With free agent news and rumors dominating the headlines over the last week, it's been easy to miss a number of other stories that have flown under the radar. One such story today: The Wizards have hired Don Newman as an assistant coach under Randy Wittman. A longtime NBA assistant coach, Newman has spent the last seven years on the Spurs' bench in San Antonio, and represents a solid hire for Washington.
Here are a few more Monday afternoon odds and ends from around the league….
Tim Duncan is having good contractual talks with the Spurs about re-signing and it’s very unlikely that he will consider another team, sources told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Then again, it seems like Duncan never thought about leaving San Antonio to begin with. In the middle of the team’s postseason tear, the big man admitted to reporters that he had little interest in testing the open market. Here’s tonight’s look around the Association..
The latest news and notes on the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday evening:
After suggesting the Jazz didn't treat him right this season and taking a shot at coach Tyrone Corbin's communication skills, C.J. Miles appears likely to sign with another team as an unrestricted free agent this summer. One potential destination that intrigues the Texas native is his hometown Mavericks, as he told Dirk Facer of the Deseret News.
"If that was an issue that came up I definitely would look at it. Who wouldn't, especially with the way that team is built now," Miles said. "They're aging a little bit and I'm pretty sure they're going to be looking for some guys that do some of the things I do."
Although he set career highs in PPG (12.8), MPG (25.2), and PER (14.4) in 2010/11, Miles wasn't quite as productive this season, averaging 9.1 points per contest and shooting just 38.1% from the floor, his lowest mark since 2006/07. Still, even after seven seasons with the Jazz, Miles is only 25 years old, making him one of the younger unrestricted free agents on the market. Coming off a four-year, $14.8MM contract in Utah, he's a good bet to find another multiyear deal this offseason.
Following the team's four-game sweep at the hands of the Spurs, members of the Jazz have been conducting exit interviews with local media. Already we've heard that Raja Bell doesn't expect to return to Utah next season. Here are a few other highlights from today's session, courtesy of Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune (all links via Twitter):
SportsDayDFW's Eddie Sefko answered some questions in a two-part mailbag (part 1 here, part 2 here) about the Dallas Mavericks' future moves, including which players may or may not be brought back.
Three Northwest Division teams are playing tonight, all of them on the road, while the first-place Thunder await their showdown with the Lakers tomorrow night. Here's what's news around the Northwest:
9:43pm: Deron Williams sounds pleased with the Nets, telling reporters, including Andy Vasquez of the Bergen Record, that he has a much better relationship with team executives than he did in Utah. He also praised the greater endorsement opportunities he's received, as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News notes, which could be a subtle hint directed at Dwight Howard.
6:16pm: The Nets are unwilling to trade Deron Williams, writes Alex Raskin of HoopsWorld. They're not sure of the assets they could get in return, and feel like they can make some offseason moves to strengthen the club and entice the point guard to stay.
5:24pm: The future of Deron Williams in New Jersey is not necessarily tied to Dwight Howard, tweets Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. With D12 apparently staying in Orlando for at least one more season, it throws a wrench into plans the Nets had of putting Williams and Howard together when they move to Brooklyn next year. The Mavs, too, have had eyes on combining Williams and Howard.
Williams will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. As we surmised earlier, the chances of Williams remaining with New Jersey have taken a hit with today's Howard news. The Nets now may look to deal Williams to get some kind of return in case he leaves the team after the season.
The Nets are also continuing to pursue C.J. Miles of the Jazz, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. (Twitter link). The Jazz have been rumored to be looking to move Miles, a free agent at seasons end.
4:34pm: Howard is likely to remain with the Jazz through the deadline, tweets Brian T. Smith.
11:38am: As of this morning, the chances of Miles being dealt to the Timberwolves appeared very slim, according to Brian T. Smith (via Twitter). Miles heading to New Jersey for Petro and a first-rounder is a possibility, tweets Stefan Bondy.
7:53am: Josh Howard and C.J. Miles, whose contracts expire at season's end, have both expressed interest in re-signing with the Jazz this summer. However, it looks as if there's a chance neither player will even finish the season in Utah.
On the heels of last night's report that the Jazz are discussing a three-team trade with the Spurs and Timberwolves that would ship both Howard and Miles out of town, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld tweets that the Jazz are shopping Miles. The T-Wolves and Nets are among the teams that have shown interest, according to Kennedy. New Jersey has interest in Miles' expiring contract as a way of clearing summer cap space to make a run at top free agents, and Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld says the Nets have discussed Anthony Morrow and Johan Petro with the Jazz. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News hears such a deal could involve a Nets first-round pick (Twitter link).
Pincus says the Clippers may have some interest in Miles, who could fit into one of the team's traded player exceptions, but L.A. probably won't part with Eric Bledsoe or a first-round pick. Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune, who reported last month that Miles could be had, says the former second-rounder, who turns 25 this weekend, may be easier to move in a package deal (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, besides the Spurs, the Lakers, Knicks, and Celtics have also expressed interest in acquiring Howard, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Of those four interested clubs, only the Knicks are below the luxury tax line, so Howard and his $2.15MM salary would be an affordable addition. The Jazz don't necessarily want to make a deal though, according to Spears.
Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld reports that the Spurs, Jazz, and Timberwolves are in talks that would see Josh Howard go to San Antonio, C.J. Miles and Jamaal Tinsley to Minnesota, and Wayne Ellington along with Danny Green to Utah.
He also writes that while no deal is imminent, talks are ongoing and it is likely that draft picks and more players are added to the deal.