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Texas Rumors: Rockets, Mavs, Griner

April 3rd, 2013 at 7:38pm CST by Chuck Myron

The chances of all three Texas clubs making the playoffs took a hit last night when the Mavericks lost to the Lakers, falling two and a half games off the pace for the final Western Conference postseason berth. That didn't stop the Mavs from making a roster move today, replacing Justin Dentmon with Josh Akognon, another 10-day contract signee. That's not the only Mavs-related news we have this evening, as we detail:

  • Salary Cap FAQ author Larry Coon looks at the flexibility the Rockets and Mavs will have this summer, concluding that both will fall short of the cap space needed to offer Dwight Howard a max contract. The teams can clear additional cap room by trading one of their players or waiving someone who signed under the current CBA and spreading out his remaining cap hit using the stretch provision. They could also try to entice the Lakers into giving up Howard via sign-and-trade.
  • Mavs owner Mark Cuban told reporters, including Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com, that he'd have "no problem whatsoever" drafting Baylor women's star Brittney Griner or having her on the Mavs' Summer League team if she was the best option available. "She'd still have to make the team," Cuban said. "I'm not going to carry her just to carry her. I don't think, anyways. But I certainly wouldn't be opposed to giving her the opportunity."
  • Griner's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, wouldn't rule out the possibility her client would play in the NBA, but said she doesn't think Griner needs to prove her mettle by playing against men, notes Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal (Twitter links). "I am sure a lot of WNBA teams would love if she played for the Mavs!" the agent said.
  • An NBA Western Conference exec laughed and said, "No way," when HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy asked him if he thought Griner could play in the league (Twitter link).
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Josh Smith On Hawks, Max, Free Agency, Dwight

April 3rd, 2013 at 7:00pm CST by Chuck Myron

As the end of the 2012/13 season draws near, Josh Smith could be in his last few weeks as a member of the Hawks. Of course, it seemed we were just seconds away from hearing he'd been traded on deadline day, when Smith remained in Atlanta. Hawks GM Danny Ferry spoke to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com about the circumstances leading up to the deadline.

"I think our situation was unique in terms of still being competitive but also having cap space and flexibility going forward," the GM said. "We looked at all of our options at the end of June up until the trade deadline. Josh and I have had a positive and honest relationship from Day 1. He's been professional this season despite a lot of change and obviously a lot of distractions. I've enjoyed working with him."

Smith also opened up to Shelburne, and said he's open to re-signing with the Hawks. Still, he's looking forward to exploring unrestricted free agency for the first time. We'll round up the highlights of Smith's conversation with Shelburne here:

On why he answered affirmatively when asked if he deserves a max contract:

"The question was asked to me, 'Do I feel like I'm a max player?' And I gave him an honest answer. I said, 'Yes I do.' And the reason why I say this, is because if you don't know your worth, who will? I can't set my standards low. If you set them low, that's how people are going to view you. Like when you sell a house, you don't sell the house for $2 million. You put the $5 million sticker on there … and then you work it out. You negotiate."

On what he's looking for in his next team:

"Winning. That's all I care about. I want to have an opportunity to have a legitimate shot at getting a ring. I've been successful in high school, AAU, I want to have a legitimate shot at winning a title."

On his experience in restricted free agency in 2008, when he signed an offer sheet with the Grizzlies that the Hawks matched:

"I went to Philadelphia and sat down with the Clippers for dinner because I was already out here in Los Angeles (where he now lives during the offseason) for an adidas photo shoot. So this is going to be exciting for me to travel to different cities, and sit down and talk to executives and GMs."

On friend and fellow free agent Dwight Howard: 

"Is Dwight serious about (Atlanta)? That's the question. Everybody would probably want to have him on the team. But Dwight is global now. That's in his mindset. He's addicted to it now. He's addicted to being global and international. That was the whole reason he wanted to leave Orlando is he wanted to have that big market."

On whether Howard would sign with the Hawks, who may make a push for him:

"I'm not going to say it's farfetched, but it is going to be kind of difficult to be able to persuade him."

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Free Agent Notes: Mayo, Kaman, Bynum, Howard

March 19th, 2013 at 9:44pm CST by Alex Lee

We're still a long way from the NBA offseason, but as teams are eliminated from playoff contention (and eventually the playoffs), we should start to hear more and more about their free agents.  Here are a few links on some of the players that will be part of this summer's free agent crop:

  • In his Tuesday chat session, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News says that O.J. Mayo can be the third best player on a legitimate title contender and that the Mavericks need to bring him back if they can get him at the right price.  For Sefko, that price is somewhere under $10MM per year.  He recommends something in the ballpark of a four-year, $30-35MM pact, though he admits that may not get it done for Mayo.
  • Sefko also opines that Chris Kaman, a free agent at season's end, will likely sign elsewhere this offseason.  One option to replace Kaman at center would be Andrew Bynum, who Sefko calls "double-damaged-goods" because of his balky knees.  However, Sefko says the Mavs should still consider offering Bynum their mid-level exception because should he return to health, at his age, he could be then be the NBA's biggest bargain.
  • With news of his knee surgeries, Moke Hamilton of Sheridan Hoops has dropped Bynum to 13th on Free Agency Rankings.  According to Hamilton, Bynum's talent makes him worthy of a multi-year deal, but anything more than three years is unlikely.
  • Dwight Howard has fired his business manager and cousin, Kevin Samples, after nine years of service, Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register reports.  Ding suggests that this move is another step in Howard's transformation into his "own man".  Without Samples, who moved to Los Angeles when Howard joined the Lakers, Howard will presumably head into free agency looking elsewhere for advice.
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Kobe Bryant On Retirement, Dwight, Lakers

March 15th, 2013 at 6:18pm CST by Chuck Myron

Kobe Bryant has been making plenty of headlines the past two days after injuring his ankle on his ill-fated final shot attempt in Wednesday's loss to the Hawks. The Black Mamba believed defender Dahntay Jones intentionally tried to put him in harm's way on the play, and the pair have since engaged in a back-and-forth through the media. The NBA jumped in the fray, announcing Thursday that Jones should have been called for a foul on the play. It appeared Bryant would have to miss tonight game against the Pacers, but even though Mike Trudell of Lakers.com called him "99% doubtful" for tonight, he announced just a few hours later that Bryant is in the starting lineup (Twitter links).

Bryant also spoke with Michael Wilbon for a Grantland Network video this week, and covered a litany of topics in the 20-plus-minute interview. HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy touched on a few of them in his piece, and we'll round up the highlights from Bryant's conversation with Wilbon here:

On retirement, which Bryant has frequently suggested could come in 2014:

"I’m not fooling myself thinking I’m going to be playing another five to 10 years. I mean, that’s just crazy."

On his post-retirement plans:

"I love working toward something, and I enjoy hearing people say I won’t be able retire gracefully. I enjoy that challenge. I do hear that a lot. I’m so stubborn and competitive, when I hear that, it makes me want to retire just to prove to them that I can retire gracefully. I’m going to win at something, whether it’s retiring gracefully or defeating father time. I’m going to win one of those things."

On Dwight Howard, a free agent this summer:

"(We) get along in the sense that we understand each other. We know what our responsibilities are to the team. Yeah, absolutely. It's not like, (if) you asked Dwight or you asked myself, we don't dislike each other at all. It's not like when Shaq and I were feuding, we didn't want to be around each other. For me and Dwight that's not the situation. It's not like we're best friends, either, but it's a good understanding, I think."

On the Lakers' unexpected struggles this season:

"I certainly didn't envision being this doggone tired at this point during the season, having to work this hard, but it is what it is. We didn't picture losing our head coach that early into the season, or having Steve go down with a freak fracture to his leg the second game of the season, Pau being out, all this stuff going on, we could have never envisioned it. The biggest part is that we all stuck together through the ups and downs, and now we find ourselves playing some good basketball."

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Pacific Notes: Howard, Gasol, Kings, McMillan

March 11th, 2013 at 10:31am CST by Luke Adams

With the Lakers preparing to play the Magic in Orlando tomorrow night, Dwight Howard will be returning to the city where he spent the first eight years of his NBA career. In advance of the game, Howard spoke to Sam Amick of USA Today and expressed some regrets about the way he handled the situation in his final year with the Magic.

"In Orlando, I handled a lot of stuff the wrong way," Howard said. "If any of those people in Orlando are upset with how I did it, I apologize for the way I handled it and the way it was handled in the media."

Here's more from Howard and the rest of the Pacific Division:

  • Howard and Amick spoke about several other topics, including his recovery from back surgery and his recent comments about his former Magic teammates. USA Today has a transcript of the Q&A.
  • Amnestying Pau Gasol this summer may be an option for the Lakers if the team can't find a suitable trade, says Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (via Sulia). Clearing Gasol's near-$20MM cap hit from the books wouldn't get the Lakers out of the tax, assuming they re-sign Howard, but it would greatly reduce their bill. Still, I'd be pretty shocked if it came to that for the Lakers and Gasol.
  • Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee takes a look at the transition Patrick Patterson has been making as he takes on a new role with the Kings.
  • Appearing on 710 ESPN in Seattle, Nate McMillan said he's "definitely looking to get back into coaching" and suggested that if the Kings were moved to Seattle, that job is one that would interest him. Eric Schmoldt of Sports Radio Interviews has the details.
  • Dale Kasler, Ryan Lillis, and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee provide an update on the latest news related to the Kings sale.
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Los Angeles Notes: Clark, Dwight, Clippers

March 9th, 2013 at 10:26pm CST by Ryan Raroque

To say that the Lakers' season has been a roller coaster ride would be an understatement, and with a 7-2 record over their last nine games amidst a strong push for a spot in the Western Conference playoff picture, the purple and gold faithful have reason to hope that the car keeps climbing up. However, one of the biggest pleasant surprises seems to have hit a slump, as ESPN Los Angeles' Ramona Shelburne notes that Earl Clark has only reached double figure scoring once in the team's last seven games. We have a few links to share out of Los Angeles tonight, and you can find them below: 

  • Chauncey Billups opens up about the adjustments that he's had to make with the Clippers, from moving to shooting guard and returning from an achilles injury (Broderick Turner of the LA Times). 
  • Although he's had his share of struggles from the free throw line, Dwight Howard is too valuable in other areas of the game to be kept off the court during crunch time, opines Janis Carr of the OC Register. 
  • Howard tells Eric Pincus of the LA Times about what he's learned by playing alongside Kobe Bryant, particularly about getting over his fear of missing shots and improving off the court habits. "I think this is a blessing for me, to experience the stuff that I've experienced this year. It's just going to make me a better man and a better player…Just from watching Kobe — this has been great for me. I wouldn't have it any other way."
  • Defending the three point line has been a glaring concern for the Clippers, who may find themselves unable to advance in the playoffs if things don't change, writes Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles. 
  • Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer notes the importance of the Lakers making the playoffs for the Cavaliers, as Cleveland will have the option of swapping Miami's first round pick with the Lakers' if it falls out of the lottery. 
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Kyler On Dwight, Gasol, Monta, Collins

March 9th, 2013 at 9:52pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld took to Twitter tonight to offer thoughts on various questions about the NBA. Here are some of the highlights: 

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Stein’s Latest: Josh Smith, Bucks, Mavs, Rockets

March 9th, 2013 at 12:21am CST by Chuck Myron

As rumors fly long past the NBA's trade deadline, Marc Stein of ESPN.com checks in with a Weekend Dime that's heavy on items about Josh Smith, as well as plenty of news about the Rockets. There's even a link between Smith and Houston, so let's dig in. 

  • The Bucks came closest to acquiring Smith at the deadline, as a source tells Stein that Atlanta's talks with the Sixers were never as serious as they were with Milwaukee. 
  • Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported earlier today that the Hawks nearly sent Smith to the Celtics, but Stein hears Atlanta's brass shared the concerns of many NBA teams that C's basketball president Danny Ainge would get cold feet about dealing one of his stars. Paul Pierce would have been sent to the Mavs in the rumored Smith-to-Boston trade.
  • The Hawks preferred to send Smith to the Western Conference, but were rebuffed by the Mavs, who refused to add a draft pick to a package that already included Vince Carter, Chris Kaman, Jae Crowder, Brandan Wright and Dahntay Jones. Many of those Mavericks were also part of the proposed three-way trade with the Celtics.
  • If the Rockets don't land top target Dwight Howard this summer, they'll turn their attention to Smith and Andrew Bynum next, sources tell Stein.
  • Aaron Brooks forfeited just under $3.4MM in his buyout from the Kings, Stein hears. Brooks was set to make $3.396MM next season on a player option, so presumably the buyout simply entailed him declining that option.
  • I took a look in January at all the former Rockets the team still has on the payroll, a list that's since grown even longer, as Stein notes. Houston has waived or bought out 10 players this season, all of whom are still on the team's cap.
  • Stein catches up with Thomas Robinson, who was surprised when the Kings drafted him last year and "shocked" when they traded him to the Rockets at the deadline.
  • There's a schism in thought around the league about whether Monta Ellis is leaning toward staying with the Bucks next season or exercising his early-termination option to hit free agency this summer. 
  • Samuel Dalembert is hitting free agency no matter what, but echoing his report before the trade deadline that Milwaukee was no longer trying to move Dalembert, Stein says the Bucks have some interest in re-signing the Haitian center.
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Pacific Links: Warriors, Hunter, Dwight

March 6th, 2013 at 10:26pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Lakers moved with a game and a half of the final playoff spot tonight with a stunning 25-point comeback on the road against the Hornets, putting pressure on the Warriors, Rockets and Jazz. The Rockets added Aaron Brooks in the past few days to help their postseason cause, and Golden State may be the next team to bolster its roster, as we note here:  

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Odds & Ends: Dieng, Iguodala, Howard, Kennedy

March 6th, 2013 at 1:40pm CST by Luke Adams

With the NCAA tournament approaching, it won't be long before we begin to receive reports on college underclassmen declaring their intent to enter this year's NBA draft. One player who may leave school early is Louisville junior Gorgui Dieng, who I profiled back in December. As Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com reports, Louisville coach Rick Pitino is nearly certain that Dieng will enter this June's draft class.

"If he is projected as a first-rounder, he is leaving," Pitino said. "And I'm almost sure he'll be taken in the first round."

Here are a few more Wednesday afternoon odds and ends:

  • "Every indication" is that if Andre Iguodala opts out of his contract this season, he'll do so to lock up a long-term deal with the Nuggets, according to Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com. Iguodala has a 2013/14 player option worth about $16.15MM.
  • Count George Karl among those who is hoping the Kings remain in Sacramento, as Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee writes. "I think everybody knows I'm a Seattle guy and I want basketball back in Seattle, but I don't want basketball out of Sacramento," the Nuggets coach said. "It's a politically correct answer, but it's a truthful answer on how I feel."
  • Dwight Howard told reporters, including Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com, that he'd thought "plenty of times" about how the season may have played out if he hadn't returned from back surgery so quickly. However, Howard doesn't regret his decision to come back early. D12 also mentioned that he has received encouragement from Phil Jackson via text messages.
  • Ian Thomsen of SI.com ranks the top ten most powerful people in the NBA, with David Stern beating out LeBron James for the No. 1 spot.
  • The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (the Rockets' D-League affiliate) have acquired D.J. Kennedy in a five-player trade, as Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside details. Kennedy, who had a brief NBA stint at the end of last season with the Cavaliers, had been having an excellent year for the Erie BayHawks, averaging 18.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 5.5 APG.
  • ESPN.com's Chad Ford fielded exclusively draft-related questions in his usual Wednesday chat.
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