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Southwest Notes: Nowitzki, Cousins, Green, Capela, Simmons

December 30th, 2017 at 11:56am CST by marksuleymanov

Dirk Nowitzki is no longer the perennial All-Star that the Mavericks organization and fanbase grew accustomed to but he is still the team leader, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes. While Nowitzki’s numbers are down across the board this season but the team is still in awe of how important he is to the team.

“But Dirk’s been amazing. He’s played in every single game,” head coach Rick Carlisle said. “He had another phenomenal shooting night He’s leading this team in his 20th year and, you know, he does it so routinely, I’m just afraid people are going to take this a little too much for granted. But we’re seeing a really amazing performance for a guy at this stage of his career.”

Dallas is far out of playoff contention with a 12-25 record, the third worst in the Western Conference. Throughout the team’s championship seasons and even the current rebuilding stages, Nowitzki has been the one constant the past two decades and this may be his last season.

Check out other Southwest Notes below:

As free agency nears, DeMarcus Cousins‘ list of suitors could include the Mavericks and the team may be appealing to him, too, Sefko writes in a separate story. Nowitzki called Cousins one of, if not the best centers in the NBA and himself sounded intrigued by Cousins joining Dallas. “And as far as a potential Maverick, you never know. Free agency is tough to predict. We’ll see what happens,” Nowitzki said.
Jared Weiss at Celtics Wire chronicled the stressful 48 hours of Gerald Green‘s life, leading up his NBA return with the Rockets this week. The 10-year NBA was en route to Boston to see his sick son and after getting off the plane, he learned that the Rockets — who were in Boston to face the Celtics — needed him.
The Rockets have been hit hard with injuries this holiday season, most prominently losing Chris Paul and Clint Capela. Matt Petersen of NBA.com writes that the Rockets have missed Capela’s large frame and budding skills throughout their five-game losing streak.
Undrafted guard Kobi Simmons has made a strong impression on his Grizzlies coaches and teammates, NBA.com’s Michael Wallace writes.

Rockets Notes: Green, Paul, Weber

December 29th, 2017 at 10:58am CST by Arthur Hill

Gerald Green went from unemployed to a member of the Rockets’ rotation in a few hours Thursday. In need of depth with Chris Paul, Clint Capela and Luc Mbah a Moute all sidelined by injuries, Houston signed Green to a non-guaranteed contract Thursday afternoon and used him against the Celtics a few hours later. He went scoreless with one rebound in 11 minutes. With all NBA contracts becoming fully guaranteed January 7, Green’s arrangement serves as an unofficial 10-day deal as the Rockets will have approximately that long to decide whether or not to keep him.

There’s more news today from Houston:

Green was signed to take some of the stress off forward Trevor Ariza, explains Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Ariza ranks 13th in the league in minutes played at 36.0 per game and had topped 40 in six straight games before last night. Mbah a Moute, his primary backup, is projected to be out another week with a dislocated shoulder. “He’s a vet, he knows how to play,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said of Green. “We’re not real complicated. If he can take a few minutes off Trevor, that’s what we’ll use him for. We’re just really shorthanded on the wings. Obviously, he’s played at a good level before.”
Because the Paul trade was competed six months ago, the point guard becomes eligible for an extension today, notes Bobby Marks on ESPN Now. Marks adds that it’s unlikely anything will happen during the season, but Paul could agree to a $132MM extension over four years that would give him a $29.5MM salary for 2018/19. He’s more likely to head into free agency next summer, when he will be eligible for a five-year, $205MM deal that would start at $35.3MM.
Paul’s injury has created an opportunity for Briante Weber, who signed a two-way contract with the Rockets in late October, writes Owen Pence of The Houston Chronicle. Weber, 24, had brief stays with the Grizzlies, Heat, Warriors and Hornets, but is still searching for his NBA breakthrough. “[I’m] just trying to learn and figure out how to play with two Hall of Famers,” he said. “It’s a continued learning experience. I’m going to continue to learn and continue to grow as a player behind those two guys and hopefully the minutes can increase when I can gain some trust from Coach [D’Antoni].”

Rockets Sign Gerald Green To Non-Guaranteed Deal

December 28th, 2017 at 5:48pm CST by marksuleymanov

5:48pm: The signing is official, per team release.

2:19pm: The Rockets are finalizing a non-guaranteed deal with veteran guard Gerald Green, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter). The deal is not complete but the Rockets expect to sign Green before tonight’s game against the Celtics, per Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter).

With injuries to Chris Paul (groin), Luc Mbah a Moute (right shoulder) and Troy Williams (right knee MCL sprain), the Rockets have been searching for depth, per Feigen.

Green, 31, signed with the Bucks in September but was released after playing in four preseason games. The 10-year NBA veteran has played for eight teams in his professional career, including two seasons overseas in Russia. Green was a key bench piece for the Celtics last season as he averaged 5.6 PPG in 47 games for Boston.

Green previously played for Houston during the 2007/08 season but was released after appearing in just one game.

ESPN’s Bobby Marks (via Twitter) has the financial breakdown of Green’s deal. Depending on when the deal is signed, the Rockets will incur a cap hit anywhere from $864,000-$872,000 if Green is not waived by January 7.

Bucks Waive Gerald Green

October 14th, 2017 at 4:18pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Bucks have waived veteran forward Gerald Green, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical.

The 10-year veteran signed with Milwaukee last month just before training camp opened. Green’s deal was non-guaranteed, so the Bucks won’t owe him anything. He will now go on waivers and will be free to sign with any team if he is not claimed.

Green played 47 games for the Celtics last season, averaging 5.6 points in 11.4 minutes per night. A first-round pick in 2005, the 31-year-old has experienced a journeyman career, never spending more than two straight seasons with the same team. He has also played for the Timberwolves, Rockets, Mavericks, Nets, Pacers, Suns and Heat.

The move gives the Bucks flexibility as they now have 14 players on their roster, one below the league limit. Milwaukee is the only team in the league without at least one two-way contract.

Bucks Cut Brandon Rush, Joel Anthony, Gary Payton II

October 14th, 2017 at 8:10am CST by Luke Adams

The Bucks have parted ways with a handful of players with NBA experience, announcing late last night (via Twitter) that they’ve requested waivers on swingman Brandon Rush, big man Joel Anthony, and second-year guard Gary Payton II.

Of the three players, Rush has the most recent NBA experience, and perhaps had the strongest case to earn a spot on the Bucks’ regular season roster. Last season, Rush appeared in 47 games (33 starts) for the Timberwolves, averaging a modest 4.2 PPG but making 38.6% of his threes. He’s a career 40.2% three-point shooter.

Rather than carrying Rush though, it appears the Bucks may open the season with Gerald Green holding their final roster spot. Currently, Milwaukee has 15 players under contract, with Green and his non-guaranteed deal joining 14 players on guaranteed salaries.

Rush, Anthony, and Payton will clear waivers on Monday, assuming they’re not claimed.

Bucks, Gerald Green Sign Deal

September 24th, 2017 at 6:09pm CST by Luke Adams

Sep. 24: The Bucks officially announced having signed Green to a training camp deal in a press release on their website.

Sep. 22: With training camps set to begin, teams around the NBA continue to fill up their preseason rosters, and the Bucks are the latest club to agree to terms with a veteran free agent. According to Shams Charania of The Vertical, Milwaukee has reached a deal to sign swingman Gerald Green.

Charania reports that Green’s new contract with Milwaukee will be non-guaranteed, but will give him the chance to compete for a spot on the club’s 15-man roster. The Bucks are currently carrying 14 players on guaranteed contracts, meaning Green may have to beat out all the team’s non-guaranteed invitees – including Brandon Rush, Kendall Marshall, and James Young – to earn that final roster spot.

Green, 31, appeared in 47 games for the Celtics last season, averaging 5.6 PPG with a shooting line of .409/.351/.805 in 11.4 minutes per contest. Those numbers represented a step down from Green’s career averages — as recently as 2013/14, he was a regular in Phoenix, averaging 15.8 PPG and shooting 40.0% on three-point attempts.

The Bucks entered the day with 19 players under contract after waiving Bronson Koenig on Thursday, so once they officially sign Green, they’ll be back at their offseason roster limit.

Northwest Notes: Wolves, Durant, Abrines, Leonard

September 21st, 2017 at 11:22am CST by Luke Adams

Having missed out on free agent forward Dante Cunningham, the Timberwolves remain on the lookout for a couple more veterans to fill out their roster, and Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News suggests (via Twitter) that it’s worth keeping an eye on Aaron Brooks. While Minnesota wants to sign a wing player, the team also continue to seek a backup point guard, and Tom Thibodeau has a history with Brooks, a former Bull.

Jerry Zgoda of The Star Tribune also identifies Brooks as a potential target for the Timberwolves, suggesting that C.J. Watson and Kirk Hinrich – another player with a Thibodeau connection – may be options as well. As for possible fits at the forward spot, Zgoda indicates that Gerald Green and Thomas Robinson are among the veteran free agents who could be in play for Minnesota.

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

Appearing at a tech conference in San Francisco this week, Kevin Durant expressed remorse for the tweets sent from his Twitter account earlier this week, calling them “idiotic” and “childish,” as Mark Medina of The Bay Area News Group details. The messages, in which Durant was critical of his former Thunder teammates and head coach Billy Donovan, drew a response from Enes Kanter. According to Andrew Joseph of USA Today, Kanter said he wasn’t mad about the tweets, but said it was “really sad” to see Durant express those views about an organization that “gave everything to him.”
After injuring his knee this summer, Alex Abrines is pain-free and feels like he can do “everything” on the court, but he’s still waiting to receive full clearance from the Thunder, as Brett Dawson of The Oklahoman details.
After signing a lucrative new four-year deal with the Trail Blazers last summer, Meyers Leonard had a disappointing 2016/17 season, but there’s reason to believe better things are in store for Leonard going forward, writes Jason Quick of CSNNW.com.

Timberwolves Continue To Eye Dante Cunningham

September 13th, 2017 at 10:39am CST by Luke Adams

SEPTEMBER 13, 10:39am: The Timberwolves are putting the “full-court press” on Cunningham in the hopes of bringing him back to Minnesota, tweets Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press.

SEPTEMBER 12, 7:56pm: After agreeing to terms with Shabazz Muhammad earlier today, the Timberwolves continue to scour the free agent market for veteran additions, and they’d “very much welcome” forward Dante Cunningham, per Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link). Wolfson, who tweeted on Monday about the “buzz” on Muhammad and the Wolves, suggests there’s a comparable buzz now on Minnesota’s chances for Cunningham.

As we’ve written several times over the last few weeks, the Timberwolves have been on the lookout for two wings and a point guard to fill out their roster. With Muhammad set to finalize a new contract, that leaves a wing and a point guard on Minnesota’s shopping list. Cunningham is more of a power forward, but has added a three-point shot to his arsenal and has seen plenty of minutes at small forward in past seasons.

We heard nearly two weeks ago that the Pelicans and Bucks are in play for Cunningham as well, in addition to the Wolves. New Orleans and Milwaukee are hovering around luxury tax territory and Minnesota has used its cap space and room exception, so a minimum salary deal appears likely for Cunningham when he eventually strikes a deal.

The Wolves have brought in a number of veteran free agents for workouts this month, with Anthony Morrow, Alan Anderson, Isaiah Canaan, and Thomas Robinson among the players to get a look last week. Jason Terry and Marcus Thornton are reportedly visiting Minnesota this week, though Wolfson suggests (via Twitter) that Terry is more likely to end up with the Bucks than the Wolves. Wolfson also adds another name to the list of veterans drawing interest from Minnesota, tweeting that free agent swingman Gerald Green is in town this week.

And-Ones: Free Agents, Antic, Bagley, Heat

September 11th, 2017 at 9:40pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The addition of two-way contracts has impacted the ability of veteran free agents to find new homes this offseason, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com in his latest Morning Tip column. Gerald Green, David Lee, Anthony Morrow and Shabazz Muhammad are among the notable free agents who remain on the market and Aldridge points out that many teams are leaving their 15th roster spot open, rather than signing another player. That’s in part due to the ability of teams to sign two players to low-cost two-way deals, Aldridge continues. The increase in veteran minimum salaries under the new CBA has also depressed the free agent market, especially for teams close to or over the luxury tax threshold, Aldridge adds.

In other notable developments around the league:

Former NBA big man Pero Antic will play in Serbia for KK Crvena Zvezda during the upcoming season, according to a Sportando report. Antic, who signed a one-year contract, spent the last two seasons in Turkey with Fenerbahce. Antic played 113 games over two seasons for the Hawks, averaging 6.3 PPG and 3.5 RPG in 17.4 MPG.
Russell Westbrook‘s ability to coexist with another star player in Paul George and Kemba Walker‘s impact on Dwight Howard in Charlotte are two of the five big NBA questions heading into training camp, according to Buddy Grizzard of Basketball Insiders. The league’s proposal to change the draft lottery has much more to do with access to star players rather than concerns about tanking, Grizzard argues in another of the hot topics he addresses.
The potential No. 1 overall pick in the next draft, Marvin Bagley, has been officially cleared to play for Duke, Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com tweets. The 6’11” power forward was reclassified into the class of 2017 last month.
Roof damage to the Heat’s AmericanAirlines Arena by Hurricane Irma was superficial, Ira Winderman of the Florida Sun-Sentinel reports. The team’s practice court also sustained minor damage, Winderman adds.

Five Notable Wings Still Available In Free Agency

July 30th, 2017 at 5:13pm CST by ChrisCrouse

While the Grit and Grind Era will always represent a special time in Memphis, the Grizzlies have moved on and Tony Allen appears to be a casualty of the transition. Fellow grinder Zach Randolph was able to secure a two-year, $24MM with the Kings, but Allen hasn’t been able to land a lucrative deal of his own.

Early in free agency, the Clippers were reportedly interested in working out a sign-and-trade deal for Allen, but after making several additions, Los Angeles isn’t in a position to offer much more than a minimum salary arrangement. The Wolves also had interested in the swingman, as Tim MacMahon of ESPN.com reported several weeks ago, though we haven’t heard much on Allen joining either of those clubs since.

Allen previously indicated that he wasn’t looking to break the bank in free agency. He also said he’ll be a Memphian for life. It’s possible he returns to the Grizzlies on a minimum salary deal, something they may have planned for him. However, it remains to be seen whether taking a hometown discount and taking the minimum are the same in Allen’s eyes.

At age 35, Allen isn’t going to learn how to shoot at a league-average level, something that becomes more of an issue during the NBA’s second season. He remains one of the better perimeter defenders in the league and he was a useful rotation player last season.

The Grizzlies could use a swingman to help solidify their rotation; so could the Wolves, Clippers, Mavericks, and Pacers. Allen should be able to help out a team in need of wing depth, though he’s not the only option on the market. Here are some other notable options available:

Anthony Morrow— Shooting is as important as its ever been in the NBA, which bodes well for Morrow should he find his three-point shot again. He’s a career 41.7% shooter from behind the arc, but he shot under 31% last season. Morrow, who turns 32 in September, will likely see another opportunity in the league. However, his flaws on the defensive end may force him to wait until closer to training camp to find a home.
Gerald Green — Green saw some minutes for the Celtics on the backend of their rotation last season before seeing a slightly larger role in the postseason. It’s plausible to think that his work in the NBA’s second season would boost his stock, but we haven’t heard much about him garnering much interest on the market. The 31-year-old has enough left in the tank to help a team in need of wing depth, though he’s another athlete who will likely have to play the waiting game.
Brandon Rush — Several teams have reportedly checked in with Rush, including the Mavericks, Heat, and Pacers. Dallas makes the most sense for the 32-year-old, as I recently detailed.
Shabazz Muhammad — Muhammad may be the most talented wing left on the free agent market. The Wolves pulled his qualifying offer earlier in the month, which rendered him to unrestricted free agency and the Hawks, Nets, Bucks, Knicks, Bulls, and Magic all were reportedly interested in the swingman. Yet, the UCLA product remains unsigned. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of deal and what kind of role Muhammad lands. It’ll also be interesting to see if the 24-year-old can expand his game beyond scoring, as he took 598 shots last season but dished out just 35 assists.