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Raptors Notes: Bargnani, Calderon, Colangelo

December 14th, 2012 at 1:12pm CST by Luke Adams

As our tentative 2013 draft order shows, if the season ended today, the Raptors would have the league's second-worst winning percentage. If the standings and draft lottery were to form, that would be a silver lining in a disastrous year for the Raps — their first-round pick in 2013 is top-three protected, so the team wouldn't have to give it up if it lands at No. 2. Still, there aren't many other silver linings in Toronto these days, a subject Andrea Bargnani addressed in a conversation with Gazzetta.it. Here are the details on that interview and a few other Raptors links:

Any trade scenarios involving Bargnani or Jose Calderon are on hold with Bargnani and Kyle Lowry injured, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
Colangelo, his senior advisor Wayne Embry, and team ownership met in Toronto this week and are evaluating the club's options, according to Berger (Twitter links).

Earlier updates:

Emiliano Carchia of Sportando translates and passes along a few of Bargnani's quotes from his interview with Gazzetta.it's Davide Chinellato. According to Carchia, Bargnani said he'd miss at least three weeks with his elbow injury, acknowledged that the Raptors were playing way below expectations and were currently one of the worst teams in the league, and admitted he'd heard trade rumors and would be ready if he were to be moved.
Although there has been speculation about Dwane Casey's job security, DeMar DeRozan still has faith in the head coach, writes Eric Koreen of the National Post.
There's no real point in firing Raptors president Bryan Colangelo right now, according to Damien Cox of the Toronto Star.
The Toronto Star staff grades Colangelo's major moves since he was hired in 2006.

Lakers Considering Adding Point Guard

December 11th, 2012 at 11:43pm CST by Chuck Myron

11:43pm: The Lakers’ top target is Jose Calderon, but the Raptors insist on packaging him with others, tweets Stein.

11:29pm: Stein believes the Lakers will also take a look at Mike James and Jonny Flynn, in addition to exploring trades (Twitter link).

10:50pm: The Lakers are thinking about signing Delonte West, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Still, the Lakers will look at other options, though as Stein points out, the team is at the 15-man roster limit. That’s why the Lakers were hesitant to sign Derek Fisher before he went to the Mavs, as L.A. was attemping to trade one of its existing point guards (All Twitter links).

10:19pm: The Lakers have been committed to waiting for Steve Nash to return before making a move, but after a disheartening loss to the Cavs tonight dropped L.A. to 9-13, the Lakers are giving thought to other options at point guard, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Nash expects to be out at least another two weeks, as we heard earlier today, and last week the Lakers announced Steve Blake would undergo surgery on a torn abdominal muscle that was to have kept him out at least another six to eight weeks.

The Lakers have been going with Chris Duhon and Darius Morris at the point, but they combined for just two points and three assists tonight. Free agent options appear to be limited, as the Wizards, also in need of a point guard, took a pass on Ben Uzoh and Blake Ahearn after working out both of them this weekend. Delonte West, Mike Bibby and Eddie House are among some of the more notable names available. Bibby and House have both played for Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni with other teams, but neither saw much time running the offense.

The trade market could be a more fruitful route, particularly once most free agents who signed this summer become eligible to be traded on Saturday. As part of a package that involves Pau Gasol, the Lakers have been linked to Jose Calderon, who acknowledges that he’s on the block. That would represent a drastic move, however, and would probably be overkill if Nash can return later this month. Calderon’s $9.7MM salary figure would prevent anyone from acquiring him unless they were willing to give up a lot, as fellow ESPNLosAngeles.com scribe Arash Markazi points out via Twitter, and the Raptors point man has a 10% trade kicker on top of that. While the Lakers may be exploring their options, the team may simply conclude that it must patiently try to sort out its difficulties until Nash returns.

Raptors Rumors: Bargnani, Calderon, Casey

December 11th, 2012 at 8:22am CST by Luke Adams

The Raptors fell to 4-18 on the season last night, losing by 18 points to the sub-.500 Trail Blazers. With multiple Raps leaving the game due to injury or ejection, the team mustered just 74 points, matching a season-low. Things are looking bleak in Toronto, and it's possible that changes are on the horizon. Here are a few of the latest rumblings:

The Raptors are "dangling" Andrea Bargnani as trade bait, but haven't attracted any takers so far, according to Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun (Twitter link) hears that Bargnani isn't on the trade block, but that the Raptors would listen to offers for the former No. 1 pick.
Jose Calderon has "made it clear" he wouldn't mind a trade, and team president Bryan Colangelo continues to explore possibilities on that front, says Amick.
Multiple sources tell Amick that coach Dwane Casey's job isn't in jeopardy, and that a roster move is much more likely than a coaching change. According to Amick, a trade "of some significance" may be on the horizon for the club.

Jose Calderon Prepared For Possible Trade

December 10th, 2012 at 8:49am CST by Luke Adams

Off to a 4-17 start, the Raptors could be one team looking to cash in its veteran assets later in the year for younger players or picks. One candidate to be moved is Jose Calderon, who tells ElMundo.es (English link via HoopsWorld) that he's bracing himself for every scenario, including a trade.

Acknowledging that he has no control over his situation, Calderon said a trade "might happen," if the Raptors believe they can get something of value in return for his expiring contract. The veteran point guard is in the final season of a five-year deal, making $10.56MM in 2012/13. His contract also includes a 10% trade kicker, as Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors outlined yesterday.

One popular trade rumor involving Calderon sees him paired with Andrea Bargnani and sent to the Lakers in a deal for Pau Gasol. However, there's been no indication that the Lakers would be open to such a move, particularly not with L.A. still awaiting Steve Nash's return to health.

Raptors, Wolves Interested In Pau Gasol

December 6th, 2012 at 10:51pm CST by Chuck Myron

10:51pm: The report connecting Gasol and the Timberwolves is news to the T-Wolves, tweets Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

8:07am: The Raptors and Timberwolves recently attempted to initiate trade discussions with the Lakers about Pau Gasol, but Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak has convinced the club to continue to take a pass on offers until Steve Nash returns, as Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne report for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon and Linas Kleiza are among those the Raptors are talking about including in a Gasol deal, according to Stein and Shelburne. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, who's told by rival executives that the Raptors are the most likely destination for Gasol, hears that Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo is currently unwilling to include Bargnani in a deal. That could change, however, if Colangelo starts to feel pressure to win now.

It's an "open secret" that Wolves GM David Kahn has been after Gasol since last season in attempts to put together a core of Kevin Love and Spaniards Gasol and Ricky Rubio, Stein and Shelburne write. Kahn's trade offers have been built around Derrick Williams and Nikola Pekovic, packages that continually meet with rejection from the Lakers.

Hornets power forward Ryan Anderson, reportedly L.A.'s No. 1 target in a Gasol deal, is a "virtual untouchable" as far as New Orleans is concerned, according to the ESPNLosAngeles.com story. The Hawks, Rockets and Nuggets have no interest in obtaining Gasol, reports Chris Broussard of ESPN.com.

The 32-year-old Gasol is making $19MM this year and is due $19.286MM next season in the final year of his deal. He's averaging 12.6 points per game on 42% shooting, both career lows, and has missed the last two games because of tendinitis in both knees.

Eastern Notes: Calderon, Stackhouse, Cavs

November 28th, 2012 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams

Since Martell Webster dubbed the Wizards' third game of the season, against the Celtics, a "must-win," the team has lost ten more games and now sits at 0-12. With a home contest vs. 6-8 the Trail Blazers on tap tonight, the club has a decent opportunity to finally notch its first victory of the season. As Michael Lee of the Washington Post writes, things will only get tougher going forward, with four road games against the Knicks, Heat, Hawks, and Warriors up next.

While we wait to see if Washington can get into the win column, let's check out a few updates from around the Eastern Conference….

Jose Calderon tells Yahoo! Deportes that his goal next summer in free agency is to sign a multiyear deal (translation via HoopsHype).
When he signed with the Nets, Jerry Stackhouse expected his role to primarily involve coaching and mentoring, but he's made the most of the playing time he's received, writes Howie Kussoy of the New York Post.
Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio fielded primarily Cavaliers-related questions from fans in a chat today, including plenty of inquiries on trade possibilities involving Anderson Varejao.
Taj Gibson tells K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (Sulia link) that the pressure of living up to the contract extension he signed before the season isn't affecting his play at all.

Atlantic Links: Bargnani, Calderon, Bynum, Knicks

November 20th, 2012 at 2:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Coming into the season, we expected the big summer moves made by Atlantic teams to make the division the toughest in the Eastern Conference. So far, that's certainly been the case. As a division, the Atlantic has a .596 winning percentage in the early going, dwarfing the marks put forth by the Southeast (.438) and the Central (.385). Four Atlantic teams will be in action tonight as the division looks to continue its winning ways. In the meantime, let's round up a few notes out of Toronto, Philadelphia, and New York….

The Raptors aren't looking into trading Andrea Bargnani, but if that stance changed, the team believes there'd be a market for him, tweets Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun.
Stephen Brotherson of HoopsWorld wonders if Jose Calderon is too valuable to the Raptors for the team to trade him.
J.A. Adande and Israel Gutierrez of ESPN.com debate what Andrew Bynum's health setbacks mean for his future with the 76ers and his impending free agency.
Although Knicks head coach Mike Woodson didn't commit to plugging Amare Stoudemire right back into the club's starting lineup when he gets healthy, he did tell reporters, including Marc Berman of the New York Post, that he believes Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony can thrive on the court together.
In a piece for RealGM.com, Michael Scotto talks to Knicks rookie Chris Copeland about life as a 15th man in the NBA.
We also rounded up a few Celtics items earlier today.

Kyler On Hawks, Jazz, Calderon, Rockets, Varejao

November 19th, 2012 at 11:43am CST by Luke Adams

With this season's deadline still three months away, the trade market likely won't be too active for at least a few more weeks. However, as Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld writes, things could start to pick up on December 15th, when most players who signed over the summer are eligible to be dealt. Kyler looks at a few specific trade candidates in his latest piece, so let's round up the highlights….

Josh Smith, Paul Millsap, and Al Jefferson are a few players in the final year of their contracts whose respective teams aren't planning to deal. However, the Hawks and Jazz could reconsider their stances as the deadline approaches, if there's an increasing concern that those players will leave in free agency.
While there's no urgency in Toronto to move Jose Calderon, the Raptors are expected to explore deals. Kyler suggests that small forwards like Omri Casspi and Wilson Chandler are worth keeping an eye on as potential Raptors targets, adding that Chandler isn't in the Nuggets' long-term plan.
The Rockets likely aren't done dealing, with players like Daequan Cook, Toney Douglas, and Marcus Morris among the team's possible trade candidates.
DeJuan Blair continues to be available, but the Spurs are still seeking a first-round pick, and it's unclear if any team would pay that price for a player that could sign elsewhere at season's end.
Anderson Varejao isn't likely to be moved, but if the Cavaliers were to consider a deal, it would have to include Luke Walton and his $6.09MM salary.
Similarly, if the Kings explored a Tyreke Evans trade, Sacramento would want to include either John Salmons or Francisco Garcia.
The Timberwolves would be open to moving Derrick Williams if they could land a good veteran player for him.
Kyler also names Hedo Turkoglu, Tayshaun Prince, Tyrus Thomas, and Wesley Johnson as trade candidates, though all those players could be tough to move due to their salaries.

Atlantic Links: Calderon, Felton, Stackhouse

November 15th, 2012 at 9:15pm CST by Ryan Raroque

After the Raptors dealt for Kyle Lowry this past summer, the questions surrounding Jose Calderon's future with Toronto were inevitable. Back in July, we even heard rumor that he had requested a trade just one day after Lowry had been acquired (which Calderon would later deny). Now, the Spanish guard finds himself starting for a team riddled with injuries, averaging 30.1 MPG, 10.7 PPG, 7.4 APG, 1.1 steals per game, and shooting 50% from long-range through the team's first eight games. Despite what the future holds for Calderon, who surprisingly is just 19 games away from becoming the franchise's all-time leader in games played, Eric Koreen of the National Post glowingly reflects on his best qualities and contributions as a member of the Raptors. With that aside, you'll find tonight's notables from the Eastern Conference here:

After looking at how Ray Allen's transition with the Heat has fared, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld highlights how Raymond Felton has surpassed expectations thus far in his second stint with the Knicks after a disappointing, short-lived tenure with the Trail Blazers.
Nets guard Jerry Stackhouse told ESPN New York that he was disappointed but not surprised that Rasheed Wallace wound up with the Knicks instead of Brooklyn, noting that Wallace was a big Knicks fan while the two played together in college (Jared Zwerling reports)

Marc Stein On Lakers, Heisley, Calderon, Tax

November 9th, 2012 at 8:41pm CST by Chuck Myron

Marc Stein of ESPN.com weighs in on the Lakers coaching situation to begin his Weekend Dime, but also drops plenty of knowledge about other issues around the league in his weekly roundup. We'll cover what he has to share here.

Stein thinks the Lakers have to go with either Phil Jackson or Mike D'Antoni for their next coach, both of whom players would buy into. The pair are reportedly the leading candidates for the job.
Former Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley could seek a return to the NBA if Bucks owner Herb Kohl gets a new arena or refurbishment for the Bradley Center. Heisley would then have interest in purchasing the team, which is close to his home in Chicago.
Jose Calderon might not be long for the Raptors, but the 31-year-old is giving no thought to playing overseas, saying he wants to stay in the NBA for at least another 10 years.
Stein breaks down the projected tax bill for the eight teams projected to be over the tax line at the end of the season. The Lakers would have to pay the most, at nearly $30MM.