2012 October | Hoops Rumors

Eastern Notes: Heat, Irving, Rasheed, Pistons

October 18th, 2012 at 9:03pm CST by Chuck Myron

We looked at news from the Western Conference already, so here's a trip around Eastern Conference camps, with the start of the regular season just a dozen nights away.

Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald thought a few days ago that Terrel Harris was a shoo-in for a spot on the Heat roster, but now believes Garrett Temple has a legitimate chance to beat him out (Twitter link). Both guards are on non-guaranteed deals.
Kyrie Irving did plenty to justify his position as the top pick in the 2011 draft last season, when he won Rookie of the Year honors, but Cavs coach Byron Scott still believes he has a long way to go to realize his potential, as Steve Aschburner of NBA.com writes.
Marc Berman of the New York Post has details on Rasheed Wallace's contract with the Knicks, and confirms that it's without even a partial guarantee.
Joe Dumars is the league's third-longest tenured executive in charge of player personnel decisions, as Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors pointed out yesterday, and the Pistons president of basketball operations told Keith Langlois of Pistons.com he's never been as impressed with his players' offseason work as he is this year (Twitter link).
Nets coach Avery Johnson said he expects free agent signee Jerry Stackhouse, a few weeks shy of his 38th birthday, to make his primary contribution as a locker room presence, a la Juwan Howard with the Heat the past two seasons, as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News tweets.

Western Notes: Fredette, Blazers, Douglas-Roberts

October 18th, 2012 at 7:53pm CST by Chuck Myron

Ben Golliver of SI.com identifies five players on Western Conference contenders who'll be "X-factors" for their teams, meaning their performance this season will go a long way in determining whether their teams will be playing in June. Three of the X-factors are offseason acquisitions: Dwight Howard of the Lakers, Andre Iguodala of the Nuggets and Lamar Odom of the Clippers. A fourth, the Thunder's James Harden, is entering the final season of his contract, while the Spurs have their X-factor, Kawhi Leonard, locked up until 2015 and already talking about staying with the team for a lot longer than that. There's more on others from around the West tonight, and we've got it rounded up here.

While some Kings teammates say Jimmer Fredette has been the best player in camp, the team has other options at guard that could keep Fredette out of the rotation, as Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com notes. Still, Howard-Cooper makes the case that the Kings still need the 10th overall pick in the 2011 draft to play up to his potential.
Luke Babbitt and Nolan Smith still have multiple seasons left on their rookie-scale contracts, but if the Blazers don't think they'll develop, Dwight Jaynes of CSNNW.com thinks they could trade one or both of them for draft picks and cap space. Such moves could also allow the team to keep Coby Karl and Adam Morrison, both of whom have impressed Jaynes.
Blazer's Edge checks in with two-pronged preview of the Blazers, as Tom Ziller looks at what's ahead while Mike Prada gives the team a C for its work this past offseason.
Chris Douglas-Roberts, in camp with the Lakers on a non-guaranteed deal, talks about his teammates, the challenge of making the regular season roster, and what went wrong during his first stint in the NBA as part of a Q&A with Mike Trudell of Lakers.com.
Free agent signee Jamal Crawford is showing off his ability to score in crunch time for the Clippers, as Eric Patten of Clippers.com observes.

Buss Says Lakers Want To Make ‘Splash’ In 2014

October 18th, 2012 at 6:51pm CST by Chuck Myron

Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss told Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register the team has intentionally designed most of its contracts to end in 2014, when Kobe Bryant's deal is also up and LeBron James and other stars can become free agents. Ding's report adds further credence to Brian Windhorst's ESPN.com story that quotes a general manager from an unidentified team as saying "It's not a mistake" the Lakers' deals all end at the same time. The plan, Buss said, is to "make a big splash in the free agent market."

"We would basically, money-wise, be able to sign the top free agent – maybe even two," he said. "I don't know the numbers exactly, because we're not privy to what the cap is and how much room we have, but it's going to be close to two of the top free agents that year."

The only contract the Lakers have that extends past 2014 belongs to Steve Nash, who'll make $9.7MM in 2014/15. They envision having Dwight Howard around, too, as Ding points out, and if he's on a maximum deal he'd be making more than $22.5MM that season. That would mean a tight squeeze for two more maximum-salary players, but would certainly leave enough room for one.

Ding says if James opts in with the Heat for 2014/15, the Lakers could try to convince Bryant to play one more season and go after James again in 2015. There could also be other options in 2014 if James is unavailable, as Ding lists Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki and John Wall among the possibilties, though none seem quite as attractive as James. For a full list of 2014 free agents, check out our list here.

Getting the vast majority of the team's contracts off the books after 2014 could also save the Lakers plenty in luxury tax that they'd have to pay if they brought everyone back, especially since 2014 is when more dire penalties for taxpaying teams kick in under the new CBA. While it's conceivable the team could once more go over the tax threshold with a new group, they'd likely have to get under the cap to bring aboard James or another maximum-salary player, making it difficult to immediately become a taxpayer again.

Heat Rumors: LeBron, Lewis, Chalmers, Blatche

October 18th, 2012 at 6:05pm CST by Chuck Myron

A report by Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com suggesting the Lakers could go after LeBron James in 2014 went out like something of a hurricane watch for South Florida today, and Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com adds to Miami's anxiety, tweeting that the Bulls, too, would go after King James when he comes available. Of course, it makes sense that plenty of teams covet the three-time MVP, and Friedell believes the Bulls rank below the Heat and Lakers on LeBron's wishlist (Twitter link). While the threat that he might leave someday is indeed present, LeBron remains under contract with the Heat for at least two more seasons. As Miami focuses on the present, here are the latest Heat-related rumblings:

James denied knowledge of Windhorst's story earlier today, responding, "What story? The Marvel Comics story?" when asked about it by reporters, including Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link).
Winderman argues that, given Rashard Lewis' minimum-salary contract, any contribution the team gets from him this season should be seen as gravy for a team that already had a successful offseason with the signing of Ray Allen.
In the same piece, Winderman also suggests Mario Chalmers could become a trade candidate if fellow point guards Norris Cole and Garrett Temple impress.
The Heat kicked the tires on Andray Blatche this summer, but despite his emergence as the league's fourth leading scorer in the preseason at 17.0 points per game for the Nets, Winderman doesn't believe Miami is missing out, since Blatche would likely have been glued to the Heat bench.
Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says Dwyane Wade is ahead of schedule as he recovers from offseason knee surgery, Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida reports (Sulia link). The last we heard, Wade was hoping to be ready for opening night.

Bulls Cut Kyrylo Fesenko

October 18th, 2012 at 4:55pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Bulls have waived center Kyrylo Fesenko, the team announced. His subtraction brings the roster to 15 players. The move was expected, since the Bulls, who are under a $74.307 hard cap this season, couldn't afford to keep him for opening night without getting rid of one of their guaranteed deals. They'll be eligible to re-sign him on November 19th, as Mark Deeks of ShamSports points out on Twitter, when the veteran's minimum-salary will pro-rate down to a figure the Bulls can manage.

The 7'1" Fesenko was signed on the eve of training camp to a minimum-salary make-good deal without a guarantee. He spent the final month of last season with the Pacers but appeared in only three regular season games, scoring eight points in 17 minutes. He didn't get into any of Indiana's playoff games, though he saw extensive postseason action in 2010, in the middle of his four-season tenure with the Jazz.

Once he clears waivers, Fesenko will be free to sign with any team, so there's no certainty that he'll be back with the Bulls this season. Marko Jaric and Ryan Allen remain with the Bulls on non-guaranteed deals, but they seem destined for the same fate as Fesenko.

Jazz Waive Brian Butch, Trey Gilder

October 18th, 2012 at 4:38pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Jazz have waived training camp invitees Brian Butch and Trey Gilder, according to Steve Luhm of The Salt Lake Tribune. The move brings the team's roster down to 17 players, a number that includes Raja Bell, who's trying to negotiate a buyout from the team (Twitter links).

Both Butch and Gilder were on non-guaranteed deals for the minimum salary. The pair signed with Utah in late September, along with fellow invitees Chris Quinn and Darnell Jackson, who remain with the team and in the running for a spot on the opening-night roster. Kevin Murphy, whom the Jazz drafted in the second round this past June, has a partial guarantee of $200K on his deal, and 14 other players, including Bell, have fully guaranteed contracts, making it an uphill battle for Quinn and Jackson if they're to remain with the club.

Gilder had a cup of coffee with the Grizzlies in 2009/10, appearing for five minutes over two games. The 6'9" forward averaged 19.2 points and 7.7 rebounds in 37.0 minutes per game in 34 contests for the D-League's Sioux Falls SkyForce last year. Butch, a 6'11" center from the University of Wisconsin, signed with the Nuggets late in the 2009/10 season, but did not appear in a game. He was also in camp with the Hornets last year, but is still waiting to make his official NBA debut.

Celtics Sign Leandro Barbosa

October 18th, 2012 at 4:28pm CST by Luke Adams

THURSDAY, 5:28pm: The Celtics have confirmed the move in a press release. The Brazilian native won't be available for the team's preseason game tonight against the Nets because of unresolved visa issues.

WEDNESDAY, 3:56pm: Barbosa's deal will be for the veteran's minimum, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.

3:21pm: The Celtics and unrestricted free agent Leandro Barbosa have agreed to terms on a one-year contract, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Paul Flannery of WEEI.com had reported yesterday that the C's were looking to add another veteran before the end of this week.

After the Celtics waived Dionte Christmas and Jamar Smith yesterday, it left just 16 players left on the team's roster, including Rob Kurz and Micah Downs, who are unlikely to survive cuts. Coach Doc Rivers had said the Celtics planned to open the season with a full 15-man roster, according to Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald, so Barbosa and rookie Kris Joseph appear to be good bets to earn the 14th and 15th spots.

As Rich Levine of CSNNE.com wrote earlier today, the Celtics haven't had a true backup point guard for the last few seasons; Barbosa doesn't exactly match that description either, since he can play both guard positions, and is probably a more natural fit at the two. Still, he seems as likely as anyone to occupy the role that Keyon Dooling had in Boston before Dooling unexpectedly retired last month.

Barbosa, 29, averaged 11.1 PPG on .425/.382/.815 shooting a year ago in 64 games for the Raptors and Pacers. He was said to be seeking more than the minimum, but it was still a little surprising that he remained unsigned this late into the fall. Terms of his agreement with the Celtics aren't known, but I'd guess it'll be a guaranteed, minimum-salary contract. Boston was also believed to have the $1.957MM bi-annual exception in its pocket, but GM Danny Ainge indicated last month that the BAE wasn't available.

Mavericks Waive Josh Akognon

October 18th, 2012 at 4:15pm CST by Luke Adams

4:15pm: The team has confirmed the move via press release.

3:48pm: The Mavericks have requested waivers on camp invitee Josh Akognon, according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. Akognon was on a fully non-guaranteed contract, so the Mavs won't take a cap hit for releasing him.

Akognon, who graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2009, averaged 23.9 PPG in his senior year, earning Big West Conference Player of the Year honors. Since going undrafted, he has played primarily overseas, including an impressive 2011/12 season with the CBA's DongGuan New Century Leopards. In 37 games for DongGuan, the 26-year-old was a top-five scorer in the league, averaging 28.2 PPG on 51% shooting.

As Sefko writes, Akognon had said he was enjoying experiencing an NBA camp, and was happy to be in a situation with a "Plan A and a Plan B." Based on previous reports, it appears Plan B for Akognon may involve heading back overseas to rejoin a CBA team.

The move reduces Dallas' roster to the maximum allowable 15 players, leaving the Mavericks with no players left on non-guaranteed contracts. The Mavs had previously waived camp invitees D.J. Mbenga and Tu Holloway.

Sixers Waive Dan Gadzuric

October 18th, 2012 at 4:09pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Sixers have waived Dan Gadzuric, the team has announced. The 10-year veteran was in camp on a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal, but he hasn't played in any of the team's preseason games so far.

Gadzuric appeared in just two games last year after the Knicks signed him for the final week of the season, and went scoreless in 13 total minutes. New York made use of his contract, which included a non-guaranteed season in 2012/13, over the summer, shipping his rights to the Blazers in a sign-and-trade for Raymond Felton. The Blazers promptly waived Gadzuric, and the Sixers made him one of four signees who came aboard right before training camp began. One of those four, Xavier Silas, was waived last week, leaving Damien Wilkins and Devin Searcy as the last two remaining.

Gadzuric's exit brings the team's roster down to 15 players, with 13 on guaranteed deals, including Maalik Wayns, whose contract includes a $75K buyout. Last night, Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com reported that the Sixers are likely to get down to 14 players by the start of the regular season, with Searcy next on the chopping block. He confirms via Twitter today that Wilkins has the best among the team's camp invitees of making the opening-night roster.

Taj Gibson Hopes To Retire As A Bull

October 18th, 2012 at 3:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Taj Gibson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and could become a restricted free agent next summer, but it doesn't sound as if he's overly eager to explore his options on the open market. According to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com (via Twitter), Gibson has said he'd like to spend the rest of his career with the Bulls, and is "hopeful" that the two sides will work out a contract extension this month.

We've heard plenty of updates this month on Gibson's contract situation, with most reports suggesting that the big man is likely to land a new deal with Chicago before the October 31st deadline. Yesterday, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported that he expected the Bulls and Gibson to agree on an extension, with Carlos Boozer likely being amnestied down the road.

When Ryan Raroque of Hoops Rumors examined Gibson's case for an extension, he suggested that a deal worth about $6MM annually could work for both sides. If the Bulls could lock up the 27-year-old for three or four years at that price, it'd be a coup for the team. I wouldn't be surprised if Gibson landed a slightly bigger payday, perhaps in the neighborhood of $30MM overall.

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