20 PPG for the first time last season while starting all 82 games and chipping in 5.2 RPG and 4.0 APG. Throw in his .391 career 3PT% and his dangerous length and wingspan on defense, and Middleton will be in line for a substantial raise in 2019.
  9. Kemba Walker, G, Hornets: Walker isn’t a top-five NBA point guard, but he’s a two-time All-Star who might look even better if he got the opportunity to play alongside a second star. A Hornet since 2011, Walker is fond of the city and the franchise, so it will be interesting to see if he stays put or seeks a free agent opportunity that puts him closer to title contention.
  10. Myles Turner, C, Pacers (RFA): Although injuries and the arrival of Domantas Sabonis diminished Turner’s impact in 2017/18, the 22-year-old capable of protecting the rim (1.8 career BPG) and making outside shots (.353 3PT% over the last two years). He should only get better, and if he reaches restricted free agency, an up-and-coming organization looking for a young building block may put pressure on the Pacers with an aggressive offer sheet.
  11. Tobias Harris, F, Clippers: Harris reportedly turned down an extension offer from the Clippers worth about $80MM, so he seems to be betting on a major payday in free agency — if the 26-year-old keeps playing like he did after being traded to L.A. last season, he should get it. In his first 32 games for the Clippers, Harris recorded 19.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, and 3.1 APG with a .473/.414/.800 shooting line.
  12. Al Horford, C, Celtics (player option): Horford is one of a few players on this list who may ultimately exercise his player option rather than opting out. He remains one of the NBA’s most underrated and effective frontcourt players and could probably secure one last lucrative multiyear contract next summer, but his $30MM+ player-option salary will be tough to turn down.
  13. DeMarcus Cousins, C, Warriors: This spot seems simultaneously too high and too low for Cousins, who is one of the NBA’s most productive players when he’s healthy, but is still recovering from an Achilles tear, one of the most challenging injuries for an NBA player to return from. Even if he looks good for the Warriors in the second half and helps the team win another title, Cousins will essentially be a role player for the star-studded squad, which will limit his chances of signing a massive long-term deal in 2019.
  14. Goran Dragic, G, Heat (player option): Coming off his first All-Star performance, Dragic’s stock is high, but he’ll turn 33 years old next May and there’s no shortage of productive point guards around the NBA. His market won’t bottom out, but he won’t be signing a $100MM contract either.
  15. DeAndre Jordan, C, Mavericks: Jordan opted for a one-year contract this summer, presumably expecting a more player-friendly market in 2019. That’s certainly possible, but as this list shows, there will also be more elite free agents available than there were in 2018, which will work against the veteran center. He’ll also turn 31 next summer, and his shot-blocking numbers have fallen off sharply in recent years. While his ability to rebound, defend, and finish at the rim should earn him a solid deal, Jordan probably won’t be one of 2019’s most sought-after free agents.
  16. Julius Randle, F/C, Pelicans (player option): After settling for a short-term, mid-level contract in 2018, Randle will look for a big year playing next to Anthony Davis. He’ll be 24 when he returns to unrestricted free agency, assuming he declines his 2019/20 player option.
  17. Terry Rozier, G, Celtics (RFA): Of the restricted free agents on this list, Rozier is the most likely to switch teams, given the presence of Irving and Marcus Smart in Boston. The Celtics will have to make sure they can re-sign Irving before making letting Rozier get away, but he’d be a nice fit for a young team in need of a point guard, such as the Suns or Magic.
  18. Eric Bledsoe, G, Bucks: Bledsoe was inconsistent as a Buck, but he’s still just 28 years old and is capable of being a strong defender and play-maker when he’s making the right decisions. A year under new head coach Mike Budenholzer could help improve his stock.
  19. Harrison Barnes, F, Mavericks (player option): Like Horford, Barnes may simply decide to opt into the final year of his contract if he determines he won’t be able to top his $25MM+ player-option salary. If he chooses free agency, he’s the sort of three-and-D wing who would look good to a lot of teams as a second or third option.
  20. Marc Gasol, C, Grizzlies (player option): 2017/18 was mostly a lost season for Gasol and the Grizzlies, but the veteran big man continued to impress, adding a three-point shot (.362 3PT% over the last two years) to complement his ability to rebound, defend, and score and pass out of the post. Staying healthy will be a key component in Gasol’s option decision next summer — a healthy year could earn him one last big contract, but he’ll be 34 in January and will probably pick up his option if he struggles through an injury-plagued season.

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 comments section to let us know!

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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NBA Teams With Full 20-Man Rosters

September 7th, 2018 at 1:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Training camps are still two and a half weeks away from opening, but a number of NBA teams have already reached their 20-player offseason roster limits, either officially or unofficially.

The Hawks became the latest team to fill their 20-man roster. Atlanta announced the signing of 19th man R.J. Hunter earlier today, and has also reportedly reached an agreement with veteran center Cole Aldrich, who will fill the 20th spot. The Hawks, of course, could make adjustments to their roster before camps begin, signing or releasing various players, but for now it looks like they’ve chosen their 20-man squad.

Here are the other teams besides Atlanta who have full 20-man offseason rosters:

  • Boston Celtics: After signing three players to camp deals earlier this week, the Celtics now officially have 20 players under contract, including 15 on guaranteed salaries and two on two-way contracts.
  • Dallas Mavericks: Not only are the Mavericks carrying 20 players (15 guaranteed contracts, three non-guaranteed, two two-way), but the team has also reportedly reached an agreement to sign undrafted free agent Donte Ingram to a camp contract. Dallas would have to trade or release a player to finalize Ingram’s deal.
  • Milwaukee Bucks: At the moment, the Bucks have 14 players on guaranteed deals, four on non-guaranteed contracts, and a pair on two-way pacts. However, the club also still has a qualifying offer out to two-way player Xavier Munford and has agreed to sign both Shabazz Muhammad and Christian Wood. More roster moves are coming at some point for Milwaukee.
  • Orlando Magic: The Magic seemingly finalized their offseason roster earlier this week when they inked B.J. Johnson and Gabe York to non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contracts. Orlando now has 14 players on guaranteed salaries, one with a partial guarantee, three on non-guaranteed deals, and two on two-way contracts.
  • Utah Jazz: Last week’s signing of Trey Lewis may be the last move for Utah before camps get underway. The Jazz now have 14 players on fully guaranteed salaries, four on non-guaranteed deals, and a pair on two-way contracts.

For more details on how many players each team is carrying, be sure to check out our roster counts page, which is updated daily. As that list shows, there are a number of clubs around the NBA with just one spot open on their 20-man rosters.

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Hoops Rumors’ 2018 NBA Free Agent Tracker

September 7th, 2018 at 11:11am CST by Luke Adams

We’re more than two months into 2018’s NBA free agent period, and with news of contract agreements and signings still trickling in, Hoops Rumors is here to help you keep track of which players are heading to which teams this fall. To this end, we present our Free Agent Tracker, a feature we’ve had each year since our inception in 2012. Using our tracker, you can quickly look up deals, sorting by team, position, free agent type, and a handful of other variables.

A few notes on the tracker:

  • Some of the information you’ll find in the tracker will reflect tentative agreements, rather than finalized deals. As signings become official, we’ll continue to update and modify the data as needed.
  • Similarly, contract years and dollars will sometimes be based on what’s been reported to date, so those amounts could be approximations rather than official figures. Salaries aren’t necessarily fully guaranteed either.
  • A restricted free agent who signs an offer sheet won’t be included in the tracker right away. We’ll wait to hear whether the player’s original team will match or pass on that offer sheet before we update our tracker, in order to avoid confusion.
  • If you’re viewing the tracker on our mobile site, be sure to turn your phone sideways to see more details.

Our 2018 Free Agent Tracker can be found anytime on the right sidebar of our desktop site under “Hoops Rumors Features,” and it’s also under the “Tools” menu atop the site. On our mobile site, it can be found in our menu under “Free Agent Lists.”

The tracker will be updated throughout the offseason, so be sure to check back for the latest info. If you have any corrections, please let us know right here.

Our lists of free agents by position/type and by team break down the players who have yet to reach contract agreements.

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2018 Offseason In Review: Orlando Magic

September 7th, 2018 at 9:58am CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2018 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2018/19 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Orlando Magic.

Signings:

Trades:

  • Acquired the draft rights to Justin Jackson (No. 43 pick) and either the Nuggets’ or Wizards’ 2019 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable) from the Nuggets in exchange for the draft rights to Jarred Vanderbilt (No. 41 pick).
    • Note: The Nuggets’ 2019 second-round pick would be sent to Milwaukee if it falls between 56-60, in which case the Magic would receive the Wizards’ second-rounder.
  • Acquired Timofey Mozgov and Jerian Grant in a three-way trade with the Hornets and Bulls in exchange for Bismack Biyombo (to Hornets), either the Wizards’ or Nuggets’ 2019 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable; to Hornets), and either the Nets’ or Knicks’ 2020 second-round pick (whichever is less favorable; to Hornets).
  • Acquired Dakari Johnson and cash ($1,978,242) from the Thunder in exchange for Rodney Purvis.
  • Acquired Jarell Martin and cash ($1,037,980) from the Grizzlies in exchange for Dakari Johnson and the draft rights to Tyler Harvey.

Draft picks:

  • 1-6: Mohamed Bamba — Signed to rookie contract.
  • 2-35: Melvin Frazier — Signed to three-year, $4.13MM contract. First two years guaranteed. Signed using mid-level exception.
  • 2-43: Justin Jackson — Unsigned.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

  • Team owner Richard DeVos died at age 92.
  • Hired Steve Clifford as head coach to replace Frank Vogel; finalized coaching staff.
  • Will host Bulls, Jazz in Mexico City games during 2018/19 regular season.

Salary cap situation:

  • Remained over the cap.
  • Carrying approximately $111.6MM in guaranteed salaries.
  • $6.75MM of mid-level exception still available ($1.89MM used on Melvin Frazier and Isaiah Briscoe).
  • Full bi-annual exception ($3.38MM) still available.

Check out the Orlando Magic’s full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

When president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond took over the Magic’s front office in 2017, the expectation was that the two executives would focus on adding length, athleticism, and wingspan to the team’s roster, like Hammond had done in Milwaukee. The new management group has delivered on that expectation, drafting Jonathan Isaac and Mohamed Bamba with its last two lottery picks.

Still, the roster remained caught between two eras, with long-term deals for the likes of Bismack Biyombo and Nikola Vucevic still on the team’s books, and Aaron Gordon – perhaps Rob Hennigan‘s most successful lottery pick in Orlando – eligible for restricted free agency.

While Weltman and Hammond have focused on drafting the best players available that fit their vision for the franchise, those players have overlapped in terms of position with many of the Magic’s highest-paid veterans, creating a logjam in the frontcourt and an odd mix of players on the team’s depth chart.

At some point, the Magic will have to address the roster imbalance, but for now, the club remains focused on compiling as much talent as possible and identifying the long-term keepers from that group. Unlike Hennigan, who went all-in when he acquired Biyombo and Serge Ibaka in 2016, the new Magic decision-makers don’t yet feel any pressure to push for a playoff spot, and the team’s offseason moves reflected their patience.

Read more

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What To Watch For In September

September 7th, 2018 at 8:55am CST by Luke Adams

NBA training camps are still a few weeks away, but executives around the league are returning from late-summer vacations and many players will report to their respective cities for informal workouts with teammates before camps officially get underway.

With the NBA news wire becoming a little more active as the season inches closer, here are a few things to keep an eye on during the month of September:

Dwyane Wade‘s decision:

Udonis Haslem has made his decision, with word breaking on Thursday morning that the veteran big man will return to the Heat for at least one more season. Now, it’s up to his longtime teammate, Wade, to decide whether or not he’ll be back too.

Although he has signed deals with the Bulls and Cavaliers in recent years, Wade is considered unlikely to play for any team besides the Heat for the rest of his NBA career, so there should be no drama about which team he’ll play for — it’s simply a matter of whether he actually wants to continue his NBA career, as retirement looms as a real possibility.

I’d expect Wade to announce his decision within the next couple weeks, or perhaps even in the coming days.

The remaining restricted free agents:

A year ago, four restricted free agents remained unsigned at this time: Mason Plumlee, Alex Len, Nikola Mirotic, and JaMychal Green. All four resolved their contract situations between September 20 and September 27, right around the time training camps opened.

This year’s unsigned restricted free agents, Rodney Hood (Cavaliers) and Patrick McCaw (Warriors), are good bets to follow in the footsteps of last year’s RFAs. Neither player will want to drag his free agency into the preseason and risk not being ready for the start of the regular season, so resolution within the next three weeks or so seems likely. It’ll just be a matter of whether or not they remain with their current clubs, and whether they end up signing multiyear deals or accepting their qualifying offers.

It’s also worth noting that Xavier Munford, a Bucks two-way player last season, received a qualifying offer from Milwaukee and technically remains a restricted free agent too, as far as we know. He’s in the same situation as Tyrone Wallace, a two-way RFA who had his offer sheet with the Pelicans matched by the Clippers earlier this week.

2019 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers:

The qualifying contests for the 2019 FIBA World Cup haven’t exactly been packed with NBA stars so far, but there are some familiar names taking part in the qualifiers happening in mid-September. Jordan Crawford, Frank Mason, Dwayne Bacon, Henry Ellenson, and Derrick White are among the NBA players in training camp with Team USA.

This is the first of three windows of games in the second round of the World Cup qualifiers — the next two windows are scheduled for November and February, meaning we likely won’t see any NBA players taking part in those. That makes this month’s results a little more important.

Team USA currently has a 5-1 record in qualifiers, so a pair of wins against Uruguay and Panama this month would put the squad in a comfortable spot to eventually lock up a spot in the 2019 World Cup. An upset loss or two would put a little pressure on Team USA, with no NBA players coming to bail them out during the next two qualifying windows.

It’s extremely unlikely that Team USA will be at risk of missing out on the 2019 World Cup, but FIBA’s new qualifying process opens the door for some intrigue. It’s worth keeping an eye on the club’s performances in games on September 14 and September 17.

Potential rule changes:

The NBA’s Board of Governors will conduct meetings two weeks from now, before training camps begin, and they’re scheduled to vote on three rule changes proposed by the league’s competition committee. While one – an expanded definition of what constitutes a “hostile act” during an NBA game – may not have a major on-court impact, the other two are interesting.

The NBA’s competition committee has suggested simplifying the clear-path foul rule to expand the number of situations in which fouling a team during a transition scoring opportunity results in a clear-path foul.

Additionally, the Board of Governors will vote on whether to have the shot clock reset to 14 seconds rather than 24 seconds after a team grabs an offensive rebound.

All three rules are expected to be approved, with at least two-thirds of the vote, so it’ll be worth watching to see how they affect NBA games in the early going this season.

Teams finalizing training camp rosters:

At this time last year, veteran free agents like Dante Cunningham, Gerald Green, Aaron Brooks, Shabazz Muhammad, Jarrett Jack, and Jason Terry still didn’t have teams. All of them signed before training camps started and ultimately spent most or all of the season on NBA rosters. We’ll likely see a similar pattern this year.

Currently, veterans like Jamal Crawford, Nick Young, Arron Afflalo, Corey Brewer, and a number of others are still unrestricted free agents. I’d imagine by the time the regular season gets underway, most or all of them will be on NBA rosters.

The trade market could also be active in the coming weeks. In 2017, three trades were completed in the few days before training camps begun, with Carmelo Anthony‘s move from New York to Oklahoma City representing the most noteworthy deal of the bunch. There may not be any trades of that caliber this September, but I expect we’ll see at least a little player movement.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Community Shootaround: Lakers’ No. 2 Option

September 5th, 2018 at 6:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Lakers will have enough salary-cap space to sign another top-level free agent next summer and there’s sure to be plenty of speculation about who will join LeBron James in Los Angeles. Will it be Kevin Durant? Kawhi Leonard? Jimmy Butler? Klay Thompson? DeMarcus Cousins?

However, there’s still a full season to be played before those stars hit the market. Someone will have to emerge as the No. 2 scoring option from the current roster and establish himself as a top-level performer in his own right.

After securing a commitment from James, the Lakers front office brought in an eclectic mix of free agents on short-term deals. It’s more likely that James’ right-hand man will be one of the young holdovers.

Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma are the most obvious candidates. Ingram, the second overall pick of the 2016 draft, showed significant improvement in his second season. He averaged 16.1 PPG and shot 47% from the field and 39% from long range. He also display playmaking ability by averaging nearly four assists per contest.

Kuzma made an immediate impact despite lasting until the 27th pick of the 2017 draft. The stretch four also averaged 16.1 PPG last season while connecting on 45% of his attempts and 36.6% from deep.

It’s logical to assume they’ll play together when the Lakers go small; in more conventional looks, one or the other will be on the bench when James is on the court.

That could open up the possibility of a guard becoming the secondary option. If that’s the case, then Kentavious Caldwell-Pope could wind up as the second-leading scorer. Caldwell-Pope averaged 13.4 PPG in his first season with the Lakers and re-signed on a one-year deal. He’s improved steadily as a 3-point threat, making a career-best 38.3% last season.

And while Lonzo Ball‘s first year in the league didn’t go as smoothly as planned, the Lakers thought enough of him to use the No. 2 overall pick last summer on him. His shot needs a lot of work but he’s always a threat to post a triple-double and he’ll play more off the ball with the additions of James and Rajon Rondo.

That leads us to our question of the day: Who will emerge as the Lakers’ No. 2 scoring option during the upcoming season?

Please take to the comments section to weigh in on this topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

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