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Pacific Notes: Howard, Warriors

October 7th, 2012 at 9:22pm CST by Sean Highkin

Between the Lakers' acquisitions of Steve Nash and Dwight Howard and several key additions made by the Clippers and Warriors, the Pacific Division figures to be one of the most intriguing in the NBA. Here are the latest notes surrounding the Pacific on Sunday evening:

  • ESPNLosAngeles.com's Arash Markazi reports (via Twitter) that Howard is still expected to start on opening night for the Lakers, as well as play in at least one preseason game.
  • According to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter), Stephen Curry, Andrew Bogut, and Draymond Green are being held out of the Warriors' preseason opener. No word on implications for any of their availability at the start of the regular season.
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Pacific Notes: Dwight, Blake, Clippers, Bogut

October 4th, 2012 at 7:13pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Dwight Howard engaged in a post-practice interview with the local media, admitting that he's "still trying to get his legs up and get in some shape" and also elaborating about the different options on offense that he has with his new Lakers teammates. In response to recent comments made by Shaq about being subordinate to Andrew Bynum and Brook Lopez, Dwight replied, "I don't care what (he) says…He's done. He's gone. It's time to move on." (Dave McMenamin of ESPN reports). Ken Berger of CBS Sports further discussed the chance for Howard to put his recent past in Orlando behind him through his new challenge in Los Angeles. Here's what else is brewing out of the Pacific Division tonight… 

  • Lakers guard Steve Blake returned from injury and practiced today, says McMenamin. The back up point guard was originally projected to have a three week recovery after puncturing his foot, but was given full clearance to play just ten days after his injury. 
  • Clippers forward Blake Griffin appears to have fully healed from his knee surgery in July, reportedly moving well during scrimmages and connecting on some signature dunks (according to Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld).  Pincus also gives his impressions from DeAndre Jordan, Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes, and Lamar Odom from scrimmages and also mentions that while Chauncey Billups isn't ready to play yet, the activity level and mobility that he displayed is a good indication that he is progressing along nicely with his rehab. 
  • Tim Kawakami of Mercury News tweets that Warriors center Andrew Bogut looked good during his individual workout today, going through a 40-45 minute session with the team trainer after practice. 
  • In this report from CSNBayArea.com, Klay Thompson talked about his goal to improve his efficiency this season as he embarks on his sophomore year in the league. Coach Mark Jackson also spoke confidently about the young shooting guard, saying that Thompson is "going to get his shots." In the miscellaneous section, Jackson seemed non-committal on who the Warriors' starting small forward will be at this point. 
  • Newly acquired Wesley Johnson has shined during Suns team scrimmages, writes Paul Coro of AZCentral.com.  Aside from more observations from practices, Coro also says that Goran Dragic may continue to do more work during the team's two-a-day session on Friday, and that Jermaine O'Neal will withdraw from tomorrow's practice because of soreness.
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Odds & Ends: Knicks, Walton, D12, Jazz, Wright

October 3rd, 2012 at 4:19pm CST by Luke Adams

As NBA training camps continue, the big stories around the league today involved the Association's new anti-flopping policy and the Knicks finally making Rasheed Wallace's signing official. In spite of the buzz surrounding Wallace's return to the NBA, Knicks coach Mike Woodson tells Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link) that he views 'Sheed as an insurance policy, rather than someone who will play big minutes. Here are a few more odds and ends from around the league:

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Atlantic Links: Sixers, Ujiri, Wayns, White, Nets

October 2nd, 2012 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Before the 76ers promoted Tony DiLeo to general manager last month, we heard a report that the Sixers had made a run at Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri. However, Nuggets president Josh Kroenke said on Monday that Philadelphia's interest in Ujiri didn't get the Sixers far. According to Kroenke, the Nuggets didn't allow the Sixers to even talk to their GM, as Adrian Dater of the Denver Post writes.

"You hire good people for a reason, and sometimes other people take notice of that," Kroenke said. "But we never gave permission to Philly to talk to Masai."

Here are a few more Tuesday updates out of the Atlantic Division:

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Lakers Notes: Howard, Kobe, Douglas-Roberts

October 2nd, 2012 at 11:11am CST by Luke Adams

After the Lakers' biggest offseason in years, more than 300 media members attended the opening of the team's camp yesterday, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. With expectations high for the Lakers' new-look roster, there were plenty of highlights from media day to round up….

  • Dwight Howard is hoping to play on opening night, but isn't guaranteeing anything yet, as Spears writes. "It’s a goal, but I’m not rushing it," Howard said. "Everybody wants me to play on opening night. But we are not going to rush it."
  • Also within Spears' piece, Kobe Bryant said yesterday that he still expects to be the Lakers' leader, but that he's prepared to hand the team over to Howard within the next few years. "It’s my team," Bryant said. "But I want to make sure that Dwight knows that when I retire this is going to be his. I want to teach him everything I possibly know so this organization can ride as if I never left."
  • Bryant also told the media yesterday that he urged executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss to try to acquire Howard this summer if the possibility arose. Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com has the details and quotes.
  • Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside believes a stint with the D-League's Los Angeles D-Fenders could benefit Lakers camp invitee Chris Douglas-Roberts.
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Camp Rumors: Howard, Hornets, Murray, Miller

September 29th, 2012 at 4:35pm CST by Chuck Myron

It's looking more like the Lakers will have Dwight Howard in the lineup to start the regular season, as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports hears the big man is determined to be ready for opening night, and that the progress he's made in recent weeks has upped his chances. Howard says his surgically repaired back is at 85%, Wojnarowski reports. The Lakers still don't have a timetable for his return, but it's just one more reason for optimism in L.A. The mood is upbeat all around the league this time of year, as teams start fresh in training camp. Here's a roundup of news from camps across the Association.

  • John Reid of The Times-Picayune hears that Hornets GM Dell Demps will work in tandem with executives Mickey Loomis and Dennis Lauscha on the team's basketball-related decisions. It's unclear exactly what role everyone will play, but I imagine Demps will continue to function in the day-to-day role of most GMs.
  • Ronald "Flip" Murray, who has an agreement to join the Grizzlies, was not on the camp roster released by the team today, but Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal says the journeyman guard will indeed be in camp (Twitter link).
  • This could be the last training camp for Heat swingman Mike Miller, who hinted at retirement after last season and wants to see how his back responds before promising anything beyond this year, Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida writes (Sulia link). Miller's deal has more than $13MM left on it and runs through 2015, with a player option in the final season. 
  • Many of the Celtics veterans have been working out together since early September, while the rookies have been in Boston for most of the past three months. That's led to better chemistry as camp starts, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com writes.
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Jameer Nelson Talks Smith, Van Gundy, Howard

September 28th, 2012 at 9:31am CST by Luke Adams

Most of the Magic's offseason moves, most notably August's Dwight Howard blockbuster, indicated that the team was entering a full-on rebuilding process. However, one transaction that didn't seem to align with that approach was the team's re-signing of veteran point guard Jameer Nelson to a three-year deal that could pay him more than $25MM. Nelson will be one of the few core veteran players on a roster otherwise dominated by guys on rookie deals or bad contracts. He recently appeared on WYGM in Orlando to discuss his new role with the Magic, and Sports Radio Interviews transcribed a few of the highlights. Let's check them out….

On whether he approved of the team letting go of GM Otis Smith and head coach Stan Van Gundy:

"I’ve never said this publicly, but no, I wasn’t in favor of it. But I understand it’s a business. I had talks with Otis and Stan prior to the situation and after, so that tells you my relationship with those guys…. I just know that they put me in a great situation, being my coach and being my GM, and giving me opportunities…. But I also know that sometimes you need change and it’s not my decision to make the changes."

On his decision to re-sign with the Magic despite the looming front office and roster overhaul:

"The thing was, you have to make a business decision for yourself and your family when you’re dealing with any business…. After that, the thing I had to think about was, what’s my business going to be and where do I want to have my business? And I wouldn’t want to have it anywhere else but Orlando. I love the fans and the fans love me. They’ve definitely embraced myself and my family…. We feel like this is our home now."

On Howard being traded to the Lakers:

"He wanted a change and that’s what he got. My job, for Dwight and to Dwight, is to be a friend. I told him I was happy for him. I was happy for him to be able to move on with his career and I wished him best of luck and hoped he got his recovery and his rehab and everything went well…. We’d been together for X amount of years and it’s tough to see guys go, but like I said earlier, it’s always that business side of things."

On whether he and Howard had a falling out during Dwight's last days in Orlando:

“No. My agent actually told me that he read something saying that me and Dwight almost got into a fight and I just laughed it off. We’re grown men and anytime you’re competing, you’re going to have disagreements. That’s happened numerous amount of times and not just last year…. Everything and anything was just kind of taken out of proportion. And also we were watched closely. We never got into a scuffle, never got into a bad situation and we still remain friends to this day.”

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No D12 Contract Talks Until Season’s End

September 21st, 2012 at 8:47am CST by Luke Adams

When Dwight Howard was dealt to the Lakers last month, fans and media alike began to speculate about whether or not the All-Star center would be staying in Los Angeles long-term. That subject has been discussed less frequently lately, taking a backseat to speculation about the Lakers' 2012/13 chances on the court, and it seems that's the way Howard prefers it. As D12 tells Joe McDonnell of FOX Sports West, while he's open to a "long career" in L.A., he intends to put contract talks off until after the season.

"I think the best thing to do is talk about it at the end of the year," Howard said. "We just went through that last season, basically, and I don't want to go through it again or see anyone have to go through it…. This is going to be my decision, and I'm going to wait till the end of the year."

Howard will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, which means rival suitors, such as the Mavericks, will get a chance to make a run at the 26-year-old. But as I outlined in this piece, the Lakers will be able to offer significantly more money than other teams, and significantly more money than they could offer on an in-season extension. That doesn't guarantee that Howard will simply re-up with the Lakers, but all signs, including Howard's own hints, point to that being the likeliest scenario.

"I'm happy to be in L.A," Howard said. "This is a great place. I love the coaching staff and I love the organization for everything they've done for me since I got traded here. Hopefully I'll have a long career here in L.A."

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Pacific Notes: Curry, Bogut, Howard, Clippers

September 20th, 2012 at 10:04pm CST by Alex Lee

It's been a busy night out West in the NBA.  On the depressing side of things, we found out that Channing Frye of the Suns will likely be sidelined for the entire year with a heart issue.  Here is hoping that Frye makes it back to full strength, as he says he should.  In lighter news, the Kings will give free agent center Hamady N'Diaye a shot to make their roster in training camp. 

Here is what else is going on in the Pacific division:

  • We covered this yesterday, but the Warriors said today, via press release, that Stephen Curry has received full medical clearance on his right ankle.  Curry is good to resume all basketball activities right away.
  • Curry's teammate, Andrew Bogut, has had ankle issues of his own.  Bogut spoke with Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury, saying that he should be ready for the team's opener, among other things.
  • Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld transcribes parts of an interview that Lakers coach Mike Brown gave with ESPN LA, detailing where Brown outlines how newly acquired Dwight Howard will help the Lakers right now and in the future.  
  • John Hollinger of ESPN gives a detailed breakdown of the Clippers 2012-13 roster, insider only.  Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill and Lamar Odom highlight the offseason additions for the Clips.
  • HoopsWorld published their season preview for the Clippers.  The HoopsWorld staff is predicting a second place finish across the board for the Clips, presumably with the Lakers finishing atop the Pacific pack. 
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Pacific Notes: Barbosa, Hill, Warriors, Suns

September 14th, 2012 at 6:17pm CST by Alex Lee

We heard earlier this week that former Suns guard Leandro Barbosa, who finished last season in Indiana, had spoken with the Suns, the Nets and the Lakers about his destination this year.  The Nets roster looks set at guard, and yesterday it looked like the Suns weren't interested either.  We will keep an eye on the Lakers' interest in Barbosa, but in the meantime let's round up all things Pacific Division:

  • We learned yesterday that Dwight Howard will not be ready for the Lakers first preseason game in early October.  According to Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times, the Lakers will likely shift Pau Gasol to center and insert Jordan Hill into the starting power forward spot in Howard's absence.  The uncertainty that the Lakers face with Howard's back problems makes their ability to keep Gasol in the deal look even better, if that is possible. 
  • Matt Steinmetz of CSN Bay Area hosted a Warriors chat today.  Among the topics covered are the expectations for Andrew Bogut in his first year in Oakland, Stephen Curry's future with the Warriors as well as newcomer Harrison Barnes' rookie role. 
  • Paul Coro from the Arizona Republic checks up on the Suns as we get closer to the starting of training camp.  He says the only three players who haven't shown their face in Phoenix of late are Jermaine O'Neal, Marcin Gortat and Michael Beasley.  In addition to a Beasley update, Coro says their is word that Goran Dragic, Markieff Morris and Kendall Marshall look good.  He also reiterates what we heard yesterday, that Leandro Barbosa's interest in coming back to Phoenix is one-sided.
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