Indiana Pacers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Latest On Gordon Hayward

November 20th, 2020 at 4:57pm CST by Dana Gauruder

4:57pm: Hayward has told the Celtics he wants to go to the Pacers, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe tweets. The Pacers offered Myles Turner and Doug McDermott to Boston in a sign-and-trade scenario but the Celtics want Turner and either Warren or Victor Oladipo.

4:45pm: The Hornets are expected to pursue Gordon Hayward in free agency but will likely need to work out a sign-and-trade agreement with the Celtics to make it happen, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports.

Hayward declined his whopping $34.2MM option in order to become an unrestricted free agent. In 52 games last season, he averaged 17.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG on .500/.383/.855 shooting but missed a good chunk of the playoffs with an ankle injury.

Charlotte has approximately $19.4MM in cap space, so it’s unlikely Hayward would sign a multi-year deal unless there’s a sign-and-trade scenario with Boston and perhaps a third team as a facilitator.

The Hornets could dangle the expiring contracts of Cody Zeller and Nicolas Batum as part of the package, Scotto notes.

Hayward has some history with the Hornets franchise. He signed an offer sheet with Charlotte in 2014 when he was a restricted free agent but the Jazz matched it.

The Pacers are also interested in Hayward via a sign-and-trade but are reluctant to part with T.J. Warren and Aaron Holiday, two players that Boston would have some interest in acquiring, according to Ian Begley of SNY TV. However, Hayward may try to force the Celtics’ hands. The former Butler University star is “fully focused” on returning to Indiana and playing for the Pacers, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania (hat tip to RealGM).

The Knicks are also expected to be in the mix for Hayward after freeing nearly $40MM in cap space.

Some with the organization have interest in signing Hayward as a free agent. However, the Knicks are unlikely to offer Hayward a four-year deal, Begley adds.

QO Updates: Wanamaker, Hernangomez, Fall, Chiozza, More

November 19th, 2020 at 4:39pm CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics won’t be making a qualifying offer to guard Brad Wanamaker, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). The decision will ensure that Wanamaker becomes an unrestricted free agent on Friday, rather than an RFA.

The decision is a little surprising, as Wanamaker’s QO would only have been worth about $1.82MM. And he was a fairly reliable bench contributor in Boston in 2019/20, averaging 6.9 PPG and 2.5 APG on .448/.363/.926 shooting in 71 games (19.3 MPG). However, with Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard entering the mix, the Celtics don’t have a ton of roster spots to go around.

There’s still a chance that Wanamaker could return to the Celtics, particularly if Gordon Hayward ends up elsewhere, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.

Here are several more updates on qualifying offer decisions from around the NBA:

The Timberwolves, as expected, tendered a qualifying offer to power forward Juan Hernangomez, making him a restricted free agent, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link). That QO is worth about $4.6MM. Hernangomez could accept it, but is more likely to try to negotiate a new, longer-term deal with Minnesota.
The Celtics extended qualifying offers to both of their two-way players, Tacko Fall and Tremont Waters, the team announced in a press release. Those QOs are for new two-way deals with $50K guarantees.
The Pacers won’t extend qualifying offers to big man Alize Johnson or two-way players Brian Bowen and Naz Mitrou-Long, tweets Scotto. All three players will become unrestricted free agents.
Among other two-way players, Nets guard Chris Chiozza will receive a qualifying offer, but Pelicans guard Josh Gray won’t, according to Scotto (Twitter links). The Heat also won’t send a QO to two-way player Kyle Alexander, tweets Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Gordon Hayward Opts Out, Will Become Free Agent

November 19th, 2020 at 3:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Celtics forward Gordon Hayward has turned down the $34.2MM player option on his contract for 2020/21 and will become an unrestricted free agent, per Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

While Hayward won’t be able to match the $34.2MM salary he would have earned if he has simply opted in, his decision signals that he’s confident he’ll be able to secure a multiyear deal that features a far larger overall guarantee. Al Horford took this path with the Celtics a year ago, turning down a $30MM option to sign a four-year contract that guaranteed him $97MM.

While Horford left Boston, there’s no guarantee that Hayward will do so. The Celtics hold his Bird rights and still have the ability to sign him to a new long-term contract. However, it sounds like they’ll face plenty of competition for his services. The Hawks and Knicks – the two clubs with the most cap room in the NBA – have both been linked to the veteran forward.

A sign-and-trade is also a possibility, so teams over the cap could be in play for Hayward as well. As Marc Stein of The New York Times tweets, the Pacers – who have been frequently linked to the Indiana native – have explored potentially trading for him.

Hayward, 30, still didn’t quite look like his old All-Star self in 2019/20, but he was a lot closer than in his first two seasons in Boston. In 52 games this year, he averaged 17.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG, and 4.1 APG on .500/.383/.855 shooting. His size and play-making ability will make him a popular target in free agency.

Pacers Signing Rayshaun Hammonds To Exhibit 10 Deal

November 19th, 2020 at 12:02pm CST by Arthur Hill

Georgia forward Rayshaun Hammonds will sign an Exhibit 10 contract with the Pacers, tweets Scott Agness.

The 6’9″ junior averaged 12.9 points and 7.4 rebounds in 32 games for the Bulldogs last season. He was second on the team in scoring behind overall No. 1 pick Anthony Edwards.

An Exhibit 10 contract provides players with an invitation to training camp and a guarantee of up to $50K if they are waived and later assigned to the team’s affiliate in the G League.

"Mutual Interest" Between Pacers, Hayward

November 18th, 2020 at 4:38pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files details how the Pacers have approached the 2020 draft while dealing with coronavirus pandemic-dictated hurdles. The club has used Zoom for weekly “town halls” as well as interviewing over 100 draft prospects. Though the league permitted teams to travel to see up to 10 individual player workouts, the Pacers opted to stay all-virtual this season, Agness notes.
Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files tweets that there is “mutual interest” between Celtics forward Gordon Hayward, beloved for his college tenure at Butler, and the Pacers. The clearest path to adding the former All-Star would be a sign-and-trade, which would require Hayward opting out of his $34.2MM player option for the 2020/21 season.

And-Ones: Fan Attendance, 2022 Draft, March Madness, Oladipo

November 17th, 2020 at 11:50am CST by Luke Adams

For the time being, the NBA is expecting between about five and 10 teams to have fans in their arenas (at partial capacity) to start the 2020/21 season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link).

The league has expressed a hope that teams will be able to have some amount of fans attend games this season despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and has sent teams a list of health and safety protocols that will apply to each home arena.

However, clubs’ decisions will be dictated in large part by local government officials. In areas where large-scale gatherings aren’t permitted, it seems safe to assume that teams will open the season playing in front of empty arenas.

Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world as we gear up for a wild week:

There’s growing pessimism around the NBA that the age limit for draft-eligible players will be eliminated in time for the 2022 draft, according to Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link). There’s still an expectation that the one-and-done rule – which prevents players from entering the draft right out of high school – will be adjusted at some point, but the target date for that rule change continues to be pushed back.
The NCAA announced this week that it plans to have its March Madness tournament for 2021 take place in a single location, likely in Indianapolis. The event had originally been scheduled for 13 separate sites, but the NCAA has decided a single site makes more sense for safety reasons related to COVID-19.
Pacers guard Victor Oladipo has joined the ownership group assuming control of the New Zealand Breakers of Australia’s National Basketball League, according to Michael Marot of The Associated Press. “I was always interested in being part of team ownership, having input with a team and helping a team be successful on the business side of things,” Oladipo said. “To work with a team from this perspective, I’m sure I’ll have newfound respect for the guys who have been in that position.”

Central Notes: Bulls, P. Williams, Sirvydis, Pistons, Pacers

November 17th, 2020 at 10:57am CST by Luke Adams

The chatter suggesting that the Bulls have their eye on Patrick Williams with the No. 4 pick is “intensifying by the day,” according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. One of Johnson’s sources believes the Bulls may even have told Williams they plan to draft him if they don’t move up from No. 4.

Jeremy Woo of SI.com hears that Williams has worked out for the Bulls and confirms that there’s plenty of buzz linking the Florida State forward to Chicago. However, Woo cautions that there are still a number of conflicting rumors circulating around the league when it comes to the Bulls’ intentions. Previous reports have indicated that the team may have its eye on a lead play-maker with its lottery pick.

Here’s more from around the Central:

Pistons 2019 second-round pick Deividas Sirvydis has left Hapoel Jerusalem to travel to the United States, where he intends to sign his first NBA contract and join Detroit for training camp, per Lithuanian journalist Donatas Urbonas (Twitter link). The 6’8″ Lithuanian wing was the 37th overall pick in last year’s draft.
While the Pistons intend to guarantee Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk‘s salary for 2020/21, Khyri Thomas‘ future with the club is still to be decided, a source tells James Edwards III of The Athletic. The two young Pistons have matching $1,663,861 non-guaranteed salaries for the coming season.
The Pacers, who don’t have a first-round pick in this year’s draft, haven’t worked out any prospects in person, VP of player personnel Ryan Carr said on Monday (Twitter link via J. Michael of The Indianapolis Star). Carr cited coronavirus-related concerns as a key factor in that decision, per Scott Agness of Vigilant Sports (Twitter link). Indiana only holds the No. 54 pick on Wednesday.

Pacers Hiring Calbert Cheaney As Assistant Coach

November 16th, 2020 at 8:45am CST by Luke Adams

The Pacers are adding Calbert Cheaney to Nate Bjorkgren‘s coaching staff as an assistant, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link). An Indiana native who played his college ball for the Hoosiers, Cheaney spent 13 years in the NBA as a player. He has been an assistant for Atlanta’s G League affiliate for the last two seasons.

Cheaney is the latest addition to a new-look coaching staff that will also feature Kaleb Canales and Greg Foster, in addition to returning Pacers assistant Bill Bayno. Indiana recently issued a press release confirming that all three of those coaches will be part of Bjorkgren’s staff in 2021.

Victor Oladipo Tells Pacers He’s Fully Committed To Team

November 13th, 2020 at 1:08pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran guard Victor Oladipo has let the Pacers know that he’s fully committed to the franchise and its direction for the upcoming season, he tells Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Oladipo’s comments come on the heels of an Indianapolis Star report that alleged the two-time All-Star had asked members of at least three other teams, “Can I come play with y’all?” in front of Pacers teammates during games last season. Aaron Turner, Oladipo’s agent, adamantly denied that claim during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio (audio link), and his client followed suit in a conversation with Charania.

“I know there have been people saying that I have asked players to trade for me. That’s just not true, period,” Oladipo told The Athletic. “I love my teammates, I cherish the state of Indiana and I’m focused on leading this franchise to a title.”

Oladipo said that he’s excited to play for new head coach Nate Bjorkgren and that the two have had positive talks since Bjorkgren was hired, Charania writes. The Indy Star’s report earlier this week conveyed a similar sentiment, indicating that replacing Nate McMillan with Bjorkgren had helped “changed the tone” in Indiana and increased the likelihood of Oladipo returning for 2020/21.

While Oladipo will be eligible for a contract extension this offseason, Charania reiterates that the 28-year-old and the Pacers are unlikely to come to a deal, as has been previously reported. Oladipo is still open to remaining in Indiana if he feels as if the team can compete for a championship, but wants an opportunity to maximize his future earnings, and he’ll be eligible for a larger maximum salary as a free agent than he would be if he agrees to an early extension.

Even before this week’s report from The Indianapolis Star, Oladipo had been widely viewed as a potential trade candidate, since he’ll be a free agent in 2021 and isn’t viewed as a lock to re-sign with the Pacers. However, he didn’t look quite like his old All-Star self after returning from a torn quad tendon earlier this year, so teams with interest may try to lowball Indiana this fall.

Taking into account Oladipo’s diminished value, as well as today’s public commitment to the organization, it may make sense for the Pacers to hang onto the former No. 2 overall pick for at least the start of the season. If he recaptures his old form, his value could increase by the time the trade deadline rolls around.

Still, it’s too early to rule out a potential offseason deal. The Pacers have reportedly discussed possible trades involving both Oladipo and Myles Turner, and Oladipo has reportedly drawn interest from the Bucks and Mavericks, among others.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Mavericks Eyeing Oladipo, Dinwiddie, LaVine

November 12th, 2020 at 4:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The Mavericks are seeking a secondary play-maker to complement Luka Doncic, according to Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer, who says Pacers guard Victor Oladipo, Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, and Bulls guard Zach LaVine are among Dallas’ potential trade targets.

The Mavs don’t project to have any cap room until 2021, but rather than sitting back and waiting a year to try to make a splash, the team is expected to be active in trade talks this month as it pursues another impact player. As a report last month indicated, the franchise doesn’t want to waste any time upgrading its roster around Doncic, who already looks like a perennial MVP candidate.

Oladipo, who is entering a contract year, has reportedly agitated some Pacers teammates and may not have a long-term future in Indiana, making him a potential target for Dallas. Typically, a 28-year-old who has made multiple All-Star teams would require a significant return, but Oladipo didn’t look like his old self last season after returning from his torn quad tendon. If the Mavs are willing to roll the dice on his health, like they did in 2019 with Kristaps Porzingis, the price might be a little lower than usual.

As for Dinwiddie, we heard earlier this week that multiple contending teams in the Western Conference had engaged in internal discussions about pursuing the Brooklyn guard. It’s safe to say the Mavs were one of those clubs, though it remains to be seen if the Nets will consider moving Dinwiddie. He may have his role reduced in 2020/21 with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving back in the lineup, but he’s also an important insurance policy in Brooklyn, given Irving’s and Caris LeVert‘s injury histories.

Meanwhile, we noted earlier today that the Mavs were among the teams that have contacted the Bulls recently to inquire on LaVine’s availability. Unless Chicago drafts a potential franchise guard such as LaMelo Ball next Wednesday, I’d be a bit surprised to see the team place LaVine on the trade block. Still, we don’t yet have a clear idea of which players new Bulls president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas is most attached to.

Oladipo, Dinwiddie, and LaVine will have respective cap hits of $21MM, $11.5MM, and $19.5MM in 2020/21, so it wouldn’t be too difficult for the Mavs to match salaries in any trade, either using Tim Hardaway‘s $19MM expiring deal or a smaller contract or two. Dallas also has this year’s Nos. 18 and 31 picks available to dangle in a trade offer.