Commissioner Adam Silver signaled this week that he doesn’t anticipate a lockout taking place in 2017, when the league and the union can opt out of the collective bargaining agreement. Players association executive director Michele Roberts said last week that the sides will begin negotiations this summer toward a new labor deal. “I think we have a very fair deal right now,” Silver said. “I think the deal is designed to pay players a percentage of revenue so it self-adjusts as revenue goes up. And when the new television deal kicks in in 2016/17, the players are going to be averaging over $8MM a year. I think, again, it’s a fair deal. If there’s things they want to talk about, of course we’ll talk about them. But I’m not overly concerned. I think we’ve got a great thing going right now. I think both sides recognize that.” While we all hope that a future work stoppage can be avoided, here’s the rest of the happenings from the week that was:
Trades
- The Hornets dealt Lance Stephenson to the Clippers in exchange for Spencer Hawes and Matt Barnes.
Option Decisions
- The Hornets’ Al Jefferson decided to exercise his player option and will remain in Charlotte next season.
- Garrett Temple will pick up his player option, worth his minimum salary of nearly $1.101MM, to return to the Wizards next season.
- Eric Gordon exercised his player option worth $15,514,031 for the 2015/16 season and will return to the Pelicans.
- Suns forward Danny Granger picked up his player option worth $2,170,465 for the 2015/16 season.
- Gerald Henderson picked up his $6MM player option for next season to stay with the Hornets.
- Jeff Green exercised his player option worth $9.2MM to remain with the Grizzlies for next season.
- Steve Blake exercised his player option worth $2,170,465 for the 2015/16 season to return to the Trail Blazers.
- The Lakers are reportedly likely to turn down their team option to retain Jordan Hill at a salary of $9MM next season.
2015 NBA Draft News/Rumors
- LSU big man Jarell Martin reportedly has a mid-first-round draft promise from a team and will likely shut down all workouts.
- St. Bonaventure center Youssou Ndoye, if drafted, is reportedly willing to sign overseas and become a draft-and-stash prospect if an NBA team so desires.
- Second round hopeful Michael Qualls was diagnosed with a torn ACL.
- Agent Arn Tellem is reportedly negotiating with Barcelona of Spain to reduce the buyout clause in top-10 prospect Mario Hezonja‘s contract.
- You can keep up with all of the scheduled and completed player workouts and interviews here.
- The list of players who have withdrawn their name from the 2015 NBA Draft can be found here.
Coaching News/Rumors
- The Nuggets hired Michael Malone as their new head coach.
- Assistant Jim Boylen left the Spurs to become the associate head coach of the Bulls.
- The Magic and Bulls assistant coach Adrian Griffin agreed to a deal that will make Griffin the lead assistant on Orlando’s bench.
- Spanish national team head coach Sergio Scariolo was offered a position as an assistant on Raptors coach Dwane Casey‘s staff, which Scariolo declined.
News/Rumors
- Bulls swingman Jimmy Butler intends to pursue shorter-term offer sheets this summer, resisting Chicago’s initial plan to offer him a five-year, maximum contract.
- The Nets are reportedly trying to trade Mason Plumlee to further their goal of landing a higher draft pick than the ones they have at 29th and 41st overall.
- The Hawks plan to work out deals that install coach and acting GM Mike Budenholzer as president and coach, promote assistant GM Wes Wilcox to GM, and allow the team to part ways with GM Danny Ferry via a buyout arrangement.
- There’s a legitimate chance that Sixers center Joel Embiid won’t play at all during the 2015/16 season.
- Jazz draft-and-stash prospect Ante Tomic inked a three year extension with FC Barcelona.
- Reigning Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams is expected to receive strong interest from teams that include the Kings, Lakers, Knicks, and Nets, providing a clear competition for the Raptors to retain the free agent’s services.
- The Warriors and representatives for David Lee agreed to work together to find another team willing to take on his salary of nearly $15.494MM for next season.
- Clippers guard Jamal Crawford hired Wasserman Media Group to represent him. Crawford was previously with Andy Miller of ASM Sports. The Clippers are reportedly investigating the possibility of trading Crawford.
- A judge ruled Pelicans owner Tom Benson mentally competent, stymieing an effort from one side of his divided family to strip him of control of the team and the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.
- Aaron Gray announced that he is retiring because of the heart ailment that knocked him out of action this past season. He will join Stan Van Gundy‘s coaching staff in Detroit.
- Soon-to-be free agent Mo Williams reportedly has a strong interest in playing with the Cavs again, though he’d also be willing to re-sign with the Hornets.
- The Cavaliers are reportedly looking for trade partners who’ll take on Brendan Haywood and his unusually valuable contract, and in some proposals involving him, they’ve offered their first-rounder, the 24th overall pick.
- Real Madrid’s Sergio Rodriguez, who is considered the top point guard in Europe, plans to try and secure an NBA deal this summer.