Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles looked at some specific names that could surface on the Lakers' radar if Ramon Sessions is not on the roster next season, mentioning Aaron Brooks, Raymond Felton, and Kirk Hinrich as guards who could be available for the team's mini mid-level exception. You can read more of tonight's miscellaneous links here, including rumblings about Atlanta's offseason activity, a minor update on Derrick Rose, and an in-depth look at Charlotte's new head coach…
The Cavs hold picks No. 4 and No. 24, but unlike other teams with two first-round draft choices, they aren't looking to trade one of them. The team seems to be zeroing in on Harrison Barnes with the fourth pick, but Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer says a scenario is in play that could have them leaving Barnes on the board.
After spending the 2011/12 season with the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association, Aaron Brooks is back in the United States and ready to explore NBA free agency. The guard says that he will keep his options open but sounds as though he will prioritize opportunities to start.
“I want to be a starter,” the 27-year-old told Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. “I definitely feel that I’m a starter in this league. If I’m not a starter, I’m definitely trying to be Sixth Man of the Year. No matter what happens, I want to go out there and outplay my contract. I want to be successful and contribute to a team.”
The Suns have exclusive negotiating rights with Brooks until July because of his decision to spend the season outside of the NBA. The club remains undecided on what course of action they will take.
In March, General Manager Lance Blanks visited Brooks in China to check in with the point guard and discuss his possible future with the team. Brooks was told that the club would first wait to see what happens with Steve Nash before entering into talks with him.
As I outlined yesterday when I looked at Aaron Brooks' stock in free agency, the time Brooks spent playing in China means the Suns have exclusive negotiating rights with the restricted free agent until July. According to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic, Phoenix remains undecided on how to act on the point guard.
Adding Brooks to the current Suns roster, which already features three point guards, seems unlikely with just over three weeks remaining in the season. However, letting the 27-year-old hit restricted free agency again this summer would mean opening up the bidding to a number of other suitors, potentially driving up the price and reducing Phoenix's leverage.
"It's put us in a situation where we need to have some serious conversations, internally and potentially with Aaron, about the state of where we are and what's going to make the most sense with the organization," Suns GM Lance Blanks said. "I can't give you A or B right now, but it certainly needs to be discussed. He's a NBA-level point guard and a pretty good one. Does it make sense now or later?"
Blanks traveled to China last week to visit Brooks and watch him play in the best-of-seven CBA Finals, which Brooks' Guangdong Southern Tigers ended up losing 4-1. Still, the Phoenix GM was glad to get a chance to talk to Brooks and was impressed with what he saw.
"He looked like Aaron, especially in (Game 5)," Blanks said. "He had a substantial moment or two in the second half where he took over. It was virtually impossible to stay in front of him, similar to when he was here. He looked in good shape and engaged."
With the fate of the NBA season still up in the air last November, Aaron Brooks agreed to sign with China's Guangdong Southern Tigers. Less than two weeks later, the players and owners reached a tentative deal to resolve the lockout, but Brooks was locked in to his contract in China for the rest of the CBA season. For Brooks, whose team reached the CBA Finals, that season lasted longer than it did for fellow NBA players like Wilson Chandler and J.R. Smith. But after losing to Stephon Marbury's Beijing Ducks in the Finals, Brooks' path has been cleared for a return to NBA.
Because he was a restricted free agent heading into the lockout and offer sheets can't be signed after March 1st, Brooks can only sign with the Suns if he's going to play this year. Phoenix has no interest in signing Brooks for the rest of the season and allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, so unless the point guard agrees to a cap-friendly, multiyear deal, it's unlikely he'll play in the NBA this season. Comments made by Suns GM Lance Blanks on his blog after a recent visit to China also suggest Brooks will sit out the season:
"[Brooks] is eager to get back home to the States, see his family and begin his off season training to prepare himself for a return to NBA."
If Brooks is already beginning his offseason training, we can assume he'll become a restricted free agent again this summer, though perhaps he'll be better positioned than he was a year ago. After a successful 2009/10 campaign in Houston, Brooks took a slight step back last year, spending half the season with Phoenix after a deadline deal. His 10.7 PPG, .375 FG% and 13.1 PER in 2010/11 were all below his career rates entering the season (13.0 PPG, .421 FG%, 14.5 PER).
However, Brooks was impressive during his stint in China, averaging 22.3 points and 4.8 assists in just 29.9 minutes per game, along with shooting rates of .553/.407/.830 (stats via Asia-Basket.com). He's only 27, and he'll hit the free agent market during a year when the draft is light on top point guards. The free agent market features plenty of options, but probably only one true star in Steve Nash.
Brooks' future may ultimately be tied to Nash's. The Suns are expected to make an effort to retain their longtime point guard, but if Nash decides to sign with a team closer to title contention, Phoenix will find itself under more pressure to keep Brooks. If Nash re-signs, the Suns may not want to commit so much free agent money to one position and keep both point guards, but if Nash is gone, I'd expect the team to match any offer sheet for Brooks.
The Hawks, Mavericks, Lakers, Heat, Magic, and Trail Blazers are among the other clubs who could kick the tires on Brooks in the offseason, but between Blanks' visit to China and Brooks' fondness for Phoenix, the Suns are the favorites. I don't expect Brooks to be offered more than the mid-level exception, so Phoenix should have the means to comfortably match any rival offer.
The Pacific Division's top two teams are both in action at Staples Center today, and if the first-place Lakers get upset by the Hornets the afternoon and the Clippers beat the Jazz tonight, there will be a tie atop the division. Here's the rest of the news from the West Coast:
- The Kings picked up DeMarcus Cousins' $3.88MM option for 2012/13 this past offseason, and the investment looks smarter as the center matures and develops, writes Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee.
- Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com criticizes the Warriors' approach to the season, reasoning that the caliber of player the team is likely to get in the draft probably won't be enough to make Golden State a contender.
- Suns GM Lance Blanks blogged about his trip to China to see Aaron Brooks for Suns.com. Blanks' comment that Brooks is "eager to get back home to the States, see his family and begin his off season training to prepare himself for a return to NBA" seems to indicate that the point guard will not play in the league this season, and instead test restricted free agency this summer. The Suns hold the right to match any offer Brooks gets.
- The Clippers have started winning again, but the heat is still on coach Vinny Del Negro, writes Sam Amick of SI.com. Amick says Del Negro has been told to heighten the team's offensive pace, get them to play more aggressive defense, and regard stars and role players with the same level of scrutiny.
- The Kings, who've signed Terrence Williams for the rest of the season, have quickly come to trust him in the 10 days he's spent with the team, giving the former 11th overall pick key fourth-quarter minutes, notes Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee.
Aaron Brooks will return from China soon, but the Suns are unlikely to sign him this season unless he agrees to a cap-friendly, multiyear deal, says Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. The Suns hold Brooks' rights, so if they decide not to sign him this season, they could renounce his rights and let him become an unrestricted free agent. It's more likely, however, that the team will keep its rights to Brooks, resulting in him becoming a restricted free agent this summer.
Here are a few more Thursday morning notes out of the Pacific Division:
- The Warriors may have a logjam of wing players next season, which makes Brandon Rush's future uncertain, as he tells Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle: "I just want to finish the season out strong and showcase what I can do. I know I'm auditioning for 29 other teams. I've had a great opportunity here, because the coaches are letting me play all kinds of positions, and I appreciate that." Rush will be a restricted free agent this summer if the Warriors extend him a $4.09MM qualifying offer.
- Barry Stavro of the Los Angeles Times rounds up reactions from members of the Lakers, among others, on Magic Johnson's involvement in buying MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss deserves more credit than he gets for his roster decisions, according to T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times.
With a busy Monday chock full of games set to get underway, let's take a look around the Western Conference to catch up on the latest news and happenings.
- Stefan Swiat of Suns.com says Suns general manager Lance Blanks took a flight to China on Monday to check in on CBA All-Star point guard Aaron Brooks. The former Oregon star has thrived in China as he has led his squad to the CBA Finals thanks to his 21.9 PPG and 4.7 APG. Adding a hot Brooks for the stretch run may be enough for the Suns to clinch a playoff spot with the team currently one game behind the Rockets for the eighth seed.
- The Rockets are set to sign guard Courtney Fortson for the remainder of the season with a team option for next year, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston. Fortson, 23, signed a 10-day contract with the team on March 18th after being cut by the Clippers in late January. The rookie out of Arkansas is currently averaging 2.8 PPG and 1.2 RPG in five games with the Rockets.
- Lang Greene of HoopsWorld writes many Jazz players are relieved that the trade deadline has passed given the uncertainty surrounding the front office's plans for developing the roster. Since the deadline, the Jazz have won six of their last seven games, putting the team in the playoff mix as the current seventh seed in the Western Conference.
ESPN.com's Chris Broussard has a ton of trade rumors in today's Insider-only piece. You can read his major update on Dwight Howard here, but let's dive into the rest of his rumors….
- The Celtics offered Paul Pierce to the Blazers, though Broussard isn't sure who else would've been involved in the deal. Portland wasn't interested in Boston's proposal.
- The Clippers are reluctant to trade Eric Bledsoe for Jamal Crawford because they believe Crawford will opt out of his contract at season's end, and Bledsoe will have more value at draft time, since there won't be many point guards available.
- Ramon Sessions is unlikely to be moved unless the Cavaliers can get a first-round pick. Cleveland would try to trade for Jonny Flynn if they moved Sessions, though the Spurs have also expressed interest in Flynn.
- The Cavs are also in talks with the Hornets about swapping Antawn Jamison for Emeka Okafor and a first-round pick.
- Aaron Brooks is drawing interest from the Blazers and Kings, though the Suns hope to re-sign him. When Brooks returns from China, he can only sign with Phoenix. If he doesn't sign anywhere this season, he becomes a restricted free agent again this summer.
- A second-round pick is likely all it would take for the Hornets to move Chris Kaman.
- The Warriors preferred to deal Stephen Curry rather than Monta Ellis, but Curry's ongoing ankle issues hurt his trade value.
- Broussard hears JaVale McGee will be seeking a contract worth $14MM annually this summer. Good luck with that, JaVale.
- Wilson Chandler is seeking a deal starting at $7MM, which the Nuggets feel is too high, since that amount won't be prorated this season — Denver would prefer to start around $5MM.
- The Pistons are shopping Austin Daye "all day every day" but not many teams are biting.
- The Grizzlies would like to move Sam Young to get below the luxury tax line.
Aaron Brooks' Guangdong Southern Tigers are making a run at the Chinese Basketball Association title, delaying his return to Phoenix. When his season in China ends, Brooks will find himself in a situation similar to Wilson Chandler's in Denver and Patrick Mills' in Portland, as Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic outlines. I expect the longer Brooks remains in China, the less likely he is to play in the NBA this year, since he'll be a restricted free agent again this summer if he sits out the season.
Here are a few more Thursday links from around the Association:
- David Kahn is in the final year of his contract, but the Timberwolves hold team options on Kahn for the next two years, and owner Glen Taylor tells Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press he wants to keep his GM around.
- In addition to rounding up a few rumors in his morning column for HoopsWorld, Steve Kyler also talked trades in a chat today.
- The Raptors are contemplating their trade options as the deadline approaches, says Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld.
- Rashad McCants told Primera Hora that his agent advised him to play in Puerto Rico as a potential route back to the NBA (hat tip to Sportando for the translation).
- Pistons GM Joe Dumars, who told MLive earlier this week that he's "talking to everybody," answers a few more trade-related questions from Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News.