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Weekly Mailbag: 8/8/16-8/14/16

August 14th, 2016 at 9:37pm CST by Eddie Scarito

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com. Here are this week’s inquiries:

Does a trade where Ricky Rubio gets a fresh start in Sacramento and where Rudy Gay joins the up-and-coming T’Wolves make sense for both teams? — Matt Trapp

Arthur Hill: It makes a lot of sense. Kris Dunn and Tyus Jones are the point guards of the future in Minnesota, and the Wolves don’t need Rubio around to take away their playing time. He is signed for the next three seasons at $13.55MM, $14.25MM and $14.8MM, so he’s too expensive to keep as a backup. Minnesota is looking for one more wing player, while Sacramento needs help at point guard. Rajon Rondo left for the Bulls in free agency and Darren Collison may be looking at a lengthy suspension after his domestic violence case is resolved. Also, the salaries match almost perfectly, with Gay making $13,333,333 next season. It seems like an ideal trade for both teams.

Devin Harris is out of the Mavericks’ rotation now. Send him to Miami to be their backup point guard for a protected second rounder. Mavs save a little money, sign Jason Terry to be third-string/player assistant coach and reunite with buddy Dirk. Thoughts? — Beauen

Arthur Hill: Terry would probably love it, plus the Heat need an experienced backup to Goran Dragic. Harris makes a little more than $4.2MM next season and $4.4MM in 2017/18, so he’s a low-cost solution. Miami can’t consider many deals before the December 15th deadline to trade newly signed players, so Dallas will have to be patient. The Heat have too many experienced players and too few minutes to go around, so if they can unload maybe Wayne Ellington or someone else who falls out of the rotation, they might be interested in Harris.

What’s the role of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver? Does he or the NBA board have any veto power regarding player movement? Here in Manila, in our local PBA league, player movement, signings and trades pass through the commissioner before being finalized. If the Kevin Durant to the Warriors issue happened here, it would have been vetoed for causing team imbalance. — Greg Dizon

Arthur Hill: The commissioner has always had great power when it comes to settling league disputes and in matters of player discipline, but overseeing trades and player movement has never been part of the job description. What Durant did was perfectly legal under the existing rules. He honored his contract with the Thunder and became an unrestricted free agent. The Warriors had enough cap room to sign him, and both parties entered into the deal willingly. It’s up to each individual front office to keep its team competitive, not the commissioner. The one glaring exception when a trade was vetoed came in 2011 when the Hornets agreed to ship Chris Paul to the Lakers. However, the New Orleans franchise was owned by the league at the time, so David Stern had legitimate “basketball reasons” to stop the deal.

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Community Shootaround: FIBA Rules

August 14th, 2016 at 8:29pm CST by Eddie Scarito

There may be plenty of NBA players at the Summer Olympics, but it doesn’t take long to realize that these aren’t NBA games. They’re shorter, for starters, lasting just 40 minutes instead of 48, with the number of fouls for disqualification cut from six to five. But that’s just one of many adjustments that pro players had to make when they started playing internationally 24 years ago. Here are few other key areas in which FIBA rules are different:

  • Fewer time outs. When NBA games are close, the final minutes often drag out because both teams have saved so many time outs. The NBA gives each team six full time outs per game, along with one 20-second time out per half and three more in overtime. FIBA rules provide two timeouts in the first half, three in the second half and one extra for each overtime.
  • No live-ball time outs. The only time that time outs are permitted is when the clock is already stopped, and they must be called by the bench through the scorer’s table. That means players can’t call time out when they’re trapped and teams can’t stop the clock before each posession in the final minutes.
  • Shorter 3-point line. The FIBA 3-pointer is measured at 6.25 meters [or 20 feet, 6.25 inches], compared to between 22 feet and 23 feet, 9 inches in the NBA. The closer line makes for an easier shot, but it also puts more pressure on defenses to defend the 3-point line.
  • Basket interference: In international play, the ball is fair game once it hits the rim, and both teams are free to guide it through or knock it away. In the NBA, the ball must clear the cylinder before anyone can touch it.
  • Zone defense. There are no defensive three-seconds calls in FIBA basketball. Teams can play any type of zone they want and can keep all five defenders in the lane for the entire possession if they think that’s the best strategy.
  • Shorter shot clock on offensive rebounds. In the NBA, an offensive rebound means a new 24-second clock, but in FIBA it is only reset to 14 seconds. That speeds up the action and can help teams trying to come from behind late in a game.
  • Fewer jump balls. FIBA uses the possession arrow just like college basketball. The only jump ball takes place at the start of the game.

That brings us to our question for tonight: Which of these rules would you like to see brought to the NBA and how would they improve the pro game?

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below. We look forward to what you have to say.

Arthur Hill contributed to this post.

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Poll: 2005 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 11)

August 14th, 2016 at 1:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

We’re in the process of revisiting the 2005 NBA Draft, the year that the Bucks nabbed big man Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. That year’s draft class is generally viewed as one of the weaker ones in recent memory, though, there were quite a few second-rounders that year (Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, Amir Johnson and Marcin Gortat) who have gone on to have very solid NBA careers.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll be posting a series of reader polls that ask you to vote on the player whom you believe should have been selected with each pick. We’ll continue onward with the Magic, who held the No. 11 pick that season. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Orlando’s pick and check back Monday for the results, as well as for your chance to vote for whom the Clippers should have taken at No. 12. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

Selections

  1. Bucks — Chris Paul [Actual Pick — Andrew Bogut]
  2. Hawks — Deron Williams [Actual Pick — Marvin Williams]
  3. Jazz — Monta Ellis [Actual Pick — Deron Williams]
  4. Hornets/Pelicans — Andrew Bogut [Actual Pick — Chris Paul]
  5. Bobcats/Hornets — Danny Granger [Actual Pick — Raymond Felton]
  6. Trail Blazers  — David Lee [Actual Pick  — Martell Webster]
  7. Raptors — Andrew Bynum [Actual Pick — Charlie Villanueva]
  8. Knicks — Marcin Gortat [Actual Pick — Channing Frye]
  9. Warriors — Lou Williams [Actual Pick — Ike Diogu]
  10. Lakers — Marvin Williams [Actual Pick — Andrew Bynum]
  11. Magic — ?? [Actual Pick — Fran Vazquez]

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Community Shootaround: 2016/17 Schedule

August 13th, 2016 at 8:52pm CST by Arthur Hill

For years, the idea of a sellout crowd packing Oklahoma City’s Chesapeake Energy Arena to watch Kevin Durant hasn’t been big news. But when it happens on Feburary 11th, it will be one of the most important nights of the season.

The NBA released its schedule for 2016/17 this week, and Durant’s return to OKC to face his former fans is among the highlights. Durant shook the franchise on July 4th when he announced he was joining the Warriors, and Thunder fans have been waiting for the new schedule to see which date they should circle on their calendars.

But Durant wasn’t the only big name to change teams this offseason, and there are many more eventful nights on the schedule. Along with Durant’s return, Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated ranks these as the most intriguing games to watch:

  • Warriors at Cavaliers, December 25th: These teams have met in the last two NBA finals and may be headed for a third. But first, they will be part of the annual ABC/ESPN Christmas marathon. The addition of Durant should add spice to an already intense rivalry.
  • Knicks at Cavaliers, October 25th: It may be Cleveland’s most anticipated home opener ever as the city will raise its first championship banner in any sport since 1964.
  • Cavaliers at Warriors, January 16th: LeBron James and company will make their first trip back to Oracle Arena since winning Game 7 of the finals.
  • Bulls at Heat, November 10th: Miami fans still may not be over the shock of Dwyane Wade leaving town by the time this game tips off. Wade’s career with the Heat included 13 seasons and three NBA titles, and he remains a fan favorite no matter what uniform he wears.
  • Rockets at Lakers, October 26th: The reality of the post-Kobe Bryant era settles in as L.A. plays its first home game without him on the roster since 1996.
  • Pelicans at Spurs, October 29th: There will be a similar situation in Texas, as San Antonio starts its first season without Tim Duncan since 1997.
  • Knicks at Bulls, November 4th: Chicago native Derrick Rose comes to town in a visiting uniform for the first time in his NBA career. Accompanying him will be long-time Bulls center Joakim Noah.
  • Spurs at Warriors, October 25th: Both teams were chasing history for most of last season before Golden State got there with 73 wins. With Durant gone from Oklahoma City, there’s a good chance these will be the top two teams in the West again.
  • Lakers at Sixers, December 16th: The top two picks in the draft, Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram, square off for the first time in the NBA.

That brings us to tonight’s question: Which game are you most anticipating next season and why? Take to the comments section below to share your thoughts and opinions on the topic. We look forward to what you have to say.

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Salary Cap Snapshot: Indiana Pacers

August 13th, 2016 at 5:15pm CST by Eddie Scarito

With the free agent signing period winding down and teams looking ahead to the preseason, we at Hoops Rumors will be tracking the Salary Cap figures for each team around the league.  These posts will be maintained throughout the season once financial data is reported. They will be located on the sidebar throughout the year, once all the teams’ cap figures have been relayed. You can always check RosterResource.com for up-to-date rosters for each franchise, with the Pacers’ team page accessible here.

Here’s a breakdown of where the Pacers currently stand financially:

Guaranteed Salary

Total Guaranteed Salary= $94,002,004

Cash Sent Out Via Trade: $0 [Amount Remaining $3.5MM]

Cash Received Via Trade: Received $3,227,286 from Mavericks as part of Jeremy Evans trade [Amount Remaining $272,714]

Payroll Exceptions Available

  • Room Exception: $2,898,000

Total Projected Payroll: $94,002,004

Salary Cap: $94,143,000

Estimated Available Cap Space: $140,996

Luxury Tax Threshold: $113,287,000

Amount Below Luxury Tax: $19,284,996

Last Updated: 4/6/17

The Basketball Insiders salary pages and The Vertical’s salary database were used in the creation of this post.

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Poll: 2005 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 10)

August 13th, 2016 at 2:01pm CST by Eddie Scarito

We’re in the process of revisiting the 2005 NBA Draft, the year that the Bucks nabbed big man Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. That year’s draft class is generally viewed as one of the weaker ones in recent memory, though, there were quite a few second-rounders that year (Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, Amir Johnson and Marcin Gortat) who have gone on to have very solid NBA careers.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll be posting a series of reader polls that ask you to vote on the player whom you believe should have been selected with each pick. We’ll continue onward with the Lakers, who held the No. 10 pick that season. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Los Angeles’ pick and check back Sunday for the results, as well as for your chance to vote for whom the Magic should have taken at No. 11. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

Selections

  1. Bucks — Chris Paul [Actual Pick — Andrew Bogut]
  2. Hawks — Deron Williams [Actual Pick — Marvin Williams]
  3. Jazz — Monta Ellis [Actual Pick — Deron Williams]
  4. Hornets/Pelicans — Andrew Bogut [Actual Pick — Chris Paul]
  5. Bobcats/Hornets — Danny Granger [Actual Pick — Raymond Felton]
  6. Trail Blazers  — David Lee [Actual Pick  — Martell Webster]
  7. Raptors — Andrew Bynum [Actual Pick — Charlie Villanueva]
  8. Knicks — Marcin Gortat [Actual Pick — Channing Frye]
  9. Warriors — Lou Williams [Actual Pick — Ike Diogu]
  10. Lakers — ?? [Actual Pick — Andrew Bynum]

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Hoops Rumors Originals: 8/7/16-8/13/16

August 13th, 2016 at 12:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Here’s a look back at the original content and analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this past week.

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Extension Candidate: Victor Oladipo

August 12th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

NBA: Orlando Magic at Chicago BullsThe Thunder won’t get to watch Victor Oladipo as part of their team for very long before having to make an important decision. The 6-4 combo guard, who was acquired from the Magic in a draft-day trade, will be entering his fourth NBA season this fall, making him eligible for a rookie scale extension.

The extension deadline is October 31st, and Oklahoma City has just three regular season games before that date arrives. So the Thunder front office will have to base its decision largely on the three productive seasons Oladipo had in Orlando before the deal was made.

After being taken second overall in the 2013 draft, Oladipo developed quickly with the Magic, playing 80 games as a rookie and starting 44. His best season came in 2014/15, when he started 71 of the 72 games he appeared in and averaged 17.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per night. His scoring average dipped to 16.0 last season and he suffered two concussions and battled a variety of other injuries, starting just 52 of the 72 games he played.

But the Thunder saw enough that they liked in Oladipo to give up Serge Ibaka, one of the cornerstones of their recent success, to add him to their roster, along with veteran power forward  Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to rookie big man Domantas Sabonis. Oklahoma City GM Sam Presti explained the move at a press conference on draft night, saying the Thunder will benefit from Oladipo’s competitive attitude.

“I think the number one thing with Victor is his make-up,” Presti said about his new guard. “… He is tough-minded, he’s competitive, he’s selfless. He is a guy that we really feel like not only brings things on the floor for us, but I think he’s going to be a real add to our environment, our culture on an everyday basis.”

Presti also said he was intrigued by Oladipo’s ability to play multiple positions, noting that his flexibility will give coach Billy Donovan more options when it comes to designing lineups.

But if the Thunder hope to keep Oladipo as a long-term backcourt partner for Russell Westbrook, they will need to make a significant salary commitment, whether it comes by October 31st or next offseason. Oladipo has made no secret about his desire for a full maximum extension, writes Erik Horne of The Oklahoman.

The former Indiana Hoosiers star was paid roughly $4.7MM, $4.9MM and $5.1MM during his first three years in the NBA and will receive a little more than $6.5MM next season. A maximum deal would bring his salary close to $24MM for 2017/18, with annual raises as high as 7.5% to follow.

Oklahoma City has a recent history of not giving rookie extensions to guards who were eligible to receive them. In 2014/15, the Thunder couldn’t reach a deal with combo guard Reggie Jackson and wound up trading him to the Pistons. Last year, OKC let the extension deadline pass for shooting guard Dion Waiters. The Thunder pulled their qualifying offer to Waiters last month, freeing him up to sign with the Heat.

But the Thunder front office is expected to try much harder to reach a deal with Oladipo, considering the price they paid to acquire him. Giving up Ibaka, who helped make Oklahoma City one of the league’s best teams during his seven seasons with the franchise, suggests that Oladipo will be an important part of the team’s long-term plans.

If the sides can’t reach an agreement before Halloween, Oladipo will become a restricted free agent after the season, joining center Steven Adams and shooting guard Andre Roberson in that category. With Adams coming off a breakthrough season and also likely to be in the market for a max or near-max deal next summer, it may be in the Thunder’s best interests to reach a deal with Oladipo before the deadline arrives.

The contract situations of Oladipo and Adams led the Thunder to be conservative in free agency this offseason, once Kevin Durant announced that he was leaving for Golden State. Other than re-signing and extending Westbrook, OKC’s only significant offseason moves were to bring back veteran Anthony Morrow at $3.4MM and sign Spanish star Alex Abrines for nearly $6MM.

The Thunder are in a unique situation as they address their short- and long-term future. The loss of Durant means they aren’t an elite NBA power any more, but the deal with Westbrook should keep them in playoff contention and may give them a shot at hosting a first-round series. Oladipo, at age 24, and Adams, at 23, are expected to be part of the core in Oklahoma City as the team tries to establish a new identity. Over the next year, it will be in the Thunder’s best interests to keep them both happy and lock them down with new contracts for as long as possible.

Photo courtesy of Mike DiNovo / USA TODAY Sports Images

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Submit Your Questions For Hoops Rumors Mailbag

August 12th, 2016 at 10:15pm CST by Eddie Scarito

We at Hoops Rumors love interacting with our readers. This is why we provide an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in our weekly mailbag feature, which is posted every Sunday.

Have a question regarding player movement, free agent rumors, the salary cap, the NBA draft, or the top storylines of the week? You can e-mail them here: hoopsrumorsmailbag@gmail.com. Feel free to send emails throughout the week, but please be mindful that we may receive a sizable number of questions and might not get to all of them.

If you missed out on any past mailbags and would like to catch up, you can view the full archives here.

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Poll: 2005 NBA Draft Take Two (Pick No. 9)

August 12th, 2016 at 7:13pm CST by Eddie Scarito

We’re in the process of revisiting the 2005 NBA Draft, the year that the Bucks nabbed big man Andrew Bogut with the No. 1 overall pick. That year’s draft class is generally viewed as one of the weaker ones in recent memory, though, there were quite a few second-rounders that year (Ersan Ilyasova, Monta Ellis, Lou Williams, Amir Johnson and Marcin Gortat) who have gone on to have very solid NBA careers.

In the weeks ahead, we’ll be posting a series of reader polls that ask you to vote on the player whom you believe should have been selected with each pick. We’ll continue onward with the Warriors, who held the No. 9 pick that season. Readers, you are now on the clock! Cast your vote for Golden State’s pick and check back Saturday for the results, as well as for your chance to vote for whom the Lakers should have taken at No. 10. But don’t limit yourself to a simple button click. Take to the comments section below and share your thoughts on the pick and why you voted the way that you did. Also, if I fail to list a player who you think should be selected, feel free to post that in the comments section and I’ll be certain to tally those votes as well.

Selections

  1. Bucks — Chris Paul [Actual Pick — Andrew Bogut]
  2. Hawks — Deron Williams [Actual Pick — Marvin Williams]
  3. Jazz — Monta Ellis [Actual Pick — Deron Williams]
  4. Hornets/Pelicans — Andrew Bogut [Actual Pick — Chris Paul]
  5. Bobcats/Hornets — Danny Granger [Actual Pick — Raymond Felton]
  6. Trail Blazers  — David Lee [Actual Pick  — Martell Webster]
  7. Raptors — Andrew Bynum [Actual Pick — Charlie Villanueva]
  8. Knicks — Marcin Gortat [Actual Pick — Channing Frye]
  9. Warriors — ?? [Actual Pick — Ike Diogu]

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