Tag: Evan Turner

Ohio State leads all Big Ten programs in players named to BTN’s All-Decade Big Ten basketball squads

BTN identified All-Decade Teams for Big Ten basketball and Ohio State led all programs in the conference with four players selected.

There’s no doubt Ohio State is a football school. But many forget that the Buckeyes are also a pretty good basketball school. In fact, if it weren’t for the pigskin, hoops would probably be what OSU is known for.

We’ve been through it before, but Ohio State leads all Big Ten programs in Final Four appearances, is tied for the most combination of Big Ten tournament and regular-season crowns than any other conference team, and has had a few player of the year awards to boot.

But that’s not all.

In another nod to the Buckeyes’ on-court performance, OSU led all Big Ten teams with four players selected to BTN’s Big Ten Basketball Teams of the Decade. In all, 24 panelists selected three teams and Ohio State had representation on all of them.

Aaron Craft and D’Angelo Russell both appeared on the Third Team, Jared Sullinger was named to the Second Team, and Evan Turner found his way onto the First Team.

Michigan State and Purdue tied for second place with three players across the All-Decade Teams, Indiana and Wisconsin can both brag about a pair of players, with Michigan and Minnesota both got one player each singled out.

You can get write-ups, video, and commentary on how these teams were selected and why by going directly to BTN’s website dedicated to the All-Decade Teams. And remember, the network will be doing the same for football. We’re pretty sure OSU will have some pretty good representation there as well.

 

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Evan Turner selected to All-Decade Big Ten basketball First Team by BTN

Former Ohio State star Evan Turner was selected to BTN’s All-Decade First Team by a panel of 24 personalities.

It’s the holy grail of notoriety, a First-Team selection. It’s even more special when it comes as part of a multiple-year award. That’s just what happened to former Ohio State guard/forward Evan Turner because he was selected by BTN to its All-Decade Big Ten basketball First Team on Wednesday.

Turner’s start to his Buckeye career was a bit rocky, often rubbing teammates and coaches the wrong way. But once he figured it all out, he blossomed into a two-time Big Ten First Teamer, and the NCAA’s Player of the Year in 2010.

He did it by doing a little bit of everything, but his senior year was special. That season, Turner averaged 20.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and just under 1 block per game. He was a stat sheet stuffer that also made those around him better while plugging away at 35 minutes per contest.

The rest of the First Team is still being unveiled, but as it is, we’ll have it updated for you. And in case you missed it, there was some Ohio State representation on the Second Team and Third Team as well.

Here’s the video that includes the rationale for picking Turner for the First Team by the 24-member panel at BTN.

 

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.

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If Ohio State was fielding a starting team based on current (sort of) NBA players, here’s what it would look like

If you could assemble a starting team in the NBA from just former Ohio State players currently on NBA rosters, what would it look like?

Just a few days ago, we put together a hypothetical NFL starting squad using only former Ohio State players on current NFL rosters. It was such a success, we decided to do the same thing with the basketball team. And while there’s not as many bodies to choose from, you could still put one together that wouldn’t be all that bad.

However, what is worth noting is that the Ohio State pipeline to the NBA has slowed down to a trickle. It’s no mystery why the success of the Buckeye team on the court in recent years has fallen off a little bit. When simply look at how many guys OSU is sending to the next level versus what was happening in the earlier days of the Thad Matta era, there has definitely been a decline.

Anyway, this exercise was pretty easy in one regard, but tough in another. There are only a total of four former Ohio State players currently in the NBA, so they make the team automatically. On the flip side, we had to go with a center that just left the NBA last year and is currently playing in Moscow, so yeah, we took some liberties there.

Anyway, off we go …

First up … The point guard

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2010 NBA re-draft: Sixers select John Wall at 2 instead of Evan Turner

In this NBA re-draft from 2010, the Philadelphia 76ers select John Wall rather than Evan Turner.

The 2010 NBA Draft was filled with future stars. From John Wall to Paul George to DeMarcus Cousins, there were a lot of talented players to pick from. The Philadelphia 76ers held the second overall pick in that draft and after Wall was selected, they selected Evan Turner out of Ohio State. Turner did not have the same kind of impact as his classmates, to put it kindly.

Fast forward 10 years later and now is the time for a re-draft. A lot has happened in those 10 years and there have been some impressive performances from this draft, but would Wall go number 1 again in the re-draft? Not according to most.

In this case, Bleacher Report has George being selected first overall by the Washington Wizards which clears the way for Wall to be selected by Philadelphia at number 2.

B/R:

The consensus No. 1 pick at the time, Wall mostly lived up to the hype in his first eight years with the Wizards before missing most of the past two seasons with major injuries. One of the fastest, most explosive point guards in the NBA over the past decade, Wall made five straight All-Star teams from 2014 to 2018 and was named third-team All-NBA in 2016-17.

Wall and 2012 No. 3 pick Bradley Beal led the Wizards to the franchise’s best stretch in years, gradually dragging the team out of the laughingstock years of the late 2000s into Eastern Conference respectability. Washington made the playoffs four out of five seasons from 2014 to 2018, and made the second round three times.

The one knock on Wall’s career has been his health. He suffered various knee and wrist injuries over the years that caused him to miss time, and during the 2018-19 season, he suffered a torn Achilles that has kept him out since.

Could you imagine a backcourt of Wall and Jrue Holiday with Andre Iguodala? That would be one of the longest and athletic lineups in the league. When healthy, Wall is one of the more explosive point guards in the league, and Holiday has the size to play some shooting guard which is what he does now on occasion for the New Orleans Pelicans.

As for Turner, he was selected 12th overall in the re-draft by the Memphis Grizzlies. During his time in Philadelphia, he did average 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.

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Ohio State basketball’s five recent postseason moments to remember

The postseason is dead as Coronavirus measures go into motion. To fill the void, here are five of Ohio State’s best moments to re-live.

The sporting world — okay the entire world — has been rocked by countless measures to try and curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus. Almost every single sporting event has either been canceled or postponed until further notice. That includes the end to any postseason run the Ohio State basketball team was going to embark upon

March madness has turned into March emptiness, but for good reason while the world gets this outbreak under control.

To fill the void left by no postseason tournaments, we’re throwing out a few pieces to take a few trips down memory lane and remember some of the most iconic moments in both the NCAA and Big Ten men’s basketball tournaments.

Here are five of the most memorable postseason moments in recent Ohio State basketball history.

Next … The big man saves the game with defense

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Checking in on the buyout market ahead of the March 1 deadline

The Boston Celtics don’t seem especially interested in this year’s potential buyout prospects, but there are still a few options which might make sense.

With less than 48 hours left to make a move on the buyout market for a player to be eligible to play in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, it’s looking more and more likely that the Boston Celtics will sit pat once again and make no moves.

But there are still some options out there that could shake free and be worth cutting a player for if the front office feels they need some depth.

Given starting point guard Kemba Walker’s health has been less than optimal of late as he nurses a balky knee back to health, picking up a reserve floor general or at least a ballhandler with some scoring or shooting ability seems like it would be at the top of Boston’s wish list.

And with reserve center Robert Williams III poised to return to action today in limited minutes against the Houston Rockets, the frontcourt rotation is looking much better than it was several weeks ago.

So, the backcourt or wing would appear to be the team’s primary need for a reserve player — the question is who might be available to fill such a roll?

Let’s start with the unlikely options still worth considering.

While not a ballhandler nor backcourt player, Cleveland Cavaliers’ big man Tristan Thompson is likely the most impactful player left as a possibility for a last-minute buyout.

But he isn’t likely to start over Daniel Theis most nights, and isn’t likely to be bought out as a Klutch Sports client — none of whom have taken one to date.

Another high-impact but low-odds option would be now-New York Knick center Maurice Harkless. A little more mobile, he wouldn’t be a terrible fit, but isn’t going to get a big role and seems to like his new home, as odd as that may sound to some.

And again, as a frontcourt player, not really a priority.

Now, let’s look at the rest of the field of potential buyouts, which are few and far between, but also a better fit.

The Sacramento Kings may not see a future with Kent Bazemore on board, especially given they’ve been struggling to fit Buddy Hield into a starting role after signing him to a very big contract.

While there’s no official chatter linking him to a buyout, it’s also not out of the question that he could end up securing a last-minute liberation either.

He’s not especially good as a ballhandler or distributor, but would add some much-needed scoring off the bench with a perimeter game that’s respectable if not especially efficient.

While the odds are low, it’s still a situation to monitor.

Detroit Piston Langston Galloway and New York Knick Wayne Ellington are a pair of shooting guards who do a similar thing for the Celtics who could also be bought out before the end of the day on Sunday, but there isn’t any strong indications they’ll be cut lose in time, either.

However, old friend Evan Turner is a wing actively working with his current team — the Minnesota Timberwolves — to get out of his current deal.

And while he’s never really been much of a shooter, he can serve as a second-unit distributor and ball-handler while adding some respectable midrange and near-basket offense.

He also knows head coach Brad Stevens and the Celtics’ system, and has played with Marcus Smart while with Boston.

The question will come down to whether it makes sense to cut wing Javonte Green, who was providing some deep rotation minutes earlier in the season, but has since fallen out of favor with Stevens for reasons unknown.

Still, it seems the franchise rightly values team chemistry highly, and even if Green hasn’t been producing on the court, his value to the team might exceed the impact of his salary.

Making just under $900,000 this season, it makes the Virginian the more likely player to be cut in such a scenario.

Odds are in favor of no moves being made ahead of the buyout deadline on Sunday, but if one does happen, it seems likely that Turner would be the most logical option barring a surprise, last-minute candidate shaking free.

Taking into account the fact that the team has lost only two games in their last 13, the feeling may well be that it’s not worth making waves on such a well-run ship.

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How the Wolves can still avoid the luxury tax

The Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves above the luxury tax line after making several trades ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Being above the luxury tax is not ideal considering the Timberwolves have the league’s fourth-worst record. Teams that …

The Minnesota Timberwolves found themselves above the luxury tax line after making several trades ahead of the NBA trade deadline. Being above the luxury tax is not ideal considering the Timberwolves have the league’s fourth-worst record. Teams that perform this poorly generally avoid it, but the Timberwolves had to take on more incoming salary in order to complete their trade with the Golden State Warriors.

Although the deadline passed more than two weeks ago and all contracts are fully guaranteed for the rest of the season, the Timberwolves can still get under the luxury tax. They are close enough to it ($1,136,269) that they can pull it off through buyouts and/or the waiver/claim process. Not only that, but they can also create significant enough space that allows them to fill out the rest of their roster afterward.

ROUTE A: BUYOUTS

The most straightforward way for the Timberwolves to reduce their payroll right now is through a buyout. Forward Evan Turner is already in the process of meeting other teams with the expectation he will be bought out ahead of the March 1 playoff-eligibility deadline. Guard Allen Crabbe is also a potential buyout candidate.

Players usually give back to their previous teams the amount of money their new team will pay them. For the most part, it is the equivalent to their respective prorated minimum salary. For Turner and Crabbe, their daily cap hits are $13,173 and $11,461, respectively. Each day that passes without a buyout is one less day for a new team to pay them, which means less money being surrendered in an eventual buyout to the Timberwolves.

For example, if Turner and Crabbe both get new teams committed to sign them to prorated minimum rest-of-season deals on February 22, they could finalize buyouts with the Timberwolves that day and sign with their new teams on February 24, two days after clearing waivers. Turner and Crabbe’s prorated minimum salaries on February 24 are $684,988 and $595,971, respectively. Combined, that is $1,280,959 that would be surrendered in their buyouts, which would put the Timberwolves $144,690 below the luxury tax.

Although they would be under the luxury tax after those buyouts, they would eventually go over it again in order to meet the 14-player league minimum roster requirement. This particular route would’ve been successful had they done it right after the trade deadline since both players would have given up more money. However, players usually don’t agree to buyouts until they have a new team lined up, so there wasn’t much the Timberwolves could do.

The expectation is that at least Turner will secure a buyout, but for the Timberwolves’ tax avoidance goal, hopefully, there is a bidding war for him. If a team offers more than the prorated minimum salary, such as one that has their mid-level exception (MLE) or a disabled player exception (DPE) remaining, Turner would give back around the same amount to Minnesota. For example, if the Lakers sign Turner using their $1.75 million DPE, the $1.75 million surrendered in his buyout would put the Timberwolves $613,731 below the tax. That is plenty of space for them to fill out the rest of the roster while avoiding the luxury tax altogether.

ROUTE B: WAIVE A PLAYER THAT ANOTHER TEAM WILL CLAIM

Another path for the Timberwolves to get under the tax and avoid it while fulfilling roster requirements is to waive a player whose salary is large enough to create the space but small enough to be claimed by another team. The Miami Heat did this last season when they reluctantly waived Rodney McGruder. They outright waived him, meaning his entire salary would have stayed on their payroll as dead money but because he was claimed by the Los Angeles Clippers, his cap hit was wiped off the Heat’s payroll.

The Timberwolves have two newly acquired players that so far aren’t in their future plans and could potentially be candidates to be waived: Omari Spellman and Jacob Evans. Both players were acquired alongside D’Angelo Russell so the Warriors can get under the luxury tax, but doing so pushed the Timberwolves over it. Both players are on the second season of their rookie contracts and as of now are only guaranteed for 2020-21, with an upcoming team option for 2021-22.

There is no rush for the Timberwolves to go through this route as it can be done towards the end of the year, just like the Heat did with McGruder last season. Let’s say they decide to waive Spellman ($1,897,800), who earns less than Evans ($1,925,880), and they have assurances of a team willing to put a claim on him. Teams must either have cap space (no one), or a traded player exception (TPE) equal to the amount of Spellman’s salary (Cleveland and Houston, for example) to claim him. If successfully claimed, the Timberwolves would be $761,531 below the luxury tax.

The Timberwolves could look to do a combination of the two routes in order to maximize space below the tax and create additional roster spots. Two-way players Kelan Martin and Jordan McLaughlin have been in the Timberwolves rotation but are limited by their 45-day two-way clock. They could use their post-buyout/waiver space below the luxury tax to sign both players to rest-of-season deals. They could also lock them in for at least three seasons with the remainder of their MLE ($3.7 million remaining as of February 22).

Covelli Center to host The Basketball Tournament and Carmen’s Crew

If you enjoyed Carmen’s Crew winning The Basketball Tournament last year, get ready. It’s all coming to the Covelli Center this summer.

For the first time ever, The Basketball Tournament will be coming to the campus of Ohio State according to a statement release from the university Tuesday.

The Ohio State alumni, better known Carmen’s Crew, is all set to begin its quest to defend its title in the new Covelli Center from July 23-26 as a part of the Columbus Regional. If you didn’t get in on all the fun last year, The Basketball Tournament is 64-team $2 Million winner-take-all tournament that has historically been televised live on the ESPN family of networks.

“There’s no better place to have the tournament,” Evan Turner said as a part of the statement from Ohio State. “I think that it’s going to be so special and fun to play at a place where we all became men. I think our guys are going to show up and show out and make the Buckeye faithful proud. This is definitely something I’m excited for and can’t wait to be part of and I know everybody in the city feels the same way!”

You can also count Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann as a big believer in bringing the tournament to campus.

“Our program prides itself on welcoming back our former players and having Carmen’s Crew back on campus for the Columbus Regional of The Basketball Tournament takes that to a new level,” Holtmann said. “Buckeye Nation will once again be able to cheer on legendary Buckeyes in our newest modern facility, the Covelli Center. TBT will be yet another opportunity for Carmen’s Crew to continue its success playing in Columbus in front of our tremendous fans.”

Carmen’s Crew has captured the attention of Buckeye Nation over the last three years as it has made some pretty deep runs in the tournament only to fall just short. It finally captured its first TBT title last season, knocking off four-time reigning champion Overseas Elite in the semifinals, then disposing of the Marquette alumni team known as the Golden Eagles to capture the mountain of cash.

“We’re excited to partner with The Ohio State University to bring TBT to the Covelli Center,” TBT founder and CEO Jon Mugar said. “Watching Carmen’s Crew dethrone Overseas Elite last year was unforgettable. It was especially meaningful for the thousand Carmen’s Crew fans that shared in the two million dollar prize. There’s no better place for the team and its fans to begin its march to defend its title than back on campus at Ohio State.”

The winners of each region will advance just down the road to the University of Dayton Arena for the championship rounds August 6-11.

The full roster for Carmen’s Crew has yet to be announced, but former Buckeyes Aaron Craft and Jon Diebler are expected to play and be coached by Jared Sullinger and Evan Turner once again according to the statement.

We’ll keep an eye on how the roster shapes up as we get closer to summer, but with a few more seats available in a fantastic and shiny new venue on campus, the environment should be off the wall.

 

 

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Analyzing every deal from 2020 NBA trade deadline with Ben Golliver

Alex Kennedy and Ben Golliver break down every deal from the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the biggest winners/losers, possible buyouts and more.

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On this episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Alex Kennedy is joined by Ben Golliver of the Washington Post. They break down every deal from the 2020 NBA trade deadline, the biggest winners and losers, possible buyout candidates and more. Time-stamps are below!

1:35: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest winners of the deadline.

5:12: Alex and Ben discuss their biggest losers of the deadline.

7:55: Did the Golden State Warriors make the right move trading D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Andrew Wiggins and a top-three protected 2021 first-round pick? Alex and Ben debate whether Golden State should’ve waited to see if a better offer emerged over the offseason, what to expect from Minnesota’s new-look team and more.

13:50: Breaking down the three-team deal that sends Marcus Morris to the Los Angeles Clippers. How much better does Morris make them? And what does this deal mean for the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards?

16:05: Alex and Ben discuss Darren Collison’s options if he decides to make an NBA comeback. If you were Collison, would you sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers or another team (such as the Denver Nuggets or Philadelphia 76ers, who have shown interest in him)?

20:15: The Cleveland Cavaliers added Andre Drummond and they didn’t have to give up very much to the Detroit Pistons. Alex and Ben discuss the trade, why they like the move for Cleveland and what Detroit was thinking. They also talk about what this trade says about the evolution of the NBA.

25:10: Alex and Ben discuss the four-team, 12-player trade between the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. They break down Atlanta’s acquisition of Clint Capela, Houston’s addition of Robert Covington and the Rockets’ decision to go super small.

32:45: The Miami Heat acquired Andre Iguodala in a three-team deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, parting ways with Justise Winslow, Dion Waiters and James Johnson. The Heat also added Jae Crowder and Solomon Hill from the deal. Alex and Ben discuss Iguodala’s fit in Miami and the two-year, $30 million extension he signed with the Heat, as well as Memphis’ return for the 36-year-old.

37:25: Alex and Ben rattle off the remainder of minor deals that went down before the deadline and discuss their significance.

39:25: After the trade deadline, focus shifts to the buyout market. Alex and Ben talk about a number of veterans who could potentially be bought out and what kind of impact they could make on a contending team.

D’Angelo Russell traded to Minnesota Timberwolves

According to reports, former Ohio State star D’Angelo Russell has been traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Former Ohio State star D’Angelo Russell has been traded from the Golden State Warriors to the Minnesota Timberwolves. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Russell had a break-out year last season with the Brooklyn Nets where he averaged 21.1 points and made his first All-Star team. He was acquired by Golden State after the year in a sign and trade deal, but rumors had circulated recently about him being shopped around.

Now, it has become reality. Russell will join former Ohio State national player of the year Evan Turner in Minnesota who was just recently acquired in a four-team trade earlier this week.

In return for Russell, Golden State will receive Andrew Wiggins, a 2021 protected first-round pick, and a 2022 second-round pick. The Timberwolves will also receive Jacob Evans and Omari Spellman from the Warriors.

Russell had been building upon a fantastic season last year by averaging 23.6 points per game and almost seven assists, but now he’ll have to deal with a fresh start up in Minnesota.