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Central Notes: Pistons, Varejao, Bucks, Robinson

December 20th, 2012 at 4:26pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the Central Division on Thursday afternoon:

  • Keith Langolis of Pistons.com has a new mailbag column in which he answers reader questions about hypothetical trades the team could make for players like Kevin Love and Al Jefferson. Langolis expects the Lakers to make a strong push when Love hits free agency.
  • Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com writes that Anderson Varejao is happy with the Cavs, and wonders whether the Celtics could be a potential trade destination.
  • Former Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley denies reports that he would like to buy the Bucks.
  • Jesse Rogers of ESPNChicago.com writes that Nate Robinson is not affected by the fact that his contract with the Bulls isn't guaranteed.
  • Joe Gabriele of Cavs.com has a Q&A with Jeremy Pargo, who filled in ably for Kyrie Irving when Irving was injured earlier this season.
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Johnson On Bulls Backcourt Options

December 18th, 2012 at 10:45pm CST by Alex Lee

According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls are at the very least considering cutting Nate Robinson prior to his contract becoming fully guaranteed on January 10.  Johnson says that the Bulls can waive Robinson prior to that date with no penalty, an option that "always has been under consideration internally" and is growing more likely as rookie Marquis Teague continues to develop.

The Bulls backcourt has been in flux since they lost Richard Hamilton to a foot injury.  That uncertainty would seem to make parting ways with Robinson risky, but Johnson says that Teague and the inevitable return of Derrick Rose will make him expendable.  Since Hamilton was sidelined in early December, Teague has seen his minutes double with mixed results.

Citing league sources, Johnson adds that Hamilton, who was the subject of trade rumors this summer, is again being offered in certain scenarios.  There is a $1MM buyout for Hamilton's deal next year, making him attractive as an expiring contract as well as a veteran scoring addition for a contender.  Johnson says the Bulls will need to rid their payroll of just over $3MM to avoid the luxury tax, which they have never paid.

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Odds & Ends: Howard, Robinson, Kaman, Bradley

December 5th, 2012 at 10:55pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Wednesday evening:

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Upcoming Guarantee Dates

November 13th, 2012 at 9:23pm CST by Chuck Myron

Most players on non-guaranteed or partially guaranteed contracts have January 15th circled on their calendars. As long as they don't clear waivers before that day, their contracts become fully guaranteed. A handful of others without full guarantees are working on a different schedule, as negotiated with their teams. The contracts for the players below become fully guaranteed if they're not waived on or before the dates listed. 

  • Suns: P.J. Tucker1 ($762,195, partially guaranteed for $400K) — December 1st
  • Bobcats: Cory Higgins ($762,195, fully non-guaranteed) — December 10th
  • Wizards: Jannero Pargo2 ($1,229,295, partially guaranteed for $300K) — December 15th
  • Bulls: Nate Robinson2 ($1,146,337, partially guaranteed for $400K) — January 1st

1— Tucker has already moved past one hurdle, as the size of his partial guarantee increased from $150K when he made the opening-night roster.

2— The Wizards and Bulls would only be obligated to pay $854,389, the amount equal to a third-year veteran's minimum, if they keep Pargo and Robinson, respectively, past their guarantee dates. The league would pay the rest since both are on one-year minimum-salary deals. 

ShamSports was used in the creation of this post.

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When Non-Guaranteed Deals Become Guaranteed

October 30th, 2012 at 4:19pm CST by Luke Adams

With the dust having settled on preseason cuts, NBA teams have eliminated most players on summer contracts and non-guaranteed deals from their rosters. However, there are still plenty of players on non-guaranteed contracts who made their respective teams' regular season rosters. Does that means their contracts are now guaranteed for the season? Well, in most cases, no.

In order for most non-guaranteed contracts to become fully guaranteed for the season, the player must remain on an NBA roster until January 10th. If the player's contract doesn't clear waivers on or before the 10th, his full salary will become guaranteed for the season. Until that date, he'll receive either a prorated portion of his salary, or some other previously-agreed-upon set amount.

However, there are a handful of players whose contracts will become guaranteed before that January 10th date. E'Twaun Moore's minimum-salary deal with the Magic, for instance, stipulates that his contract will become guaranteed if he's not waived by October 30th, which means he looks to be pretty safe.

Per Mark Deeks of ShamSports, here are the other players on non-guaranteed contracts who will see their deals become fully guaranteed prior to January 10th:

Notes: Stone's contract becomes guaranteed if he's not waived by "opening night," which is assumed to be the Nuggets' opening night, rather than the NBA's opening night. Tucker's guarantee increases to $400K as of opening night before becoming fully guaranteed on December 1st.

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Central Notes: Pistons, Robinson, Pacers, Cavs

October 27th, 2012 at 9:33pm CST by Sean Highkin

Here are the latest updates from around the Central Division on Saturday night:

  • Brendan Savage of MLive.com writes that the Pistons have grown during the preseason and are ready for the challenges the regular season will bring.
  • Terry Foster of the Detroit News talks to several Pistons players who believe the team will finish with above a .500 record in 2012/13.
  • K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes that new Bulls signee Nate Robinson is working on his ballhandling and decreasing his turnovers during training camp.
  • Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star writes that the Pacers are more confident in their bench this season than they were last year.
  • Terry Pluto of the Cleveland Plain Dealer believes that the Cavaliers are headed in the right direction, even if they don't make the playoffs this season.
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Bulls Rumors: Hinrich, Robinson, Fesenko, Gibson

October 24th, 2012 at 9:01am CST by Luke Adams

When Kirk Hinrich tweaked his groin during last night's game against the Thunder, it shone a spotlight on the reality of the Bulls' situation, according to Nick Friedell in a piece for ESPNChicago.com. With Derrick Rose out and the bench having been overhauled in the offseason, it's not clear yet whether Chicago has the depth to withstand another injury or two, opines Friedell. While we wait to hear if Hinrich's injury is any more than a minor issue, here's the rest of this morning's Bulls-related updates:

  • Nate Robinson is confident that he can step up and man the point if Hinrich's injury results in missed time, writes Scott Powell of ESPNChicago.com. If he wasn't a lock to make the team already, Robinson certainly appears to be now — due to the Bulls' hard cap, that means camp invitees Marko Jaric and Ryan Allen have no chance to be on the opening night roster unless the club makes a trade to clear salary.
  • Another Bulls camp invitee who was recently waived, Kyrylo Fesenko may be drawing interest from Spanish team Caja Laboral, according to a report passed along by Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. As Mark Deeks of ShamSports tweeted after Fesenko was cut, the Bulls could consider circling back around to Fesenko later this season, when they can afford to re-sign him.
  • With one week remaining to work out a long-term extension with the Bulls, Taj Gibson continues to not let his contract situation affect his play, as he tells Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago. "When you’re in this situation, a lot of people are more focused on it than you," Gibson said. "You just have to let it slide off your shoulders. Joakim [Noah] was talking about to me about it a couple of days ago, but I always just shrug it off…. You really can’t do anything about it, except worry about what you can take care of and that’s the court work. Your agent and the GM has to worry about that."
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Central Notes: Bulls, Pacers, Cavs, Pistons

October 4th, 2012 at 6:14pm CST by Ryan Raroque

Shams Charania of RealGM had a few interesting tidbits to relay from Bulls camp, writing about how coach Tom Thibodeau personally recruited Nate Robinson, Andre Emmett's fight to earn a contract during training camp and his willingness to sign with the team at any point during the season, and coach Thibodeau's aim to maintain Joakim Noah's minutes during the season. We have quite a few more links to share with news from the Central Division…

  • K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune notes that despite losing many rotation players from last year's team, Thibodeau likes the versatility of the team's new additions and the flexibility of the roster overall. 
  • Pacers insider Mike Wells of IndyStar.com breaks down what he will pay attention to during the team's scrimmage on Friday, particularly Roy Hibbert's positioning, the play of the reserves, Paul George's ball-handling, and how the rookies fare. 
  • Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio listed some of his early observations from Cavaliers training camp early on, saying that Dion Waiters' conditioning is not an issue, C.J. Miles is standing out as a perimeter shooting threat, Samardo Samuels and Jon Leuer appear to have earned significant roles, and that the team will have tough roster decisions to make by the end of camp. 
  • Cavaliers coach Byron Scott appears especially impressed with Leuer, who the team had claimed off waivers in July. "I just don't think he knows how good he can be," said Scott (according to a tweet by Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer). Jason Lloyd of the Beacon Journal elaborates about Samuels' hard work this past summer, shedding 20 pounds since the end of last season and has cut down his body fat from 15 percent to between six and seven percent. 
  • Jonny Flynn and Terrence Williams, the sixth and ninth picks of the 2009 NBA draft respectively, find themselves vying for guaranteed contracts on the Pistons roster. David Mayo of MLive.com writes about their thoughts on the opportunity as well as head coach Lawrence Frank's firm belief that both are NBA players. Frank says that he's liked what he's seen from Flynn and Williams in camp so far, even pointing out that he sees Williams as a point guard (and not a wing player).  
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Free Agent Rumors: Oguchi, Howard, Tucker

September 18th, 2012 at 12:36pm CST by Luke Adams

Over two and a half months since 2012's free agent period began, a number of players are still seeking contracts with NBA teams, even if those deals are just non-guaranteed camp invites. Here's the latest updates on a few of the players still on the market:

  • Nigerian swingman Chamberlain Oguchi, who was said last month to be drawing NBA interest, has been updating his Twitter account with news on his workouts. Oguchi has worked out for the Spurs and Heat, and recently had a second workout with Miami, as Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel notes (Sulia link). According to George Akpayen of SuperSport.com, Oguchi could be nearing an agreement with the Heat on a non-guaranteed contract.
  • The Heat also haven't ruled out a camp invite for Juwan Howard, who continues to work out with the team, says Winderman (Sulia link).
  • Former first-round pick Alando Tucker is working out with the Bucks today and tomorrow, according to Tucker's Twitter feed (hat tip to Sportando).
  • Agent Tyler Glass tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (Twitter link) that free agent guard Lester Hudson was dropped by his agency after failing to show up for a workout with the Bobcats.
  • Mark Deeks of ShamSports shares an interesting new detail on a free agent contract signed earlier this offseason: Nate Robinson's deal with the Bulls isn't fully guaranteed, tweets Deeks. In a second tweet, Deeks explains that $400K is guaranteed, with Robinson receiving his full salary if he's not waived by January 1st.
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Bulls Sign Nate Robinson

July 31st, 2012 at 2:06pm CST by Luke Adams

TUESDAY, 2:06pm: The Bulls have officially signed Robinson, the team announced today in a press release. It's a one-year, minimum-salary contract, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.

MONDAY, 8:07pm: The deal should be completed tomorrow morning, tweets Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated.

6:28pm: Robinson's deal is for one year and should be finalized soon, sources close to the situation tell Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter).

5:01pm: According to agent Aaron Goodwin, his client Nate Robinson will sign with the Bulls, "barring unforseen problems," reports Sam Amick of SI.com (Sulia link).  The guard spent most of the 2011/12 season with the Warriors after being waived by the Thunder on Christmas Eve.  Terms of the deal are not yet known.

Robinson, 28, put up 11.2 PPG with 4.5 APG in 23.4 minutes per contest last season.  Several members of the Warriors organization, including coach Mark Jackson, were said to be in favor of bringing back the diminuative guard for 2012/13.

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