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Northwest Notes: Jazz, Wolves, Forcier, Vanterpool, Thunder

June 2nd, 2019 at 8:33pm CST by JD Shaw

With Ricky Rubio set to become an unrestricted free agent on June 30, the Jazz could be in the market for a new starting point guard moving forward, Kincade Upstill of the Deseret News writes.

Rubio made a rather interesting comment this weekend, sharing that Utah won’t be aggressively trying to re-sign him when he reaches the open market. “Utah has already let me know I’m not a priority for them,” he said, according to Ernest Macia of Catalunya Radio.

The Jazz could pursue other available point guards in free agency such as Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Malcolm Brogdon, D’Angelo Russell or Derrick Rose if the franchise mutually agrees to part ways with Rubio, who has served as the team’s starting point guard over the last two seasons. However, Jazz vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey went on the record to state that Ricky could still re-sign on a new contract.

“He’s got a decision to make on his end and we’ve got a decision to make on our end, but there’s a lot of scenarios I can see Ricky back. … We really appreciate who he is and we think we can get him better from a health perspective and skill standpoint,” Lindsey said, according to Upstill. “We know who he is — he has Jazz DNA. So he’ll have options, we’ll have options and we’ll talk to him and his agent.”

Rubio’s name surfaced in rumors around this season’s February 7 trade deadline, likely causing some trust issues between him and the organization. He holds career-averages of 11.1 points, 7.7 assists and 30.9 minutes across his eight NBA seasons.

There’s more out of the Northwest Division tonight:

The Timberwolves recently held a free-agent workout that included the likes of Semaj Christon and Milton Doyle, forwards Jamel Artis and Jarrod Uthoff, and center Amida Brimah, as reported by Nicola Lupo of Sportando. Other participants included Keenan Evans, Briante Weber, Mychal Mulder, Rayvonte Rice, Wade Baldwin, Xavier Munford, and Matt Costello, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link).
Grizzlies assistant Chad Forcier and Trail Blazers assistant David Vanterpool are two candidates to join the Timberwolves‘ coaching staff under Ryan Saunders, Wolfson notes in a separate tweet. Vanterpool interviewed for Minnesota’s head coaching job in mid-May.
Multiple former Thunder coaches and executives are making an impact around the NBA today, Erik Horne of The Oklahoman writes. Among the successful league officials who spent some time in Oklahoma City are Vanterpool, Adrian Griffin (Raptors assistant coach) and Monty Williams (Suns head coach).

Knicks Notes: Morant, Barrett, Hawks, Green

June 2nd, 2019 at 9:05am CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks never believed Ja Morant was a sure thing for the second pick even before news of his scheduled surgery came to light, a source tells Marc Berman and Mark Fischer of The New York Post. Morant will undergo a minor scope on his right knee tomorrow to remove a “loose body.” Even though the procedure is considered routine, Morant will be sidelined three to four weeks and appears unlikely to play in the Summer League.

The news has sparked rumors that the Grizzlies are looking harder at other options with their No. 2 pick. They reportedly have been sending “mixed messages” about the selection and tried to get Duke’s R.J. Barrett to come to Memphis for a private workout.

The Knicks had Morant ranked higher than Barrett on their draft board going into the combine, according to Berman and Fischer. Their front office has been watching Morant for a long time and considered him a first-round pick after his freshman season in 2018 based on his potential.

There’s more this morning from New York:

Barrett has a lot of fans in the Grizzlies organization, Berman and Fischer add. His Canadian roots add to his appeal for Memphis draft consultant Glen Grunwald, who serves as CEO of Canada Basketball. Barrett has a workout scheduled for New York on June 10, but reportedly refuses to schedule a session with the Grizzlies because he prefers to go to the Knicks at No. 3 or the Lakers at No. 4.
The Hawks haven’t been contacted by the Knicks about a rumored trade involving the No. 3 pick and Atlanta’s selections at No. 8 and No. 10, according to Michael Cunningham of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cunningham believes Hawks GM Travis Schlenk would be open to a two-for-one deal if he believes the conventional wisdom that this year’s draft is especially top-heavy, but in general Schlenk’s philosophy is to accumulate draft picks and take as many chances as possible at landing a great player.
Raptors guard Danny Green is too focused on the NBA Finals to discuss a possible move to New York, but it’s a discussion that could come into play this offseason, Berman speculates in a separate story. A Long Island native, Green will be a free agent this summer and the Knicks will be in the market for shooters. He talked briefly to New York during his last free agency experience. “The (Knicks) reached out (in 2015) and sent a text,” Green recalled. “My deal (four years, $40 million) was done so fast I was pretty much only talking to them. It happened so fast. I was barely a free agent. I knew we had a good crew coming back (in San Antonio) and felt I had a good chance of winning again.”

Potential Grizzlies Target May Stay In Europe

June 1st, 2019 at 5:37pm CST by Arthur Hill

Zalgiris Kaunas coach Sarunas Jasikevicius, who has been mentioned as a possibility for the head coaching vacancy in Memphis, didn’t sound ready to pursue the NBA after leading his team to the LKL title today in Lithuania, relays Orzaio Cauchi of Sportando.

“Now I can’t say anything. It’s so great in Kaunas, that some very incredible situation must come, that I would change it,” Jasikevicius said during the post-game celebration. “Now I feel very good in Zalgiris. I don’t need to chase anything, because Zalgiris is a top organization.”

Considered one of the EuroLeague’s top coaches, Jasikevicius has previous NBA experience as a player, spending two seasons with the Pacers and Warriors from 2005 to 2007. The 43-year-old interviewed with the Raptors last summer and turned down an offer to become an assistant after Nick Nurse was hired.

The Grizzlies, who are the NBA’s only team without a head coach, have reportedly talked to Alex Jensen, Jarron Collins, Igor Kokoskov, Nate Tibbetts, Adrian Griffin and Taylor Jenkins. The position has been open since J.B. Bickerstaff was fired April 11.

“We can talk a lot, but as I understand, now it’s the process of information gathering,” Jasikevicius said about the Memphis job. “I don’t know if it will get more serious. But I don’t want to go deeper on rumors about me and my players.”

Juwan Morgan To Work Out For Grizzlies, Others

June 1st, 2019 at 11:03am CST by Luke Adams

According to Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com (via Twitter), the workout list for Indiana forward Juwan Morgan includes the Suns, Pacers, Bulls, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Jazz, and Kings.

Ja Morant To Undergo Minor Scope On Right Knee

June 1st, 2019 at 10:09am CST by Luke Adams

Another top 2019 prospect will undergo a procedure before this month’s NBA draft, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports (via Twitter) that Murray State point guard Ja Morant is having a minor scope performed on his right knee on Monday.

The procedure, which will remove a “loose body” from the knee, isn’t considered a serious one. Wojnarowski writes that Morant is expected to be fully recovered in three or four weeks, though I’d be surprised if we see him suit up for his new team during Summer League play next month.

A Friday report indicated that Duke forward Cam Reddish is set to undergo core muscle surgery, so two of this year’s lottery picks will be in recovery mode on draft night. As is the case with Reddish though, this procedure shouldn’t affect Morant’s stock, since he’s still expected to be fully healthy for training camp in the fall.

Despite the fact that the Grizzlies are reportedly sending some “mixed messages” and have tried to get R.J. Barrett in for a workout, Memphis appears very likely to make Morant the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft. Still, the club will do as much research as it can on the point guard’s knee issue to confirm it’s not a serious concern.

Knicks Not Locked In On R.J. Barrett At No. 3

May 31st, 2019 at 9:52am CST by Luke Adams

Most experts view Zion Williamson and Ja Morant as the top two prospects in the 2019 NBA draft, with R.J. Barrett right behind them, making Barrett a logical target for the Knicks at No. 3. However, while New York likes Barrett, the club isn’t locked in on selecting him yet, and is doing its due diligence on several options for that No. 3 overall pick, reports Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com (Insider link).

The Knicks have explored the possibility of trading back in the lottery to pick up an extra asset or two, according to Givony, who points to the Hawks‘ Nos. 8 and 10 picks as a potential match for New York. While one source tells Givony that a trade with Atlanta is one scenario the Knicks are mulling, Ian Begley of SNY.tv hears that such a deal isn’t under “serious consideration” by either club at this point.

Both Givony and Begley point out that the Knicks are fans of other prospects who should be available at No. 3 and could slip further down the top 10. Givony identifies Cam Reddish, Jarrett Culver, Coby White, and Nassir Little as players who are getting a close look from New York, while Begley singles out Reddish and Culver as well. Culver is scheduled to work out for the Knicks on June 5 and Reddish will also have a pre-draft visit with the team.

Still, assuming the Knicks stay in the No. 3 spot, Barrett looks like the odds-on favorite to be their man. He has significant support within the organization and will work out for New York before the draft, says Begley. That workout will take place on June 10, per Givony, who adds that Barrett “would be excited” about becoming a Knick.

Of course, before the Knicks get a shot at Barrett, he’ll have to make it past the Grizzlies at No. 2. Givony, who reported shortly after the lottery that Memphis had zeroed in on Morant, suggests that the team has been sending out mixed messages as of late.

The Grizzlies’ ownership group is still telling people around the league that Morant is their guy, but the front office wants to bring in Barrett for a private workout, according to Givony. Sources tell ESPN that Barrett has declined that request for now, though he’ll have time to reconsider it before the draft.

Grizzlies Interview Bucks’ Jenkins For Head Coaching Job

May 24th, 2019 at 2:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Yet another name has surfaced in the Grizzlies‘ head coaching search, as Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports (via Twitter) that Bucks assistant Taylor Jenkins has interviewed for Memphis’ open coaching position.

This is the first we’ve heard of Jenkins receiving head coaching consideration, but he has quietly built a strong résumé over the course of his NBA career.

Beginning in 2007, Jenkins spent several seasons with the Spurs, eventually being promoted to the head coach of the franchise’s G League team in Austin. As Chris Herrington of The Memphian points out (via Twitter), that makes Jenkins the third former G League head coach interviewed by the Grizzlies this spring, joining Alex Jensen and Nate Tibbetts.

Following his time in San Antonio, Jenkins joined Mike Budenholzer‘s staff in Atlanta, serving as a Hawks assistant beginning in 2013. A year ago, he made the move to Milwaukee, once again working under Budenholzer as an assistant for the Bucks.

Jenkins is the sixth known candidate to have interviewed for the Grizzlies’ head coaching vacancy, along with Jensen, Tibbetts, Jarron Collins, Igor Kokoskov, and Adrian Griffin.

Bobby Marks Previews Grizzlies' Offseason

May 23rd, 2019 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Bobby Marks of ESPN.com takes an in-depth look at the Grizzlies‘ upcoming offseason, exploring the team’s plans for Mike Conley and Chandler Parsons, along with key dates and deadlines worth monitoring.

Jordan Murphy Worked Out For Grizzlies

May 23rd, 2019 at 4:18pm CST by Luke Adams

Minnesota forward Jordan Murphy, who previously worked out for the Grizzlies, will be part of the Jazz‘s group workout tomorrow, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News. Oshae Brissett (Syracuse), Jon Axel Gudmundsson (Davidson), Zach Norvell Jr. (Gonzaga), Corey Davis Jr. (Houston), and Donnie Tillman (Utah) will also be part of that workout, according to the Jazz (Twitter link).

Suns Notes: Collison, Conley, Davis, Williams

May 22nd, 2019 at 10:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

Darren Collison may be the most realistic solution to the Suns‘ point guard problem, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. An unrestricted free agent, Collison spent the past two seasons with the Pacers, averaging 11.9 points and 5.3 assists per game during his time there.

He pushes the ball up court quickly, runs the pick-and-roll well, and is an above average defender, all things Phoenix needs from that position, Rankin states. The Suns should have enough cap room to make an attractive offer to Collison, who earned $10MM this season, and they have a connection, as Collison played for new VP of basketball operations Jeff Bower during his rookie season in New Orleans.

Phoenix could also pursue a couple of high-priced point guards if it wants to take a win-now approach, Rankin notes. The Grizzlies’ Mike Conley is expected to return to the trade market now that his team is in position to draft Ja Morant, while the Rockets may be willing to part with Chris Paul to get out from under his salary commitment.

There’s more tonight from Phoenix:

The Suns could also try to get involved in the pursuit of Pelicans star Anthony Davis, Rankin adds in the same piece. He speculates they could offer Deandre Ayton and the No. 6 pick, along with T.J. Warren, Josh Jackson and Tyler Johnson to help match salaries. While Davis is no lock to re-sign in Phoenix, Rankin thinks it might be worth the risk to prove the organization is serious about winning and to give Davis a chance to develop a rapport with Devin Booker.
Monty Williams considered staying out of coaching to care for his family, but his children insisted he give it another try, relays Kevin Zimmerman of Arizona Sports. At his introductory press conference Tuesday, the Suns’ new head coach explained what brought him back to the game after his wife’s tragic death in 2016. “My oldest daughter kind of read me the riot act one day about getting back into coaching,” Williams said. “And then I had a conversation with (Spurs GM) R.C. Buford one day … R.C. looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Your kids won’t be happy if you don’t get back into coaching.’ Those two episodes really pushed me back into the mode of doing what I do well.”
The reputation Phoenix has as a bad basketball city is an impediment to adding free agents, says Michelle Gardner of The Arizona Republic. Phoenix finished 27th in a recent “Best Cities for Basketball” survey and ranked next to last in attendance this season.