Lance Stephenson Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Eastern Notes: Crabbe, Stephenson, Dellavedova

July 9th, 2016 at 2:28pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Nets signing restricted free agent Allen Crabbe to a four-year, $75MM offer sheet may have shocked some around the league, but a number of NBA scouts believe the shooting guard will break out once given more playing time, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. “I really was impressed with Crabbe last year,” one veteran scout told Lewis. “It took me a minute or two. He had that nice fluidness to him, that long body. Allan [Houston] was that same way, and he was a hell of a player. I didn’t think Allen Crabbe would’ve made it this far and been this good. He just always struck me as I wanted a little bit more. … But he plays with more passion than I thought. He’s quiet, not pumping his chest, not gung-ho. But last year was a real good eye-opener for everybody that wanted more out of Crabbe, because they got it.”

“He reminds me a little of Tim Thomas, a lot of ability,” the scout continued. “Some nights you’ll see more than others, depending on who he plays and how hard he plays. And with Crabbe, who he plays with becomes important. … C.J. McCollum and Damian Lillard are scorers first. Now that he’s a featured player, you’ll see more of what he can do.”

Here’s more from the East:

There have been reports stating that unrestricted free agent Lance Stephenson may be close to reuniting with the Pacers, but team president Larry Bird says those rumors are unfounded, Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star relays (Twitter link). “I think Lance and his agent are doing the talking… Right now probably a very slim chance,” Bird said.
The second round pick the Nets acquired from Indiana as part of the Thaddeus Young swap only conveys to Brooklyn if it falls in the No. 31-No. 44 range from 2017-2022, and is unprotected in 2023 , Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders tweets.
The Cavaliers shipped the Bucks $200K as part of the sign-and-trade deal involving Matthew Dellavedova, Pincus notes (on Twitter).

Free Agent Rumors: Hornets, Blazers, Pachulia

July 4th, 2016 at 4:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Having tried to move Spencer Hawes‘ contract in a trade prior to the draft, the Hornets continue to explore a possible deal involving Hawes, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical (Twitter links). According to Wojnarowski, Charlotte would like to create the cap room to add a center in free agency. Roy Hibbert and Zaza Pachulia are at the top of the Hornets’ wish list, with Festus Ezeli and Jordan Hill among the other players the team is eyeing, says Wojnarowski.

Here are several more free agent rumors and updates from around the NBA:

The Trail Blazers kicked the tires on Ezeli and Nene, but won’t pursue those players, instead focusing their attention on Pachulia, reports Jason Quick of CSNNW.com (Twitter links). According to Quick, the Blazers were concerned they’d have to renounce one or two of their restricted free agents to go after Ezeli, and they aren’t willing to do that for Allen Crabbe, Meyers Leonard, or Maurice Harkless at this point.
Quick also has an update on veteran free agent Gerald Henderson, tweeting that the Trail Blazers are one of “seven to eight teams” to show interest in Henderson so far.
A reunion between Lance Stephenson and the Pacers isn’t out of the question, according to Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star, who reports that Stephenson has discussed the possibility of agreeing to a multiyear contract with Indiana. The veteran free agent is considering a few teams, but a source tells Taylor that Stephenson “absolutely loves the town and the [Pacers] organization.”
Before Cole Aldrich agreed to sign with the Timberwolves, he was receiving interest from the Magic and the Suns, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (via Twitter). Orlando struck a deal with Bismack Biyombo, but Phoenix could still be in the market for a free agent big man.
Portland reportedly offered Pau Gasol a higher salary than he ultimately accepted from the Spurs, and it sounds like the Timberwolves did too. Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press reports (via Twitter) that Minnesota’s first offer was $36MM for two years, and the team may have increased that offer within the last day or so.

Grizzlies Decline Option On Lance Stephenson

June 27th, 2016 at 5:46pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Grizzlies declined Lance Stephenson‘s $9.4MM team option, making him an unrestricted free agent, sources told Shams Charania of The Vertical (Twitter link). Memphis is interested in re-signing Stephenson but other teams will pursue him, Charania adds.

Stephenson was traded by the Hornets last summer to the Clippers in exchange for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes. He was shipped to the Grizzlies at the trade deadline, along with a future first-round pick, for Jeff Green. Stephenson had a good run with the Grizzlies, averaging 14.2 points and 4.4 rebounds in 26 games for a club decimated by injuries. He averaged 13.0 points in the playoffs when the Grizzlies were swept by the Spurs in the Western Conference playoffs.

He wasn’t a factor for the Clippers, averaging 4.7 points in 43 games.

This isn’t Stephenson’s first foray into the free agent market. He left the Pacers to sign a three-year, $27MM contract with the Hornets in 2014. The 6’5” swingman was a huge disappointment in his lone season with Charlotte, averaging 8.2 points while shooting 37.6% from the field.

The Grizzlies have plenty of small forwards and shooting guards on the roster, pending free agency, though several are in the waning years of their careers. That group includes Jordan Adams, Tony Allen, Matt Barnes, Vince Carter, P.J. Hairston and rookie Rade Zagorac.

Western Notes: Stephenson, Felton, Murray

June 11th, 2016 at 12:50pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Grizzlies have a tough decision to make regarding their 2016/17 team option worth $9,405,000 for Lance Stephenson, Chris Herrington of The Commercial Appeal notes in his offseason look at the team’s shooting guards. While Stephenson’s cap hit would likely be a bargain in comparison to many of the contracts expected to be handed out this summer, Memphis may ultimately decide to decline the option and test the market before circling back to Stephenson if other avenues don’t work out, Herrington opines. The 25-year-old produced some solid numbers for the Grizzlies after being acquired from the Clippers during the season. In 26 appearances for Memphis, Stephenson notched averages of 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 26.6 minutes per contest.

Here’s more from out West:

Unrestricted free agent point guard Raymond Felton noted that he would prefer to re-sign with the Mavericks this offseason, Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com relays (Twitter links). “Of course, this is where I want to be. I’d love to come back here, so hopefully we can make that happen,” Felton said. “It’s a process. … I’m out of it now. My agent and the organization, it’s their situation now.” Felton, 31, appeared in 80 games for Dallas this past season, averaging 9.5 points and 3.6 assists on 40.6% shooting.
Former Washington combo guard Dejounte Murray worked out for the Suns on Friday, the team announced. The 19-year-old is currently projected as a second-rounder by Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, who slots the scoring guard as the No. 32 overall prospect in the 2016 NBA Draft. Murray is a talented player with a high upside and I expect that he’ll ultimately be a mid-to-late first round pick, though that is merely my speculation.
The Lakers held private workouts on Friday for forward Jaylen Brown (California) and big man Skal Labissière (Kentucky), Baxter Holmes of ESPNLosAngeles tweets.

Grizzlies Notes: Coaching Search, Joerger, Conley

May 8th, 2016 at 10:56am CST by Arthur Hill

Former Pacers coach Frank Vogel will be part of a long list of candidates to replace Dave Joerger, according to Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal. Tillery expects the Grizzlies to reach out to veteran coaches David Blatt, Brian Shaw, Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy. GM Chris Wallace promised a “thoughtful and comprehensive” process, adding that there is no rush to find a replacement. He plans to consider college coaches as well as NBA assistants. “We don’t have a guy,” Wallace said. “We’ll talk to people and see how it goes. It’s not about dealing from a pre-existing category. It’s about finding the right guy. We’re very much in the preliminary stages.” Tillery writes that “reshaping” the team, which the front office didn’t believe Joerger was willing to do, will be among the responsibilities for the next coach.

There’s more out of Memphis:

Wallace’s call for stability in the organization is laughable, writes Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal, pointing out that in the past four years, the Grizzlies have been through an ownership change, two GM changes and two coaching changes. Joerger had been expressing his unhappiness in subtle ways throughout the season, Calkins notes, and felt betrayed when Jeff Green and Courtney Lee were dealt away at the trade deadline. Joerger also said the roster was “old and slow” and repeatedly praised Jazz rookie Rodney Hood, whom the Grizzlies passed over in the draft. Calkins questions whether free agent point guard Mike Conley will want to re-sign with an organization that has seen so much turnover.
The Grizzlies may not have enough to offer on the free agent market, according to Ben Dowsett of Basketball Insiders. Memphis must decide by June 29th whether to pick up a $9.4MM option for next season on Lance Stephenson. If the Grizzlies keep him and all their other contracts while renouncing Matt Barnes and Chris Andersen, they will have about $60MM in guaranteed salary against a cap projected at more than $90MM. However, Conley carries a $14MM cap hold, which means money must be cut in other areas for the team to offer a max contract. Vince Carter and JaMychal Green are possibilities, as they both have contracts that won’t be guaranteed until January. Brandan Wright and his $5.7MM deal could be traded to clear more room. Dowsett speculates about Eric Gordon, Joe Johnson, Arron Afflalo, Gerald Henderson and Leandro Barbosa as possible free agent targets.

And-Ones: Taylor, Ridley, Robinson

April 26th, 2016 at 10:43pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Glen Taylor has brought two minority-share investors into the Timberwolves ownership group, according to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link), but the 75-year-old Taylor said today that he’s committed to remaining in charge of the team for at least the next five years, observes Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press. That aligns with the length of the contracts for new coach/executive Tom Thibodeau and GM Scott Layden. Taylor has been in talks to sell 30% of the team to Grizzlies minority-share owner Steve Kaplan, and they were reportedly discussing a plan to have Kaplan eventually succeed Taylor as primary owner. Presumably, no such plan exists for new Wolves part-owners Meyer Orbach, a New York real estate mogul, and John Jiang, who, according to Walters, is believed to be the first NBA investor from China.

See more from around the NBA:

Dave Joerger would like to see Lance Stephenson back with Memphis for next season, the Grizzlies coach said Monday, according to Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal (Twitter link). Memphis has a $9.405MM team option on Stephenson. “He’s had a lot of success here and the guys accepted him,” Joerger said.
Agents Matt Babcock and Adie von Gontard of APAA Sports Group have signed Texas senior Cameron Ridley, a source told Hoops Rumors. The 6’10” center was a McDonald’s All-American Game starter in 2012 and ranked 14th in the 2012 Recruiting Services Consensus Index, two spots ahead of current Nuggets shooting guard Gary Harris. Ridley will look to regain that form in predraft workouts with NBA teams and climb his way into the top 100 lists that Chad Ford of ESPN.com and Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress compile.
Kentucky coach John Calipari said in March that all 14 underclassmen on his roster would enter this year’s draft, at least to test the waters, but only five Wildcats appear on the NBA’s official list of early entrants released earlier this evening. Florida small forward Devin Robinson was reportedly going to enter the draft and doesn’t appear on the official list either, though that’s no shock, since he’s had major foot surgery since the report that he was draft-bound emerged.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Western Notes: Augustin, Williams, Gobert

April 26th, 2016 at 10:02pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Point guard D.J. Augustin, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent, appreciates the opportunity he was given in Denver, but he isn’t sure if he will re-sign with the Nuggets this summer, Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post writes. “This is my fourth summer being a free agent,” Augustin told Dempsey. “You never know what can happen. I’ve been promised things in the past, and it didn’t come true. I’ve had my hopes up in the past [and things] didn’t happen. It’s just all about putting things in God’s hands and my agent’s hands and I’m going to just relax. My wife is having our third child. So I’m going to just see what happens. Anything can happen. I love it here, and hopefully things work out.”

Regarding finally getting an opportunity to play after being buried on the Thunder’s bench, Augustin told Dempsey, “I was in a tough situation in Oklahoma. Like I told a lot of people, it wasn’t working out there. I did the right thing, my agent did the right thing and talked to those guys and they were kind enough to trade me, trade me to a good situation. Everything worked out.”

Here’s more from out West:

Mavs point guard Deron Williams‘ sports hernia is getting worse and he will likely need offseason surgery to repair the injury, as Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com relays (Twitter links). Williams, who has a player option worth $5,621,026 for next season, impressed the team and seemed to have fun for the first time in the past few seasons, executive Donnie Nelson said, according to Sneed.
Lance Stephenson said he would be comfortable remaining with the Grizzlies if they exercise their team option on his contract worth $9,405MM for next season, when asked if he would prefer to ink a multiyear deal instead, tweets Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal.
Despite struggling with injuries this season, Jazz big man Rudy Gobert feels like his overall game has improved, as Jody Genessy of The Deseret News relays. “It’s been kind of weird this year with injuries to try to come back and get my rhythm back,” Gobert said. “My teammates got me involved, but it was kind of tough this year. I feel like I still got better. You can’t really see it on stats, but I feel like I got better.”

Southwest Notes: Demps, Williams, Conley

April 25th, 2016 at 12:21pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Pelicans have rescheduled GM Dell Demps‘ press conference, which was originally set for today, to an unspecified later date, Brett Dawson of The Advocate relays in a series of tweets. New Orleans has not made any final decision regarding Demps’ future with the team and evaluations of the rest of his staff are still ongoing, though current indications are that the executive will remain in his post for next season, Dawson adds. The front office personnel in New Orleans are still in a holding pattern as the team continues its evaluations, but the general feeling among the staff is that their posts are safe despite no definitive calls being made yet, Scott Kushner of The Advocate adds (via Twitter).

Here’s more from the Southwest Division:

Mavs coach Rick Carlisle praised the play of Deron Williams, who averaged 14.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 65 appearances this season for Dallas, as Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News relays. “He had a very strong year,” Carlisle said of Williams. “He played great basketball for us. The only thing that derailed him were some health issues.” The point guard is done for the remainder of the playoffs with a sports hernia and may need offseason surgery to correct the issue, Sefko notes. Williams has a player option for 2016/17 worth $5,621,026, but he could become an unrestricted free agent if he chooses to opt out.
Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, made a number of comments regarding Memphis’ future that bode well for him re-signing with the franchise, Geoff Calkins of The Commercial Appeal relays in a series of tweets. “We’re all invested. We’re invested in each other, we’re invested in the community,” Conley told reporters. “We’re going into next season with a lot of room to make improvements. We feel like we’re all in this together and we have been since day one.“
Swingman Lance Stephenson, whose contract includes a rare team option worth $9.405MM for next season, said he’s found a home with the Grizzlies and wants to remain with the team next season, Peter Edmiston of WHBQ-AM tweets. The 25-year-old appeared in 26 games for Memphis after being acquired from the Clippers, averaging 14.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 26.6 minutes per outing.

Southwest Notes: Davis, Pondexter, Lee, Grizzlies

March 19th, 2016 at 6:28pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Pelicans may decide to shut down Anthony Davis for the rest of the season, according to Jim Eichenhofer of NBA.com. The center/power forward hurt his left knee Friday when he collided with teammate Jrue Holiday and Portland’s C.J. McCollum. Davis is also dealing with a lingering shoulder problem. Coach Alvin Gentry said the Pelicans are waiting for more medical information before making a decision. “They’re going to talk to doctors this afternoon and we’ll know a lot more then … I just know that [his shoulder has been] bothering him,” Gentry said Saturday after practice. “We’re going to be on a conference call with doctors today. I think it’s something that’s kind of been there.”

New Orleans may decide not to take any chances with Davis’ health after he signed a maximum extension over the summer worth an estimated $145MM. The Pelicans expected to move up in the standings after reaching the playoffs last season, but they’re stuck in 12th place in the West at 25-43. They’re eight and a half games behind Dallas for the final playoff spot with 14 games remaining.

There’s more from the Southwest Division:

Pelicans small forward Quincy Pondexter, who has missed the entire season while recovering from knee surgery, vows to be ready by fall, Eichenhofer relays in the same story. “I guarantee I will be 100% by training camp,” Pondexter said, describing his status as “the beginning of a long rehab process, but it’s going really, really well so far.”
The Mavericks‘ David Lee, who faced the Warriors for the first time Friday since they traded him to Boston, is looking forward to next week’s trip to Golden State, writes Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. That’s when Lee will receive the championship ring he earned with the Warriors last season. It wasn’t the path to a title that Lee wanted, as he fell out of the rotation during the season, but he doesn’t blame coach Steve Kerr for cutting his minutes. “Coach was always very up front and very fair to me last year,” Lee said. “And of course when he came to me and needed something in the playoffs, I was able to deliver.”
There will be a reunion of sorts tonight when the Grizzlies host the Clippers, according to Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times. The Memphis roster includes Matt Barnes, Lance Stephenson, Ryan Hollins and Alex Stepheson, all of whom spent time with the Clippers over the past three seasons.

Western Notes: Crawford, Green, Lakers, Rockets

March 18th, 2016 at 10:57pm CST by Arthur Hill

Nearing age 36, the Clippers‘ Jamal Crawford isn’t giving any thought to retirement, at least not until 2021, writes Dan Woike of The Orange County Register. The veteran shooting guard will mark another birthday Sunday, but he believes he still has five years left in the NBA. Crawford has remained among the league’s most productive bench players this season, averaging 13.7 points and 26.5 minutes per game. “I’m a product of clean living,” proclaimed Crawford, who credits abstinence from smoking and drinking with helping him prolong his career. How much longer he’ll spend with the Clippers is uncertain, though. Crawford is in the final season of a four-year contract and was mentioned in trade rumors earlier this year.

There’s more from the Western Conference:

Jeff Green isn’t expecting much of a reaction Saturday in his first game back in Memphis since last month’s trade, according to Rowan Kavner of NBA.com. The Clippers acquired Green from the Grizzlies in a deal at the deadline in exchange for Lance Stephenson and a 2019 first-rounder. “It’s not, like, emotional,” Green said. “I wasn’t here long enough. I could see if it was Boston, a team that I spent four years with, you know, went through a lot of personal stuff there, too. That was an emotional return.”
The Lakers and Suns have been out of the playoff race for a long time, but their game tonight is still important, writes Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News. L.A. is four and a half games ahead of Phoenix for second place in the latest reverse standings. Draft position is especially important for the Lakers, who need their pick to fall in the top three to avoid having it sent to the Sixers. Even so, coach Byron Scott gives no thought to losing. “We’re not in a weird position,” he said. “We play Phoenix and we’re trying to win the game.”
The Rockets held another players-only meeting after Wednesday’s lopsided loss to the Clippers, writes Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com. “This is fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, I don’t know which meeting it is,” said power forward Donatas Motiejunas. “I think talking shouldn’t be the one thing that we do. We shouldn’t talk anymore; we should look at ourselves and try to change some things.” Houston tried to shake things up last month by trading Motiejunas to Detroit, but the Pistons canceled the deal due to concerns about his back.