Weekly Mailbag

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

What’s the latest on the potential of a Jahlil Okafor trade/release? — Dennis McDaniels, via Twitter

Okafor is in a difficult position. With the improved health of Joel Embiid and the offseason signing of Amir Johnson, the Sixers no longer need him, and as shown by their decision not to pick up his option for next season, they no longer want him. However, his trade value is very low, so that isn’t an option, and neither is a buyout because of the likelihood that he will sign with the Celtics. Boston was granted an $8.4MM disabled player exception in the wake of the Gordon Hayward injury and could easily fit Okafor on its roster. Plus, Okafor’s salary is a little less than $5MM, so the Sixers wouldn’t save enough to make a difference. Okafor isn’t an asset right now in Philadelphia, but he could be in Boston and the Sixers don’t want to take that chance. It’s a situation that probably won’t be resolved quickly and may linger through the end of the season.

If Derrick Rose retires mid-season, what should the Cavaliers do to replace him? — Dan Vachalek, via Twitter

Don’t look for any move right away. Once Isaiah Thomas returns from his hip injury, which is expected at some point next month, he will take over as the starting point guard. Dwyane Wade runs the second-unit offense, so there’s not a vital need to replace Rose. If the Cavaliers do add someone to the roster, he probably won’t last until January 10, which is the date when all salaries become fully guaranteed for the rest of the season. The Cavs already have luxury tax problems and can’t afford to add salary for a roster filler. Most likely, they will keep a spot open until after the February 8 trade deadline, so they can take advantage of buyout season.

With Larry Nance Jr. ready to return from his broken hand, should we expect a Julius Randle trade soon? — Lakers Lover, via Twitter

There have been rumors for months that Randle is on the way out, and those intensified when his contract wasn’t extended before the October 16 deadline. Randle is a very skilled, if somewhat undersized, big man, but his contract gets in the way for a team hoping to offer two max deals next summer. Randle is heading into restricted free agency and carries a $12.4MM cap hit, and the Lakers need all the cap room they can get to chase LeBron James, Paul George and other stars. Randle has been playing well of late, but Kyle Kuzma‘s emergence makes him more expendable than ever. L.A. would jump on a chance to trade him for expiring contracts.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Will the Bulls trade Nikola Mirotic in January? If so, what’s his value around the league? Personally I like his game, but if he’s not willing to play … Gotta receive something in return. — Hasun Rogers, via Twitter

The question stems from Mirotic’s refusal to forgive teammate Bobby Portis for their training camp skirmish that left Mirotic hospitalized with two broken facial bones. Representatives for Mirotic have told the Bulls he doesn’t want to be part of the team as long as Portis still is, which leaves the organization in an awkward position. Mirotic was expected to miss four to six weeks and it has been 31 days since the incident, so he should be cleared to return soon. Portis is playing well, averaging 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds since returning from a suspension, making him unlikely to be dealt.

Executive VP John Paxson made his stance clear this week, telling reporters, “They are adults. This is our workplace. They’re both part of the team. I think it’s pretty simple.” If Mirotic won’t return with Portis still there, it could lead to a standoff with the team and an eventual suspension. He can’t be traded until January 15 due to the terms of the contract he signed in the offseason. As far as trade value, keep in mind that Mirotic was on the market all summer without receiving an offer, so Chicago shouldn’t expect much in return.

The Sacramento Kings had good crop of rookies drafted recently, plus veterans Zach Randolph and Vince Carter, but they seem to have regressed vastly this early season. What do you think is wrong with the team? — Greg Dizon

The main problem with the Kings is that they’re in the very early stages of a rebuilding project. It started with last year’s trade of DeMarcus Cousins, and this year’s draft class was the second step. De’Aaron Fox might be a future star, but he’s only 19 and still learning how to play in the NBA. Fellow first-rounder and fellow teenager Harry Giles won’t play until at least January because of his injury history.

It will be interesting to see how long Sacramento holds on to Randolph, Carter and George Hill, who were brought in to be mentors to the young talent. Carter has a one-year, $8MM deal, so he should be easy to move to a contender by the deadline. But Randolph is signed for one more season at nearly $11.7MM and Hill will make $19MM next season and a non-guaranteed $18MM in 2019/20, so they might both be with the Kings beyond this year.

Will the Knicks sign LeBron James? — Tyler Eisloeffel, via Twitter

Only LeBron knows what he’s planning for July, and he may need to see how things play out for the rest of the season before deciding. Staying with the Cavaliers and joining the Lakers are the two safest bets, but the Knicks could be a dark horse if they stay in the playoff race and Kristaps Porzingis remains an MVP candidate. New York projects to have about $32MM in cap space, although player options for Enes Kanter, Kyle O’Quinn and Ron Baker could bring that figure down. Let’s say that the Knicks’ chances to land LeBron were zero when Phil Jackson was around, and are a little bit higher now.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Do you think the superb performance of Victor Oladipo makes the trade for Paul George seem not so bad and lopsided after all? — Greg Dizon

Not only has Oladipo been a surprise, so has Domantas Sabonis, which has quickly changed the public perception of the deal. It seemed like the Pacers were trying to get anything of value for a departing star when they shipped George to Oklahoma City, but they appear to have landed two promising additions to a young foundation. Oladipo is an early candidate for Most Improved Player, ranking 10th in the scoring race at 24.6 points per game. Sabonis filled in nicely at center while Myles Turner was recovering from a concussion, averaging a double-double with 13.2 points and 10.6 points per night. Give the Pacers’ new management team credit for this one. They were able to make the best of a difficult situation.

The Miami Heat have pieces, all sorts of them. They seem to have the sort of depth that is better suited for a trade than for merely holding onto. What, if any, type of move do you see Pat Riley making? — Rion Golden

Riley has a philosophy of chasing “the big fish,” so there probably won’t be a significant move until one of those becomes available. Eric Bledsoe doesn’t seem like a big enough name, and Jahlil Okafor certainly isn’t, so expect Riley to hold onto his assets until he can pursue someone he really wants, like possibly DeMarcus Cousins if things don’t go well in New Orleans. Miami is far over the cap for next season and doesn’t have any draft picks next summer, so trades are the only way for the Heat to improve quickly. Riley will go after someone, but he will be patient.

I agree he shouldn’t be on the top 20 list [of available free agents for 2018], but will Dante Exum garner much free agency interest? He has lost two years, but is a tall, athletic point guard. — Jimmy Robinson, via Twitter

Because of injuries, we never really found out how good Exum can be. He played a full season for Utah as a rookie in 2014/15, but has only appeared in 66 games since then. He has good size for a point guard at 6’6″, but only averages 2.1 assists per game and is a poor shooter [.385 from the field and .308 from 3-point range]. Plus he’s coming off his second major injury, a separated left shoulder that required season-surgery. Exum should get an opportunity somewhere next season, but he may have to accept a minimum-salary deal and start proving that he can play in the NBA.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

If a deal gets done with Eric Bledsoe going to Milwaukee, who are the players most likely leaving Milwaukee? — Dan Vachalek, via Twitter

A report this week said the Suns are asking for reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, along with either John Henson or Mirza Teletovic to help match salaries. The Bucks responded by offering Matthew Dellavedova, which won’t be enough to get the deal done. Dellavedova is nearly as old as Bledsoe and has more guaranteed money, which isn’t what the Suns are looking for. With Milwaukee unwilling to part with the rest of its young core, Brogdon seems like a fair price, and it’s probably the only way the Bucks can get a deal done.

How’s it different when an owner trades a player and it’s business, but when a player asks to be traded he’s selfish and punished? — Chane Miller, via Twitter

There’s unquestionably a double standard throughout sports where players are expected to live up to their contracts, but teams can treat the talent as disposable assets. We suspect comments this week by Phoenix GM Ryan McDonough about Eric Bledsoe‘s failings as a team leader weren’t well received around the league by players and their agents. It’s true that the disgruntled point guard is signed for one more year at $15MM, but it’s also true that he’s in the prime of his career and is trapped on a terrible team that hasn’t managed its assets well — that includes shutting down a healthy Bledsoe to tank down the stretch last season. As more power shifts to the players, asking for a trade like Bledsoe or Kyrie Irving did will become more common.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Will the Pistons blow up their roster? — Sundeep Kothari, via Twitter

It all depends on the results. Detroit has just one playoff appearance during the current decade and needs to give fans a reason to keep coming to the team’s new home at Little Caesars Arena. The postseason is certainly within reach in a weakened Eastern Conference, and the Pistons will probably still be in the race when the trade deadline arrives in early February. If something goes terribly wrong, the first player on the trading block will be Andre Drummond, who is owed more than $52.5MM over the next two seasons and has a player option of more than $28.75MM for 2020/21. Next would be Reggie Jackson, who had a disappointing season while battling injuries last year and is owed more than $35.1MM over the next two seasons. Detroit isn’t projected to have any significant cap room until 2019/20, so there’s no way to blow up the team without moving those two.

Are the Suns the worst team in the NBA? — Dalai Llama, via Twitter

Anyone who watched their season opener against the Trail Blazers or Saturday’s rout by the Clippers could certainly reach that conclusion. Phoenix has chosen to rebuild with youth and the results aren’t going to be pretty, especially with so many good Western Conference teams on the schedule. The Suns might have as much talent as the Bulls, Hawks or Nets, but playing in the West will put them in the running for the league’s worst record. With Phoenix so far from contention, it makes sense to find the best possible deals for Eric Bledsoe, who has one year left on his contract at $15MM, Tyson Chandler, who is signed for one more season at $13.585MM, and Jared Dudley, who has another year left at $9.53MM. It’s time to fully embrace the rebuilding process and use those assets to create a brighter future.

What do the Wizards have to do to get a good seed and advance to Eastern Conference finals? — Swaggtastic Jackson, via Twitter

The season-ending injury to Celtics forward Gordon Hayward improved Washington’s chances. Boston and Cleveland both had massive roster overhauls this summer, while the Wizards kept their key pieces together. Markieff Morris is expected to return next month from abdominal surgery, which will put all of last year’s starting unit back in place. The bench remains unremarkable, however, and won’t be easy to improve with Washington already projected to be in tax territory for this season and the next two. The front office will have to be aggressive with trades between now and February for the Wizards to reach the top of the Eastern Conference.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

How do you expect Rajon Rondo and Jrue Holiday to fit in with Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins this year? — Leonard Carollo 

On paper, it seems like an odd pairing as neither Rondo or Holiday is a prolific outside shooter who can provide spacing for the All-Star big men. Also, Rondo is 6’1″ and Holiday is 6’3″, so that gives the Pelicans a small backcourt that invites post-ups by opposing guards. On the other hand, Rondo and Cousins developed a chemistry during their season together in Sacramento in 2015/16, with Rondo leading the league in assists and Cousins averaging 26.9 points per game. New Orleans certainly elevated its talent level over the summer, but may need to find another shooter or two to contend for a playoff spot.

Cedi Osman seems like a star for Turkey. Do you think he’ll be a major contributor for the Cavaliers this season or just warm the bench? — Greg Dizon

Osman may have a bright future in the NBA, but the Cavs are built to contend for a title and there won’t be many minutes for any rookie, even a 22-year-old with extensive international experience. Cleveland sees Osman as part of its future. Former GM David Griffin acquired his rights in the 2015 deal that sent Tyus Jones to Minnesota, and the Cavs decided to dedicate a roster spot to Osman by giving him a three-year deal in July. But LeBron James in place at small forward and Jeff Green was signed over the summer, so Osman may have to go to the G League to get playing time.

James Young got waived by the Bucks this week. Can his NBA career really be over at age 22? — Jerry, via Twitter

Young came into Milwaukee’s camp as a long shot to earn a roster spot, so it’s not surprising that he was released. He cleared waivers Saturday and will be eligible to join the Bucks’ G League affiliate, which is going to have to be his path back to the NBA. It’s a shocking fall for someone who was highly regarded when the Celtics made him the 17th pick in the 2014 draft. He never found a comfortable role in Boston, and there were questions about his attitude and work ethic during his two seasons there. Young has a lot to prove in the G League before the Bucks or anyone else will give him another chance.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Did the Warriors’ level of concern in defending their title go up significantly with the Dwyane Wade signing? — Philip Malan, via Twitter

It’s hard to say if the Warriors are concerned about anything with so much talent on their roster, but Cleveland has been able to put together a very good offseason after a disastrous start. Wade adds more championship experience and figures to be energized after a wasted year in Chicago. It hasn’t been that long since he and LeBron James dominated the league in Miami, and their chemistry should redevelop quickly. The Cavaliers now have ridiculous depth on the wing that will be needed if they get into another Finals battle with Golden State. If Derrick Rose is playing as well as reports out of Cleveland indicate, the Cavs’ chances are as good as anyone’s to dethrone the champs.

Do you think LeBron will stay put next season now that his best buddy Dwayne Wade has joined the Cavs? — Greg Dizon 

LeBron’s intentions will likely remain a mystery until he announces them next July. Having Wade on board can only help Cleveland’s chances, but he will be a free agent in nine months as well, so he and James could leave in a package deal. Or they could stay in Cleveland and try to recruit Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony to form the “Banana Boat” squad that James talked about two years ago. The future remains unpredictable in Cleveland, and Wade’s presence doesn’t change that equation.

Do my Spurs have a chance to compete with the power teams that are now in the Western Conference? Do we need another superstar looking into free agency next year? — greecosuave1

San Antonio seemed to stand still this summer as the rest of the West got better — Rudy Gay was their only significant addition — so it’s easy to forget how good this team is. The Spurs won 61 games last season and extended their playoff streak to 20 years. Kawhi Leonard will still be an elite two-way player when he returns from a quadriceps injury, and there’s a very good supporting cast around him. By spring, San Antonio will be in its usual spot as a top contender and a threat to the NBA title. Looking ahead, Tony Parker‘s $15.45MM contract will come off the books after this season, and LaMarcus Aldridge, Danny Green, Joffrey Lauvergne and Gay all have player options, which could free up close to $43MM. So expect the Spurs to be aggressive on the free agent market in a year where there will be plenty of big names to chase.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

With Carmelo Anthony joining Russell Westbrook and Paul George at OKC, forming their version of a super team, what do you think are their chances of beating the Warriors or even winning the NBA championship this season? — Greg Dizon

Having three [or more] stars has become the path to an NBA title in recent years, so obviously that’s what the Thunder have in mind. The Warriors are obviously the toughest obstacle, but there are many others in an increasingly loaded Western Conference. The Rockets won 55 games last season and added Chris Paul. The Spurs won 61 games and added Rudy Gay. The Nuggets, Timberwolves and Pelicans all made moves to get better. Getting through the West won’t be easy, even with three great scoring options in Anthony, Westbrook and George. Then there’s the question of whether Anthony is still an elite player. Don’t forget that ESPN ranked him 64th in this year’s top 100 list, and he’s coming off four straight non-playoff seasons in a weak Eastern Conference. In a seven-game series with the Warriors, maybe the Thunder have the firepower to make it interesting, but they’ll have to make some moves to improve defensively to give themselves a fighting chance.

Who gets the ball when the game is on the line? — Boozybua, via Twitter

That’s one of the first questions to work out in Oklahoma City, just as it was for the Warriors when Kevin Durant arrived and for the Heat when LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade. Westbrook, George and Anthony are all used to being their team’s primary scorer and taking the important shots. Sometimes it takes a few months for everyone to get comfortable with their roles, but the best guess here is that the ball still belongs to the MVP. Westbrook will dictate play, not just in crunch time but whenever he’s on the floor, with George and Anthony settling into complementary roles.

How can the Knicks get rid of Joakim Noah’s contract? That’s the only bad situation they have now. Any realistic options? — Scottie2hottie, via Twitter

The Knicks will be paying nearly $38MM this season for the center combination of Noah and Enes Kanter, while Willy Hernangomez and Kyle O’Quinn might be better options. Noah is part of the Phil Jackson legacy, with $55MM still due over the next three seasons and the perception that he is done as a productive player at age 32. As we outlined earlier today, the Knicks could use the stretch provision, although they missed the deadline for this season, so it would only help with the final two years of the deal. Noah’s contract probably makes him untradable unless the Knicks are willing to take on an equally bad arrangement in return.

We have an opportunity for you to hit us up with your questions in this, our weekly mailbag feature. Have a question regarding player movement, the salary cap or the NBA draft? Drop us a line at HoopsRumorsMailbag@Gmail.com.

Why did Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander lure Chris Paul to create a super team with James Harden only to sell the team two months later? — Greg Dizon

When Alexander announced that the team was for sale in July, the decision seemed to come out of nowhere. Team president Tad Brown said the 73-year-old didn’t have any health problems, but the day-to-day responsibilities of owning a franchise “can wear on you after so many decades.” Alexander owned the team for 24 years and said he has other passions he wants to pursue. Profit was undoubtedly another motivating factor as Alexander bought the team for $85MM in 1993 and sold it for a record $2.2B. The presence of an All-Star backcourt in Harden and Paul no doubt boosted that price a little bit.

What will the Bucks do with Jabari Parker? — Dan Vachalek, via Twitter

There was a report this week that Milwaukee has started extension talks with the 22-year-old forward, but circumstances make it seem doubtful anything will get done before the October 16 deadline. Parker is believed to be asking for a five-year maximum-salary extension, but the situation is complicated by his injury status. He is recovering from the second ACL tear of his career and won’t play again until sometime in 2018. Parker has been productive when healthy, averaging 20.1 points and 6.2 rebounds in 51 games last season, but the injuries are a concern. The Bucks will probably let him become a restricted free agent and try to work out a long-term deal next summer.

How many games this year will Celtics get a combined 50 points from Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward? — bmitch, via Twitter

Any number would just be a guess and it could be affected by injuries or other factors, but it’s clear that Irving and Hayward will be the top two options in Boston’s offense. The Celtics traded away their three leading scorers from last season in Isaiah Thomas (28.9 points per game), Avery Bradley (16.3) and Jae Crowder (13.9) and lost Kelly Olynyk (9.0) and Amir Johnson (6.5) to free agency. That’s a lot of points to replace. It’s hard to say how many times they’ll reach 50 together, but Irving and Hayward will be the leaders of the offense for as long as they’re both in Boston.