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Spurs Working To Sign Aron Baynes

January 9th, 2013 at 11:18am CST by Luke Adams

Earlier today, we passed along overseas reports suggesting that the Spurs were close to signing Australian big man Aron Baynes to a multiyear deal. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein (Twitter links), no deal is done yet, but San Antonio is indeed working to complete a buyout for Baynes and sign him.

Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com reports (via Twitter links) that the contract will be for four years, with the first two years worth about $750K each, and the last two (both team options) worth $2MM each. It's not exactly clear how such a deal would be constructed, since the Spurs have no cap space, and only $500K left in mid-level money. We'll have to wait until a contract is finalized before learning the exact financial breakdown.

Baynes spent four years at Washington State before graduating in 2009. He has spent the last few seasons playing overseas and is currently the Euroleague's top rebounder, according to Givony (via Twitter). The 26-year-old is a project, but represents an inexpensive option with upside for the Spurs.

A Baynes signing would signal the end of the road for DeJuan Blair in San Antonio, tweets Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. Blair is in the last year of his deal with the Spurs, and the team has been exploring potential trades involving him since June. Still, the Spurs have an open roster spot at the moment, so a corresponding roster move wouldn't be necessary if and when the club signs Baynes.

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International Notes: Eyenga, Balkman, Baynes

January 9th, 2013 at 9:37am CST by Luke Adams

It's already been a busy day of basketball news and rumors overseas, so let's check in on some of today's international stories relating to former or future NBA players….

  • Jon Pastuszek of NiuBBall.com writes that former Cav and Laker Christian Eyenga has been formally announced as the newest addition for China's Shanxi Brave Dragons. Eyenga was bought out of his D-League contract to clear a path to China last week.
  • Within the same piece, Pastuszek provides a couple more CBA updates, noting that Rashad McCants may be released soon by the Foshan Dralions and that Blake Ahearn is off to a good start with the DongGuan Leopards.
  • Back in December, we heard that ex-Knick Renaldo Balkman was likely on his way to the Philippines. Now, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando confirms (via Twitter) that Balkman has officially joined Philippines' Petron Blaze Boosters.
  • Following up on a tweet by Djordje Matic, Sportando reports that Australian big man Aron Baynes is close to signing a multiyear deal with the Spurs. However, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld tweets that it may happen next year instead. I'd be a little surprised if the Spurs used their final roster spot on Baynes now rather than maintaining some flexibility, but we did hear a month ago that a pair of Western Conference clubs were keeping tabs on the Euroleague standout — it appears one of those teams was the Spurs.
  • Despite recent rumors that he could be on his way to the NBA this season, Bobby Brown tells La Gazzetta Dello Sport (English link via Sportando) that he's committed to remaining with Siena.
  • Solomon Jones, who was cut in October by the Suns, is drawing interest from a Chinese team, according to a Hupu.com report (passed along by HoopsWorld).
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Donte Greene Drawing Interest

January 7th, 2013 at 9:33am CST by Luke Adams

Donte Greene was close to signing a contract with the Nets back in August when he suffered an ankle fracture during a workout, postponing his 2012/13 debut. Now, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, Greene has recovered from the injury, and is drawing interest from a number of teams.

Kennedy reports that Greene will begin working out for clubs on January 11th, with the Nets, Spurs, Timberwolves, Hornets, Bulls, and Rockets among his potential suitors. Greene's summer deal with the Nets was expected to be for the minimum salary, so even teams with no cap space or exception money should be in play for the former King. According to Kennedy, Greene will work out for teams for a week or two and, if all goes as planned, sign somewhere shortly thereafter.

Greene, 24, spent the first four seasons of his NBA career in Sacramento, averaging 6.1 PPG and 2.4 RPG in 16.8 minutes per contest. The former 28th overall pick had his best season in 2009/10, scoring 8.5 PPG on 44.1% shooting and making 50 starts for the Kings.

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Central Rumors: Cavs, Jackson, Drummond, Cook

January 6th, 2013 at 3:28pm CST by Chuck Myron

Bob Finnan of The News-Herald blames Cavs GM Chris Grant and coach Byron Scott for the team's struggles this season, and calls on the team to take a more aggressive approach and pull the trigger on a deal for a "good, young piece" at the trade deadline if someone like that is available. The Cavs should carry that aggression into free agency, Finnan believes, and use their cap space for better assets than they've pursued recently. Finnan has more on the team, which we'll round up along with other notes from their Central Division rivals.

  • We've heard before that the Cavs and Wolves have had brief discussion about an Anderson Varejao trade, and Finnan confirms those talks, speculating that Minnesota would probably want to include Derrick Williams, a potential deal-breaker. Finnan believes the Cavs may have interest in taking back Nikola Pekovic instead.
  • There's been little talk of Scott's job security this season, but if the losing continues, Finnan doesn't foresee that immunity lasting into 2013/14.
  • Former Bucks swingman Stephen Jackson said he spoke with GM John Hammond about a contract extension during his time in Milwaukee, but never took a confrontational tone, as Jackson told Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. Jackson expressed respect for Hammond and said he can envision working for him someday, though I'd guess he's referring to a front-office role rather than a return to the Bucks as a player. Jackson said Hammond was the only person from the Bucks organization he still spoke to, and balked at the suggestion that he'd reached out to coach Scott Skiles, with whom he feuded last season.
  • Andre Drummond has improved as the season has gone on, but he's content with the Pistons' plan to bring him along slowly, MLive's David Mayo observes.
  • Mayo and fellow MLive scribe Brendan Savage debate who got the better of Detroit's offseason trade with the Bobcats that swapped Ben Gordon for Corey Maggette.
  • Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com writes that Daequan Cook understands that he must earn playing time with the Bulls after signing in Chicago this morning.
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HoopsWorld On Roster Depth

January 6th, 2013 at 2:18pm CST by Sean Highkin

Several writers from HoopsWorld.com have posted a new roundtable column in which they examine roster depth in the NBA. Five writers have different opinions on which team is the deepest in the league:

  • Eric Pincus praises the Clippers' bench, writing that contributions from reserves such as Jamal Crawford and Matt Barnes have taken pressure off stars Blake Griffin and Chris Paul to play heavy minutes. He also points out that the Clippers are off to a strong start despite continued injuries to veterans Grant Hill and Chauncey Billups.
  • Alex Kennedy points out that the Spurs are getting contributions from many different non-star players, singling out Gary Neal, Tiago Splitter, and Patrick Mills among the keys to their success.
  • Tommy Beer writes that the Knicks are proving detractors wrong, with veterans like Jason Kidd and Marcus Camby making a positive impact instead of letting their ages be a liability. He also says that sixth man J.R. Smith has been integral to their strong play so far.
  • Bill Ingram is impressed with the way the Warriors have been able to compensate for injuries to Andrew Bogut and Brandon Rush and prove themselves competitive in the Western Conference.
  • Stephen Brotherston says the Celtics are deeper than last season, although he points out that their chemistry has not gelled yet.
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D-League Notes: Sacre, De Colo

January 5th, 2013 at 11:58am CST by Zachary Links

Today's D-League assignments and recalls..

  • The Lakers have re-assigned Robert Sacre to the Los Angeles D-Fenders, tweets Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.  Sacre was just recalled from the affiliate last month.
  • The Spurs announced that they have recalled Nando De Colo from the D-League.  The guard's second stint with the Austin Toros lasted less than 24 hours as he was assigned Friday afternoon.  The 25-year-old has seen 11.9 minutes per contest for the Spurs and averaged 3.9 PPG this season.
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Eastern Notes: Knicks, Magic, Vucevic, Carlesimo

January 4th, 2013 at 9:13pm CST by Chuck Myron

Lakers coach and former Knicks boss Mike D'Antoni was a little thrown by Amare Stoudemire's recent assertion that he was never taught defense before this year, as Newsday's Al Iannazzone documents. D'Antoni, who coached Stoudemire in New York and Phoenix, said he didn't think Stoudemire meant to be malicious, but still found the comment "mind-boggling" and implied that Stoudemire threw him and his assistant coaches with the Knicks under the bus. Here's more from around the Eastern Conference.

  • We heard earlier today that the Magic, unsurprisingly, will not try to sign Dwight Howard in the offseason, and Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reports that the team isn't interested in acquiring fellow Dan Fegan client DeMarcus Cousins, either.
  • Schmitz also writes that Nikola Vucevic is off the market unless a team "blows away" the Magic with a proposal (and a Cousins offer wouldn't qualify). Still, Schmitz wonders if Orlando could swap him for a marquee talent when he gets closer to the end of his rookie deal in 2015.
  • HoopsWorld's Yannis Koutroupis checks in with Nets interim coach and former Spurs assistant P.J. Carlesimo, who has admiration for the San Antonio model but doesn't think it's one that can be applied in Brooklyn.
  • In a video attached to the same piece, Nets swingman MarShon Brooks, who's been seeing more playing time under Carlesimo, predictably gives the coach his stamp of approval, and brushes off trade rumors. 
  • Former Raptors small forward Gary Forbes had his sights set on an eventual return to the NBA when he signed with the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions in China in November, but his next move will be to Puerto Rico, where he'll play for Atleticos de San German, reports Manolo Rodriguez of Tiro Al Blanco (translation via Sportando).
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D-League Moves: C’s, Thunder, Pacers, Spurs

January 4th, 2013 at 1:06pm CST by Luke Adams

We'll follow Friday's D-League assignments and recalls below:

  • Kris Joseph has been assigned to the D-League by the Celtics, the club announced in a press release. Joseph has averaged 19.5 PPG in eight games for the Maine Red Claws this season.
  • After being recalled on Monday from the Tulsa 66ers, Perry Jones III, Jeremy Lamb, and Daniel Orton are all headed back to the D-League, the Thunder announced today in a press release.
  • Orlando Johnson has been recalled from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers announced in a team release. Johnson scored 25 points last night to help lead the Mad Ants to a 102-86 victory over the Santa Cruz Warriors.
  • The Spurs have assigned Nando De Colo to the D-League for the second time this season, the team announced in a press release. He'll rejoin the Austin Toros.
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Southwest Notes: Mavs, Cousins, Gordon, Duncan

January 3rd, 2013 at 7:26pm CST by Alex Lee

ESPN's Marc Stein was on ESPN Radio in Dallas today to discuss all things Mavericks.  The Dallas hosts made note of Stein's positive relationship with Dirk Nowitzki, and pressed him on the power forward's mindset six games into his return.  Stein said that, amidst the team's 13-20 start, it will be hard to judge how Nowitzki feels about what has transpired in Dallas until after this offseason when, in theory, the Mavs still have the space and motivation to add a Dwight Howard should he or a player of similar stature be available.  So while Dirk will play nice for now, Stein says the activity in Dallas will again be a big storyline this offseason.

Here are some additional Southwest Division notes from Stein and other writers around the league:

  • Stein adds that a player like DeMarcus Cousins is an ideal target for the Mavericks, given the strength of their organization and pieces to go around him.  With Chris Paul content in Los Angeles, Dwight Howard may be the only big chip in play.  If the Mavs don't land Howard, Stein says they have to use their cap space by making a trade for a guy with a big contract or a "distressed asset" like Cousins.  However, Dallas may not have the assets to land Cousins now, and therefore must hope he is still available come summertime.  
  • In the wake of Eric Gordon sitting out Wednesday night's game against Houston, John Reid of the Times-Picayune writes that Hornets fans should expect to see their team ease the shooting guard back in until he gets back into game shape.  Head coach Monty Williams indicated that while Gordon is fully healthy, he has yet to display the physical shape necessary to withstand the grind of the NBA schedule.
  • With the Spurs in New York, Jim Cavan of the New York Times takes a look at the season and career of Tim Duncan.  Duncan sure makes an interesting contrast to the flash and dazzle of Madison Square Garden and the Knicks' big-name roster. 
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Southwest Notes: Dirk, White, Hornets, Leonard

January 1st, 2013 at 12:57pm CST by Sean Highkin

The latest news and notes from around the Southwest Division on New Year's Day:

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