Within the last week, both Sam Smith of Bulls.com and Bradford Doolittle of ESPN.com concocted trade scenarios in which the Bulls acquire Tyreke Evans from the Kings, increasing speculation about such a deal. But Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio hears from multiple sources that there's nothing to the idea, and that it's not something that's being discussed by the two teams. That tidbit comes from Amico's Thursday column, and he's back with another piece today, so let's take a look at the highlights:
The Lakers officially exercised their option on Andrew Bynum yesterday, locking him up for the final year of his contract. Bynum's isn't the first option decision of the year — Beno Udrih has picked up his 2012/13 player option, while Dwight Howard famously waived his early termination option earlier in the season. Over the next few weeks, we'll hear about even more team, player, and early termination options, as teams prepare for the July free agency period. Listed below are a few key decisions to watch in the coming weeks….
With the disapointing 2012 Blazers season in the books, Jamal Crawford, Nicolas Batum and Joel Przybilla all discussed their uncertain offseason outlooks with The Oregonian, who posted the videos online:
- Crawford owns a player option on his contract (which we already heard he may turn down) that he must opt into by June 15, or he will become an unrestricted free agent. Crawford called his year in Portland the "longest-shortest season ever" and said that he still plans to weigh his options before making a decision. Crawford goes on to say, "I don’t think this year was any one person’s fault. I just think it was a bad situation with the short training camp." Crawford still considers Portland's future bright and says that "seeing where the team is going" will be key to his choice.
- Batum is a restricted free agent and would be in high demand should Portland balk at matching offers for him. All indications are that Portland will try to keep the young forward. Batum indicated his desire to stay: "Of course I want to come back here. This team drafted me and put me on the court at 19 and gave me my chance in the NBA so we will see what happens." However, Batum went on to add that the basketball situation for him is more important than the city, implying he would have interest if another team had more to offer basketball-wise than the Blazers. Batum said he is "99 percent" sure he will be back, but is excited about the summer's prospects of a new contract and his first Olympic appearance.
- Przybilla signed with the Blazers in late February after considering sitting out the lockout shortened season. He now seems intent on playing next year, citing his knees feeling great and a newfound love for the game as the primary reasons. He is an unrestricted free agent and thinks he will draw some interest over the course of the offseason: "With a good summer of working out and a training camp with a team, I think there will definitely be opportunities out there for me." He added that he would definitely consider resigning in Portland.
Blazers guard Jamal Crawford will opt out of his contract for 2012/13, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). The option would have paid Crawford $5.23MM next season.
The move allows Crawford to become an unrestricted free agent for the second year in a row. Crawford has an earlier-than-usual June 15th deadline to make the opt-out official but is expected to exercise it soon. A little over two weeks ago it was reported that the guard was expected to decline the option.
There are a number of clubs that have been linked to the 32-year-old including the Wolves, Suns, and Warriors. Crawford nearly landed in Minnesota at the trade deadline as part of a three-team deal before the Wolves backed out.
The Blazers finished the 2011/2012 season with a record of 28-38, marking their worst winning percentage in six seasons. The team faces a busy offseason as they look to rebuild their front office, coaching staff and roster. Here's the latest news and notes from the City of Roses.
- Blazers acting general manager Chad Buchanan says the team isn't worried about Jamal Crawford's pending decision to opt out of his contract given their depth at shooting guard, tweets CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes. Buchanan points to Wesley Matthews and Elliot Williams as options to replace the former Michigan star if he elects to become a free agent. Crawford, 32, averaged 14.0 PPG and 3.2 APG in 60 games with the Blazers.
- Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge says Buchanan expects the Blazers to pick up the team's option on interim head coach Kaleb Canales for next season (via Twitter). The team has not yet announced whether Canales would continue in his role as head coach or return to his duties as an assistant. The 33-year-old former video intern went 8-15 in 23 games with the Blazers and was applauded by the front office for always maintaining a positive attitude with his players.
- LaMarcus Aldridge will undergo hip surgery on May 10 in Vail after last playing for the Blazers on April 9, tweets Golliver. Aldridge was enjoying a strong season before his injury as the former Texas big man was named to the All-Star team for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old forward had hoped to be healthy in time to play in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London but is not expected to make the final roster cut due to his injury.
- Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor thinks former Blazers head coach Nate McMillan was unfairly fired when the team dismissed him on March 15, reports Haynes. "He had two-and-a-half bad weeks and they fire him. I mean, that to me, I don't understand it. But that's, I guess, I shouldn't be in somebody else's business."
With the Trail Blazers assuming the look of a franchise trying to turn the page and overhaul almost every key piece, CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes attended the team's final practice today and asked seven of the team's free agents—Nicolas Batum, Raymond Felton, Joel Przybilla, Jamal Crawford, J.J. Hickson, Hasheem Thabeet, and Jonny Flynn—if they expected to be back with the team next season. Their answers were both varied and interesting. Here's what they said.
Batum, a restricted free agent, said he would see whether or not the team is willing to match any offers he gets. If they don't he'll probably leave. Hickson called his relationship with the Trail Blazers a "win-win" situation; he'd prefer to stay. Thabeet said he'd love to stay in Portland. Flynn says anything could happen, but that he appreciates the opportunity the Trail Blazers organization gave him to see the court.
Przybilla says he'll probably have minor surgery on his left foot once the season ends, but that he'd like to come back next year and thinks he'd be more effective in a regular 82 game campaign. Felton and Crawford, two players who had disappointing first years with the team, both gave uncommitted answers as to whether or not they pictured themselves back next season. Crawford's contract has a player option for next season, but it's believed he will opt out of it.
With the Trail Blazers having been officially eliminated from playoff contention, focus in Portland is turning to the team's offseason plans, which include the status of Jamal Crawford. Crawford holds a player option worth about $5.2MM that he's expected to decline, and the Suns and Warriors may be among the teams that inquire on him if he hits free agency.
Speaking to Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune, Crawford didn't confirm that he would turn down his option for 2012/13, but he did give an idea of his thinking if he doesn't opt in.
"If I do opt out, it doesn't mean I want to leave Portland," Crawford said. "It just means I want long-term security instead of playing on a one-year deal."
Crawford, who also added that he'd like to find a situation where he could be a starter, will have until June 15th to exercise or decline his option. As Jason Quick of the Oregonian notes, most players with options have until June 30th to make their decisions, but the Blazers negotiated the early deadline with Crawford to allow the team to have a clearer picture of its roster heading into the June 28th draft.
Jamal Crawford is expected to turn down his player option for 2012/13, and when he does, the Suns may be one of the first teams to come after him. According to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, Phoenix intends to aggressively pursue Crawford this summer.
"Aside from Steve [Nash], he's high if not the top free agent priority on their list," a source told Haynes. "He would fill a need at the two-guard position and he knows they want him."
Crawford was reported to have some interest in joining the Warriors, and it appears he may reciprocate the Suns' interest as well. According to Suns broadcaster John Bloom (via Twitter), Crawford told Phoenix broadcaster Eddie Johnson and coach Alvin Gentry during last night's game that he "needs to be here in Phoenix."
Crawford signed a two-year deal with the Blazers in December, but holds a player option worth $5.225MM for the second season. While the 32-year-old's 13.8 PPG and .384 FG% are his lowest marks in years, he should be able to secure a multiyear deal on the open market this offseason, as plenty of teams will be seeking shooting guards.
Jamal Crawford lit up the Warriors last night, scoring a season-high 34 points last night en route to a 118-110 Trail Blazers win. However, there's a possibility Crawford could be doing that scoring for the Warriors next year, rather than against them. Golden State is a potential free agent destination for the guard, according to Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group, who has heard the Warriors on Crawford's list of desired locations.
Crawford, 32, is expected to decline his $5.23MM player option for 2012/13, making him a free agent this summer. While the Warriors couldn't increase his annual salary much, since they'll only have the mid-level exception available, they could tack on a couple extra years at that price. However, Thompson points out that a two guard won't necessarily be a priority for Golden State in free agency.
Assuming he turns down his option for next season, Crawford will join Eric Gordon, Ray Allen, Jason Terry, and O.J. Mayo as a few of the top shooting guards available on the free agent market this July.
Jamal Crawford was the subject of a ton of trade rumors prior to March's deadline, but both the Blazers and teams interested in Crawford were unsure about whether the veteran scorer planned to exercise his $5.23MM player option for 2012/13. Teams wanting to clear cap room were hoping Crawford would decline the option, while teams not wanting to acquire Crawford as a two-month rental were hoping he'd pick it up.
The Trail Blazers ultimately ended up hanging on to Crawford, and Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld reports that the 32-year-old is expected to turn down his option for next season. While Crawford didn't confirm that report, he did talk to Kennedy about the upcoming offseason:
"If I opt out, I think it'll be really cool to have a traditional free agency," Crawford said. "Last year, everything was so rushed. A lot of people didn't even think we’d have a season and then, all of sudden, everything was thrown together. It happened so fast. If I choose to opt out, this year will be much different and more traditional."
The Timberwolves were one team that seemed on the verge of acquiring Crawford at the trade deadline, and the former Michigan Wolverine didn't rule out the possibility of joining the T-Wolves this summer.
"Anything is possible in the future," Crawford said. "Minnesota was a team that I almost signed with before I decided to come to Portland. I’m sure the interest is still there. I’ve always been a fan of coach [Rick] Adelman and how he goes about things. That’s a little ways away though. We’ll see what happens this summer. Right now, I’m just focused on Portland and trying to get as many wins as possible before the season is over."
The Blazers may be hoping Crawford turns down the option, since they're expected to have a ton of cap space to work with this summer, and taking Crawford off their books would clear an extra $5MM+.