Tough break for Kansas center Joel Embiid. The center, viewed by some as the best talent in the 2014 draft, broke the navicular bone in his right foot and while he could be healed up in as little as four months, it seems a lot less likely that he’ll be the No. 1 overall pick in this week’s draft. There should be plenty of fallout from the news and the Magic are apparently eyeing a trade up to the top two to make sure they can land Dante Exum. Here’s more from the week that was..
- David Blatt will be the next coach of the Cavaliers.
- The Bulls are in the lead for Carmelo Anthony, who is opting out.
- The Grizzlies and Zach Randolph seem close to a deal that would keep the power forward in Memphis for the next several seasons.
- The Sixers are considering Embiid.
- Rudy Gay will opt in with the Kings.
- The Mavs plan to go after Pau Gasol.
- The Warriors are reportedly in the lead in the Kevin Love sweepstakes. Klay Thompson may or may not be available in such a deal, depending on who you ask. Talks appear to be at an impasse currently.
- The Bulls are pursuing Arron Afflalo.
- The Bulls are willing to trade Joakim Noah.
- The Celtics are dangling the sixth and 17th picks, future first-rounders and young players in their attempt to trade for Love, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford.
- The Rockets have deals in place to move Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik.
- The Sixers are high on Andrew Wiggins.
- The 76ers are in talks to add another top ten pick.
- It sounds like LeBron James will stay put but it’s also likely that he’ll opt out.
- The Grizzlies and others have an eye on Sebastian Telfair.
- Alec Burks is available as the Jazz look to move up in the draft.
- The Clippers did some shuffling and hired Dave Wohl as GM. It sounds like Doc Rivers will still get final say, however.
- There’s mutual interest between the Knicks and Patty Mills.
- Suns big man Channing Frye will probably opt out.
- There’s mutual interest between the Heat and Kyle Lowry.
- Chris Wallace will remain as the Grizzlies‘ GM.
- The Mavs will go after Chris Andersen.
- Shane Battier retired.
- Glen Davis and Danny Granger are set to opt out of their contracts with the Clippers and become free agents next month.
- The Nets and the Cavs may or may not be discussing a swap of Marcus Thornton and Jarrett Jack.
- Francisco Garcia will opt out.
- The Knicks have just $1.8MM to offer in a trade.
- Josh McRoberts will opt out of his deal with the Hornets.
- The Warriors are dangling Harrison Barnes in trade talks as they attempt to trade for a first-round pick in this year’s draft.
- Isaiah Austin has been diagnosed with a career-ending condition.
- Anthony Morrow will opt out.
- Andrea Bargnani is opting in with the Knicks.
- Alvin Gentry will join the Warriors as an assistant.
- We had a few flip-flops on draft decision day.
- The Grizzlies gave the Nuggets cash rather than forking over a pick.
Why would Carmelo even bother coming to the Bulls if they don’t have Joakim Noah? Isn’t he the main reason Melo was even considering the Bulls?
Well, he likes Thibs, too, but you’re right — the Bulls would be a lot less attractive without Noah. But if they gave him up, they’d probably demand someone equally if not more talented in return.
–Chuck
If you’re going to do that why even bother trading him. There aren’t a lot of centers better than Noah in the league any more. Trading him for someone of equal value makes no sense and why would anyone give them someone better than Noah for just Noah?
Well, value is always in the eye of the beholder, and a team may find Noah even more valuable than the Bulls do. But the notion that any scenario in which he’s traded this summer comes into play is a real long shot, so I don’t think the Bulls are putting too much thought toward it.
–Chuck