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Mavericks Close To Signing Kelenna Azubuike

March 23rd, 2012 at 9:23am CST by Luke Adams

9:23am: If he passes his physical, Azubuike will sign a minimum-salary contract for the rest of this season and will receive a team option for next season, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. The initial plan is for Azubuike to join the Mavs' D-League affiliate, the Texas Legends.

9:08am: The Mavericks are closing in on a deal with Kelenna Azubuike, according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. Azubuike will need to pass a physical, which as Sefko points out, is no sure thing, given the 28-year-old's multiple surgeries in recent seasons.

Azubuike played four seasons with the Warriors, but has not appeared in an NBA game since the 2009/2010 season. In 205 career games in Golden State, the 6'5" shooting guard averaged 10.6 PPG and 4.0 RPG in 24.4 MPG.

The Mavericks waived Sean Williams yesterday, so if they finalize a deal with Azubuike, they have an open roster spot.

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Celtics Sign Ryan Hollins, Waive Chris Wilcox

March 23rd, 2012 at 9:13am CST by Luke Adams

The Celtics have officially signed Ryan Hollins and waived Chris Wilcox, according a team release. The moves leave Boston with a full roster of 15 players.

Hollins, 27, was waived by Cleveland earlier this week. The 7'0" center has struggled this season, averaging 3.7 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 24 games for the Cavaliers. However, the Celtics were in need of frontcourt depth, having lost Wilcox to a heart condition and Jermaine O'Neal to season-ending wrist surgery. Wilcox was facing unrestricted free agency at season's end, so Boston will just have to pay his salary for the rest of 2011/12.

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com first reported that the Celtics were expected to land Hollins, while USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt reported an agreement had been reached.

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Kevin Love Talks Future In Minnesota

March 23rd, 2012 at 8:26am CST by Luke Adams

Kevin Love signed a four-year extension in January that should keep him in Minnesota until at least 2015 (he can opt out of the final year of the deal). When Love and the Timberwolves agreed to that extension, the team received some criticism for not simply offering its star forward a maximum five-year contract. The fact that Love can opt out after three years raises questions about his long-term future with the T-Wolves, a topic the All-Star discussed with Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

"For me, at the end of the day, I want to win. My first three years were 24 wins, 15 wins, 17 wins," Love told Spears. "Now things are finally turning around. Losing Ricky [Rubio to a season-ending knee injury] was terrible for us. We didn’t make a move at the deadline, which is tough. But we just got to rock with the guys we have now…. At the end of the day, if we continue to progress as we get older, learn the system, learn to play together, things are going to look up for us. But am I going to be here my whole career? That’s really up in the air."

When superstars like LeBron James and Dwight Howard have considered leaving their teams to sign elsewhere, terms like "marketability" and "brand" have been used liberally. The idea that playing in a bigger market increases a player's off-court opportunities is one that Love acknowledges.

"Building a brand is definitely big," Love said. "If someone said they didn’t want to do that they’d be lying to you. If you win everything takes care of itself. That’s how greatness is formed. But guys in bigger markets are going to get more endorsements because that’s just what sells."

With a solid core in Love, Rubio, and rookie Derrick Williams, the Rick Adelman-coached Timberwolves appear to be headed in the right direction. The continued growth of the club over the next few years will be crucial in Love's eventual decision on whether to stay or go.

"Heading into my prime, if I’m here all four years, I’ll have my chance to pick and be 27," Love said. "I will have my chance to go wherever I want. But if we are rolling? Who’s to say what will happen."

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Iverson Refutes Dominican Republic Report

March 22nd, 2012 at 10:13pm CST by Luke Adams

10:10pm Gary Moore, Iverson's agent, says that Allen has not signed nor is considering signing with any team, according to the Associated Press (via ESPN.com).

It's odd that Nunez would make such an announcement, especially if it wasn't true. Iverson was reportedly shocked by earlier reports that he had agreed to a deal.    

3:15pm Allen Iverson has reportedly signed a one-month contract in the Dominican Republic to play for Pueblo Nuevo, according to BasketballDominicano.com (via Sportando). Team president Milton Nunez said Iverson will arrive this weekend and will earn about $22K, according to the report.

Iverson, who last played in the NBA in 2009/10 with the 76ers, had drawn interest from a number of international professional leagues, including those in Puerto Rico and Venezuela. The 36-year-old, who scored more than 24,000 career points for the Sixers, Nuggets, Pistons, and Grizzlies, is still hoping to make his way back into the NBA.

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Kobe Discusses Buss, Brown, Odom

March 22nd, 2012 at 9:50pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Although a high level of shock and sudden nostalgia propagated throughout the city of Los Angeles after Derek Fisher had been traded last week, Kobe Bryant acknowledged that those feelings will have to be pushed aside when the two friends face each other in Fisher's return to the Staples Center one week from tonight, and also if they meet in the playoffs: 

“I’m going to demolish him. He understands that. If he switches off on me in the post, there’s going to be problems. I’m sure he’ll put an elbow right in my back, and that’s why we love each other.”

He later added, "The most disrespectful thing we could do to each other is take it easy on each other. That’s not what we’re about."

Kobe has continued to be candid with his thoughts in general during the past few days:

  • Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles cited an interview with Mason and Ireland of 710 ESPN, in which Kobe called owner Jim Buss a "great guy," proclaimed that the Lakers are a "championship caliber team," and questioned those who ruled them out of contention. 
  • Brian Kamenetzky of ESPN also referenced the same interview, noting that Bryant supports Mike Brown along with the current coaching staff and doesn't view the topic of whether or not to start Ramon Sessions as a major issue. 
  • After last night's win in Dallas, Kobe came to the defense of Lamar Odom after he was booed by his own crowd at the American Airlines arena. In a post game interview, Bryant chastised the fans for booing his former teammate, calling it "stupidity" (Tim McMahon of ESPN Dallas reports).  

 

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Central Notes: Irving, Bucks, Lucas

March 22nd, 2012 at 8:56pm CST by Ryan Raroque
There are several significant storylines to follow in the Central Division as it relates to the standings. The first place Bulls are hanging onto a three game lead over the Heat, and both are on a three-game winning streak. While it may not be likely that the Pacers overtake Chicago for top of the division, Indiana sits just two games behind the Magic for a chance at third place and homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks, who are currently on a league-best six-game winning streak, are one game behind the Knicks for the eighth and final playoff spot. Beyond that, here are some other things we've heard from the Central:  
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Odds & Ends: McCants, Free Agency, Parker

March 22nd, 2012 at 5:59pm CST by Ryan Raroque
The annual March Madness tournament has seen 64 teams become reduced to the Sweet Sixteen, half of which are battling tonight to advance to the Elite Eight. Today, Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com released a list of his top prospects heading into June's NBA draft, and 16 out of the 30 players are on teams that are still active in the tournament. Madness aside, let's see what else is happening around the world of basketball: 
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Vinny Del Negro On Hot Seat?

March 22nd, 2012 at 4:47pm CST by Luke Adams

Grantland's Bill Simmons tweeted last night that Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro "is on super-thin, could-go-any-day ice" in Los Angeles, and a report by ESPN.com's Chris Broussard seems to corroborate that suggestion. According to Broussard, tensions are high in the Clippers' locker room, with many players believing that it's time for a change.

"Vinny has lost the team," one source told Broussard. "They don't want to play hard for him."

According to Broussard's sources, Del Negro's inconsistent rotation and his tendency to play favorites when handing out criticism are factors in the players' growing unease. After a hot start, the Clippers have gone 11-13 since Chauncey Billups' season-ending achilles injury, including 6-8 this month. Heading into tonight's action, the Clips hold just a two-game lead on ninth-place Utah.

2011/12 is the final guaranteed year on Del Negro's contract, as the Clippers hold a team option for next season.

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Draft Updates: Davis, Wayns, Barton, Plumlee

March 22nd, 2012 at 4:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Earlier this afternoon, we looked at a number of deadlines facing NCAA underclassmen as they decide whether to declare for this year's draft. We also covered a report suggesting Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will enter the draft. Those aren't today's only draft-related updates though, so let's round up a few more, as June 28th creeps ever closer….

  • Anthony Davis of Kentucky remains undecided on whether or not he will declare for the NBA draft, according to Rick Bozich of Courier-Journal.com.  
  • Maalik Wayns of Villanova will hire an agent and remain in the draft pool, says Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. Said Wayns of the decision: "The NBA has been a lifelong dream of mine and I have decided now is the time to pursue it." One NBA scout told Zagoria that Wayns might be drafted in the "bottom half of the second round" (Twitter link).
  • Memphis guard Will Barton will announce his intentions to enter the draft today, according to Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com. Barton will hire an agent and has no plans to withdraw by April 10th.
  • Duke's Mason Plumlee will test the NBA waters, according to Steve Wiseman of the Herald-Sun.
  • Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld identifies some potential 2012 draftees to keep an eye on during the NCAA's Sweet Sixteen this weekend.
  • The latest mailbag from Keith Langlois of Pistons.com is heavy on questions about what Detroit will do in this year's draft.
  • Tom Ziller of SBNation looks at the current draft lottery odds, noting that the Blazers could end up with multiple top-ten picks in June.
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Michael Kidd-Gilchrist To Enter Draft

March 22nd, 2012 at 4:16pm CST by Luke Adams

Kentucky's Michael Kidd-Gilchrist will declare his intent to enter the 2012 NBA draft after the Wildcats' season ends, reports Chad Ford of ESPN.com.

Kidd-Gilchrist, a certain lottery pick if and when he enters the draft, told reporters last month that he intended to stay in school. However, according to Ford's sources, that stance has changed.

"He hopes he'll be able to announce right after they win the NCAA championship," one source said. "But even if they don't win it all, he's coming. He knows he's going to be a top-five pick. He can't pass that up."

Mock drafts by Ford, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio, and Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com earlier this week all had Kidd-Gilchrist projected to be selected in the top five.

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