Kawhi Leonard Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Pacific Notes: Lakers, Divac, Clippers

April 23rd, 2017 at 8:57pm CST by Austin Kent

The Lakers would be making a terrible mistake by targeting Pacers forward Paul George as their much needed superstar, Mitch Lawrence of the Sporting News writes.

George, the “anti-Magic,” has shown poor leadership and a tendency to alienate teammates, Lawrence says. Those aren’t characteristics typically paired with a young team like the Lakers.

In the same piece, Lawrence goes on to add that a better fit for George may be Boston because the Celtics, unlike the Lakers, boast the strong-willed vets to withstand George’s occasional negativity.

Should the Lakers continue to pursue the swingman, however, they’ll need ensure that their point guard is mentally strong enough to deal with the vocal superstar.

After a tumultuous first few seasons at the helm, Vlade Divac has been given an opportunity to manage a stable Kings franchise, Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee writes. “I knew the staff I wanted to put together. There was always so much (drama) going on ever since I got here, it took up a lot of my time,” Divac said. “Finally I have been able to find people who believe in what we are trying to do and who I am very comfortable with.“
The Clippers have every intention of competing for a title even with the injured Blake Griffin on the sidelines, Bill Oram of the Orange County Register writes. “It’s not the best thing that could have ever happened to us,” teammate Chris Paul said, “but it’s not the end of the world. We still are going to go out there. We know we got a job to do. We got a big game (Sunday), Game 4, and we go out there expecting to win.”
Could a candid conversation on Jimmy Kimmel be considered tampering? USA Today’s Alysha Tsuji wrote about how Lakers executive Magic Johnson may have tampered while commenting specifically about not tampering.
Count Gary Payton (Sr.) among the crowd who thinks Warriors forward Draymond Green should be this season’s Defensive Player of the Year, an Associated Press report outlines. The Glove also speaks highly of Kawhi Leonard as a legitimate candidate.

And-Ones: Tarczewski, Green, Fegan, MVP Race

March 13th, 2017 at 10:35pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Center Kaleb Tarczewski is leaving the Thunder’s D-League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue, to play for Italy’s Olimpia Milano. He is signing a three-month contract to join the Italian champions with an option for next year, Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia relays via La Gazzetta dello Sport. As Chris Reichert for The Step Back tweets, this is a big loss for the Blue with the D-League playoffs on the horizon. He was averaging 10.0 PPG and 7.3 RPG for the Blue. Tarczewski went undrafted last June after he averaged 9.4 PPG and 9.3 RPG in his senior year at Arizona.

In other news around the NBA:

Former Nuggets and Jazz guard Erick Green, who is playing for the Euroleague’s Olympiacos, could get another shot with an NBA team this offseason as a backup point, Trevor Magnotti of FanSided.com reports. Backup point guards will be at a premium this summer, Magnotti continues, and Green is a solid defender who has improved his offensive play. Green is also believed to have an opt-out clause if an NBA club comes calling, Magnotti adds. Green played in a combined nine games for the Nuggets and Jazz last season and 43 with Denver in 2014/15.
Agent Dan Fegan has been sued by his former employer, Independent Sports & Entertainment, for alleged unfair business practices, according to Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Daily. One of the claims in the suit filed in Los Angeles by Independent Sports & Entertainment is that Fegan operated a side business which steered business away from ISE, Mullen continues. Howard Weitzman, Fegan’s attorney, called the side business claim “a total fabrication,” Mullen tweets.
A survey of NBA executives puts James Harden ahead of the pack for the MVP race but it’s close, Sam Amick of USA Today writes. The newspaper polled 32 executives, including 20 GMs or team presidents, and 12 voted for Harden. Russell Westbrook received eight votes, Kawhi Leonard garnered seven and LeBron James picked up five.

Spurs Notes: Aldridge, Leonard, Mills

March 12th, 2017 at 7:18pm CST by Austin Kent

There’s cause for concern in San Antonio these days, Matt Tynan of USA Today writes, citing the Spurs’ recent injury struggles as a major hurdle heading into the playoff gauntlet.

With LaMarcus Aldridge‘s long-term health in doubt now that he’s been diagnosed with heart complications and Kawhi Leonard‘s recent concussion, the Spurs may lack the star power to compete in the West.

Tynan writes that the Spurs did well to claim home-court advantage over the Warriors in their Saturday night contest but even if they hold on to their current seed or better, navigating the postseason without Aldridge and/or Leonard would be difficult.

There’s a difference between Aldridge’s heart condition and most other player injuries, head coach Gregg Popovich tells NBA.com’s Fran Blinebury. “That’s a little scary. But you don’t go there yet,” Popovich said. “He is going to see some people on Monday, and based on what they do and see, we’ll know better what we are really looking at. But we don’t know right now.”
Veteran guard Patty Mills has embraced his role as a representative of his Aboriginal Australian culture, Nick Metallinos of ESPN writes.
Though he’s found himself firmly established in the conversation, some believe Leonard lacks a good enough narrative to land the MVP award. Marilyn Dubinski of SB Nation’s Pounding The Rock blog sets out to change that.

Kawhi Leonard Enters Concussion Protocol

March 10th, 2017 at 5:14pm CST by Milo Taibi

According to a team press release, Kawhi Leonard has entered the NBA’s Concussion Protocol. Per the release: “Leonard, who was hit in the head in last night’s Spurs-Thunder game, will not play in tomorrow night’s Spurs-Warriors contest. The team will provide updates on his return to the court as appropriate.”

Per the league’s official website, Leonard was injured in the second half of Thursday’s game with OKC, when he was struck on the left side of his head by Victor Oladipo. The Spurs are within striking distance of Golden State for the Western Conference’s No. 1 seed, and Leonard’s absence won’t help them close the gap this weekend.

According to Anthony Slater of Mercury News, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is unsure if he’ll rest any of his starters against the short-handed Spurs (Twitter link).

In addition to Leonard, Tony Parker is questionable for the contest due to back stiffness (Twitter link).

Westbrook Tops Snub List Among All-Star Starters

January 19th, 2017 at 6:45pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Triple-double machine Russell Westbrook, the league’s leading scorer, will not be among the Western Conference starters for next month’s All-Star Game in New Orleans. The league’s Twitter feed unveiled the starters for each conference, and the Thunder superstar lost out in the balloting to Stephen Curry and James Harden (Twitter links).

As ESPN.com’s Rachel Nichols points out, the fan voting counts for 50%, while the players’ votes weigh in at 25%, as does the media vote under the revised system. According to NBC’s Kurt Helin, Westbrook missed out because the fans had him third among Western Conference guards behind Curry and Harden.

Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant will comprise the starting frontcourt for the West.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jimmy Butler and LeBron James were selected as the frontcourt starters for the Eastern Conference. DeMar DeRozan and Kyrie Irving were chosen as the starting backcourt.

It’s a breakthrough for Antetokounmpo, who will be making his first All-Star appearance. Arguably the biggest snub on the Eastern Conference side was Celtics point man Isaiah Thomas, the fourth-leading scorer in the league and the conference’s top scorer.

Do you think Westbrook should have garnered a starting spot ahead of Curry or Harden? Besides Westbrook, which other player has the biggest beef about failing to land a starting spot in the league’s annual showcase event? Take to the comments section to share your thoughts.

And-Ones: Youth Academy, Prigioni, Pelicans

November 9th, 2016 at 9:47pm CST by Arthur Hill

The NBA will team with Basketball Australia to create a youth academy in Canberra, according to A.J. Neuhart-Keusch of USA Today. Known as NBA Global Academy, the facility will be an elite training center for young players. Located at the Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport, the academy is designed to be a “global hub” for international prospects. The NBA has three similar facilities in China. “NBA Global Academy will allow top prospects from around the world to train with and compete against their peers in a structured environment under the supervision of NBA-trained coaches and in collaboration with BA’s internationally recognized coaches,” said Brooks Meek, NBA vice president of international basketball operations.

There’s more basketball news tonight:

Barcelona has confirmed its interest in 39-year-old point guard Pablo Prigioni, relays Orazio Cauchi of Sportando. Head coach Georgios Bartzokas said the team has its eye on Prigioni, who was waived by the Rockets last month, but cautioned that it’s far from a done deal. “Every guard in the market with European passport interests us,” Bartzokas said. “Prigioni, with his great career and potential is one of them. But the most important thing is to bring a player that fits into our system. It’s not just about the potential, quality or level of the player. It’s about whether he fits with us and whether he’s able to play well with our players.”
The Pelicans top a list of teams that should be very worried by their slow starts, writes Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post. New Orleans has an 0-8 record and is hampered by injuries to Tyreke Evans, Quincy Pondexter and Lance Stephenson, who was waived over the weekend. The Pelicans are also without starting point guard Jrue Holiday, who remains on a leave of absence to care for his ailing wife. Bontemps says there are whispers that coach Alvin Gentry may be fired if the team doesn’t start winning soon. The other teams on Bontemps’ list are the Wizards, Knicks, Mavericks and Timberwolves.
Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard is the latest player to incorporate strobe lights into his training, according to Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com. The flashing lights, which simulate photographers’ flashes, were first incorporated by Michael Jordan in the 1990s.

Southwest Rumors: Conley, Randolph, Spurs

November 3rd, 2016 at 5:15pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Mike Conley is already getting targeted by opposing fans over the five-year, $152.6MM contract he signed with the Grizzlies this offseason, Mitch Lawrence of the Sporting News reports. The Grizzlies point guard knows the unwanted attention comes with signing such a big contract but he’s taking it in stride, Lawrence continues. “It doesn’t bother me at all,” Conley told Lawrence. “When I hear the talk, when I look on my phone and see messages on Twitter about it, it really pushes me, to be honest. … I almost look forward to playing on the road, for that very reason.” Conley used an offer by the Mavericks as leverage and ended up with an extra $40MM, Lawrence adds.

In other news around the Southwest Division:

New Grizzlies coach David Fizdale gave Zach Randolph a detailed explanation of why he wanted the veteran power forward to come off the bench this season, according to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders. Fizdale was looking for another scorer on the second unit, Scotto continues. “He explained to me what he wanted to do and have more firepower coming off the bench,” Randolph told Scotto. “He needed me to play that role so I said, ‘Okay.’ I took it with a grain of salt, kept it moving, whatever you want me to do.” Randolph is making $10.36MM in the final year of his contract and Scotto anticipates Randolph will land another eight-figure salary when he enters unrestricted free agency.
The Spurs found themselves a bargain in free agency with the addition of center Dewayne Dedmon, Jonathan Tjarks of The Ringer opines. Dedmon was signed to a two-year, $6MM to help replace Tim Duncan and he has delivered, averaging 5.9 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 17.1 minutes during the first five games. Dedmon’s skills as a rim runner, rebounder and shotblocker will prove useful when San Antonio reaches the postseason, Tjarks adds.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn’t feel like his organization fleeced the Pacers with their 2011 draft night trade in which they landed Kawhi Leonard while shipping out point guard George Hill, Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com relays. San Antonio wound up with a franchise player but Hill had productive years with Indiana before he was traded to the Jazz this offseason. “It was what Indiana needed, and it was what we needed, and it worked out,” Popovich told Wright. “A lot of trades, one team will say, ‘Oh, we killed them on that trade. We got the better end of that.’ That’s just childish. It was a good trade for both teams.”

Kawhi Leonard Named Defensive Player Of Year

April 18th, 2016 at 8:28am CST by Eddie Scarito

For the second consecutive season, the Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard has been named the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced via press release. Leonard, a 6’7″ small forward, becomes the first noncenter to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons since Dennis Rodman did so in 1989/90 and 1990/91. The 24-year-old Leonard received 84 first-place votes and 547 total points from a panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters. He beat out the Warriors’ Draymond Green, who notched 44 first-place votes and 421 points to finish as runner-up for the second season in a row. The Heat’s Hassan Whiteside came in third with 83 points, garnering two first-place votes. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote, according to the release.

Leonard, a first-time NBA All-Star this season, anchored a Spurs defense that led the NBA in points allowed (92.9 ppg) and defensive rating (96.6 points per 100 possessions). The Spurs, who were a franchise-record 67-15 this season, were significantly tougher on defense with Leonard in the game. According to NBA.com, they had a defensive rating of 94.9 when the five-year veteran was on the court and 99.2 when he wasn’t — a difference of 4.3 points per 100 possessions. Leonard also averaged 1.78 steals, which was good for 12th in the NBA, 5.5 defensive rebounds and a career-high 0.99 blocks to go with career highs of 21.2 points and 2.6 assists on the offensive end.

The final voting results for 2015/16 NBA Defensive Player of the Year:

Kawhi Leonard (Spurs)
Draymond Green (Warriors)
Hassan Whiteside (Heat)
DeAndre Jordan (Clippers)
Paul Millsap (Hawks)
Avery Bradley (Celtics)
Rudy Gobert (Jazz)
Tony Allen (Grizzlies)
Anthony Davis (Pelicans)
Andre Drummond (Pistons)
Jimmy Butler (Bulls)
LeBron James (Cavaliers)
Trevor Ariza (Rockets)
Jae Crowder (Celtics)
Al Horford (Hawks)
Kyle Lowry (Raptors)
Chris Paul (Clippers)

To see each voter’s ballot, click here.

Southwest Notes: Harden, Durant, Howard, Spurs

April 3rd, 2016 at 11:52am CST by Arthur Hill

James Harden will play a key role in the Rockets‘ efforts to bring Kevin Durant to Houston, writes Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com. Many teams will be chasing Durant in free agency, but the Rockets have several selling points. In addition to reuniting with his friend and former Thunder teammate, Durant will have the chance to go a state with no income tax and a large city with vast marketing opportunities. Watkins says the Rockets have talked to Harden about recruiting Durant and he has agreed to do his part. “In order to put yourself as an elite team, you always got to have talent, right?” Harden said. “You always got to get better and find ways to improve.” Houston will have plenty of cap space if Dwight Howard opts out as expected.

There’s more news from the Southwest Division:

Howard’s role in the Rockets‘ offense continues to decline, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Howard has averaged 9.3 points on 5.8 field goal attempts over Houston’s last 12 games. It’s a significant dropoff from earlier in the season and has led many to speculate that the 30-year-old center will seek a new team in free agency. “His impact can be felt more and should be felt more,” said interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “… We have to get him the ball in his spots and he has to finish when he gets there.”
Free agent addition LaMarcus Aldridge has teamed with Kawhi Leonard to become the nucleus of a record-setting Spurs team, writes Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. The two All-Stars have eased the burden on the aging Big Three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. San Antonio picked up a franchise record 64th win Saturday and is two victories away from posting the first perfect home record in league history. “There’s not much we’re allowed to care about,” Danny Green said. “… Being healthy and winning games in the playoffs – those are the things we care about.”
James Ennis had little time to prepare for his first game with the Pelicans after being called up from the D-League this week, relays Jim Eichenhofer of NBA.com. “He just got here to the arena about 20 minutes ago,” coach Alvin Gentry said before Wednesday’s contest with the Spurs. “We’ll give him a quick overview of what we try to do, but he’ll definitely be in the game tonight.”

Latest On Kawhi Leonard Agent Situation

March 31st, 2016 at 3:08pm CST by Chuck Myron

3:08pm: Elfus tells Fischer that he has “stepped back from off-the-court negotiations” for Leonard but says no other change has taken place (Twitter link).

3:06pm: Elfus tells USA Today’s Sam Amick that the initial report was “unfounded” and that he remains an Impact Sports Management client (Twitter link). That leaves it unclear whether Elfus will continue as Leonard’s primary agent, but it nonetheless appears as though the same company will continue to represent the Spurs star.

2:56pm: Leonard remains with Impact Sports Management, and the change is simply a matter of who does what for Leonard within the agency, as Zach Lowe of ESPN.com clarifies (Twitter link).

2:42pm: Kawhi Leonard has parted with agent Brian Elfus of Impact Sports Management, a league source tells Jake Fischer of SI Now (Twitter link). The reason for the split is unclear, as Leonard signed a five-year contract for the maximum salary with the Spurs just this past July.

Players are normally the catalysts for agent changes, since the representatives work for them, though sometimes agents make the decision to end the relationship. A change of agents sometimes has more to do with off-court endorsement deals than with NBA contracts, though Leonard has long shied from the spotlight and has been reluctant to promote himself in commercials.

In any case, Elfus will continue to receive a commission on the deal Leonard signed this summer, which is worth precisely $94,343,129. The typical NBA agent commission would give him 4% of that amount, though sometimes agents waive their fees to maintain relationships with particularly valuable clients.