Celtics Notes: Tatum, Smart, White, Brogdon, Porzingis

Appearing at a PGA pro-am event Wednesday in Memphis, Jayson Tatum promised Grizzlies fans that they’re going to love having Marcus Smart on their team (video link from The Memphis Commercial Appeal).

After spending nine years with the Celtics, Smart was shipped to Memphis in a three-team trade to acquire Kristaps Porzingis. Smart provided a fiery presence in Boston, both on and off the court, and Tatum said he’ll bring those same qualities to the Grizzlies.

“They’re getting a leader,” Tatum said. “They’re getting a guy who’s a winner, who’s been to the playoffs every year. We’ve been to the Finals together obviously, so he knows what it takes to get there. Obviously extremely talented, the best defender in the league. He’s just a guy that you love to have on your team.”

There’s more from Boston:

  • The Celtics addressed a major offseason priority when they signed Jaylen Brown to a super-max extension, but they have more extension decisions to make, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Around the start of October, Derrick White will be eligible for a three-year extension that could be worth up to $85.3MM. White is projected to take over as the starting point guard with Smart gone, and he’s coming off a second-team All-Defensive nod last season. If the Celtics want to extend White this year, they’ll have until opening night to finalize a deal with the veteran guard, who has two more years on his current contract. Malcolm Brogdon will also become extension-eligible, Himmelsbach notes, but he believes a new contract is less likely considering Brogdon’s age and injury history, along with the six-month trade trade restriction that comes with an extension.
  • Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck is a supporter of the new mid-season tournament and hopes his team can reach the finals in Las Vegas, Himmelsbach adds. “I’m a big international soccer fan, and I see they’ve got three trophies they can go for every year,” Grousbeck said. “So I’m already looking forward to it. I like having something new for guys to play for during the fall and give fans something to watch. Let’s see how it goes.”
  • Jared Weiss of The Athletic looks at the lineup options that Porzingis will provide for head coach Joe Mazzulla. The Celtics will have a much taller starting five and can experiment with a twin towers approach with Porzingis playing alongside Robert Williams. Weiss also envisions Porzingis and Tatum being effective with the second unit while Brown is resting.

Pistons Notes: Duren, Stewart, Hayes, Thompson

Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart appear to be the favorites to start at center and power forward for the Pistons heading into training camp, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes in a mailbag column. Langlois sees them as having a clear edge over James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley III. He cites Duren’s impressive showing at Summer League, which he followed up with a strong performance as part of the Select Team that scrimmaged against Team USA’s World Cup squad.

The bigger concern for Wiseman and Bagley, according to Langlois, is whether new head coach Monty Williams is willing to give regular playing time to four big men. They could be battling for one rotation role, not only in camp but throughout the season.

Langlois also raises the possibility that Williams won’t want to start two traditional big men. That could lead to Bojan Bogdanovic getting the starting nod as a stretch four, with Isaiah Livers possibly claiming the other forward spot.

There’s more on the Pistons:

  • Killian Hayes needs to establish himself as an NBA player as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, but his path to playing time appears to be blocked, Langlois adds. Cade Cunningham‘s return will consume a lot of the backcourt minutes, and Hayes will have to compete with Jaden Ivey, Alec Burks, newcomer Monte Morris and rookie Marcus Sasser as well. Langlois suggests that Hayes might be included in a multi-player trade at some point to help balance salaries.
  • Overtime Elite trainer Luke Cooper believes Ausar Thompson has the drive to become a star, per James L. Edwards III of The Athletic. Cooper said Thompson’s obsession to excel at every part of the game led to some late-night phone calls during their two years of working together. “I’ll get a text or call saying, ‘I mastered it,’ and I’d have no idea what he was talking about,” Cooper said. “It would be some little move that we worked on earlier that day that bothered him so much because he didn’t feel comfortable with it, so he went to his room and worked on it, in his room, until he felt comfortable with it.”
  • In a separate story, Edwards examines potential lineup combinations for the upcoming season, looking at which five-man units might work best in different situations.

Beno Udrih To Coach Bucks’ G League Team

Former NBA player Beno Udrih will become head coach of the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks‘ affiliate in the G League, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Udrih spent last season as a scout with the Hawks. He has also served as a player development coach for the Pelicans and an assistant coach with the G League’s Westchester Knicks.

Udrih, 41, played 13 NBA seasons before officially announcing his retirement in 2021. He suited up for eight teams during his career and won two titles with the Spurs in his first three seasons in the league.

Udrih will be the fourth head coach in the history of the Herd, who debuted in the 2017/18 season. He replaces Chaisson Allen, who guided the team for the past two seasons.

Suns To Retire Numbers For Shawn Marion, Amar’e Stoudemire

The Suns will induct Shawn Marion and Amar’e Stoudemire into their Ring of Honor this season, the team announced in a press release.

Details of the ceremonies will be worked out once the NBA’s schedule is finalized, but a separate celebration is planned for each player, according to the release. As part of the honor, Marion’s No. 31 and Stoudemire’s No. 32 will join the franchise’s list of retired numbers.

“Shawn and Amar’e are two of the very best to ever wear a Phoenix Suns uniform,” owner Mat Ishbia said. “Shawn changed the game with his elite versatility and Amar’e was one of the most electrifying players the league has ever seen. Shawn and Amar’e helped define the Suns and inspired generations of fans, and our Suns family is incomplete without them in the Ring of Honor. As we embark on the new era of Suns basketball, it is a priority that we remain connected to our storied history. We are excited to celebrate Shawn and Amar’e and properly recognize their incredible contributions and achievements.”

Marion played in Phoenix from 1999-2008, earning All-NBA honors twice and making four All-Star appearances. He averaged 18.4 PPG in 660 regular season games with the Suns and ranks fifth in franchise history in career points, second in both rebounds and steals and third in blocks. He’s also Phoenix’s all-time playoff leader with 706 rebounds.

“This is amazing to be recognized by the Suns family in this way,” Marion said. “The fans in Phoenix are one of a kind and this city will always be a part of me. My time with the Suns was special and I am looking forward to being inducted into the Ring of Honor.”

Stoudemire was named Rookie of the Year in 2003 and averaged 21.4 PPG in 516 games during his eight seasons with the Suns. A four-time All-NBA selection and five-time All-Star in Phoenix, he’s seventh in franchise history in career points, third in rebounds and fifth in blocks.

“I bleed purple and orange, making this a tremendous honor to be inducted,” Stoudemire said. “My best and most transformative years came in Phoenix with the Suns. I have so much love for Suns fans and appreciation for the love they have always shown me. I am excited to reconnect with the fanbase in joining the Ring of Honor.”

Poll: Early Rookie Of The Year Pick

Scoot Henderson declared this week that he intends to take home the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award in 2024, and he should be in a good position to do so.

Assuming the Trail Blazers trade Damian Lillard before the season begins, Henderson is primed to play a key role in the backcourt for a Portland team that figures to take a step back and focus more on developing its young cornerstones than vying for a high seed in the Western Conference. In that scenario, this year’s No. 3 overall pick would have the ball in his hands a lot and would be given the opportunity to take on considerable scoring and play-making responsibilites as a rookie.

Unsurprisingly though, betting site BetOnline.ag doesn’t consider Henderson the Rookie of the Year favorite. That spot belongs to No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, widely considered the best prospect to enter the NBA since LeBron James.

Like LeBron in 2003, Wembanyama is considered a safe bet to make an immediate impact. While San Antonio will likely manage his workload, especially in back-to-back scenarios, he should play a significant frontcourt role on a retooling Spurs team that intends to build around him for years to come. It’s possible Wembanyama won’t match Henderson’s scoring numbers as a rookie, but he has a better chance to be a two-way force in his first NBA season.

While Wembanyama (-150) and Henderson (+250) are the two Rookie of the Year frontrunners, BetOnline.ag considers Thunder big man Chet Holmgren (+325) a legitimate contender too. The No. 2 overall pick in 2022, Holmgren missed his entire rookie season due to a foot injury, putting him in position to essentially get a second rookie year in 2023/24.

Holmgren likely won’t be asked to carry much of the offensive load for an Oklahoma City team that has plenty of scoring options, but his ability to protect the rim and block shots could make him an ideal fit for the Thunder, who could have used that sort of player last season (they ranked 22nd in blocks per game).

Holmgren’s year of NBA seasoning off the court could work in his favor, as could a strong year from the Thunder, who came one play-in game away from a postseason spot last season. Playing a key role on a playoff team helped swing the Rookie of the Year vote in Scottie Barnes‘ favor in 2022, for instance.

While BetOnline.ag views them as longer shots, other rookies who were drafted in the lottery in June, including Hornets forward Brandon Miller and the Thompson twins, could make a run at Rookie of the Year honors too.

We want to know what you think. Who’s your early pick for Rookie of the Year in 2023/24? Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your thoughts!

Nick Kerr To Coach Santa Cruz Warriors

The Warriors will have members of the Kerr family coaching both their NBA and G League teams in 2023/24, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic, who reports (via Twitter) that Nick Kerr is being promoted to become the head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors, Golden State’s NBAGL affiliate.

Nick is the son of Steve Kerr, Golden State’s longtime head coach. The younger Kerr played college ball at San Diego and Cal from 2011-16 before deciding to get into coaching.

Nick worked in the Spurs’ video room during the 2017/18 season, then joined the Warriors as an assistant video coordinator in 2018. He spent three years in the team’s video room, earning a promotion to head video coordinator, before becoming a part of Santa Cruz’s coaching staff. He served as an assistant under head coach Seth Cooper for the last two seasons (2021-23).

Slater previously reported that Cooper would be changing roles this offseason, having been named as one of two co-leaders of Golden State’s revamped player development program. His transition opened up the head coaching job in Santa Cruz.

Anthony Edwards Fined $50K By NBA For April Incident

Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $50K by the NBA for an incident that occurred on April 25 following a playoff game in Denver, the league announced today (via Twitter).

As we detailed at the time, while exiting the court following the Timberwolves’ season-ending loss to the Nuggets, Edwards allegedly picked up a folding chair and swung it, striking two bystanders who were working at Ball Arena. The NBA’s statement today refers to Edwards as “recklessly swinging a chair in frustration.”

Typically, the punishment in situations like this one would be announced within a day or two. According to the league, the delay in this case was due to a desire to let the legal process play out. Edwards was cited at the time for two counts of third-degree assault, but those charges were dismissed following a criminal investigation.

Although Edwards won’t face any sort of suspension as a result of the incident, $50K is the maximum amount the NBA can fine a player without opening the door for the player to appeal the decision and take the issue to a grievance arbitrator.

Edwards is currently with the Team USA squad that will compete in the 2023 World Cup later this month.

World Cup Notes: Murray, Brissett, Schröder, Haliburton, Luka

It’s still unclear whether or not Nuggets guard Jamal Murray will play for Team Canada when the World Cup tips off later this month, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca, who reports that sources in Murray’s camp say the matter remains undecided.

Due to his championship run with Denver that extended into mid-June, the expectation was that Murray would be brought along slowly after reporting to the Canadian national team. But he’ll likely have to play in at least one or two of the team’s pre-World Cup exhibition games in order for Canada to feel comfortable having him suit up in Indonesia, Grange writes.

The Canadian team is currently in Germany for a series of three tune-up contests, then will travel to Spain to play two more exhibition games before continuing on to Jakarta. Murray didn’t accompany the team to Germany.

Here are a few more World Cup notes:

  • Within his Sportsnet.ca story, Grange says that new Celtics forward Oshae Brissett experienced some tightness during Team Canada’s practices and was held out as a precautionary measure, but didn’t suffer a knee injury as some reports suggested. Brissett simply wants to play it safe and focus on getting ready for training camp with a new team.
  • Raptors guard Dennis Schröder, a member of the German national team, is still recovering from an Achilles issue that he dealt with at the end of last season and isn’t 100%, he told reporters (story via BasketNews.com). However, he believes he’ll be ready to go for the World Cup.
  • Joe Vardon of The Athletic takes a closer look at the role that Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is playing for Team USA and the feedback Haliburton got from Chris Paul, who visited the club’s training camp in Las Vegas. “The way he plays just empowers everybody,” Austin Reaves said of his backcourt mate, lauding Haliburton’s ability to get everyone else involved.
  • Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who will play for Slovenia in the World Cup, already looks to be in midseason form. He poured in 34 points to go along with 14 assists and 13 rebounds in an exhibition win over Montenegro on Tuesday, as The Dallas Morning News relays.

Brandon Ingram Talks Team USA, Trade Rumors, Future

Although he’ll only turn 26 next month, Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram, who has seven years of NBA experience, is one of the elder statesmen on a relatively young Team USA squad this summer.

Asked by William Guillory of The Athletic why he felt compelled to accept an invitation to this year’s World Cup roster, Ingram explained that he believes it will benefit him to get a head-start on the 2023/24 season — and to play a different role than the one he has in New Orleans.

“I heard a lot of voices. People said it would be good for me,” Ingram said. “I think it’s a great challenge for me, being able to play with so many talented players. You don’t do what you usually do on the basketball floor. You’ve got to adjust. That’s what life is about. That’s going to make me better for the Pelicans: making adjustments on the fly and trying to be the best I can be. Adapting in different moments.”

While Steve Kerr‘s lineups are subject to change, Ingram was part of Team USA’s starting five in training camp scrimmages and in the club’s first exhibition game on Monday vs. Puerto Rico. He tells Guillory that he’s looking forward to proving he’s one of the best players in the upcoming tournament.

“That’s the mentality that follows me everywhere I go. I’m always trying to prove that,” Ingram said. “We’ve got a lot of great players on this team. I think a lot of us are coming in trying to prove something.”

Here are a few more of the most notable quotes from Guillory’s interview of Ingram, which is worth checking out in full if you’re a Pelicans fan and an Athletic subscriber:

On how he reacted to his name coming up in trade speculation when the Pelicans were rumored to be considering a move into the top three of the draft:

“With me, I’m not on social media that much. So people will make a joke about it sometimes, or hit me up and ask me what’s going on with this thing they saw on TV. Most of the time, I’ll hear from the front office when that stuff pops up and they’ll tell me exactly what’s going on and how to feel about it. Any information that’s out there, they’ll clarify it and tell me if it was true or false.

“I’ve got a good relationship with (Pelicans executive VP of basketball operations David Griffin). He’ll come straight to me and tell me anything. I’m not too into what everybody was putting out there, but none of it bothered me. I also know this is a business, though, and I’ve got to be prepared for anything.”

On his response to fan frustration to his missed time due to injuries:

“At the end of the day, nobody wants to be out there more than me. No matter what fans say, or what anybody else says, nobody wants to be out there more than me. I put in the work. I’m preparing and I’m always ready.

But I also know when my body feels good, how I can push it and when I can push it. Every year, I go into the season preparing like I can play 100 games in the season. I’ve just had some injuries where I couldn’t. But I want to push through. I want to play basketball. … I know their frustration. But I want to play as much as they want me to play.”

On whether he envisions a long-term future with the Pelicans beyond the two years left on his contract:

“For me, I love New Orleans. It’s perfect for me and the way I want to operate. Less distractions. I can go play basketball whenever I want to. I’ve got direct access to the facility. I’ve got people close to me who can come to the gym and help me at any time. I feel connected with New Orleans and the people around me.

“I know my payday is coming around, so I don’t think too much of it. I’m just making sure I carry myself the right way. I’m sticking with what I know: If I stay in the gym, good things will come. I see the big money everybody else is getting, which is exciting. (But) I just want to keep my focus on my team. The most important thing for me is just winning. I know when you win, that takes care of everything else. I get more excited seeing stuff like my guy Herb (Jones) get his contract.”

Traded First Round Picks For 2024 NBA Draft

The 2024 NBA draft is still over 10 months away, but a number of teams have already traded away their first round picks for ’24, and more clubs may do so before this season’s trade deadline.

We’ll use the space below to keep tabs on each team’s first round pick for 2024, continually updating it as necessary throughout the year.

We’ve listed all 30 teams here, so even if a team hasn’t traded its first round pick, that will be noted. We’ll also provide details on the protections for each traded pick, including what happens to the pick in 2025 if it doesn’t change hands in 2024.

Here’s the full breakdown on the status of each 2024 first round pick:


Note: Teams marked with an asterisk (*) have traded away their 2025 first round pick (either unprotected or with protection) and can’t freely trade away their 2024 first-rounder due to the Stepien Rule.

Atlantic

  • Boston Celtics: Own pick.
  • Brooklyn Nets: Traded to Rockets (unprotected).
  • New York Knicks: Own pick.
  • Philadelphia 76ers (*): Own pick.
  • Toronto Raptors: Traded to Spurs (top-six protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Raptors would owe the Spurs their 2025 first round pick (top-six protected).

Central

  • Chicago Bulls (*): Own pick.
  • Cleveland Cavaliers (*): Own pick.
  • Detroit Pistons: Traded to Knicks (top-18 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Pistons would owe the Knicks their 2025 first round pick (top-13 protected).
  • Indiana Pacers: Traded to Raptors (top-three protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Pacers would send the Raptors a 2024 second-round pick and their 2025 second-round pick.
  • Milwaukee Bucks (*): Traded swap rights to Pelicans (unprotected).

Southeast

  • Atlanta Hawks (*): Own pick.
  • Charlotte Hornets: Traded to Spurs (top-14 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Hornets would owe the Spurs their 2025 first round pick (top-14 protected).
  • Miami Heat (*): Own pick.
  • Orlando Magic: Own pick.
  • Washington Wizards: Traded to Knicks (top-12 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Wizards would owe the Knicks their 2025 first-round pick (top-10 protected) and would have the right to swap their own 2024 pick for the Suns’ 2024 first-rounder. Details on swap rights outlined below.

Northwest

  • Denver Nuggets (*): Own pick.
  • Minnesota Timberwolves (*): Own pick.
  • Oklahoma City Thunder: Possibly traded to Jazz or Wizards.
    • Details outlined below.
  • Portland Trail Blazers: Traded to Bulls (top-14 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Trail Blazers would owe the Bulls their 2025 first round pick (top-14 protected).
  • Utah Jazz: Possibly traded to Thunder or Wizards (top-10 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Jazz would owe the Thunder their 2025 first round pick (top-10 protected).
    • Thunder/Jazz details outlined below.

Pacific

  • Golden State Warriors: Traded to Trail Blazers (top-four protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Warriors would owe the Trail Blazers their 2025 first round pick (top-one protected).
  • Los Angeles Clippers: Traded to Thunder, Jazz, or Wizards (unprotected).
    • Details outlined below.
  • Los Angeles Lakers: Traded to Pelicans (unprotected).
    • The Pelicans will have the right to defer this traded pick to 2025.
  • Phoenix Suns (*): Traded swap rights to Wizards and Grizzlies (unprotected).
    • Details outlined below.
  • Sacramento Kings: Traded to Hawks (top-14 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Kings would owe the Hawks their 2025 first round pick (top-12 protected).

Southwest

  • Dallas Mavericks: Traded to Knicks (top-10 protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Mavericks would owe the Knicks their 2025 first round pick (top-10 protected).
  • Houston Rockets: Traded to Thunder, Jazz, or Wizards (top-four protected).
    • If this pick lands in its protected range, the Rockets would owe the Thunder their 2025 second round pick.
    • Thunder/Raptors details outlined below.
  • Memphis Grizzlies: Own pick.
    • The Grizzlies have the ability to swap their pick for a more favorable first-rounder. Details outlined below.
  • New Orleans Pelicans: Own pick.
    • The Pelicans have the ability to swap their pick with the Bucks’ 2024 first-rounder.
  • San Antonio Spurs: Own pick.

Details on Wizards/Grizzlies/Suns swap rights:

If the Wizards‘ pick lands within the top 12, they’ll hang onto it and would have the ability to swap it with the Suns‘ first round pick. If the Wizards’ pick lands outside the top 12, it would be sent to the Knicks, who would not have the right to swap it with the Suns’ first-rounder.

The Grizzlies will subsequently have the right to swap their own first round pick for the Wizards’ or Suns’ first-rounder, whichever is least favorable. If the Wizards’ pick is traded to the Knicks, the Grizzlies would simply have the ability to swap their own first round pick for the Suns’ first-rounder.

Details on Thunder’s picks:

The Thunder control four first-rounders:

  • Their own first round pick.
  • The Clippers’ first round pick (unprotected).
  • The Rockets’ first round pick (top-4 protected).
  • The Jazz’s first round pick (top-10 protected).

Of those picks, the Jazz will receive the least favorable and the Wizards will receive the second-least favorable, while the Thunder will receive the others.

For instance, if the Rockets’ and Jazz’s picks both fall within their protected range, the Wizards would receive the most favorable of the Thunder’s pick and the Clippers’ pick, while the Jazz would receive the least favorable of the two.

If the Rockets’ pick lands outside of the top four and the Jazz’s pick lands outside of the top 10, Utah would receive the least favorable of the four picks, Washington would receive the second-least favorable, and the Thunder would receive the two most favorable.


Information from RealGM was used in the creation of this post.