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Lakers’ Ham: “Aligned” With Owner, GM

January 5th, 2024 at 10:45pm CST by Rory Maher

Amid a report of a “deepening disconnect” between Darvin Ham and Lakers players due to Ham’s erratic lineups, which have partially been a result of injuries, the team’s head coach says he’s “solid” in his job security and is “aligned” with owner Jeanie Buss and vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka, according to Khobi Price of The Southern California News Group and Dave McMenamin of ESPN.

“It comes with the territory,” Ham said of the criticisms. “I’m solid. My governor, Jeanie Buss, the boss lady; our president, Robert Pelinka – we’re all aligned. As long as they’re not saying it, I guess I’m good.

“Which I know how they feel about me and the situation we’re currently in. So, we’re all on the same page. My two captains (LeBron James and Anthony Davis), I communicate with them. Our communication has been at a high level.”

Ham didn’t directly mention the report from The Athletic, but he criticized the general use of anonymous sources, like the ones cited in the story.

“The one thing that’s crazy is that it reminds me of when I used to watch ‘60 Minutes’ with my father in the ’80s,” Ham said. “And one particular show they were talking about La Cosa Nostra and the mafia and these guys were starting to go to trial and their star witness shows up with a black potato sack over his head and shades. And due to fear, the name can’t really be released.

“This seems to be the standard of reporting now for [the] NBA. People on the internet and whatever. And not all reporters – I don’t want to disrespect anybody in the room – but when you say the source is anonymous by choice and they don’t want to put their name on something but they want to give you the information and then you take the information and now everybody gets a chance to dissect it and spread it all out in their own way, it’s kind of disingenuous. And I wish we would get to a place where people are firm enough to stand on what they’re saying and then maybe we can have real dialogue and get to it.”

Ham said he welcomed critiques of his performance and brushed off the speculation.

“I don’t mind people critiquing the job I’m doing,” he said. “All I’m going to do is keep my head down and continue to do my job until I can’t do it anymore. Just be solid with what you’re putting out there and please don’t intertwine it with personal attacks either.

“That’s what it is, that’s what I signed up for when I decided to become a coach and I’ve been around some great guys who have handled it well and some coaches that haven’t handled it so well. But me? I’m solid. I’ve been through a ton of ‘ish’ in my life and this is a walk in the park. Trust me.”

Kings Reportedly Ending Pursuit of Pascal Siakam

January 5th, 2024 at 8:18pm CST by Rory Maher

8:17pm: The Kings are ending their pursuit of Siakam, at least for now, sources tell Charania (Twitter link). That could change, but the teams are no longer talking, Charania adds.

6:42pm: Appearing on Stadium’s show The Rally (Twitter video link), Shams Charania confirms the Raptors “are ramping up trade talks around Pascal Siakam.”

“I’m told the Sacramento Kings are emerging as a serious suitor (for) Siakam,” Charania said. “They’re among the offers and options that Toronto has.”

Charania went on to explain that the Kings are increasingly interested in forming a “big three” featuring De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Siakam.

However, as Charania observes, Siakam is playing on an expiring $37.9MM contract, which will complicate any negotiations for potential suitors. If Siakam is open to re-signing with a team interested in trading for him, that could help facilitate a deal; if he’s not, it could “dissuade some teams,” Charania said.

Fischer cited Sacramento, Indiana and Detroit as prime landing spots for Siakam earlier today, also reporting that the Kings were open to moving Davion Mitchell and have been gauging the value of a package headed by Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter. Multiple reporters have stated former No. 4 overall pick Keegan Murray is off the table in trade talks.

A two-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA forward, Siakam is averaging 22.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists on .521/.288/.751 shooting in 34 games this season (34.9 minutes). The 29-year-old has spent all eight of his NBA seasons to this point with the Raptors, who selected him No. 27 overall back in 2016.

Warriors’ Kuminga Has Reportedly Lost Faith In Kerr

January 5th, 2024 at 12:11pm CST by Luke Adams

Jonathan Kuminga has lost faith in Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, according to Shams Charania and Anthony Slater of The Athletic, who hear from sources close to the third-year forward that he doesn’t believe Kerr will allow him to reach his full potential in Golden State.

The report comes on the heels of Kuminga being benched for the final 18 minutes of the Warriors’ loss to Denver on Thursday.

“(Thursday) was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” one of The Athletic’s sources said.

Kuminga had played well in his first 19 minutes vs. the Nuggets, scoring 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting and grabbing four rebounds to go with four assists. However, he was removed from the game midway through the third quarter and was never reinserted.

“He was playing great,” Kerr said of Kuminga, per Slater. “His normal time to go back in would have been around the five-, six-minute mark (of the fourth quarter). (Andrew Wiggins) was playing great, we were rolling, were up 18, 19, whatever it was. So we just stayed with (Wiggins). Then at that (later) point, it didn’t feel like the right thing to do. (Kuminga) had been sitting for a while. So I stayed with the group that was out there, and obviously, we couldn’t close it out.”

As Charania and Slater detail, Kuminga has been a rotation regular for much of this season, including starting the Warriors’ past 11 games, but his minutes have fluctuated in part because he and Wiggins haven’t showed they’re capable of effectively playing together. Golden State has a ghastly -21.5 net rating in the 131 minutes the two forwards have shared the court this season. Minutes will likely also be harder to come by once Draymond Green returns from his suspension.

Kuminga has admitted to being confused by Kerr’s substitution patterns in the past, telling Marcus Thompson II of The Athletic after a Christmas Day loss to Denver, “Sometimes, I come out the game not knowing what I did. And that messes with my head. It’s like, ‘What they want me to do?’ I can pass and I can do different s–t.”

In 33 games this season, Kuminga has averaged 12.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 22.1 minutes per night, with a shooting line of .506/.280/.688. In spite of Kuminga’s poor net rating alongside Wiggins, Golden State has a +1.8 overall mark during his time on the court, compared to -1.7 when he sits.

Kuminga will be extension-eligible during the 2024 offseason before earning approximately $7.6MM in the final year of his rookie contract next season. If he doesn’t sign a new deal this year, he’ll be on track for restricted free agency in 2025.

Latest On Pascal Siakam

January 5th, 2024 at 11:34am CST by Luke Adams

Once considered the most aggressive suitor for Pascal Siakam, the Hawks are no longer viewed by league personnel as a top contender to trade for the Raptors forward, reports Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. As Fischer explains, with Atlanta more likely to be a seller than a buyer at the trade deadline, a deal for Siakam no longer makes as much sense as it might have last summer.

Recent chatter among NBA executives has centered on the Pacers, Kings, and Pistons as prime landing spots for Siakam, according to Fischer, who says that the Sixers and Mavericks aren’t considered especially viable destinations for now.

As Fischer writes, in any deal involving Siakam, Toronto would be prioritizing young, established players – like the ones the team got in its OG Anunoby trade – rather than future draft assets. Philadelphia doesn’t really have any trade chips that fit that bill, while Dallas has “long rebuffed inquiries” on wing Josh Green, per Fischer.

Teams like Detroit and Indiana, on the other hand, have young players who could be included in a Siakam package, and the Pistons continue to signal to rival front offices that they’re interested in buying at the trade deadline rather than selling off their veterans, Fischer reports.

Here’s more on Siakam:

The Kings won’t consider trading away forward Keegan Murray, says Fischer, which may make them an underdog in the Siakam sweepstakes. However, Davion Mitchell is available, and Sacramento has called teams to gauge the value of a package headed by Harrison Barnes and Kevin Huerter, Fischer writes, adding that the team also has multiple tradable first-round picks.
Before Anunoby was traded to New York, the Pacers made a “strong push” to acquire him from the Raptors, according to Fischer, who says Indiana continues to explore an upgrade at power forward.
Raptors officials have suggested to opposing executives that as many as 10 teams have legitimate interest in Siakam, sources tell Fischer.
Tim Bontemps of ESPN is the latest reporter to state that his league sources expect the Raptors to move Siakam before the trade deadline next month.

Gary Payton II Out At Least Three Weeks For Warriors

January 4th, 2024 at 5:01pm CST by Rory Maher

Warriors guard/forward Gary Payton II is out at least three weeks — which is when he’ll be reevaluated — after sustaining a grade 2 left hamstring strain on Tuesday vs. Orlando, Golden State announced in a press release (via Twitter).

In just his second game back from a right calf strain that sidelined him for 13 contests, Payton exited Tuesday’s win in the third quarter due to the hamstring injury. He didn’t return to the game.

The injury occurred as Payton was defending Magic guard Cole Anthony while he brought the ball up the court. The Warriors guard fell awkwardly as he looked to avoid a screen set by Paolo Banchero (Twitter video link via NBC Sports Bay Area).

Payton has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career, including being limited to just 22 games in 2022/23. The 31-year-old defensive stalwart was a key member of Golden State’s championship run in ’21/22.

Payton is earning $8.7MM this season and holds a $9.1MM player option for ’24/25.

Draymond Green Returning To Warriors Soon, Suspension Nearing End

January 4th, 2024 at 2:16pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Draymond Green‘s indefinite suspension appears to be nearing an end. The veteran power forward is expected to return to the Warriors’ practice facility in the next few days, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

Green will need to ramp up his physical activity and get in some practice time before he suits up again. He will miss his 11th consecutive game on Thursday night, when Golden State faces Denver.

Rejoining the team and working himself back into playing shape is the final step to getting back in action. NBA commissioner Adam Silver will determine when Green will be reinstated, but sources told Wojnarowski that Green will have satisfied the league’s requirements to return once he’s ready to play again.

Green was suspended on Dec. 13 for repeated violent acts, most recently when he struck Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the head last month.

He has been participating in individual counseling sessions and virtual meetings that include team, league and union officials designed to chart his progress toward reinstatement, according to Wojnarowski. Green’s agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. and team trainer Rick Celebrini, along with NBPA and NBA officials, are part of these ongoing sessions.

Green is in the first season of a four-year, $100MM contract and is losing $153,941 for every game he misses during the suspension.

The Warriors are 6-4 during Green’s absence but are still one game under .500.

Nets Fined $100K For Violating Participation Policy

January 4th, 2024 at 12:13pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The NBA has fined the Nets $100K for violating its player participation policy, the league announced today in a press release (Twitter link).

Brooklyn’s staff held out starters Cameron Johnson, Nic Claxton, and Spencer Dinwiddie against Milwaukee on Dec. 27 in the second game of a back-to-back set after all three played the previous night. Johnson and Claxton were listed as out due to “injury maintenance,” while Dinwiddie was simply listed as out due to “rest.”

Brooklyn also didn’t use Mikal Bridges, Royce O’Neale, or Cam Thomas after the first quarter. The move irked Bridges, who said after the game that he would’ve been fine handling his usual workload and pushing harder for a victory.

The league launched an investigation, including a review by an independent physician, and determined that four Nets rotation players who did not participate in the game could have played under the medical standard of the policy. The league did not specify the four players.

The new player participation policy was adopted prior to this season under the new CBA. It was designed to discourage load management and expanded on previous guidelines related to resting healthy players. This is the first fine levied by the league under the new policy, Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press tweets.

As an interesting side note, half of the fine will go to the NBA Players Association under the terms of the new CBA, Bobby Marks of ESPN tweets.

Ricky Rubio Agrees To Buyout, Announces NBA Retirement

January 4th, 2024 at 11:28am CST by Arthur Hill

11:28am: Rubio has announced his retirement from the NBA in a statement on social media (Twitter link).

9:31am: Ricky Rubio has reached an agreement on a contract buyout with the Cavaliers, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The move will likely lead to the end of the 33-year-old guard’s playing career, at least in the NBA.

Terms of the buyout haven’t been made available, but Bobby Marks of ESPN notes that Rubio has about $3.5MM left on his $6.15MM contract for this season (Twitter link). Rubio is also owed $6.44MM for 2024/25, but only $4.25MM of next season’s salary is guaranteed.

Rubio and the team began discussing an eventual buyout last month. He hasn’t played this season, announcing in August that he needed to pause his career for mental health reasons. Rubio has remained in his native Spain and there was reportedly little expectation that he was planning to make an NBA return.

Cleveland is $752K below the luxury tax, according to Marks, so any savings from Rubio’s contract will create financial flexibility. The Cavs are already carrying one open roster spot due to tax concerns, and they’re currently shorthanded because of long-term injuries to Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Ty Jerome. Teams can begin signing players to 10-day contracts on Friday, so that may be an option until those players return.

Rubio emerged as a star in Spain as a teenager and was selected by Minnesota with the fifth pick in the 2009 draft. He played for four teams in his 12-year career and averaged 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 698 total games.

The Cavaliers originally acquired Rubio in the summer of 2021, but a torn ACL ended his season after 34 games and he was sent to Indiana to help match salaries in the Caris LeVert trade. He re-signed with Cleveland in 2022, but was still slowed by the injury and was limited to 33 games last season.

“Deepening Disconnect” Between Darvin Ham, Lakers Players

January 4th, 2024 at 10:55am CST by Arthur Hill

Darvin Ham‘s frequent lineup changes have led to a “deepening disconnect” between the Lakers coach and his players, according to Shams Charania and Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

Six sources with direct knowledge of the situation spoke to the authors about a “disjointedness” that has arisen as Ham has adjusted roles of various players to try to shake the team out of its current slide. L.A. is 3-9 since winning the in-season tournament and has fallen to 10th in the West with a 17-18 record.

Ham used his 10th different starting lineup of the season in Wednesday night’s loss to Miami, making Austin Reaves a starter again in place of the injured Rui Hachimura. Sources tell Charania and Buha that the changes have led to “a fluctuating rhythm” for several players. The authors add that the adjustments have prevented the team from establishing any continuity or determining its best lineup combinations.

After Wednesday’s game, Ham said injury problems are responsible for his frequent changes. Cam Reddish has been in and out of the lineup due to a groin issue, Hachimura is sidelined with a Grade 1 left calf strain and D’Angelo Russell sat out his second straight game with a bruised tailbone.

Ham also suggested that the Heat, who were playing without Jimmy Butler, were in a better position than the Lakers.

“I think the multiple (rotation players) are more impactful than … if you lose one of your big dogs, you’re going to figure out how to try and manage without them,” Ham said. “… And when you have your key role players, your key rotation players – this guy misses three or four. This guy misses three or four. And they’re happening one right after another, that’s what makes it difficult. … We’ve got to figure it out. I’m disappointed, but I’ll be damned if I get discouraged.”

L.A. held a team meeting after Wednesday’s loss, Charania and Buha add, and many of the players were gone by the time the media were admitted to the locker room. Among those who talked to reporters, Reaves and Anthony Davis both emphasized that injuries are no excuse for losing, which the authors note is part of the disconnect between Ham and his players.

Ham has two full seasons beyond this one remaining on his four-year contract, so the Lakers will likely be reluctant to make a coaching change. He has also shown an ability to overcome adversity, leading the team to the Western Conference Finals after a 2-10 start to last season. However, Charania and Buha write that “time is of the essence” for L.A. to start winning and “patience is beginning to run thin.”

LaVine Assigned To NBAGL For Practice, Could Return Friday

January 3rd, 2024 at 6:05pm CST by Rory Maher

January 3: LaVine’s practices have gone well with no setbacks and he could return on Friday against the Hornets, Donovan said on Wednesday (Twitter link via ESPN’s Tim Bontemps).

January 1: The Bulls have assigned guard Zach LaVine to the G League for his first contact practice since he was shelved by a foot injury in late November, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

As Johnson explains, seeing how the foot responds is LaVine’s final hurdle in his recovery process, with a return possibly coming as soon as Friday against Charlotte if the two-time All-Star doesn’t experience a setback.

The team decided to keep LaVine and fellow injured teammates Nikola Vucevic and Torrey Craig back in Chicago while the Bulls traveled to Philadelphia to begin Tuesday’s back-to-back road trip against Philadelphia and New York, Johnson adds. That will give LaVine more practice time with Windy City, Chicago’s NBAGL affiliate.

“I like having those guys on the bench just with their voice. I think it’s always good. But their health is the most important thing and getting the back to play,” head coach Billy Donovan said. “There’s more that they’ll have access to (in Chicago) because they’re all at a point where they can really do stuff on the court. . . . It’s a lot easier for them (in Chicago).”

According to Johnson, while the Bulls have gone 10-5 since LaVine last played, his coach and teammates are “adamant” that Chicago’s improved play is merely a coincidence and he can help the team win.

LaVine, of course, is one of the high-profile players who has been involved in trade rumors for several months. A healthy and productive return to the court could be a catalyst for a deal, with his market rumored to be limited to this point.