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Heat SG Duncan Robinson not shooting so great this season

Miami Heat shooting guard Duncan Robinson hasn’t taken a step upward this season. Via the Sun Sentinel:

I had been downplaying this for a while now, citing how Duncan Robinson has expanded his game, including cuts to the basket, finishing at the rim, upgrading his overall defense. And I still believe there have been significant upgrades in those areas. But the reality is that what made Duncan so special last season largely has been missing this season: the ability to go on game-changing 3-point streaks. So what the Heat have to figure out ahead of free agency are two things: Have NBA defenses figured out Duncan Robinson? And even if they have, is his impact on those defenses still impactful from the perspective of freeing up others on offense? On one hand, you hate to allow players to simply walk in free agency. On the other, can the Heat afford to go eight figures annually on a player, who, at the moment, is 73rd in the NBA in 3-point percentage, albeit tied for 10th in 3-pointers per game?

Robinson is 6th on the team in scoring this season, averaging 12.7 points, shooting 41.9% FG and 38.5% 3FG.

Last season, he averaged 13.5 points, shooting 47% FG and 44.6% 3FG.

Heat struggling from three-point range this season

The Heat have an issue that needs fixing. Via the Sun Sentinel:

The Heat (22-20) made nine of their 34 3-point attempts (26.5 percent) in their 137-110 loss to the Pacers, wrapping up a week in which they shot 28.3 percent from beyond the arc on 36.3 attempts per night across four games.

The recent 3-point showings only further displayed one of the more perplexing developments for the Heat this season: how they went from one of the NBA’s best 3-point shooting teams just a year ago to one of the league’s worst this season.

The Heat are 22-20 this season, which is the 4th best record in the Eastern conference.

Duncan Robinson is taking 8.5 three-pointers per game and hitting 38.5% 3FG. Kelly Olynyk shoots 5.7 threes per game, hitting 32.8% 3FG. Tyler Herro shoots 5.6, hitting 32.9% 3FG. And Kendrick Nunn shoots 5.5, hitting 35.1% 3FG.

The team is shooting 34.5% from three this season, which ranks them just 27th in the NBA, ahead of the Wizards, Cavs and Rockets.

Center Mitchell Robinson set to return for Knicks

The Knicks are set to welcome center Mitchell Robinson back to action. Via the New York Daily News:

The Knicks center, who has missed 15 straight games with a broken hand, was cleared to play ahead of Sunday against the Sixers at the Garden. Robinson was officially listed as questionable because the team wanted to see how he responded to Saturday’s afternoon practice, but then the center tweeted, “I feel toooooo gooooodddd bro I’m ready.”

Coach Tom Thibodeau said the plan is to eventually integrate Robinson back into the starting lineup, even though Nerlens Noel has performed well in his extended absence.

The Knicks are 21-21 this season, which ties them with the Hornets for the 6th best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2020-21 are Julius Randle at 22.9 points per game, and RJ Barrett at 17.2 ppg.

Rockets trade P.J. Tucker, Rodions Kurucs to Bucks for D.J. Augustin, D.J. Wilson, draft pick

The Houston Rockets have traded forwards P.J. Tucker and Rodions Kurucs to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard D.J. Augustin, forward D.J. Wilson, and the Bucks first round pick in 2023.

The Rockets also received the right to swap their 2021 second round pick for Milwaukee’s 2021 first round pick (Top 9 protected), while the Bucks re-acquired their 2022 first round pick which Houston obtained from Cleveland as part of a four-team trade earlier this season.

Augustin (6-0, 183) was originally the ninth overall pick by Charlotte in the 2008 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Texas. In 901 career games with 326 starts, he has averaged 9.7 points, 4.0 assists and 1.9 rebounds while shooting 37.9% from 3-point range.

Over the past three seasons, Augustin was one of five players to have averaged at least 10.0 ppg and 4.0 apg while playing fewer than 26.0 minutes per game. Rockets head coach Stephen Silas was an assistant coach with Charlotte during Augustin’s final two seasons with the Bobcats from 2010-11 through 2011-12.

Wilson (6-10, 224) was originally the 17th overall pick by Milwaukee in the 2017 NBA Draft following his junior season at Michigan. He appeared in 119 career games for the Bucks while averaging 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.9 minutes per game.

While on assignment in the G League the past three seasons, Wilson averaged 16.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.9 3-pointers made on 38.2% shooting. He was the recipient of Michigan’s Rudy Tomjanovich Most Improved Player Award in his final collegiate season.

Tucker spent the past three and a half seasons with the Rockets while averaging 6.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.18 steals in 268 games with 220 starts. Since the start of 2012-13, he has played the most games of any player in the league.

Kurucs was acquired by Houston from Brooklyn earlier this season as part of a four-team trade with Cleveland and Indiana. He appeared in 11 games as a Rocket.

James Harden is having yet another amazing season

James Harden, traded by the Rockets to the Nets in mid January, continues to prove that he’s the rare type of superstar who can move mountains on a basketball court. Via the New York Post:

Where would the Nets, who are tied for the lead in the Eastern Conference, be without trading for Harden? Durant hasn’t played since Feb. 13 but the Nets are 12-1 without him as part of an extended 14-1 stretch. Irving was on a personal leave of absence when Harden was acquired and he has sat out three games during the recent surge, including Wednesday’s win over the Pacers, due to various shoulder and groin injuries.

“James is so elite he’s able to make the big plays that very few people can make down the stretch,” Nash said after coaching Harden through his 11th triple-double (40 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds) in 42 minutes on Wednesday. “When he plays that many minutes, he stuffs the stat sheet. I could go on and on about James and the nuances of what he does all night, but he definitely is a winner, a leader, and an elite, elite performer.”

The Nets are 28-13 this season, which ties them with the Sixers for the best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2020-21 are Durant at 29.0 points per game (just 19 games played), Irving at 27.6 ppg, Harden at 25.7 ppg, and Joe Harris at 14.7 ppg.

Kings forward Marvin Bagley III out at least four weeks with hand injury

Sacramento Kings forward Marvin Bagley III (left fourth metacarpal fracture) consulted with a hand specialist and it has been determined that surgery is not required.

The Kings say there should be an update on Bagley’s status in around four weeks.

Bagley in 37 games played (all starts) this season is averaging 13.9 points (.502 FG%, .354 3pt%, .560 FT%), 7.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 25.7 minutes per game.

LaVar Ball says he hopes Pelicans trade Lonzo Ball

LaVar Ball hasn’t been heard from much this season, but with the NBA trade deadline approaching he has come out with his latest headline-snatching quotes. Via the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

The NBA trade deadline is exactly one week away, and the New Orleans Pelicans have a difficult decision to make about the future of their backcourt.

Lonzo Ball is in the final season of his rookie deal. New Orleans must decide if it wants to cut bait on the improving but inconsistent 23-year-old, or hold onto him and enter restricted free agency, where it would have to reward him with a new deal or risk losing him for nothing.

In an appearance on ESPN radio in Los Angeles on Thursday, LaVar Ball, the outspoken patriarch of one of America’s most well-known basketball-playing families, said he hopes his oldest son gets moved.

“I don’t know what they’re going to do,” LaVar said. “I hope he gets traded, though. Here’s the thing. I don’t like watching him play like he plays.”

The Pelicans are 17-23 this season, which ties them with the rebuilding Thunder for the 11th best record in the Western conference. A disappointing season so far.

They’re being led in scoring by Zion Williamson at 25.6 points per game, Brandon Ingram at 23.9 ppg, then Ball at 14.2 ppg.

For the season, Ball is averaging 4.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting 42.6% FG and 38.9% from three-point range.

Pistons sign forward Tyler Cook to 10-day contract

The Detroit Pistons have signed forward Tyler Cook to a 10-day contract.

Cook, 6-8, 255, averaged 20.8 points (60% FG), 9.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists this season in eight games with the Iowa Wolves of the NBA’s G League. Overall, he’s averaged 14.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 37 career G League games (18 starts).

Cook has seen action in 17 career NBA games with Cleveland, Denver and Brooklyn and averaged 1.5 points and 0.9 rebounds while shooting 60% from the field and 87.5% from the free throw line.

The St. Louis, MO native played collegiately at the University of Iowa where he averaged 14.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists in three seasons with the Hawkeyes.

Raptors thoughts heading into the NBA trade deadline

As the trade deadline approaches, it needs to be determined who this season’s real Raptors are. Via the Toronto Star:

Are the Raptors the team that started 2-8 and is currently in a 1-9 swoon? Or are the Raptors the team that rattled off a 14-6 run in between that included wins over all the big boys of the Eastern Conference and showed they still have some big-time fight in them?

It is not easy. And deciding what to do may be harder this year for the president and general manager than it has been at any point in the seven-year run of post-season appearances the Raptors are in danger of seeing broken.

In many ways, it makes no sense to do anything of substance and to ride out the season before making any startling moves.

The Raptors can be good — they can be very good, in fact — and while they certainly have a hole to climb out of, there’s reason to think they won’t.

The Raptors are just 17-23 this season, which is the 11th best record in the Eastern conference. They’re being led in scoring by Fred VanVleet at 19.9 points per game, Pascal Siakam at 19.8 ppg, Norman Powell at 19.7 ppg, Kyle Lowry at 17.8 ppg, Chris Boucher at 14.3 ppg, and OG Anunoby at 13.8 ppg.

Warriors center James Wiseman reportedly out for at least the next week

Warriors center James Wiseman will be out for at least one week. Via the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

James Wiseman’s return to FedExForum will be delayed until next season after the Golden State Warriors rookie and former Memphis Tigers standout entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols Wednesday night.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr said that Wiseman is out for at least seven days and remaining in Houston, making him unavailable for Friday and Saturday’s games in Memphis against the Grizzlies.

It would have been Wiseman’s first game in FedExForum since Nov. 8, 2019. He appeared in three games with Memphis before the school declared him ineligible and the NCAA suspended him for 12 games due to alleged violations during his recruitment.

The Warriors 21-20 this season, which is the 9th best record in the Western conference.

Wiseman this season is averaging 11.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 20.8 minutes per game.

The team’s leading scorers this season are Stephen Curry at 29.0 ppg, Andre Wiggins at 17.2 ppg, Kelly Oubre Jr. at 15.2 ppg, and then Wiseman.