Point guard Beno Udrih will be back with the Memphis Grizzlies next season after the team guaranteed his full $2.2 million salary on Sunday, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Memphis could have waived Udrih and only paid $923,000, but his return for the 2015-16 season was expected.
NBA offseason news 2015: Grizzlies pick up option on Beno Udrih
The Bucks have also denied reports of front office changes this summer.
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Udrih, 33, joined the Grizzlies last summer on a two-year deal with a partially guaranteed second year. He played well in 2014-15, averaging 7.7 points and 2.8 assists over 79 games as the backup to Mike Conley.
One of the rare NBA point guards who isn’t deadly from three-point range, Udrih depends on his slashing and passing skills to stay effective. He’s extremely inconsistent beyond the arc -- his three-point percentage dropped from 45 percent in 2013-14 to 27 percent last season -- and has never made it a big part of his game. Historically, he’s made just enough to keep defenders honest towards his complement of other skills.
Memphis already has a strong starting point guard in Conley, so Udrih can stick to his role playing 15-20 minutes a night off the bench next season. It's probably where he belongs at this point after being a starter with the Sacramento Kings earlier in his career. At an affordable price, it makes sense that the Grizzlies would want him back.
Bucks deny reports of Kidd taking over GM role
The Milwaukee Bucks have denied a report that head coach Jason Kidd is taking over the general manager role from longtime executive John Hammond. Jake Suski, a team spokesperson, says the news is "unequivocally not true" and that "our owners are extremely happy with the team we have in place and the tremendous strides we're making," per the AP's Jon Krawcznyski.
Team executive Alexander Lasry has also denied the move:
For those asking... Marc, Wes and Jamie are very happy with John as GM and Jason as coach. It's gonna be a great year!
— Alexander Lasry (@AlexanderLasry) July 6, 2015 On Sunday, a Milwaukee-based magazine reported that Kidd would be named GM of the Bucks this week, taking over for Hammond in addition to his role on the bench. The report says an announcement is set for July 10, although “it could be delayed until the entire Hammond situation was ironed out.”
Kidd joined the Bucks last year after a failed power play in Brooklyn, where he tried to take over basketball operations of the Nets after a year as head coach. Ownership didn't follow the plan, siding with GM Billy King, and traded Kidd's contract to Milwaukee before hiring Lionel Hollins.
So there's recent precedent of Kidd wanting control over personnel, and it makes sense that he would eventually push for it in Milwaukee. The Bucks were a pleasant surprise in Kidd's first season coaching the team, and are considered one of the top rising teams in the league with young players Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, Khris Middleton, John Henson, Michael Carter-Williams and others.
Hammond signed a three-year extension in 2013, and the team’s response to the report has been quick and strong. Maybe Kidd will get a larger slice of the decision-making pie eventually, but for now it appears his job title won’t change.
Lakers could include player in Roy Hibbert deal
The Los Angeles Lakers could send a player back to the Indiana Pacers as part of the deal for Roy Hibbert, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. It has been previously reported that the Lakers wanted to completely absorb Hibbert's $15 million salary without sending back pieces. While technically possible, the deal may end up involving other players.
The Lakers are working to recover this summer after falling short in their pursuit of LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Love and other big names. Hibbert -- a former All-Star who has fallen out of favor in Indiana with the Pacers trying to go small -- appears to be the centerpiece of that effort. He would immediately become the starting center in Los Angeles.
Along with the return of a healthy Kobe Bryant, the Lakers will also be adding No. 2 pick D'Angelo Russell, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams and veteran forward Brandon Bass. The team is still working out deals with the latter two, but says that it expects to do that soon. Williams will reportedly sign a three-year, $21 million deal.
All these moves will add up on the team's books. Hibbert and Williams will make more than $20 million next season and Bass won't be too cheap, either. One possible casualty of the movement is guard Nick Young, who will reportedly be unloaded to fit the new salaries.
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