2013 August | Hoops Rumors

Hawks Waive DeShawn Stevenson

August 2nd, 2013 at 4:11pm CST by Zachary Links

The Hawks have waived DeShawn Stevenson, a league source tells Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (on Twitter). The move clears the way for Atlanta to officially sign DeMarre Carroll to a to a two-year, $5MM deal.

The guard signed a three-year pact with the Hawks last summer which paid him $2,240,450 per season, though only the first season was guaranteed. The veteran, known primarily for his tough defense, averaged 5.1 PPG and 2.2 RPG in 20.7 minutes per game for the Hawks last season.

In 13 seasons for the Jazz, Magic, Wizards, Mavericks, Nets, and Hawks, Stevenson has career averages of 7.2 PPG and 2.2 RPG.

International Notes: Smith, Knicks, Johnson

August 2nd, 2013 at 3:09pm CST by Zachary Links

Earlier today, we learned that Suns second round pick Alex Oriakhi will be headed overseas to France. Here's more news from around the globe..

There's speculation that Chris Smith, the younger brother of J.R. Smith, could be preparing to play in Italy, writes Keith Schlosser of Knicks Journal. The Knicks have been said to be willing to bring the younger Smith into training camp, but that would be more of a courtesy to the newly re-signed elder Smith anyway as his chances of making the opening night roster would be slim.
JaJuan Johnson will decide between playing overseas and hooking on with an NBA team in training camp in about three weeks, according to Kyle Neddenriep of the Indianapolis Star. Johnson, who played in summer league with the Pistons, is fearful that some of the better opportunities overseas could dry up if he goes into camp with an NBA team and doesn't make the cut.
Many teams are going with the "draft and stash" philosophy, but Wendell Maxey of Ridiculous Upside wonders if it'll pay off for clubs. The Sixers could be the latest club to go that route with 54th overall pick Arsalan Kazemi.

Suns Draftee Alex Oriakhi Signs In France

August 2nd, 2013 at 2:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Suns second round pick Alex Oriakhi has signed with France's CSP Limoges, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Phoenix drafted the center with the 57th overall pick in the 2013 Draft.

Oriakhi began his collegiate career at UConn where he served as the starting center for the Huskies' 2010/11 championship team. Then, after a year in which he saw a diminished role with the addition of Andre Drummond and the Huskies were banned from postseason play for 2013, he transferred to Missouri. The big man averaged 11.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 1.6 BPG in his final year on campus.

Beno Udrih Drawing Interest From Five Teams

August 2nd, 2013 at 2:19pm CST by Zachary Links

2:19pm: The Grizzlies are expressing interest in Udrih, according to Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal (on Twitter). The club is also considering fellow free agent guard Mo Williams.

10:15am: About five teams still have interest in free agent point guard Beno Udrih, including the Knicks, agent Marc Cornstein told Marc Berman of the New York Post (Sulia link). Berman speculates that the Knicks are probably longshots because they only have the $1.4MM veteran’s minimum to offer, but Cornstein wouldn’t tip his hand one way or another.

“If he signs with the Knicks the reasons will not be because of the money,’’ Cornstein said. “It would be a disservice to say they’re long shots or favorites. He’s examining the situations.’’

The Knicks have missed out on several point guard targets this summer and it could be difficult to convince Udrih, who made $7MM last season, to take such a substantial pay cut. If they can’t lure Udrih to New York, they could turn to NYC native Sebastian Telfair since there is mutual interest on that front. The Knicks are in search of a third point guard to put behind Raymond Felton and Pablo Prigioni thanks to Jason Kidd‘s departure.

Udrih has served as a backup over the last two seasons for the Bucks and Magic, averaging 8.2 PPG, 4.6 APG, and a 14.2 PER in 66 total games for the two teams in 2012/13.

Magic Waive Al Harrington

August 2nd, 2013 at 1:54pm CST by Zachary Links

The Magic announced that they have put Al Harrington on waivers. Harrington's contract called for him to earn a $7.149MM next season and $7.6MM in 2014/15, but both seasons were only half-guaranteed.

Orlando will now be on the hook for the amount owed to him, less whatever he signs for elsewhere. The veteran has career averaged of 13.7 PPG and 5.7 RPG across 15 NBA seasons but played just ten games with the Magic last season.

Last week, Harrington acknowledged that he was likely to be traded or bought out by the Magic, but explained that he feels healthier than ever and is ready to contribute for whatever team he plays for in 2013/14.

"Whatever situation I can get to where I can help a team win, that's what I want to do," Harrington said. "I don't want to play 36 minutes or none of that. Play 20, 25 minutes, just help mentor the young guys and stuff like that."

Harrington is a client of Relativity Sports and is represented by Dan Fegan, according to the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.

Raptors Still Talking With Julyan Stone

August 2nd, 2013 at 1:33pm CST by Zachary Links

After the initial agreed upon contract fell through, Julyan Stone is still in discussions for the Raptors to honor their deal, a league source told Shams Charania of RealGM. Meanwhile, three other NBA teams have emerged as serious suitor for the point guard.

Toronto agreed to a two-year, $1.9MM deal with Stone last month but the deal was called off due to unknown issues with his physical. Since then, GM Masai Ujiri and Stone’s representatives have maintained an open dialogue. The 6-foot-6 guard wants to play for a club that will give him significant minutes, according to Charania.

Since breaking things off with Stone, the Raptors signed guards Dwight Buycks and D.J. Augustin in support of Kyle Lowry, creating some difficulty in reversing course on Stone. In 26 total NBA games, the 24-year-old has averages of 1.7 PPG and 1.5 APG.

Several Teams Interested In Lou Amundson

August 2nd, 2013 at 12:39pm CST by Zachary Links

There are a number of teams anxiously awaiting Greg Oden's free agent decision today and many of those clubs all seem to have a common Plan B. Some of the same teams that are pursuing the former No. 1 overall pick are also showing interest in free agent Louis Amundson, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter).

The Heat, Kings, and Mavericks, who are all finalists for Oden, have registered some level of interest in the well-traveled 30-year-old (link). The Hawks, Knicks, and Pacers are also looking into Amundson.

The UNLV product averaged 1.9 PPG in 9.5 minutes per contest for three teams last season. In seven career NBA seasons with eight diffeent clubs, Amundson has career averages of 3.7 PPG and 3.6 RPG in 12.8 minutes per contest.

Bucks Likely To Release Slava Kravtsov

August 2nd, 2013 at 10:57am CST by Zachary Links

Slava Kravtsov is expected to be released by the Bucks because of a surplus of big men, according to Perry A. Farrell of the Detroit Free Press. The 25-year-old center was involved in the sign-and-trade that also sent Khris Middleton and Brandon Knight to the Bucks for Brandon Jennings.

The 7-footer, who turns 26 later this month, spent one year with the Pistons and showed promise in limited time. In 25 games last season, he averaged 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds in nine minutes per contest.

The Pistons were able to sign Kravtsov outright last July as he went undrafted in 2009. Kravtsov, who is known primarily for his tough defensive play, averaged 10.6 PPG and 5.5 RPG in 22 MPG in his final international season with Ukraine's BC Donetsk.

Knicks Talking With Hamed Haddadi

August 2nd, 2013 at 8:59am CST by Zachary Links

The Knicks have been talking with free agent big man Hamed Haddadi, a source tells Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com (via Twitter). However, their level of interest isn't quite known. Haddadi has never been great at running the floor and his game is predictably getting slower with time.

We learned yesterday that the club has discussed the big man internally, along with Cole Aldrich, Jerome Jordan, Gani Lawal, Shavlik Randolph, and Henry Sims. The Suns waived the Iranian center earlier this week and are on the hook for just $200K rather than the $1.4MM that they would have had to pay him had he been on the roster for 2013/14.

Haddadi finished last season strong after coming over from the Raptors at the deadline as he averaged 4.1 points and 5.1 rebounds in 13.8 minutes per game for Phoenix.

Odds & Ends: Oden, Thunder, Clippers

August 1st, 2013 at 11:24pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Heat, Spurs and Mavs are the most likely to land Greg Oden when he makes his decision Friday, sources tell Jeff Goodman and Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Goodman and Stein are hearing conflicting information on whether the Pelicans, Kings and Hawks remain in the running, but it appears New Orleans has the best chance out of those three. The Cavs, Celtics and Grizzlies have also expressed interest, but they declined to make formal offers, the report also says. Here's more on Oden and others around the Association:

Whichever team signs Oden once he makes his decision tomorrow won't be committing more than a few million dollars, leading HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy to argue that he's worth the risk. Taking such risks is what shrewd GM's do, SB Nation's Tom Ziller opines.
The league is reimbursing the Thunder $8MM, or roughly half of the difference between the money the team is shelling out for Kevin Durant and the smaller amount the Thunder agreed to pay when he signed his extension, Grantland's Zach Lowe tweets.
The ESPN.com staff is high on the Clippers, as Chad Ford gives them the only A+ among his Western Conference offseason grades (Insiders only), while the 5-on-5 crew lauds the team's acquisitions of coach Doc Rivers and sharpshooter Jared Dudley.
HoopsWorld's Nate Duncan profiles six players whom teams may have undervalued this summer.

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