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Bulls Front Office Reportedly “Less Than Thrilled” With LaVine

November 19th, 2023 at 5:23pm CST by Tristan Tucker

The Bulls secured a come-from-behind, 21-point comeback win against the Heat on Saturday, but the victory wasn’t without drama, according to the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley.

Star guard Zach LaVine “all but stormed off” the court and cameras caught him pulling his arm away from the team’s public relations director during an attempt to get him to fulfill his post-game media obligations, Cowley writes.

“Just a miscommunication with the PR team,” LaVine said. “We’re all fine.”

According to Cowley’s sources, Chicago’s front office was immediately made aware of the situation and are “less than thrilled” with LaVine’s actions. Further, Cowley adds that when coach Billy Donovan found out about the incident, he was “downright ticked.”

All of this comes off the heels of reporting over the past week indicating LaVine and the Bulls are both open to exploring a potential change of scenery.

LaVine is one of the league’s premier scorers, averaging 24.4 points and shooting 38.4% from deep since arriving in Chicago. Despite his individual success, the Bulls have just one playoff appearance in the six full seasons he’s been there and at 5-9 this year, look to be fast-tracking toward missing the playoffs or an early exit.

Of course, the Bulls’ issues don’t start and end with LaVine. To his credit, he emerged into a two-time All-Star there and Chicago has dealt with numerous issues during his time with the team. The biggest what-if facing this current grouping is the long-term absence of Lonzo Ball, who hasn’t played since Jan. 14, 2022 and isn’t expected back anytime soon. When Ball was healthy, the Bulls were 26-10 at one point and sat atop the Eastern Conference standings with this very core.

Additionally, the post-game issues could have truly been a misunderstanding. Still, Cowley reporting anger from Chicago management and coaching is significant and adds another chapter to the perception of disconnect between the parties.

Latest On Bulls, Zach LaVine

November 17th, 2023 at 9:42pm CST by Rory Maher

The Bulls explored Zach LaVine trades over the offseason, but they had a very high asking price — the fact that they’re open to moving him isn’t new. However, LaVine had always remained loyal to Chicago, and he’s now open to a trade himself — something he didn’t deny when asked about it this week.

According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, LaVine doesn’t think the Bulls will be able to turn into a contender in the East after being mired in mediocrity ever since Lonzo Ball injured his knee in January 2022. Multiple sources tell Fischer that LaVine would prefer to play under a new head coach as well, which aligns with recent reporting that the two-time All-Star may not be the biggest fan of Billy Donovan.

As Fischer observes, while LaVine is one of the most talented scorers in the league, there are reasons why other players on the roster could have more trade value. He’s not known for his defense, he’s in the second season of a five-year, maximum-salary contract, and he’s had multiple knee injuries in the past.

Still, there are plenty of teams interested in LaVine, according to Fischer, who says rival executives view the shooting guard as more of a complementary piece rather than a player to build around. A potential deal isn’t expected to come together in the near future, which is typical considering many players around the league aren’t eligible to be traded but will be in a month or two.

Sources tell Fischer that LaVine would like to play for a “winning franchise” and he has interest in the Lakers, Heat and Sixers, who were all previously identified as potential suitors. But there are questions about whether any of those teams will ultimately pursue him for various reasons, particularly Philadelphia, which prefers to add more of a two-way player.

That list is far from comprehensive, however. They aren’t a winner at the moment, but LaVine is interested in joining the Spurs and No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama — as Fischer writes, LaVine played under Gregg Popovich on Team USA in the 2020 Olympics, winning a gold medal with the Hall of Fame coach.

Sources tell Fischer that LaVine has interest in several other teams as well, including the Kings. LaVine signed an offer sheet with Sacramento as a restricted free agent back in 2018, though that was under a different front office regime, Fischer notes.

While recent reports have indicated that the 4-9 Bulls are unlikely to entertain a rebuild even if they continue to struggle, Fischer hears ownership has recently changed its stance and would be open to dealing additional veterans beyond LaVine. That could include DeMar DeRozan, who is on an expiring $28.6MM contract, and All-Defensive guard Alex Caruso.

If Caruso does become available, his market would be robust, according to Fischer, who writes that the Bulls have asked for multiple first-round picks in exchange for the 29-year-old in the past. Due to Caruso’s favorable contract (he’s owed $19.4MM over the next two seasons) and the winning plays he makes on the court, Fischer believes Chicago could indeed get a couple first-rounders for him.

Grizzlies’ Marcus Smart Out 3-5 Weeks With Foot Sprain

November 17th, 2023 at 5:12pm CST by Rory Maher

Grizzlies guard Marcus Smart is expected to miss three-to-five weeks after being diagnosed with a left foot sprain, the team announced in a press release (via Twitter).

Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link) first reported that Smart is expected to miss multiple weeks as a result of the injury, which occurred during Tuesday’s loss to the Lakers. Smart left the game in the first quarter after landing on Austin Reaves‘ foot while contesting a shot (Twitter video link via Bally Sports).

Smart, 29, was acquired in a three-team trade this offseason that involved Boston and Washington. The 2021/22 Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals on .429/.295/.810 shooting in 11 games this season (29.9 minutes per night).

It’s a tough blow for the Grizzlies, who won 50-plus games each of the past two seasons but are currently 2-9 and rank last in the Western Conference. Injuries and a suspension have played a major part in that, and losing Smart certainly won’t help matters.

Luke Kennard also left Tuesday’s game early after sustaining a left knee bone bruise, and he has been ruled out for Saturday’s game in San Antonio (Twitter link via the Grizzlies). The sharpshooting guard led the NBA in three-point percentage the past two seasons.

The Grizzlies are particularly shorthanded at point guard, with Ja Morant out for the first 25 games of 2023/24 after being suspended multiple times in the past year. Derrick Rose has also been out since October 30 due to a left knee injury, but he’s officially listed as questionable for Saturday’s game, so he may be back soon.

The frontcourt is another area of the roster that has been decimated by injuries. Steven Adams is out for the year after undergoing season-ending knee surgery, while Brandon Clarke figures to remain on the shelf for most of the season after tearing his Achilles tendon in March. Xavier Tillman has missed four of the past five games with a left knee injury, and he’s out Saturday as well.

For what it’s worth, the Grizzlies could qualify for a second extra roster spot via a hardship exception, but that would require four players to have missed at least three consecutive games due to an injury or illness, with an expectation they’d remain sidelined for some time beyond those three games, and they don’t meet that criteria right now. Bismack Biyombo currently occupies the first extra spot after Morant was placed on the suspended list.

Two-way player Jacob Gilyard, a 5’9″ point guard, has started the past three games for Memphis and will likely continue to receive extended run until the Grizzlies get more reinforcements back.

Clippers Sign Daniel Theis

November 17th, 2023 at 4:45pm CST by Rory Maher

After clearing waivers on Friday, free agent center Daniel Theis has officially signed with the Clippers, the team announced (via Twitter).

According to Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link), Theis is expected to be available for Friday’s contest against Houston.

The move was expected. Theis reached a buyout agreement with the Pacers on Wednesday and was subsequently waived. The Clippers can only offer the prorated veteran’s minimum — worth about $2.2MM in Theis’ case — which is reportedly how much he gave up in his buyout.

Theis, 31, is a 6’8″ German big man who has spent most of his seven-year NBA career with Boston, but he has also played for Chicago, Houston and Indiana. He holds career averages of 7.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG and 0.9 BPG on .542/.325/.714 shooting in 314 games (148 starts, 19.4 MPG).

Theis was limited to just seven NBA appearances last season due to a knee injury, but had a strong summer in international competition. He started at center for the German national team that captured gold at the 2023 World Cup, averaging 10.9 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 1.9 APG in 21.8 MPG in the club’s eight FIBA contests.

Theis had hoped to carry over that success into the 2023/24 NBA season, but the Pacers have a crowded frontcourt behind starting center Myles Turner. Isaiah Jackson and Jalen Smith were both ahead of Theis on the depth chart through the first three weeks of the season.

As a result, Theis was limited to just one cameo appearance this season and admitted earlier this month that was “not happy” about his nonexistent role in Indiana.

The Clippers were looking for frontcourt depth after trading multiple power forwards in the James Harden trade and then losing backup center Mason Plumlee to a sprained MCL in his left knee. Plumlee is expected to miss multiple months.

The Clippers now have a full 18-man roster after signing Theis.

Suns’ Beal Out At Least Three Weeks Due To Back Injury

November 17th, 2023 at 1:35pm CST by Luke Adams

The Suns‘ big three appeared to be nearing full health earlier this week, but the trio’s regular season debut will be delayed until at least December. Star guard Bradley Beal is dealing with a low back strain and will be reevaluated in three weeks, the team announced today (via Twitter).

After being acquired this summer by the Suns in a blockbuster trade, Beal was forced to miss his first seven games with the club due to low back issues that were previously diagnosed as spasms. He debuted last Wednesday and appeared in three games, but admitted he aggravated the injury in Sunday’s contest vs. Oklahoma City, referring to it his back “a little tight.”

The initial sense was that the tweak wasn’t too bad. Beal was listed as probable to play on Wednesday against Minnesota, and with Devin Booker due back from a calf strain that night, it looked like Phoenix’s three stars – Beal, Booker, and Kevin Durant – would all play together for the first time this fall. However, Beal was downgraded to out in the hours before tip-off and now will require a longer layoff to rehab the injury.

Beal didn’t quite look like his usual self in his first three games as a Sun, averaging 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 28.5 minutes per night with a modest .391/.333/.688 shooting line. Entering this season, he had averaged 22.1 PPG on .460/.372/.823 shooting in 695 career appearances.

Once everyone is available, the Suns are expected to have one of the NBA’s most dangerous offenses, headlined by three players who typically rank among the league’s top scorers. But even assuming Booker and Durant stay healthy for the foreseeable future, it will be at least a few more weeks before Phoenix is at full strength.

Clippers’ Russell Westbrook Volunteers To Come Off Bench

November 17th, 2023 at 9:41am CST by Luke Adams

With the Clippers struggling to find their footing in the wake of the James Harden trade, starting point guard Russell Westbrook has requested to move to a reserve role, league sources tell Chris Haynes of TNT and Bleacher Report.

According to Haynes, the plan is for Westbrook to come off the bench for the Clippers in Friday’s in-season tournament game vs. Houston, with Terance Mann getting the start in his place.

Westbrook, Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Ivica Zubac have started each of the five games the Clippers have played since Harden made his debut with the team. Los Angeles has lost all five of those games and has posted a -14.1 net rating in 58 minutes with that five-man group on the court.

It’s a very small sample, but by comparison, that group had a +38.0 net rating in 51 minutes with Robert Covington in Harden’s place prior to the trade.

Head coach Tyronn Lue has experimented with taking certain players – including Harden – off the court relatively early in the game and then bringing them back with the second unit, and some of the Clippers stars have expressed confidence that a breakthrough is close. However, having Westbrook move to the bench will allow the team to start the game with one fewer ball-dominant player on the court, which could help simplify the offensive game plan.

As Haynes writes, Westbrook brought the idea to the coaching staff, suggesting that it would put the first unit in a better position to develop some chemistry and would allow him to bring his energy to the second unit. The former MVP is the Clippers’ “vocal leader” and told the coaching staff he wants to do whatever it takes to win, sources tell Haynes.

Westbrook has started every game he has played for the Clippers since signing with the team last season, but came off the bench in 49 of the 52 games he played for the Lakers in 2022/23. As Haynes points out, that move was instigated by the Lakers’ coaching staff, whereas this time the idea is coming from Westbrook, who has received praise throughout the organization for the “selfless” move, sources tell Bleacher Report.

Wes Unseld Jr.’s Job With Wizards Not In Jeopardy

November 17th, 2023 at 9:00am CST by Luke Adams

After finishing with a 35-47 record in each of the last two seasons, the Wizards are off to a 2-9 start in 2023/24. However, third-year head coach Wes Unseld Jr.‘s job with the organization isn’t in any immediate danger, according to Josh Robbins of The Athletic.

Given that Washington missed the playoffs in Unseld’s first two years with the team and then overhauled the front office this past offseason, there was a sense that it may just be a matter of time before the new decision-makers, including team president Michael Winger and general manager Will Dawkins, bring in their own coach.

However, Robbins says that management is prepared to give Unseld “significant leeway” this season, since player development – rather than winning games – will be the main goal in the short term. Although the Wizards have lost nine of their first 11 games, key young players such as rookie wing Bilal Coulibaly and recently extended forward Deni Avdija have taken steps forward in the first few weeks of this season, Robbins observes.

Coulibaly is shooting the ball well (.523 FG%, .471 3PT%) and handling challenging defensive assignments while logging 25.7 minutes per night. Avdija, who received a four-year, $55MM contract just before the season began, has been a full-time starter and is averaging career highs in PPG (12.7), APG (3.9), FG% (.519), and 3PT% (.412), among other statistical categories.

Winger and Dawkins have also asked Unseld to help Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma get comfortable with being Washington’s go-to offensive options, Robbins says. While Poole’s play has been shaky so far this season, the front office didn’t expect his transition from complementary player in Golden State to primary scorer in D.C. to be seamless, so they’re willing to be patient.

As Robbins acknowledges, the pieces on the Wizards’ roster don’t all fit together smoothly, especially from a defensive standpoint, which may make it more challenging for management to evaluate Unseld’s performance and determine whether he’s the long-term answer as the club’s head coach. The team has no desire to make a change in the near future, but Unseld’s future in Washington beyond the 2023/24 season isn’t assured, Robbins adds.

Even though the Wizards have exercised Unseld’s option for 2024/25, that only guarantees that he’ll be paid next season — not necessarily that he’ll still be on the sidelines, Robbins writes. That decision may come down to how the Wizards’ youngsters develop and the strides that players like Poole and Kuzma make in their new roles during the rest of this season.

Grizzlies Granted Disabled Player Exception

November 16th, 2023 at 5:14pm CST by Tristan Tucker

The Grizzlies have been granted a disabled player exception worth $6.3MM for the season-ending loss of Steven Adams, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).

Adams is out for the 2023/24 season after undergoing surgery to address his right posterior cruciate ligament after “non-operative rehabilitation” failed to properly fix the issues in his knee.

As explained in our glossary, a disabled player exception allows an over-the-cap team some spending power when it loses a player to an injury deemed likely to sideline him through at least June 15 of that season. The exception is worth either half the injured player’s salary or the non-taxpayer mid-level exception, whichever is lesser. Adams is on track to earn $12.6MM this season, so the exception is worth half that.

The exception can be used to sign a free agent, claim a player off waivers or acquire a player in a trade. It can only be used on one single player and can only be utilized for a one-year deal. Any player being acquired via trade or waiver claim must have just one year remaining on his contract.

It’s important to note that a disabled player exception does not open up a roster spot for the Grizzlies, or any other team who uses one. In order to use the exception, Memphis needs to have an open roster spot. The Grizzlies currently have 15 players on standard contracts, plus Ja Morant on the suspended list, so they’d have to make a cut or trade to use the exception. The Grizzlies face a March 11 deadline to use the DPE for Adams.

Adams, 30, has been with Memphis since the 2021/22 season. In 118 games over the past two seasons, he’s been an integral part of the team’s competitive identity, averaging 7.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.9 blocks per night.

Clippers Officially Promote Joshua Primo To Standard Roster

November 16th, 2023 at 1:25pm CST by Luke Adams

November 16: Primo received a two-year, minimum-salary deal that is fully guaranteed for the remainder of this season and features a $1MM partial guarantee for 2024/25, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).

November 15: The Clippers have officially signed two-way player Joshua Primo to a new standard contract, per NBA.com’s transaction log.

Shams Charania of The Athletic reported last Monday that this promotion was coming. The move had to be made official today because teams aren’t permitted to carry fewer than 14 players on standard contracts for more than two weeks at a time. The Clippers had been carrying 13 since completing their James Harden and Filip Petrusev trades on November 1.

Primo was given a second chance this fall by the Clippers after being waived by San Antonio last year for engaging in “inappropriate and offensive behavior by exposing himself to women.” The NBA imposed a four-game suspension and Primo has been undergoing therapy for his behavior, which allegedly included multiple incidents with Dr. Hillary Cauthen, a sports psychologist who worked for the Spurs during his time with the organization.

The 20-year-old wing was the youngest player in the 2021 draft when San Antonio selected him with the 12th overall pick. He appeared in 50 games as a rookie, making 16 starts and averaging 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 19.3 minutes per night. He got into just four games during his second season before being waived and has yet to appear in an NBA game since joining the Clippers.

Primo has been playing for the Ontario Clippers, L.A.’s G League affiliate, and is expected to remain in the NBAGL for the time being, tweets Law Murray of The Athletic. He has averaged 17.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 3.0 APG in three games (28.9 MPG) for Ontario so far.

While the exact terms of Primo’s deal aren’t yet known, it will be a minimum-salary contract, which is all the Clippers can offer. According to Andrew Greif of The Los Angeles Times (Twitter link), it’s a two-year contract with a partial guarantee in year two — that suggests the deal is fully guaranteed for the 2023/24 season, though we haven’t yet gotten official confirmation on that.

Los Angeles is expected to sign Xavier Moon to a two-way contract soon to fill Primo’s spot. The team is also on track to fill the open 15th spot on its standard roster by signing Daniel Theis, who is currently on waivers.

NBA Suspends Draymond Green For Five Games

November 15th, 2023 at 7:33pm CST by Luke Adams

7:33pm: The NBA has officially confirmed Green’s five-game suspension, as well as the $25K fines for Thompson, McDaniels, and Gobert.

In its press release (Twitter link), the NBA said Green was suspended for “escalating an on-court altercation and forcibly grabbing (Gobert) around the neck in an unsportsmanlike and dangerous manner.” The length of the suspension was based in part on Green’s “history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the league added.

7:16pm: Warriors forward Draymond Green will be suspended five games by the NBA for his role in Tuesday’s altercation against Minnesota, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).

After Klay Thompson and Jaden McDaniels engaged in some grabbing, pushing, and shoving that resulted in a stoppage in play early in the first quarter of Tuesday’s game, Green entered the fracas and put Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a headlock for several seconds (Twitter video link via Bleacher Report).

The game’s officials, who ruled that Gobert had been trying to deescalate the situation, hit Green with a flagrant 2 foul and an ejection.

A report earlier in the day from Wojnarowski indicated that the NBA was reviewing the situation, with Green considered to be the focus of that investigation due to the Gobert headlock as well as his history of on-court physicality and suspensions. When Green was suspended in the 2023 playoffs for stepping on Domantas Sabonis, his reputation as a “repeat offender” was cited by the league.

As a result of the five-game ban, Green will miss the Warriors’ games against the Thunder on Thursday and Saturday, as well as their contests vs. Houston (Nov. 20), Phoenix (Nov. 22), and San Antonio (Nov. 24). That game vs. the Spurs is an in-season tournament matchup.

Golden State is also without top scorer Stephen Curry in the short term due to a sore right knee. Curry has been ruled out for Thursday’s game vs. the Thunder and is expected to be reevaluated later this week.

The suspension will cost Green a total of $769,704, or $153,941 per game, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks. His salary for the 2022/23 season is $22,321,429, and he’ll forfeit 1/145th of that salary for each game of the suspension.

While Green is the only player being suspended as a result of Tuesday’s squabble, Thompson, McDaniels, and Gobert will be fined $25K apiece, Wojnarowski tweets.