The latest in lottery team news from the week — all in one place!
First up, there is big news out of Minnesota, as the Timberwolves and Ricky Rubio have agreed on a four-year, $55 million extension with the team. This agreement comes weeks after Rubio had turned down a four-year offer of around $48 million. Rubio is one of the best passers in the league. His jump shot has been criticized, but he has begun working shooting coach Mike Penberthy to improve this aspect of his game. With this deal, Rubio will make around $14 million per season. Go Ricky!
In other extension news, Utah guard Alec Burks signed a four-year, $42 million extension with the Jazz. Burks averaged 14.5 points per game last season, primarily used as a sixth man. This extension signals the Jazz are committed to their current young core after committing a large extension to Derrick Favors and matching Charlotte’s $63 million offer for Gordon Hayward.
Finally, the Cavaliers and Anderson Varejao are expected to agree on a three-year, $30 million extension. Varejao has spent his entire career in Cleveland, and despite his recent injuries, the Cavaliers appear to believe in the Brazilian center. $10 million per season is a lot to pay the 32 year old center, but the third year of the contract is a team option, which gives Cleveland potential cap flexibility should they decide to go another route and decline that final year.
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Speaking of Cleveland, the Cavs won in overtime in Chicago to avoid an 0-2 start. Lebron James was electric, but props to Tristan Thompson, who finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds — 12 of them offensive.
It’s reeeaalllly early, but let’s take a look at the lottery standings (we’ll be doing this every week, so you might as well get used to it):
[table id=41 /] [table id=42 /]Looking at the East, it isn’t too surprising that Philadelphia and Orlando are off to 0-2 starts given their rebuilding status. Milwaukee is 1-1, but if not for blowing a 24 point lead against the Hornets, would be 2-0, and looking like an early surprise team. The Bucks had the worst record in the league last season, but the return of Larry Sanders, and a slimmer, more determined O.J. Mayo (who is averaging 21 points a game off the bench) has been a big boost. Jabari Parker has looked good at times, and Giannis Antetokounmpo has been a nightmare to matchup with (just ask Gerald Henderson). Last night’s victory over the Sixers finished with Milwaukee holding Philadelphia to zero points in the last 8:21 of the game. One could chalk this up to the Sixers being the Sixers, but they are still an NBA team with players more than capable of scoring. No, credit goes to the Bucks, who at the time were only up one point, for locking in on defense.
In the West, Sacramento earned a home debut win against Portland. Rudy Gay finished with 40 points on an impressive 13-19 from the floor, including 3-4 from behind the arc. Darren Collison had a near triple double, finishing with 17 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds. Obviously it is too early to make any bold predictions about the Kings, but this is a strong early season win for them.
The Lakers competed with the Clippers last night, but fell short 118-111. It was close, but this play largely sums up the kind of season the Lakers are having so far:
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Finally, I’ll end things off with the lottery player of the week, and the lottery rookie of the week:
O.J. Mayo earns our lottery player of the week, after averaging 21 points, four assists, and three rebounds a game, with a PER of 32.93. This could just be mirage, as Mayo has been known to have stretches like this before going back to be well, inefficient, but let’s give credit where it’s due — Mayo looks a lot better so far. He’s in shape, he’s healthy, and shooting 60.9 percent from the field. The shooting percentage will drop, but if Mayo continues to have this kind of impact off the bench, the Bucks could be a little more dangerous than many expected.
Our rookie of the week goes to Nerlens Noel, who averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds this week. Philadelphia may be 0-2, but getting a double double out of Noel is the kind of season the Sixers should hope from him this season.
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