Brandon Bass Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Berger’s Latest: Jackson, Kings, Nuggets, Lee

February 17th, 2015 at 11:36pm CST by Chuck Myron

Reporters make a habit of emptying their notebooks as the deadline draws near, when rumors that would normally make headlines wind up buried beneath the deluge of news. We already passed along highlights from a jam-packed piece that Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports authored tonight, and we’ll do the same with a dispatch from Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, who’s also heard plenty:

Tim Kawakami of the Bay Area News Group provides some clarity on Lee, saying that the Warriors have always been willing to trade him for assets of value but that the team almost certainly won’t find what it’s looking for on the market. Golden State isn’t likely to simply give away the veteran, a favorite of co-owner Joe Lacob, unless it’s forced to in the offseason, Kawakami adds (All Twitter links).

Earlier updates:

Teams around the league expect the Thunder to trade Reggie Jackson before Thursday’s 2pm Central time trade deadline, Berger writes, indicating that they believe tax concerns would be the catalyst for Oklahoma City to make a deal.
Sacramento is intent on making an upgrade at the deadline in an effort to please DeMarcus Cousins, sources tell Berger, who identifies Arron Afflalo as the team’s No. 1 target. The Kings are dangling Nik Stauskas to the Nuggets as they seek Afflalo, to the puzzlement of some executives from other teams, Berger hears. The Kings continue to dangle Stauskas to other teams as well, according to Berger.
The Nuggets are in “full-on firesale mode,” and, notwithstanding Sacramento’s focus on Afflalo, Ty Lawson and Wilson Chandler are the players on Denver’s roster who are drawing the most interest from other teams, Berger writes.
Berger indicates that the Warriors are trying to trade David Lee, which conflicts with an earlier report that the team would like to keep him through the season to avoid disrupting chemistry. The CBSSports.com columnist also includes Kevin Martin on a list of players that teams are trying to trade, but Flip Saunders is reportedly showing little interest in doing so. Martin would be destined for a buyout if the Wolves don’t trade him, Berger hears.
Milwaukee has fielded offers for Brandon Knight, but the Bucks aren’t biting, sources tell Berger.
The Wizards are more likely to sign a free agent who would fill their desire for backcourt help than to make a trade, the CBSSports.com scribe hears.
The Clippers are still the front-runners for Tayshaun Prince should he and the Celtics do a buyout deal, according to Berger, who adds that Boston is trying to trade Brandon Bass.

Celtics Notes: Thomas, Thornton, Bass

February 17th, 2015 at 10:13pm CST by Dana Gauruder

The Celtics would be interested in swinging a deal for Suns guard Isaiah Thomas if Phoenix puts him on the block, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com reports. Boston’s president of basketball operations, Danny Ainge, was the first NBA executive to reach out to Thomas when he became a free agent last summer, according to Blakely, but Thomas wound up going to the Suns in a sign-and-trade deal with the Kings. If Thomas joins the Celtics, he would be used as a sparkplug off the bench behind rookie point guard Marcus Smart, Blakely opines.

In other Celtics news:

Marcus Thornton and Brandon Bass are the players most likely to be dealt if the Celtics move anyone off their current roster, according to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe. Both have expiring contracts and could help a contender down the stretch but three unnamed GMs that Himmelsbach interviewed had varied opinions of what the Celtics could get for either player. Boston does have an open roster spot if it chooses to add a player because it declined to sign Andre Dawkins for the remainder of the season after his second 10-day contract expired.
The Celtics are unlikely to make a blockbuster trade before the deadline, Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com writes. They are more likely to seek additional assets in order to make a major move in the off-season, Forsberg adds. Boston has the ability to absorb as much as $13MM in exchange for draft picks or young players and could do so as a third-party facilitator for teams unable to match salaries in a proposed deal, according to Forsberg.
The Celtics management was unanimous in the decision to trade Rajon Rondo to the Mavericks in December, according to Ian Thomsen of NBA.com. Ainge revealed to Thomsen in an extensive interview that it would have been difficult to give Rondo a max contract when he hit the free agent market this summer because of his shooting and defensive shortcomings. Ainge added in the same interview that even a max offer might not have prevented Rondo from signing with the Knicks or Lakers, who are starved for a point guard to pair with stars Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant, respectively.

Eastern Notes: Williams, Nets, Wizards

February 12th, 2015 at 10:31pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Mo Williams was traded to the Hornets on Tuesday but their interest in the veteran point guard dated back to last summer when he was on the free-agent market, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer. The Hornets were shopping for a backup to Kemba Walker but ultimately settled on Brian Roberts, Bonnell adds. Their interest in Williams was rekindled when Walker suffered a knee injury that will sideline him until at least early March, Bonnell notes.

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

Nets coach Lionel Hollins expects to have the same roster after the trade deadline, according to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. Any move by the Nets would likely involve Deron Williams, Joe Johnson or Brook Lopez but the market for them is underwhelming because of their salaries and, particularly in Williams’ case, a lack of production, Bontemps adds. The fact that the Nets must swap first-round picks with the Eastern Conference-leading Hawks, courtesy of their acquisition of Johnson in 2012, leaves them no incentive to strip the roster to increase their chances of moving into the lottery, Bontemps notes.
John Wall feels the Wizards need to add another play-making guard or wing player to the second unit, Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post reports. Rather than making a deal, the Wizards could wait to fill that spot with a free agent bought out of his contract after the trade deadline or an overseas pickup, Castillo notes. Former Pistons point guard Will Bynum, who is currently playing in China for the Guangdong Southern Tigers, could fill the void when the CBA playoffs end, Castillo adds. Wall told Castillo that he endorses Bynum’s skill set and competitive nature.
Brandon Bass and Marcus Thornton could be moved before the trade deadline as the Celtics continue their quest to shed salary and stockpile draft picks, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Both will be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. Bass, who is averaging 9.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, is making $6.9MM this season. Thornton, who is averaging 8.9 PPG, has a $8.575MM salary.
The Hawks will have to give All-Star Paul Millsap a substantial raise to retain him, according to Paul Newberry of the Associated Press. That’s just what Millsap planned when he left the Jazz to sign with Atlanta for what turned out to be a bargain rate of two years and $19MM, Newberry adds. He will be an unrestricted free agent after the season.

And-Ones: Buyouts, Dragic, Stauskas, Magic

February 12th, 2015 at 10:53am CST by Chuck Myron

Andrea Bargnani, Brandon Bass, Marcus Thornton, Andrei Kirilenko, Willie Green, Randy Foye and Darrell Arthur are all likely buyout candidates if they’re not traded before the deadline, league sources tell Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck. Beck also mentions Tayshaun Prince, who’ll probably strike a buyout deal with the Celtics if he’s not traded, as Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald reported last month. The Bleacher Report scribe also reiterates that Kevin Garnett isn’t seeking a buyout, seconding an earlier report from Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com. Here’s more from around the NBA:

The Suns want a first-round pick if they’re to give up Goran Dragic in a trade, as Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times hears (Twitter link). Woelfel suggests that opposing teams will be willing to pay that price and believes the Rockets, who’ve reportedly tried to trade for Dragic this season, will consider going after him again.
There are rumors connecting the Bucks to Kings rookie Nik Stauskas, according to Woelfel (Twitter link). Still, it’s unclear if there’s truly interest from Milwaukee’s end.
James Borrego says the Magic haven’t told him whether or not he’ll be the head coach for the rest of the season, and he takes it as a signal that he’ll remain in place, according to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. The timing of the situation and the Magic’s track record don’t suggest they’ll make a move before season’s end, though “it’s widely believed” the team will eventually replace Borrego with a proven coaching veteran, Schmitz writes. Rumored coaching candidate Scott Skiles indeed has interest in the job, but the Magic’s players seem to be supporting Borrego, Schmitz adds.
Blazers GM Neil Olshey is exploring possible trades to help shore up the team’s depth, The Oregonian’s Joe Freeman writes, noting that Thomas Robinson and Will Barton seem unsure if they’ll remain on the team past the deadline. Olshey declared earlier this week that he wouldn’t trade any of the team’s starters and also talked up the value of his bench players in an interview during a game broadcast, as Mike Richman of The Oregonian transcribes.
Former Mavs guard Dominique Jones is drawing renewed NBA interest following an impressive showing in China, tweets Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. Jones, who last played in the league in 2012/13, averaged an eye-popping 36.8 points per game over 41 appearances in China this season.

Celtics Rumors: Bass, Prince, Thornton, Trades

February 10th, 2015 at 9:00pm CST by Charlie Adams

The Celtics have swung a league–leading nine trades so far this season, but word around the league is that Boston’s front office is interested in reshaping its roster even further, as Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald details. Of the pieces the C’s would be willing to move, Tayshaun Prince carries the most value, Bulpett hears from one executive. However, Bulpett also relays that teams are hesitant to part with a second-rounder in exchange for the 34-year-old, believing Boston and Prince will reach a buyout if no deal is made, allowing for an opportunity to sign the veteran forward without losing a pick.

We’ll wait to see if the Celtics continue to make moves with the future in mind as the trade deadline approaches. For now let’s round up all of the latest rumblings from coming out of Boston..

Brandon Bass has been included in trade discussions since the early going of the season, a source tells Bulpett for the same piece, but in spite of the big man’s solid play this year, teams are potentially turned off by the less-than-stellar numbers he amassed before arriving in Boston. “It’s crazy,” the source said to Bulpett. “People have seen how well he’s played in Boston, but it’s as if they’ve backed off him because of how he played in Dallas or Orlando. I don’t get it. We don’t have a need for him right now, but whoever gets him is going to like what he can do, even if it’s just in limited minutes.”
Although Marcus Thornton has put up efficient numbers for the C’s in his limited minutes on the floor this season, Bulpett passes along in the same story that teams haven’t shown a desire or willingness to take on his expiring deal worth $8.6MM.
Coach Brad Stevens isn’t necessarily opposed to all the player movement his team has experienced so far this year, but he admits it’s difficult to form cohesion when there are so many moving parts. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com has the details.

Celtics Rumors: Picks, Bass, Thornton, Green

January 13th, 2015 at 1:46pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Celtics stand to make at least six extra first-round draft picks in the years ahead after acquiring yet another in Monday’s Jeff Green trade. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge believes a team can never have too many picks, as Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald notes.

“No, because draft picks are always tradeable; players are not [always tradeable]. Draft picks are always assets,” Ainge said. “Until sometimes they’re drafted. Until they become players. Or until they become paid.”

The tear-down continues in Boston, and we’ll pass along the latest on the team’s next moves:

There is interest around the league in Brandon Bass, but the Celtics have yet to draw any serious offers for him on the trade market, league sources tell Bulpett for the same piece.
The C’s have talked about coming to buyout deals with Marcus Thornton, Jameer Nelson and Tayshaun Prince, but no decisions have been made, tweets Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops.
Boston’s concern that Green would opt out and sign with another team this summer helped fuel the deal that sent him to the Grizzlies, as A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com explains. Ainge parted with Green but said he believes the forward still hasn’t hit his prime, Blakely notes.

Eastern Notes: Butler, Pistons, Bass, Woodson

December 30th, 2014 at 12:42pm CST by Chuck Myron

Jimmy Butler is keeping up his stellar play, and as he seems poised to cash in during restricted free agency in the summer ahead, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau made it clear on Monday that the team remains committed to keeping him, as Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com writes.

“I think all of us that have been around him know who Jimmy is and we all value who he is,” Thibodeau said. “Those are business decisions that he [and] his agent have to make. Our organization feels very strongly about him. We want him here for a long time so that’ll all take care of itself in the end.”

While we wait to see how it works out for Butler, who went from unranked to the No. 5 position in the latest Hoops Rumors Free Agent Power Rankings, here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

The offers the Kings made to the Pistons for Josh Smith weren’t as clear-cut as they’ve been reported, sources have told MLive’s David Mayo. Van Gundy blundered when he gave Smith too much responsibility in the team’s offense, opines Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News, and that he didn’t alter that even as he was mulling the idea of waiving Smith throughout the month of December is even more perplexing, Mayo believes.
Brandon Bass let it be known that he has no desire to follow Rajon Rondo out of Boston, saying he isn’t “into looking and searching for a team to go to win a championship,” observes Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. Bass, on an expiring contract worth $6.9MM this season, nonetheless remains an intriguing trade chip for the Celtics if they wish to move him. His playing time has dipped significantly since the acquisition of Brandan Wright in the Rondo trade, notes Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.
Mike Woodson called his time coaching the Knicks a “wonderful experience” as he spoke Monday to reporters, including Marc Berman of the New York Post. Woodson, now a Clippers assistant coach, said he was intent on taking this season off until Doc Rivers, a friend, prevailed on him to join his staff, as Berman also notes.

And-Ones: Cobbs, Bass, Wright, Casey

November 29th, 2014 at 3:40pm CST by Eddie Scarito

Justin Cobbs has signed a deal with the Fraport Skyliners Frankfurt, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports (Twitter link). Cobbs was released yesterday by the German club VEF Riga after a one-month tryout. The 23-year-old point guard signed with Riga earlier this month shortly after the Hornets released him in advance of opening night.

Here’s more from around the league:

Brandon Bass‘ minutes are down this season to 18.5 minutes per game from 27.6 last season, but the Celtics big man is still determined to be productive, Jimmy Toscano of CSNNE.com writes. “My mindset? It’s the same,” Bass said. “I’m just trying to get better, try to make the best of my opportunities. I try to be efficient and see how it goes.”
The Mavs’ Brandan Wright is on a record-breaking pace for field goal percentage in a season thus far, Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News writes. This increase in production comes at a good time for Wright, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. “Brandan’s come a long way,” head coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s worked very hard since getting here. He’s gotten stronger, his shooting has gotten better. His free throw shooting has come light years. And he’s a smart player. He knows how to play within our system very well. And this year, he’s playing the four [power forward] pretty well, too. And that’s challenging without the spacing of a stretch-four out there beside him. We just need him to continue on the path he’s on, because he’s a very important guy for us.”
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey, whom the team re-signed to a three-year deal this offseason, has been garnering nothing but praise around the league for his work in Toronto the last two seasons, Eric Koreen of The National Post writes.
The Pistons have re-assigned forward Tony Mitchell to the Grand Rapids Drive of the NBA D-League, the team announced in a press release. This will be Mitchell’s second trip to the D-League this season.

Atlantic Notes: Bass, Faverani, Calderon, Sixers

November 23rd, 2014 at 12:50pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics‘ Brandon Bass may have increased his trade chances with a strong start to the season, writes Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. Bass is earning $6.9MM in the final season of his contract, and should be appealing to a contending team between now and the trade deadline. “If there’s a team competing for a championship and they could steal him, that’d be big,” said Rajon Rondo. “He’s one of the best mid-range shooters in the league.”

There’s more from around the Atlantic Division:

Bulpett also reports that Vitor Faverani is holding out hope of playing for the Celtics this season after two surgical procedures to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Faverani originally had the knee worked on in March, then went through a second procedure five weeks ago. “The bad thing is that I worked really hard all summer, and I got injured one more time,” he said. “I just have to recover. That’s my life. That’s all I can do right now.”
The Celtics assigned James Young to the Maine Red Claws of the D-League, the team announced via press release. This is his second stint with the Red Claws, after appearing in one game last week. He has played in three games for the Celtics, averaging 3.0 points in 3.9 minutes.
Carmelo Anthony expects the Knicks to improve now that Jose Calderon is back on the court, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Anthony praised Calderon’s understanding of the game, and said scorers always love playing with skilled point guards. “His IQ out there on the basketball court, I think is very high,” Anthony said. “That’s something that, at that position, we’ve been missing.” Calderon, who came to the Knicks in an offseason trade with the Mavericks, missed the first 13 games of the season with a strained calf.
Fans of the winless Sixers shouldn’t expect a turnaround any time soon, opines Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He said Philadelphia is committed to its strategy of trying to improve by getting high draft picks, even though it hasn’t landed the team an obvious franchise player so far.

Eastern Notes: Wright, Bass, Sixers

October 2nd, 2014 at 6:18pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Greek League team Panathinaikos is considering signing Bucks forward Chris Wright to a deal, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports (Twitter link). Wright is currently in training camp with Milwaukee on a non-guaranteed deal after averaging 6.0 PPG and 2.5 RPG in eight appearances last season for the franchise. The Bucks would have to release Wright before he could sign any arrangement.

Here’s more from the east:

Brandon Bass is one of the senior members of the Celtics, but this doesn’t guarantee him a spot in Boston’s rotation, Brian Robb of Boston.com writes. “Every year I come into the season, I’m always in some kind of a situation,” Bass said. “I can’t really focus on those situations or I wouldn’t be motivated. For me, I kind of just simplify things for myself and I hope the other guys do the same.”
Robb also points out that in light of the way Boston’s roster is constructed, GM Danny Ainge exploring trade possibilities for Bass makes sense. The forward is in the final season of his deal and isn’t likely to be re-signed next summer, so it would be wise for Ainge to try and flip Bass for an asset instead of allowing him to leave and receiving nothing in return, Robb opines.
The Sixers are looking at the long term when it comes to rebuilding the franchise and this season looks to be another campaign in futility that the front office hopes will pay dividends in the seasons to come. Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio predicts another dead last finish and lottery appearance for Philadelphia in his season preview of the team.