Month: September 2018

Dion Waiters still recovering from ankle surgery

Dion Waiters played just 46 games for the Heat two seasons ago, and just 30 games last season. Both seasons combined, he started all but three of those games, Clearly a core member of the team when healthy, though he struggled with his shot in 2017-18 (39.8% FG, 30.6% 3FG). Where’s he at now? Still on the Heat, still recovering from ankle surgery, and perhaps a few pounds bigger than he’d want to be. Here’s the Miami Herald reporting:

With photos of Dion Waiters going around social media, Spoelstra was asked if the guard is in the type of shape the Heat would expect as he works to return from January ankle surgery.

“Taking everything into consideration, yes,” Spoelstra said Thursday. “He’s working. Either you’re going to be on the court with us … if you’re healing from something, we’re going to find something you’re able to do to work your cardio and be smart about it. That’s the biggest thing.”

Spoelstra said Waiters is meeting the expected conditioning thresholds. Waiters continues to miss practice, but he is with the team at FAU for training camp.

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Anthony Davis and Julius Randle could do big things together

Anthony Davis no longer has DeMarcus Cousins as a teammate, but new squad member Julius Randle could do big things next to him. The two form one of the most interesting frontcourt combos in the league, and are worth keeping an eye on, especially early in the season to see how well they learn to play together. Of course, chemistry development takes time. Here’s The Advocate reporting:

“The stuff I’ve seen (Julius) do with the Lakers has been awesome,” Davis said. “His ability to be a playmaker. His ability to score out of the post on anybody. It can be bigger guys or smaller guys. He’s going to go through your chest and get a bucket, go to the line. He’s another guy who can do pretty much everything. When you have a guy like that, it’s hard not to be excited to play with a guy like that. I’m excited to see how it flows in a game.”

Collectively, David and Randle averaged 44.2 points and 19.1 rebounds last season for their respective teams. That’s 28.1 points and 16.1 rebounds for Davis and 16.1 points and 8 rebounds for Randle.

Randle looks forward to the possibilities.

For the first time in his NBA career, he’ll be playing alongside an MVP-caliber player.

“I’ve never been in a situation where I got to play with a player like AD,” Randle said. “For me, I feel like it makes my job a lot easier. I can just go out there and do what I naturally do, which is play hard. Everything else works itself out because he takes so much pressure off all of us. We already know hat he can do on both ends of the floor and how he affects the game.”

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On Rudy Gobert`s offensive development

Rudy Gobert’s defensive ability is widely known, but here’s the Salt Lake Tribune with some insight on his offensive development:

Opponents could really reduce Gobert’s effectiveness in seasons past by preventing him from facing and rolling the rim, but he’s trying to develop counters to that: a quick hook shot if he happens to have his back to the basket, and a not-exactly-deft but still effective floater if he’s stopped short. And yes, if the situation requires, a mid-range jumper to hold up his end of the offensive bargain.

Improving his strength was also a big focus of Gobert’s offseason: bumps impacted Gobert’s lanky frame more than most players, so his effective finishes in practice can become ineffective in game traffic. With more lower body and core strength, he’s hoping to be more sturdy, to be able to handle more contact.

For what it’s worth, he also says that the lower body work he’s done has made him a quicker player on the perimeter, for when the league’s elite role players force the Jazz into a switch.

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More on the Knicks starting lineup

The Knicks starting lineup this season can’t be predicted right now. Not if what new head coach Dave Fizdale is saying will hold up, that the five starting jobs really are up for grabs. Of course, Kristaps Porzingis, when fully healthy, is expected to be a core starter. As for the rest of the team? Here’s the New York Post with more on this:

Tim Hardaway Jr. said he believes coach David Fizdale will make the right call on starters and won’t play favorites. Fizdale has opened up the competition for all five spots.

On the surface, Hardaway has an advantage, having known Fizdale for longer than any other Knick. Fizdale was first Miami’s video coordinator in 1997-98 when Hardaway’s father, Tim Sr., played for the Heat. And Tim Sr. was a scout for the team when Fizdale became a Heat assistant.

It would be an upset if the $71 million man isn’t starting at shooting guard opening night versus Atlanta on Oct. 17, but the 26-year-old Hardaway won’t win the job because of the close relationship between Fizdale and Hardaway’s father.

“He doesn’t show any favoritism to myself, treats everybody equal out here on the floor,’’ Hardaway said. “Growing up, knowing Fiz, going back to the days of my dad playing with the Heat, Pat Riley, he knew when I was out here running on the court as a little kid. Me going back after college, during college, and watching the Heat in the playoffs, saying a few words [to him]. It was just mutual respect.”

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Tomas Satoransky feels ready to do big things for Wizards

Wizards shooting guard Tomas Satoransky is 6-foot-7, 210 pounds, will turn 27 years old a few weeks into the upcoming regular season, and was taken in the second round of the 2012 NBA draft. He received limited minutes as a rookie in 2016-17, but last season averaged 7.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 22.5 minutes per game, shooting 52.3% from the field. Solid numbers for a backup only in his second NBA season, though age-wise he should be approaching his prime any season now. Perhaps this one. Here’s NBC Sports Washington reporting:

The Wizards clearly wanted to see more from him last season and he took that to heart.

“That’s what these two years have taught me, never be sure of your situation or position,” Satoransky told NBC Sports Washington. “On the other hand, I feel very confident now. I also feel confident knowing how things go and how I can be patient when I’m not playing. I still have to work hard, which I do every time. But I feel confident knowing everything and there is a big difference coming into something where you have no idea what’s going to happen.”

The Wizards explained their decisions to bring in other point guards, a process which also included trading for Tim Frazier last summer and signing Ramon Sessons in March, as not an indication of Satoransky’s shortcomings. Instead, they wanted him to develop at other positions and use his athletic 6-foot-7 frame in other ways.

Head coach Scott Brooks even mentioned this after Wednesday’s training camp practice.

“Tomas, he is very versatile. He can play a lot of different positions on both ends of the court. We have to use that,” Brooks said.

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On Lakers training camp

NBA training camps quickly lead to preseason games. Really, all of preseason can and should be thought of as one collective training camp. Still, teams have a lot to accomplish in the brief time they have between formally beginning camp and playing preseason games. As for the Lakers, here’s the Daily Breeze with some notes:

The Lakers have only five days of camp this year before playing Sunday, which doesn’t leave much time for the team bonding activities of years past. But Walton said the Lakers are looking for opportunities: Last year, they did an Escape Room on the road. They’ll likely do something comparable as they go to San Diego, Las Vegas and San Jose for this year’s preseason.

“There is a break in between right before the regular season starts,” he said, “where if we are up to speed to where we want to be and able to, we will find something fun to do as a group.”

Walton said he’s treating the preseason games as part of training camp, so it’s probable that James and other players with big roles will have truncated minutes in the contests. James said he didn’t expect to play “a bunch” of minutes but that he would defer to Walton for his preseason workload.

Point guard Lonzo Ball participated in practice but did not play in the scrimmage. Walton said center Ivica Zubac (illness) wasn’t available, and sideline reporter Mike Trudell reported that rookie big man Moritz Wagner sat out as well.

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Danny Ainge discusses Kyrie Irving

Entering the 2018-19 season (preseason starts Friday!) the Celtics are the clear East favorites to reach the NBA Finals. But, the games must still be played. Nothing is automatic. A big thing for Boston is getting a healthy Kyrie Irving back in action, alongside of course Gordon Hayward, who missed roughly 99.9% of last season and is now good to go. Here’s Danny Ainge discussing Irving, as reported by the Boston Herald:

As for what he’s looking forward to most with Irving back from his knee maintenance issues that necessitated a second surgery when an infection was found, Ainge said, “I think just having Kyrie’s leadership around the whole year, having him be on the court. He did a lot of good things, like texting the players. He was the biggest cheerleader for Jaylen (Brown) and Jayson (Tatum) and Terry (Rozier) and Marcus (Smart/Morris) and all those guys last year when he wasn’t playing.

“But just having him on the court at the end of games is the thing I’m looking most forward to and having a guy that can beat switches and make shots and make lots of plays. He’s a very special player.”

Ainge is getting no additional pleasure from the fact Irving is talking more about his future in Boston beyond this season in recent interviews. This after being fairly coy about his plans after he does as expected and opts out of his deal next summer to sign a more lucrative and lengthy contract.

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Knicks starting spots wide open

Knicks head coach Dave Fizdale seems wide open to new ideas, including a possible total overhaul to the team’s starting lineup. Here’s the NY Post with more:

Knicks starting spots wide open

Enes Kanter and Tim Hardaway Jr., both starters last season, make significant salaries. Kanter will make $18.6 million in his final year and Hardaway Jr. has three years and $54 million left on his pact.

President Steve Mills lavished that $71 million deal on Hardaway Jr. in his first move after being promoted from general manager upon Phil Jackson’s dismissal.

On Tuesday, Fizdale threw all five jobs open.

“Didn’t I answer that question already?” Fizdale said with an edge after Wednesday’s first of two practice sessions. “No one is promised a starting position. I got freedom to do what I want to do from my bosses over there. So it’s open. Don’t matter if you make a lot of money or you make a little money. If you earn the spot you play. That’s it.”

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Heat, Timberwolves discussing a Jimmy Butler trade

Jimmy Butler wants out of Minnesota. The Timberwolves are looking into making it happen. Here’s the Miami Herald with the latest:

Heat, Timberwolves discussing a Jimmy Butler trade

The Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves continued discussing a trade involving disgruntled guard Jimmy Butler on Wednesday amid a New York Times report that Butler has informed the Timberwolves that he would prefer to be traded Miami.

The Heat, Wolves and other teams have discussed various permutations in the Heat’s aggressive pursuit of a trade for the four-time All-Star, who has asked for a trade and informed the Timberwolves that he would not re-sign with them as a free agent next summer.

An executive with another Eastern Conference team said he believes Miami is the leading contender for Butler but that wasn’t based on anything the Wolves have told him.

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Warriors taking it slow with DeMarcus Cousins

The Warriors are the clear favorites to win another NBA championship, and now they have DeMarcus Cousins on board to help make that happen. But Cousins will spend a big chunk of the season regaining full health. The Warriors have no reason to rush him. Here’s NBC Sports Bay Area reporting:

DeMarcus “Boogie” Cousins, the Warriors’ most celebrated offseason addition, joined his new teammates Tuesday for the first official workout of training camp. And he wasn’t exactly an idol bystander.

“He did a lot of stuff before we started at 11,” coach Steve Kerr said. “We had a lot of action on the floor from about 9 to 11. All the young guys were on the floor at 9 o’clock, 9:30, and DeMarcus did a ton of movement stuff, court work, ball-handling and shooting stuff on his own.

“But he did not take part with the team. We’re just taking it slowly with him. But I don’t think it’ll be too long before he’s really taking part in practice. But for right now, it’s important that he gets his full workout.”

Whoa. The word “slowly” should be modified to the phrase “very, very slowly,” with no idea when Cousins might fully participate in practice.

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