2012 March | Hoops Rumors

Nets Sign Jerry Smith To 10-Day Contract

March 16th, 2012 at 9:24am CST by Luke Adams

The Nets have signed point guard Jerry Smith to a 10-day contract, the team announced (Twitter link). ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweeted last night that Smith was expected to join the Nets today.

Smith, 24, averaged 19.1 points and 4.2 assists in 34.5 minutes per game in 32 contests for the D-League's Springfield Armor this season. The Louisville product has yet to make his NBA debut.

Because the Nets traded away two players to acquire Gerald Wallace, the team has an empty roster spot and won't have to make a corresponding move to clear room for Smith.

Atlantic Notes: Lin, Carmelo, Nets, Wallace, 76ers

March 16th, 2012 at 9:15am CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks' roster didn't undergo any changes at the trade deadline, but the team did make a major change in replacing coach Mike D'Antoni with Mike Woodson. Woodson's offense will de-emphasize the role of Jeremy Lin, focusing more on isolation plays, as Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. For his part, Lin appears ready to embrace the changes, even if it means a major reduction to his minutes, says the Post's Tim Bontemps. Here are a few more Friday morning notes on the Knicks and a couple other Atlantic Division squads:

While at one point it seemed like a lock that the Knicks would use their mid-level exception to re-sign Lin this summer, that isn't such a sure thing now. Howard Beck of the New York Times and Marc Berman, in his piece linked above, both suggest that the chances of Lin remaining a Knick long-term have taken a hit with the departure of D'Antoni.
Carmelo Anthony is ready to take the blame for D'Antoni's offense not working for the Knicks, but not for the coach's departure. "I do everything in my power to try not to get the coach fired," Anthony tells Berman, in a separate column.
The Nets sent a top-three protected draft pick in yesterday's Gerald Wallace trade, and Chad Ford of ESPN.com explains the logic (via Twitter): There are apparently only three players the Nets love in the upcoming draft, in Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, and Thomas Robinson. I'm not sure about this logic — those guys aren't necessarily the consensus top three picks, for one.
Another detail of the Wallace trade, per Mike Tokito of The Oregonian (via Twitter): the Nets put no precondition on Wallace opting in or out of the final year of his deal. Tokito called New Jersey "desperate," which is rarely an adjective you hear describe a team that just made a good trade.
Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Daily News likes what the 76ers did at the deadline, making only a small move to acquire Sam Young.

Nuggets Plan To Waive Ronny Turiaf

March 16th, 2012 at 8:37am CST by Luke Adams

With the Nuggets closing in on a long-term contract for Wilson Chandler, the team intends to waive Ronny Turiaf to clear a roster spot, according to GM Masai Ujiri (via Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post).

Turiaf was acquired from the Wizards yesterday in the three-team blockbuster that also sent JaVale McGee to Denver, with Nene heading to Washington. Turiaf had to be included in the deal to make the salaries match up, but clearly isn't a part of the Nuggets' plans. Assuming he's waived within the next few days, Turiaf should have the opportunity to clear waivers and join another team in search of a big man — if he signs eslewhere before next Friday, he would be eligible to play in the postseason for his new club.

Chandler, meanwhile, says he hopes to finalize his deal soon and join the team Sunday or Monday: "I’ve been back for over a month. It’s been tough sitting out and watching the games. Hopefully I can end it soon" (Twitter links via Aaron J. Lopez of Nuggets.com).

Blazers Notes: Mills, Batum, Felton

March 16th, 2012 at 8:07am CST by Luke Adams

The Trail Blazers were one of Thursday's most active teams, sending out Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace in separate deals, then parting ways with Chris Johnson and former number one pick Greg Oden to clear space for the new acquisitions. Oh, and the team fired its coach too, with assistant coach Kaleb Canales taking over for Nate McMillan. What's next for the Blazers? Let's have a look….

Patrick Mills, who played in China this season, is a restricted free agent and could be brought on board for the rest of the season. However, acting GM Chris Buchanan indicated the team isn't looking at bringing anyone on board at the moment: "We're at 12 healthy bodies. It's an opportunity for guys to get some more minutes. At this point I wouldn't anticipate us adding another player" (link via Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge).
Asked specifically about Mills, Buchanan said the team would take to his representatives in the coming days, and would consider all its options, including renouncing Mills' rights. Renouncing his rights would allow Mills to become an unrestricted free agent and sign anywhere.
Nicolas Batum, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, will "definitely" be a Blazer next year, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. However, it'll cost the team more than what Batum's agent was asking for in January.
After shopping Raymond Felton aggressively yesterday, Buchanan says a buyout for the point guard "is not an option," according to Haynes.

Odds & Ends: Beasley, Bucks, Spurs, Nash

March 15th, 2012 at 10:49pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Thursday night:

The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda talked to Michael Beasley, who was shopped heavily by the Timberwolves prior to the trade deadline. Beasley would like to remain in Minnesota past this season but recognizes that it is not in his control.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Michael Hunt believes the trade of Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown makes sense for the Bucks in both the short and the long term.
Spurs GM R.C. Buford hints that there may be another roster move to come, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News's Tim Griffin.
The Arizona Republic's Paul Coro highlights the loyalty Steve Nash has displayed to the Suns as something that distinguishes him from other stars in the league.

Hornets To Keep Kaman?

March 15th, 2012 at 10:39pm CST by Sean Highkin

New Orleans Hornets GM Dell Demps told the Times-Picayune's Jimmy Smith that the Hornets do not plan to buy out center Chris Kaman after failing to trade him before Thursday's deadline.

"Everything is always a possibility," Demps said. "I mean there's no reason to say I'm certain, 100 percent sure. There's always a possibility. I never want to say never. But our intention is to keep Chris."

Kaman, who is in the final year of a contract paying him $14MM this season, was one of the most talked-about trade pieces leading up to the deadline, with speculation that a buyout was likely if the Hornets did not move him. He would have then become a very attractive free agent signee for a contending team, with the Heat and Celtics rumored to be showing interest. However, Demps' comments indicate that this isn't the plan and he will remain in New Orleans for the rest of the season.

Colangelo On Raptors’ Moves

March 15th, 2012 at 10:33pm CST by Sean Highkin

Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo spoke with HoopsWorld's Stephen Brotherston about the reasoning behind today's trade that sent Leandro Barbosa to the Pacers for cash and a second-round pick.

“I viewed this as a great opportunity for Leandro to go to a playoff team, a young upstart team that really does need some scoring punch off the bench right now. It is an Eastern Conference team and that would normally not be something that I’d like to do, take care of a team like that, but this is really a positive situation, not only for Leandro but positive for us.”

Colangelo touted the draft pick the Raptors received and the cap room Barbosa freed up as incentives for making the deal. Barbosa will make $7.6MM this season and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

Reactions To The Ramon Sessions Trade

March 15th, 2012 at 9:52pm CST by Sean Highkin

Earlier today, the Lakers traded Luke Walton, Jason Kapono, and a first-round pick to the Cavaliers for Ramon Sessions and Christian Eyenga. Here's a roundup of reactions to the deal from around the web:

CBS Sports' Royce Young thinks both teams made out well, with the Lakers getting a major upgrade at point guard and the rebuilding Cavs adding a first-round pick and flexibility for free agency in 2013.
Kurt Helin of NBC's ProBasketballTalk blog thinks the Lakers got better at point guard but cautions that Sessions isn't the slam-dunk the fans were hoping for.
The Los Angeles Times' Mark Medina points to Sessions' efficiency in the pick-and-roll as another way of creating offense to take pressure off Kobe Bryant.
ESPNLosAngeles.com's Brian Kamenetzky echoes the view that Sessions is a significant upgrade at point guard, while also pointing out that the Lakers didn't burn their trade exception from the Lamar Odom trade.
The Cleveland Plain-Dealer's Tom Reed praises the Cavs' accumulation of draft picks in the deal, which he believes sets them up well for the future.

Celtics Notes: Ainge, Johnson

March 15th, 2012 at 8:53pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes on the Boston Celtics following the trade deadline:

Celtics president Danny Ainge tells ESPNBoston.com's Chris Forsberg that the team was close to several deals in the minutes leading up to the deadline.
Ainge also says he was thinking both about the present and the future, as he explored trades that would have helped the Celtics make a playoff run as well as accumulate assets for the future.
Ainge says that the Celtics need another big man, and they may explore the buyout market for a solution.
In a separate post, Forsberg wonders whether the Celtics would be interested in Chris Johnson, who was waived by the Blazers earlier today and played briefly for Boston last season.

Hollinger On Deadline Deals

March 15th, 2012 at 8:35pm CST by Sean Highkin

ESPN.com's John Hollinger has posted grades for every trade that took place today. The post is only available to ESPN Insider subscribers, but here are the highlights:

The Nuggets were smart to shed Nene's contract, even if trading for JaVale McGee is a risk.
However, Hollinger views the Wizards' acquisition of Nene is an overreaction to McGee's contract demands.
For the Clippers, Hollinger doesn't believe Nick Young is a perfect solution, but that he's worth the risk since they didn't have to give up any significant assets.
Hollinger praises the Blazers' rebuilding effort in the Gerald Wallace trade, although he has reservations about the players they got back from Houston for Marcus Camby.
He doesn't think the Nets made a smart move giving up a lottery pick for short-term help when they risk losing Deron Williams at the end of the season.
Hollinger likes the Rockets' acquisition of Camby as a short-term pick-up to help them make a playoff run.
The Warriors' acquisition of Richard Jefferson is counterproductive to their efforts to tank for a draft pick, Hollinger writes. However, he praises the Spurs for shedding Jefferson's contract for Stephen Jackson's shorter one.
Hollinger questions the Cavaliers for taking on Luke Walton's expensive contract while giving up Ramon Sessions, but loves the deal for the Lakers, as Sessions is a massive upgrade at point guard over Derek Fisher and Steve Blake.
Hollinger likes the Sam Young acquisition for the 76ers, and while he doesn't believe losing him will shift the Grizzlies' playoff hopes one way or another, he questions whether it was necessary to shed him simply for cap reasons.
He sees the Leandro Barbosa trade as a low-risk deal for both the Raptors and Pacers, giving Indiana immediate help at shooting guard while freeing up room for other players to get more minutes in Toronto.

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