Offseason Beat: Dante's Inferno
While the August NBA doldrums don’t typically generate much more than a training camp invite in the wind, we have a fair amount of action as Team USA’s Las Vegas mini-camp prepares to get underway. We’ve got injuries, uncertain futures, Phil Jackson ripping someone he just signed and boiling tempers in the desert.
Dante Exum’s Doomsday
We’ll begin with Dante Exum’s torn ACL. As an author – as a human, with real emotion – you cringe when writing that sentence about someone who makes their career as a professional athlete, but it’s especially hard to watch it happen to young players during the offseason. Unfortunately for Exum, who was set to enter his sophomore season as Utah’s starting point guard as the Jazz look to make their playoff dreams a reality, he’ll have to watch his club from the bench all season. While it doesn’t have to be a totally lost season for Exum’s development as he’ll be able to train and improve during his rehabilitation process – not to mention be able to view the game from a different perspective, a valuable exercise for a young point guard looking to carve out a lengthy career in a changing NBA – his injury leaves the Jazz vulnerable at a critical spot.
Fellow Rotoworld hoops junkie (and New York Mets fan, I might add) Mike Gallagher broke down the Exum situation in depth, and it’s going to be on Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert carrying the load at both ends of the floor. While the club has some real talent on the wings in Alec Burks and Rodney Hood, both have injury concerns of their own and neither is a replacement at the point for Exum.
Kobe Bryant’s Future
Retirement at the conclusion of the 2015-16 NBA season has been the expectation for Kobe Bryant ever since he signed his golden parachute of an extension (two years, $48.5M) in late 2013. And after his Achilles tear was followed by a knee fracture before ultimately a torn right rotator cuff, few anticipate Bryant continuing to play beyond his 20th professional season. Despite the conclusion of two decades seemingly at a perfect time for Bryant to transition into the next chapter of his life, KB – a lifer in the game of basketball – refuses to say that with certainty.
In a wide-ranging interview with Yahoo Sports’ Marc J. Spears, Kobe reiterated that retirement is a decision to be made at a later date.
Q: Would you want a farewell tour?
Kobe: “It’s hard to do that type of stuff because I don’t know if I’m going to retire or not. It’s not a swan song when it all has not been written.”
Kobe is going to be the most interesting candidate in fantasy drafts for the upcoming season due to the volatile mix of emotion and reality that goes into selecting him, but there’s no reason anyone should feel compelled to reach for him inside the top 50 selections.
New York Knicks Continue to Add Depth
Although Phil Jackson’s New York Knicks haven’t set off the fireworks that some people – Carmelo, how’s it going? – might have desired, Jackson’s second attempt at the offseason has gone much better than his first. Arron Afflalo improves the Knicks’ terrible shooting guard situation on both ends of the floor, Robin Lopez shores up the gaping black hole that was in the middle of the Knicks’ defense and Derrick Williams brings someone who isn’t Andrea Bargnani to the bench, an achievement that already has him in the good graces of greater New York City.
The Knicks should have announced the Sasha Vujacic signing on Instagram with the hashtag of #TBT, because that’s where it belonged. New York signed the 3-point shooter to a guaranteed deal for next season, a clear indication that he’ll be on the team. This is the same Vujacic who was once the recipient of this evaluation from the same man who just signed him,
“We just had to come to the conclusion that Sasha’s just an emotional player that plays by the seat of his pants, and that’s about it. He just doesn’t have a brain.”
So that should be fun.
New York also brought in big man Kevin Seraphin with their $2.8 million room exception. Although it’s a fine signing, it’s hard to see how Seraphin fits into the picture. After also signing Kyle O’Quinn to a four-year deal to serve behind Lopez, Seraphin slots in as the third string center behind those two. Anyone championing the pact as a bargain needs to realize there is a reason Seraphin was available at this point and at this price in the offseason. He’s not going to take minutes from either Kristaps Porzingis or Carmelo Anthony at power forward, not to mention Derrick Williams, so Seraphin’s role will be limited at best.
The Knicks concluded their offseason with the inking of Thanasis Antetokounmpo, but with just a $75,000 guarantee in his contract, it’s going to be on the Greek Freak’s brother to show the Knicks that he should be kept around for longer than just training camp.
Super Mario’s Not Bringing the Coin
In what has been an ongoing topic since before the June draft, the Miami Heat are still shopping Mario Chalmers to any team that would take him. Dealing off Shabazz Napier, their 2014 first round pick, in exchange for a future second-rounder that they’ll never see, the Heat clearly aren’t worried about selling low in exchange for flexibility and purchasing power. And when Pat Riley is running the show, those are two very good things to have, even when it comes at a short-term loss.
Chalmers could draw the interest of a team like Utah, New Orleans, New York or the Los Angeles Lakers, but it’s hard to see those clubs having the incentive to pay Chalmers’ contract. And if Miami is going to pay Chalmers to play elsewhere, they may as well keep him on the roster and hope for a Rio Revival Tour.
Jamal Crawford Headed For a Trade?
Jamal Crawford has been dropping subtle Twitter hints all summer that he might not have been the happiest of campers, and we might just have our clearest indication yet that his future could reside outside of Los Angeles.
After arguably looking like the odd man out following the Clippers’ fast and furious offseason that could be turned into a Hollywood script, Cleveland Cavaliers beat writer Chris Haynes went as far as to say that Crawford would “love” to be a part of the Cavs’ organization. That’s a strong stance to take on a player who is under contract, but there are certainly signs that would seem to support Crawford’s desire to explore a role elsewhere.
It’s hard to imagine the Clippers rolling the dice on JR Smith in a potential double sign-and-trade scenario considering Los Angeles’ already volatile mix of personalities in the locker room, but Smith did find success under Mike Woodson in New York, and Woodson is now an assistant on Doc Rivers’ staff. Just sayin’.
Markieff Morris’ Not-So-Certain Future
After Markieff Morris watched the Phoenix Suns deal his twin brother Marcus to the Detroit Pistons in a salary dump this offseason, it’s hard to suggest that he’s happy. He took to Twitter to express his displeasure after Marcus was sent packing, and after arriving in Detroit, Marcus wasn’t shy about expressing his opinion regarding Markieff’s current – and his former – team.
“Everybody knew how bad I wanted to play with my brother,” Marcus Morris said. “Phoenix knew. For them to trade me without consent or telling or anything like that was kind of like a, I would say slap in the face, because of the contract I took from those guys and the money I took from them. That was kind of a slap in the face.”
Now, the Suns may have to wind up dealing both players – who signed extensions with the club just last season – as a result of the deal that sent Marcus to the Motor City. According to Arizona radio host John Gambadoro, Morris wants out of Phoenix and won’t talk to the staff or his teammates.
In an otherwise successful offseason for the Suns, dealing with the Morris Twins has turned into a nightmare.
News and Notes Around the League
Report: Jason Terry has offer from New Orleans Pelicans
Jason Terry’s agent is trying to leverage the Houston Rockets into making a better offer, but The Jet doesn’t have much fuel for his charted course now that the Rockets have both Ty Lawson and Patrick Beverley in the backcourt to support James Harden.
T.J. Warren, Phoenix Suns’ Starting Small Forward?
The Suns would love nothing more than for Warren to push incumbent P.J. Tucker for the starting small forward spot as Phoenix looks to reboot its dual point guard project, and it sounds like he’s up to the challenge after a successful first season in the D-League. He’s an interesting name to watch and stash away as a potential sleeper candidate should his development continue to trend in a positive direction through training camp.
Kevon Looney Facing Hip Surgery?
A hip issue was the reason Kevon Looney fell to the Golden State Warriors at the end of the first round in the 2015 draft, but even after enjoying a successful summer league, surgery may still be an option for the first-year UCLA product.
“We might have to look into having a procedure done, but I don’t see it as any long-term, chronic issue,” GM Bob Myers said. “…We’re taking the time to make the right decision. We need him more in years two, three, four and beyond than we do this season.”
Brandon Bass Enjoying Celtics-Lakers Rivalry
Brandon Bass, who has now found himself on both sides of the historic Boston-Los Angeles relationship, seems to be enjoying things from his current view with the purple and gold.
“I think they are trying to win by any means necessary,” Bass said. “It ain’t about rebuilding, it ain’t about nothing else but winning by any means necessary.
Danny Ainge, your thoughts?
Report: Toney Douglas Signs with Pacers
After just being waived by the New Orleans Pelicans, Toney Douglas didn’t have to wait long to find his new home with the Indiana Pacers.
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