Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

International Notes: McGruder, Pokusevski, Abu Dhabi, International Stars, Korkmaz

Former NBA guard Rodney McGruder has signed with Italian club Reyer Venezia, according to a release from the team (hat tip to Sportando).
McGruder appeared in 317 games (132 starts) from 2016-23, registering career averages of 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. He played most extensively for the Heat during that time, making 112 of his starts in a Miami uniform. In his first season in the league, McGruder finished in eighth in Rookie of the Year voting after starting in 65 of the Heat’s ga...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Heat Notes: Adebayo, Offense, Johnson, Larsson, Herro, Rozier

Heat star center Bam Adebayo continues to be a selfless member of Miami’s core, Ira Winderman of South Florida’s Sun Sentinel writes. Even though he could have potentially made significantly more next year if he made an All-NBA team or was named Defensive Player of the Year, Adebayo agreed to a three-year, $166MM extension with the Heat this summer. He explained the decision to go ahead and sign the contract now.
“Got to be smart,” Adebayo said. “First you take care of things now. And after two...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Raptors Notes: Boucher, Barrett, Quickley, Dick

Chris Boucher is entering his seventh season with the Raptors at age 32, and his long tenure with the team is a testament to his skill and professionalism. He entered his stint with the Raptors on an Exhibit 10 deal, battling it out for a two-way contract. He was with Toronto for the club’s 2019 championship and has since fluctuated between being a sixth man, key rotation piece, and veteran mentor.
However, his 14.1 minutes per game last season represented his lowest mark since the 2019/20 seaso...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Southwest Notes: Grimes, LaRavia, Sheppard, Castle, Barnes

The Mavericks acquired young guard Quentin Grimes this offseason, providing him with a change of scenery that brings him closer to his hometown of Houston, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News writes. Grimes believes his skill set can help a Dallas team looking to head back to the NBA Finals.
“I feel like with the unselfishness and the amount of freedom everybody has, I’ll be able to show more like how I did in New York,” Grimes said. “Whenever somebody was down and injured, I was always able...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Northwest Notes: Williams, Hartenstein, Caruso,

Thunder big man Jaylin Williams has been ruled out for the remainder of training camp and the preseason due to a right hamstring strain, according to Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman.
Upon his return, Williams is poised to back up a crowded frontcourt that is composed of Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein. Coach Mark Daigneault was especially complimentary of what Williams brings to the table.
“Those guys are really, really verbal players,” Daigneault said. “Defensively especially, that position...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Central Notes: Rondo, Tyson, Okoro, Jerome, Duren, White

When Rajon Rondo got married this summer, his first NBA coach Doc Rivers was one of the attendees, Baxter Holmes of ESPN writes. Rivers motivated and encouraged Rondo to get into the coaching sphere this season.
That’s exactly what Rondo is doing, as he’s serving as a guest coach for the Bucks during training camp. According to Holmes, Rondo will remain with the Bucks through the rest of the season in an unspecified role. Rondo has said he “absolutely” hopes to be a head coach some day.
“There’s...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Pelicans Notes: Murray, McCollum, Ingram, Johnson

New Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray is hoping to get back to the defensive level he showcased as a member of the Spurs before joining the Hawks. As William Guillory of The Athletic writes, Murray has displayed during training camp practices that he’s still capable of being that kind of player, making a series of impressive steals and deflections.
The Pelicans ranked sixth in defensive efficiency over the past two seasons due in part to their ability to create turnovers. According to Guillory, the...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Heat Notes: Bryant, Love, Little, Smith, Quinn

The Heat invested in the backup center position this offseason, committing two years to 36-year-old Kevin Love and bringing back free agent big man Thomas Bryant despite already having signed Love and drafting Kel’el Ware 15th overall.
Bryant’s decision in particular came under a microscope, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald writes, as it was assumed that he was asked to opt out of his previous contract that would have paid him $2.8MM with a promise that he could come back on a new minimum deal...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Sixers Notes: Embiid, Maxey, McCain, Yabusele

By all measures, Joel Embiid‘s NBA career has been a resounding success. Having burst onto the scene in 2016 after missing his first two seasons with injury, Embiid has won an MVP award, received seven All-Star nods, has an Olympic gold medal and, as Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated writes, has locked in over $500MM in total (past and future) career earnings.
However, Embiid has never made it past the second round of the playoffs during his tenure with the Sixers. From 2017-23, Embiid’s teams...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Lakers Notes: LeBron, Russell, Davis, Wood, Redick

LeBron James is feeling optimistic about the Lakers while entering his record-tying 22nd year in the NBA, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin writes.
“I feel damn good,” James said Monday. “I had a great summer. … I feel really good physically. Mentally, I feel really good. Really sharp. Very fresh. Looking forward to getting to work tomorrow. I have not thought about what the future holds. Kind of just living in the moment. Especially with Bronny (James) being here, too. I don’t want to take this moment for...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Southeast Notes: Wizards, Valanciunas, Hawks, Heat Camp

The Wizards are content to continue developing their young talent and laying the groundwork for a successful future, Varun Shankar of The Washington Post writes.
“It’s process over outcomes,” head coach Brian Keefe said on Monday. “I’m a competitor. I want to win, but I want to go into the stuff that gets us to win. … How we prepare, how we handle practices, how we handle shootarounds, how we handle film sessions. Those are the things that’s going to build us to be a sustainable winner.”
Washing...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Timberwolves Notes: Edwards, CBA, Towns, Minott

The Timberwolves shook things up in a massive way just before training camp by trading away fan favorite and four-time All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns. Anthony Edwards has evolved into one of the league’s premier players since his league debut in 2020, and the trade signals the organization’s faith in him. Still, Edwards was surprised by the trade of one of his close friends, as detailed in a story by ESPN’s Myron Medcalf.
“I think everybody knows [Towns] is my brother,” Edwards said Monday. “So tha...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Central Notes: Mitchell, Allen, Thompson, Bitim

For the first time in his Cavaliers tenure, Donovan Mitchell didn’t have to sidestep any questions about his future on Monday after signing a three-year, $150.3MM extension this offseason, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes.
“From the minute I got here I told my mom, I think I was just like, ‘Yo, I really like it here,’” Mitchell said Monday. “For me it was just a no-brainer. I’ve known for a little bit that this was my decision. It’s finally good to have a media day where we’re not talking abo...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Heat Notes: Butler, Spoelstra, Herro, Richardson

After the Heat fell in the first round of the 2024 playoffs to the Celtics, team president Pat Riley drew attention when he challenged star Jimmy Butler to miss fewer games and keep his mouth “shut” instead of trash-talking Boston. Riley was noncommittal about the idea a Butler extension and all eyes turned to the Heat’s six-time All-Star for a response.
That response came during Monday’s media day and Butler’s comments were nothing but professional and team-oriented, Barry Jackson of the Miami...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Bucks' Alston Headlines Wednesday Cuts

The Bucks waived forward Philip Alston on Wednesday, according to the NBA’s transaction log. Alston had been signed to an Exhibit 10 deal.
The 6’6″ forward went undrafted this year after two seasons at Loyola Chicago. In his junior and senior seasons, he averaged 13.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 45.1% from the field. If he reports to the Bucks’ G League affiliate Wisconsin Herd and spends at least 60 days with the club, he’ll be eligible for a bonus worth up to $77.5K.
By waiving Alst...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Central Notes: Livingston, Mathurin, Pacers, Pistons Rotation

Still just 20 years old, Bucks forward Chris Livingston has a year of professional ball under his belt after being the final pick of the 2023 draft. Despite being a contending team with few available minutes for a rookie, the Bucks showed their confidence in Livingston by giving him a multiyear deal when many players drafted before him received two-way offers.
Now, Livingston is hoping for more minutes with Milwaukee to help the team take another step forward, Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Jour...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Thunder Notes: Expectations, Trade Philosophy, Jones, More

The Thunder are being projected to finish atop the Western Conference standings again this season after winning 57 games in 2023/24. However, general manager Sam Presti doesn’t think the team is simply entitled to the outside perspective on them; he knows they have to prove it, writes Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman.
“The difference is that external expectations are things that some people think should happen,” Presti said, “and possibilities are things that we feel could happen, but we have a lot...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Heat Notes: Rozier, Questions, Jovic, Christopher

Terry Rozier spent the past five months recovering from a neck injury that prevented him from suiting up for the Heat‘s first-round playoff series against the Celtics. As Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes, Rozier  has been cleared for five-on-five play ahead of his first training camp with Miami.
“I’m still the same old Terry when I play,” Rozier said. “Whatever happened in the past, I won’t let it affect how I play. … I’m going to play how I play. But nothing affects how I go now. I’m s...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Landry Shamet Signs Exhibit 9 Deal With Knicks

3:18pm: Shamet signed a non-guaranteed Exhibit 9 contract with New York, the team announced (via Twitter).
9:29am: Free agent guard Landry Shamet agreed to a one-year contract with the Knicks, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
It’s unclear exactly what type of deal Shamet is signing with the Knicks, but I’d be somewhat surprised if it was fully guaranteed. New York signed Chuma Okeke to a non-guaranteed one-year deal earlier this season. Shamet, Okeke and perhaps other playe...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Lakers' Pelinka, Redick Talk Roster, Lack Of Trades, Health, More

Addressing the media alongside head coach JJ Redick on Wednesday, Lakers executive VP of basketball operations Rob Pelinka said it will take about 30 or so games to properly evaluate the team’s 2024/25 roster.
The Lakers only added four outside players this offseason, bringing in Dalton Knecht and Bronny James via the draft and adding two-way players Armel Traore and Christian Koloko. The team will primarily be banking on good health luck and internal improvement to take a step forward in the We...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Jalen Brunson Signs Four-Year Extension With Knicks

4:55pm: Brunson’s extension with the Knicks is now official, according to a team press release (Twitter link).
“Jalen signing his extension to remain with the Knicks for the long-term shows the dedication and passion he has for the organization, the fans and this city,” Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. “Jalen has often called the Knicks his family and we are beyond proud to have him wear and represent our orange and blue for years to come. Jalen has embraced every challenge since...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Scotto's Latest:

The Clippers are showing interest in free agent guard Tyus Jones in sign-and-trade scenarios, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports in his latest around-the-league notebook.
While this is just speculation on Scotto’s part, the Clippers could look to use some combination of the expiring contracts of P.J. Tucker and Russell Westbrook or draft compensation and Bones Hyland in sign-and-trade scenarios for the Wizards guard.
Jones, our No. 15-ranked free agent, averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 assists per...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Groups Revealed For 2024 NBA Cup

The NBA has announced the five-team groups for this year’s in-season tournament, now renamed the Emirates NBA Cup, the league announced in a release on Friday (Twitter link).
Like last year, there are six groups — three each from the Western Conference and Eastern Conference — and each conference was split into five groups based on last year’s standings. One team was selected at random from each group to determine the group round matchups.
The results are:
The NBA Cup begins with group play, whi...

Hoops Rumors • October 7 2024

Pistons Hiring Luke Walton As Assistant Coach

The Pistons are hiring Luke Walton to join J.B. Bickerstaff‘s coaching staff as the lead assistant, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). As noted by Charania, Walton has spent the last two seasons serving as an assistant coach in Cleveland under Bickerstaff.
Walton played in the NBA for the Lakers from 2003-12 and then spent the 2012/13 season with the Cavs before retiring. He then enjoyed brief stints as an assistant for the University of Memphis and the now-South Bay Lake...