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Atlantic Notes: Stiemsma, Sixers, Calderon

October 14th, 2014 at 12:36pm CST by Chuck Myron

It’s rare that a Sunday afternoon preseason game draws much attention, but this Sunday’s Celtics–Nets game will be an exception. They’ll play 44 minutes instead of the standard 48 as the NBA experiments with a shorter game time, the league announced. Coaches around the league and the NBA’s competition committee expressed support for the idea, as NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn tells Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. Boston and Brooklyn volunteered to try it out, Zillgitt adds. Still, Jared Dudley took to Twitter to express concern about the way a shorter game would affect playing time and contract value for bench players. The league has no plans at this point to have another 44-minute game, and the experiment also includes fewer timeouts, and thus fewer advertising opportunities, so I’m skeptical that all parties will agree to 44-minute games in the future.  Still, it’ll be interesting to see how it goes. Here’s more from around the Atlantic Division:

  • Greg Stiemsma‘s contract with the Raptors is partially guaranteed for $25K, Hoops Rumors has learned. That puts him on equal financial footing with teammates Jordan Hamilton and Will Cherry, who have partial guarantees for the same amount. The three appear to be jockeying for a single opening-night roster spot, since Toronto has 13 full guarantees and a $5MM partial guarantee with Amir Johnson.
  • The history of teams that win 20 games or fewer shows that they almost always bounce back into the playoffs within a few years, and that helps explain the Sixers‘ confidence in their radical rebuilding plan, as Sean Deveney of The Sporting News examines.
  • Dwane Casey continues to be fond of Knicks point guard Jose Calderon, whom he coached on the Raptors, and the feeling is mutual, observes Fred Kerber of the New York Post.
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Lowe’s Latest: Rondo, Green, Horford, Sixers

October 14th, 2014 at 11:05am CST by Chuck Myron

Grantland’s Zach Lowe includes a few eye-openers among his annual preseason predictions, including his assertion that the Suns will again miss out on the playoffs. As usual, Lowe’s must-read column isn’t all conjecture, and he shares a few whispers he’s heard from around the league. We’ll pass along the news items here:

  • The Celtics have set a remarkably high price for Rajon Rondo as they’ve gauged the trade market for him over the past year, but Boston is also putting out trade feelers about Jeff Green, Lowe writes. People around the league are higher on Green than the forward’s public reputation would suggest, according to Lowe, who adds the Pelicans to the list of teams that have shown interest in Green in the past. It’s unclear if New Orleans still has eyes for Green, however.
  • The Hawks brought up Al Horford‘s name in trade talk with a few teams last year, seeking an unprotected 2014 first-rounder in return, sources tell Lowe.
  • Michael Carter-Williams found his name in trade rumors around the draft, and the Sixers indeed made a hard push to find a deal, Lowe hears. The Grantland scribe cautions that the team isn’t necessarily dead set on trading him, writing that the Sixers understand there are plenty of quality point guards to go around and that Philadelphia prioritizes deal that would help the team land more high draft picks.
  • It would catch no one in the league offices by surprise if Mikhail Prokhorov eventually decides to give up control of the Nets, according to Lowe.
  • The Cavs have shown reluctance to surrender the 2015 first-round pick that the Grizzlies owe them, Lowe writes. It’s the only first-rounder other than their own that the Cavs possess.
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Eastern Notes: Van Gundy, Mirotic, Sixers

October 13th, 2014 at 1:33pm CST by Chuck Myron

Pistons owner Tom Gores expressed a desire for more synergy between the front office and the coaching staff during his first meeting with Stan Van Gundy this spring, and that was “music to my ears,” Van Gundy tells TNT’s David Aldridge for his Morning Tip column on NBA.com. Van Gundy asserts that his dual executive/coaching role is as aligned with the owner’s vision as it is with his. It’ll be a while before we know whether Gores and Van Gundy had the right idea to consolidate authority, but while we wait on the early returns, there’s more on the Pistons amid the latest from the Eastern Conference:

  • Nikola Mirotic thought he’d keep playing in Spain until at least 2015 until the Bulls pushed for buyout talks with Real Madrid this spring, as Shams Charania of RealGM details.
  • The Pistons have discussed the idea of retaining the D-League rights to Josh Bostic and Lorenzo Brown with their respective agents, GM Jeff Bower says, according to MLive’s David Mayo. Detroit can do so with up to four of its preseason cuts.
  • Michael Carter-Williams told reporters today that the original prognosis when he had shoulder surgery in early May was for him to miss six to nine months, which conflicts with the two-to-four month timetable the Sixers released at that point, notes Tom Moore of Calkins Media (Twitter links). The reigning Rookie of the Year has yet to play in the preseason this month, though Carter-Williams added that he’s ahead of that six-to-nine month schedule.
  • Vitor Faverani will miss six to eight weeks after today’s left knee surgery, perhaps endangering his place on a Celtics roster on which he has one of 16 fully guaranteed contracts, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.
  • Tom Thibodeau will make close to $4.4MM a year through 2016/17, but amid persistent rumors about his future and with the going rate for coaches on the rise, the Bulls should grant him an extension that’s more reflective of his value, opines Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
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Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Anthony, Karasev

October 13th, 2014 at 10:02am CST by Chuck Myron

The Raptors are strong favorites to repeat as Atlantic Division champs, as Hoops Rumors readers asserted last month, a feat that would be a first in franchise history. It’s easy for forget that a year ago, the team was on the verge of a tear-down as new GM Masai Ujiri was unsure about just what he had on the roster. The Raptors didn’t make any superstar additions in between now and then, and their sudden success story is a model that many other front offices would certainly like to duplicate. While we wait to see if Toronto can keep it up, here’s more on the Raptors and their rivals in the Atlantic Division:

  • The Raptors aren’t ready to commit to any of the three players seemingly competing for the final spot on the team’s regular season roster, coach Dwane Casey said, as Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun details. “We’re not in a hurry whatsoever,” Casey said. “All three men have done an excellent job in practice. Will Cherry is as tough a little competitor as you can find. Jordan Hamilton is a great scorer and really fighting on the defensive end and Greg Stiemsma is a solid, solid big man, veteran big man who has done some great things in the post. It may go down to the wire, the last day of camp because those guys have deserved it.”
  • Joel Anthony certainly had plenty of financial incentive when he opted into his $3.8MM salary this season, but he maintains that money wasn’t his primary motivation to stick with the Celtics, as Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald notes. “It was about wanting to get an opportunity to come into camp and get a chance to prove myself and get on the court,” Anthony said. “This was the best opportunity I had. I don’t know what would have happened in free agency or whatnot, but I just felt that coming back to the team after being here the last three months and knowing the coaches and knowing the players and everything like that, this was what was best for me. It just seemed like a better situation for me to come back here.”
  • The Nets had the chance to acquire a pair of second-round picks in this summer’s three-team trade with the Cavs and Celtics, but they insisted that they receive Sergey Karasev instead, NetsDaily’s Robert Windrem tweets.
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Atlantic Notes: Lopez, Faverani, Nets, 76ers

October 12th, 2014 at 8:13pm CST by Zachary Links

After the Nets beat the Kings in Shanghai, center Brook Lopez praised the team’s hiring of coach Lionel Hollins, writes Lenn Robbins of NBA.com. “He’s been a successful head coach and he knows what he wants,” said Lopez. “He wants his players to get better. That’s what happened in Memphis and I think that can happen here. Hiring him was the right decision.”  More out of the Atlantic Division..

  • There are murmurs that the Celtics will cut Vitor Faverani, who has a guaranteed contract, to get down to a 15-man roster, according to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.  The big man, owed $2.09MM this season, has yet to practice in camp due to pain in his surgically repaired knee.  Meanwhile, Dwight Powell, who is guaranteed ~$507K for the upcoming year, has impressed teammates with his versatility and work ethic.
  • After a strong showing in Shanghai, big man Jerome Jordan may have earned a spot on the Nets‘ roster, writes Reed Wallach of Nets Daily.  The former Knick, who will lock in a partial guarantee of $100K if he’s on the roster through October 25th, has just 21 NBA games to his credit.
  • NBA.com’s Angus Crawford caught up with Sixers draftee Jordan McRae, who’s currently playing professionally abroad for Melbourne United, about life in Australia and his time in summer league.  The former Tennessee standout also sat down with Hoops Rumors for a Q&A prior to the June draft.
  • Forward Brandon Davies is fighting hard to make the 76ers’ roster.  There’s no guarantee that he will, but, at the very least, coach Brett Brown respects his effort, writes Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com.
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Eastern Notes: Sixers, Knicks, Blatt

October 12th, 2014 at 12:26pm CST by Eddie Scarito

While some may chide the Sixers for their rebuilding through the draft lottery strategy, the team could most certainly get the last laugh, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. In comparing the Sixers and the Celtics, Bulpett favors the Sixers situation because they have more actual NBA prospects on the roster, rather than having to gamble solely on future first-round picks working out favorably.

Here’s more from the east:

  • The Knicks were one of the teams that attended Kentucky’s weekend scouting combine, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com reports (Twitter link).  New York possesses a first-rounder in next year’s NBA Draft, a rare occurrence for the franchise in recent years, and the Wildcats are expected to field a number of lottery prospects this season.
  • New Cavs head coach David Blatt is transitioning from Europe to the NBA, and Jordan Brenner of ESPN.com chronicles his journey. Brenner traces Blatt’s steps back the the U.S., and opines that establishing a rapport with the game’s best and most powerful player, LeBron James, will be his most crucial task.
  • New Knicks point guard Jose Calderon is destined to become a fan favorite, mainly because Calderon is replacing the departed Raymond Felton, Frank Isola of The New York Daily News writes. “Well, I want to be better,” Calderon said of replacing Felton. “I don’t know if it’s going to be because of me. I’m going to try to do my best for this team to do the best we can do, go as far as we can go. It’s not only one thing. I think we are a team, too many things to say only one position, one weakness. Last year, I don’t know how many wins they had — 30-something — don’t think it’s only one guy.”

Chris Crouse contributed to this post.

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And-Ones: TV Deal, Shved, Mavs, Rondo

October 11th, 2014 at 4:30pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The NBA’s new TV deal will bring the league $24.4 billion over the next nine years, but may also usher in a new labor fight, notes Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders. After the deal with ESPN and Turner was announced Monday, several of the league’s top players made it clear that they expect their fair share of the money. “The whole thing that went on with the last negotiation process was the owners [were] telling us that they were losing money.” said the Cavaliers‘ LeBron James. “There’s no way they can sit in front of us and tell us that right now after we continue to see teams selling for billions of dollars, being purchased for $200 million, [selling] for $550 [million], $750 [million], $2 billion.”  While the players want to eliminate maximum contracts, owners like the Mavericks‘ Mark Cuban say the trade-off may be the end of guaranteed deals. Both the owners and players can opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement in 2017.

Here’s more from around the league:

  • Alexey Shved expects a greater opportunity to prove himself in Philadelphia, reports Andy Greder of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Shved, who came to the Sixers from the Timberwolves in the three-team Kevin Love deal in August, hopes to rebound from a subpar 2013/14 season, notes Greder. “For me, it’s much better because I can show my potential in the game,” Shved said. Sixers coach Brett Brown called Shved a “skilled guard” and said the team is challenging him defensively and on his shot selection.
  • The new TV deal will have an impact on free agents beginning next summer, writes Brian Robb of Boston.com. He says a potential $80MM salary cap by 2016/17 could make the Celtics more agreeable to Rajon Rondo‘s contract demands. The free agent is seeking a five-year max deal in excess of $100MM. He adds that other teams could be similarly motivated if Boston declines to meet Rondo’s demands.
  • Offseason additions have made the Mavs a legitimate contender in the Western Conference, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio writes in his season preview. Amico says that while Dallas didn’t bring in any superstars, the under-the-radar deals that landed Chandler Parsons, Jameer Nelson, Tyson Chandler, Raymond Felton and Al-Farouq Aminu will provide nice complements for Dirk Nowitzki. Although Amico has concerns about the Mavericks’ defense and bench scoring, he sees hope for “something special” this season in Dallas.

Arthur Hill contributed to this post.

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Eastern Notes: Powell, Young, Humphries

October 11th, 2014 at 12:31pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Celtics have 16 players with guaranteed contracts on their preseason roster, and Dwight Powell is determined to be one of the 15 players on the regular season roster, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes. Powell, a second round pick in the 2014 draft, said that he is willing to do whatever is needed to make the team. Powell told Blakely, “For every young guy, your first niche is defense and find a way to stop guys and not be a liability on the court. That’s my focus now; be active and try to prevent them from scoring.” Powell is in camp on a two year deal, with the first year fully-guaranteed. Blakely also notes that Boston coach Brad Stevens has been impressed with Powell’s performance in camp.

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

  • Also in Boston, James Young scoffs at the suggestion that he might be sent to the D-League. The 17th pick in this year’s draft told Ben Rohrbach of WEEI 93.7 that he plans to make an immediate impact on the Celtics, and Young said of his goals, “Coming in and being the best team player I can be. If that means scoring, I can definitely do anything to score. And then just getting on the defensive end and bringing a lot of energy and just getting the crowd involved and everything.”  Coach Stevens praised Young’s play in practice, saying the rookie “picks things up really quickly” and has made hardly any defensive mistakes.
  • Kris Humphries underwent successful surgery yesterday to repair nerve damage in his right small finger, the Wizards announced. The forward is expected to miss three to four weeks before being cleared to resume basketball activities.
  • At age 33, the Sixers‘ Jason Richardson is contemplating life after his playing days are officially over, Michael Kaskey-Blomain of Philly.com writes. With his on-court role diminished, the 14-year veteran may look to stay in the league in another capacity after this season, notes Kaskey-Blomain. Richardson said, “[Not being able to play] has been challenging, but it has opened my eyes up to a lot of things. To study the film, to actually break down the film and look at it, help the guys out when they were doing something wrong. It just gave me a different perspective of basketball that I hadn’t seen before. It has given me a look at what the future beholds. Maybe some coaching, maybe a front office job, you never know, but I definitely want to continue to be involved with the basketball aspect, definitely in the NBA.”

Arthur Hill contributed to this post.

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Atlantic Notes: Pierce, Lockout, ‘Melo, Johnson

October 6th, 2014 at 4:16pm CST by Chuck Myron

Paul Pierce originally thought he’d wind up re-signing with the Nets, but he tells TNT’s David Aldridge that Brooklyn never made an offer, as Aldridge writes in his Morning Tip column for NBA.com. Pierce said the Clippers looked like Plan B, but the Nets wouldn’t accommodate a sign-and-trade once Doc Rivers used the team’s mid-level exception on Spencer Hawes instead.

“You know what, I didn’t know what to expect,” Pierce said. “Brooklyn’s been, or New Jersey, Brooklyn, they’re a franchise that’s going in a different direction, I think. They said they wanted to cut costs; they felt like they weren’t going to be a contender. Right now, they’re kind of in the middle right now. And I really didn’t want to be in the middle. I didn’t know if they wanted to do a sign-and-trade. I had to make my own destiny. I couldn’t put it in the faith of somebody else. And that’s when I was like, I’m coming here [to the Wizards].”

The reference to New Jersey seems like a subtle twist of the knife on Pierce’s part, given the desire of Nets brass to establish the Brooklyn monicker, as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News points out. Here’s more from around the Atlantic.

  • Nets union representative Deron Williams believes the league and the players are on a path toward a work stoppage in 2017, noting that preparing for one was the focus of a union meeting in July, as he told reporters, including Bondy, who writes in a separate piece.
  • Carmelo Anthony said today that he had no interest this summer in signing a two-year deal, as LeBron James and others did, to take advantage of the influx of TV revenues, notes Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal (Twitter link).
  • The Celtics had hoped to find a way to keep Chris Johnson amid the flurry of transactions surrounding the Keith Bogans trade, notes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. The Sixers claimed him off waivers after the C’s let him go.
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Eastern Notes: Smart, Marshall, Magic, Knicks

October 5th, 2014 at 8:57pm CST by Zachary Links

Celtics coach Brad Stevens is warning people not to read too much into early preseason lineups.  However, the early readings indicate that rookie Marcus Smart has moved ahead of Evan Turner in the battle to serve as the team’s replacement point guard for the injured Rajon Rondo, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.  More from the Eastern Conference..

Chris Crouse contributed to this post.

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