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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 12/26/18

December 26th, 2018 at 8:48pm CST by Arthur Hill

Here are Wednesday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

The Clippers have assigned rookie guard Jerome Robinson to their Agua Caliente affiliate, according to a tweet from the team. Robinson has played just eight games at the NBA level and is averaging 2.9 PPG in five minutes per night.
The Bucks shipped Christian Wood back to the Wisconsin Herd two days after recalling him, the team tweeted. Wood has been among the G League’s best players this season, averaging 28.5 points, 12.4 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 11 games.

Doc Rivers Recalls Wild Visit With DeAndre Jordan

December 22nd, 2018 at 8:05pm CST by Arthur Hill

In an interview with Mirjam Swanson of The Orange County Register, Clippers coach Doc Rivers looks back on the day three years ago that a contingent from the team visited free agent center DeAndre Jordan to change his mind about signing with the Mavericks. “It was a weird day, but I think it was far weirder on the outside of the room than on the inside of the room,” Rivers said. “I mean, basically D.J. basically told us he was staying within five seconds.”

Team In Turkey “Seriously Pursuing” Milos Teodosic

December 22nd, 2018 at 4:41pm CST by Arthur Hill

A Turkish team is ready to welcome Clippers guard Milos Teodosic if he’s serious about leaving the NBA, relays Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul is “seriously pursuing” Teodosic, according to Carchia, although he would have to reach a buyout agreement with the Clippers before signing anywhere else. L.A. is paying Teodisic $6.3MM this season and can extend a $7.875MM qualifying offer next summer.

Teodosic, a former EuroLeague star, said last month he wasn’t sure if he wanted to finish out the current NBA season because of reduced playing time. He is seeing just 10 minutes per night through 15 games, way down from 25.2 minutes as a rookie. The Clippers’ backcourt got more crowded this year as Patrick Beverley and Avery Bradley both returned from injuries and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was added through the draft.

Teodosic and the Clippers had opportunities to terminate their relationship over the offseason, but both elected to extend it for another year. He exercised a player option in June, but it only carried a $2.1MM guarantee through July 15, meaning the team could have saved $4.2MM by waiving him before that date.

Clippers Scouting Cavs Games; Hood A Potential Target?

December 19th, 2018 at 12:08pm CST by Luke Adams

While the Clippers haven’t explicitly expressed interest in Rodney Hood, they’ve scouted the Cavs’ last several games, could use a wing, and don’t want to take on multiyear money, writes Joe Vardon of The Athletic. Those factors could make L.A. an ideal suitor for Hood.

Clippers Continue To Have Eyes For Kawhi

December 18th, 2018 at 11:28pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Clippers continue to be obsessed with the top of the 2019 free agency class and with a recent report reiterating Kawhi Leonard‘s desire to be in Los Angeles, Steve Ballmer‘s squad isn’t likely to let up anytime soon. The Raptors are not concerned with the Clippers’ efforts, as aggressive as they may be, team sources tell Sam Amick of The Athletic.

Raptors officials have previously claimed that a Clippers’ employee has attended about three-quarters of Toronto’s games this season but a source tells Amick that the figure is closer to 25%. Still, president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and his team in the front office are doing everything within the league’s rules to up the odds of the franchise landing the former NBA Finals MVP.

NBA squads are allowed to gather as much intel about rival players as possible that might shape their free agency pitch, including both on and off court information. There’s a grey area when it comes to distinguishing the lines between research and recruiting, Amick explains. Teams are not allowed to recruit directly, though they can build relationships with people around a free-agent-to-be.

Up until recently, Leonard was unaware Clippers’ officials had been attending his games nor did he know what Frank even looked like, as Amick details. The scribe was with the head of the Clippers’ front office directly after last week’s game between the two squads. Leonard briefly embraced Amick while ignoring the front office executive and although some may see this as a case of Leonard and Frank consciously creating a ruse in front of a media member, Leonard simply isn’t wired that way, Amick writes.

Many within the league believe that the next six months will play a big part in determining Leonard’s decision. How far Toronto goes in the playoffs and how well he clicks with his coach, teammates, and the city will be factors. One source close to the situation pegs Leonard’s chances of staying up north as “50-50.”

Teammate Kyle Lowry isn’t sure if Leonard will call Toronto home long-term but the point guard is certain that Leonard is enjoying his time on the court.

“We don’t have to read him, because he talks to us,” Lowry said of Leonard. “He’s our teammate. He’s a guy we talk to every day. He’s awesome. He’s enjoying being back on the floor playing basketball at a high level. That’s what he’s really enjoying. I think he missed playing basketball last year, and I think people take that [for granted] When you lose the game for a little while, you’re like, ‘Man, that’s a tough thing.’ But when you get it back, it’s like, ‘Wow.’

“I don’t know [if Toronto fits him]. That’s a question where his individualized personality is going to have to step in [and determine it].”

Tyronn Lue Has Informal Role With Clippers

December 18th, 2018 at 1:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The Clippers haven’t officially hired Tyronn Lue to their staff, but the former Cavaliers head coach has taken on an informal role with Doc Rivers‘ club, writes Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times.

According to Greif, Lue began the role on Sunday and will spend more time around the Clippers going forward this season. He has been asked to share his thoughts on the team’s play with Rivers over the coming weeks and months.

“He just watches and if he sees something, he’s just part of the group,” Rivers said of Lue, who got his start in coaching as an assistant on Rivers’ staffs in Boston (2011-13) and then Los Angeles (2013-14). Lue also briefly played for Rivers in Orlando back in 2003.

When Lue was fired by the Cavaliers in October, Rivers spoke out against the move, saying that it made “no sense” and was an “ugly part of our game.”

It’s not clear yet whether Lue will be looking to get right back into the NBA’s head coaching ranks or whether his post-playing career will take a new direction. For now, it looks like he might wait until after the season to formally pursue a new job, helping out Rivers in L.A. in the meantime.

Woj: L.A. Remains The Focus For Kawhi Leonard

December 15th, 2018 at 7:31pm CST by Arthur Hill

Things are going well for Kawhi Leonard in Toronto, but he hasn’t given up on the idea of playing in Los Angeles, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski said during a broadcast today that focused on trade and free agency rumors. (Hat tip to Real GM.)

Leonard’s desire to return to his home town and his refusal to commit to a long-term deal after this season were the main reasons the Spurs decided to trade him away during the summer. Leonard is considered certain to opt out of his $21.3MM salary for next season and become a free agent in July.

The Raptors, who are off to a 23-8 start, worked out a deal in hopes that a successful season could convince Leonard to stay in Toronto, but Wojnarowski suggests that may not be enough.

“They can’t change the geography. They can’t change the weather in Toronto. Those were always be things against them in this,” he said. “Home and L.A. has been the focus for Kawhi Leonard through all of this.”

The Lakers and Clippers should both have enough cap space to offer max contracts next summer, but there have been reports that Leonard doesn’t want to accept a supporting role to LeBron James. That makes the Clippers the favorites if Leonard decides to leave Toronto, and they have been acting the part with a visible contingent at many of the Raptors’ games, including president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank.

“They’re treating this like a college recruitment,” Wojnarowski added. “… To have the president of the organization show up in Toronto, in Milwaukee, just sitting there, players are seeing him. … It’s a unique way they’re going about this.”

Poll: Which L.A./NYC Team Is Most Likely To Land Top 2019 Free Agent?

December 13th, 2018 at 2:05pm CST by Luke Adams

The 2019 NBA offseason is shaping up to be a fascinating one. With plenty of big-name players poised to reach free agency and many teams around the league in position to create cap room, there could be a good deal of player movement on the free agent market.

Making things even more interesting is the fact that all four teams in Los Angeles and New York, the country’s two biggest media markets, are poised to be among those teams with significant cap space, and all four teams will be looking to land a top-tier free agent.

In certain recent years, the Lakers, Clippers, Nets, and Knicks may not have even received consideration from elite free agents. All four clubs have suffered from poor management and/or ownership at times during the last decade, but all four appear to have turned a corner as of late.

The Lakers, under new head of basketball operations Magic Johnson, secured a long-term commitment from LeBron James in free agency and have complemented him with an intriguing collection of young prospects. They should have the cap space necessary to sign another maximum-salary free agent in 2019.

The Clippers, led by owner Steve Ballmer, have transitioned out of the Lob City era by putting together a deep, talented roster, and will have veteran executive Jerry West in their corner as they look to make a splash on the 2019 free agent market. They’ll have more than enough room for one max free agent, and could potentially clear enough space for two.

The Nets are finally out from under their commitments to the Celtics and are trending in the right direction, having acquired young building blocks like Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert despite not having premium first-round picks for the last few years. They could also be in position to open up two maximum-salary contract slots this summer, depending on what happens with their own free agents (note: two max slots are far less likely after Spencer Dinwiddie‘s extension).

Finally, even the Knicks, who have endured more drama and made more questionable roster moves than just about any other NBA team in recent years, have been showing more patience and making smarter roster moves since Scott Perry assumed GM duties in 2017. Assuming they’re able to move a salary or two, the Knicks should have enough cap space for a max free agent in 2019.

All four of these clubs have big-market appeal and will be able to make strong pitches to next year’s best free agents. That’s a group that should include Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler, Kyrie Irving, Khris Middleton, Klay Thompson, Tobias Harris, and Kemba Walker, as our recent free agent power rankings show.

Our question today is which of those four clubs has the best chance to land one of those marquee free agents. For the sake of this poll, we’re focused more on outside free agent signings, so the Clippers re-signing Harris or the Knicks re-signing Kristaps Porzingis wouldn’t really count.

What do you think? Which Los Angeles or New York club is in the best position to land an elite free agent in 2019?

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Clippers Have Made Themselves Attractive To Free Agents

December 12th, 2018 at 10:51pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Ample cap space, a free-spending owner in Steve Ballmer and some quality pieces already in place are the main reasons why top-level free agents will seriously consider the Clippers, Steven Loung of Sportsnet.ca argues. The Clippers have been keeping close tabs on the top two free agents next summer, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.

NBA Trade Candidate Watch: Pacific Division

December 12th, 2018 at 2:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Over the course of the 2018/19 NBA season, up until February’s trade deadline, we’re keeping an eye on potential trade candidates from around the NBA, monitoring their value and exploring the likelihood that they’ll be moved. Each of these looks at possible trade candidates focuses on a specific division, as we zero in on three players from that division.

The Warriors have been one of the NBA’s least active teams in terms of in-season trades over the last several seasons, but the other four Pacific teams all look like good candidates to be active over the next couple months. The Kings may be buyers, the Suns are in the market for a point guard, and the Lakers and Clippers will seek upgrades that don’t compromise their 2019 cap space.

Here’s our latest look at a few possible trade candidates from the Pacific…

Milos Teodosic, G
Los Angeles Clippers
$6.3MM cap hit; restricted free agent in 2019

Last month, in the midst of a 14-game stretch in which he appeared in four games and played less than 24 total minutes, Teodosic expressed some frustration with how his time in the NBA is going, suggesting he’d likely return to the EuroLeague in 2019 — perhaps even before the end of the NBA season.

With Lou Williams on the shelf due to a hamstring injury, Teodosic has had the opportunity to play a bigger role over the Clippers‘ last two games, and he should continue to get regular minutes for at least a couple weeks. However, if he falls out of the rotation again before the trade deadline, Teodosic could become a trade candidate.

The Clippers have no shortage of backcourt options and teams like the Suns or Magic could really benefit from having a veteran point guard setting up their young players for easy baskets. Those clubs would also have an easier time carving out a clear-cut role for the former EuroLeague star.

Zach Randolph, C
Sacramento Kings
$11.69MM cap hit; unrestricted free agent in 2019

A starter last season for the Kings, Randolph hasn’t played a single minute this season and looks like a buyout candidate. Before they consider negotiating a buyout though, the Kings figure to thoroughly explore the trade market to see if Randolph’s $11.69MM expiring contract might be a useful trade chip.

Combined with Sacramento’s $11MM in cap room, Randolph’s expiring deal could give the club some intriguing options on the trade market. For instance, since the Kings reportedly have interest in Otto Porter, let’s say the Wizards make Porter available for cap relief and draft picks.

Sacramento could attach a future pick to Randolph ($11.69MM) and Ben McLemore ($5.46MM), who is also in the final year of his contract. If both teams were over the cap, those two players wouldn’t be enough to match Porter’s $26MM+ salary, but the under-the-cap Kings aren’t subject to those salary-matching rules and could make it work. The Wizards, meanwhile, would get out of tax territory, pick up a future asset, and significantly increase their 2019 cap flexibility.

There’s no indication that that specific scenario is on the table, but it’s an example of how the Kings could leverage expiring contracts like Randolph’s and their cap room in order to make a major move.

Dragan Bender, F/C
Phoenix Suns
$4.66MM cap hit; UFA in 2019

Typically, a 4-24 team like the Suns would be able to find plenty of minutes for a big man who is just two-and-a-half years removed from being drafted fourth overall. However, Bender’s days in Phoenix appear to be nearing an end. The team declined his 2019/20 option in October and has played him in just 10 games (8.6 MPG) so far this season.

If even the Suns can’t find a role for Bender, perhaps his days in the NBA are numbered too. But the seven-footer knocked down 36.6% of his three-pointers last season and he’s still just 21 years old. If another club wants to roll the dice on Bender’s upside, it seems like Phoenix would be open to making a move.

Previously:

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.