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Latest On Jason Collins

October 8th, 2013 at 8:47am CST by Luke Adams

When Jason Collins announced in the spring that he was gay, he appeared poised to become the first openly gay active male athlete in a major North American sport. However, with the regular season just three weeks away, Collins remains on the free agent market.

According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports, the Kings were one of four teams to express interest in Collins during the offseason, but ultimately opted to go younger, adding Hamady N’Diaye to their camp roster. That echoes what we heard about the Knicks’ interest — New York decided to sign younger bigs like Cole Aldrich and Jeremy Tyler after kicking the tires on the 34-year-old Collins.

It’s not clear if the Warriors were one of four teams to express interest in Collins, but GM Bob Myers tells Spears that his team would have seriously considered the veteran if the roster wasn’t already flush with centers. Golden State currently has Andrew Bogut, Marreese Speights, Jermaine O’Neal, Festus Ezeli and Dewayne Dedmon under contract. However, Myers, who represented Collins as an agent before he became a Warriors executive, is hopeful that his former client will get an NBA opportunity.

“There are a lot of good players who are on the cusp of being in or out of the NBA,” Myers said. “I think he will get a chance.”

When ESPN.com’s Marc Stein examined Collins’ situation recently, he wrote that the big man will likely have more luck finding a landing spot after the season gets underway, and one NBA GM makes a similar suggestion to Spears, predicting that Collins will sign in January. While another GM indicates that Collins’ age is a concern, a source tells Spears that the 12-year veteran looks “stronger than ever” as he waits for a team to call.

Latest On Notable Veteran Free Agents

October 3rd, 2013 at 8:53am CST by Luke Adams

Even with about 550 players currently under contract with NBA teams, there are still a number of interesting names remaining on our list of 2013/14 free agents. That list will only grow in the next several weeks, as teams release camp invitees in an effort to reduce their roster counts to the regular-season maximum of 15. Still, it wouldn't be surprising to see some of the players presently available to land on NBA teams once the season gets underway.

Injuries are already starting to pile up for some teams, and when a club needs to add an extra body or two during the season, a veteran addition is more likely than a rookie signing. Even if a team would rather take a look at a few young players during camp, a known commodity has more value when that same team needs immediate help during the season.

So which players could we see join teams at some point after training camp ends? Here are a few names to keep in mind, along with the latest rumors and updates we've heard about them:

Rodrigue Beaubois
Previous team: Mavericks
Latest updates: The Heat were reportedly hoping to bring Beaubois in for an "audition," but a wrist injury derailed those plans. If and when he gets healthy, Beaubois could draw renewed interest, though perhaps a lottery team would be more likely to take a flier than a contender.

Jason Collins
Previous team: Wizards
Latest updates: ESPN.com's Marc Stein recently explored Collins' free agency, identifying the Nets, Wizards, and Clippers as potential fits for the big man. Coach Mike Woodson also confirmed that the Knicks kicked the tires on Collins before deciding to go younger.

Chris Duhon
Previous team: Lakers
Latest updates: The Knicks and Sixers were said to be considering Duhon back in August, and we heard again about Philadelphia's interest last month. The team went younger and cheaper shortly thereafter though, signing Darius Morris.

Richard Hamilton
Previous team: Bulls
Latest updates: A report a month ago indicated that the Rockets and Knicks could have interest, but both clubs have several other options for now. Perhaps New York could re-emerge as a viable option if J.R. Smith has lingering issues related to his offseason knee surgery.

Josh Howard
Previous team: Timberwolves
Latest updates: While some of the players on this list may be waiting out the market in the hopes that teams will get more desperate when rosters are reduced to 15 players and injuries start to add up, Howard was said to be in the market for a camp invite. That doesn't seem to bode well for his chances of catching on with an NBA team this season, though there's still plenty of time.

Stephen Jackson
Previous team: Spurs
Latest updates: Jackson was linked to the Rockets and Heat back in August, but both of those teams have several other three-point shooters in the mix. With Jackson's production in decline, clubs may be reluctant to roll the dice on the 35-year-old and his strong personality.

Mickael Pietrus
Previous team: Raptors
Latest updates: Although Pietrus received a camp invite from the Spurs, he continues to seek a guaranteed deal, as he did a year ago. It worked out for him last fall, when he signed a guaranteed contract with the Raptors several weeks into the season, but he didn't play well and didn't stay healthy in Toronto. We'll see if his patient approach to free agency pays off again this time around.

Other notable veterans on the market: Daequan Cook, Drew Gooden, Lamar Odom, Sasha Pavlovic, Tyrus Thomas, Jamaal Tinsley, Luke Walton, Hakim Warrick, Chris Wilcox

Atlantic Notes: Collins, 87ers, Nets

October 2nd, 2013 at 6:00pm CST by Michael Pina

A few notes from around the Atlantic Division.

The Knicks showed some interest signing free agent center Jason Collins, but in the end decided to go with younger talent, like Cole Aldrich and Jeremy Tyler, tweets ESPNNY.com's Ian Begley.
Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com spoke to Brandon Williams, the new GM of the Sixers' D-League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers. Williams, who spent time in the D-League himself before earning a spot on a championship team in San Antonio, hopes to convey to young players that the league should be viewed not as a demotion, but as a place to improve their game.
Nets general manager Billy King declared this upcoming season to be his roster's championship window, according to ESPNNY.com's Ohm Youngmisuk.

Eastern Notes: Kirilenko, Bucks, Collins, Magic

October 1st, 2013 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's round up a few Tuesday items out of the Eastern Conference….

In a column on the Nets' addition of Andrei Kirilenko, Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report details the veteran forward's time on the open market, which initially saw him turn down overtures from the Nets. According to Zwerling, Kirilenko drew some interest from the Warriors and Spurs, and was in talks with three non-playoff teams for larger salaries before he reconsidered Brooklyn's mini mid-level offer.
Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel rounds up several comments from Bucks owner Herb Kohl about the possibility of a new arena in Milwaukee, the offseason roster overhaul, and his aversion to tanking.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein explains why Jason Collins isn't in camp with an NBA team, and identifies three clubs that could be fits for the big man once the season gets underway, including the Wizards and Nets.
Player development is the primary focus in Orlando, but Magic executives tell Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld that the team doesn't view developing young players and winning games as mutually exclusive.
Pistons rookie forward Tony Mitchell is probably headed for a D-League stint at some point this season, writes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.

Odds & Ends: Heat, Jazz, Bulls, NBPA, Collins

September 30th, 2013 at 2:54pm CST by Luke Adams

The potential expiring contracts for the Heat's Big Three will be a major topic of conversation throughout the 2013/14 season, but LeBron James and Dwyane Wade both downplayed the subject at Media Day in Miami today.

"You have concern when you feel people want to go elsewhere," Wade said, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (via Twitter). "I don't think nobody is looking to go elsewhere."

Here's more from around the NBA:

Jazz GM Dennis Lindsey confirmed that the team is still in talks with Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward about possible rookie-scale extensions, tweets Bill Oram of the Salt Lake Tribune.
In talking to reporters, including Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, about why he decided to sign with the Bulls, Mike Dunleavy Jr. pointed to the team's "high character."
Dahntay Jones is ready to compete in training camp for a spot on the Bulls' regular-season roster, as K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune details.
Former Illinois guard Brandon Paul, who went undrafted in June, explains to Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside why he's heading overseas rather than to NBA training camp. According to Paul, he received and passed on camp invites from the Wolves, Nets, Blazers, and Heat.
After previously having tackled ten of the best contracts of the offseason, Mark Deeks of HoopsWorld shifts his focus and identifies ten of the worst contracts, including the Bobcats' signing of Al Jefferson, and the Pistons' deal with Josh Smith.
The NBA Players Association is aiming to have a new executive director in place by the 2014 All-Star break, sources tell Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein tweets that Jason Collins continues to work out "a ton" as he attempts to stay in shape in the hopes that an NBA team will show interest in signing him once the season gets underway.
Evaluating the Kings' signing of DeMarcus Cousins to a max extension, Daniel Leroux of RealGM.com gives the team a grade of D+ and the player a grade of A.

Odds & Ends: Pierce, Odom, Collins, Cavs

August 25th, 2013 at 9:22pm CST by Zachary Links

The Sixers took their time in appointing a head coach this summer so it's no surprise to see them making late additions to the staff. Today, Philadelphia plucked Grizzlies assistant Lloyd Pierce to work alongside head coach Brett Brown, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo (on Twitter). Here's more from around the Association..

A close contact of Lamar Odom told Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork (on Twitter) that even though Odom "is going through a lot in his personal life" he wants to join the Lakers.
Nets coach Jason Kidd acknowledged that Jason Collins was a candidate to join the team this offseason, but there's no longer a place for the center with 15 men on the roster, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “I think he can still play,” Kidd said. “His knowledge as a veteran. There’s always a veteran that can help a young team. I think he’ll find a job at some point here.”
Contrary to a report back in May, the Cavs don't plan to bring Hungarian center Greg Somogyi in to training camp, writes Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer. The 7'3" big man was with the Lakers, and coach Mike Brown, in training camp last season. The Cavs are still putting together their training camp roster, but they have invited St. Mary's point guard Matthew Dellavedova and are considering former Georgetown forward Henry Sims.

Poll: Where Will Jason Collins Play Next Season?

August 24th, 2013 at 6:58pm CST by Spencer Lund

In April this year, Jason Collins came out as the first active male homosexual athlete in an American professional sport. So far, he's failed to find an NBA team that can use his defense, size, toughness and veteran leadership.

This isn't so much related to his sexual orientation, but the fact he's a 12-year journeyman big in a league that's increasingly made a backup center somewhat superfluous.

Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com wrote earlier today that an informal poll of league executives and general managers during Las Vegas' Summer League shows that Collins stands a good chance to land on an NBA roster as a 12th, 13th, or 14th man. The belief is he'll catch on as we progress towards training camp and teams look to flesh out their rosters. The informal poll by Arnovitz mirrors the one ESPN.com's Marc Stein conducted among general managers the day after Collins came out in Sports Illustrated.

Some teams have shown an interest already, but we're still more than a month from the start of training camp, and Collins is unsigned. Here's a look at some of the teams that have expressed interest, but so far failed to sign the veteran center.

The last team he played for, the Wizards, do not appear likely to bring the big man back as he was included in the Jordan Crawford trade primarily to make the numbers work.
The Nets were also interested in Collins since he last played with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce with the Celtics before being dealt to Washington.
Y! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported that when the Celtics traded Collins to the Wizards in February, Garnett was said to have been "extremely frustrated."
Collins also has a history with the Nets' Jason Kidd and new assistant coach Lawrence Frank, after playing under Frank during Kidd's run with the Nets earlier in the millennium.
But because Reggie Evans was not ultimately included in the trade bringing Pierce and KG to Brooklyn, the need for Collins to backup KG and Brook Lopez dissipated.
The Pistons expressed exploratory interest in Collins earlier this month. But after he worked out for them, they elected not to sign the 34-year-old out of Stanford.
Collins expressed an interest in returning to the Celtics weeks before coming out as gay.

So Collins is still a free agent despite most executives believing he'll find a roster spot before the season starts.

The question remains: where will Jason Collins play next season, if at all?

Pistons To Pass On Jason Collins

August 18th, 2013 at 8:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Pistons have decided to pass on signing veteran free agent center Jason Collins, an official in the team's front office tells Franz Lidz of Sports Illustrated. Collins recently worked out for Detroit in hopes of filling out their bench, but it doesn't seem like he'll be joining the club.

The 7-foot journeyman played in 38 games last season for the Celtics and Wizards, averaging less than two points and two boards in about 10 minutes per contest. The Pistons were looking at the veteran as an insurance policy for big men Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe.

The 34-year-old center became the first active male in one of the four major North American team sports to announce he was gay earlier this year. Now, Collins is back in L.A. working out and hoping to get another call from an NBA club looking for a tough veteran defender.

Odds & Ends: Collins, Irving, Wolves, Harrington

August 12th, 2013 at 2:13pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's check in on a few Monday odds and ends from around the Association:

A report over the weekend indicated that the Pistons have shown exploratory interest in Jason Collins, but Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News hears that the team is unlikely to actually sign him.
Although his friend John Wall recently inked a new long-term deal with the Wizards, Kyrie Irving won't be eligible for an extension until next summer, so he's not thinking about his contract situation yet, as he tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
Timberwolves president Flip Saunders spoke to reporters today, including Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune, and confirmed that the team expects Robbie Hummel, Lorenzo Brown, and Othyus Jeffers to be in training camp. Saunders also discussed Nikola Pekovic, Shabazz Muhammad, and Milt Newton.
While Al Harrington appears on track to land a deal with the Wizards, several other teams showed interest, including the Clippers, Kings, and Pelicans, tweets Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com.
Subbing in for David Aldridge at NBA.com, Steve Kerr presents some ideas for how to improve the NBA's draft lottery.

Pistons Have Exploratory Interest In Jason Collins

August 10th, 2013 at 11:33am CST by Zachary Links

The Pistons have registered exploratory interest in free agent center Jason Collins, according to Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. Collins, of course, made headlines around the world when he became the first active athlete in one of the major U.S. sports to come out of the closet as a gay man.

Sources stressed to the ESPN.com duo that while no formal offer has been made, Detroit has opened a dialogue with the veteran big man. The Pistons, who have added Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings this summer, have one more potentially open roster spot. Detroit is said to be intrigued by Collins' defensive know-how and they seem him as quality insurance behind big men Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond.

Despite the amount of discussion about whether or not the 34-year-old would get an opportunity to play in 2013/14 after announcing that he was gay, it's widely agreed that his free agent stock has been unaffected by his orientation. In actuality, Collins was likely to fight for a final roster spot late in the summer given his ability and age.