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Eastern Notes: Porzingis, Hornets, Raptors

November 23rd, 2015 at 7:38pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Kristaps Porzingis has already allayed Phil Jackson’s fears that he might be too slight of build to develop into a star player, Johnette Howard of ESPN.com reports. The Knicks’ president of basketball operations was worried during the offseason that Porzingis’ body shape might make him nothing more than an updated version of Shawn Bradley, who never developed into an All-Star caliber player. Porzingis’ swift development has been the talk of New York and he already leads the Knicks in rebounding and blocks, Howard continues. “I’m not scared — I’m not scared of anybody,” Porzingis told Howard. “I’m skinny and I’m light. Strong guys can still push me around. But I will fight back, and be aggressive and never back down from anybody. If I want to succeed at this level, I can’t be scared of anybody.” Porzingis moves far better than the league’s most accomplished European player, Dirk Nowitzki, and is a much better rebounder and shot-blocker than the longtime Mavericks All-Star, Howard adds.

In other news around the Eastern Conference:

  • The Hornets’ improved 3-point shooting has given its main low-post threat, center Al Jefferson, more room to operate, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. Charlotte is doing a better job of spreading the floor with the additions of Nicolas Batum, Jeremy Lamb, Jeremy Lin, Spencer Hawes and Frank Kaminsky, as it is shooting nearly 37% on 3-point attempts compared to its league-worst 31.8% shooting from long range last season. That has been a boost to Jefferson, who is averaging nearly 21 points over the last four games, Bonnell adds. “There’s so much shooting on the floor that they’re a lot less likely to say, ‘Not tonight. He’s just not scoring. These other guys are going to have to shoot,'” Hornets coach Steve Clifford told Bonnell. “Now they can’t do that.”
  • It’s a misguided notion that the Raptors’ 9-6 start should be viewed as a mild disappointment, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca opines. Toronto has already endured the toughest portion of its schedule, including a five-game, eight-day West Coast swing, Lewenberg points out, and it’s only played four home games. Given those obstacles, the Raptors’ record to this point is commendable, Lewenberg adds.
  • Heat point guard Goran Dragic has been hampered by his lack of chemistry with backcourt partner Dwyane Wade and the team’s methodical pace, Ethan J. Skolnick of Miami Herald uncovered while taking a hard look at the team’s statistical trends. Wade has assisted on only one Dragic basket this season, a sign of their disconnect and of Dragic’s struggles to make his 3-point attempts. The Heat also rank 25th in pace and that hurts a player like Dragic, who prefers a more uptempo style, Skolnick adds.
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And-Ones: Sixers, Bucks, Stoudemire

November 22nd, 2015 at 10:30pm CST by Will Joseph

One reason why the Sixers are the worst team in the league right now is because almost half the team’s salary (which is close to $60MM) is going to players no longer on the roster, Michael Schwartz of ESPN.com details. Perhaps even more startling, 17 players make more this season than the combined salaries of the Sixers players who have taken the court this season, according to Schwartz. While the present is dreadful, the future seems bright, Schwartz writes, because the Sixers could own up to four first-round draft picks in the 2016 draft and already have five draft picks from the past three drafts under team control.

Here’s more from around the basketball world:

  • The Bucks have assigned Damien Inglis to the Canton Charge of the D-League, Milwaukee announced in a press release. Inglis is headed to the Cavs affiliate as part of the flexible assignment rule since the Bucks are without a one-to-one partnership with a D-League team. Inglis has appeared in five games for the Bucks this season and averaged 1.6 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.
  • Amar’e Stoudemire believes his lack of playing time is part of a bigger plan to preserve his body, Marc Berman of the New York Post relays. Stoudemire has played in only two games with the Heat despite saying he is healthy, Berman notes. “We’ve got a big picture in mind,” Stoudemire said. “We know we want to be there in the postseason. We want guys to stay healthy. Now, it’s not about wearing somebody down during the regular season. It’s about really just keeping the maintenance program and making sure we’re at 100% strength by the playoffs.” The veteran power forward inked a one-year, $1.5MM deal with Miami this past summer.
  • David West, who signed with the Spurs for $1.5MM as a backup instead of staying with the Pacers for $12MM, is playing well while filling in for LaMarcus Aldridge, who remains sidelined, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News writes.
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Heat Rumors: Dragic, Whiteside, Bench, Shooting

November 22nd, 2015 at 12:07pm CST by Arthur Hill

Goran Dragic, who signed a five-year, $90MM deal over the summer to stay in Miami, is mystified by his early-season shooting problems, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Dragic ranked 23rd from the field among point guards entering Saturday’s games, connecting on just 41.7% of his shots. “I’m missing even easy shots, layups,” he said. Dragic is making just 55.6% of his shots at the rim, compared to 70% a year ago, and his three-point shooting has fallen from 35.5% last season to 27.6% this year. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said the staff is being patient with Dragic and isn’t trying to change his shooting method. “We don’t want to break his shot,” Spoelstra said. “He’s proven he can shoot. The way I look at it, the odds are in our favor.”

There’s more news out of Miami:

  • Hassan Whiteside, who will be a free agent next summer, is putting up historic shot-blocking numbers, Jackson writes in the same piece. The Heat center averages more blocks per game than seven other teams and his average of 4.55 would be the highest since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1989/90.
  • The Heat’s bench is a “work in progress” that could change by the trade deadline, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The columnist says there are a lot of question marks among Miami’s reserves, with Josh McRoberts struggling, Gerald Green out of sync on offense and Amar’e Stoudemire only being used when necessary. In addition, Udonis Haslem and Chris Andersen hardly ever see the court.
  • The Heat may be in the market for another 3-point shooter, Winderman speculates in a separate column. The team is hoping Green will find his shot or Tyler Johnson can fill that need. In addition, Chris Bosh and McRoberts are two big men with a history of success from behind the arc. But Winderman says a deal for a 3-point specialist is possible, especially if the team is able to take care of its luxury-tax problem.
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Eastern Notes: Stoudemire, Pistons, Sixers

November 21st, 2015 at 6:48pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Amar’e Stoudemire believes converting to a reserve role, as he is doing for the Heat, is more challenging than being the focal point of the team, Ethan J Skolnick of The Miami Herald writes.

“Being a franchise player, you just keep getting better at basketball,” Stoudemire said. “Basketball is fun for you to play, you always want to play, you’re a gym rat, you enjoy doing it. So that’s easy. When you’re in this position, you have to put on a coaching hat, you have to train even harder to stay in shape when you’re not playing. Because when you’re playing, you get in shape that way.”

The 33-year-old signed a one-year , $1.5MM pact with Miami during the offseason. The veteran has only appeared in two games for the Heat and he has only played a total of 20 minutes in those contests.

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

  • The Pistons have four point guards on the roster, but only two power forwards and David Mayo of Mlive.com believes there is a good chance that the team makes a trade before the deadline. Mayo also notes that Brandon Jennings and Steve Blake are both on expiring contracts, which could make it easier to move one of them.
  • The Sixers‘ winless season is taking a toll on coach Brett Brown and Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News wonders if Brown will be the coach when the team finally starts to compete again. Cooney also adds that he doesn’t believe management could fire Brown because they haven’t seen him coach with a full cast of NBA talent.
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Eastern Notes: Harris, Stoudemire, Dudley

November 20th, 2015 at 10:22pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Despite beginning their inaugural campaign winless, the Raptors‘ D-League affiliate isn’t going to judge its success based on winning percentage, but rather by how well it develops the franchise’s young talent like Bruno Caboclo and Lucas Nogueira, Josh Lewenberg of TSN.ca writes. “It’s hard because so much in professional basketball is gauged on wins and losses, and it’s just not that way here,” said Raptors 905 coach Jesse Mermuys. “That’s not the goal and so really if we start getting guys called up, then we’re having success. And if we start losing players to other teams and for some reason Lucas and Bruno are able to enter a [NBA] game this season for whatever reason and perform at a decent level, then it’s a success. We’re just going to really focus on the players, put the players’ development in the forefront. That’s a hard thing for a coach to do but I’m fully aware of it. I’m committed to it.”

Here’s more from the East:

  • The Cavaliers have assigned shooting guard Joe Harris to the Canton Charge, their D-League affiliate, the team announced. This will be the second jaunt of the season to Canton for Harris.
  • Heat power forward Amar’e Stoudemire has only made two appearances this season and says that keeping himself prepared for this type of role is the most difficult thing that he has had to do in his career, Ethan J. Skolnick of The Miami Herald tweets. The veteran big man inked a one-year, $1.5MM deal with Miami this past summer.
  • Jared Dudley is finally healthy and he is beginning to make an impact on the court for the Wizards, but despite the swingman being primarily known as a scorer, he’s finding other ways to contribute to the team, J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic.com notes. “It’s not so much scoring,” coach Randy Wittman said of Dudley. “Spacing, smart, ball movement, being in the right spot, fighting his tail off at the defensive end. I like those things that he’s done the last couple of games.“
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Heat Notes: Wade, Stoudemire, Whiteside

November 19th, 2015 at 11:59am CST by Chuck Myron

Dwyane Wade parlayed 21.5 points per game last season into a one-year, $20MM contract this summer, but even as he faces free agency again in the coming offseason, he’s not worried about his individual accomplishments, notes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. Wade is averaging just 10.8 points per contest in his last four games.

“This year, this team is about trying to win. This is not a year where I’m worrying about scoring,” Wade said.

The Heat aren’t doing too much winning so far this year, at 6-4, but they have an opportunity to improve their record at home tonight against the Kings. See more from Miami:

  • Amar’e Stoudemire has only played in one game for the Heat this season, thanks in part to sore knees, but he’s not complaining and not looking for a trade, agent Travis King tells Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Stoudemire signed a one-year deal for the minimum salary with Miami in the offseason. “He’s fine with it; he’s a team player and is glad to be with the organization,” King said of his client’s lack of playing time. “… He talked to [Erik Spoelstra about the situation]. He has made his money. He doesn’t have to play for another contract. He just wants to win.”
  • Hassan Whiteside has maintained his strong play from the second half of last season into this season, as Ethan Skolnick of the Miami Herald examines, and he’s meshed well on both ends of the floor, as Matt Lurie of RealGM details. All of it is liable to add up to a maximum-salary deal this summer for last year’s minimum-salary signee, Skolnick writes.
  • Wade and Chris Bosh see plenty of depth on the Heat this year thanks to the infusion of youth that Justise Winslow and Tyler Johnson represent, observes Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald.
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And-Ones: Rockets, Chalmers, Kilpatrick

November 17th, 2015 at 10:30pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Rockets, who are in the midst of a four-game losing streak, held a players-only meeting to clear the air and work on their communication, Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com relays. “What happens in the room, stays in the room,” center Dwight Howard said. “It was good for us to sit down and talk, but it’s a long season and you can’t get caught up in losing a couple of games and getting upset and so frustrated and feel like it’s the end of the world. It is embarrassing. We hate to lose but at the same time we have a long season and we can’t think negative when we lose. We have to try and find the positive in any situation. You keep thinking negative, then negative things will continue to happen to you. You got to stay positive and fight through it. All this stuff will build our character.”

Star shooting guard James Harden also agreed that the meeting was a productive one for the team, Watkins adds. “It was a good talk for us,” Harden said. “We hadn’t had an opportunity to communicate like that since the season had been going. It was good for us to communicate and each guy basically said what their role was and every single night they’re going to contribute to that role. After the talk we had a really good practice, guys communicated, we worked hard and now it’s about carrying it over. It’s about doing it on the floor.”

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Mario Chalmers has been lighting up stat sheets since the Grizzlies acquired him from the Heat, and the point guard credits his new teammates having confidence in him for his recent output, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel writes. “I just try to bring as much energy to the game as possible,” Chalmers said. “It means a lot when your coach and your teammates have confidence and they want you to shoot.” The veteran guard also sees a number of similarities between how Memphis plays defense and shares the ball on offense with the championship squads he played for in Miami, Winderman adds.
  • The Delaware 87ers, the Sixers‘ D-League affiliate, have re-acquired Sean Kilpatrick as a returning player, the team announced. Kilpatrick, who was in training camp with the Pelicans, was a member of the 87ers at the end of the 2014/15 season.
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Southwest Notes: McHale, Lawson, Chalmers

November 17th, 2015 at 11:00am CST by Chuck Myron

Kevin McHale is displeased with his team’s effort and defense amid a 4-7 start, and he admits he’s thinking of moving marquee trade acquisition Ty Lawson to the bench, observes Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com, though Patrick Beverley hurt his ankle over the weekend. Sources close to the team tell Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders that they wonder whether the players aren’t listening to McHale or if the roster is simply composed of ill-fitting parts. GM Daryl Morey refused comment when ESPN’s Marc Stein asked about the team’s struggles, Watkins relays. See more from around the Southwest Division, where Houston isn’t the only team with a problem:

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Heat Notes: Green, Whiteside, Wade

November 16th, 2015 at 10:00am CST by Zachary Links

Gerald Green returned to practice with the Heat on Saturday and was remorseful for having missed time.  However, as Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press writes, Green declined to get into the specifics of what caused his absence.

“This whole situation, to me, was an incident that I’m ashamed of,” said Green, who missed six games and has been suspended for the last two for conduct detrimental to the team. “I’m just trying to get over this situation. I can’t apologize enough to the residents that live in my building, my fans who support me and definitely my family and definitely this organization that’s had my back. It’s a situation I’m not proud of, but I’m ready to move forward.”

Here’s what we do know: On November 3rd, Green called in sick for a game against the Hawks.  The next morning, according to Miami police, Green went to the lobby of his apartment building with bloodied hands and asked a front desk worker for help.  He then fell down, punched a man upon getting up, and was so combative with rescue personnel that police had to handcuff him for the ambulance ride to the hospital. Still, no charges related to the incident have been filed and the Heat have welcomed Green back into the fold, so the bizarre event seems to be in the rear view mirror for all involved.

Here’s more out of Miami:

  • Hassan Whiteside‘s bargaining position is soaring and there will be some interesting contractual decisions for the Heat after the season, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes.  If Whiteside were to accept a deal around $15MM/year from Miami (which is far from a certainty) and if Dwyane Wade accepted just $10MM for 2016/17, Miami would be left with ~$15MM for five spots, which would not be enough to go after the likes of Kevin Durant or DeMar DeRozan.
  • The Heat are well positioned for Wade to move into a “Manu Ginobili role” whenever that time comes, but Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel isn’t ready to write him off yet, either.  When Wade is in more of a reserve role, or no longer with the team even, Winderman is enthusiastic about a young, athletic team that features a smart veteran leader in Chris Bosh coupled with an inside presence like Hassan Whiteside.
  • More from Winderman, who believes that owner Micky Arison will find a way for the Heat to avoid becoming the first team to pay the “repeater” luxury tax.  One possible remedy for Miami could be to move Luol Deng for a player who earns significantly less, but it’s too early in the season to consider that and the tax is not computed until the season’s end.
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Eastern Notes: Rose, Pistons, Heat

November 15th, 2015 at 8:30pm CST by Will Joseph

Bulls point guard Derrick Rose may be dealing with blurred vision for a few more months, Nick Friedell of ESPN.com relays. Rose has struggled shooting so far, averaging only 12.6 points per game, as Friedell points out. Rose suffered a left orbital fracture during the Bulls’ first training camp practice on September 29th.

“[The doctors] said it could be as long as three months,” Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. “But [the vision] has continued to improve, and that’s obviously a positive.”

The news, however, came as a surprise to Rose.

“This is my first time hearing about it,” Rose told reporters, including K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). “But you kind of have that hope in your mind that it gets well a lot quicker. But for this to be seven or eight [weeks] out and still the same way, I can’t do nothing but live with it. Get the most out of every day, keep putting my deposits in and keep working on my game until my eye gets better.”

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

  • While former Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith is still upset with comments team president Phil Jackson made during the summer about Smith’s personal life, Marc Berman of the New York Post opines that Smith should be grateful that he was traded to the Cavs. After not fitting into the Knicks’ plans, and despite his current shooting woes, Berman writes that the Cavs still see Smith as a capable scoring threat in a reserve role.
  • Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings, who is recovering from a torn left Achilles suffered in January, participated in four-on-four and three-on-three games with teammates and is still on track to return around Christmas, David Mayo of MLive.com reports. “As I told him today, what’s not back right now is his quickness,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. “It’s going to take some time. Being out and being able to do stuff is one thing, and being able to do it at a speed that you can really do is another.”
  • Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Beno Udrih should have no problem fitting in with Miami, Shandel Richardson of the Sun Sentinel writes. “He’s got veteran savviness about him,” Spoelstra said. “You saw it the other night. He hasn’t been in a practice. He hasn’t been in a shootaround but he’s played for enough different systems that he can just play basketball. You don’t notice things that you might have because he’s a veteran player. You can throw him in any situation. Guys like that are very valuable with veteran teams.” The Heat acquired Udrih from the Grizzlies in exchange for Mario Chalmers. Spoelstra did not identify a clear-cut role for Udrih, Richardson adds. 
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