Magic point guard Jameer Nelson has a June 15 deadline to decide whether to pick up his $8.6MM option for next season, and "all indications" are that he'll decline it and test free agency, tweets Evan Dunlap of OrlandoPinstripedPost.com. Nelson has expressed a willingness to stay in Orlando for the rest of his career, but doesn't want to be treated as a trade chip in the final year of his deal. Earlier today we heard the Jazz could make a play for him. That's just one of many items of note from around the league on a busy Friday.
- Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune isn't sold that the Blazers will keep coach Kaleb Canales, and says former Blazers coach Mike Dunleavy, who has ties to new GM Neil Olshey, "would love to coach again in Portland."
- GM Ernie Grunfeld and the Wizards have drafted three big men in the last two drafts, but Michael Lee of The Washington Post examines the possibility of the team going for another big at the No. 3 pick this year, with Thomas Robinson and Andre Drummond likely options. Robinson will work out for the team on Tuesday.
- The Wizards also have their eyes on a pair of wing players, as Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Bradley Beal will work out for the team next week, reports Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com (Twitter links).
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes that it may be more lucrative for Nick Calathes, currently playing in Greece, to remain in Europe rather than join the Mavs, who hold his NBA rights. We heard earlier that Calathes wants to jump to the NBA.
- Harrison Barnes must prove that he can create his own shots in order to prove worthy of a top five pick, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
—–
There’s a problem with Harrison Barnes, he can’t create his own shots. He’s like a poor man’s Luol Deng.
To be fair, he is extremely talented and is still very young.
So are all the other lottery picks