Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

Month: November 2024

Free Agent Stock Watch: C.J. Miles

May 24th, 2012 at 9:02pm CST by Michael Pina

C.J. Miles is a seven-year veteran who also happens to be just 25 years old and entering free agency after somewhat of a disappointing season. After posting career high figures in points, PER, and minutes two years ago, Miles experienced somewhat of a down year in 2012. His PPG dropped from 12.8 to 9.1, and he averaged almost five fewer minutes of playing time every night. 

At one point in his career a full-time starter, Miles shot a deplorable 38.1 percent from the field this season. Being that he was playing in a contract year, the season-long funk wasn't good timing. But similar to Pau Gasol in Los Angeles, a change of scenery might be all that he needs to get back on the right track. Miles grew up learning how to play basketball from Jerry Sloan, one of the greatest coaches in league history, but last season he clashed a bit with the newcomer, Ty Corbin.

As he heads into free agency, Miles will have suitors. He's shown he can shoot a decent but not great three-ball (career 33 percent), and at 6'6" has the size and athleticism to roam the perimeter and wreak havoc in transition. In 2010, Miles averaged 14.4 PPG in 10 playoff games. He was only 22-years-old, and the fourth option on his team.  

Born in Dallas, Texas, Miles has gone on record saying he'd love to play for his hometown Mavericks, but it's questionable as to whether or not that team shares mutual admiration. If Dallas is looking to get younger while adding someone with playoff experience, then Miles certainly fits. But it all depends on what they choose to do with free agents Jason Terry and Delonte West. And then, of course, there's the elephant in the room named Deron Williams, who further complicates the team's salary situation. 

In 2008, the Jazz matched a four-year, $14.8MM offer sheet from Oklahoma City. They won't be able to do it again, and after making his disapproval for Coach Corbin clear once the season was over, it's probable Miles isn't returning to Utah.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Polls: Who Wins Game 7?

May 24th, 2012 at 7:41pm CST by Michael Pina

On Saturday, the Sixers will travel up to Boston to face the Celtics in the unlikely seventh game of their Eastern Conferencen Semifinals series. It's uncharted waters for the Sixers, while the Celtics have been in this exact situation several times over the past five years. Who do you think will win, and in what fashion will they get it done?

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Odds & Ends: Lakers, Pacers, Pavlovic, Henson

May 24th, 2012 at 6:38pm CST by Michael Pina

With a loss tonight against the Heat, the Pacers' season will end. Hoopsworld.com's Joel Brigham believes that even if that happens, Indiana has established themselves as a franchise to contend with. 

  • With Celtics guard Avery Bradley out for the playoffs, CSNNE.com's Rich Levine asks if the team could get any production out of Sasha Pavlovic. 
  • ESPN.com's J.A. Adande writes that in order for them to arrive back at the elite level they're most familiar with, the Lakers need to move away from their current strength (size) and shift towards the league's current trend (speed).
  • Hoopsworld.com's Eric Pincus discusses some serious tax issues the Lakers are facing in the immediate future, and how it could shape important personnel decisions. 
  • Through conversations with several NBA general managers and scouts, FoxSports.com's Sam Amico takes a look at North Carolina big man John Henson, a possible lottery pick in this year's draft. 
Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Magic Willing To Trade Dwight Howard

May 24th, 2012 at 5:23pm CST by Michael Pina

5:23PM: In a tweet from Orlando Sentinel reporter Josh Robbins, the Magic have in fact not decided whether or not they'll trade Dwight Howard. No action will be made until the team has hired a new general manager, and that person has sat down with Howard and discussed the center's thoughts moving forward.

4:13PM: The whirlwind in Orlando continues. According to Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com, the Magic are prepared to trade Dwight Howard "sooner rather than later." A source told Sheridan that the decision was made after a meeting in Michigan last week between the team's president and owner. 

The Magic will look to strike a deal after next week's lottery, when teams have a better idea of what they have, and are capable of moving. 

Recently named to the league's All-Defense and All-NBA first teams, Howard is currently recovering from back surgery, but when healthy is still one of the league's best players, and the most attractive option on the trade market. 

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Magic To Target Mitch Kupchak In GM Search

May 24th, 2012 at 5:00pm CST by Michael Pina

Of the two high profile job openings the Magic organization has recently carved for themselves, it looks like general manager will be the first one filled. According to CBSSports.com's Ken Berger, the team will begin scheduling interviews for the general manager position on Friday, and will attempt to find a replacement for Otis Smith within three weeks. 

With championship experience serving as the glittering star on resumes that cross Magic CEO Alex Martins' desk, current Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak will likely be contacted by the team, Berger writes. Other candidates include Pacers GM David Morway, former Hornets GM Jeff Bower, and current Pacers executive Kevin Pritchard. Former Knicks GM Donnie Walsh is said to be a perfect fit, but appears only interested in replacing Larry Bird, should Bird retire at the end of this season. 

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Odds & Ends: Haslem, Howard, Wizards, Lakers

May 24th, 2012 at 3:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Udonis Haslem will sit out Game 6 of the Heat/Pacers series tonight, serving a one-game suspension for his flagrant foul in Game 5. But Haslem and agent Henry Thomas intend to appeal the suspension nonetheless, hoping to regain the $35K the Heat forward will lose.

"We'll file an appeal to the union," Thomas told Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida. "This is a guy who has been in the league for nine years and he doesn't have the reputation of being a dirty player. He's a hard-nosed player. But he's not dirty, and he doesn't want this to follow him around. … He's disappointed (with the suspension). He feels he tried to make a play on the ball."

As Haslem waits for his appeal to be heard, here are a few more Thursday notes from around the NBA:

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Shaq Not Interested In Magic GM Position

May 24th, 2012 at 2:24pm CST by Luke Adams

After a report surfaced last night suggesting Shaquille O'Neal would speak to the Magic about their general manager opening, today's discussion centered on whether the possibility was realistic and whether the former MVP would make a good executive. Shaq rendered that speculation moot this afternoon, however, announcing in a statement that he isn't interested in the position, according to Sekou Smith of NBA.com.

"When I first heard about the vacancy for the Orlando Magic general manager position, I was clearly intrigued." O'Neal said in the statement. "I was drafted by the Magic, I have a great love for the franchise, and I have made the city of Orlando my home. Additionally, I have great admiration and respect for the DeVos family. However, this is not a job I have an interest in pursuing. I feel very fortunate to be with TNT and to have the best job in sports. I look forward to many more years with Charles, Kenny and E.J. I wish the best for the Magic and I am confident that they will select a great GM and coach."

With O'Neal out of the running, the Magic will look elsewhere for their next GM, though Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel writes that the new general manager may not necessarily be in charge of basketball operations. Orlando may restructure their basketball operations department, team CEO Alex Martins told Robbins.

Another potential candidate for an executive position, Steve Kerr, said on a conference call today that he hasn't been contacted by the Magic and has no interest in a front office position for now, tweets Robbins.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

New York Rumors: Nash, Dragic, Woodson, Nets

May 24th, 2012 at 1:30pm CST by Luke Adams

It still doesn't feel entirely natural to group the Nets with the Knicks as the NBA's New York teams, but Brooklyn's new residents are a part of the Big Apple going forward, so let's round up the latest rumors on both clubs:

  • Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York tweets that he's hearing Steve Nash won't want to sign with the Knicks this summer. Whether or not that's true, this always seemed like a long-shot to me, since Nash will get offers that greatly exceed what New York could give him.
  • In a piece for ESPNNewYork.com, Zwerling compares Jeremy Lin to Goran Dragic, noting that the Rockets free agent could be an alternative to Lin for the Knicks.
  • Mike Woodson's new contract will be for three years and could be worth more than $10MM, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
  • There is mutual interest between Mirza Teletovic and the Nets, according to NetsDaily.com (via Twitter). Teletovic, a 26-year-old Bosnian power forward, led the Euroleague in scoring this season.
Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

League Announces All-NBA Teams

May 24th, 2012 at 1:12pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA officially released its 2011/12 All-NBA teams today in a press release. The selections are as follows:

First team:

Second team:

Third team:

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0

Offseason Outlook: Houston Rockets

May 24th, 2012 at 12:19pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options

  • None

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (14th overall, pending lottery; 0.5% chance at first overall pick)
  • 1st Round (16th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $35,122,752
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $35,634,902
  • Total (not including draft picks): $70,757,654

Ever since Yao Ming saw his career derailed by injuries and Tracy McGrady's production fell off a cliff, the Rockets have been searching for their next star player. While guys like Kyle Lowry, Kevin Martin, and Luis Scola have turned into solid contributors and show flashes of brilliance, Houston has missed the postseason for three straight years, and is still lacking the sort of star that can take them to the next level.

The Rockets thought they'd landed that player in December when they agreed to a blockbuster deal that would have sent Pau Gasol to Houston. Of course, we all know how that turned out — commissioner David Stern nixed the deal on behalf of the Hornets, and GM Daryl Morey and the Rockets headed back to the drawing board. Now, Houston heads into the 2012 offseason once again searching for that star that will make the club a legit contender.

Morey and the Rockets have a couple factors working in their favor when it comes to potential roster moves. With only about $35MM committed in guaranteed salaries, the team will have some cap space to work with, even if it decides to retain one or more of its own free agents. The only real star on the open market is Deron Williams, and the Rockets don't seem to be on his wishlist, but that cap space could be an asset to put toward other free agents or trades.

The other factor working in Houston's favor? If Morey wants to make another run at Gasol, he couldn't ask for a better time to do it. The Spaniard's star has faded a little in Los Angeles over the last few months, and it's hard to imagine the Lakers' asking price being quite as high as it was in December. A package centered around Martin and Scola likely wouldn't interest the Lakers, but perhaps a third team could get involved to facilitate a deal.

The bad news for the Rockets if they intend to pursue Gasol is that the player the Lakers really want - Lowry – also saw his stock drop a little this year, after he missed most of the second half and underwent surgery for a sports hernia at season's end. The Rockets displayed an unwillingness to trade a healthy, productive Lowry for Gasol earlier in 2012, but perhaps the emergence of Goran Dragic would make Lowry slightly more expendable, assuming Houston brings back Dragic.

While they may still be searching for that one core piece to add to the roster, the Rockets have done a nice job adding complementary players. The team has a good deal of young, affordable talent, including Patrick Patterson, Chase Budinger, and Chandler Parsons, and is poised to add even more — Houston is expected to sign last year's draft pick Donatas Motiejunas, and the team holds the 14th and 16th picks in this year's draft. The 2012 class is deep enough that the prospects available for the Rockets might not be any less productive than players selected 10 spots earlier.

If the Rockets don't draft a center or acquire one via trade, I expect the position to be the team's top priority in free agency. There are a number of intriguing names on the market this summer, and while Houston may not aggressively pursue restricted free agents like JaVale McGee, Roy Hibbert, or Brook Lopez, an unrestricted player such as Chris Kaman could make a lot of sense for the Rockets.

Still, for the Rockets, the offseason all comes down to landing does that star player. Does Gasol still qualify? And if not, will Houston's cap space, draft picks, and trade candidates be enough to acquire someone who does? That'll be the task facing Morey this summer as he looks to upgrade the Rockets' roster from one that's a borderline playoff contender to one that can hang with the top teams in the West.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

Retweet 0 Share 0 Send via email0
Load More Posts