Philadelphia 76ers Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Charania’s Latest: Wizards, Hornets, Grizzlies, DSJ

January 23rd, 2019 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

As Shams Charania of The Athletic details in his latest round-up of trade rumors from around the NBA, there still aren’t many clear-cut sellers out there, which may limit activity leading up to the February 7 deadline. However, clubs like the Wizards and Magic still haven’t made any decisions one way or the other and could end up being sellers if they’re trending downward a couple weeks from now, says Charania.

The Wizards have made it “adamantly clear” the Bradley Beal isn’t going anywhere, league sources tell Charania. Otto Porter could be more available though, according to Charania, who hears that the Jazz are among the clubs to show interest in Porter.

The Hornets are another team competing for one of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spots and – like the Wizards – have made it clear that they don’t intend to move their star guard. Nonetheless, teams have tested the Hornets on Kemba Walker, says Charania, citing sources who say that the Mavericks recently inquired on Walker and were told Charlotte wants to keep him.

Charania’s article includes many more rumors on the trade market, so let’s round up some of the highlights…

Despite indicating they’re willing to listen to inquiries on Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, Grizzlies officials told players on Tuesday that the team remains committed to winning and to tune out any trade noise, writes Charania. Elsewhere on the Memphis front, JaMychal Green is expected to attract significant trade interest and the Grizzlies have attempted to engage the Hawks about a Chandler Parsons deal, Charania reports.
Charania adds the Knicks and Lakers to the list of teams that discussed a possible Dennis Smith Jr. trade with the Mavericks. The Magic are also on that list.
In addition to discussing deals involving veterans like Kent Bazemore and Dewayne Dedmon, the Hawks may also consider moving younger players such as Taurean Prince and Tyler Dorsey, says Charania.
According to Charania, the Thunder plan to explore ways to use their traded player exception, which is worth nearly $11MM. Oklahoma City is reportedly seeking a forward who can shoot, though acquiring a player without sending out any salary would increase the club’s tax bill exponentially.
The Sixers are seeking a wing shooter and a center, sources tell Charania.
Cavaliers swingman Rodney Hood has emerged as a “targeted” trade asset, according to Charania, who identifies the Pelicans, Thunder, and Bucks as some of the teams that have scoured the market for wing help.

And-Ones: All-Rookie Teams, Trade Candidates, Europe, J. Young

January 20th, 2019 at 2:03pm CST by Arthur Hill

Dallas guard Luka Doncic is the clear favorite for Rookie of the Year honors midway through the season, writes Ben Nadeau of Basketball Insiders as he selects his all-rookie teams. Doncic has transformed the Mavericks and has a chance to be the first rookie selected for the All-Star Game since 2011. Joining him as Nadeau’s first-team selections are the Suns‘ Deandre Ayton, the Grizzlies‘ Jaren Jackson Jr., the Knicks‘ Kevin Knox and the Hawks‘ Trae Young.

The Cavaliers‘ Collin Sexton, the Hawks‘ Kevin Huerter, the Nets‘ Rodions Kurucs, the Kings‘ Marvin Bagley Jr. and the Suns‘ Mikal Bridges make up the second team, while the Bulls‘ Wendell Carter Jr., the Knicks‘ Allonzo Trier, the Sixers‘ Landry Shamet, the Clippers‘ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Timberwolves‘ Josh Okogie get honorable mention honors.

There’s more NBA-related news to pass along:

Jabari Parker and Robin Lopez of the Bulls are among the most likely players to be traded before the February 7 deadline, according to Shane Rhodes of Basketball Insiders. Parker couldn’t take advantage of an opportunity when Lauri Markkanen missed the start of the season with an elbow injury, but Rhodes suggests a change of scenery might help. Lopez has seen his playing time reduced this year, but the Bulls are determined to work out a trade rather than consider a buyout. Rhodes lists the Knicks‘ Enes Kanter, the Magic’s Nikola Vucevic and the Mavericks‘ Dennis Smith Jr. as other players with a good chance of being dealt.
After this week’s sellout for the Wizards and Knicks in London, the NBA is looking at other European venues, relays Martyn Herman of Reuters. NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum indicated that Paris is likely the next destination and Berlin may follow. “There has been a lot of interest in teams wanting to go to Paris because France is a hotbed for basketball,” Tatum said. “We have nine French players in the NBA now. It’s just a matter of building the right business case and having the right partners in those areas. It is an important market for many of our marketing partners. It’s just a matter of time.” He added that Spain and Italy don’t have arenas yet that are capable of hosting a game.
Former Celtics first-round pick James Young was waived this week by the G League’s Wisconsin Herd, tweets Adam Johnson of 2 Ways & 10 Days. It’s the latest setback for Young, who was waived by the Bucks shortly before the season began.

Sixers Notes: Embiid, Noel, Butler, Fultz

January 20th, 2019 at 10:20am CST by Arthur Hill

Joel Embiid‘s back soreness is creating a dilemma for the Sixers as they battle for home court advantage in the playoffs, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia may prefer to rest Embiid, but the team leads Boston by only a game and a half in the race for fourth place and is in the middle of a challenging 12-game portion of its schedule.

Embiid said his back was “pretty tight” after Saturday’s loss to the Thunder, but his first choice is always to play. He missed his first two NBA seasons with a broken bone in his foot and appeared in just 51 games last year as the team was being cautious about his condition.

“I have to keep getting treatment on it,” Embiid said of his back, “and it’s going to get better.”

Pompey observes that Embiid moved gingerly on the court yesterday and used a heating pad on his back when he went to the bench. It could turn into a season-long question for the Sixers as they balance the value of home court advantage against the prospect that Embiid won’t be 100% at playoff time.

There’s more Sixers news to pass along:

Nerlens Noel‘s appearance in Philadelphia yesterday with the Thunder served as a reminder that he could have been the rim-protecting backup center that the Sixers need, Pompey notes in a separate story. The sixth player chosen in the 2013 draft, Noel spent two and a half seasons in Philly before being traded to the Mavericks. He signed with Oklahoma City last summer.
Two months after acquiring him from the Timberwolves, the Sixers are still working to make Jimmy Butler fit with all their other pieces, according to Derek Bodner of The Athletic. He finds that Butler’s usage rate when he’s on the court with Embiid is just 18.1%, well below the 28.2% mark when he’s playing without Embiid or 27.8% when he and Ben Simmons are together without Embiid.
The Sixers welcomed Markelle Fultz back to the team this weekend, but his future remains cloudy, tweets Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Fultz will remain with the organization as he does rehab work after being diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, but there’s no timetable for him to start playing again. “It’s great to see him … it’s good to have him back,” said coach Brett Brown, who added that the team needs to assess whether he’s in basketball shape after being away so long.

Markelle Fultz To Continue Rehab In Philadelphia

January 19th, 2019 at 1:58pm CST by clarkcrum

Sixers guard Markelle Fultz has returned to Philadelphia to continue his shoulder rehab with the team, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. There is still no timetable for his return, but he will be attendance for today’s game between the Sixers and Thunder.

Fultz, who was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome in early December, has been rehabbing in Los Angeles since the diagnosis, but now plans to continue his rehab at the Sixers’ team facility in hopes of an eventual return to action this season.

The Sixers have fielded several trade offers for Fultz this season, but it appears that the team remains interested in seeing how the 20-year-old fares throughout the course of his rehab before making a decision on his future with the team.

The No. 1 overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft, Fultz has had a disappointing start to his young career, averaging a pedestrian 7.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per contest in 33 career games.

Trade Rumors: Hawks, Most Active Teams, Porter

January 18th, 2019 at 8:42am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s 2019 trade deadline is now less than three weeks away, and a number of the trade candidates whose names are popping up the most have something in common, as Keith Smith of Yahoo Sports tweets: They’re all on expiring contracts.

Smith identifies Dewayne Dedmon (Hawks), Jeremy Lin (Hawks), Jonathon Simmons (Magic), Wayne Ellington (Heat), Robin Lopez (Bulls), Enes Kanter (Knicks), Noah Vonleh (Knicks), and David Nwaba (Cavaliers) as those players cited most frequently in trade chatter. Of those eight players, Simmons is the only one under contract for next season, and his 2019/20 salary of $5.7MM is partially guaranteed for just $1MM. In other words, his deal can be viewed as a de facto expiring contract too.

Here are a few more notes and rumors on the NBA’s trade market:

The Hawks appear willing to take on 2019/20 salary in trade discussions, according to Smith (Twitter link). A willingness to eat a bad contract in exchange for a more favorable asset could make Atlanta a team to watch in the coming weeks, since most teams around the NBA want to preserve their cap space for 2019.
Smith names the Sixers, Nets, Magic, Kings, Rockets, Pelicans, and Clippers as the teams that appear to be most active in trying to upgrade their rosters (Twitter link). Besides gauging the trade market, these clubs are also keeping an eye on potential buyout candidates, Smith notes.
The Wizards have shown “little appetite” for any trade that involves moving Otto Porter for a return heavy on future assets and cap flexibility, sources tell ESPN’s Zach Lowe. That stance aligns with comments on Thursday made by owner Ted Leonsis, who stressed that Washington continues to push for a playoff spot and has no plans to tank.

Michael Lee Profiles Sixers GM Elton Brand

January 17th, 2019 at 12:41pm CST by Luke Adams

In an in-depth profile on new Sixers general manager Elton Brand, Michael Lee of The Athletic looks at Brand’s path from No. 1 pick to an NBA front office, and his first big swing after landing the job — the acquisition of Jimmy Butler.

Sixers Expressed Interest In Noah Vonleh

January 17th, 2019 at 8:41am CST by Luke Adams

As the Sixers explore ways to add depth to their roster, one player they’ve inquired on is Knicks power forward Noah Vonleh, a source tells Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (Twitter link).

Vonleh, the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft, is enjoying a career year in New York after some underwhelming seasons in Charlotte, Portland, and Chicago. In 43 games (26.3 MPG) so far in 2018/19, the former Indiana Hoosier has averaged 8.6 PPG and 8.5 RPG with a .464/.411/.736 shooting line.

Vonleh’s minimum salary contract makes him an even more attractive trade target for rival teams, though he’ll reach unrestricted free agency this summer. The Knicks will only hold Vonleh’s Non-Bird rights, meaning they’d likely have to use cap room or an exception to re-sign him in July. As such, New York may be motivated to move him now rather than risk losing him for nothing, especially if the team can get an asset or two in return.

As for the Sixers, they remain on the lookout for frontcourt depth after moving Dario Saric and Robert Covington to Minnesota in the Jimmy Butler blockbuster. A player like Vonleh could be a good fit for the club, given his ability to space the floor by making the occasional three-pointer.

In addition to controlling all their own future first-round picks and Miami’s unprotected 2021 first-rounder, the 76ers hold at least three second-round picks for each year through 2021, giving them plenty of flexibility in trade talks for roster upgrades.

Sixers Sign Corey Brewer To 10-Day Contract

January 15th, 2019 at 3:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers have filled their open roster spot, having signed veteran NBA swingman Corey Brewer to a 10-day contract, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Philadelphia has issued a press release confirming the deal.

Brewer, who will turn 33 in March, spent time last season with the Lakers and Thunder, but had yet to catch on with an NBA team this season. He was one of several free agents who worked out for the 76ers this week, and it seems the team liked what it saw from the 11-year veteran during that session.

Brewer’s scoring numbers have slipped in recent years, and he has never been a particularly great shooter. In 72 games last season, he recorded 5.3 PPG on .449/.282/.722 shooting. Still, he’s a hard-nosed defender who can provide some energy off the bench — and, considering the Sixers will be his seventh NBA team, he’ll likely be able to adapt quickly to a new system.

While Brewer will occupy Philadelphia’s 15th roster spot for now, his contract will only run through next Thursday, covering the club’s next five games. If the 76ers like what they see from the former Florida Gator during that stretch, he could get a second 10-day contract once this one expires. However, the Sixers may also look to maintain some flexibility with their final roster spot as the trade deadline and buyout period nears.

Sixers Working Out Jodie Meeks, Corey Brewer, Others

January 14th, 2019 at 12:25pm CST by Luke Adams

The Sixers are hosting a handful of NBA veterans and G League for workouts on Monday and Tuesday, with an emphasis on backcourt players, wings, and shooters, according to reports.

Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported that the club would be working out Jodie Meeks, Corey Brewer, Brandon Rush, and Jamel Artis on Monday. Rush also worked out for the 76ers in December, but this appears to be the first time that the team has brought in Meeks, Brewer, and Artis.

Meanwhile, Jake Fischer of Sports Illustrated (Twitter link) hears that a workout on Tuesday will feature G League wings Josh Huestis, Rashad Vaughn, and D.J. Hogg. Hogg was briefly a Sixer back in October when the club signed him at the end of the preseason to secure his NBAGL rights.

The Sixers have one open roster spot and could use some shooting help, as well as some depth on the wing. The team will keep an eye out for trade opportunities and will monitor the buyout market in the hopes of striking gold again after landing Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova a year ago.

However, while they wait for those opportunities to materialize, the Sixers might explore short-term solutions. Philadelphia’s open roster spot could accommodate a player on a 10-day contract, and the 76ers have until tomorrow to make a change to their two-way contract slots if they so desire.

Sixers Notes: Buyout Candidates, Milton, Roster Spot, Bolden

January 13th, 2019 at 11:43am CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers are in position to be among the league’s most active teams once the trade deadline passes and buyout season begins, writes Derek Bodner of The Athletic. Philadelphia still has its entire $4.449MM room exception available and can offer players the chance for a significant role on a title contender.

Last year, the Sixers improved their shooting in the buyout market by adding both Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova. Bodner admits it’s hard to pinpoint who this year’s candidates will be, as much depends on how the playoff races develop between now and the deadline date of February 7.

He speculates Trevor Ariza could be a possibility if the Wizards aren’t in contention next month and can’t find a team willing to trade for his $15MM salary. Bodner mentions the Timberwolves’ Anthony Tolliver as another possibility, along with Knicks’ center Enes Kanter and Bulls’ center Robin Lopez, although neither is an ideal fit as a backup to Joel Embiid. The Knicks’ Courtney Lee and the Cavaliers’ J.R. Smith could both provide outside shooting, but Bodner believes the team has a greater need for perimeter defenders.

There’s more Sixers news to pass along, all courtesy of Bodner:

Shake Milton is approaching the 45-day limit on his two-way contract and is likely to receive a standard deal soon. However, Bodner cautions that the new arrangement might be temporary if Philadelphia finds a couple of players to add through trades or buyouts. The Sixers acquired Milton’s rights on draft night after he was taken 54th overall by the Mavericks. He has appeared in 11 games this season, averaging 3.4PPG in 7.7 minutes per night.
Bodner questions why GM Elton Brand has kept a roster spot open throughout the season when the team is already shorthanded because of injuries to Markelle Fultz, Zhaire Smith and Justin Patton. Brand has claimed it’s to preserve flexibility for future moves, but Bodner notes it would have been easy to add someone to the roster and cut them before salaries became guaranteed for the rest of the season last week.
Jonah Bolden has played well, but his shooting issues make it risky to insert him into the starting lineup. Bodner states that Bolden makes the Sixers a better defensive team and provides offensive rebounding in addition to energy and athleticism, but he is hitting just 16.7% on 3-pointers, something opposing teams will exploit, especially in the playoffs.

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