2015 February | Hoops Rumors

And-Ones: Bucks, Mekel, Bargnani

February 19th, 2015 at 11:27pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Bucks rejected an offer from the Suns that would have sent Goran Dragic to Milwaukee for Brandon Knight, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com, adding that Michael Carter-Williams and Tyler Ennis, whom Milwaukee acquired instead of Dragic, were who they wanted all along. Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times disputes that Milwaukee ever turned down a Dragic proposal, however (Twitter link).

Here’s more from around the league:

Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside wonders if Peyton Siva is being overshadowed with the Erie BayHawks this season. Seth Curry has gotten most of the attention on the team, but Siva is still having a relatively strong campaign in his own right.
Danny Granger says he wanted to rejoin the Pacers when he was a free agent this summer but couldn’t afford to wait for them to decide what to do with Lance Stephenson, as Granger tells Scott Agness of VigilantSports.com (Twitter link).
Unless an NBA offer materializes in the next few days, Gal Mekel is going to play in Europe, David Pick of Eurobasket.com tweets. The point guard has reportedly passed on numerous overseas offers after being released by the Pelicans back in December.
Knicks team president Phil Jackson said there are no immediate plans to reach a buyout arrangement with Andrea Bargnani, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “It’s debatable,’’ Jackson said regarding a buyout. “Now that we have a gap in scoring, this is a guy that is a natural scorer. I think the coaching staff would like to have him on the court and be competitive with his scoring capabilities. Without Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, we are going to need some scorers out there. And we would like to give him a forum. I am not going to hold it against him if he wasn’t here for the first 40-something games.’’
The Sixers almost wound up with Isaiah Thomas in their three-team deal with the Bucks and Suns, but they let the Suns send him to the Celtics in a separate transaction instead, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Zach Links and Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Western Notes: Cooley, Garnett, Jazz

February 19th, 2015 at 11:01pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Jack Cooley is a candidate to be signed to a 10-day deal by the Jazz, Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune reports (Twitter link). Utah is in need of frontcourt depth in the wake of the Enes Kanter trade. Cooley currently plays for the Idaho Stampede, the Jazz‘s D-League affiliate. In 15 D-League games, Cooley is averaging 15.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 28.5 minutes per contest.

Here’s more from the Western Conference:

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Jazz re-sign swingman Chris Johnson, whom the team had on a 10-day contract a few weeks ago, tweets Jody Genessy of the Deseret News.
The Clippers met with D-Leaguer Eric Griffin in New York over the weekend and discussed a 10-day deal, but no move is expected, league sources tell Shams Charania of RealGM (on Twitter). Griffin hooked on with the Texas Legends after being waived by the Mavs in October.
The Clippers have two roster openings and Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com (on Twitter) hears that they plan to fill both. They’ll likely go with two bought out players but they could sign one buyout guy and one player to a 10-day deal.
The Jazz like Alex Abrines, one of the Thunder’s draft-and-stash prospects, Genessy notes (Twitter link). Abrines, a 21-year-old shooting guard, is under contract with Barcelona of Spain until 2016, as our draft rights held players database shows.
The Jazz showed interest in Shane Larkin before the deadline, sources told Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link).
Just as the Timberwolves would reportedly like to sign Kevin Garnett for two more years, Garnett fully intends to play at least one more season, according to Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune (Twitter link).

Chuck Myron and Zach Links contributed to this post.

Eastern Notes: Sessions, Heat, Pacers

February 19th, 2015 at 10:08pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Ramon Sessions‘ agent, Jared Karnes, is excited to see his client join the Wizards, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports writes. “Washington is a great situation for Ramon,” Karnes said. “He’s obviously looking forward to going to the playoffs. He has a contract year coming up and this gives him a chance shake things up and be part of a playoff team. Ramon appreciated his time in Sacramento and wishes them success.”

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

The Pacers made a serious bid to acquire Reggie Jackson from the Thunder, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Of course, the Pacers wound up losing out to the Pistons.
The Heat made Hassan Whiteside an untouchable in trade talks along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
Knicks president Phil Jackson can learn a lot about being a successful NBA executive from the Heat‘s Pat Riley, Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post writes.
Raptors GM Masai Ujiri was happy enough with his roster to not make any moves prior to the trade deadline, Holly MacKenzie of NBA.com writes. “We feel confident in this team,” Ujiri said. “In terms of growth, in terms of growing, we’re still a long ways away. We understand that, but a lot of things that were put in front of us were things that maybe [helped] immediately, something that makes you a slightly better now, but it also takes away from younger guys continuing to grow. We felt it wasn’t the time.”
Goran Dragic is likely to sign a long-term deal this summer to remain with the Heat, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News writes. More than anything else, Dragic desires stability in his career, Deveney adds. “Finding a place where I can be a part of something and build toward something, that is what I have wanted most, really. Having stability,” Dragic told the Sporting News scribe.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Celtics Acquire Isaiah Thomas

February 19th, 2015 at 9:49pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Celtics have acquired point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Suns, Boston and Phoenix have announced in a press release. In return for its diminutive guard, Phoenix received Marcus Thornton and the Cavaliers’ 2016 first round draft pick, which is top-10 protected. “Isaiah is a dynamic offensive player whose scoring and playmaking abilities add to an already well-rounded backcourt with Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley,” said Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “We are excited to welcome Isaiah to the Celtics family.”

Thomas, 26, has appeared in 46 contests for the Suns this season and is averaging 15.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steal in 25.7 minutes per game. He is averaging 15.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.0 steal in 28.5 minutes per game for his career. Thomas’ career slash line is .444/.365/.860.

The 27-year-old Thornton has made 39 appearances for the Celtics this season. He is averaging 8.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per contest. Thornton’s career NBA numbers are 12.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. His career shooting statistics are .430/.365/.828.

Rockets Acquire K.J. McDaniels

February 19th, 2015 at 9:32pm CST by Chuck Myron

9:32pm: The trade is official, the Rockets have announced. The pick headed to the Sixers is the less favorable of Minnesota’s and Denver’s 2015 second-rounders.

3:23pm: The Sixers are trading K.J. McDaniels to the Rockets for Isaiah Canaan and a second-round pick, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. It originally appeared as though Canaan was headed to the Knicks.

McDaniels is on a one-year contract for the rookie minimum, a product of an impasse in negotiations with the Sixers prior to the start of training camp. The 32nd overall pick in this past summer’s draft, he signed Philadelphia’s required tender, a non-guaranteed offer the Sixers had to extend to retain his draft rights, and he earned his place and then some on Philly’s roster, sticking past the leaguewide guarantee date to ensure he’d receive his full salary.

Canaan had an impressive training camp and averaged 24.4 minutes per game in November while starter Patrick Beverley missed time, but his playing time dried up quickly, and he’s played only a total of 37 minutes since New Year’s Day.

Bucks Waive Kenyon Martin

February 19th, 2015 at 9:16pm CST by Eddie Scarito

9:16pm: Milwaukee has waived Martin, the team announced.

6:04pm: The Bucks intend to waive Kenyon Martin, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports (Twitter link). Milwaukee had signed the veteran big man for the remainder of the season back in January after he had completed his second 10-day deal with the team. Martin’s contract for 2014/15 pays him $414,551.

Milwaukee’s roster would come to 16, one over the limit, after today’s multiteam deal that sent Brandon Knight to the Suns and brought Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, and Miles Plumlee to the Bucks. The team has also reportedly reached a buyout arrangement with Larry Sanders, who intends to sit out the remainder of the season due to personal reasons. If both Sanders and Martin are indeed waived, the team will have one empty roster spot as a result.

In 11 appearances for the Bucks this season Martin is averaging 1.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game. His career numbers over 14 seasons in the NBA are 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Martin’s career shooting percentages are .483/.234/.629.

Suns Acquire Brandon Knight

February 19th, 2015 at 9:16pm CST by Chuck Myron

9:16pm: The trade is official, the Suns have announced. In addition to Knight, Phoenix receives Marshall, who will be waived, from the Bucks. Milwaukee gets Ennis and Plumlee from the Suns, and Carter-Williams from Philadelphia, and the Sixers garner the Lakers’ top-5 protected 2015 first-round pick from Phoenix. By the looks of it, the component involving the Celtics will go as a separate transaction.

4:31pm: Phoenix will waive Marshall, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. Coro sums up Phoenix’s side of the deal. It’s Knight, Thornton, Marshall and the Cavs’ top-10 protected 2016 first-round pick, which Cleveland had owed to the Jazz (Twitter links). The Suns are sending Ennis and Plumlee to the Bucks, Thomas to the Celtics, and the Lakers’ top-five protected 2015 first-round pick to the Sixers, Coro tweets.

4:10pm: Kendall Marshall, who’s out for the season, is headed to the Suns in the deal, reports Shams Charania of RealGM (Twitter link). It’s undecided whether the Suns will keep him or waive him, Charania adds.

2:30pm: The Celtics will send Marcus Thornton to the Suns and the Cavaliers’ first round pick in 2016 to the Suns, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

2:25pm: The breakdown, according to Stein (on Twitter) is as follows: Knight will go to the Suns. Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, and Miles Plumlee will go to the Bucks. The Celtics will acquire Isaiah Thomas. Meanwhile, the 76ers will acquire draft picks.

The Sixers will get the Suns’ protected first round pick via the Lakers, according to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today (on Twitter).

2:15pm: Thomas is headed to the Celtics, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, in what essentially functions as a four-way deal with the Bucks, Suns and Sixers (Twitter link).

2:00pm: The Bucks are trading Brandon Knight to the Suns, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). There are conflicting reports regarding other details Michael Carter-Williams and Tyler Ennis are going to the Bucks, and Isaiah Thomas and picks go to the Sixers (Twitter link), according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com, while Wojnarowski has Thomas heading from Phoenix to the Celtics (Twitter link). Miles Plumlee is also headed to Milwaukee, according to Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Sixers are getting the Lakers’ protected first-round pick that they owed to the Suns, tweets Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.

Wolves Re-Sign Lorenzo Brown For Season

February 19th, 2015 at 9:05pm CST by Chuck Myron

THURSDAY, 9:05pm: The deal is official, the team has announced.

3:59pm: Brown’s deal is for two years with a team option for 2015/16, Wolfson tweets.

WEDNESDAY, 11:26am: It appears the Wolves will sign Lorenzo Brown for the rest of the season, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, who figures the deal will include non-guaranteed salary for 2015/16 as well (Twitter link). Brown’s second 10-day contract with the team expired earlier this week, so any renewed commitment between the sides would have to carry through at least the end of 2014/15. The move would give the Timberwolves a full roster of 15 players signed through season’s end, unless Minnesota makes a deal in advance of the trade deadline.

The point guard has averaged 3.2 points, 3.0 assists and 1.6 turnovers in 19.6 minutes of play across five appearances so far for Minnesota. He started one of those contests, a first for the 24-year-old who was the 52nd overall pick in the 2013 draft. He didn’t make the Wolves out of camp as a rookie, appearing in 26 games for the Sixers before they cut him loose. Brown was in Pistons camp this past fall, and Detroit appeared to again be in contention for him until the Wolves released Miroslav Raduljica so they could snap him up.

Minnesota has a prorated portion of the mid-level exception it could give to Brown, but instead the team will likely use the minimum-salary exception, meaning his deal wouldn’t extend any longer than 2015/16. He’d still face an uphill battle to make the team for next season, since players who sign multiyear deals after joining teams on 10-day contracts don’t often stick unless they’re particularly impressive.

Rockets Acquire Pablo Prigioni

February 19th, 2015 at 8:36pm CST by Chuck Myron

8:36pm: The trade is official, the Knicks have announced. The 2017 and 2019 second-rounders going to New York are Houston’s own, according to the Rockets announcement.

3:15pm: New York is getting Alexey Shved and two second-round picks, but not Canaan, according to Wojnarowski. The second-rounders are for 2017 and 2019, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post.

2:06pm: The Knicks are trading Pablo Prigioni to the Rockets, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Isaiah Canaan is headed to New York in the deal, as Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com reports (on Twitter).

Timberwolves Acquire Kevin Garnett

February 19th, 2015 at 8:28pm CST by Chuck Myron

8:28pm: The trade is official, the Nets have announced in a press release.

3:11pm: The Wolves want to re-sign Garnett for two more seasons this summer, according to Jon Kraczynski of The Associated Press (Twitter links). Garnett has known of this desire, Krawczynski adds, speculating that it factored into his decision to waive the no-trade clause.

1:44pm: Kevin Garnett has agreed to waive his no-trade clause and the Nets will trade him to the Timberwolves for Thaddeus Young, reports TNT’s David Aldridge (Twitter link). The teams had been waiting on him to give his OK to the deal that will send him back to where his NBA career began nearly 20 years ago. ASM Sports, the agency for Garnett, has confirmed the agreement via Twitter (hat tip to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post).

The 38-year-old is earning $12MM for the season, and will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the campaign. The veteran has appeared in 42 games for Brooklyn this season, and is averaging 6.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists in 20.3 minutes per night. Garnett’s career averages are 18.3 PPG, 10.2 RPG, and 3.8 APG. His career shooting percentages are .497/.276/.790.

Garnett has said in the past that he hopes to buy the Wolves when his playing days are over. The veteran had a no-trade clause in his contract and while he was reluctant to waive it all, he eventually did leave the door open for a deal that would bring him back to Minnesota. There was also strong interest from the Clippers and coach/executive Doc Rivers, but KG was against the idea of a buyout.

Young, 26, is making $9,410,869 this season, and he has a player option worth $9,971,739 for the 2015/16 campaign. The 6’8″ forward has appeared in 48 games for Minnesota this season, and is averaging 14.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 33.4 minutes per game. His career numbers are 13.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.5 APG. Young’s career slash line is .495/.319/.698.

Just a few days ago, it was reported that Wolves president Flip Saunders had shown little inclination towards trading Young. Of course, the deadline has a way of changing those things. Recently, our own Chris Crouse analyzed Young as a trade candidate.

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