City of Seattle Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Odds & Ends: Pistons, Kings, Draft, Balkman

May 1st, 2013 at 11:04pm CST by Chuck Myron

Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game reported in March that the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas is adopting a tournament-style format this year, and the league confirmed the news today. The games will take place between July 12th and July 22nd, and while the move promises excitement, the contests won't necessarily have much meaning. Damian Lillard won the circuit's co-MVP honors last summer to kick off his Rookie of the Year campaign, but the other co-MVP was Josh Selby, who's been out of the NBA since March. While we wait to see how the revamped summer league shakes out, there's plenty of other NBA news:

Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press compares Nate McMillan and Lindsey Hunter, the presumptive frontrunners for the Pistons coaching vacancy. The team is still expected to consider a wide range of candidates, and that list includes Pacers assistant Brian Shaw and Heat assistant David Fizdale, according to Ellis.
Dale Kasler, Tony Bizjak and Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee lay out the myriad contingencies still remaining in the Kings saga after the NBA's relocation committee recommended this week that the team stay in Sacramento.
Four HoopsWorld writers have Nerlens Noel penciled in as the No. 1 pick, but Joe Kotoch of SheridanHoops.com has the Kentucky center at No. 2, behind Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore.
Renaldo Balkman has signed to play for Brujos de Guayama in Puerto Rico, Luis Modestti reports (translation via Sportando). The former Knicks first-round pick received a one-year ban from playing in the Philippines earlier this season after choking a teammate.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com appeared on KESN-FM in Dallas this week, and pegged the Mavericks' chances of signing Dwight Howard at 10%, according to a Dallas Morning News transcription. Stein thinks Howard is still most likely to re-sign with the Lakers.
Jeff Caplan of NBA.com takes an optimistic view of Howard's future with the Lakers, believing Howard will re-sign and, freed of speculation about his next destination, fulfill his promise as a superstar.

Pacific Notes: Kings, Del Negro, Warriors, Lakers

May 1st, 2013 at 1:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Three Pacific Division teams qualified for the postseason this year, but the Lakers have already been swept out of the first round, while the Clippers are a single game away from elimination. The division's best hope for sending a team through to the second round appears to be the Warriors, who will head back to the NBA's loudest arena looking to eliminate the Nuggets in Game Six tomorrow night. As we look forward to that game, let's check out a few updates on Pacific teams:

Current NBA commissioner David Stern and future commissioner Adam Silver appeared on the Charlie Rose Show on PBS yesterday and discussed the relocation's committee recommendation to keep the Kings in Sacramento, as Dale Kasler, Ryan Lillis, and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee detail.
Silver on the committee's decision: "I think some people are surprised at the preliminary decision the relocation committee has made. They say, 'Look at Seattle — there's more corporate headquarters, there's more TV households, there's the potential to generate more revenue there. Shouldn't you move a franchise to the market where there's more revenue?' And our response is, 'Not necessarily, that if you look at total value over time, and brand building, and community support, and that continuity is important.'"
Having seen the relocation committee's vote go against him, Chris Hansen is considering trying to persuade NBA owners to approve his purchase of the franchise, even if he isn't initially permitted to relocate it, according to a Reuters report. That sounds like a real reach to me, and Sactown Royalty agrees, providing its own take on the story right here.
Vinny Del Negro can't remain the Clippers' head coach if the team is knocked out in the first round, says Tom Ziller of SBNation.com. Ziller also speculates that Chris Paul might flee in free agency after a first-round loss, but I'd be pretty shocked if that happened.
In his NBA AM piece for HoopsWorld, Lang Greene explains why this offseason will be a crucial one for the Warriors.
Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times argues that the Lakers ought to offer Phil Jackson the team presidency.

Seattle Group Responds To Kings Vote

April 30th, 2013 at 8:58am CST by Luke Adams

In the wake of the NBA relocation committee's recommendation not to allow the Kings to relocate to Seattle, Chris Hansen has responded. Hansen, the head of the Seattle investment group that reached an agreement to buy the Kings from the Maloofs family, issued a statement on SonicsArena.com late last night, which read in part:

"While we are disappointed with the relocation committee’s recommendation, we just wanted to let you all know that we remain fully committed to seeing this transaction through. As you are all well aware, we have a binding transaction to purchase the Kings for what would be a record price for an NBA franchise, have one of the best ownership groups ever assembled to purchase a professional sports team in the US, have clearly demonstrated that we have a much more solid Arena plan, have offered a much higher price than the yet to be finalized Sacramento Group, and have placed all of the funds to close the transaction into escrow. As such, we plan to unequivocally state our case for both relocation and our plan to move forward with the transaction to the league and owners at the upcoming Board of Governor’s Meeting in Mid-May."

Despite Hansen's apparent confidence, multiple league sources were surprised by his response, according to Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com (Twitter link), who was told by one source that Hansen is "fighting for expansion at best, flailing at worst." Sam Amick of USA Today expresses similar thoughts (Twitter links), noting that no one on the NBA or Sacramento side seems concerned with Hansen's reaction, and that the rest of the process is being characterized as a "mere formality."

The NBA's Board of Governors figures to formally vote on the relocation of the Kings franchise and the sale to the Hansen-led group on May 13th. Barring a huge surprise, the league's owners are expected to follow the recommendation made yesterday by a smaller group of owners.

Raptors Increase Pursuit Of Phil Jackson

April 30th, 2013 at 8:17am CST by Luke Adams

Now that the NBA's relocation committee has recommended denying a potential Kings move to Seattle, the Raptors have ramped up their pursuit of Phil Jackson as team president, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne. Because Jackson and Seattle investor Chris Hansen had "hit it off," Toronto had viewed Seattle as the biggest threat to preventing Jackson from seriously considering their pitch, the ESPN.com duo reports.

With Seattle seemingly out of the picture, the Raptors, led by new MLSE president and CEO Tim Leiweke, believe they represent Jackson's most attractive current option. Although there's some skepticism around the league about the Zen Master's willingness to relocate to Canada, Leiweke's "vision and energy" as well as his shared success with Jackson in Los Angeles should ensure that the 11-time champion gives the pitch serious consideration.

According to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, while Jackson will consider Toronto's pitch, he's also interested in exploring his options with other potential suitors, as many have reached out to the former Lakers coach through back channels. Berger reiterates that there are doubts around the NBA about how interested Jackson is in lottery teams like the Raptors or Bobcats, but says Jackson appears open to listening to any team willing to offer him an influential position.

Berger reports that Jackson may be more interested in an advisory role similar to the one Jerry West holds with the Warriors, rather than a position like Pat Riley's presidency with the Heat. The CBSSports.com scribe also expects teams, such as the Nets, to continue to pursue Jackson for coaching openings, offering him a significant voice in basketball operations as well.

Stein and Shelburne first reported last week that the Raptors were considering making a run at Jackson.

Committee Votes Down Kings Relocation To Seattle

April 29th, 2013 at 4:01pm CST by Zachary Links

A committee of NBA owners has voted against moving the Kings to Seattle today, according to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst (on Twitter). A full group of NBA owners have to vote on the proposed move next week, but the the NBA's Board of Governors is expected to follow the recommendation of (Twitter link).

The vote to keep the Kings in Sacramento was unanimous with all 12 owners shooting down the Seattle move, sources told Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). The final vote from the league will come on May 13th, which will make the decision official.

The Maloof family reached agreement with a Seattle group led by hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft chairman Steve Ballmer that would have turned over a 65 percent controlling interest in the club. The Maloofs will not issue a statement on today's news, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).

While the Seattle group has worked hard to lobby for the Kings, Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson has fought hard to keep the team in his city. Johnson eventually lined up a Sacramento-based ownership group headed by businessman Vivek Ranadive and secured public financing to help build a brand new arena. Today's decision doesn't directly mean that Ranadive's group will come away with the club, but it certainly bodes well for them.

Hansen's Seattle group appeared to have a great deal of momentum, but in recent weeks commissioner David Stern has reportedly begun backing the Sacramento group in their efforts. Stern admitted that the Sacramento group's offer didn't match the Seattle bid, but claimed that it came close. Meanwhile, many in basketball believed that a Seattle team would mean more money being put into the league's revenue sharing system and that a new arena could be built more quickly there than in Sacramento.

A decision on the matter from the BoG was expected to come at a meeting in New York earlier this month, but it was postponed for undisclosed reasons.

Latest On Kings, Sacramento, Seattle

April 29th, 2013 at 12:46pm CST by Luke Adams

12 NBA owners will participate in a conference call today to discuss the future of the Sacramento Kings, eventually deciding on a recommendation to take to the league's Board of Governors. According to NBA.com's David Aldridge, that call will take place at 1:00pm central time, and is expected to last about two hours. Aldridge has more details on the saga that has pitted Sacramento against Seattle, so let's dive in and check out the highlights….

While today's recommendation will likely decide which way the league's 30 owners will vote in May, those owners will be free to make up their own minds, so there are no guarantees.
Approval for the relocation of the Kings will require a majority vote (16 of 30 owners), while approval of the sale to Chris Hansen's Seattle group will require three-quarters (23 of 30).
David Stern and the NBA have taken "hours and hours since they left New York" to get more detailed financial reports from Vivek Ranadive's Sacramento group on their bid for the team. The league has also pursued more details on each city's arena plan.
Aldridge makes some educated guesses on how the 12 owners on the relocation committee will vote, predicting that at least four will be in favor of Sacramento, while at least three will vote for Seattle. Aldridge is unsure about the remaining five.
According to Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com (Twitter link), the Sacramento group has answered all of the NBA's questions to the league's satisfaction so far.

Odds & Ends: Dwight, Expansion, Thunder

April 26th, 2013 at 10:45pm CST by Chuck Myron

The storyline on the Lakers tonight is their makeshift starting backcourt of Darius Morris and Andrew Goudelock, but as soon as their season ends, the attention will no doubt shift back to marquee names, and Dwight Howard in particular. HoopsWorld's Bill Ingram, with an assist from colleague Eric Pincus, breaks down the numbers to show that Howard would make more money in the first four years of a contract with the Rockets than he would in as many seasons with the Lakers, thanks to differing tax rates. Still, L.A.'s ability to offer a fifth season, enhanced endorsement opportunities and the cachet of the purple and gold provide varying levels of motivation for Howard to re-sign with the Lakers.

As we wait for yet another Dwight decision, there's plenty of news from around the league:

Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com suggests David Stern's stance on expansion may be softening somewhat (Sulia link). Stern had been adamant that the league won't try to solve the Kings dilemma by adding a team, though Spurs owner Peter Holt, chairman of the Board of Governors, said the issue isn't off the table.
In an Insider piece, Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com argues the Thunder shouldn't regret the James Harden trade in the wake of Russell Westbrook's injury as much as the deadline move that sent Eric Maynor away.
A team executive who saw Greek swingman Giannis Adetokunbo practice tells Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News that while he's a project who probably won't see significant playing time for two or three years, he's still worth a first-round pick (All Twitter links).
Martell Webster is open to coming off the bench if he re-signs with the Wizards, notes J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. The Wizards and Webster, whom I tabbed one of the season's best mid-level exception signees, appear to have mutual interest in a return.
Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv wonders what would have happened if Kenyon Martin were on the other team in the Knicks–Celtics series. Martin was close to a deal with Boston earlier this season.

Raptors Planning Run At Phil Jackson?

April 26th, 2013 at 5:44pm CST by Luke Adams

5:44pm: Leiweke told reporters, including USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt, that he and Jackson have spoken this week, but only about the city of Toronto and not basketball matters. Still, he acknowledged that he and Jackson are friends (Twitter links).

3:48pm: Stein and Ramona Shelburne have included a few more details on Jackson and the Raptors in their full story on the subject at ESPN.com. Here are a few of the notable new items:

Prior to the hiring of Leiweke, the Raptors were leaning toward retaining both Colangelo and coach Dwane Casey. However, Leiweke's presence throws their futures into doubt.
Sources continue to stress to ESPN.com that it's very likely Jackson will be back in the NBA next season in some capacity.
One source tells the ESPN duo that Jackson has "far more of an open mind than has been portrayed" with regard to potential job openings, and that he's willing to consider just about any legitimate pitch.
A reunion with the Lakers remains highly unlikely for Jackson.
Jackson is well-regarded by Chris Hansen, who is leading the Seattle group trying to buy the Kings. If Hansen's purchase of the franchise is improved, the opportunity for Jackson to put together a coaching staff and front-office team may arise in Seattle.
The Nets may also make a run at Jackson for their coaching position this summer, since owner Mikhail Prokhorov is believed to want to make a "splashy hire."

1:26pm: Earlier this week, Phil Jackson confirmed that he has spoken to "three or four teams" about possible front office jobs, and now it appears the identity of some of those teams are surfacing.

Yesterday, Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio reported that the Bobcats may be considering offering Phil Jackson a chance to run Charlotte's basketball operations. Today, ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports (via Twitter) he has been hearing "rumbles all week" that the Raptors are planning to make a run at Jackson, potentially offering him the team presidency.

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, the majority owner of the Raptors and the NHL's Maple Leafs, among other Toronto sports teams, announced today that Tim Leiweke will become the company's new president and CEO, effective June 30th. Leiweke had previously held a similar role at Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns a portion of the Lakers and other Los Angeles franchises. As Stein points out (via Twitter), Leiweke gives the Raptors a "major player with L.A. ties" who could make a pitch Jackson would consider.

Current Raptors president Bryan Colangelo has one year remaining on his contract, but the team has yet to formally exercise its option on Colangelo for 2013/14.

Western Notes: McMillan, Kings, Kaman, Pekovic

April 26th, 2013 at 12:19pm CST by Luke Adams

When I asked yesterday which playoff team down 2-0 in the first round had the best chance of coming back and advancing, over half of you picked the Grizzlies. Memphis delivered on the first step of that comeback last night, holding the Clippers to 82 points en route to a Game Three win.

Meanwhile, the Rockets only received about 5% of the votes in that poll, but their chances likely improved with word from the Thunder that Russell Westbrook will undergo surgery to repair a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. As we wait for official word on a timetable for Westbrook's return, let's check out a few notes from around the Western Conference:

Nate McMillan may be a top contender for the Pistons' head coaching opening, but Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press says there's a "belief around the league" that McMillan will wait to see what happens with the Kings, since he could also be a strong candidate there if the franchise moves to Seattle.
The NBA's relocation committee is expected to make a recommendation to the Board of Governors next Monday on whether or not to approve the sale and relocation of the Kings. However, an official vote by league owners may not come until May 13th, as Dale Kasler, Ryan Lillis, and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee outline.
While Chris Kaman has said he'd like to return to Dallas next season, Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com thinks the veteran big man just doesn't want to close any doors. MacMahon predicts Kaman will have to take a pay cut this summer, and will end up signing a one-year contract with a team besides the Mavericks.
Speaking to Mondo.rs (translation via HoopsHype), Nikola Pekovic reiterated a desire to re-sign with the Timberwolves this summer, adding that he has no intention of leaving the NBA to return to Europe.
Andre Iguodala's performance in this year's postseason could go a long way to exhibiting whether or not he's worth a long-term, big-money contract, according to Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post.

Kings Recommendation Expected On Monday

April 25th, 2013 at 10:06am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA's relocation committee will have a conference call next Monday to discuss the Kings sale, at which point a recommendation is expected to be made, according to TNT's David Aldridge (via Twitter). That recommendation would be taken to the NBA's Board of Governors, who would then vote on the fate of the Kings (Twitter link).

Aldridge suggests that if the process continues on schedule, a final vote on the Kings could happen as early as May 8th, though Chris Daniels of KING TV in Seattle believes a vote during the week of May 13th may be more likely (Twitter link). As Daniels notes, the situation remains fluid, having been delayed already, but commissioner David Stern has said there will be resolution in time for May 21st's draft lottery.

The NBA's finance and relocation committees are made up of a handful of NBA owners, who will in turn make their recommendation to all 30 owners on whether or not to approve the sale and relocation of the Kings.