Drew Gooden Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Poll: Which Amnestied Player Would You Rather Sign?

August 20th, 2013 at 7:30pm CST by Zachary Links

Yesterday, Luke Adams ran down the status of this year's amnesty victims. Only 14 NBA teams came into the summer of 2013 with the ability to use the amnesty provision and just five took advantage of the provision and released a player in July during the '13 amnesty period. Three of those players have already found new homes for the 2013/14 season. Metta World Peace hooked on with the Knicks after intimating for a good while that he would explore opportunities in China. Mike Miller returned to the Grizzlies after being cut loose by the Heat. Linas Kleiza had his $4.6MM deal taken off the books by the Raptors and signed a two-year pact in Turkey. Still left: Drew Gooden and Tyrus Thomas.

Things have been fairly quiet on both players. Thomas was said to have been of interest to the Knicks, but we haven't heard anything on that front in over a month. Meanwhile, we haven't heard any reports on Gooden since he was let go on July 16th.

The Bobcats cut bait with Thomas, the former No. 4 overall pick, in order to give themselves enough breathing room to sign Al Jefferson. Thomas hasn't been able to stay on the floor much in his last three seasons, seeing time in just 121 games. In that stretch, he averaged just 7.0 PPG and 4.0 RPG, not quite the production they would have liked from someone making $17.1MM over the next two seasons.

Gooden, 32 in September, was on the block for a while in Milwaukee, so it wasn't a surprise to see him cut loose last month. He had arguably his best season as pro in Milwaukee in 2011/12, averaging 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in 26.2 minutes per game, which added up to a PER of 18.88. However, he was only able to play in 16 games for the Bucks last season.

Both veterans are on the market for any NBA club to pickup – who would you rather have on your team?

Update On 2013 Amnesty Victims

August 19th, 2013 at 11:51am CST by Luke Adams

Only 14 NBA teams came into the summer of 2013 with the ability to use the amnesty provision to remove a player from their roster and their cap. Of those 14 teams, just five took advantage of the provision and released a player last month during the '13 amnesty period.

Often, a team will amnesty a player not simply to remove his salary from the books, but also because he no longer has a role in that club's rotation. That's not always the case though — in a couple instances this summer, we saw players who contributed to recent championships amnestied to help reduce their teams' tax bills.

Of this year's five amnesty victims, three were scooped up by new teams fairly quickly, while the other two are still looking for new deals. Here's a recap of where 2013's amnestied players have landed:

Metta World Peace
Amnestied by Los Angeles Lakers (one year, $7,727,280 remaining)
Signed with New York Knicks (two years, $3,251,550; second-year player option)

Mike Miller
Amnestied by Miami Heat (two years, $12,800,000 remaining)
Signed with Memphis Grizzlies (one year, veteran's minimum)

Linas Kleiza
Amnestied by Toronto Raptors (one year, $4,600,000 remaining)
Signed with Fenerbahce Ulker, Turkey (two years, terms unknown)

Drew Gooden
Amnestied by Milwaukee Bucks (two years, $13,374,800 remaining)
Unsigned

Tyrus Thomas
Amnestied by Charlotte Bobcats (two years, $18,082,645 remaining)
Unsigned

Due to set-off rights, the Lakers and Heat will recoup a little of the money they would have owed World Peace and Miller, had those players not signed new deals. The amount of money the Raptors owe Kleiza should also be reduced, since the set-off rule applies to a new deal with any professional team, not just an NBA club, and Kleiza's contract in Turkey is reportedly quite lucrative.

As for Gooden and Thomas, I expected to see NBA teams take fliers on both guys, and that still may happen, but the rumor mill has been fairly quiet. We haven't heard anything on Gooden since he cleared waivers, and while the Knicks were initially reported to have interest in Thomas, his name hasn't resurfaced for several weeks.

Drew Gooden Clears Amnesty Waivers

July 19th, 2013 at 4:11pm CST by Luke Adams

The final amnesty victim of 2013 has cleared waivers and is now an unrestricted free agent, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Stein tweets that teams have been notified that no bids were placed on Drew Gooden, who was amnestied by the Bucks on Tuesday night.

After starting 46 games and averaging 13.7 PPG and 6.5 RPG for the Bucks in 2011/12, Gooden wasn't a part of the team's rotation last season. The 31-year-old only appeared in 16 contests in 2012/13, recording about 150 total minutes for the year.

Milwaukee is still on the hook for about $13.37MM for Gooden over the next two seasons, so salary likely won't be the top priority for the former fourth overall pick as he seeks another NBA roster spot. While his career appears to be on the decline, Gooden could still be a decent bench piece for the veteran's minimum, so I'd expect him to receive a little interest.

Bucks Amnesty Drew Gooden

July 16th, 2013 at 6:58pm CST by Alex Lee

The Bucks have used their amnesty provision on Drew Gooden, the organization announced today via the team Twitter account. Gooden was rumored to be on the block for much of the winter, so it's no surprise that the Bucks amnestied the former Kansas star, who had two years and more than $13MM remaining on his contact.

Gooden signed a five-year, $32MM deal with Milwaukee before the 2010/11 season but appeared in only 16 games with the team last year, as the Bucks went young on the front line. He had arguably his best season as pro in Milwaukee in 2011/12, averaging 13.7 points and 6.5 rebounds in 26.2 minutes per game, which added up to a PER of 18.88.

Gooden, an 11-year veteran whose been traded five times, will now enter the amnesty waiver process, where teams with cap room can put in a claim for him over the next 48 hours. If no team bids, he will become an unrestricted free agent. According to Grantland's Zach Lowe, the move frees up $8-9MM of cap space for Milwaukee while keeping the cap hold for Brandon Jennings on the books (Twitter link). This assumes the Bucks don't re-sign Samuel Dalembert.

Bucks Pursuing Josh Smith, Shopping Everybody?

February 16th, 2013 at 9:19am CST by Sean Highkin

Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times has some updates in his latest notebook column on where the Milwaukee Bucks stand in several trade discussions leading up to Thursday's deadline:

The Bucks are considering making an offer to the Hawks for Josh Smith, writes Woelfel. Smith has been most openly courted by the Nets and Celtics, with Brooklyn reportledly offering MarShon Brooks and Kris Humphries and Boston offering Jeff Green and Brandon Bass. However, Woelfel believes that the Bucks' package could be equally attractive if they include Monta Ellis or Brandon Jennings. They could also make Ersan Ilyasova available in a package for Smith.
Woelfel writes that the Bucks are open to trading anyone on their roster and no one is off limits, although Ellis and Samuel Dalembert are the two players GM John Hammond would most like to move. Woelfel points to Beno Udrih and Mike Dunleavy as two other potentially attractive assets with expiring contracts.
Woelfel contradicts a previous report by ESPN on the status of Jennings, writing that the Bucks never made him a formal offer of a contract extension before the October deadline. Jennings is scheduled to become a restricted free agent this summer.
Forward Drew Gooden is no stranger to the trade deadline, Woelfel writes. The 11-year veteran has been traded five times during the season in his career.

Kyler’s Latest: Pistons, Bucks, Raptors, Jazz

February 11th, 2013 at 10:05am CST by Luke Adams

With 10 days left until the trade deadline arrives, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld surveys the market in his latest NBA AM piece, covering the latest rumors related to the Pistons, Bucks, Raptors, and Jazz. Here are the highlights from Kyler:

The Pistons are "open for business," and would have interest in unloading Rodney Stuckey and/or Charlie Villanueva. There's also been speculation that Detroit could be convinced to move some of their own players on expiring contracts, such as Will Bynum and Jason Maxiell.
Josh Smith and Gerald Henderson are expected to be among the Pistons' free agent targets this summer, according to Kyler.
Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis are unlikely to be dealt by the Bucks, but Drew Gooden, Samuel Dalembert, and perhaps even Ersan Ilyasova could be had. The price for Ilyasova would be high, however, and so far potential suitors such as the Raptors and Nets seem unwilling to pay that price.
The Raptors are seeking frontcourt help and looking to find a taker for Andrea Bargnani, but haven't made significant progress on either front.
Although Ric Bucher reported yesterday that the Jazz are more likely to trade Paul Millsap than Al Jefferson, Kyler suggests the opposite may be true, since Millsap is viewed as the free agent more likely to be re-signed or signed-and-traded in July.
Any team willing to take Raja Bell off Utah's hands, perhaps in a larger deal, might receive more consideration from the Jazz, says Kyler.

Kyler’s Latest: Kings, Gasol, Magic, Bucks, Jazz

January 15th, 2013 at 10:19am CST by Luke Adams

Steve Kyler's latest piece for HoopsWorld is packed full of updates on players who could be on the move before this season's trade deadline. Kyler covers plenty of ground in his column, so let's dive right in and round up the highlights….

The Kings' uncertain ownership situation may result in a quiet trade deadline in Sacramento. While the situation could change between now and February 21st, Kyler says that for now the team appears "frozen in terms of making deals."
Kyler suggests it's possible the Grizzlies will explore ways of getting below the luxury tax line that don't involve trading a big contract like Rudy Gay's.
The Lakers aren't engaged in any trade talks involving Pau Gasol, and may not seriously explore a Gasol deal unless they fall out of the playoff hunt by the deadline.
While J.J. Redick is drawing plenty of interest, rival teams have also called the Magic about Arron Afflalo and Jameer Nelson. If Orlando makes a move, the club would like to include Glen Davis or Hedo Turkoglu to shed some long-term salary.
Pointing to Andrew Bogut as an example of an injured player who was dealt last season, Kyler warns not to rule out Anderson Varejao as a trade candidate.
The Bucks are much more inclined to move players like Beno Udrih, Drew Gooden, and Samuel Dalembert than Monta Ellis or Brandon Jennings, but those secondary pieces aren't drawing much interest.
Al Jefferson seems more likely than Paul Millsap to re-sign with the Jazz this summer, though clubs have been in touch with the Jazz about both players.
The Spurs "will be dealing" DeJuan Blair before the deadline, according to Kyler.
Derrick Williams appears unlikely to be moved by the Timberwolves while Kevin Love remains sidelined with his broken hand.
Several teams have been calling the Suns to inquire on Marcin Gortat. The Rockets are one team believed to have interest.

Latest On Trade Candidates From Reno

January 11th, 2013 at 7:40pm CST by Sean Highkin

Marc Stein of ESPN.com attended the NBA D-League Showcase in Reno, Nevada this week, where many NBA GMs and executives were present. He posted a roundup of trade-related chatter he heard during the event:

The Raptors are making the hardest push for Rudy Gay, offering the Grizzlies a package that includes Jose Calderon and Ed Davis. Memphis is still undecided as to whether they will move Gay.
There is a growing sense from front offices around the league that the Lakers will not ultimately trade Pau Gasol this season.
Teams have continued to ask the Kings about DeMarcus Cousins, and were told that he is not available.
A source told Stein that it is highly unlikely the Bucks will move Brandon Jennings before the end of the season.
The Jazz are more likely to trade Al Jefferson than Paul Millsap, even though both are free agents this summer.
The Hornets are not expected to trade Eric Gordon, despite previous rumors that he may be available.
Despite his recent statement that he intends on staying retired, the Nets are still making a hard push to convince Phil Jackson to be their next head coach.
Stein lists several players as having been made known to be available by their teams, including the Raptors' Andrea Bargnani, the Spurs' DeJuan Blair, the Cavs' Omri Casspi, the Rockets' Cole Aldrich, and the Bucks' Drew Gooden, Samuel Dalembert, and Beno Udrih.

Odds & Ends: Gooden, Aldridge, Gasol, Bulls

November 27th, 2012 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

With most of the Bench Mob gone, this year's version of the Bulls isn't built for 48 minutes, opines Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. However, Luol Deng seems to disagree with that view, as he told reporters today.

"It's not fair to the guys that are here, the new guys, to be compared to the guys from the last two years," Deng said, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. "They’re still getting used to it. Even the Bench Mob, the first year we had them, it took a while to get going. When we got going, it clicked. The year after that, last year, what helped us a lot was we had a lot of guys returning so we knew how we play and how to play with each other. We’re still learning how to play with each other."

Here are a few more Tuesday afternoon odds and ends from around the NBA:

While the Bucks would like to move Drew Gooden's contract, there's no urgency to "dump" him, since he's still a mentor and leader in Milwaukee, says Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.
Dwight Jaynes of CSNNW.com makes his case for why the Trail Blazers should consider trading LaMarcus Aldridge. Blazers GM Neil Olshey reportedly told Aldridge last month that the team has no intentions of dealing him.
Although Pau Gasol has a 15% trade kicker, he'd actually only receive about a 3.4% bonus if the Lakers dealt him, as Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times explains.
Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman believes Derrick Williams could be a realistic target for the Thunder if GM Sam Presti gets involved on the trade market again this season.
Several NBA scouts told Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv that it's unfair to compare Kentucky freshman and potential 2013 No. 1 pick Nerlens Noel to former Wildcat Anthony Davis. "I think Anthony Davis’s IQ is so high that he’s unique that way," said one scout. "This is a guy that was a small player, a two guard, who could handle the ball, do all those things. I mean, Nerlens could never be a ball-handler. He’s not a passer, ball-handler guy."

Bucks Looking To Move Drew Gooden

November 26th, 2012 at 4:22pm CST by Luke Adams

4:22pm: The Cavaliers and Jazz are among the many teams not interested in Gooden, according to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (via Twitter). However, Amico adds that the Bucks are "sure trying to move him."

11:26am: After averaging more than 26 minutes per game in 2011/12, Drew Gooden has been removed entirely from the Bucks' rotation this season, failing to appear in any of the team's first 11 games. According to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times, "scuttlebutt around the league" suggests that the Bucks are looking to trade Gooden.

Gooden was fairly productive for Milwaukee last season, recording averages of 13.7 PPG and 6.5 RPG to go along with an 18.8 PER. It's not clear why the 31-year-old has fallen out of favor, but forwards like Tobias Harris and Larry Sanders have seen big bumps in playing time so far this season to make up for Gooden's lack of minutes.

Moving Gooden will be no easy task for the Bucks, particularly with the frequent DNPs doing nothing to improve his stock. The Kansas product is under contract through 2014/15 at an annual cost of about $6.69MM, which figures to make it difficult for Milwaukee to find value on the trade market. For what it's worth, the Bucks have yet to use their amnesty provision, and Gooden is one of only two players on the team still eligible to be amnestied.