Joel Embiid Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Atlantic Notes: J.R. Smith, Vogel, Saric, Embiid

May 10th, 2016 at 8:59am CST by Chuck Myron

J.R. Smith is having a strong playoff run for the Cavaliers, but he thinks back fondly on his time with the Knicks, as he reveals in a video for VICE Sports, pointing to his close friendship with Carmelo Anthony and the lure of Madison Square Garden (YouTube link). “Every person that plays in the NBA should experience playing in New York, at least once in your career,” Smith said. “To play at the mecca of basketball, at the Garden, every night, it’s probably the greatest decision I’ve ever made, to go to New York.” Smith, who can opt out of his contract this summer, spoke about his initial anger at the trade that sent him to Cleveland last January, but he also made it clear that he loves playing with LeBron James.

See more from New York amid the latest news from the Atlantic Division:

Frank Vogel‘s representatives gave positive signals to the Knicks when the team reached out to gauge his interest last week, a league source told Marc Berman of the New York Post, who nonetheless adds that the Grizzlies are a much more likely match for the ex-Pacers coach. Vogel is widely believed to be the favorite to take the Memphis job, as Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal wrote.
GM Bryan Colangelo wants to be reassured when he visits Dario Saric in Turkey later this month, but the Sixers expect the draft-and-stash prospect will join them for next season, and coach Brett Brown is particularly optimistic, as remarks he made Monday on The Comcast Network’s “Breakfast on Broad” show demonstrate. Brian Seltzer of Sixers.com has the transcription. “He so much wants to be a part of the 76ers organization when we speak,” Brown said. “I ended up sending him a photo of a young kid in the stands with a Saric jersey on, and the response is like what it is, ‘I can’t wait to get [to Philadelphia].’”
Still, financial incentive remains for Saric to wait to sign with the Sixers until 2017, when he’ll no longer be subject to the rookie scale, with one source who spoke to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer of the belief that Saric would be in line for a contract that pays him about $6MM a year. He’d get less than half that on a rookie scale deal.
Colangelo said on the same “Breakfast on Broad” program that the Sixers are encouraged by what they’ve seen from Joel Embiid as he continues to recover from last summer’s second surgery on his broken foot, Seltzer notes.
Willie Reed, who was away from the Nets for unexplained personal reasons at the end of the season, clearly wasn’t pleased with interim coach Tony Brown, but he likes new coach Kenny Atkinson and made it clear that he wants to re-sign with Brooklyn as he spoke Monday on the “Brown and Scoop” show on CBS Radio, as Anthony Parisi of NetsDaily relays.

Sixers Notes: Colangelo, Brown, Embiid

April 16th, 2016 at 6:16pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Despite relinquishing his title as the Sixers’ chairman of basketball operations after his son Bryan was hired as president of basketball operations, Jerry Colangelo insists his role with the team has not changed, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes.”Nothing really changed,” Colangelo said. “My role is still the same that I was originally asked to come in and do.” The executive noted that he was hired to be an adviser and his official title was something that was added after the fact, Pompey relays. “But in translation, [his role after Bryan’s hire] sounded differently, especially the stepping down kind of a thing,” Colangelo said. “I haven’t stepped down. I’m still walking on the same level, doing the same thing.”

“We have someone in place that I think is going to do a great job for the Philadelphia 76ers,” Colangelo said of his son. “He’s thrown himself in immediately. It’s exciting in terms of what lies ahead for all the right reasons —the draft picks, the free agency, the things that have already been put into place and into motion. I think the future is very bright.“

Here’s more from Philadelphia:

Coach Brett Brown is glad the 2015/16 season is over, and he is anticipating better things for the franchise in the future, writes Bob Cooney of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “This phase that we’re going into now, call it phase two, is different from phase one,” Brown said. “We went through those three years of pain and losing. What you’re going to hear more out of everybody’s mouths is, ‘How do you re-establish winning?’ When you use phrases and words like that, the conversation gets directed a little bit more toward free agents and draft picks or veterans on the team and keepers. I think the design of the team takes a little bit more of a real discussion, a real flavor that, perhaps in the past, it’s been based on … rebuild and process and those types of things. I feel like that’s been the discussion that’s most prevalent lately.“
When asked about the Sixers’ offseason priorities, Brown indicated finding a point guard was at the top of the team’s list, tweets Tom Moore of Calkins Media. “It’s always: What are you doing with your point guard? That’s the most important position,” Brown told Moore.
The Sixers’ combination of cap space, draft picks and young talent give new GM Bryan Colangelo plenty to work with as he begins his tenure with the franchise, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca writes. The team may benefit the most from the return of center Joel Embiid, who has yet to play in a regular season contest since being drafted and is looking sharp in his workouts, Grange adds.

Sixers Notes: Turner, Hinkie, Embiid, Colangelo

April 10th, 2016 at 9:50am CST by Arthur Hill

Ex-Sixer Evan Turner is defending former Philadelphia GM Sam Hinkie, who resigned Wednesday, writes Jay King of MassLive. Turner, now with the Celtics, spent nearly four years in Philadelphia before being traded to Indiana in 2014. He didn’t read Hinkie’s 13-page resignation letter but says he understood what the former executive was trying to accomplish. “One thing I didn’t know was [how well they’re set up for the draft],” Turner said. “That’s somewhat ingenious. That could set them up great for the future. It’s just in the NBA, I don’t know what he had with [76ers owner] Josh Harris, but typically jobs, unless you’re a legend, jobs don’t last seven or eight years for a plan. I think if it does work out then he did set them up great, you know?” Philadelphia, which has clinched the top spot in Hoops Rumors’ reverse standings, will have its own first-round pick in June, along with the Heat’s, the Thunder’s and the Lakers’ if it falls out of the top three.

There’s more this morning out of Philadelphia:

Turner still believes great things are ahead for Sixers center Joel Embiid, King writes in the same piece. Philadelphia took Embiid third overall in the 2014 draft, but a string of injuries has prevented him from playing. Calling him possibly the “next [Hakeem] Olajuwon,” Turner recalls watching Embiid in an early workout. “The kid went in-between-the-legs dunk at 7-feet,” Turner said. “Bigs are hard to find. That coordination, and I’ve seen him hit 15 straight threes from the top [of the arc]. Hopefully it works out for him because I’ve got so much respect for [76ers head coach] Brett [Brown], I’ve got so much respect for the staff that works there, and when Philly gets going like in the [Allen] Iverson days it can be a special city.”
The risks that Hinkie took were worthwhile, argues Derek Bodner of Philadelphia magazine. While acknowledging the potential downside of Hinkie’s moves, Bodner contends Embiid could be the Sixers’ best center since Moses Malone and Nerlens Noel is the team’s best interior defender since Dikembe Mutombo. In addition, Philadelphia has a 50-50 shot at landing a top two draft pick and selecting Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram.
Despite charges of nepotism, likely new GM Bryan Colangelo has a solid record, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Pompey notes that Colangelo is a two-time Executive of the Year who has a history of making aggressive moves.

J.R. Smith To Drop CAA, Hire Klutch Sports

March 24th, 2016 at 10:00am CST by Chuck Myron

J.R. Smith is in the midst of parting with agent Leon Rose and the Creative Artists Agency and plans to sign with Rich Paul of the LeBron James-backed Klutch Sports Group, reports Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer. It’s the latest step in the growing bond between Smith and James, who’ve strengthened their connection on the court and off since Smith arrived in Cleveland via trade in January 2015, Haynes writes. Smith is on an unusual two-year contract that includes a player option and partially guaranteed salary for next season.

That deal came at the end of a frustrating summer for Smith, who turned down a player option worth nearly $6.4MM and lingered on the market for about two months before agreeing to a $5MM salary for this season. The partial guarantee on next season’s $5.375MM salary is worth only $2.2MM, though it increases to a full guarantee if he remains under contract through September 7th.

Smith will join James and fellow Cavs teammate Tristan Thompson as clients of Paul. The swingman represents the latest score for Klutch, which also landed Ben Simmons, a prime contender for the No. 1 overall pick who announced his selection of Klutch on Wednesday. John Wall left Dan Fegan of Relativity Sports to sign with Paul earlier this season. CAA has also otherwise had a strong year so far, landing Joel Embiid as well as soon-to-be free agent Pau Gasol.

The 30-year-old Smith has had a reputation for inconsistent play and stirred controversy in the past, but he was recently cleared of any wrongdoing in a case involving an incident outside a New York nightclub. Coach Tyronn Lue is impressed with Smith’s growth, as Haynes relays.

“Just talking to him the other day after the game, just hearing his maturity. I think him taking that step he took this summer, I think that’s helped him off the court,” Lue said. “And then on the court, every night, he’s giving us effort every single night. He’s playing hard. He’s competing and that’s all we can ask of J.R. It’s been good because I’ve known him since he was 18 years old, just to see the growth and how he’s matured over the years.”

Atlantic Notes: Early, Rondo, Embiid, Scola

March 20th, 2016 at 5:56pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Knicks activated small forward Cleanthony Early today for the first time since he was shot in the right knee during a December 30th robbery, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Early told police he was robbed and shot when four to six men stopped a taxi he was riding in. The Knicks assigned Early to the D-League two weeks ago to help him prepare for his NBA return.

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Kings point guard and impending free agent Rajon Rondo said former Knicks coach Derek Fisher “might have blacked out a couple of times” when he questioned Rondo’s ability to run the triangle offense, Begley relays. Rondo made some comments questioning the triangle earlier this season, and many interpreted them as a sign that he wouldn’t consider New York in free agency. But Rondo sounded different before Sacramento’s game tonight at Madison Square Garden. “I’m not saying I couldn’t master [the triangle]. I think I can put my mind to it, break down a lot of film if that was the case to be,” Rondo said. “I don’t play in the triangle. I can only speak on what I do know and that’s under George Karl’s system. We’re pretty good offensively. We don’t want to talk about the defense.”
The Sixers sent Joel Embiid back to the Aspetar medical facility in Qatar because they were happy with the results of his first visit, according to Jessica Camerato of CSN Philly. Coach Brett Brown said the first trip to Aspetar provided positive results for Embiid in the areas of body weight, sleep, body mass assessment and healing. “Maybe more important than anything, Joel bought in, in a large way, and the results were starting to show,” Brown said. “We test drove it, we liked what we saw a lot, led by a group of us that assessed it and Joel’s reaction to it.”
Veteran power forward Luis Scola, who signed with the Raptors in free agency over the offseason, has become a valuable contributor in Toronto, writes Holly MacKenzie of NBA.com. Scola raised some eyebrows around the league with a 17-point first quarter against the Celtics this week. “This is a team that we have a bunch of pieces and they all have their role,” Scola said.

Eastern Notes: Embiid, Frye, D-League

March 20th, 2016 at 1:18pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Sixers allowed Joel Embiid to delay his surgery last offseason so the big man could enjoy his summer, Tom Moore of Calkins Media reports. “It’s the tail wagging the dog,” a league source told Moore. At the time it was reported that the surgery was delayed so more opinions could be sought.

Embiid underwent surgery last August after an initial operation in June 2014, and he isn’t expected to play for the Sixers’ 2016 summer league team. Moore mentions that had Embiid undergone the second surgery in June 2015 as expected, he would likely be ready to play in the summer league this year. Still, there are some within the NBA who are optimistic about the center’s long-term career. “He’s doing fine — well, in fact. He’s reached another gear,” a second league source tells Moore.

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

Channing Frye has made 26 of 52 shots from behind the arc since coming to the Cavs, and he appears to be fitting in with the team both on and off the court, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com writes. Frye feels comfortable with Cleveland and has no ill will toward Orlando for trading him just a year and a half into a four-year, $32MM deal. “When [the Magic drafted] a guy like Aaron Gordon, they wanted to develop that. I understood it. It was part of the business,” Frye said.
The Raptors have recalled Bruno Caboclo from the team’s D-League affiliate, the Raptors 905, according to the team’s Twitter feed.
The Pacers have assigned Shayne Whittington to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the team’s D-League affiliate, according to the team’s website.

Atlantic Rumors: Calderon, Rondo, Embiid, Karasev

March 19th, 2016 at 8:53pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jose Calderon would like to return to the Knicks next season, even if it means giving up his role as starting point guard, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. If he comes back, Calderon will earn $7.6MM in the final year of his contract. However, the Knicks have made no secret of their desire to find a new point guard, and it’s possible that Calderon could be traded or even waived through the stretch provision, which would allow the team to open about $5MM in extra cap space for this summer. That would leave the Knicks with less cap flexibility for 2017 and 2018, however. “I’ll figure it out when the season is over,” Calderon said. “There’s still a few games left, still a year left on my contract. I always say you’re one call away. You never know what’s going to happen. We’ll figure it out after the season.”

There’s more news tonight regarding the Knicks and the Atlantic Division:

Interim Knicks coach Kurt Rambis believes Kings point guard Rajon Rondo could be successful in the triangle offense, Berman writes in the same piece, citing an unidentified source. Rondo signed a one-year deal with Sacramento in free agency last offseason and is expected to be highly sought after this summer.
Injured Sixers center Joel Embiid is making a second trip to the Aspetar medical facility in Qatar, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Several team officials accompanied him on this visit, as Embiid undergoes more treatment for his surgically repaired right foot.
The twice-delayed right knee surgery for Sixers rookie center Jahlil Okafor has been scheduled for Tuesday, tweets Shams Charania of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports.
The Nets are apparently taking a long look at Sergey Karasev before the season ends, according to NetsDaily. The fourth-year swingman made his first start of the season Thursday and his minutes have been increasing this month. It’s possible that new GM Sean Marks is auditioning Karasev after Brooklyn elected to decline the option for next season on his rookie contract. The option would have eaten up $2,463,754 in cap flexibility this summer, when the Nets are hoping to make a strong push for free agents.

Eastern Notes: Mozgov, Calderon, Embiid

March 14th, 2016 at 10:47pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Cavs center Timofey Mozgov has cost himself millions with his poor play this season, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal opines. Mozgov, who is making $4.95MM this season and will head into unrestricted free agency, has been dealing with unspecified personal problems that have contributed to his lack of on-court production, Lloyd continues. Mozgov has been particularly ineffective defensively, which has led to a drop in playing time and teammates yelling at him after breakdowns, Lloyd adds. “I’ve got a lot of [stuff] in my head,” Mozgov told Lloyd. “I’m not going to share it to nobody. You ask me what’s going on in my head, you’re not going to find out.”

In other news around the Eastern Conference:

Jose Calderon will play for the Spanish National Team during this summer’s Olympic Games, but his Knicks future beyond this season is uncertain, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. Calderon has one year and approximately $7.7MM remaining on his contract but the Knicks could use the stretch provision and save $5MM on next season’s cap, Berman continues, though he’s a viable option as a backup point guard. Calderon’s thoughts concerning the offseason are centered around winning a gold medal, Berman adds. “It will be my fourth Olympics,” he told Berman. “I don’t know if I’ll have a chance to play more. I think four is a good number.”
Sixers center Joel Embiid will have restrictions if and when he returns next season, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft is expected to finally make his debut after foot surgeries wiped out his first two seasons, but the team will exercise caution with him, as coach Brett Brown relayed to Pompey. “We have to be responsible with some minute restrictions with him,” Brown said. “You would assume that he’s not going to play back-to-back games. All those things will be determined.”
Power forward Chris Bosh returned to the Heat bench in street clothes on Monday night, his first appearance there since blood clot issues sidelined him at the All-Star break, according to ESPN.com’s Michael Wallace and The Associated Press. However, it remains unclear if Bosh will return this season, the story adds. Bosh released a statement last week in which he expressed optimism about playing again before season’s end.

Atlantic Notes: Crowder, Olynyk, Carroll, Embiid

March 13th, 2016 at 4:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics are concerned that they may be without Jae Crowder for their first postseason series, according to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Crowder suffered a high ankle sprain during Friday’s game, and coach Brad Stevens said he will miss at least two weeks. However, recovery time is typically four to six weeks, which could extend past the first round of the playoffs.

Crowder averages 14.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, but his biggest impact for the Celtics comes on defense. “There aren’t a ton of guys that can guard [power forwards] for long stretches or sometimes [centers] for long stretches, and Jae can do all that,” Stevens said. “So that’s one of the things that’s going to be quite a balancing act without him, and we’re going to have to have guys step up and play.”

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Boston’s Kelly Olynyk, who has been out since suffering a right shoulder sprain on February 10th, hopes to be ready for Tuesday’s game with the Pacers, Himmelsbach writes in the same piece. Olynyk was able to participate in a full practice today.
The Raptors are hoping to have DeMarre Carroll back in a week or two, according to Mike Ganter of The Toronto Sun. Carroll, who came to Toronto as a free agent last summer, has missed more than 40 games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in January and dealing with plantar fasciitis. “He’s a guy who doesn’t like to miss games,” said former Hawks teammate Paul Millsap. “He’s a competitor. He likes to be out there. I’m really shocked it’s been this long.”
Sixers fans have started coming to home games early to watch Joel Embiid work out, writes Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com. The third overall pick in the 2014 draft hasn’t played yet, but his pregame routine is providing hope that his surgically repaired foot can one day handle the rigors of NBA competition. Philadelphia officials are also encouraged by Embiid’s recent trip to the Aspetar sports science facility and sports medicine hospital in Qatar. “The facilities are A-plus all over the place,” said coach Brett Brown. “For us, it was an A-plus. For Joel, it was an A-plus. We wanted to go outside the box and do something creative and shake Joel’s world up a little bit and make it exciting.”

Sixers Rumors: Saric, Brand, Embiid

March 5th, 2016 at 11:05am CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers continue to receive signs that Croatian star Dario Saric will be part of their roster next season, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Player-development assistant Chris Babcock recently spent eight days with Saric, who is playing for Anadolu Efes in Turkey. The trip left Philadelphia officials confident that Saric is ready to join the NBA. “Obviously, decisions are going to have to be made on his part,” said Sixers coach Brett Brown. “But we like what we see and we believe he likes what he sees.” Philadelphia acquired the rights to the 6’10” power forward in a 2014 draft-day trade with Orlando.

There’s more out of Philadelphia:

Elton Brand saw his first game action Friday since signing with the Sixers January 4th, writes Derek Bodner of Philadelphia magazine. With injuries to Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel leaving Philadelphia short-handed, Brand played 13 minutes, scoring eight points and collecting four rebounds. “Contrary to reports, I was thinking I was going to play all season when I got here,” said Brand, who will turn 37 next week. “But you see guys like Carl [Landry], Richaun [Holmes], guys working so hard, I didn’t mind not playing.” Okafor and Noel are both listed as day-to-day, so it’s uncertain how much more court time Brand can expect.
Injured center Joel Embiid has returned from Qatar and participated in Friday’s pre-game workout, Bodner writes in the same piece. Embiid visited Aspetar, a Middle Eastern orthopedic and sports medicine hospital, to help with the rehab process on his surgically repaired right foot. Bodner included a video of Embiid’s pre-game routine with his story.
Embiid’s long recovery time presents another reason for concern, notes Bob Ford of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The normal recovery period for tarsal navicular surgery is six months, but GM Sam Hinkie has already said Embiid won’t be ready for summer league action, even though it will have been 11 months since the operation.