2012 May | Hoops Rumors

Clippers Notes: Paul, Del Negro, Griffin, Young

May 21st, 2012 at 6:47pm CST by Daniel Seco

Earlier today we passed along what we heard from the Clippers following their elimination from the playoffs last night. The news from L.A. continues to come in, so let's check in again, with the latest updates on top and earlier items below the jump:

Chris Paul, who's indicated before that he'll sign a long-term extension with the team, was giving GM Neil Olshey suggestions on moves to improve the team in the wake of its sweep at the hands of the Spurs, writes Matt Stevens of the Los Angeles Times. Olshey takes that as a sign his star is "all in" heading into the final year of his contract.
Speaking to reporters today, Olshey was non-committal on whether the team will pick up its option for coach Vinny Del Negro for next season, as Stevens writes in a separate piece. The report also examines the future for Blake Griffin, who's eligible for an extension to his rookie contract this summer.
Sam Amick of SI.com this morning rounded up the questions surrounding Paul, Griffin, Del Negro and the future of the franchise.

Bobcats Notes: McMillan, Bickerstaff, Van Gundy

May 21st, 2012 at 5:50pm CST by Chuck Myron

Earlier today we heard that Nate McMillan is in the midst of a two-day interview with the Bobcats for their coaching vacancy. Here's more from the Queen City:

McMillan has an advocate in former Bobcats coach and GM Bernie Bickerstaff, as Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer writes.
Bonnell believes the Magic's firing of Stan Van Gundy today could harm the Bobcats' search, since the Magic job is probably more attractive (Twitter link).
Mike Tokito of The Oregonian seconds that thought, arguing that the Magic could be a more enticing destination for McMillan. He also speculates whether McMillan could wind up with the Clippers and Wizards.
One coach the Bobcats wouldn't have to compete over with the Magic is Van Gundy, and Bonnell looks at how the former Magic boss would fit in Charlotte. Bonnell hears that Van Gundy may prefer to sit out the coming season rather than take another job right away.

Magic Fire Van Gundy, Part Ways With Smith

May 21st, 2012 at 2:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Magic CEO Alex Martins announced today that coach Stan Van Gundy has been let go while GM Otis Smith and the club have mutually agreed to part ways.

"On behalf of the DeVos Family, we sincerely appreciate and thank Otis and Stan for all that they have done on and off the floor for the Orlando Magic,” said Martins. "These are the days you dread in this business, but we feel it's time for new leadership and new voices. "

Van Gundy was named head coach on June 7, 2007 and coached the Magic to a 259-135 record in five seasons. The charismatic coach led Orlando to five postseason berths, three Southeast Division titles, and the 2009 Eastern Conference crown, but could not survive the turmoil of the 2011/12 season. The Magic were surrounded by drama as Dwight Howard flip-flopped between remaining in Orlando and forcing a trade to the Nets. In April, Van Gundy told reporters that his star player was actively working to get him fired.

Meanwhile, Smith has been telling people that he was considering retirement and may have been fired by the club anyway, according to Sam Amick of SI.com (via Twitter). Smith's career in Orlando's front office began as the director of player development and in May of 2006 he was promoted to General Manager. In total, the Magic were 299-177 during Smith’s time as GM.

Categories:
Orlando Magic

Prospect Profile: Kendall Marshall

May 21st, 2012 at 2:17pm CST by Zachary Links

March Madness is the time when top draft prospects typically solidify their status or boost their stock considerably on college basketball's biggest stage. Unfortunately for North Carolina's Kendall Marshall, he didn't get the opportunity to show scouts what he could do against top competition in this year's tournament. The sophomore point guard hit the hardwood wrist-first after a layup against Creighton in the round of 32, ending his season prematurely. However, Marshall has shown scouts plenty ever since taking the reigns as UNC's starting point guard in his freshman season and made tremendous strides in 2011/12 as he led the talent-rich team.

One could also say that Marshall's importance to the Tarheels was underscored by his absence for the remainder of the tournament. UNC, despite having three more All-Americans outside of Marshall, would succumb to No. 2 Kansas in the Elite Eight. Surrounded by a multitude of scorers, including likely top ten pick Harrison Barnes, Marshall spread the wealth with his remarkable passing ability. This year, Marshall averaged 9.8 assists per contest while turning the ball over just 2.8 times per game. It seems likely that Marshall will have a relatively easy learning curve entering the league this year and can be plugged in to any style of offense. While there have been questions about fellow one-guard Damian Lillard's court vision, there are no such qualms when it comes to Marshall.

Unlike Lillard, Marshall hasn't shown that he can be an effective scorer at the next level. Marshall averaged just 8.1 PPG this season, but in his defense, he wasn't asked to shoot as a part of UNC's offense. The youngster's distribution skills are so solid that he'll never have to be a quality scorer to succeed in the Association. The real question is, can he score well enough in order to establish a triple threat? Marshall's defense has also been called into question by some NBA scouts who fear that he can be easily overwhelmed by quicker, more agile opponents.

As it stands now, DraftExpress has Marshall pegged to go No. 14 while ESPN's Chad Ford has him at No. 18. If Marshall chooses to make the rounds on the combine circuit heading into the draft and shows that he can score and defend in live action, he could easily find himself in the backend of the lottery.

Odds & Ends: Knicks, Bucks, Heat, Nicholson

May 21st, 2012 at 12:54pm CST by Daniel Seco

Here's the latest news and headlines from around the NBA…

There are five ways the Knicks' Big 3 can improve in their second season together, writes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the Bradley Center will be now known as the BMO Harris Bradley Center in a step toward getting the Bucks a new arena in the near future.
The Heat's success is predicated on strong play by LeBron James and Dwyane Wade but also relies on a different role player stepping up each night, suggests Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports tweets that the Thunder and the Celtics are the two most likely teams to draft St. Bonaventure's Andrew Nicholson.
Teams from smaller markets are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to winning an NBA championship, writes Richard Florida of The Atlantic.
HoopsWorld's Joel Brigham gives his take on the top five comebacks in NBA playoff history.
Commissioner David Stern filled the NBA's Competition Committee with his own people so that changes can be made to existing rules, writes Matt Moore of CBSSports.com.
Kurt Helin of NBC's ProBasketballTalk blog says Mo Williams expects to pick up his player option of $8.5MM for the 2012/2013 season.
Mike D'Antoni isn't up to much these days after resigning as the Knicks head coach in March, writes SI.com's Jack McCallum.

USA Basketball Announces Select Team Roster

May 21st, 2012 at 11:50am CST by Daniel Seco

USA Basketball announced on Monday the 13 players that will comprise the 2012 USA Select Team roster. The team will train against the 2012 USA Basketball Men's National Team from July 6-12 during a training camp in Las Vegas. USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo released a statement on Monday speaking to what it means for a player to be named to the Select Team roster.

“Being chosen for the select team is quite an honor, and it’s an important step in becoming involved in USA Basketball’s national team program in the future,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said in a press release. “In the past, current national team finalists like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, LaMarcus Aldridge, Andre Iguodala, as well as many other outstanding players got their USA national team start through the select team.”

USA Basketball also announced that serving as co-head coaches of the USA Select Team are former Raptors head coach Jay Triano and Syracuse assistant coach Mike Hopkins. Since the development of the USA Basketball Men’s National Team program in 2006, USA Basketball has selected and utilized three USA Select teams to help the USA National teams prepare for its major international competitions.

The 2012 USA Basketball Select Team Roster:

Categories:
2012 Olympics

Nate McMillan To Interview With Bobcats

May 21st, 2012 at 11:24am CST by Daniel Seco

Former Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan will interview with the Bobcats on Monday and Tuesday for the team's head coaching vacancy, reports Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. McMillan, 47, was fired by the Trail Blazers in March after going 266-269 with the team over seven seasons. The former 12-year NBA veteran expressed his interest in returning to coaching shortly after being relieved of his duties in Portland.

“I’ve never been fired. I’ve never been cut, and this was the first time I have been without a team,’’ McMillan told the Seattle Times after his firing. “I’ve never been out here before where I’m not working…To be fired, it’s just a word that is hard to swallow.’’

What might make the Bobcats a good fit for McMillan are his ties to the North Carolina area as he starred for NC State in the mid-80s before leaving school early for the NBA. Beyond McMillan, the Bobcats will also interview assistant coach Stephen Silas, son of former Bobcats head coach Paul Silas, on Monday. The Bobcats dismissed the elder Silas at the end of the 2011/2012 season after the franchise finished with the lowest winning percentage in NBA history at .106.

Central Notes: Collison, Jones, Cavs, Bulls

May 21st, 2012 at 10:50am CST by Daniel Seco

With the Bulls falling to the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs, the Pacers are the lone representative out of the Central Division still doing battle as their series against the Heat continues Tuesday night in Miami. Here's the latest news and stories making headlines out of the Central Division.

Thanks to his speed and quickness, Darren Collison continues to show that Larry Bird made the right decision to acquire him two summers ago from the Hornets, writes Zak Keefer of The Indianapolis Star. The backup point guard for the Pacers scored 10 points during the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Heat in what could have been a less competitive effort for the Pacers if not for Collison. "As long as I try and be aggressive, I can create opportunities not only for myself, but for my teammates, too."
Brendan Savage of MLive.com says Perry Jones III might be a good fit for the Pistons thanks to his talent but his lack of desire may lead to a steep learning curve in the NBA. The 6-foot-11, 235-pound power forward has all the skills that make a player attractive teams especially with his ability to rebound and run the floor, but the former Baylor star showed little progress from his freshman to sophomore year in Waco. Simply put, the Pistons must be able to determine if they can get the most out of his boundless talents.
While it's all but certain that Anthony Davis will be the first pick of the NBA draft next month, the Cavaliers will have many different options to choose from if they end up selecting third, suggests Starting Blocks of Cleveland.com.
Sam Smith of Bulls.com wonders what star the Bulls need to add to their roster in order to remain competitive without Derrick Rose and how the team should go about making such an acquisition. Smith suggests the option of the Bulls looking to rebuild with eyes on adding a player or two from the 2014 free agent class to join Rose. Chris Bosh, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Danny Granger headline the list of possibilities that could end up in Chicago two seasons from now.

Lin’s Return To Knicks Not A Slam Dunk

May 21st, 2012 at 8:46am CST by Daniel Seco

Jeremy Lin's agent Roger Montgomery spoke with the New York Post about his client's future and stated that a return to the Knicks is not a guarantee, writes Marc Berman. Lin is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1 which allows for the Knicks to match any offer made by another team to retain Lin's services. When asked about whether he thought negotiations with the Knicks would be a simple process this summer, Montgomery expressed his concern that getting Lin a new contract would be a drawn out endeavor.

"I don’t expect that. We’re not anticipating that’s going to happen. We don’t have assurances of anything. I know history shows most restricted free agents go back to their team, but I’m not going to assume anything. We’re waiting to see what happens."

Montgomery's goal as an agent is to create buzz that Lin may not re-sign with the Knicks so that other teams provide his client with a robust offer sheet. While the Knicks have the opportunity to match any offer sheet, they may face luxury tax issues during the third and fourth years of the contract if other teams make him a large offer (up to $15MM per season). If this is the case, the Knicks will have to determine if the money received from Lin-related merchandise sales will outweigh the luxury tax the franchise will surely have to pay if the former Harvard star is presented with a back-loaded offer sheet.

Look for Toronto to make Lin an impressive offer as the team is in search of a young point guard who will bring buzz to the beleaguered franchise in a city with a large Chinese population. Lin made $765K during the 2011/2012 season in which he averaged 14.6 points per game and 6.2 assists per game in 35 games with the Knicks. For more on Lin, check out Hoops Rumors' Free Agent Stock Watch series where we analyze the star point guard's prognosis for free agency this summer.

Odds & Ends: Diaw, Collison, Hornets

May 20th, 2012 at 10:08pm CST by Sean Highkin

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

NBA.com's Fran Blinebury writes that midseason acquisition Boris Diaw has been key to the Spurs' dominant playoff run.
Alberto de Roa of HoopsHype interviews Thunder forward Nick Collison, who reflects on the years the organization spent rebuilding under GM Sam Presti.
John Reid of the Times-Picayune reports that Hornets coach Monty Williams isn't as high on the 2012 draft class as many analysts and executives are. The Hornets are expected to have a high lottery pick.

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