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NBA GMs Vote Lakers As Offseason Winners, Title Favorites

December 18th, 2020 at 11:25am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s general managers liked the Lakers‘ offseason moves and are bullish on the team’s chances to repeat as champions in 2020/21, as John Schuhmann of NBA.com writes in his annual survey of the league’s GMs.

An impressive 81% of the responding general managers picked the Lakers to win the championship in 2021, which is the third-highest percentage any team has received since Schuhmann began conducting his annual GM survey 19 years ago. The Clippers ranked second at 11%, while the Nets and Heat received one vote apiece.

Meanwhile, the Lakers (37%) beat out the Suns (22%) and Thunder (15%) in the voting for best offseason roster moves. The Hawks, Bucks, and Sixers each received two votes, while the Trail Blazers got one too.

Here are a few more of the interesting responses from Schuhmann’s GM survey, which is worth checking out in full:

The Suns‘ acquisition of Chris Paul (44%) and the Bucks‘ trade for Jrue Holiday (33%) were voted the moves that will have the biggest impact this season. The Clippers‘ signing of Serge Ibaka (15%), the Pelicans‘ deal for Steven Adams (11%), and the Trail Blazers‘ trade for Robert Covington (11%) were the front-runners for the most underrated offseason player acquisition. Gordon Hayward‘s $120MM contract with the Hornets (54%) was voted the most surprising offseason move.
While NBA GMs view Hornets guard LaMelo Ball (39%) as the favorite to win Rookie of the Year over Warriors big man James Wiseman (29%), Wiseman received the most votes (36%) among this year’s rookies to be the best player in five years, followed by Ball (25%). Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton, meanwhile, was voted the biggest steal in the 2020 draft (43%).
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Mavericks guard Luka Doncic were the top choices as the player GMs would want to start a franchise with today. They each received 43% of the vote, with Lakers stars Anthony Davis and LeBron James and Pelicans youngster Zion Williamson also picking up votes.
Speaking of Williamson, he helped the Pelicans receive the nod for the team with the most promising young core (41%). The Grizzlies (22%), Hawks (11%), Celtics (11%), and Nuggets (11%) also got multiple votes.

James Harden Rumors: Simmons, Sixers, Heat, Robinson

December 18th, 2020 at 10:16am CST by Luke Adams

After reporting on Thursday that the Sixers have been willing to discuss Ben Simmons in James Harden trade talks with the Rockets, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (video link) said during an appearance on the Keyshawn, JWill and Zubin Show today that Philadelphia will be “very careful” about including Simmons in any offer that doesn’t get them more than Harden.

While Wojnarowski doesn’t get into any specifics about what Philadelphia would want, it seems reasonable to assume that if they’re being asked to part with Simmons and draft picks, the 76ers would seek at least one more player from the Rockets — perhaps someone like P.J. Tucker. It doesn’t sound like Houston would be enthusiastic about that scenario though, per Wojnarowski, who says the Rockets will likely want Simmons “plus a bunch more assets” for just Harden.

“You saw (Sixers president of basketball operations) Daryl Morey come out yesterday and say, ‘We’re not trading Ben Simmons,'” Wojnarowski said. “Well, I certainly don’t think they’re trading Ben Simmons just in a deal that looks like it’s straight up with some picks for James Harden. I think they’re going to want a lot more than James Harden. That might not be a deal that’s available to the Sixers.”

The two sides could re-engage in discussions, but right now they aren’t close, according to Woj, who says he expects Simmons and Joel Embiid to open the season in Philadelphia.

Here’s more on Harden:

Although the Rockets are committed to finding the right deal, they’d be happy to get a Harden trade done “sooner than later,” Wojnarowski said this morning during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up (video link).
Simmons is unlikely to be traded for Harden at this time, according to Derek Bodner of The Athletic, who cautions that doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the coming months if the Simmons/Embiid duo isn’t thriving. For now though, once reports surfaced suggesting Simmons might be available, the Sixers had to publicly back their All-Star guard, Bodner writes.
The Heat were said to have interest in exploring a possible Harden trade and have presumably touched base with Houston. However, Ethan Skolnick of Five Reasons Sports (Twitter link) hears from multiple sources that the inclusion of Duncan Robinson in a possible offer is a “major sticking point” — in other words, the Rockets would want him and Miami wouldn’t want to give him up.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Insider link) expanded his breakdown of teams that could theoretically make a run at Harden from nine to 14, adding long shots like the Cavaliers, Bucks, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, and Kings.

Kings Promote Rico Hines

December 17th, 2020 at 9:12am CST by Luke Adams

The Kings have promoted Rico Hines, announcing in a press release that they’ve named him an assistant coach and the club’s director of player development. Hines was the head coach of the G League’s Stockton Kings before joining Sacramento’s staff as a player development coach a year ago.

Kings Sign Vince Edwards To Camp Deal

December 17th, 2020 at 8:00am CST by Luke Adams

DECEMBER 17: The Kings officially signed Edwards on Wednesday, per RealGM’s transactions log. While Edwards was initially expected to compete for a regular season roster spot, I’m not sure he still has a chance to make the 15-man squad, given the delay in signing him.

NOVEMBER 27: The Kings are signing small forward Vince Edwards to a one-year, minimum-salary deal, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic (via Twitter). Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee tweets that it’s an Exhibit 10 contract, while Jason Jones of The Athletic says (via Twitter) that Edwards will have the chance to compete for a regular season roster spot.

Edwards, who was the 52nd overall pick in the 2018 draft, spent his rookie season on a two-way contract with the Rockets, but appeared in just two NBA games during his stint with Houston. He has spent the majority of his first two professional seasons playing in the G League.

In 69 total NBAGL games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Canton Charge, and Oklahoma City Blue, Edwards has averaged 9.5 PPG and 4.9 RPG on .417/.347/.654 shooting in 26.5 minutes per contest.

New Kings general manager Monte McNair previously worked in Houston’s front office, so he got a first-hand look at Edwards when he was a Rocket in ’18/19.

Luke Walton Hopes Bagley, Whiteside Will Be Ready Soon

December 12th, 2020 at 8:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Kings coach Luke Walton hopes Marvin Bagley III and Hassan Whiteside will be ready for preseason action next week, tweets Jason Jones of The Athletic. Bagley missed workouts because of COVID-19, while Whiteside is dealing with a mild calf strain.

Kings Waive Quinton Rose

December 11th, 2020 at 12:15pm CST by Luke Adams

The Kings have waived rookie wing Quinton Rose, according to the NBA’s official transactions log. He had been on an Exhibit 10 contract.

Rose, who spent all four years of his college career at Temple, went undrafted last month after averaging 16.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 3.5 APG in 31 games (33.4 MPG) as a senior.

Rose quickly reached an agreement with the Kings on a training camp deal after the draft and the two sides formally completed that signing earlier this week. The 22-year-old was only under contract with the team for a day, a signal that the Kings’ goal was to secure his G League rights. Assuming Sacramento participates in the 2020/21 NBAGL season, Rose appears likely to play for the Stockton Kings.

Sacramento now has 18 players under contract.

Kings Sign Quinton Rose To Exhibit 10 Deal

December 10th, 2020 at 7:15am CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

DECEMBER 10: The Kings officially signed Rose to his Exhibit 10 contract this week, per RealGM’s transactions log.

NOVEMBER 19: Temple guard Quinton Rose will be signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Kings, per Jason Jones of The Athletic (Twitter link). The deal can only be officially inked after the new league year starts.

The 6’8″ Rose tallied a slash line of 14.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 1.8 SPG during his four-year college career. Jones notes that the lengthy, athletic Rose is in line with the type of player that appeals to new Kings GM Monte McNair.

Rose will join Sacramento for the team’s training camp in the hopes of making its regular season roster, or that of their G League affiliate, the Stockton Kings.

Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year, minimum salary deals that can carry an optional player bonus ranging from $5K to $50K. For further information on these deals, check out our Hoops Rumors Glossary entry.

Marvin Bagley Missed Training Camp Workouts With COVID-19

December 9th, 2020 at 4:39pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Kings big man Marvin Bagley III contracted the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in Arizona ahead of Sacramento’s training camp, and as a consequence was unable to participate in individual workouts, according to Sean Cunningham of ABC10 Sacramento (via Twitter).

As he continues to go through COVID-19 protocol, the oft-injured center/power forward does not expect to play in the Kings’ first preseason game scheduled for this Friday, Jason Jones of the Athletic tweets.

Bagley said that he dealt with a headache and body aches during his first few days with the coronavirus, comparing it unfavorably with the flu, Cunningham notes in a separate tweet. However, he has since recovered and has been observing team practices and talking with coaches on the sidelines, Jones notes.

“I’m feeling great, man,” Bagley said, per James Anderson of the Sacramento Bee. “I’m feeling the best I’ve ever felt in a while. I took time this offseason to put more time into my body, just do everything in can control to make sure I’m on the court and available to my team.”

Drafted with the second pick in 2018 ahead of 2020 All-Stars Luka Doncic and Trae Young, Bagley has appeared in just 75 games for the Kings. In that time, he has flashed potential as a scoring force. He holds career averages of 14.8 PPG and 7.5 RPG in just 25.3 MPG.

Whiteside Dealing With Calf Strain; McNair Influencing Walton's System

December 8th, 2020 at 1:10pm CST by Luke Adams

New Kings center Hassan Whiteside is dealing with a mild calf strain and likely won’t be available for the team’s preseason opener, head coach Luke Walton said on Monday (Twitter link via Jason Jones of The Athletic).
Analytical data provided by new Kings general manager Monte McNair is expected to influence Walton’s new uptempo offensive system, as Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee writes. “It’s been great working with Monte,” Walton said. “We’ve talked and he’s going to bring ideas analytically to what he sees, and then at the end of the day I can take what ideas I want and leave the ones I don’t.”

Kings Discover Two Positive Coronavirus Tests

December 6th, 2020 at 3:33pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Kings have discovered two positive COVID-19 tests among their players, according to head coach Luke Walton, per Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee (Twitter link).

Jason Jones of The Athletic tweets that, in accordance with NBA protocols surrounding this information, Walton would not divulge the names of the players afflicted with the virus, or which players were working their way through injuries.

Anderson adds that those players have been quarantining since being alerted about their test results over the last few days. He tweets that the players tested positive last weekend, before Sacramento’s practice facility, the Golden 1 Center, was opened for players.

The Thunder and Trail Blazers also announced discovering multiple positive novel coronavirus test results among their organizations today.

A league determination on the status of this Friday’s scheduled preseason contest between the Kings and Trail Blazers remains up in the air at present.