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Month: November 2024

Atlantic Rumors: Sixers, Humphries, Landry, Knicks

May 28th, 2012 at 6:44pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Celtics make their third appearance in the Eastern Conference Finals in the last five years when they open up against the Heat tonight. Here's the latest from other teams in the division hoping to build toward that kind of consistent success.

  • If the Sixers decide to use the amnesty clause to wipe the $18.16MM due Elton Brand next year off their cap, Nets power forward Kris Humphries will be their No. 1 target to replace him via free agency, writes John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Carl Landry is also the kind of power forward the Sixers like, Mitchell says.
  • Mitchell, in the same piece, says he doesn't put too much stock in Lou Williams' comments suggesting he'll be back with the Sixers, and hears that the 25-year-old combo guard will seek "a nice, long-term deal" after turning down his $5.35MM option for next season.
  • Giorgos Printezis, a 6'9" forward who hit the game-winning shot for Olympiacos of Greece in the Euroleague championship earlier this month, told Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops he would entertain offers this summer from the Knicks, who hold his NBA rights (hat tip to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando).
  • Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld believes the Knicks, who officially removed the interim tag from coach Mike Woodson's title Friday, were the only "real option" for luring Phil Jackson out of retirement (Twitter link).
  • Luke Adams looked at the summer ahead for the Sixers earlier today in the latest installment of our Offseason Outlook feature.
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Draft Links: Harkless, Drummond, Zeller, Owens

May 28th, 2012 at 6:02pm CST by Chuck Myron

With 48 hours to go until the draft lottery, here's the latest from the draft front:

  • Kyle Nelson of Draft Express speaks with St. John's freshman Moe Harkless, the site's 18th-ranked prospect who says he's putting in 12-hour days in advance of the draft. 
  • TNT's David Aldridge, writing for NBA.com, ranks Andre Drummond as the top center in the draft but says Tyler Zeller is the only center most teams would feel safe taking high in the lottery.
  • Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group passes along observations from the Warriors pre-draft workout Monday, centering around Stanford power forward Josh Owens, whose "incredible" athleticism, according to one NBA executive, has helped him move from anonymity into the second-round picture.
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Offseason Outlook: Philadelphia 76ers

May 28th, 2012 at 4:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options  

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (15th overall)
  • 2nd Round (45th overall)
  • 2nd Round (54th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary (including options): $55,956,647
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $28,442,508
  • Total (not including draft picks): $84,399,155

A team plagued by injuries in the early part of the season, the 76ers found themselves benefiting from injury woes when the postseason got underway. After upsetting a depleted Bulls team in round one, Philadelphia nearly knocked off a banged-up Celtics squad to reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Ultimately though, the Sixers couldn't pull off another upset and now find themselves in familiar territory: Wondering what changes to make this offseason to get the team to the next level.

The roster figures to undergo more upheaval than usual this summer, as a number of the 76ers' key contributors are facing potential free agency. Philadelphia probably wouldn't mind if Elton Brand opted out of the final year of his contract, worth $18MM+. But players like Spencer Hawes and Lou Williams were affordable contributors that could hit the unrestricted market in a matter of weeks.

Fortunately for the Sixers, the amnesty clause is still at their disposal, and it figures to be used on Brand once he opts into the final year of his deal. Assuming Williams waives his early termination option to either explore the open market or negotiate a new long-term contract with the Sixers, the club's 2012/13 salary committments will be reduced to about $32MM, giving team president Rod Thorn and his staff plenty of flexibility to make improvements.

While that potential cap space will be crucial to the team's roster moves this summer, long-time small forward Andre Iguodala may prove even more central to the Sixers' plans. With two years remaining on his contract, Iguodala will be a coveted trade candidate for teams in need of a productive forward and an elite wing defender.

Finding a trade partner for Iguodala may be easier said than done, however, considering the Sixers will likely seek an All-Star in return. If Brand is gone, a trade for a power forward would make sense, and Pau Gasol and Al Jefferson could be targets, but I doubt a one-for-one deal would work in either instance. As the Sixers have found in recent years, Iguodala probably will never be the best player on a title contender, so it's hard to imagine him drawing that sort of player in a trade.

Still, even if the Sixers don't find a power forward they like in a trade involving Iguodala, there will be opportunities to upgrade the roster. Amnestying Brand and re-signing Williams to a modest raise should leave Philadelphia with over $15MM in cap space. That would give the team plenty of room to pursue a free agent power forward, such as Kris Humphries, Ersan Ilyasova, Carl Landry, or Antawn Jamison. Kevin Garnett will also be available, though perhaps he and the so-called "fairweather" fans in Philadelphia wouldn't be a fit.

Armed with the amnesty clause, trade chips, and a mid-first-round draft pick, the Sixers will have plenty of options this summer. In addition to the possibilities I've already mentioned, exploring trades for Evan Turner could be something the team considers. Whatever the Sixers decide, I expect we'll see plenty of differences between this year's team and next year's. And if Philadelphia amnesties Brand and can take advantage of its cap space and trade assets, the Sixers we see in the fall could be far better equipped to make a run in the Eastern playoffs a year from now, whether or not they're aided by opposing injuries.

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

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Sam Smith On Howard, Bulls, Gasol, Lowry

May 28th, 2012 at 3:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Bulls.com scribe Sam Smith has a new column up today, which includes plenty of news, notes, and rumors from around the NBA. Let's dive in….

  • Brooklyn is still considered the likeliest destination for Dwight Howard, though teams like the Rockets, Trail Blazers, and Warriors may be willing to risk renting D12 for a year. The Magic are expected to make another run at retaining Howard once the team has a new GM in place.
  • Smith hears from "Lakers insiders" that Pau Gasol would be interested in playing for the Bulls. He adds that Gasol and Kobe Bryant were "constantly at odds" in Los Angeles this season.
  • If the Bulls and Lakers were to discuss a Gasol deal, Luol Deng would have to be the centerpiece rather than Carlos Boozer, says Smith.
  • NBA general managers previously rejected a rule that would allow players to touch the ball on the rim, but that idea could be revisited now that the league has introduced a new competition comittee.
  • Kyle Lowry appears on his way out of Houston, according to Smith, who says the Rockets were "quietly shopping" the point guard before his injury this season. The Rockets would like to re-sign Goran Dragic, who isn't interested in returning as a backup.
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Warriors, Jazz Working On Draft Pick Trade

May 28th, 2012 at 3:25pm CST by Chuck Myron

MONDAY, 3:25pm: The trade discussions between the two teams don't include a player, Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group confirms (via Twitter).

SATURDAY, 3:24pm: The Warriors are seeking a deal that would wipe out any possibility of having to cede their first-round pick to the Jazz, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports. Currently, Golden State is in line to pick seventh, but the selection goes to Utah if Wednesday's draft lottery bumps the pick down to No. 8 or lower. Stein says the Warriors would like to get the deal done before Wednesday, but are reluctant to trade players, offering cash and future draft considerations instead.

The Warriors originally traded the pick, with protection, to the Nets for Marcus Williams in 2008. The Nets sent their shot at the pick to the Jazz in the Deron Williams trade last year. As it stands now, even if the Jazz misses out on the pick this year, Utah would get Golden State's first-round pick in 2013 or 2014 if the Warriors don't have continued lottery luck.

Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob first expressed an interest in March about making sure that pick didn't go to the Jazz, and we heard at the same time that talks surrounding that pick had been going on for months. That was long before the season ended and the Warriors won a tiebreaker for the seventh slot in the lottery, meaning there's just a 28 percent chance the Jazz gets the draft choice this year. Still, one source tells Stein a deal is likely to go through before Wednesday, and one reason is because the Warriors would have a hard time trading for another pick in the top 10 if they were to lose their own selection, Stein says.

Barring a trade, the only way the Warriors lose this year's first-rounder is if they miss out on one of the top three picks and one of the seven teams slotted behind them in the lottery — the Raptors, Pistons, Hornets, Blazers, Bucks, Suns and Rockets — wins one of the top three picks instead. It seems like the Warriors are too eager to prevent a situation that probably wouldn't happen. The Warriors will have at least one first-round pick no matter what happens in the lottery, since they have the rights to San Antonio's choice at No. 30.

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The Bobcats’ Head Coach Search

May 28th, 2012 at 2:15pm CST by Luke Adams

It's been about a month since the Bobcats announced they wouldn't be bringing back Paul Silas to coach the team next season. Since then, the Bobcats have conducted an extensive search for their new head coach that has seen them interview eight candidates, with more to come. In case you've lost track of all the names in the running for the Charlotte job, here's a round-up of what we've heard to date:

  • Mike Dunlap, St. John's assistant: Interviewed on May 16th. Dunlap is probably a long shot for the Bobcats' job.
  • Patrick Ewing, Magic assistant: Interviewed on May 17th. A source told Marc Berman of the New York Post shortly after Ewing's interview that it was hardly a courtesy meeting and that Ewing has a "good chance" of becoming Charlotte's next coach.
  • David Joerger, Grizzlies assistant: Interviewed on May 18th. We haven't heard much about how his meeting went, so I wouldn't think he's a frontrunner.
  • Michael Malone, Warriors assistant: Interviewed on May 8th. Malone is considered one of the top potential head coaches available, and also has has some interest in the Trail Blazers job.
  • Nate McMillan, former Trail Blazers coach: Interviewed on May 22nd. One of the more high-profile candidates, McMillan has ties to the Charlotte area, having played college ball at NC State.
  • Brian Shaw, Pacers assistant: The Bobcats are in the process of setting up an interview with Shaw, who wanted to wait until the Pacers' season ended to explore coaching opportunities. The Magic also figure to have strong interest in the Indiana assistant.
  • Stephen Silas, Bobcats assistant: Interviewed on May 21st. Paul Silas was hoping his son would take over for him, but I'd be pretty shocked if the Bobcats went in this direction.
  • Jerry Sloan, former Jazz coach: Interviewed on May 25th. Sloan said his interview went well but that he didn't receive an offer and he expected the Bobcats to meet with more candidates.
  • Quin Snyder, Lakers assistant: The Bobcats plan to meet with Snyder sometime before the NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago.
  • Nate Tibbetts, Cavaliers assistant: Interviewed on May 14th. Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving had high praise for the Cavs assistant, which suggests Tibbetts is adept at working with young talent.
  • Stan Van Gundy, former Magic coach: The Bobcats are expected to at least reach out to Van Gundy, if they haven't already. However, it continues to look like the ex-Magic coach will take a year off.

In McMillan and Sloan, the Bobcats have interviewed a pair of respected veteran coaches, but the team has also sought out under-the-radar options and up-and-coming assistants. I expect the search to wrap up sometime in mid-June, and considering their wide list of candidates, it'll be interesting to see which direction Michael Jordan and the Bobcats go.

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Ramon Sessions Talks Option, Lakers, Future

May 28th, 2012 at 12:51pm CST by Luke Adams

With the Lakers out of the playoffs and done with exit interviews, Ramon Sessions finally has some time to focus on his future. The point guard talked to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld about a number of topics, including his 2012/13 option, playing for the Lakers, and his reaction to the trade that sent him to L.A. Here are some highlights from the conversation:

On his $4.55MM player option for 2012/13:

"It’s something that I haven’t thought about, but it’s definitely something that I have to start thinking about in the next few weeks. I have to make a decision by June 20th. It’s one of those things where I’m just going to sit down and look at everything. I’m going to really evaluate the situation and see what’s out there before I decide whether I’m going to opt out or opt in. It’s not a decision I’ve made yet."

On whether he wants to remain a Laker:

"Oh yeah, definitely. Talking to [GM] Mitch [Kupchak] before I left, they definitely want me back and I’d love to come back. This is a first-class organization. There are banners all over the gym and there’s a lot of history here. From the top to the bottom, everything was great. They’re first class all around.

On essentially replacing Derek Fisher in Los Angeles:

"When I found out about the trade, I didn’t know who was involved, but I knew that Fish wasn’t in the trade. I was thinking they were going to bring me in to back up Fish. Then, when they traded him, I was just thinking, ‘Man, they’re opening the door for me to run the show.’ It was a dream come true."

On the adjustment to playing with Kobe Bryant and the Lakers:

"It was difficult to come in being the new guy and also the young guy when you have Kobe, [Andrew] Bynum, Pau [Gasol] and Metta [World Peace], guys who want the ball, and it’s your job to get them the ball. You have to know where they want it, know all of the plays, know where everyone is supposed to be at all times and also try to get your own. It was definitely a challenge, but it’ll definitely make me a better player next year. I learned a lot from this whole transition…. I think having a full season with the guys, things would be different. It kind of felt like I was rushed, playing and trying to do this or do that. With a full season, I think the sky is the limit for us."

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Latest On Magic GM Search

May 28th, 2012 at 11:35am CST by Luke Adams

As the Magic's search for a general manager continues, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld examines the potential candidates and shares what he's hearing on Orlando's plans. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Donnie Walsh may not be interested in the Magic job, and could be waiting to see if Larry Bird retires and opens up a position in the Pacers' front office.
  • The Pacers' current GM, David Morway, might prefer to remain in Indiana and finish what he started with the team. There's a chance Morway could be promoted to team president if Bird leaves, though his contract expires in July, so he's taking interviews and has some interest in the Magic job.
  • Kevin Pritchard is interested in the Magic opening, but not to the point where he's going to beg for the job, so if Orlando wants him, the team will need to move quickly.
  • The Magic are interested in grooming Adonal Foyle for the GM job, but his presence could make some potential candidates shy away from the position.
  • Spurs assistant GM Dennis Lindsey may be Orlando's top choice, though Kyler isn't sure he'll leave San Antonio (Twitter link).
  • Kyler also identifies Tommy Sheppard of the Wizards, Sam Hinkie of the Rockets, Larry Harris of the Warriors, and David Griffin of the Cavs as other executives the Magic should be targeting.
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Offseason Outlook: Dallas Mavericks

May 28th, 2012 at 10:56am CST by Luke Adams

Guaranteed Contracts

Options  

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Draft Picks

  • 1st Round (17th overall)
  • 2nd Round (55th overall)

Cap Outlook

  • Guaranteed Salary: $45,852,902
  • Non-Guaranteed Salary (including options), Cap Holds: $47,733,361
  • Total (not including draft picks): $93,586,263

It may be a while before we see a title defense as unusual as the Mavericks' in 2011/12. The lockout started things off on the wrong foot, with Dirk Nowitzki showing up for the season unprepared and out of shape. And parting ways with players like Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea, who were integral to the 2011 championship team, was an ominous sign too. Predictably, Dallas didn't go anywhere in the postseason, eliminated by the Thunder in a first round sweep.

As the summer begins, the question facing the Mavericks is whether or not the team's increased cap flexibility will be worth breaking up the defending champs. Without long-term contracts for Chandler and Barea, the Mavs are in good position to avoid increased luxury tax penalties in the coming years. But are they well-positioned to make a splash this summer that will stop fans from asking "What if?"

A brief look at the Mavs' 2012/13 contract situation might be a little surprising — you'd think a team that was expected to be a player for both Deron Williams and Dwight Howard this offseason would have less guaranteed salary on its books than $45MM+. Of course, using the amnesty clause on Brendan Haywood will help create some room, and with Howard locked in for another year in Orlando, Williams is the Mavs' clear top priority now. But if they can't clear salary besides Haywood's, Dallas will barely have the space to make Williams a maximum offer.

With one marquee free agent to pursue rather than two, the need to create additional cap space isn't quite as pressing. However, I still expect Dallas to explore trades involving Shawn Marion, Lamar Odom, Vince Carter, and Rodrigue Beaubois, simply because I don't think the roster as constructed is strong enough to woo Williams to Dallas. If the Mavs can clear enough salary to bring in a third impact player to complement a Nowitzki/Williams duo, perhaps that piques the interest of the All-Star point guard.

If Williams turns down the Mavs, virtually every player on the open market becomes a possible target for Dallas, including their own free agents, like Jason Terry and Jason Kidd. Steve Nash, Goran Dragic, and Jeremy Lin are a few of the point guard alternatives to Williams, and shooters like Steve Novak and Ryan Anderson make some sense too. The Mavs may end up exploring the market at virtually every position, considering Nowitzki is the only set-in-stone core piece.

In addition to having cap space and the amnesty clause at their disposal, the Mavs kept their top-2o-protected first-round pick this season when it landed at #17. In a draft that's expected to be a deep one, that pick has some value as a trade chip, though Dallas may be better off keeping it. The club could use an infusion of young talent, and there's a good chance an intriguing prospect slips that far, whether it's a two guard like Jeremy Lamb, Dion Waiters, or Terrence Ross, or a young center like Meyers Leonard or Fab Melo.

Like the Nets, the Mavericks appear to be heading into the offseason with a "Deron Williams or bust" mentality. Failing to land the hometown star would create a dilemma for Mark Cuban and the Mavs — do you pursue the next-best short-term alternatives to give Dirk a chance to make another title run, or do you regroup entirely and try to stock up on young talent? I tend to believe the Mavs will lean toward the former option, but I don't see an easy way of doing it, which should make it an interesting summer in Dallas.

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

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Kyle Lowry Frustrated With Rockets

May 28th, 2012 at 10:15am CST by Zachary Links

MONDAY, 10:15am: Sources close to Lowry tell Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld (Twitter link) that the point guard hasn't officially asked for a trade, but that he's frustarted with the direction of the Rockets. Kyler adds that Lowry doesn't want to be a distraction or a source of negativity, and would like to win in Houston if possible (Twitter link).

SATURDAY, 8:37am: Point guard Kyle Lowry has soured on the Rockets organization and told Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle that he doesn't believe that both he and Goran Dragic will return to the roster next season.  Lowry also doesn't seem to think that he could get along with coach Kevin McHale.

“I don’t think so,” the 26-year-old said. “I honestly think it would be tough. Things have to be addressed. The situation would have to be addressed.  If things aren’t addressed coaching-wise, I guess I have to be moved.”

For his part, McHale told Feigen that he doesn't feel that there was a significant rift between him and Lowry this season.  The two clashed during a late-season game against the Nuggets when Lowry reacted angrily on the court and McHale pulled him back toward the huddle during a timeout.

The Villanova product doesn't believe that he and Dragic can remain in Houston as both players badly want to start.  McHale, meanwhile, says that the two can play well together in the same lineup.

Lowry, who recently underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia and torn abductor muscles, is set to earn $5.75MM next season and $6.2MM in 2013/14.

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