Roger Mason Jr. Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Lowe’s Latest: Granger, Ariza, Turner, Warriors

February 11th, 2014 at 9:42am CST by Chuck Myron

The Pacers have been actively looking to deal away Danny Granger, but have had little success, and the same is true for the Wizards and their attempts to unload Trevor Ariza‘s expiring contract, writes Grantland’s Zach Lowe. The Grantland scribe also seconds a report from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports that Washington is looking for a backup point guard. Lowe’s latest column focuses on the trade deadline, which is just nine days away, and we’ll pass along the highlights of a rumor-packed piece here:

The Bobcats are “absolutely serious” about their pursuit of Evan Turner, Lowe writes, pointing to the connection between David Falk, who serves as Turner’s agent, and Bobcats owner Michael Jordan, a former Falk client. The Sixers are a lock to be “super active” as the deadline approaches, according to Lowe.
Sources tell Lowe that the Warriors aren’t ready to trade Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes, in spite of the team’s struggles.
Executives around the league are high on Alexey Shved, but the Timberwolves probably wouldn’t be able to get a game-changer in return for him.
The Heat are ready to waive either Roger Mason Jr. or Toney Douglas to open up a roster spot so they can acquire a player via trade or in the post-deadline buyout market.
Lowe continues to hear that the Nuggets are making Kenneth Faried available for the right return, even as Denver consistently denies such talk.
Hawks GM Danny Ferry isn’t enamored with the four-year, $32MM deal that the team committed to Jeff Teague when it matched his offer sheet from the Bucks this past summer.
The Nets seem to be leaning toward not making a move at the deadline, according to Lowe.

Heat Notes: Beasley, Mason, Riley

January 5th, 2014 at 6:11pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Heat big man Kurt Thomas is considering an NBA return, but it won’t be with the club he played for more than any other. The veteran’s agent says that he won’t play for the Knicks as he wants to play for a team with a “legitimate” chance of winning the title. Ouch. Here’s the latest from South Beach..

The Heat‘s reclamation projects continue to pay off, writes Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report. Michael Beasley, Chris Andersen and Roger Mason Jr. have all contributed off of the bench and Greg Oden could provide another major boost when he returns.
The contract guarantee deadline is Tuesday, but Heat coach Erik Spoelstra spoke confidently about Mason being on the roster for the rest of the season, writes Shandel Richardson of the Sun-Sentinel. “We don’t take him for granted or other players like that off the bench,” Spoelstra said. “Roger, now, is gaining more confidence each game that he plays with our system. Those kind of guys are hard to find. They really are. To be able to sacrifice, to understand the big picture, to be available when we need him and to be able to produce and not be cluttered in the mind, I think a lot of teams would like to have a guy like him or some of the other guys we have.“
Drew Voros of Index Universe spoke with Heat president Pat Riley about his methods for success in a wide-ranging interview.

Odds & Ends: Howard, Turiaf, Bobcats, Beasley

November 2nd, 2013 at 4:05pm CST by Charlie Adams

Here’s a quick rundown of some notes around the NBA this Saturday:

Josh Howard was named to the training camp roster for the Austin Toros, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. The 10-year veteran, who underwent season-ending ACL surgery last winter, will play for the Spurs’ D-League affiliate as he rehabs his knee. The Spurs signed and waived Howard just last Saturday to ensure that they would retain his D-League rights.
McDonald adds that San Antonio camp invitees Courtney Fells and Myck Kabongo will join Howard in Austin.
The Timberwolves announced today (via Twitter) that Ronny Turiaf has undergone an MRI revealing a fracture of his right elbow. No timetable for his return has been given. The Wolves are already missing forward Chase Budinger, who is sidelined indefinitely after undergoing arthroscopic surgery. We heard last night that no Wolves roster moves were brewing, but if Turiaf and Budinger miss significant time, the team may need to reconsider its options.
Bobcats owner Michael Jordan oversaw a summer in which the team hurt its chances for next year’s No. 1 pick, but he finally showed that he has a legitimate plan in place for the team, argues Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer.
Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel notes that Michael Beasley and Roger Mason of the Heat need to prove they can provide value off the bench since their non-guaranteed contracts can be waived until the January 10th NBA guarantee date. Beasley in particular needs to demonstrate that he has grown out of his off-the-court issues that caused many NBA GMs to look past him during free agency.
The NBA Player’s Association has started to narrow down candidates for the executive director position, tweets Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. The NBPA aims to have finalists selected by All-Star weekend.

Chuck Myron contributed to this post.

Heat Release Justin Hamilton, Eric Griffin

October 27th, 2013 at 11:49am CST by Zachary Links

SUNDAY, 11:49am: The Heat have officially announced the moves on their website.

SATURDAY, 5:13pm: Miami has also waived Justin Hamilton, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). The subtraction leaves the Heat with 15 players, and it appears Michael Beasley and Roger Mason, the team’s only other players on non-guaranteed deals, have made the opening-night roster.

9:08am: The Heat have released forward Eric Griffin, a league source tells Shams Charania of RealGM (via Twitter). Griffin was in summer league and preseason with Miami this year and was said to have impressed.

Miami probably would have liked to keep Griffin, but the club is facing a serious roster crunch with Greg Oden and Michael Beasley filling the final spots on the roster. Releasing Griffin brings the club down to 16 players and Justin Hamilton will probably be the next to go.

The 23-year-old went undrafted out of Campbell in 2012, after averaging 15.7 PPG and 8.6 RPG in his senior year in college. The 6’8″ forward spent last season in Italy, averaging 17.5 PPG and 7.1 RPG in 28 contests for Fileni BPA Jesi, before earning a spot on the Heat’s Summer League team last month.

East Notes: Bargnani, Cavs, Heat, Antetokounmpo

October 10th, 2013 at 8:59pm CST by Alex Lee

Let’s round up all of the links coming out of the Eastern Conference on Thursday night:

In Canada for tomorrow night’s matchup with the Raptors, the Knicks, at this point in training camp, seem thrilled Toronto gave up on Andrea Bargnani this offseason, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post, who tabs head coach Mike Woodson as one of Bargnani’s biggest fans in the early going.
Woodson also said on Thursday that rookie and No. 24 pick Tim Hardaway Jr. has “put himself in a nice position” to get minutes in the Knicks rotation, writes Al Iannazzone of the Long Island Newsday.
Despite going undrafted in June, it sounds like Matthew Dellavedova is on track to make the Cavaliers‘ final roster as the third point guard, writes Bob Finnan of the Cleveland News-Herald. The Cavs signed the Saint Mary’s product to a two-year deal with a small guarantee about a month ago.
Despite a shaky preseason debut on Tuesday, No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett says he is simply trying to find his groove after offseason shoulder surgery, writes Jodie Valade of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who adds that the highly-touted rookie is currently concentrated on improving his conditioning.
Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report breaks down the five candidates in Miami with a chance to crack Erik Spoelstra’s nine-man, championship rotation: Michael Beasley, Rashard Lewis, Roger Mason Jr., James Jones and Joel Anthony. Skolnick also mentions Greg Oden, who may be a factor for the Heat in 2014.
Greek import Giannis Antetokounmpo, who the Bucks took in June at No. 15, has flashed big-time talent two preseason games into his NBA career, tweets Jonathan Givony of Draft Express, who says some scouts adamantly labeled the “Greek Freak” a bust without giving him a sufficient look (Twitter links here).

Eastern Notes: Mason, Irving, Cavs, Magic

October 10th, 2013 at 10:32am CST by Luke Adams

It took a while for Roger Mason Jr. to land with an NBA team this offseason, as Mason didn’t sign with the Heat until late September. However, that doesn’t mean there was no other interest in the veteran shooter. According to Ethan J. Skolnick of Bleacher Report (via Twitter), Mason had also been considering the Bulls before a 45-minute conversation with Ray Allen sold him on Miami.

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

When asked by a young fan at a community event if he’d leave Cleveland like LeBron James did, Kyrie Irving said he wouldn’t, as Sean Highkin of USA Today details. While we probably shouldn’t assume that’s set in stone, it’ll likely be a while before the Cavs guard hits the open market anyway. Irving still has two seasons remaining on his rookie contract and will be a strong candidate for a long-term extension a year from now.
While some observers believe that DeSagana Diop has the inside track on securing a reserve roster spot with the Cavs, Kenny Kadji is making a pretty strong case for the job, writes Bob Finnan of The Plain Dealer (Sulia link). We heard yesterday from another Cleveland scribe, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal, that Henry Sims may be Kadji’s primary competition for a roster spot.
The Magic see Jacksonville as a good location for a potential D-League affiliate, but it’s not the only possibility, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. The Magic’s D-League affiliate for the 2013/14 season is the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, a team they share with the Bobcats, Pistons, Pacers, Grizzlies, and Bucks.
New Celtics big man Vitor Faverani isn’t the most verbose guy in the league, but he offers Boston a lot in the way of physical play and pick and rolls, according to Ben Rohrbach of WEEI.com.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Roster Battles: Spurs, Warriors, Heat, Sixers

October 8th, 2013 at 12:07pm CST by Luke Adams

The Spurs have been searching for a backup small forward since releasing Stephen Jackson in the spring, and the team may have found its man in Sam Young. However, as Young competes for a roster spot in San Antonio, the veteran tells Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News that Spurs fans haven’t forgotten the role he played in the Grizzlies’ 2011 upset of the West’s No. 1 seed.

“That was one of the biggest moments in Grizzlies history, so when we beat them, a lot of Spurs fans were upset,” Young said. “When I got here, a couple people let me know on Twitter; a lot of people let me know on Facebook. Even a couple coaches talked about it, but it’s cool. They’ve embraced me.”

Here’s the latest on a few more players hoping to earn roster spots around the NBA:

The Warriors will have to cut at least three players before the regular season begins to reduce their roster to 15 players, but camp invitee Dewayne Dedmon may be playing his way onto the team. As Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News details, coach Mark Jackson said after last night’s game that Dedmon is “an NBA player today” and “really does have a chance” to earn one of the open roster spots. Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group notes (via Twitter), that Dedmon’s strong play may not bode well for the chances of fellow camp invitees Seth Curry and Cameron Jones.
It’s still early in the preseason, but Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald thinks the Heat‘s roster already looks set. In Goodman’s opinion, Roger Mason Jr. and Michael Beasley will earn the final two roster spots.
Sixers coach Brett Brown sees NBA potential in undrafted rookie Khalif Wyatt, who is currently vying for a roster spot in Philadelphia, writes Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News.
Scott Cacciola of the New York Times examines Chris Douglas-Roberts‘ quest to earn a spot on the Knicks‘ roster.

Roger Mason Jr. Signs With Heat

September 27th, 2013 at 1:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Free agent guard Roger Mason Jr. has signed a contract to join the Heat, according to Mason's Twitter account. The NBPA's vice president tweeted this afternoon: "I'm humbled and extremely blessed to have signed with the World Champion Miami Heat!!! Can't wait to get to work!"

Mason, 33, has played for seven different teams since making his NBA debut in 2003. He played for New Orleans in 2012/13, averaging 5.3 PPG and shooting 41.5% on three-pointers. He reportedly worked out for the Heat earlier this week, and as Michael Pina of Hoops Rumors noted at the time, he could be a valuable outside shooter for a team that amnestied Mike Miller in July.

First though, he'll have to earn a spot on the roster. The Heat currently have 13 players on guaranteed contracts, and Michael Beasley, who has a non-guaranteed deal, is expected to become the 14th man. Even if Miami was open to carrying a full 15-man roster, Mason would still have to beat out Larry Drew II, Eric Griffin, Justin Hamilton, and Jarvis Varnado, who will be in camp with the club as well.

Heat Working Out Roger Mason Jr.

September 24th, 2013 at 7:02pm CST by Michael Pina

The Heat will work out veteran guard Roger Mason Jr., according to South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporter Ira Winderman. The two-time defending champions currently have 13 players under contract, and 18 total players coming to camp.

The 33-year-old Mason Jr. was recently elected vice president of the player's union, and spent last season, his ninth in the NBA, with the Pelicans, averaging 5.3 PPG in 69 appearances.

A career 38.4% shooter from behind the three-point line, Mason Jr. could potentially become another reliable shooter on a team that amnestied Mike Miller earlier this offseason.

Odds & Ends: Paul, NBPA, Butler

August 22nd, 2013 at 7:42pm CST by Ryan Raroque

In discussing Chris Paul's election as the new NBPA president, ESPN's Brian Windhorst writes that neither Paul nor former union vice president Jerry Stackhouse would commit to a timetable nor discuss whether a search firm was in place to find a replacement for ex-NBPA executive director Billy Hunter. Stackhouse, who will remain active with the union in an advisory role, said they aren't in a rush but have already identified a number of candidates. Windhorst also says the union would ideally want a new executive director in place by February 1st, when Adam Silver is set to begin his job as the new commissioner. Here are more of tonight's miscellaneous news and notes, along with more from the above piece:

Some comments from Paul: "I've been thinking about (running) for a while on and off…I've had a lot of dialogue about it with committee members. I wouldn't have taken on the role if I was going to do it alone."
There are a few specific issues that were tabled during the 2011 CBA which still need to be resolved, especially blood testing for performance enhancing drugs (including human growth hormone) and the current age limit to declare for the NBA draft.
Lakers guard Steve Blake and Bobcats forward Anthony Tolliver were added as new members to the executive committee, joining Paul, Roger Mason Jr., Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala, James Jones, Matt Bonner, and Willie Green.
The union has turned to Deloitte Financial Advisory Services to examine its structure and will make necessary changes, such as adding a human resources and information technology department (J.A. Adande of ESPN.com).
Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today notes that the NBPA has hired Reilly Partners to help with restructuring and forming a job description for the executive director position, and that two names have surfaced as potential candidates for the opening: former NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson and former NBA and Madison Square Garden executive Steven Mills.
Suns forward Caron Butler says he's looking forward to being a mentor to teammate Michael Beasley, gives his thoughts on the Clippers, and talks about how he's approaching the upcoming season in Phoenix. Butler adds that no one from the Clippers front office has spoken to him since he was notified by his agent about being traded, but insists there's no ill will: “I don’t leave with bitterness or anything, but a phone call would have helped the situation…But it’s cool, it’s no hard feelings because that’s the nature of the business" (NBA.com's Jeff Caplan).
Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy looks at a list of 11 of the top 13 players drafted this past June and discusses their chances at winning Rookie of the Year.
In the same piece, Kennedy relays a clip from Gary Payton's interview on FOX Sports, in which the Hall of Fame point guard reveals that he may have had something to do with Allen Iverson's "practice" rant on the 76ers several years ago: "(Iverson) asked me…'How do you keep your body is so good of a shape, and don’t get hurt, and stay always on the court?’ And I just told him for real, my coach George Karl didn’t let me practice. So that was it. I said, ‘You have to stop practicing." While watching the actual rant, Payton recalled thinking: ‘Don’t say it like this! Don’t do it like that, Allen…When he said it, I said, ‘No, that was not our conversation.’”