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Month: November 2024

Lawrence On Bobcats, George Hill, Joe Johnson

May 14th, 2012 at 9:18am CST by Luke Adams

Yesterday, we covered a report from Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News about the Raptors' potential interest in Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin. That wasn't Lawrence's only rumor of note this weekend though. Here are a few more items of interest from the Daily News scribe:

  • The Bobcats' coaching search continues with Charlotte requesting and receiving permission to speak with Grizzlies assistant David Joerger.
  • According to Lawrence, George Hill turned down a $6MM-per-year extension offer from the Pacers earlier this season. Hill will be a restricted free agent this summer, and Lawrence wonders if the Spurs, his old team, will have interest.
  • Expect to hear Joe Johnson's name in trade rumors this offseason, potentially with the Knicks if Mike Woodson remains the head coach, says Lawrence. Even with about $89MM and four years remaining on Johnson's contract, it's hard to imagine the Hawks trading him in a deal for Amare Stoudemire.
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Lawson, Nuggets To Discuss Extension?

May 14th, 2012 at 8:30am CST by Luke Adams

Ty Lawson's 2011/12 season may be over, but the point guard and his Nuggets certainly made the Lakers sweat before bowing out. In seven games against Los Angeles, Lawson averaged 19.0 PPG and 6.0 APG on 51.4% shooting.

Although Lawson won't be a free agent this summer, he has just one year remaining on his rookie contract, making him eligible for restricted free agency next summer. And it sounds like he wouldn't mind avoiding free agency by signing a long-term deal with the Nuggets. The 24-year-old tells Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post that a contract extension is "definitely a goal."

"I want to be here long-term," Lawson said. "I'm pretty sure my agent and Masai [Ujiri, the Nuggets' executive vice president of basketball operations] will talk this summer."

Lawson's camp can begin discussing an extension in July with the Nuggets and Ujiri, who calls the point guard a "big part" of the team going forward. The Nuggets could extend Lawson for up to another five years beyond 2012/13, though a four-year offer may be more likely. Teams are only permitted to sign five-year extensions for one "designated player" at a time — if Lawson received a five-year extension, Denver would be unable to sign another five-year extension for the duration of his contract.

As Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld points out, the Nuggets would send the right message by agreeing to an extension with Lawson, but it could limit the team's ability to add talent in the near future. Denver is already committed to long-term deals for Danilo Gallinari, Arron Afflalo, and Wilson Chandler, and will be attempting to re-sign JaVale McGee as well. Extending Lawson early would further reduce the club's future cap flexibility, but given his play this season, it may be worth it.

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Nuggets Notes: Faried, McGee, Blake

May 13th, 2012 at 10:27pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes around the Denver Nuggets on Sunday night:

  • The Denver Post's Benjamin Hochman praises Kenneth Faried, touting him as one of the best value selections in last year's draft.
  • Hochman also notes that the Nuggets expect to bring back restricted free-agent center JaVale McGee.
  • Fox Sports Florida's Chris Tomasson tweets that Lakers guard Steve Blake wanted to re-sign with the Nuggets after the 2007 season. However, Denver was not willing to pay him the $4.25MM annually that Portland was. The Nuggets instead signed Chucky Atkins.
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Poll: Where Will Steve Nash End Up?

May 13th, 2012 at 8:35pm CST by Sean Highkin

One of the most high-profile players to hit free agency this summer will be Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash. The 38-year-old continues to express interest in returning to the Suns, although there is heavy speculation that he will instead sign with a contender such as the Heat. He’s also been linked to the Blazers, Knicks, and Raptors in various scenarios. Where do you think Nash will play in 2012/13?

 

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Hayes On Bulls’ Offseason Plans

May 13th, 2012 at 7:25pm CST by Sean Highkin

In a new column, Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times addresses several major questions the Bulls will face this offseason:

  • Despite his on-court regression in his second season, the Bulls are expected to match all offers on restricted free-agent center Omer Asik.
  • Chicago will likely not pick up their options on all three of C.J. Watson, Ronnie Brewer, and Kyle Korver, because they want to clear cap space to re-sign Taj Gibson after next season.
  • Hayes speculates that John Lucas III may develop into more of a three-point specialist than a backup point guard, which will likely make him cheaper to retain.
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Sorensen On Jazz’ Options At Point Guard

May 13th, 2012 at 6:44pm CST by Sean Highkin

Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News has a new column exploring the options the Utah Jazz will have at point guard this offseason. Here are the key points regarding how Utah might address this roster spot:

  • Out the four point guards from their 2011/12 roster, Blake Ahearn is more likely than Devin Harris, Earl Watson, or Jamaal Tinsley to not return to the team next year.
  • Though the Jazz may look to get younger at point guard through the draft or free agency, management has been pleased with the performance of Harris, who has one season left on his contract.
  • Tinsley expressed interest in returning to Utah. The Jazz hold a $1.3MM team option on his contract for the 2012/13 season.
  • Sorensen mentions Steve Nash and Andre Miller as options for the Jazz to pursue in free agency, but cautions that their age prevents them from being long-term solutions.
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Raptors An Option For Nash, Lin?

May 13th, 2012 at 5:47pm CST by Sean Highkin

Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News suggests in a column that the Raptors may make free-agent offers to point guards Steve Nash and Jeremy Lin, though they're a long shot to land either player.

Lawrence suggests that, despite Nash's Canadian roots being a potential draw for Toronto, he wants to play for a contender, which rules out the Raptors.

Lin's situation is more complicated, Lawrence writes. Since the Knicks phenom is a restricted free agent with less than two years of NBA experience, offers from other teams are limited by the Gilbert Arenas rule, which forbids teams from going above the $5MM midlevel exception on offer sheets. Because of this, the Raptors will have to back-load any offer they make to Lin, and even though the Knicks are limited financially, Lawrence believes he is too valuable from a marketing standpoint to let go.

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Week In Review: 5/6/12 – 5/13/12

May 13th, 2012 at 4:45pm CST by Michael Pina

A look back at all the week's biggest news from around the NBA.

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Odds & Ends: Clippers, Celtics, Oden, Trail Blazers

May 13th, 2012 at 3:56pm CST by Michael Pina

Writing for Spurs Nation, Tim Griffin asks whether or not the Spurs should take a long, hard look at free agent Greg Oden once he recovers from his third microfracture knee surgery in 2013. 

  • With his team getting only one day of rest in between the first four games of their first round series against the Sixers, Doc Rivers will give his team the day off on Sunday, and most likely throughout the series, depending on how it goes, according to ESPNBoston.com's Chris Forsberg. 
  • After defeating the Grizzlies in their Game 7 showdown earlier today, the Clippers are primed for a tough match-up with the Spurs, writes USA Today's J. Michael Falgoust. 
  • CSNNW.com's Dwight Jaynes takes a look at Paul Allen's current situation as owner of the Trail Blazers, and whether or not a possible sale could be in the near future.
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Sixers Notes: Turner, Brand, Collins

May 13th, 2012 at 3:10pm CST by Michael Pina

Last night the Sixers fell to the Celtics in a one-point game they appeared to be in control of for most of the way. Here are a few links on the playoff's lone Cinderella team as they get ready for Game 2 on Monday night. 

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