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Poll: Should Wolves Trade Derrick Williams Now?

November 12th, 2013 at 7:04pm CST by Chuck Myron

One of the NBA’s most frequently mentioned trade candidates over the past couple of years appears to be on the block again. Team executives from around the league tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports that the Timberwolves are making Derrick Williams available in trade talks, as we passed along earlier today. The Wolves are also shopping Alexey Shved, according to the report, but Williams is the much more intriguing name.

The news comes just two and a half weeks after the Timberwolves committed to Williams through 2014/15, picking up the former No. 2 overall pick’s option for more than $6.3MM next season. That could make Williams either more difficult or easier to trade, depending on how rival clubs view him. Timberwolves president Flip Saunders and GM Milt Newton surely hope they can find a team that still believes in the potential that made Williams such a high draft selection and sees his $6.3MM+ salary next season as a potential bargain. The option pickup also allows Williams to remain on track for restricted free agency, furthering his value to a team that has faith in him.

Conversely, Williams no longer has value as an expiring deal, and teams that feel as though his career lows of 5.8 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.3 minutes this season are more reflective of his worth than his draft status might not be willing to commit for two years. The Timberwolves appear ready to improve their roster now to demonstrate to potential 2015 free agent Kevin Love that they’re serious about winning, but that could be tough to accomplish with Williams off to such a slow start.

There are teams that see Williams as an intriguing buy-low candidate, as Grantland’s Zach Lowe reports. Of course, that would make Williams a “sell-low” proposition for the Wolves, so perhaps now isn’t the right time for a trade. Still, if Williams continues to languish on Minnesota’s bench and gets farther removed from his days as a promising college prospect, his value may only decrease.

Let us know if you think it’s time for the Wolves to pull the trigger on a Williams deal, and elaborate on your thoughts in the comments.

Poll: Should The Knicks Make A Move?

November 9th, 2013 at 8:41pm CST by Jonathan Nehring

Earlier this week, Tyson Chandler went down with a right fibula injury that will sideline him for four to six weeks. For the time being, power forward Andrea Bargnani has been filling in for Chandler but with only him and Cole Aldrich available at center, the Knicks may be forced to make a move in the coming weeks.

Additionally, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News reported earlier today that Iman Shumpert‘s trade value seems high, and much higher than how the Knicks currently value him. Isola suggested Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets as a possible trade candidate who would interest the Knicks.

As our roster counts show, New York is currently at the 15 player max. This means signing any free agent would subsequently force the Knicks to release a current player on their roster. Available free agent big men the Knicks have been rumored to be interested in include Jason Collins and Louis Amundson.

Should the Knicks trade for a big man, sign a free agent, or stay put?

Poll: Will Danny Granger Stay With The Pacers?

November 9th, 2013 at 10:44am CST by Zachary Links

Pacers guard Lance Stephenson says that he’s confident he’ll be staying put, even though his bargain basement ~$1MM deal expires at season’s end. “It’s a long season, I’m not thinking nothing about contracts,” Stephenson said. “I’m going to stay with the Pacers, so I’m not even thinking about the contract.” Meanwhile, team president Larry Bird constantly tells Stephenson that he’s the next one to get a new deal after teammates Roy Hibbert, David West, and George Hill have all received contract extensions over the last two years. Barring something unexpected, it looks like Stephenson will be in Indiana for years to come. However, the same can’t be said for former franchise cornerstone Danny Granger.

After missing the bulk of 2012/13, Granger is in the final year of his contract. The Pacers have about $60.6MM in commitments for next season thanks to Granger and a few others coming off of the books, leaving them about $15MM shy of the luxury tax threshold – which they will not go over – with two notable players eligible for the open market. Stephenson probably won’t see $10MM+ per season, but a deal with an average annual value closer to $8MM would make sense for the 23-year-old. With a big chunk of their breathing room going to Stephenson and at least some of the remainder being allocated elsewhere, there isn’t a ton of space for Granger. Even if he halves his $14MM+ salary for this season, it’s an unlikely squeeze, barring a significant trade.

It stands to reason that Granger’s future rests upon how well he does when he returns to the hardwood in a couple of weeks. If Granger shows that he is still somewhat near his All-Star form, it’s hard to see the Pacers being able to carve out enough space for him. If he appears to still be a work in progress as he rehabs his patellar tendinosis, then the Pacers could conceivably find a way to keep him on a low-risk deal at the end of the season. Of course, there’s another possible outcome: Granger looks sharp over the first half of the season and becomes a strong trade chip for Indiana at the deadline. How will things play out?

Poll: Will Stephen Jackson Play In NBA In ’13/14?

November 8th, 2013 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Sports agency Interperformances announced today that it has added Stephen Jackson to its list of clients. While no reason was provided for the change, I speculated that perhaps Jackson was disappointed in the ability of his previous reps at Relativity Sports to secure him an NBA job for this season.

Jackson, 35, was last seen appearing in 55 games for the 2012/13 Spurs, a team that eventually came within a miracle Ray Allen three-pointer of winning the NBA Finals. It’s hard to argue that Jackson played a huge role in San Antonio’s success. Not only were his averages of 6.2 PPG and an 8.0 PER his worst in over a decade, but the team also released him during the last week of the regular season, replacing him with Tracy McGrady for the postseason.

Still, one of the league’s best teams made Jackson a part of its rotation for the majority of the season. Despite his declining numbers, that seems to suggest the veteran small forward has something left in the tank, so it’d be a little surprising not to see him return to the NBA at some point.

In Jackson’s case, of course, his availability can probably be attributed less to his talent than to his strong personality and his unrealistic expectations. Reports that surfaced following his release from San Antonio suggested Jackson was unable to admit that players like Manu Ginobili and Danny Green were better than him. Although he may have been humbled by the experience, it’s still hard to imagine Jackson accepting a non-guaranteed, minimum salary contract, which may be the most an NBA team is willing to offer right now.

ESPN.com’s Marc Stein predicted earlier this week that Jackson will be back in the NBA, since teams are more inclined to roll the dice on veterans who have extensive playoff experience and the ability to be difference-makers. It wouldn’t surprise me if Stein is right, but on the other hand, we recently saw a player like Michael Redd slip quietly into retirement. Even though Redd was more efficient in 2011/12 than Jackson was last season, the longtime Buck was unable to land another NBA contract.

What do you think? Will we see Jackson in the NBA this season?

Poll: Will Andrew Bynum Retire Early?

November 7th, 2013 at 9:41pm CST by Ryan Raroque

I remember attending the Long Beach Summer Pro League back in 2006, and one of the scheduled matchups pitted the Grizzlies – featuring Hakim Warrick and then-rookie Kyle Lowry – against newly drafted Jordan Farmar and the Lakers. Though it’s difficult to recall most of the remaining players who suited up for that particular game, I do remember seeing 19-year-old Andrew Bynum matched up against Andreas Glyniadakis at the center position. Though he finished with 12 points, Bynum seemingly had his hands full that afternoon, committing six fouls in 20 minutes and appearing a bit out of rhythm.

Two of the biggest question marks surrounding Bynum as he entered the league was how he’d fare having to fill the void at center after the departure of Shaquille O’Neal, and how he’d handle developing in a city that had been accustomed to competing for championships. During his sophomore season that year, he averaged 7.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 1.3 BPG. In 2007/08, Bynum posted 13.1/10.2/2.1, and despite being limited to 35 games, continued to show promise as a potential franchise cornerstone. HIs scoring averages would increase to 14.3 and 15.0 respectively over the next two seasons, and just a little over four years after that forgettable performance in Long Beach, Bynum would be celebrating his second consecutive NBA title as the team’s starting center.

Though he struggled with injuries during his seven-year stint in Los Angeles, he statistically peaked in his final year with the Lakers, appearing in 60 games and scoring 18.7 PPG on 55.8% shooting, grabbing 11.8 RPG, blocking nearly 2 shots per night, and would consequently earn his first All-Star berth. Unfortunately, Bynum wouldn’t be able to follow up in 2012/13, as injuries kept him from playing a single game for the 76ers. Cleveland appeared to present another chance at returning to prominence, though it appears that things don’t seem to progressing as well as he would like.

Earlier today, we heard that Bynum’s continued battle to stay healthy has mentally taken it’s toll, and he says he can’t enjoy playing the game knowing that he’s unable to completely do what he used to (Keith Pompey of Philly.com):

“It’s tough to enjoy the game because of how I am physically. I’m certain that I will work through the pain…My health is my concern…My knees are my knees. They’re not going to get better. They are what they are. And that’s really it.”

For some, the period of NBA prime arguably lasts between ages 26-33. While it’s hard to believe that he’s already considering retirement at 26, if you consider what he’s already accomplished in the league at this point, do you think Bynum will ultimately retire early?

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Poll: Will Suns Trade Goran Dragic?

November 5th, 2013 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The Suns have made a number of major trades since the end of the 2012/13 season, but arguably none were bigger than the three-way deal that sent Eric Bledsoe to Phoenix. In Bledsoe, the Suns acquired a player capable of being a starting NBA point guard, and one with star upside.

While the trade itself was a coup for the Suns, skeptics immediately questioned how Bledsoe would fit with incumbent point guard Goran Dragic, the club’s most productive player last season. Team executives insisted the two players could coexist in Phoenix’s backcourt, but there were rumblings that Dragic, an acquisition of the old regime, could be shipped out by new GM Ryan McDonough.

McDonough denied that he was interested in moving Dragic, and things got a little more interesting when the Suns failed to work out an extension with Bledsoe last week. That means the former Clipper will be a restricted free agent next summer, and will likely be in line for a much larger salary than the $7.5MM being earned annually by Dragic. I wouldn’t expect Phoenix to let Bledsoe walk, but it sounds like a sign-and-trade isn’t out of the question, if the price tag gets too high.

Keeping both Bledsoe and Dragic long-term doesn’t make much sense for the Suns, since each player represents a valuable asset that could be turned into a productive piece at another position. Still, that doesn’t mean that the club won’t ride out the 2013/14 season with both players still in tow.

What do you think? Will Dragic be the next veteran player moved by the Suns, or will he stay put through this season’s trade deadline?

Poll: Will Raptors Trade Rudy Gay?

November 4th, 2013 at 10:41am CST by Luke Adams

When I wrote about Rudy Gay‘s contract situation two months ago, I described the Raptors forward as both an extension candidate and a trade candidate, depending on how the team thought he fit into its long-term plans. According to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, that’s also how GM Masai Ujiri viewed Gay heading into training camp. Stein wrote on Friday that Toronto would have been willing to consider an extension for Gay if the club liked what it saw in camp.

Now, however, Stein suggests that there’s a “strong sense” the Raptors are open to trading anyone on their roster not named Jonas Valanciunas. While there are other potential trade candidates in Toronto, including DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, Gay looks like the most obvious chip. He’s still an 18 or 19 PPG player, and may be on an expiring contract, since he has a player option for 2014/15 that he could turn down in favor of a longer deal.

Gay’s $17.89MM salary will be a deterrent when it comes to finding a trade partner, but if the Raptors were willing to take a big salary back, along with an asset or two, it’s not hard to imagine them finding a taker. Non-tanking teams hoping to earn a playoff spot this season and needing one more piece to get there could show interest in Gay. The Bucks, Wizards, Bobcats, and Cavaliers are among the candidates that come to mind, and that’s just in the East.

So what do you think? Will Ujiri do what he did in Denver with Carmelo Anthony and Nene, striking a deal that ships his highest-paid player out of town? Or will the Raptors play out the season with Gay in the hopes of landing a playoff spot themselves?

Poll: Who Will Finish With The Fewest Wins?

November 3rd, 2013 at 4:55pm CST by Charlie Adams

The Philadelphia 76ers surprised NBA fans when they started out 3-0 after many analysts suggested they had the potential to be the worst team in the league. Marc Stein of ESPN ranked the Sixers dead last in his preseason power rankings, but that didn’t stop Michael Carter-Williams and company from taking down the Heat and the Bulls.

Each one of the preseason predictions crafted by the Hoops Rumors writing team featured the Bulls and/or Heat playing in the Eastern Conference Finals, so Philly’s hot start has a lot of analysts reevaluating their outlooks. ESPN’s Eric Goldwein admits that although the Sixers are a long way from contending for a playoff spot, they don’t appear to be the league’s worst team.

The question that arises then: If Philadelphia isn’t the worst team in the NBA, who is? The Phoenix Suns were projected by Stein to finish at the bottom of the West, but they’ve quietly started out undefeated at 2-0. The Utah Jazz sit winless in the cellar of the Northwest Division, but their losses came from allowing a buzzer beater versus the Suns, playing a 3-0 Rockets team, and facing a Thunder squad that figures to fight for a Western Conference title. With Rajon Rondo missing extended time, many fans expect Boston to tank this season, but strong early season play by Jeff Green and Brandon Bass suggest there’s still a glimmer of hope in Beantown.

Which team do you see losing the most games in the NBA this season?

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Poll: Which Restricted FA Gets A Max Deal?

November 2nd, 2013 at 8:43pm CST by Jonathan Nehring

October 31st was the deadline for NBA teams to sign fourth-year players currently on a rookie scale contract to a contract extension and forgo the chance of that player hitting restricted free agency next summer. Paul George, John Wall, and DeMarcus Cousins were the most richly rewarded among those who locked up extensions in advance of the deadline, as all three reached deals for the max. Notable players who did not sign an extension with their team were Eric Bledsoe, Avery Bradley, Gordon Hayward, Greg Monroe, Evan Turner, and Greivis Vasquez. Assuming their teams tender qualifying offers, these players will become restricted free agents next year.

The teams these likely restricted free agents are on will have the right of first refusal for anyone bidding on them next summer. For a few of these players, the bidding seems to be plentiful. Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report quoted an opposing GM saying the “Jazz had better lock up Hayward”. (Twitter link) Jason Jones of the Sacrament Bee tweets the Kings “love” Vasquez. Lon Babby, president of the Phoenix Suns basketball operations, told Matt Petersen of Suns.com the Suns would “do everything we can to make sure [Bledsoe] is happy.”

Which of these players do you think will benefit most from becoming a restricted free agent next summer? Who do you think stands the best chance of getting a max deal?

Poll: Who Will Win The 2013/14 NBA MVP?

October 31st, 2013 at 12:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Several NBA stars have won back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards over the last three decades, but no player has won the award three times in a row since Larry Bird completed the feat in 1985/86. That’s not to say there weren’t times when a player could, or perhaps should, have won three consecutive MVPs — Michael Jordan immediately comes to mind. However, “voter fatigue” often works against repeat winners, as voters look for a fresh new face rather than choosing the same player year after year.

If voter fatigue is working against LeBron James, we haven’t seen it yet. Over the last five years, LeBron has won four MVP awards, with only Derrick Rose‘s excellent 2010/11 season preventing a clean sweep. Coming off back-to-back MVP and championship seasons, James still clearly looks like the NBA’s best player, and that’s why he was the ’13/14 MVP choice for four Hoops Rumors writers, myself included.

That still leaves four of us that didn’t choose LeBron though. Kevin Durant, whose Thunder will start the season without Russell Westbrook, was a popular MVP pick, and Chris Paul received a vote as well. It’s not hard to envision a scenario in which Durant leads the league in scoring and excels without Westbrook, building a strong case for himself. Similarly, if Paul leads the Clippers to more regular-season wins than Durant’s Thunder or LeBron’s Heat, his MVP narrative could gain momentum.

Of course, it’s possible that a dark horse candidate emerges as well. A healthy Rose should re-enter the picture, and I could imagine making a case for Carmelo Anthony if he repeats as the league’s scoring champ and helps the Knicks land home court for the first round of the playoffs. The same could be said of Stephen Curry and James Harden, if they were to challenge for the scoring title and lead their respective teams to a top-four seed in the West.

What do you think? Will LeBron become the first player since Bird to three-peat as NBA MVP, or will the award go to someone else this season?

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