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Poll: 2018 All-NBA Second Team

April 18th, 2018 at 9:31am CST by Luke Adams

In an NBA season packed with incredible individual performances, we’re letting you decide which 15 players are most deserving of All-NBA recognition.

On Monday, we opened voting for the All-NBA First Team, and we now have our answers for which five players you believe deserve spots on that team — sort of. Anthony Davis‘ multi-position eligibility at forward and center complicated matters. While our voters were in an agreement that he deserved a spot on the All-NBA First Team, Davis received nearly as many votes at forward as he did at center, winning the voting at center and placing second as a forward.

For our purposes, we’ll leave Davis at center, where he earned slightly more votes, but it’ll be interesting to see whether these results foreshadow a positional split in the actual All-NBA race.

Here are the voting results so far:

All-NBA First Team

Harden, James, and Davis were the leading vote-getters here and look to me like locks to earn spots on the All-NBA First Team, assuming Davis’ positional split isn’t a factor. Westbrook and Antetokounmpo are probably the favorites to fill out the top five too, though they’ll face stiff competition for those last guard and forward slots on the First Team.

We’re moving on today to the All-NBA Second Team, so cast your votes below for the two guards, two forwards, and one center that you believe are most deserving of being named to that squad. Don’t forget that a few players – including LaMarcus Aldridge, Ben Simmons, and Jimmy Butler – qualify at two positions.

You’ll have about 48 hours for this round of voting before we move on to the All-NBA Third Team on Friday morning. You’ll also have the opportunity to select two players apiece in the guard and forward polls, so be sure to take advantage of that. And if there’s a player not listed below that you believe deserves All-NBA consideration, be sure to mention him in the comments section too — if I agree, I’ll make sure he’s included in our All-NBA Third Team polls later this week.

Guards:

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA Second Team guards.

Forwards:

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA Second Team forwards.

Centers:

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA Second Team center.

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Following Specific Players On Hoops Rumors

April 17th, 2018 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Hoops Rumors lets you keep up with your favorite NBA teams as they plot their next moves, and we also provide ways to easily follow the latest on all of your favorite players, along with the free agents and trade candidates from around the league.

You can get news about players wherever you go with our Trade Rumors app, available for iOS and Android devices. The app is free and allows you to add a feed for any player and set up notifications that will alert you whenever we write about him. It’s the easiest way to keep tabs on specific players.

If you’re using the desktop or mobile version of our site, there are other ways to follow your favorite player(s). Every player we’ve written about has his own rumors page. You can find any player by using our search box, by clicking his tag at the bottom of a post in which he’s discussed, or by simply typing his name in your address bar after hoopsrumors.com, substituting dashes for spaces. For example, LeBron James‘s page is hoopsrumors.com/lebron-james.

You can also set up an RSS feed for any of our player pages by adding /feed to the end of the page URL, like this: hoopsrumors.com/demarcus-cousins/feed. Entering that URL into the reader of your choice will enable you to get updates whenever we write about DeMarcus Cousins. It works for teams, too. If you’re a Pelicans fan, you can enter hoopsrumors.com/new-orleans-pelicans/feed into your reader and stay on top of all the latest from New Orleans.

In addition to players and teams, there are a number of other subjects you can track by clicking on the tags that we use at the bottom of posts. For example, you can keep tabs on our 2018 draft stories right here. Items about the NBA G League can be found on this page. You can simply scan our top stories here. Again, you can set up a feed with any of these pages by adding /feed to the end of the URL.

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2018 NBA Head Coaching Search Tracker

April 17th, 2018 at 3:02pm CST by Luke Adams

After a period of virtually unprecedented stability in the NBA’s head coaching ranks, the coaching carousel started spinning again during the 2017/18 league year. Three teams made in-season coaching changes, installing interim replacements, and six more clubs have parted ways with their head coaches since the regular season ended.

In the space below, we’ll provide daily updates on the head coaching searches for each club that has yet to give anyone the permanent title. Some of these searches could extend well into the spring, so be sure to check back each day for the latest updates.

Updated 6-12-18 (10:32am CT)

Active Searches:

None

Completed Searches:

Atlanta Hawks

  • Out: Mike Budenholzer (story)
  • In: Lloyd Pierce (story)
  • After initially giving Budenholzer permission to interview with other teams seeking a new head coach, the Hawks and Budenholzer reached an agreement to mutually part ways, leaving Atlanta on the lookout for a new coach of its own. After three meetings with him, the Hawks made Pierce their man.
  • Interviewed: Nate Tibbetts (story), Stephen Silas (story), Jay Larranaga (story), Jarron Collins (story), Darvin Ham (story), David Fizdale (hired by Knicks)

Charlotte Hornets

  • Out: Steve Clifford (story)
  • In: James Borrego (story)
  • In addition to firing Clifford, the Hornets made a change in their front office this offseason, hiring Mitch Kupchak as their new president of basketball operations and general manager. Kupchak led the search for a new head coach, and Borrego was the team’s choice.
  • Interviewed: Jay Larranaga (story; second interview), Jerry Stackhouse (story), Ettore Messina (story), David Fizdale (story), Ime Udoka (story), David Vanterpool (story), Jim Boylen (story), Nick Nurse (story)

Detroit Pistons

  • Out: Stan Van Gundy (story)
  • In: Dwane Casey (story)
  • The Pistons were said to like Ime Udoka, John Beilein, and Kenny Smith, but Casey always appeared to be the frontrunner. The team finalized a deal with him before hiring a new general manager.
  • Interviewed or will interview: Kenny Smith (story), Juwan Howard (story), Ime Udoka (story), John Beilein (story), Jason Kidd (story), Nick Nurse (story)
  • Rumored target before he was hired by another team: Mike Budenholzer (story)

Memphis Grizzlies

  • Out: David Fizdale (in-season change)
  • In: J.B. Bickerstaff (story)
  • J.B. Bickerstaff, who finished the 2017/18 season as the Grizzlies’ interim head coach, was elevated to the permanent role after Robert Pera retained control of the franchise. Bickerstaff and the Grizzlies agreed to a new three-year contract that includes a team option in year three.

Milwaukee Bucks

  • Out: Jason Kidd (in-season change); Joe Prunty (interim coach)
  • In: Mike Budenholzer (story)
  • Even before he parted ways with the Hawks, Budenholzer was rumored to have interest in the Bucks’ head coaching job. The Bucks considered other candidates – including finalist Ettore Messina – and Budenholzer received interest from other teams, but the two sides ultimately came together, agreeing to a four-year deal.
  • Interviewed: Joe Prunty (story), Ettore Messina (story), Steve Clifford (story), Monty Williams (story), David Blatt (story), Becky Hammon (story), Jay Larranaga (story)
  • Informal conversation: Jim Cleamons (story)
  • Had planned to interview: James Borrego (story)

New York Knicks

  • Out: Jeff Hornacek (story)
  • In: David Fizdale (story)
  • The Knicks cast a wide net as they searched for a new head coach, meeting with current and former head coaches, assistants, and even a TV analyst with no previous coaching experience. In total, they interviewed 11 candidates, ultimately landing on Fizdale, who agreed to a four-year contract with the club.
  • Interviewed: Jerry Stackhouse (story), Mark Jackson (story), Mike Woodson (story), Kenny Smith (story), Mike Budenholzer (story), David Blatt (story; second meeting), James Borrego (story), Jay Larranaga (story), Juwan Howard (story), Mike Brown (story)

Orlando Magic

  • Out: Frank Vogel (story)
  • In: Steve Clifford (story)
  • The Magic said after firing Vogel that they planned to take their time with their search, and they made good on that promise, taking nearly seven weeks to pick a replacement. Ultimately, it was Clifford, a former Orlando assistant on Stan Van Gundy‘s staff, who emerged as the choice, reaching a four-year deal to join the Magic.
  • Interviewed: David Vanterpool (story), Ime Udoka (story), Kelvin Sampson (story), David Fizdale (story; hired by Knicks)

Phoenix Suns

Toronto Raptors

  • Out: Dwane Casey (story)
  • In: Nick Nurse (story)
  • Setting a franchise record for wins in a season (59) and winning the Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year award didn’t save Casey’s job, with the Raptors dismissing him in what Masai Ujiri called “a very difficult but necessary step.” Nurse, a top assistant who was credited for revamping Toronto’s offense last season, received a promotion to the top job.
  • Interviewed: Rex Kalamian (story), Jerry Stackhouse (story), Ettore Messina (story), Ime Udoka (story), Sarunas Jasikevicius (story), Mike Budenholzer (story; hired by Bucks)
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Poll: What’s Next For Spurs, Kawhi Leonard?

April 17th, 2018 at 11:00am CST by Luke Adams

Throughout a rocky 2017/18 season, even as rumors of discord between Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs persisted, most reports out of San Antonio have suggested that a long-term union between the two sides remains the most likely outcome. Multiple reporters over the course of the season indicated that the Spurs would likely put a Designated Veteran Extension offer on the table for Leonard during the offseason.

However, that’s no longer a lock. In his latest piece for The San Antonio Express-News, Mike Finger observes that a super-max offer still seemed like a slam dunk as of month or two ago, but he admits it’s not a certainty anymore. In fact, Finger writes, it might be a surprise if the Spurs do extend that offer to Leonard.

Given the Spurs’ history of stability, the Leonard situation this season has been fascinating. It stems from a disagreement between the Spurs’ medical staff and Leonard’s own doctors about the state of his quadriceps injury — the Spurs have cleared the star forward to return, but his doctors haven’t done so, and he still doesn’t feel comfortable enough to play.

As part of his rehab, Leonard is currently in New York, away from the Spurs as they battle the Warriors in the first round of the postseason. Finger suggests the team is fine with Leonard’s absence, but the optics aren’t great, and Gregg Popovich‘s comments after Monday’s Game 2 loss were interpreted by some observers as a subtle dig at his absent star — even though they were ostensibly intended as praise for LaMarcus Aldridge.

“LaMarcus has been a monster all year long,” Popovich said, per Sam Amick of USA Today. “He’s led our team at both ends of the floor. He doesn’t complain about a darn thing out on the court. He just plays through everything. I can’t imagine being more proud of a player as far as playing through adversity and being there for his teammates night after night after night. He’s been fantastic.”

It’s worth noting that Aldridge was in a somewhat similar position to Leonard a year ago, having broached the possibility of a trade out of San Antonio during the 2017 offseason. However, a meeting and a few conversations between Aldridge and Popovich allowed the two sides to work out their issues, with the Spurs’ big man ultimately signing an extension before the season got underway.

As Finger writes, there’s still hope that the Spurs and Leonard could follow a similar path. However, at this point, the situation is “too complicated to work out with one phone call.” Finger speculates that it would probably take a series of conversations – with both sides reiterating their commitment to one another – for the Spurs and Leonard to comfortably move forward.

The Spurs are just two losses away from officially starting their offseason, at which point addressing the Leonard situation will become the franchise’s top priority. It’s not clear how this will play out, but it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Leonard inks an extension in the offseason — at this point, it also wouldn’t be a total shock if he has played his last game at the Spur.

What do you think? Will the Spurs work things out with Leonard like they did with Aldridge before him? Or will the team decide to move on from its best player a year before he becomes eligible for unrestricted free agency? Vote below in our poll and share your thoughts in the comment section!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

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Update On 2018 Draft Early Entrants

April 17th, 2018 at 9:44am CST by Luke Adams

A member of Villanova’s championship team, redshirt freshman forward Omari Spellman, is the latest underclassman to announce that he’s declaring for the 2018 NBA draft. The program confirmed today in a press release that Spellman will be entering his name in this year’s draft pool, albeit without hiring an agent in order to retain his NCAA eligibility.

Spellman, who averaged 10.9 PPG and 8.0 in his first season with the Wildcats, is one of nearly 140 early entrants from the NCAA who have announced their intent to enter this year’s draft. According to the information we’ve compiled in our early entrants tracker, the breakdown looks like this:

  • NCAA underclassmen expected to hire an agent and go pro: 50
  • NCAA underclassmen testing draft waters without an agent: 89
  • International early entrants entering draft pool: 13
  • Total: 152

Our list may not be 100% accurate — there are a small handful of players whose statuses we’ve been unable to confirm, and it’s possible we’ve missed some announcements from smaller NCAA programs or lesser-known international squads. Additionally, some players who announced their intent to test the waters may ultimately decide not to do so.

Still, our early entrants list gives us a pretty accurate sense of what the current count looks like, and it’s about in line with the last couple years. In 2017, for instance, the NBA’s list of early entrants for the draft initially included 182 names. However, many of those prospects ultimately pulled their names from consideration before the withdrawal deadlines.

We’re nearing the first of this year’s deadlines, as early entrants now have less than one week to officially enter their names in the draft pool. Once an NCAA underclassman hires an agent, he has officially relinquished his amateur status, but international players and NCAA prospects without agents can withdraw their names later in the process. Here are the key dates to watch:

  • Deadline for early entrants to submit their names for the 2018 draft pool: April 22
  • NCAA’s deadline for early entrants to withdraw and retain their NCAA eligibility: May 30
  • NBA’s deadline for early entrants to withdraw: June 11

We can expect to get a complete list of 2018’s initial group of early entrants sometime next week. Because prospects will have the opportunity to withdraw though, the final list of early entrants won’t be official until June.

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Poll: 2018 All-NBA First Team

April 16th, 2018 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

James Harden‘s offensive dominance for the Rockets this season may earn him his first MVP award, but he was hardly the only NBA star putting up astounding numbers this year, The sheer number of impressive individual performances in 2017/18 makes this year’s All-NBA decisions tougher than ever — no matter which 15 players earn spots on the three All-NBA teams for 2018, worthy candidates will miss the cut.

Still, we want you to do your best to identify which 15 players are the most deserving of All-NBA recognition this year. Over the next few days, we’ll be running a handful of polls to let you make your selections for this year’s All-NBA teams.

We’re starting today with the First Team. Polls for the guards, forwards, and center are below — you’ll have the opportunity to pick two players apiece in the guard and forward polls. We’ll leave today’s polls open for at least 24 hours before naming the players with the most votes to our All-NBA First Team and moving on to voting for the Second Team.

Vote for your All-NBA picks below, and then take to the comments section to explain your reasoning. And if there are a player not listed below that you believe deserves All-NBA consideration, be sure to mention him in the comments section too — if I agree, I’ll make sure he’s included in our Second and Third Team polls.

(Note: In instances where players saw significant minutes at multiple positions, I’ve attempted to defer to the NBA’s classification. For instance, on the league’s official All-NBA ballot, DeMar DeRozan was only eligible at guard, rather than guard and forward, but Ben Simmons was listed at both positions.)

Guards:

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA First Team guards.

Forwards:

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA First Team forwards.

Centers:

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote on the All-NBA First Team center.

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Key 2018 NBA Offseason Dates, Deadlines

April 16th, 2018 at 1:01pm CST by Luke Adams

With the 2017/18 NBA regular season in the books, nearly half of the league’s teams have shifted their focus to the offseason, and others will soon follow suit. With that in mind, it’s time to retire our list of the NBA’s key in-season dates and deadlines for the ’17/18 campaign in favor of an updated offseason calendar of the most important dates facing teams and players in the coming months.

Here’s a breakdown of many of the NBA’s important dates and deadlines for the next few months, right up until training camps open for the 2018/19 season:

April 22

  • Deadline for early entrants to declare for the NBA draft (10:59pm CT).

May 15

  • NBA draft lottery.

May 16-20

  • NBA draft combine.

May 30

  • Last day for early entrants to withdraw from the NBA draft and retain their NCAA eligibility.

June 11

  • Deadline for all early entrants (including international players) to withdraw from the NBA draft (4:00pm CT).

June 17

  • Latest possible end date for the NBA Finals.

June 21

  • NBA draft day.

June 24

  • Last day for potential restricted free agents to exercise player options.

June 25

  • NBA awards show.

June 29

  • Last day for decisions on player, team and early termination options, unless individual contracts specify otherwise.

June 30

  • Last official day of the 2017/18 NBA league year.
  • Last day for teams to make qualifying offers to players eligible for restricted free agency.

July 1

  • Official start of the 2018/19 NBA league year.
  • July moratorium begins.
  • Free agents can begin reaching verbal agreements with teams.
  • Restricted free agents can sign an offer sheet.
  • Teams can begin signing players to rookie scale contracts, minimum salary contracts, and two-way contracts.

July 6

  • July moratorium ends (11:00am CT)
  • Teams can begin officially signing players, extending players, and completing trades.
  • The two-day period for matching an RFA offer sheet signed during the moratorium begins.

July 13

  • Last day for teams to unilaterally withdraw qualifying offers to restricted free agents.

July 15

  • Last day for teams to issue required tenders to unsigned first-round picks; those players become free agents on July 16 if not tendered.

August 31

  • Last day for teams to waive players and apply the stretch provision to their 2018/19 salaries.

September 5

  • Last day for teams to issue required tenders to unsigned second-round picks; those players become free agents on September 6 if not tendered.

Late September (specific dates TBA)

  • Training camps open.

Larry Coon’s Salary Cap FAQ and NBA.com were used in the creation of this post.

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Community Shootaround: Possible First-Round Upsets

April 16th, 2018 at 9:49am CST by Luke Adams

Game 1 is in the books for all eight of the NBA’s first-round playoff matchups, and several of those games set up potentially fascinating series. Six of the eight higher seeds held their home-court advantage in the first game, but some of those favorites looked a little shaky in their victories, leading to plenty of speculation about first-round upsets.

We’ll start with the weekend’s biggest upset, which took place in Cleveland, where the Pacers dismantled LeBron James and the Cavaliers in Game 1. It won’t be a surprise if the Cavs eventually pull out this series, but their 98-80 loss on Sunday was something we haven’t seen since James returned to Cleveland in 2014. In their last three first-round series, the Cavs have swept the Celtics, Pistons, and – one year ago – the Pacers.

Of course, these Pacers are a much different team than the squad swept out of the postseason a year ago. Victor Oladipo looked like the best player on the floor on Sunday, and players like Myles Turner, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Lance Stephenson looked great in supporting roles. This Pacers team was overlooked and underappreciated all season, and appear poised to give the Cavs all they can handle in round one.

The other Game 1 upset occurred in Portland, where the Pelicans edged out a two-point win over the Trail Blazers. Anthony Davis (35 points, 14 rebounds) was the best player on the court in that game, but Jrue Holiday‘s impact shouldn’t be understated. Besides posting 21 points and seven assists, Holiday also locked up Damian Lillard on the other end of the court — Lillard made just six of 23 shots.

The Pelicans don’t have a whole lot of standout talent behind Davis and Holiday, but Nikola Mirotic (16 points, 11 rebounds) stepped up as a reliable third option on Saturday. If he – or another Pelican – can continue to support Davis and Holiday throughout the series, New Orleans should have a chance.

Elsewhere, the Raptors, Rockets, and Thunder had to battle to the end to hold off the Wizards, Timberwolves, and Jazz, respectively, but came away with Game 1 victories. The Bucks pushed the Celtics to overtime before losing Eric Bledsoe and Giannis Antetokounmpo to foul problems and ultimately losing the game. None of those four favorites is a mortal lock to advance, though Houston is probably close.

The Warriors and Sixers took care of business with comfortable wins over the Spurs and Heat, respectively.

What do you think? Will we see an upset – or multiple upsets – in the first round of the postseason? Which lower-seeded teams do you think look like the best bets to advance to round two?

Head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!

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2018 Pre-Lottery NBA Draft Order

April 16th, 2018 at 8:37am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA conducted its draft tiebreakers on Friday evening, further cementing the draft order for 2018. While we’ll have to wait until the lottery to determine the exact order for this year’s event, we now know what most of the 60 selections look like.

Listed below is the pre-lottery 2018 NBA draft order. Each lottery team’s chances of landing the No. 1 overall pick are noted in parentheses. We’ve also included notes for picks whose status remains up in the air — for instance, the Lakers‘ first-round pick could still technically end up with either the Sixers or Celtics.

We’ll update this list after the May 15 lottery once the official order is set, but here’s the tentative 2018 NBA draft order:

First Round:

  1. Phoenix Suns (25.0%)
  2. Memphis Grizzlies (19.9%)
  3. Dallas Mavericks (13.8%)
  4. Atlanta Hawks (13.7%)
  5. Orlando Magic (8.8%)
  6. Chicago Bulls (5.3%)
  7. Sacramento Kings (5.3%)
  8. Cleveland Cavaliers (from Nets) (2.8%)
  9. New York Knicks (1.7%)
  10. Philadelphia 76ers (from Lakers) (1.1%)
    • Note: Celtics will receive pick if it lands at No. 2 or No. 3 via lottery (2.9% chance).
  11. Charlotte Hornets (0.8%)
  12. Los Angeles Clippers (from Pistons) (0.7%)
    • Note: Pistons will keep pick if it moves into top three via lottery (2.5% chance).
  13. Los Angeles Clippers (0.6%)
  14. Denver Nuggets (0.5%)
  15. Washington Wizards
  16. Phoenix Suns (from Heat)
  17. Milwaukee Bucks
  18. San Antonio Spurs
  19. Atlanta Hawks (from Timberwolves)
  20. Minnesota Timberwolves (from Thunder)
  21. Utah Jazz
  22. Chicago Bulls (from Pelicans)
  23. Indiana Pacers
  24. Portland Trail Blazers
  25. Los Angeles Lakers (from Cavaliers)
  26. Philadelphia 76ers
  27. Boston Celtics
  28. Golden State Warriors
  29. Brooklyn Nets (from Raptors)
  30. Atlanta Hawks (from Rockets)

Second Round:

  1. Phoenix Suns
  2. Memphis Grizzlies
  3. Atlanta Hawks
  4. Dallas Mavericks
    • Note: Mavericks would swap places with Hawks if Atlanta gets higher first-round pick than Dallas via lottery.
  5. Orlando Magic
  6. Sacramento Kings
  7. New York Knicks (from Bulls)
    • Note: Knicks would swap places with Kings if Sacramento gets higher first-round pick than Chicago via lottery.
  8. Philadelphia 76ers (from Nets)
  9. Philadelphia 76ers (from Knicks)
  10. Brooklyn Nets (from Lakers)
  11. Orlando Magic (from Hornets)
  12. Detroit Pistons
  13. Denver Nuggets (from Clippers)
  14. Washington Wizards
  15. Brooklyn Nets (from Bucks)
  16. Houston Rockets (from Heat)
  17. Los Angeles Lakers (from Nuggets)
  18. Minnesota Timberwolves
  19. San Antonio Spurs
  20. Indiana Pacers
  21. New Orleans Pelicans
  22. Utah Jazz
  23. Oklahoma City Thunder
  24. Dallas Mavericks (from Trail Blazers)
  25. Charlotte Hornets (from Cavaliers)
  26. Philadelphia 76ers
  27. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Celtics)
  28. Denver Nuggets (from Warriors)
  29. Phoenix Suns (from Raptors)
  30. Philadelphia 76ers (from Rockets)
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Hoops Rumors Originals: 4/7/18 – 4/14/18

April 14th, 2018 at 2:24pm CST by clarkcrum

Every week, we here at Hoops Rumors strive to create interesting original content to complement our news feed. Here are the original segments and features from the past seven days:

  • In this week’s Community Shootaround Series, we asked whether it’s time for the Clippers to enter rebuilding mode after missing the playoffs this season.
  • Luke Adams took an in-depth look at the 2018 potential restricted free agents whose qualifying offers will be impacted by starter criteria.
  • As part of his free agent stock watch series, Austin Kent analyzed both the Pistons and Magic.
  • On the last night of the regular season, I provided live updates on the playoff seeding for both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.
  • Luke Adams revisited the polls we took before the 2017/18 season regarding over/unders for each of the league’s 30 teams.
  • In three separate polls this week, we asked:
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