Heat Rumors

Shane Battier To Retire After Next Year

As he gets ready for Game 2 of the 2013 Finals against the Spurs, Shane Battier is thinking quite a bit about his future in the NBA.  The veteran forward indicated to Alex Kennedy of USA Today that he probably has one more year of basketball left.

"I think I have one more year," Battier said. "My contract is up next year, and I'll reassess where I am, but we'll see. It's a good possibility, a good possibility. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, and everything in this league is negotiable, but at that point I'll be 36 and it may be time to do something else."

Battier has averaged 9.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks over 904 career games with the Rockets, Grizzlies, and Heat.  The former Duke star has been to the playoffs in nine of his 12 seasons in the NBA. 

David Fizdale, Melvin Hunt On Sixers’ Radar

Maurice Cheeks is said to be the frontrunner for the Pistons' head coaching job, and the openings with the Clippers, Nets, and Nuggets appear to be turning into a game of musical chairs featuring Brian Shaw, Lionel Hollins, George Karl, and others. Since Sam Hinkie was hired in Philadelphia though, we haven't heard a whole lot about the Sixers' head coaching targets.

According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter), a pair of assistant coaches are on the 76ers' radar: David Fizdale of the Heat and Melvin Hunt of the Nuggets. Fizdale had been mentioned as a candidate for Detroit earlier in the Pistons' process, and actually was said to be on the Sixers' list before Hinkie was hired as well. Hunt, meanwhile, hasn't received any head coaching buzz since he was named as a potential Cavs candidate back in April.

Besides Fizdale and Hunt, Rockets assistants Kelvin Sampson and Chris Finch have also been cited as possible candidates for the Sixers' job, while Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal tweeted earlier this week that Philadelphia appears to have interest in Grizzlies assistant Dave Joerger.

Grantland's Zach Lowe also noted yesterday that Hinkie has long been an admirer of George Karl's offensive creativity, but Lowe hears from coaching sources that the new GM may prefer to develop a strong relationship with a first-time head coach of his choosing.

How The Heat Were Constructed

With the Heat and Spurs set to get this year's Finals underway tonight, there's been plenty of talk about the way in which each team was built. As Michael Lee of the Washington Post notes in his latest piece, both teams have created a "Big Three" model, but obtained those three star players in very different ways.

Both teams' rosters are about more than just their respective stars though, so we're going to examine today how each of the players on Miami's and San Antonio's 15-man rosters was initially acquired. We'll cover the Spurs later today, but here's a look at how the Heat's current players arrived in Miami, listed in chronological order:

Dwyane Wade
Drafted with the fifth overall pick in 2003. Signed a four-year extension in 2006 and a six-year extension in 2010.

Udonis Haslem
Signed a two-year deal as a free agent (August 6, 2003). Signed a five-year extension in 2005 and another five-year extension in 2010.

Joel Anthony
Signed a two-year deal as a free agent (July 3, 2007). Re-signed in 2009 and eventually signed a five-year contract in 2010.

Mario Chalmers
Acquired from the Timberwolves for cash and two second-round picks (June 26, 2008). Signed a three-year extension in 2011.

James Jones
Signed a five-year deal as a free agent (July 9, 2008). Bought out and re-signed in 2010 before signing a three-year contract in 2011.

LeBron James
Acquired in a sign-and-trade deal from the Cavaliers for two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a trade exception (July 10, 2010). Signed a six-year deal.

Chris Bosh
Acquired in a sign-and-trade deal from the Raptors for two first-round picks and a trade exception (July 10, 2010). Signed a six-year deal.

Mike Miller
Signed a five-year deal as a free agent (July 15, 2010).

Juwan Howard
Signed a one-year deal as a free agent (July 20, 2010). Re-signed in 2011 and eventually signed another one-year deal in 2013.

Norris Cole
Acquired from the Timberwolves with cash and a second-round pick for Bojan Bogdanovic (June 23, 2011).

Shane Battier
Signed a three-year deal as a free agent (December 9, 2011).

Ray Allen
Signed a two-year deal as a free agent (July 11, 2012).

Rashard Lewis
Signed a two-year deal as a free agent (July 11, 2012).

Jarvis Varnado
Signed a pair of 10-day contracts, then re-signed on a two-year deal (January 30, 2013).

Chris Andersen
Signed a pair of 10-day contracts, then re-signed on a one-year deal (February 8, 2013).

Odds & Ends: Hollins, Nets, Allen, Raptors, Pacers

Game One of the NBA Finals will be ending about 24 hours from now, and while the Spurs will provide more evidence for the rest-versus-rust debate, many expect them to find their rhythm before long. The majority of Hoops Rumors readers who voted in today's poll say San Antonio will beat the Heat. While we wait to see if they're right, here's more from around the NBA:

  • The Grizzlies rebuffed the Nets when they asked for permission to interview Lionel Hollins the day after the Western Conference Finals ended, but Memphis would likely grant that permission now if Brooklyn inquired again, TNT's David Aldridge hears (Twitter link).
  • Ray Allen feels his return to the Finals with the Heat provides a measure of vindication for his decision to sign with Miami last summer, observes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
  • Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun looks at what Tim Leiweke and Masai Ujiri have done and said since arriving in town and concludes that the Raptors will soon be rebuilding.
  • Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star, writing for USA Today, details five key questions the Pacers must answer this summer.
  • The shakeup continues for the Kings, as Jerry Reynolds will step down as the team's director of player development, he tells Chris Riva of KCRA-TV.
  • The Knicks worked out Deshaun Thomas today and will get another look at him Friday, reports Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio (Twitter link), who also notes that Cody Zeller will work out Thursday for the Suns. Thomas will also work out later this month for the Timberwolves, tweets Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune, apparently clearing up earlier confusion involving Adonis Thomas.
  • The Sixers auditioned Steven Adams, Colton Iverson, Alex Oriakhi, Mouhammadou Jaiteh and Jamelle Hagins today, tweets Jake L. Fischer of SLAM Online.
  • Ray McCallum, who will work out sometime this month for the Pistons, has also worked out with the Spurs, Rockets and Pacers, notes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.

Poll: Who Will Win The NBA Finals?

We're a little over 24 hours away from Game One of this year's NBA Finals, which means there's only one appropriate question to ask in today's poll: Who will 2013's champion be? The Heat or the Spurs?

The Heat finished the regular season on a 37-2 run for a 66-16 overall record, giving them home-court advantage in the Finals. They're the defending champs and they have the world's best player in LeBron James, but they're coming off a couple grueling series against the Bulls and Pacers, inculding a seven-game Eastern Finals.

The Spurs, meanwhile, only had the second-best record in the West, but blew through the postseason, going 12-2 against the Lakers, Warriors, and Grizzlies, with a pair of sweeps. They've had plenty of time to get ready for the Finals, but there's always a concern that the extra rest will turn into rust by the time the next series begins.

Who do you like? Weigh in with your selection in the poll and feel free to specify a number of games and/or explain your reasoning in the comments section. Having picked the Heat over the Spurs before the season got underway, I'll stick with my pick, and take Miami in seven games.

Odds & Ends: LeBron, Barry, Pierce, Suns

LeBron James is feeling the heat as he's seeing flashbacks to his shortcomings with the Cavs, opines Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer.  For Pluto, the message of the series is that even when you stack your roster, there rarely is a smooth playoff road ahead.  Things can go wrong, players can get hurt, and team chemistry can fizzle.  The Heat will face the Pacers in Game 7 on Monday night and if Miami gets bounced, you can bet on the summer of 2014 talk ramping up in a hurry.  Here's more from around the Association..

  • The NBA salary cap won't change much from this season to next season as Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link) hears that it will go from $58.044MM to $58.5MM.
  • Rick Barry realizes that his outspoken ways may have cost him an NBA job, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.  The 69-year-old lives in Denver and hosts a nationally syndicated talk show but hasn't had the kind of opportunities that most players of his stature have gotten.  Barry infamously attempted to teach Shaquille O'Neal his grandma-style free throw technique years ago in offseason practice sessions, but the big man refused to implement it during the season.
  • HoopsWorld's Derek Page ran down the top five free agent small forwards this summer.  Andre Iguodala and Paul Pierce are among the notable names on the list, but they may not see the open market.
  • The HoopsWorld staff debated what the Suns should do with the No. 5 pick.  Shabazz Muhammad is suggested as an intriguing fit for Phoenix, but his baggage likely wouldn't be worth the risk.

Odds & Ends: Celtics, Heat, Cuban

The Celtics are at a crossroads and the shrouded future of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are a large reason why. Pierce is only guaranteed $5MM next year if the Celtics waive him before June 30th. But he's owed $15.3MM next year if they decide to make another run with this group, or deal him for assets.

Sources revealed to Jackie MacMullan at ESPNBoston.com yesterday, that Garnett will play next year even if Pierce doesn't come back.  But it's likely the aging star would retire if the Celtics blow it up entirely. Garnett still has 2 years and over $24MM left on the 3-year deal he signed last summer.

Then again, anything that's considered "likely" for the Celtics will be "laughed at" because nothing is certain at this pointPlus, trading Pierce and excavating the rest of the Celtics' aging roster will be hard to do with the money still owed Jason Terry, Brandon Bass and Courtney Lee

Chris Forsberg at ESPNBoston.com attacked the Celtics' offseason plans with a four-pronged approach, and he finally finished with his fourth hypothetical: a complete teardown. Starting over for the C's involves general manager Danny Ainge unloading the rest of the nucleus that won the Celtics a title in 2008, and was just one fourth quarter collapse away from a second in 2010. 

Here's what else is happening around the league as the Pacers beat the Heat 91-77 to force a game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night.

Odds & Ends: Jackson, Drew, Allen, Hollins

Although Phil Jackson recently criticized Mike D'Antoni and seemed skeptical about the thought of Dwight Howard wanting to re-sign with the Lakers, the eleven-time NBA champion coach appeared to backtrack on those comments during an appearance on the Willard and Thompson Show on 710 ESPN Radio in Los Angeles (Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News). Also, Jackson reiterated that he has no plans of coaching again and explained how he's still somewhat connected with his former team: "I’m playing a role regardless whether I’m hired and on the staff and part of the payroll, I’m here to be a sounding board and personal companion to my fiance, who’s the chief operating officer I guess you would say of the Lakers. As they ferry their way through these contract problems they have and the whole mess they have right now in the organization, I’m listening. There’s not a whole lot I’m doing. But my role right now is to be attentive and supportive.”

Here are more of tonight's miscellaneous news and notes:

  • The Pistons and former Hawks coach Larry Drew appear to have some mutual interest in an interview for Drew, sources tell Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News. Drew is believed to be one of two finalists for the Bucks' coaching opening, along with Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson
  • Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida tweets that Heat guard Ray Allen hasn't thought about whether or not he'll pick up his $3.23MM player option this summer.
  • Marc J. Spears of Yahoo tweets that the Nets, Clippers, and Bucks have not contacted the Grizzlies for permission to talk to Lionel Hollins as of yet. Coincidentally, we relayed a report yesterday which indicated that the 59-year-old coach doesn't expect to be granted permission to speak with other teams before his contract expires on June 30.
  • In light of the rumblings that the Nuggets might not match the Raptors' five-year, $15MM offer to Masai UjiriSBNation’s Tom Ziller makes the argument that coaches and general managers should be paid more.
  • Ben Couch of BrooklynNets.com reviews Gerald Wallace’s season in Brooklyn. Just over a month ago, Wallace had alarmingly admitted that he didn’t “have a clue” as to what his role on the team was, but as of today the veteran forward seemed to be encouraged about what his future holds with the Nets: "All in all I think this was kind of a down year for me, but I feel comfortable and excited about the way I finished the season," Wallace says."I'm going into the summer knowing the things I can do to get better."
  • Marcus Thompson of Mercury News reported that Warriors big man David Lee had surgery to repair a torn right hip flexor today and is expected to begin rehab within the next two weeks.
  • According to Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post, Nuggets forward Danilo Gallinari had a slight setback in rehab and won't have surgery on his ACL for another two weeks. Consequently, an expected return date of January 1 has now changed to late January or February. 

Odds & Ends: Howard, Rockets, Clifford, Heat

Here's tonight's look around the Association as the three-day weekend comes to a close..

  • Sources around Dwight Howard say that he is high on the Rockets, but those are the same sources who said that he would fight hard to go to the Nets, Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld notes.  If he does end up in Houston, Ingram believes he'll be disappointed to learn that the offense will still run through James Harden.
  • While nothing is sure with Howard, Ingram (via Twitter) sees him winding up with the Rockets when all is said and done.
  • Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter) likes the Bobcats' hire of Steve Clifford.  Clifford has done everything in the league and seems ready for the job, which Bonnell couldn't say for Mike Dunlap.
  • Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today writes that Chris Andersen has been a perfect addition for the Heat.

Eastern Notes: Bulls, Knicks, Magic

Following up on the NBA's review of the Dwyane Wade elbow to Lance Stephenson near the end of game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Heat and Pacers, we have a couple tweets with more info:

  • Ethan J. Skolnick the Sun-Sentinel says that just because nothing has happened tonight and may not, that doesn't mean the NBA won't take action tomorrow against Wade for the seemingly inadvertant elbow to Stephenson's head (Twitter link).
  • Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida says that because today is a travel day for the Pacers and Heat that might be the cause for the delay in announcements after the NBA's review of the play. (Twitter link).
  • Sports Illustrated columnist, Ian Thomsen, discusses the similarities between this season's Eastern Conference Final and last season's Eastern Conference Semifinal. Last year the Heat lost game 2 and home court advantage too, plus they lost game 3 in Indiana to go down 2-1 to the Pacers. They then rebounded to win three-straight to head to the Finals.

Here are some more notes from around the Eastern Conference..

  • The Bulls' winning percentage when Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose share the floor is 86% writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun Times. That's probably why the Bulls' general manager Gar Forman will keep Boozer and Deng this offseason. 
  • Former Bulls coach, and man-about-town for open GM and coaching positions, Phil Jacksondiscussed his new book and his future with the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson. 
  • The Magic are a young team looking to rebuild through the draft with smart moves by their young general manager Rob Hennigan. The Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi writes that's why Magic fans should root for a PacersSpurs matchup in the Finals; their presence would prove that small market teams can be successful without "buying championships."
  • Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com with part 1 of the Knicks' offseason notebook. Zwerling discusses who the Knicks might select with the 24th pick in July's draft and which players they may target in free agency, or through the draft, who could fulfill their need for a fast and explosive backup point guard for Raymond Felton
  • Chris Forsberg at ESPNBoston.com already mentioned  the dozen players the Celtics welcomed over the last two days as they continue to decide where they're headed in an uncertain offseason. A. Sherrod Blakely at CSN New England talks with two of those invites: guard, Shane Larkin of Miami, and Pittsburgh's center, Steven Adams.