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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/24/16

March 24th, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

LeBron James is reportedly holding out hope that he can team with Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul for at least one season before they all retire. James, 31, and Wade, 34, can hit free agency this summer, but the 30-year-old Paul’s locked in with the Clippers through next season and Anthony, 31, doesn’t have an opt-out in his deal until the summer of 2018. “I really hope that, before our career is over, we can all play together,” James told Howard Beck of Bleacher Report just before the All-Star break last month. “At least one, maybe one or two seasons — me, Melo, D-Wade, CP — we can get a year in. I would actually take a pay cut to do that.”

It would be extremely difficult for any team to fit the quartet on its roster within the salary cap, even with the projected increase that is set to take effect this summer. If James truly wishes for this to occur, he would likely be the player who would need to make the largest financial sacrifice. Unless Anthony and Paul were willing to agree to buyout arrangements with their current teams, which is a highly unlikely scenario, LeBron would need to be the player who takes the hit. Wade isn’t a max player any more, unless Miami is feeling deeply sentimental come this offseason, so any sacrifice of income he made would pale in comparison to what James would likely need to give up to make this theoretical grouping of star players a reality.

There also remains the question of where the quartet would play. The only franchise that I could realistically see making this work in the immediate future given the players’ current salaries is the Cavaliers. Cleveland could theoretically trade Kevin Love to the Knicks for Anthony and ship Kyrie Irving to the Clippers for Paul, though in both instances the Cavs would be taking on more salary than they shipped out. It’s also not a given that Los Angeles and New York would agree to such deals, though the Knicks taking on Love in exchange for Anthony isn’t as far-fetched to me as the Clippers flipping Paul for Irving. Then it would be up to Wade to leave Miami, a city where he has played his entire NBA career, for the much colder climate of Ohio, and he’d have to take a pay cut to do so.

Which brings me to the topic(s) for today: Do you think that LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade will ever play together? If so, what team do you think they would suit up for? Would this grouping of stars guarantee an NBA title?

Take to the comments section to share your thoughts, trade ideas and opinions on the subject. We look forward to what you have to say.

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Submit Your Questions For Hoops Rumors Mailbag

March 24th, 2016 at 4:35pm CST by Eddie Scarito

In addition to our regular weekly chat, which Chuck Myron facilitates every Wednesday, we have a second 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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Looming Player Option Decisions: West

March 24th, 2016 at 2:07pm CST by Chuck Myron

The NBA regular season ends in less than three weeks, so time is running short for players to make their final impressions. The stakes are higher for those whose contract situations for next season are unresolved. Player options are a coveted contractual feature, but the decisions players make often depend on how other teams regard them. Players do well to gauge the potential free agent market for their services, lest they follow the path of J.R. Smith, who turned down a $6.4MM player option last summer and wound up languishing in free agency for two months until accepting a deal from the Cavs that pays him only $5MM this season.

Most option decisions aren’t due until late June, but as the season winds to a close, we’ve examined the likelihood of each player opting in or out. We started last week in the Eastern Conference, and we’re following up now with the Western Conference, where many of the tougher calls exist:

Likely to opt out:

  • Dwight Howard, Rockets ($23,282,457) — Howard is expected to opt out in search of a max deal that would pay him about $30MM next season.
  • Chandler Parsons, Mavericks ($16,023,000) — The versatile forward’s potential season-ending injury is reportedly expected to have no bearing on his plans to opt out and enter a robust market.
  • Deron Williams, Mavericks ($5,621,026) — The 31-year-old is putting up numbers strikingly similar to the ones he posted in his final season with the Nets. The difference is that this year’s production comes against much lower expectations in Dallas. The rising salary cap presumably lifts the stock of just about every free agent, so Williams stands to make as much or more than he did last summer if he opts out. That’s particularly so considering Williams didn’t really experience an open market last year, coming free from the Nets after most other notable players had signed.
  • Austin Rivers, Clippers ($3,344,106) — The combo guard signed a short-term deal last summer because he wanted to improve his stock and quickly return to free agency. The terms of his existing contract were dictated by the declined option on his rookie scale pact, which barred the Clippers from giving him more, but no such bounds will exist for his next deal. A career-high 8.3 points per game so far will help Rivers, the son of Clippers coach/executive Doc Rivers.
  • Darrell Arthur, Nuggets ($2,940,630) — This one’s a tough call, but Arthur’s production is up, and his work on the boards is better than it’s been in four years. His 14 starts this season are his most since he started 64 games as a rookie.
  • Caron Butler, Kings ($1,551,659) — It’s surprising that he’s still on Sacramento after the Kings reportedly promised to trade him in December. He was supposedly a strong bet for a buyout last month, but that didn’t happen, either. It’s tough to say much with certainty here given the evidence, but it seems like the 36-year-old will try to latch on elsewhere for a better chance at the playoffs.
  • David West, Spurs ($1,551,659) — Money was clearly no object for West this past offseason, when he took a sharp pay cut to sign for the minimum salary with the Spurs and chase a title. We can assume that he’ll opt out to see if he can again go after a ring and make more money doing so, though that’s certainly not a given.

Toss-up:

  • Tim Duncan, Spurs ($5,643,750) — Duncan, even as he approaches his 40th birthday next month, is worth far more than the value of his option, but he’s no stranger to discounts, and this decision likely comes down to whether or not he wants to retire.
  • Manu Ginobili, Spurs ($2,940,630) — Ginobili, who turns 39 this year, is in the same position as Duncan. If he wants to play again, he probably opts in. If he wants to retire, he’ll turn it down.
  • Wesley Johnson, Clippers ($1,227,286) — His minutes and scoring are down significantly from last season, though that was to be expected after a Lakers-to-Clippers move.
  • James Anderson, Kings ($1,139,123) — The swingman’s minutes have been inconsistent this season, though coach George Karl thinks he’s probably the team’s best defender. Still, Anderson was out of the NBA last season, so his position isn’t secure.

Likely to opt in:

  • Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks ($8,692,184) — Nowitzki hasn’t said so explicitly, but he told USA Today’s Sam Amick in November that he plans to “ride this contract out,” presumably meaning he’ll stay under this discounted pact, one that helps the Mavs chase other stars who could team with Nowitzki in a title quest.
  • Brandon Bass, Lakers ($3,135,000) — It’s conceivable he’ll opt out to seek either a larger role, a better chance to win or both, but the bet here is that he sticks it out with the Lakers after putting up his lowest numbers in six years this season.
  • Alonzo Gee, Pelicans ($1,379,400) — The journeyman has started 36 games for the injury-depleted Pelicans, but he’s averaged only 4.0 points per game and shot just 28.1% from 3-point range. The option gives him slightly more than he’d get on a minimum salary deal, and the money is guaranteed.
  • Cole Aldrich, Clippers ($1,227,286) — The big man has been in the rotation since Blake Griffin‘s went down around Christmas, but it’s tough to see him doing much better than the guaranteed minimum salary his option provides.
  • Seth Curry, Kings ($1,015,696) — Sacramento’s minutes for Curry have fluctuated, leading him to mild frustration, but he’d played only six NBA games before this season, so giving up guaranteed money would be a major risk.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/23/16

March 23rd, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Sixers face a long climb if they wish to return to prominence in the Eastern Conference. The effectiveness of GM Sam Hinkie‘s rebuilding through tanking plan is certainly debatable given the team’s woeful record the past few seasons. One major critique levied against Hinkie is his failure to build a cohesive roster, a valid criticism given his lack of attention to the team’s backcourt the past two years. The executive has used three lottery picks in a row to select big men, players whose skills don’t appear to complement each other, which will likely become a bigger issue when and if Joel Embiid finally makes his NBA debut.

Hinkie did land point guard Michael Carter-Williams in the 2014 NBA Draft, a player who snagged Rookie of the Year Honors for the 2013/14 campaign. While Carter-Williams’ game certainly has its flaws, he did provide the team with steady production at a critical position. Since dealing away the 24-year-old to the Bucks during the 2014/15 season, the Sixers have struggled to find a playmaker who could run the team as well as help their young big men develop.

Philadelphia made an attempt to fix this glaring roster hole this season with its acquisition of Ish Smith from the Pelicans in December, a move that hasn’t translated into wins, but there is no denying that the Sixers are a better team since Smith arrived. In 39 games since joining Philly, Smith has notched 14.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 31.7 minutes per night. Smith certainly has his negatives as a player, namely his high turnover rate (2.5 per game) and shaky shot selection (39.7% from the field overall), but he has certainly performed better than anyone the team has trotted out at the one spot since Carter-Williams was dealt.

This brings me to the question/topic for today: Is Ish Smith the long-term answer at point guard for the Sixers?

The Sixers aren’t viewed as a free agent destination around the league given their current state, which doesn’t bode well for landing a big name free agent to lead the team this offseason. This means that the team will either need to pin its hopes on Smith, who is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, attempt to upgrade via the draft or to try and strike gold on the free agent market with a lower-tiered player.

So what say you? Should the Sixers look to re-sign Smith this offseason and hand the team over to him, or is he just a placeholder in your eyes? If you don’t believe Smith is the solution, who is a realistic target for the team either via the draft, free agency or the trade market? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions on the matter. We look forward to what you have to say.

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2015/16 Salary Cap Update: Thunder

March 23rd, 2016 at 6:46pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA’s salary cap for 2015/16 is set at $70MM, which is good for an 11% increase from last season, and the luxury tax line is fixed at $84.74MM. With the February 18th cutoff date for trades and the de facto deadline of March 1st for buyouts now past, we at Hoops Rumors are in the process of updating the salary cap commitments for each NBA franchise for the 2015/16 campaign. Here’s the cap breakdown for the Oklahoma City Thunder, whose regular season roster can be viewed here:

  • 2015/16 Salary Cap= $70,000,000
  • 2015/16 Luxury Tax Line= $84,740,000
  • Fully Guaranteed Salary Commitments= $93,765,298
  • Remaining Cap Room= -$23,765,298
  • Amount Over Luxury Tax Line= $9,025,298

Cap Exceptions Available:

  • Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception= $2,144,753
  • Trade Exception= $2,750,000 (Luke Ridnour. Expires June 30th, 2016)
  • Trade Exception= $2,038,206 (Perry Jones III. Expires July 14th, 2016)
  • Trade Exception= $3,750,001 (Steve Novak. Expires February 18th, 2017)

Cash Available to Send Out In Trades= $1,900,000

Cash Available to Receive Via Trade= $3,400,000

Note: Despite the trade deadline having passed, the NBA season technically doesn’t end until June 30th. Teams are able to again make trades upon the completion of the regular season or when/if they are eliminated from the playoffs, whichever comes later. So these cash limits still apply.

The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.

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Hoops Rumors Chat Transcript

March 23rd, 2016 at 4:02pm CST by Chuck Myron

4:02pm: Click here to read this week’s chat transcript.

3:00pm: LeBron James teamed with friends six years ago when he left Cleveland for Miami, and he’d like to play with his buddies again, though whether that happens in Cleveland, Miami or elsewhere, or whether it happens at all, remains to be seen. Others, including those on our growing list of draft entrants, are merely looking to join any NBA team. Some franchises are already gearing up for the summer ahead, while some are merely trying to have enough healthy bodies to finish the season. A multitude of different stories surround the NBA, and we can talk about a bunch of them in today’s chat.

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2016 Free Agent Power Rankings

March 23rd, 2016 at 10:28am CST by Chuck Myron

The regular season ends three weeks from tonight, and while the playoffs lie ahead, precious little time remains for the top 2016 NBA free agents to make their cases on the court to front offices around the league. We’ve ranked the best of this year’s free agent class from time to time since last summer’s free agent market died down, and amid a crucial stretch run, it’s time to do so again. Here’s where they stand:

  1. Kevin Durant — The prize of this year’s free agency is addressing the summer ahead more often now as it approaches, but only in general terms, and while the Warriors and Spurs are threats to land him, the appeal of staying “home” in Oklahoma City still looms large. Last time: No. 1.
  2. LeBron James (player option) — We can’t accuse LeBron of not having fun with his ability to hit free agency every year. His cryptic messages via social media raise eyebrows, and sometimes he needn’t even say anything to cause a stir, as was the case when he unfollowed the Cavs on Twitter this week. Still, he risks turning his beloved northeast Ohio into a land of antipathy if he dares leave Cleveland again. Last time: No. 2.
  3. Andre Drummond (restricted) — The outcome of Drummond’s free agency is essentially preordained, since both sides were on board with not doing an extension this past fall and allowing the Pistons greater cap flexibility before an inevitable max-contract signing in the summer. His numbers have dipped after a strong start, but it’s hard to argue with 16.5 points and 14.9 rebounds per game overall. Last time: No. 4.
  4. DeMar DeRozan (player option) — The 26-year-old shooting guard has been pouring it on in March, averaging 27.6 points per game as he makes the Raptors even more fortunate that he’d like to spend his entire career with the organization. Max offers reportedly await from elsewhere, but Toronto is certain to shell out whatever it takes to hang on to its homegrown star. Last time: No. 7.
  5. Al Horford — The delineation between Horford and the next man on this list is likely arbitrary and comes down to whether a team is looking for a quiet, consistent inside force to plug in as a complementary star or a polarizing figure with higher upside but more baggage. The Hawks didn’t find the overwhelming trade offer they were reportedly holding out for at the deadline, but that doesn’t mean Horford won’t draw plenty of interest on the open market, with the Magic looming as a threat. Last time: No. 4.
  6. Dwight Howard (player option) — NBA observers have learned through the years that it’s virtually impossible to predict what Howard will do months in advance. New agent Perry Rogers, who represented Shaquille O’Neal, will help guide Howard through his apparent interest in the Bucks, Knicks and surely others. The prospect of a Rockets return seems unlikely, but you never say never with Howard. Last time: No. 6.
  7. Mike Conley — The 28-year-old point guard was playing some of his best basketball when he went out with Achilles tendinitis earlier this month, averaging 17.6 points, 6.4 assists and 1.6 turnovers per game in 14 contests since the beginning of February. His relatively low position on this list is probably just a placeholder until he proves his health. Last time: No. 5.
  8. Bradley Beal (restricted) — An opposing GM said that he’s “scared” of the shooting guard because of his injury history. Beal would rank much more highly if not for that, given his 17.7 points per game this season, 39.9% career 3-point percentage and the fact that his next birthday, in June, will be only his 23rd. Last time: No. 8.
  9. Nicolas Batum — The Hornets swingman has been clamoring for a place in the top 10 all season, and amid a March in which he’s averaged 18.6 points, his best scoring month of the season, we’ll give him the long overdue honor. He was reportedly likely to receive max offers as of January, and that seems a near-certainty now. The mystery is in where he’ll end up in what promises to be one of the most fascinating free agent pursuits of the summer. Last time: No. 11.
  10. Hassan Whiteside — The Heat big man probably wouldn’t be here if Chandler Parsons were healthy, but as difficult as it is to put a reserve in the top 10, Whiteside is no average bench player. His performance Tuesday, when he went 10 for 11 for 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, shows the vast potential of the one-time journeyman who’ll turn 27 in June. Last time: No. 10.

We don’t always carry the rankings past the top 10, but we’ll do our next 10 here:

11. Chandler Parsons (player option)
12. Harrison Barnes (restricted)
13. Rajon Rondo
14. Dwyane Wade
15. Pau Gasol (player option)
16. Ryan Anderson
17. Evan Fournier (restricted)
18. Kent Bazemore
19. Jordan Clarkson (Gilbert Arenas Provision)
20. Jared Sullinger (restricted)

See all the previous editions of our rankings here. See the full list of 2016 free agents here.

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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/22/16

March 22nd, 2016 at 11:00pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com reported earlier today that Mavericks small forward Chandler Parsons will likely have season-ending surgery this week on a torn meniscus in his right knee. Parsons, 27, left Friday’s game early with what the Mavs called a sore right hamstring. He sat out Sunday’s game, and an MRI revealed Monday that the torn meniscus was causing the hamstring pain, according to MacMahon. If going under the knife is indeed in Parsons’ future, it would be the second consecutive campaign to end prematurely for the player due to injury.

Though his current malady isn’t as severe as the one that required microfracture surgery last spring, this is still an alarming trend for the player. Parsons is still expected to opt out and hit free agency this summer, with the Mavericks the favorites to re-sign him, according to the ESPN scribe. Prior to his latest injury, Parsons was expected to be pursued by the Heat, Lakers, Nets, Knicks, Trail Blazers, Rockets and Nuggets. The Magic have also reportedly been primed for an aggressive run at Parsons in free agency this summer, and they loom as his top non-Dallas choice, as MacMahon previously reported, though it’s unclear how his latest injury affects how teams view the player.

This brings me to the topic for today: Is Chandler Parsons worth a maximum salary deal this offseason?

The Mavericks may be inclined to pony up that amount given the front office’s apparent fondness for Parsons as well as the team’s difficulties in landing upper-tier free agents the past few seasons. But even with the salary cap set to jump into the $90MM-$95MM range, inking Parsons to a deal in excess of $20MM per season is a major risk given his injury history. It’s also arguable whether Parsons would be worthy of the amount based on his numbers alone. He’s averaging 14.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game to go along with his shooting line of .474/.380/.705.

While Parsons is a versatile contributor who possesses a solid skill set, I’d find it difficult to justify paying Parsons top-dollar on his next deal even if he was completely healthy. But that’s merely my opinion and we’re looking for yours. So what say you? Is Parsons worth a salary in excess of $20MM per season given his production and injury history? If so, which team is the likeliest to break the bank to sign him this summer? If you don’t believe Parsons is worthy of top-dollar compensation, what contract parameters do you deem fair for all parties? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts and opinions. We look forward to what you have to say.

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Hoops Rumors Community Shootaround 3/20/16

March 20th, 2016 at 9:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Sacramento point guard Rajon Rondo is in New York tonight for his only game of the season at Madison Square Garden. Next year, there’s a chance he’ll be playing there 41 times.

The market for Rondo was limited when he hit free agency last summer after a disastrous experience in Dallas. He clashed constantly with Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle after Boston traded him there and was benched midway through Dallas’ first-round playoff series, although both sides reportedly agreed to say he was out with a back injury. With few suitors to pick from, Rondo accepted a one-year, $10MM offer from the Kings.

He’ll be a free agent again in a little more than three months, and this time the demand should be much greater. Rondo is averaging a league-best 11.9 assists per game to go with 11.8 points. He’s shooting 45% from the floor, which is his highest mark in four years, and his 3-point percentage is a career-best 35%.

New York is expected to be among the teams lined up for Rondo. The Knicks have made no secret of their desire to improve at the point guard position, and they are projected to have between $21MM and $27MM available to chase free agents.

While Rondo would be an upgrade in New York, there are questions about his ability to run the triangle offense and to adapt to an unfamiliar system after his experience in Dallas. Rondo made some disparaging comments about the philosophy earlier in the season, but he was much more open to it when meeting with reporters prior to tonight’s game. Interim coach Kurt Rambis apparently believes Rondo can succeed in the triangle, though there’s no guarantee Rambis will be with the team next season.

And Rondo won’t be the only available option on the market. Bobby Marks of the Vertical on Yahoo Sports ranks the Grizzlies’ Mike Conley as the top free agent point guard. Conley said he hasn’t ruled out anything when it comes to free agency, and the Knicks are believed to have strong interest in him.

Marks puts Rondo second, followed by Deron Williams, Jeremy Lin, Brandon Jennings, Tyler Johnson, Ish Smith, Matthew Dellavedova, Jerryd Bayless and Mario Chalmers. A return of “Lin-sanity” to New York seems unlikely, given the rumored tensions with Carmelo Anthony, but the Knicks may be looking at every other name on the list.

That brings us to tonight’s topic: Who will be the Knicks’ starting point guard next season? Will this be the year they finally land a big name in free agency? Can Conley be persuaded to leave Memphis, where he has spent his entire career? Would Rondo be able to fit into the triangle? Or will the top free agents pass up New York, leaving the Knicks to solve their point guard problem through a trade?

Please use 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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Hoops Links: Antetokounmpo, Jackson, McGrady

March 20th, 2016 at 7:29pm CST by Zachary Links

Every Sunday, we link to some of the very best work from around the basketball blogosphere. Do you have a link to a great basketball blog post – either your own or someone else’s – that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Then you should send it to us at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s rundown …

Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.

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