Chris Kaman Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Odds & Ends: Bogut, Gasol, Kings

February 26th, 2012 at 9:54am CST by Chuck Myron

Peter Vecsey, in the same column in which he revealed the Knicks as potential suitors for Dwight Howard, hears that the Bucks are "definitely open to offers" for Andrew Bogut, who's currently out with a fractured left ankle. He also says the rumored signing of Rasheed Wallace by the Lakers lends credibility to the idea that the team could send Pau Gasol to the Celtics for Rajon Rondo and Jermaine O'Neal. Here's the rest of what's being whispered around All-Star weekend.

Restricted free agent Wilson Chandler's Chinese team has been eliminated from the playoffs, and he's expecting FIBA clearance soon, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Yesterday we noted that Chandler's clearance has been delayed. He's been a target of the Nuggets, his former team, and the Raptors of late.
A meeting today between Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson, the Maloof brothers and league officials could be make-or-break for the city's hopes to keep the Kings, writes Sacramento Bee columnist Ailene Voisin.
Ken Berger of CBSSports.com delves into the finer points of the lockout negotiations, and notes how close the league came to canceling the entire season.
Celtics team president Danny Ainge and coach Doc Rivers must turn into salesmen to attract top free agent talent to Boston as the team looks to replace its aging core, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
To get the Hornets to trade Chris Kaman to the Heat, it would take Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, a price Miami is unwilling to pay, observes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Swingman Mike Dunleavy, who signed a two-year, $7.5MM free-agent deal with the Bucks this past offseason, is getting comfortable in what was already familiar territory in Wisconsin, writes Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. It's worth noting, though, that Dunleavy's dad is part of what's reportedly the leading potential ownership group for the Hornets.
Wendell Maxey of Ridiculous Upside chronicles the fall of one-time top prospect Reeves Nelson.
Fred Kerber of the New York Post looks at how free-agent-to-be Deron Williams is showcasing his talents with little help in New Jersey.

Odds & Ends: Howard, Knicks, Kaman, Przybilla

February 22nd, 2012 at 10:39pm CST by Daniel Seco

In an action-packed Wednesday night of basketball, the Thunder and Knicks have stolen the show so far with impressive victories over quality opponents. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the Thunder to 72 points in the first half as the squad held on to beat the Celtics 119-104 in a box score seemingly from a different era. Let's take a look around the league to see what else happened on a night where Kevin Love and the Timberwolves climbed to .500 on the season:

In what was potentially a preview of things to come, Magic center Dwight Howard did not disappoint the Nets faithful with his 20-point and 17-rebound performance Wednesday night in Newark. Jake Appleman of The New York Times says the Nets organization gave Howard a special welcome by displaying new signage promoting their Brooklyn arena and shooting off fireworks prior to the start of the game. When asked about playing for the Nets, Howard said he was humbled by the way the crowd of over 15,000 received him, reports Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (via Twitter).
The Knicks are a team bound to benefit from the All-Star break, writes Kimberley A. Martin of Newsday. Having only played two games together as a team with the current roster, the Knicks will utilize their time to schedule five practices with hopes of better acclimating players like J.R. Smith to the offensive scheme.
Hornets center Chris Kaman continues to add to his trade value as he scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Wednesday's 89-84 victory over the Cavaliers. Over the last five games, Kaman is averaging 16.0 PPG and 8.2 RPG and has notched two double-doubles. Thanks to Kaman's strong play, the Hornets have won four of their last six games after starting the season 4-23.
Jason Quick of The Oregonian tweets free-agent center Joel Przybilla said he was thinking with his heart when he decided to sign with Trail Blazers instead of the Heat.

Stein On Kaman, Andersen, Jennings, Smith

February 17th, 2012 at 4:17pm CST by Luke Adams

In this week's installment of his Weekend Dime, ESPN.com's Marc Stein names his picks for the NBA's first-half awards. LeBron James and Chris Paul highlight the list as the East and West MVPs, respectively, while Jeremy Lin makes an appearance as the league's Most Improved Player.

After making his choices for the pre-All-Star awards, Stein also shares a few notes on the trade market, so let's round up the highlights:

Chris Kaman is a "near lock" to be dealt by March 15th. This isn't good news for the Heat, who were hoping to pursue Kaman if the Hornets bought out his contract after the trade deadline, but it's not a surprise — Kaman has some value and it sounds like there are teams with interest.
Chris Andersen has received increased minutes lately with Nene Hilario and Timofey Mozgov out of action, but the Nuggets are open to dealing the Birdman. Any potential trade partner would have to take on the two years and $9MM+ that will still remain on Andersen's contract after this season.
Brandon Jennings' comments last week about eventually exploring his free agent options haven't altered the Bucks' perception of him as a franchise cornerstone. According to Stein, Jennings' comments "struck many observers as an ill-conceived frustration rant" after the Bucks guard wasn't named to the Eastern All-Stars.
While J.R. Smith will receive the full amount the Knicks have left on their mini mid-level exception (approximately $2.38MM), his 2011/12 NBA earnings will only work out to about $1.92MM due to the lockout pro-ration.

Inquiries Picking Up On Chris Kaman

February 16th, 2012 at 2:17pm CST by Luke Adams

Since re-inserting Chris Kaman into their lineup, the Hornets have received increased inquiries on the 7'0" center, reports John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. New Orleans is seeking young talent and expiring contracts in exchange for Kaman, says Reid.

After keeping Kaman off the court while fielding trade offers, the team decided earlier this month to temporarily end trade talks and bring him back to the club. The 29-year-old has made the most of what's essentially a showcase for potential suitors, averaging 18 points, 11 boards, and 1.8 blocks in the four games he's played sinced rejoining the Hornets. Though he was sidelined briefly with an ankle injury, Kaman bounced back in a big way, posting double-doubles in the Hornets' last two contests (both wins).

Earlier today, we heard about Miami's interest in Kaman, but the Heat don't match up well with New Orleans, and haven't even contacted the Hornets about Kaman, according to Reid. The Heat would likely only have a shot at Kaman if the Hornets held onto the big man, then bought him out of his contract later in the season. The Pacers and Rockets, who have plenty of cap space and expiring contracts, respectively, are among the more realistic suitors.

Heat Interested In Chris Kaman

February 16th, 2012 at 7:54am CST by Luke Adams

The Heat are interested in adding Chris Kaman to their roster, but they'll likely have to overcome a few obstacles to do it. Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida reports that Heat officials have been calling people close to Kaman to ask about him, and are hoping to sign the big man if the Hornets buy out his contract.

Kaman, 29, was acquired by the Hornets in the Chris Paul trade, and was held out of the team's lineup for some time while New Orleans tried to move him. Although Kaman is playing again, he could likely be had in the right deal, with the Pacers and Rockets said to be among the interested teams.

The Heat don't have the trade chips to be a real contender for Kaman before the March 15th trade deadline, so the team's only realistic chance at him is via a buyout. As both Tomasson and Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel point out, it seems unlikely that the league-owned Hornets would allow the deadline to pass without dealing Kaman, buy him out, and allow the Heat to sign him in a move that would solidify Miami's title hopes.

Besides that significant roadblock, getting Kaman to the Heat would also involve him agreeing to the veteran's minimum with Miami and giving up his Bird rights, which could affect his next contract. As much as the Heat would like to see Kaman bring his talents to South Beach, it looks like a long shot at this point.

Odds & Ends: Bobcats, Kaman, Lin

February 13th, 2012 at 11:10pm CST by Chuck Myron

D.J. White, whom the Bobcats acquired from the Thunder nearly a year ago, isn't seeing much playing time, and that's because of a glut of power forwards, tweets Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. If the Bobcats are overloaded with quality players, it isn't showing up in their record, now 3-25 after a loss to the Sixers tonight. Justin Kubatko of The New York Times examines the ineptitude of the team and deems it a black mark on owner Michael Jordan's reputation. Sixers coach Doug Collins, who coached Jordan with the Bulls and Wizards, wonders how the ultra-competitive Jordan can take it, as Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports.

More notes from around the NBA on Monday night:

Pistons center Ben Wallace, 37, is not reconsidering his decision to retire after this season, notes Eric Lacy of the Detroit News.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is upset with the NBA over the Chris Paul trade this year, believing the league-owned Hornets would have been better off having Paul leave via free agency, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas.
Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area tweets that Hornets center Chris Kaman could be a trade target of the Warriors.
Warriors GM Larry Riley is one of the many who underestimated Jeremy Lin, predicting he would be a backup at best, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
Lin is having a tangible effect on the financial value of his team. Shares of the Madison Square Garden Company, which owns the Knicks, the arena and the TV network that shows the team's games locally, have hit a record high, Ken Belson of The New York Times reports.
Ben Uzoh, recently signed to a 10-day contract, is impressing Cavs coach Byron Scott, writes Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal.
Jerry Reinsdorf's son Michael has been taking a more active role with the Bulls lately, but don't assume that means he'll eventually succeed his father as owner, writes Melissa Isaacson of ESPN Chicago.
The Heat took a flyer on Eddy Curry before the season, and so far he has contributed little. Still, his slow progress doesn't disturb coach Erik Spoelstra, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.

Trade Candidate: Chris Kaman

February 11th, 2012 at 11:54am CST by Zachary Links

It has been a strange year for Hornets center Chris Kaman. The club seemed set on moving the big man in late January and excused him from team activities as General Manager Dell Demps combed the league for a trade. To his surprise, finding a quality haul for the one-time All-Star proved to be difficult. After a little more than a week, the Hornets brought Kaman back from hiatus and reportedly shut down trade talks.

However, as we've heard all week, New Orleans still hopes to find a suitor for Kaman and will showcase him in order to drum up interest. The Pacers and Rockets have been linked to the 29-year-old and appear to have the most interest.

Houston seems like a solid fit for Kaman as they would like to add more size to their lineup. Trouble is, the young pieces that they would be willing to part with aren't terribly exciting. Former top eight picks in the 2009 draft Hasheem Thabeet and Jordan Hill would give the Hornets flexibility with expiring contracts but are still extremely raw. Guard Jonny Flynn could also be in play but the Syracuse product hasn't looked like the same player since undergoing hip surgery prior to last season.

Demps & Co. are said to be looking for one solid young player or a quality draft pick for Kaman but his $14MM salary (though expiring) makes finding such a deal difficult. The Hornets also want to avoid taking back cumbersome deals that extend beyond 2011/12.

Will the Hornets find the deal that they're in search of? That's likely up to Kaman himself. The center saw action in two games since returning to the team before sitting out last night's loss to the Blazers with a tweaked ankle. For the Hornets to land a first-round pick or a talent with upside, Kaman has to show that he's ready to regain some of his 2009/10 form.

One team to keep an eye on is the Cavs, who have three extra future first-round picks and a lack of depth at the center position behind Anderson Varejao, who suffered a wrist injury on Friday. Antawn Jamison's expiring $15MM contract would make the numbers work, but the 35-year-old has looked especially sharp as of late.

If he can produce and stay healthy, the Hornets might be able to finagle an expiring contract and first-round pick from a center-starved team. If he can't, New Orleans just might opt to hang on to Kaman and put that extra cap room to use over the summer.

Sam Smith on Rose, Deng, Asik

February 10th, 2012 at 6:47pm CST by Chuck Myron

Derrick Rose, who's been nursing a sore back, is sitting out the Bulls game against the Bobcats tonight. When he's been in the lineup, Rose has been seeing heavy playing time of late, as has Luol Deng and his creaky wrist. Longtime Bulls beat writer Sam Smith of NBA.com answered questions from readers concerned with overuse. Smith says as long as a player is healthy enough to play in the game, he's healthy enough to play a full load of minutes. That's an opinion shared by Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and, according to ESPNChicago.com, GM Gar Forman.

Here are some more highlights from Smith's piece:

The Bulls are unlikely to sign another shooting guard soon, despite the absense of Richard Hamilton. Relief could come closer to the trade deadline. J.R. Smith would not be a viable option.
The success the team's been enjoying this year runs counter to the idea that they should blow it up to acquire Dwight Howard. Smith would like for the Bulls to see how far they can go as currently constituted before making a drastic move.
Omer Asik's minutes are dwindling and he'll be a restricted free agent at the end of the year, but Smith believes there's no reason to consider trading him at this point and hurting the team's depth.
Don't expect to see Chris Kaman in a Bulls uniform anytime soon. Just as there's no need to mess with success to acquire Howard, Smith says, there's no impetus to break up the team for Kaman.

Stein’s Latest: Kaman, J.R. Smith, Nash

February 10th, 2012 at 1:10pm CST by Luke Adams

Marc Stein's latest column at ESPN.com included an update on the Dwight Howard saga, as we discussed earlier. Stein also shared a few other items of note, so let's check those out….

Because rules had to be amended to adjust for the season's late start, more than 100 players are ineligible to be traded until March. This is one reason trade chatter hasn't picked up much yet. One Eastern Conference executive told Stein that teams are "eager" for March 1st to arrive.
Although the Hornets say they intend to hold on to Chris Kaman for now, teams still expect him to be traded "sooner rather than later." The Pacers and Rockets are the most interested clubs, with the Hornets thought to be seeking at least one good draft pick or young player.
The Knicks appear to be the frontrunner for J.R. Smith, who should be eligible to sign an NBA contract in a week or so.
Sources close to the Steve Nash situation continue to say that the Suns will hold on to their All-Star point guard past the deadline.

Odds & Ends: Lin, Billups, Williams, Kaman

February 6th, 2012 at 11:16pm CST by Daniel Seco

Lakers star Kobe Bryant eclipsed former teammate Shaquille O'Neal as the fifth all-time leading scorer in NBA history as he put up 28 points in a 95-90 loss to the 76ers. Personal records aside, Kobe's main focus remains on securing a sixth championship ring which is becoming increasingly difficult as the Lakers dropped to 14-11 on the season, with nine of those losses coming on the road. Let's take a look around the league on what was a busy Monday night for the NBA.

Jeremy Lin scored 28 points in his first start for the Knicks this evening in a 99-88 victory over the Utah Jazz. Lin, 23, wouldn't have even received this opportunity if Baron Davis' recovery had stayed on track, tweets NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper. With his strong performances of late, Lin is nearly assured of his contract becoming guaranteed on Friday.
Isiah Thomas' career came to an end thanks to an Achilles injury against Orlando back in 1994, says Pistons beat writer Vincent Goodwill (via Twitter). A similar fate may hold true for Chauncey Billups who left Monday's game against the Magic in the fourth quarter with what may be a left Achilles tear.
If Billups' injury turns out to be as severe as predicted, Clippers GM Neil Olshey should be commended for his decision to not shop Mo Williams even when his team's roster was overloaded with point guards.
Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune describes the Hornets' decision to return Chris Kaman to the active roster as a way to build a highlight-reel in order to improve trade offers. In his first game back with the Hornets, Kaman, 29, scored 10 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and made two blocks in a 100-92 loss to the Kings.