2012 October | Hoops Rumors

Central Rumors: Bulls, Sloan, Pargo, Dunlap

October 23rd, 2012 at 7:28pm CST by Chuck Myron

NBA GMs were polled recently about their thoughts on the upcoming season, and one of the more intriguing revelations is that the Pacers received more votes to win the Central Division than the Bulls, who have finished with the league's best record two seasons in a row but are now without Derrick Rose. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau is unfazed by the prediction, as Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com notes. Here's more from around the Central.

It doesn't look like both Donald Sloan and Jeremy Pargo will make the opening-night roster for the Cavs, according to Bob Finnan of The News Herald, who believes Sloan has the best chance to survive cuts (Sulia link). That's a little surprising, since Sloan's deal is without a guarantee, while Pargo has a fully guaranteed deal for $1MM this season.
With the Cavs' first regular season game just a week away, coach Byron Scott said the only players guaranteed a starting spot are Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Mike Dunlap seemed like an out-of-nowhere hire when the Bobcats tabbed him as their new coach this summer, but Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer tweets that the Bulls interviewed Dunlap for their coaching job in 2008, when they hired current Clippers boss Vinny Del Negro.

Blazers To Send Harper, Lauderdale To D-League

October 23rd, 2012 at 6:24pm CST by Chuck Myron

Camp invitees Demonte Harper and Dallas Lauderdale aren't traveling with the Blazers to Utah for Thursday's preseason game, and Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com tweets that the team plans to send them to the Idaho Stampede, Portland's D-League affiliate. While that doesn't necessarily mean those two are getting cut, Haynes points out via Twitter that NBA clubs are allowed to protect up to three training camp invitees for their D-League affliates, once those players clear NBA waivers. So, it seems likely that's the plan for Harper and Lauderdale.

Haynes also tweets that GM Neil Olshey said he'll make roster cuts Saturday, which would allow the players to clear waivers by 5pm Eastern time Monday, the deadline for teams to be at the 15-man regular season roster limit. Harper and Lauderdale won't be waived before Saturday, Haynes says, since Olshey has maintained that he wants to wait as long as possible to make his cuts (Twitter link). The Blazers currently have 20 players on the roster, which is the preseason limit. Six are candidates to be cut, since they are all without even a partial guarantee, and that list includes Harper and Lauderdale. The other 14 have fully guaranteed deals. Mike Tokito of The Oregonian identifies Coby Karl and Justin Holiday as two likely candidates to be the third player waived and protected for Idaho (Twitter link).

Harper, a 6'4" guard, spent last year with the Croatian club KK Cibona after going undrafted out of Morehead State in 2011. He played with the Nuggets in summer league, but has registered just four minutes of playing time in preseason with the Blazers. Lauderdale, a 6'8" Ohio State product, was also passed over in the 2011 draft, and played with Turow Zgorzelec in Poland last season. He was with the Warriors' summer league team, but like Harper, hasn't seen much preseason action, garnering only six minutes.

L.A. Rumors: Barnes, Goudelock, Johnson-Odom

October 23rd, 2012 at 5:55pm CST by Chuck Myron

Both the Clippers and the Lakers have a marquee player who'll be a free agent next summer, in Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, respectively. The teams also made a slew of offseason changes after finishing within a game of each other at the top of the Pacific Division standings and suffering playoff eliminations in the conference semifinals. The two Staples Center tenants seem to have a lot more in common than just an address as the 2012/13 season approaches, and we have news on Tinseltown's teams.

We heard earlier today about Paul's influence on Matt Barnes' decision to sign with the Clippers, and Barnes told HoopsWorld's Yannis Koutroupis that it all started when he was at an open workout at the team's facility. Barnes was initially apprehensive, knowing the team already has Caron Butler and Grant Hill at small forward, but the Clippers kept pushing the idea, prompting Barnes to give it a go.
The Lakers are leaning toward carrying just 14 players to start the regular season, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. Andrew Goudelock and Darius Johnson-Odom, both of whom are non-guaranteed deals, are "longshots" to make the team, Bresnahan says. That would make Robert Sacre, whose deal is also non-guaranteed, the favorite for the 14th spot.
Howard thinks the controversy surrounding him last year with the Magic played a role in his failure to win a fourth consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award, Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com writes.
Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times checks in with Lamar Odom, who's trying to play himself into shape with the Clippers.

Neil Olshey Talks Trade Market, Options, Cap

October 23rd, 2012 at 4:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey has been on the job in Portland for four and a half months, having gone through his first draft and free agency period with the team this summer. While the Blazers may not be a contender this season, Olshey is enthusiastic about the direction the roster is taking, and spoke to Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune about the club's outlook. Here are a few of the highlights from Olshey:

On the trade market and whether the Blazers will get involved in deals:

"Everybody wants to feel things out for a little bit before making changes. We’re not going to make any moves that will take away long-term flexibility, unless it’s absolutely a player to add to our core. We’re not going to make incremental moves that don’t move the needle…. We took a lot of discipline to put ourselves in position where we could have a max (salary) cap slot next summer. We could be aggressive in free agency. We want to have that flexibility. We want to make big moves. We don’t want to make marginal moves."

On how next year's cap situation will influence the team's option decisions (on Luke Babbitt, Nolan Smith, and Elliot Williams) this month:

"We have to look at whether or not we even need that cap room [next summer]. We’re trying to judge which players are going to be in the free-agent market. That will impact our decision as much or more than whether or not we like the three guys who have options. We like all of them. The question is, is there an opportunity cost by taking ourselves out of free agency to a certain degree if we pick up the options?"

On whether owner Paul Allen will be patient throughout Olshey's rebuilding process:

"I’m going to accelerate this as quickly as possible without sacrificing the big picture. We want to win at a high level and for it to be sustainable. We don’t want quick fixes, where we’re back to the drawing board every offseason, trying to hold on to something that’s slipping through our fingers. Paul is buying into it right now. My promise to him is we’re going to move this as fast as humanly possible with sacrificing sustainabilty."

Spurs Waive Eddy Curry, Derrick Brown

October 23rd, 2012 at 2:21pm CST by Luke Adams

With a week until the regular season gets underway, the Spurs have cut two players from their roster, the team announced today. According to a press release, the team has waived camp invitees Eddy Curry and Derrick Brown, reducing the roster count to 16 players.

The decision to waive both players is a little surprising, considering coach Gregg Popovich seemed to indicate over the weekend that Curry and Brown were the top candidates to earn the team's 15th and final roster spot. Curry looked decent in camp, while Brown had a solid 2011/12 campaign for the Bobcats, so it wouldn't be unexpected to see either player draw interest, and perhaps a waiver claim.

With Curry and Brown no longer on the roster, Josh Powell and Wesley Witherspoon seem to be in contention to be the 15th man, assuming San Antonio decides to carry the maximum. In addition to Powell and Witherspoon, the Spurs also have DeJuan Blair and Gary Neal on non-guaranteed contracts, though neither player appears in any danger of being released.

Odds & Ends: Green, Mohammed, Raptors, Magic

October 23rd, 2012 at 1:49pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's check out a few Tuesday afternoon odds and ends from around the NBA:

So far this preseason, Jeff Green has been what the Celtics thought they were getting when they acquired him from the Thunder two years ago, says Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau says offseason addition Nazr Mohammed came "highly recommended" and that he has lived up to expectations so far, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter), the Raptors have made an addition to their pro personnel department, hiring former Hawks assistant GM David Pendergraft, who played a large role in Atlanta's drafts under former GM Rick Sund.
Josh Cohen of OrlandoMagic.com wonders if the Magic's plans could be affected by whether or not the Thunder extend James Harden.
In an Insider-only piece, ESPN.com's Chad Ford identifies a few of his top prospects for 2013 draft that don't play at major-conference schools.
Jamar Smith, who was cut from Celtics camp, is drawing interest from multiple clubs in Italy, according to a pair of articles from Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

Grizzlies Waive Michael Dunigan, Kyle Weaver

October 23rd, 2012 at 12:22pm CST by Luke Adams

The Grizzlies have requested waivers on camp invitees Michael Dunigan and Kyle Weaver, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal (Twitter link). The roster moves reduce the number of Grizzlies under contract to 16.

Memphis opened the month with 20 players in camp, but released D.J. Kennedy and Jarrid Famous earlier in October. With 16 players still on the roster, 13 of those have fully guaranteed contracts, while three camp invitees remain: Ronald Dupree, Jerome Jordan, and Flip Murray. Depending on how many players the Grizzlies decide to carry into the regular season, at least one of those players will have to be cut.

Western Notes: Eyenga, Harden, Green, Karl

October 23rd, 2012 at 11:40am CST by Luke Adams

The Lakers liked Christian Eyenga, who they acquired last year from the Cavaliers, and after the third-year swingman was waived by the Magic earlier today, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports wondered (via Twitter) if Los Angeles could try to get him back. However, because Eyenga was traded by the Lakers to Orlando in August, L.A. is ineligible to either claim him off waivers or sign him before his contract expires next July, so Eyenga will have to find work elsewhere.

Here are a few more late-morning notes out of the Western Conference:

There's no question that the Suns would love to get a chance to sign James Harden and would likely make him an aggressive offer if he reaches restricted free agency, says Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. However, Coro wonders if it might be as futile an endeavor as Phoenix's pursuit of Eric Gordon was this past summer.
Having signed a three-year contract with the Spurs this summer, Danny Green is excited about having some security this season, says Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. "It’s very nice," Green said. "Obviously, it allows me to play a little bit more comfortably, to know that this organization is behind me and they want me here…. Even though I got that security, I’m still taking that time to approach the game like I did before without the contract."
Coby Karl hasn't officially been cut from the Trail Blazers' roster, but he's expecting that to happen soon, as he tells CSNNW.com.
Even with the Mavericks hopeful that Dirk Nowitzki could return from knee surgery by mid-November, Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com wonders how the team's chemistry will be affected by his absence.
Agent Andrew Vye tells Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston that his client Royce White has a plan in place for traveling to games that everyone is on board with, "including the league, the union, the Rockets, and Royce and us."

Nets Waive Stephen Dennis

October 23rd, 2012 at 10:45am CST by Luke Adams

The Nets have officially waived Stephen Dennis, the team announced today (via Twitter). With Dennis no longer on the roster, Brooklyn is now carrying 17 players.

Dennis, a 6'6" guard out of Kutztown University, was part of the Nets' summer league squad in July before he inked a training camp deal last month. He didn't appear to make much of an impression in the preseason, playing 21 minutes in three games and recording just two points, one rebound, and a steal.

With 13 players on fully guaranteed contracts, the Nets are expected to fill out their roster with one or two players out of a group that includes Andray Blatche, Josh Childress, James Mays, and Carleton Scott.

Magic Waive Christian Eyenga, Armon Johnson

October 23rd, 2012 at 10:31am CST by Luke Adams

The Magic have made a pair of roster cuts, officially waiving Christian Eyenga and Armon Johnson, the team announced today in a press release. The moves reduce Orlando's roster to 18 players.

Orlando had been carrying 16 players on fully guaranteed contracts, so the team needed to trade or waive at least one player who was owed guaranteed money. As such, it's not a huge shock that the Magic dropped Eyenga, who sat out the team's preseason games with a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old, a former first-round pick, was acquired as part of the Dwight Howard trade, and had a $2.12MM option for 2013/14, which it seems won't be exercised. His $1.17MM 2012/13 salary will count against the Magic's cap, however, unless he's claimed on waivers.

With Eyenga and Johnson off the roster, the Magic will need to make three additional cuts to reach the regular-season maximum of 15 players. DeQuan Jones and Chris Johnson also have non-guaranteed deals, making them candidates to be released. E'Twaun Moore's contract is mostly non-guaranteed as well, with just a $90K buyout.

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