2012 October | Hoops Rumors

Atlantic Notes: Sullinger, Celtics, Sixers

October 26th, 2012 at 9:25pm CST by Michael Pina

A few bits of information from around the NBA's Atlantic Division:

Despite having a little bit of success in the preseason, receiving commendable quotes from teammates such as Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett, Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger remains humble, realizing he has much to learn in the early years of his career, writes CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely.
Celtics head coach Doc Rivers says his team could feature three different starting lineups this season, with Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett as the pillars, and a rotation of Brandon Bass, Jeff Green, and Sullinger filling in at power forward, writes WEEI.com's Mike Petraglia.
The Sixers have a very professional roster, and it could make Doug Collins' job that much easier, writes the Philadelphia Inquirer's Bob Cooney.

Cuban: Delonte West Could Return To Team

October 26th, 2012 at 7:16pm CST by Michael Pina

In a conversation with assembled media this evening, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said suspended guard Delonte West could still return to the team, reports Dallas Morning News reporter Brad Townsend. “It’s pretty much down to me making a decision,” Cuban said.

West's current situation was covered in detail earlier today.

Johnson-Odom To Sign In Ukraine

October 26th, 2012 at 7:00pm CST by Michael Pina

Earlier this week it was reported that Darius Johnson-Odom would soon be waived by the Lakers. According to Sportando.net he's going to Ukraine to play for Azovmash Mariupol. The 6'2" guard averaged 18.3 PPG with Marquette last season.

N’diaye Signs In China

October 26th, 2012 at 5:31pm CST by Michael Pina

After being released by the Kings earlier today, center Hamady N'daiye has agreed to a deal with China's Tianjin, according to a tweet from Yahoo! NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski. After being drafted by the Timberwolves in 2010, the 7'0" center has spent time in the NBA's D-League with the Dakota Wizards, Iowa Energy, and Maine Red Claws.

Poll: David Stern’s Performance As Commissioner

October 26th, 2012 at 5:00pm CST by Luke Adams

When it was announced yesterday that David Stern would be retiring as NBA commissioner on February 1st, 2014, reactions and retrospectives immediately started pouring in. Many pundits praised Stern for the work he's done over the last three decades to grow the NBA globally, and plenty of players and executives around the league echoed those thoughts.

Not everyone was complimentary of Stern's tenure as NBA commissioner, however. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports wrote that the longtime commish used intimidation and manipulation to get his way for years, and that his last 15 months on the job will be spent "promoting the myth of David Stern." Grantland's Zach Lowe also points to four lockouts and a string of unpopular decisions, including last year's veto of the Lakers' trade for Chris Paul, as blemishes on Stern's legacy.

How do you feel about Stern's 28+ years as NBA commissioner? Weigh in on the poll below with the grade you'd assign Stern for the job he's done at the head of the Association since 1984.

Knicks Waive Chris Smith

October 26th, 2012 at 4:43pm CST by Luke Adams

The Knicks have officially waived Chris Smith, the team announced today in a press release. The brother of J.R. Smith was brought aboard to compete for a spot on the roster, but suffered a patella injury that will keep him out for three to six months.

Marc Berman of the New York Post wrote a couple weeks back that there was speculation that one of the stipulations when J.R. signed with the Knicks was that his brother would earn a roster spot. However, following the injury, Chris probably wouldn't have been able to contribute until late in the season, if at all. As such, the Knicks were highly unlikely to use a roster spot on him.

The younger Smith's contract was believed to be fully non-guaranteed, so it shouldn't cost the Knicks anything to waive him. According to Mark Deeks of ShamSports, the contract would have become fully guaranteed if Smith had remained on the roster through November 1st.

Celtics Waive Rob Kurz, Micah Downs

October 26th, 2012 at 4:32pm CST by Luke Adams

FRIDAY, 4:32pm: The Celtics have officially waived Kurz and Downs, the team announced today in a press release.

TUESDAY, 3:00pm: The Celtics are set to waive camp invitees Rob Kurz and Micah Downs, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (Twitter link), who says an announcement will come soon. When the cuts become official, Boston will have 15 players remaining under contract.

We heard earlier this week that Kurz and Downs were likely to be released, which came as no surprise. Along with the 13 guaranteed contracts they carried into camp, the Celtics added Leandro Barbosa as a 14th man, and were expected to keep Kris Joseph using their 15th and final roster spot.

The Celtics had added Kurz and Downs to their camp roster in late September, and both players appeared in most of the team's preseason contests, though neither one made a particularly strong impression. In limited minutes, Downs averaged 3.0 PPG and Kurz posted 1.7 PPG.

Bobcats Pick Up Options On Walker, Biyombo

October 26th, 2012 at 4:11pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bobcats have officially exercised their third-year options on Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo, according to a team release.

Walker and Biyombo, both top-ten picks in 2011, will now make a guaranteed $2.57MM and $3.05MM respectively in 2013/14. The Bobcats will have an additional team option on each player for 2014/15, $3.27MM for Walker and $3.87MM for Biyombo, before both players become eligible for restricted free agency in the summer of 2015.

Walker's and Biyombo's were the only 2013/14 options on Charlotte's plate this summer, but that doesn't necessarily mean the team is done with its contract decision-making for the month. The Bobcats have until next Wednesday to potentially work out contract extensions for Gerald Henderson and/or Byron Mullens, though neither player is expected to be locked up.

Kings Waive Mitchell, N’Diaye, Reed

October 26th, 2012 at 3:39pm CST by Luke Adams

The Kings are the latest team to make roster cuts, announcing today in a press release that they've released Tony Mitchell, Hamady N'Diaye, and Willie Reed. The moves leave the Kings with 14 players under contract.

None of the three players received much playing time in the preseason, each averaging under two points per game in less than six minutes per contest. Since Mitchell, N'Diaye, and Reed were the only three Kings on non-guaranteed contracts, it appears all but certain that Sacramento will head into the season with its current 14-man roster.

Spurs Waive Wesley Witherspoon, JaMychal Green

October 26th, 2012 at 3:28pm CST by Luke Adams

The Spurs have officially waived camp invitees Wesley Witherspoon and JaMychal Green, the team announced today in a press release. The moves reduce San Antonio's roster to 15 players, the maximum number allowed in the regular season.

Witherspoon, signed in late September by the Spurs, played in three preseason games, averaging 8.3 PPG. Green, meanwhile, quietly signed with the team on October 22nd and didn't see any preseason action. Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News speculated earlier this week that both players could be released soon to join the Spurs' D-League affiliate, the Austin Toros. I expect that will be the case, especially for Green, whose signing doesn't make a lot of sense otherwise.

With 15 players under contract now, San Antonio may be finished making cuts. If that's the case, it's good news for Josh Powell, who currently represents the 15th man on the team's roster. His contract won't be fully guaranteed until January, so the Spurs could decide to keep him for the first few weeks of the season and release him before they're on the hook for his full salary. DeJuan Blair and Gary Neal also have non-guaranteed contracts, but their roster spots aren't in jeopardy.

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