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Southeast Notes: Wade, Satoransky, Muscala

May 14th, 2015 at 12:29pm CST by Chuck Myron

Veterans Al Horford and Paul Pierce made the key hoops for their respective teams Wednesday in Atlanta’s victory in Game 5 of the Hawks-Wizards series, one that serves as a de facto Southeast Division championship. Whichever team wins the series, which the Hawks lead 3-2, will make its first appearance in the conference finals in more than three decades and will perhaps be in a better position to attract stars via free agency. The Hawks have a much better chance to clear cap room this summer than the Wizards do, but both teams have plenty of flexibility for the summer of 2016, when Kevin Durant and others are set to come free. While we wait to see how that all plays out, here’s the latest from around the Southeast:

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Pelicans Await Clarity On Tom Thibodeau, Bulls

May 14th, 2015 at 8:58am CST by Chuck Myron

The Pelicans are waiting to see whether Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau becomes available as New Orleans approaches its coaching search, league sources tell John Reid of The Times-Picayune. That puts New Orleans in the same position as the Magic, who are also waiting on Thibodeau, as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported last week. Thibodeau “could possibly” become a contender for the Pelicans job if he shakes free, Reid writes, but New Orleans has long regarded Thibs highly and made a play for him in 2010 before hiring Monty Williams instead. Indeed, TNT’s David Aldridge identified Thibodeau as a “clear and obvious candidate” for the Pelicans soon after Tuesday’s firing of Williams.

It’s “inevitable” that the Bulls and Thibodeau will part ways after the season, Wojnarowski wrote last week, while people close to the coach have been convinced Chicago will fire him, as Grantland’s Zach Lowe reported last month. Still, it seems more likely that the Bulls would seek compensation for letting Thibodeau out of his contract than that they would simply fire him, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. The Magic would likely be willing to give up one or two second-round picks for the right to hire Thibodeau, Kyler wrote, while Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times heard that the Magic’s job would be Thibodeau’s to turn down. It’s believed Thibodeau is also the front-runner for the Nuggets job, according to Kyler, though Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post has found it hard to envision Thibodeau on the sidelines in Denver, given the split between the coach’s defense-first philosophy and the Nuggets’ desire to run.

Still, the Pelicans are the only team with a coaching vacancy that possesses a star of the caliber of Anthony Davis, and New Orleans would be at the front of the line to hire Thibodeau if he becomes available, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Pelicans GM Dell Demps, who’s conducting the team’s coaching search, said Tuesday that the effort would begin immediately and that the team hadn’t established a short list yet, Reid notes. However, it appears New Orleans wants to hold off to gauge the circumstances surrounding the coach who would be perhaps the most sought-after on the market.

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Draft Notes: Payne, Sixers, Magic

May 13th, 2015 at 7:00pm CST by Zachary Links

In today’s chat, a reader asked Chad Ford of ESPN.com if he feels that Myles Turner getting out ahead of the story on his running style will alleviate the fears of GMs picking in the lottery.  Ford feels that it’s a good start and notes that the reports from Turner’s camp are encouraging.  If he can correct his running style, Ford could see him going as high as No. 5 or No. 6 in the draft.  Here’s a look at the latest draft news..

  • After Emmanuel Mudiay and D’Angelo Russell, ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla said that he views Murray State’s Cameron Payne, Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant, and Utah’s Delon Wright as the top point guards in the draft, Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic writes.  Fraschilla was particularly high on Payne, who he feels “has a chance to be a tremendous NBA player.”  The Murray State star spoke with Hoops Rumors last week about his skill set and NBA goals.
  • The Sixers will interview Eastern Washington guard Tyler Harvey on Thursday, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter).  Pompey sees Harvey as a possible steal in the second round. The sophomore is currently ranked No. 35 overall by ESPN.com’s Chad Ford and No. 75 by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.
  • One of the Magic‘s interviews Wednesday at the combine was with Anthony Brown of Stanford, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel tweets.  DraftExpress.com ranks Brown as the No. 41 overall prospect and ESPN.com (Insider subscription required) places him 61st.
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Eastern Notes: Wizards, Blatt, Fournier

May 12th, 2015 at 8:30pm CST by Eddie Scarito

League insiders are split in their opinions regarding the Wizards’ chances to lure Kevin Durant to Washington D.C. when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2016, Zach Lowe of Grantland writes. While the franchise’s future appears brighter than many teams in the East, its success is tempered by the fact that it plays in a relatively weak conference, Lowe adds. What the Wizards will also need to decide upon is how aggressive they wish to be in pursing Durant, considering his mounting injuries, the Grantland scribe notes. Lowe also opines that the team should consider if coach Randy Wittman is the coach who will take them to the next level, and if not, then Washington should attempt to find that person this offseason.

Here’s more from the NBA’s Eastern Conference:

  • David Blatt has proven himself to be a good coach during his career overseas, but that doesn’t mean he is the right coach for LeBron James and the Cavs‘ current roster, Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report writes.
  • Swingman Evan Fournier did not disappoint during his first season with the Magic, John Denton of NBA.com writes in his season review of the player. Fournier proved himself to be one of the Magic’s best outside shooters and finishers at the rim, though he did miss 24 games due to various injuries, Denton notes. In 58 appearances the 22-year-old averaged 12.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 28.6 minutes per night.
  • The Heat have not traditionally had great luck in regards to the NBA draft lottery, and the team will need that to change if it is to retain its first-rounder this year, Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel writes. Over the past 15 years, no team seeded beyond No. 10 has moved up in the lottery, Winderman notes, and if Miami’s pick falls out of the top 10 selections it will convey to the Sixers.
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Fallout From/Reaction To Monty Williams Firing

May 12th, 2015 at 4:11pm CST by Chuck Myron

New Orleans faces its first turning point this summer with Anthony Davis, who becomes eligible for a rookie scale extension in July. So, the decision the Pelicans made to fire coach Monty Williams, one that GM Dell Demps reportedly pushed for, runs through the prism of significant negotiations with the team’s superstar on the horizon. Here’s the latest in the wake of the coaching change, with any new updates added to the top:

  • Williams released a statement regarding his termination (hat tip to David Aldridge of NBA.com via TwitLonger). In his statement, Williams wrote, “I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Benson and Mickey for this unique opportunity I’ve had. My focus today is to appreciate the great journey over the last few years to be the head coach of this team. New Orleans is a special city with very special fans. I appreciate all the support that my family has received from all the great people and organizations we have been affiliated with throughout the area over the years. I need to thank my coaches and players because we take pride in our accomplishments as a group in progressing in the right direction and making the playoffs through the challenges of a long season. I’ll always be grateful for the relationships and thankful that our players always gave everything we asked of them on the court. I only wish the best for this team to continue taking strides forward and providing success to this special city.”

2:38pm updates:

  • Williams isn’t expected to become a candidate for the Nuggets vacancy, according to Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post.
  • If the Pelicans lure Thibodeau and the Bulls replace him with Fred Hoiberg, there’s a growing belief that the Cyclones would go after Suns coach Jeff Hornacek, who played at the school and whose contract calls for a lower annual salary than Hoiberg’s, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. However, Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders heard that Hoiberg, who underwent open heart surgery last month, might not jump to the NBA because of his health.

2:18pm updates:

  • The Pelicans will be at the front of the line of suitors for Tom Thibodeau if indeed New Orleans decides to go after the Bulls coach, given the presence of Davis, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
  • Those close to Thibodeau have long seen the Pelicans and the Magic as the teams he’d most likely end up with after his time with the Bulls, according to USA Today’s Sam Amick.
  • John Reid of The Times-Picayune wouldn’t be surprised if the Pelicans made a run at former Thunder coach Scott Brooks (Twitter link), but for what it’s worth, the Pelicans didn’t reach out to Brooks before firing Williams, a person with knowledge of Brooks’ situation told Amick.
  • There was an obvious disconnect between Williams and Demps from the very start of their working relationship in 2010, writes Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune, who argues that if the Pelicans wanted change, they should have looked at the front office instead.
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Woelfel On Thibodeau, Carter-Williams, Middleton

May 12th, 2015 at 8:57am CST by Chuck Myron

The Magic‘s coaching job would be Tom Thibodeau‘s if he wants it, as Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times hears. Others nonetheless speculate that Thibodeau would prefer to coach the Pelicans, Woelfel notes. Thibodeau still has two years left on his contract with the Bulls, the team he’s coaching in the conference semifinals, though there have been no shortage of rumors indicating that his time left in Chicago is short. The Magic have made little progress in their coaching search so far and haven’t begun formal interviews, while Monty Williams remains the coach in New Orleans. As we wait to see just how Thibodeau’s future plays out, Woelfel has more Bucks-centric rumors to go along with his news linking Brook Lopez to Milwaukee. We’ll pass along some highlights, though Woelfel’s entire piece is a must-read, especially for Bucks fans:

  • Some higher-ups around the league tell Woelfel that the Bucks aren’t totally convinced Michael Carter-Williams is their guy at point guard, just as the team had its doubts about Brandon Knight before trading him in February as part of the deal that netted Carter-Williams. Still, there isn’t as much financial urgency with last year’s Rookie of the Year, who has two more seasons left on his rookie scale contract, as there was with Knight, who’s set for restricted free agency this summer.
  • The Bucks had significant interest in University of Utah center Jakob Poeltl before he became the highest-profile prospect in this year’s draft to decide against entering, sources tell Woelfel. The 7-footer will be a sophomore next season.
  • A front office official for an Eastern Conference team who spoke with Woelfel estimated that Bucks soon-to-be restricted free agent Khris Middleton would make salaries of around $9MM on his next deal, as Woelfel relays on the “Sports Junkies” video segment. The executive expressed doubt about the offer of a $15MM annual salary that another executive recently told Sean Deveney of The Sporting News that Middleton was in line to draw.
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Eastern Notes: Haslem, Harris, Bucks

May 10th, 2015 at 3:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

Next season could be the end of the line for “Heat lifer” Udonis Haslem, writes Surya Fernandez of Fox Sports Florida. Haslem, who has been with Miami since 2003, will make $2.9MM in 2015/16 during the final season of a two-year contract. Although he can pursue free agency, at age 36 he might find few interested parties outside of Miami. Teammate Dwyane Wade said he would be happy to have Haslem back. “I always feel like we have a great shot when he is on the floor because he will bring something that no one else can bring,” Wade said.

There’s more from the Eastern Conference:

  • A New Hampshire mathematics professor has identified the Magic’s Tobias Harris as the NBA’s most underrated player, according to Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel. Harris, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, got high marks for his ability to shoot three-pointers, drive, rebound and defend.
  • The Bucks will likely make roster changes this summer, but they would like to keep Khris Middleton, writes Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The team hopes the restricted free agent will choose to stay in Milwaukee and be part of the team’s young core. Co-owner Marc Lasry noted that it’s easier in the NBA to do a one-year turnaround than to maintain success. “Well, I think next year is going to be harder,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be harder. People won’t take us lightly.” 
  • It’s been a long journey for the Hawks‘ Mike Budenholzer to go from a small Arizona town to becoming a successful NBA coach, according to Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic. Budenholzer’s pro experience started as a film coordinator for the Spurs in 1994. He was promoted to assistant coach two years later, and stayed in San Antonio for 17 more years before landing the head coaching position with the Hawks. “One of the things that’s amazing to me is his demeanor,” said his father, Vince Budenholzer. “The Hawks don’t panic and that’s him staying calm. I think we’ll give the other Pop [Spurs coach Gregg Popovich] credit for that.”
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Southeast Notes: Pierce, Dedmon, Williams

May 10th, 2015 at 10:14am CST by Arthur Hill

The Wizards are enjoying great dividends from their investment in Paul Pierce, according to J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. Pierce, who hit a game-winning shot against the Hawks Saturday, came to Washington last summer after free agent Trevor Ariza left for Houston. Michael notes that the Wizards were able to sign Pierce for a little more than $5MM a year over two seasons, which was about half the money and half the commitment that Ariza wanted.

There’s more this morning from the Southeast Division:

  • The Magic moved Dewayne Dedmon into their starting lineup March 4; now he hopes to stay there, writes Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. Dedmon quickly became a favorite of interim coach James Borrego with his shot blocking and high-intensity style of play. He is signed through next year, although the nearly $950K he is due to make is fully non-guaranteed if he is waived by August 1st.
  • Consistency was the main thing Marvin Williams brought to the Hornets after signing as a free agent last summer, notes Matt Rochinski of hornets.com. Charlotte lured the North Carolina alum from the Jazz with a two-year deal worth $7MM each season. Through the first four months of the season, Williams averaged 6.7 points and 4.5 rebounds. From March 1 onward, he raised those numbers to 8.8 points and 6.7 boards. “I feel like I finished a lot stronger than I started,” he said. “Obviously with change, sometimes it takes a little while to get acclimated, but that’s an experience I had before in my career so it wasn’t terrible for me.”
  • With their draft status uncertain, the Heat are turning their attention toward the annual Chicago pre-draft camp, which gets under way Tuesday, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Miami faces a 9% chance of losing its first-round pick, but that won’t be determined until the May 19th lottery. In the meantime, team president Pat Riley, GM Andy Elisburg and the scouting staff are going to get an up-close look at the top prospects, not just for the first round, but also for Miami’s second-round pick, which falls at number 40.
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Magic Notes: Nicholson, Draft, Frye

May 9th, 2015 at 7:21pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Devyn Marble was the only player whom the Magic sent to the D-League this season, as our D-League Usage Report indicates. The guard averaged 13.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game during three assignments with the Erie Bayhawks, the team’s D-League affiliate.

Here’s more from Orlando:

  • Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel wouldn’t be surprised if the Magic traded Andrew Nicholson this offseason. Robbins cites the forward’s inability to run the floor well, which doesn’t mesh with the strengths of guards Elfrid Payton and Victor Oladipo, as reason for a trade. The 25-year-old will make slightly under $2.4MM during the 2015/16 season, which is the last year of his rookie contract.
  • Willie Cauley-Stein and Justise Winslow are among the prospects the Magic should attempt to interview and learn more about at the Draft Combine, Robbins opines in a separate piece. Cauley-Stein is likely the best rim protector in the draft and with his skill set, he would complement Nikola Vucevic nicely. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranks the Kentucky product as the sixth best prospect, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks him as the seventh. Orlando has a 91.2% chance to receive one of the top six picks, as our Lottery Odds page shows.
  • Channing Frye, who signed a four-year, $32MM deal with the Magic last offseason, could be an attractive asset to a team that already has a rim protector, opines Robbins in a separate piece. Frye’s salary, which decreases by 4.5% annually, along with his shooting range, should generate some interest on the trade market.
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2014/15 D-League Usage Report: Magic

May 9th, 2015 at 4:49pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The relationship between the NBA and the D-League continues to grow, and 17 NBA franchises currently have one-to-one D-League affiliates amongst the 18 D-League teams. The remaining 13 NBA teams shared the Fort Wayne Mad Ants this season. We at Hoops Rumors will be recapping each team’s use of the D-League this season, looking at assignments and recalls as well as the players signed out of the D-League. We’ll continue onward with a look back at how the Magic utilized the D-League during the 2014/15 campaign…

D-League Team: Erie BayHawks

Affiliation Type: One-to-one

D-League Team Record: 24-26

Number of NBA Players Assigned To D-League: 1

Total D-League Assignments: 3

Player Stats While On Assignment

  • Devyn Marble: 3 assignments, 6 games, 13.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 APG. .341/.321/.591.

D-League Signings

  • None

Assignment/Recall Log

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