Boris Diaw Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Bobcats Notes: Trade Deadline, Diaw, Augustin

March 15th, 2012 at 4:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins spoke today about the Bobcats' lack of deadline deals and the team's future plans. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer shares the highlights in a series of tweets:

There was no way the Bobcats were about to take on a veteran with an $8-9MM cap figure just to say they made a deal.
Boris Diaw's expiring contract drew plenty of interest, but every proposal had the Bobcats giving up cap space beyond this season. Personally, I don't think that would've been the worst thing in the world for Charlotte, if it meant gaining a first-round pick. It's not as if they'll be major free agent players this summer.
The team will discuss buying out Diaw in the next few days.
Higgins says the team values D.J. Augustin and tried to sign him to an extension in December. We'll see if they try again when he hits restricted free agency this summer.

Bobcats Discussing Several Deals For Boris Diaw

March 14th, 2012 at 3:27pm CST by Luke Adams

Boris Diaw's expiring contract has become one of the more intriguing assets on the trade market this week, and the Bobcats are discussing "several deals" involving Diaw, tweets Ken Berger of CBS Sports.

The Nets, Spurs, and Timberwolves have been linked to Diaw, whose $9MM cap figure will come off the books at season's end. Given how valuable that number could be for teams looking to create cap space, it makes sense for the Bobcats to consider deals that could net the team draft picks.

If Dwight Howard officially waives his early termination option for 2012/13 and remains with the Magic, I'd imagine the Nets' pursuit of Diaw would become much less urgent.

Odds & Ends: Spurs, Diaw, Kaman, Morris

March 13th, 2012 at 6:38pm CST by Ryan Raroque

On the speculation that Dwight Howard could be the determining factor with regard to his job security, coach Stan Van Gundy was forthright: "If they want to fire me to please somebody, fire me," later adding, "our job, my job is to focus on the basketball." Regardless of what happens before the deadline, the Magic coach will be able to put the trade speculation aside by the time Friday hits. Here are some other notes worth looking at from around the league:

The Spurs may be looking into the trade market for a point guard, according to Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld.
Tony Parker spoke about his desire for Boris Diaw to join him in San Antonio should he be granted a buyout from the Bobcats. Interestingly enough, Parker referred to the Knicks as another team that is interested in Diaw.
Center Chris Kaman says he feels comfortable with his role in New Orleans and would hope to stay with the Hornets, writes Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune.
Lakers rookie Darius Morris suffered a bruised wrist during a game in the D-League and will be day-to-day, says Mike Bresnahan of The Los Angeles Times. (Twitter link)
Greg Oden appears to be preparing to move on from the Trail Blazers. According to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, a source close to the situation has said that Oden is in the process of selling his home in Portland and has no intention of returning to the team next season.

Nets Express Interest In Boris Diaw

March 13th, 2012 at 9:58am CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 9:58am: The Nets would be willing to include the protected first-round pick the Rockets owe them to acquire Diaw's expiring contract, says Bonnell. Bonnell hears a potential Diaw package would also consist of Petro and Jordan Farmar. The pick Houston owes New Jersey is top-14 protected for the next five years.

Personally, I like this trade idea for both teams. The Bobcats may lose some short-term cap flexibility, but they'd gain another first-round pick and could shed Farmar's and Petro's contracts after next season. The Nets, meanwhile, would gain valuable cap space to pursue marquee free agents this summer.

MONDAY, 3:16pm: The Nets have expressed interest in acquiring Boris Diaw and his expiring contract, tweets Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. Diaw, who hasn't appeared in the team's last four games, recently asked the Bobcats about the possibility of buying out his contract.

The Nets' interest in Diaw makes sense, since the team is looking to make a run at Dwight Howard this summer. If they hope to retain Deron Williams and Brook Lopez and make a competitive offer for D12, the Nets will need to clear all the cap space they can, and Diaw's $9MM contract will expire at season's end.

As Bonnell points out though, the hitch is what players the Bobcats would receive in exchange for Diaw. I'd guess the Nets would want Charlotte to take at least one of Johan Petro and Shawne Williams — Petro's contract is guaranteed for next season for $3.5MM, while Williams has a $3.14MM player option he figures to exercise. Neither player is under contract past 2012/13, so perhaps the Bobcats would be interested in taking on the pair if they came packaged with a future draft pick.

Bonnell On Possible Bobcats Moves

March 8th, 2012 at 10:24pm CST by Sean Highkin

The Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell posted a breakdown of the options the Bobcats are likely to explore at the deadline:

The likeliest avenue the Bobcats will go to add a player will be to use the $3.5MM trade exception they got from trading Shaun Livingston to the Bucks, probably packaged with a draft pick.
Bonnell doesn't believe Boris Diaw has much trade value despite his $9MM expiring contract, due to his lack of on-court production and the lack of teams with the ability to absorb his salary without sending players back.
Bonnell cautions against moving D.J. Augustin now, arguing that rookie Kemba Walker isn't fully developed yet, and that Augustin could have value in a sign-and-trade as a restricted free agent this summer.

Heat Notes: Wallace, Kaman, Diaw, Randolph

March 8th, 2012 at 9:44pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest surrounding the Miami Heat in the leadup to the March 15 trade deadline:

Fox Sports Florida's Chris Tomasson wonders whether the Heat would be wise to pursue Rasheed Wallace. Wallace, who last played in 2010, has hinted at coming out of retirement for a while, and was most recently linked to the Lakers.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman touches on a handful of potential acquisitions in his mailbag column, most notably Chris Kaman. Winderman doesn't believe the Heat have the assets to pull off a Kaman deal that David Stern would approve, especially in light of the blocked Chris Paul trade to the Lakers in December.
Winderman thinks the Heat could do worse than to pick up Boris Diaw for the minimum in the event that the Bobcats buy the veteran big man out.
According to Ben Golliver of Blazers Edge (via Twitter), forward Shavlik Randolph recently worked out with the Heat. Randolph last appeared in the NBA with Miami in 2010, and is currently playing in Puerto Rico.

Diaw Deactivated, Likely Done in Charlotte

March 7th, 2012 at 7:05pm CST by Alex Lee

Bobcats forward Boris Diaw was deactivated prior to Wednesday's game against the Jazz, and according to Rick Bonnell from the Charlotte Observer, it sounds like Diaw is likely done in Charlotte. Bobcats coach Paul Silas spoke about Diaw's deactivation before tonight's game:

"I think if he had played all out, the way he should have, it would have been a much, much better club,” Silas said.

Bonnell said that based on Silas' direct tone, he can't imagine Diaw will play again for the Bobcats. Diaw's agent contacted the organization about a buyout, but Bonnell said they indicated they will only consider that after the trade deadline. Diaw didn't get on the floor last night against the Magic.

More from Silas: “I like a player who is really committed to not only the team but to himself and then doing the best he can as a player. Some of the things that would go on, like not shooting the ball (and) passing all of the time… I needed hoops and he could put the ball in the hoop. When that wouldn’t happen it was very disturbing."

It sure sounds like Diaw has been abusing his position as a relatively talented player on a team that does not have many like him. That doesn't sound like the best strategy if he expects a different team to take a chance on him in the coming weeks. Silas was asked if Diaw will play against for Charlotte:

“We just have to wait and see.’’

Boris Diaw Asks Bobcats About Buyout

March 6th, 2012 at 1:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Boris Diaw is in the last year of his contract, but it looks like he could change teams before the summer. According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, Diaw has asked the Bobcats about buying out his contract.

"Boris and I had a meeting prior to the All-Star break, maybe Wednesday before. We talked about quite a few things," Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins said. "The issue with the buyout, it was raised on their side, from [agent] Doug [Neustadt]. We haven't gone down that road any further."

Although Diaw's minutes and scoring are down for the Bobcats this season, he's still contributing in a variety of ways, averaging 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists to go along with his 7.7 points per game. However, reports have suggested the 29-year-old has clashed with coach Paul Silas, who would like to see Diaw shoot more often. Considering Diaw has a career-low .414 FG% and has just as many field goal attempts per 36 minutes as in his last two years with the Bobcats, I could understand if he was reluctant to hoist up more shots.

Since the Bobcats would like to maintain cap flexibility going forward, it may be challenging to find a taker for Diaw's $9MM without taking on salary themselves. Still, Higgins says he'll explore all trade possibilities before considering a buyout for the former first-round pick.

"No question," Higgins confirmed. "Those [buyout] conversations, if they happen, would happen after the deadline."

Southeast Notes: Diaw, Wizards, Howard, Heat

March 5th, 2012 at 9:49am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we heard the Heat are shopping around for a big man. Let's check out a few more items out of the Southeast Division….

Bobcats officials say they won't make any pre-deadline deals that would compromise their rebuilding plans, says Richard Walker of the Gaston Gazette. However, Walker says it wouldn't be surprising to see the team move Boris Diaw, who has clashed with coach Paul Silas this season.
Former Wizard Antawn Jamison still keep tabs on his old club, as he tells Michael Lee of the Washington Post: "Oh, I watch them. Young talent. It’s just a notion of learning how to be professionals on and off the court, but you can’t question the talent that they have here at all."
If there's a chance of convincing Dwight Howard to stay in Orlando, Magic CEO Alex Martins is the man George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel trusts with the job.
The majority of Ira Winderman's Monday mailbag for the South Florida Sun Sentinel focuses on the Heat's need for frontcourt reinforcements.

Kyler On Rondo, Diaw, Mavs, Ellis, Scola

February 28th, 2012 at 10:18am CST by Luke Adams

Over at HoopsWorld, Steve Kyler kicks off a quick look at trade possibilities for all 30 teams, running alphabetically from Atlanta through Houston. Let's check out a few of Kyler's notes….

The general belief is that Rajon Rondo will remain a Celtic past March 15th unless Boston is blown away by an offer.
Bobcats sources say the team has received inquiries on Boris Diaw, who has an expiring contract worth $9MM.
Sources close to the Mavericks say the team views Rodrigue Beaubois and Dominique Jones as "possible sweeteners" in an offseason sign-and-trade deal for Dwight Howard or Deron Williams.
If the Warriors decide to move Monta Ellis, any deal may have to include a contract like David Lee's or Andris Biedrins' as well. According to Kyler's sources, the Warriors offered Ellis to the 76ers for Andre Iguodala at the start of the season.
Concerns about Luis Scola's knees may make it tough for the Rockets to find full value for him on the trade market.
For more on the ten teams covered in Kyler's piece, check out our Assessing Stocks series, which, coincidentally, has covered the same ten clubs.