Stein On Kaman, Andersen, Jennings, Smith
In this week's installment of his Weekend Dime, ESPN.com's Marc Stein names his picks for the NBA's first-half awards. LeBron James and Chris Paul highlight the list as the East and West MVPs, respectively, while Jeremy Lin makes an appearance as the league's Most Improved Player.
After making his choices for the pre-All-Star awards, Stein also shares a few notes on the trade market, so let's round up the highlights:
- Chris Kaman is a "near lock" to be dealt by March 15th. This isn't good news for the Heat, who were hoping to pursue Kaman if the Hornets bought out his contract after the trade deadline, but it's not a surprise — Kaman has some value and it sounds like there are teams with interest.
- Chris Andersen has received increased minutes lately with Nene Hilario and Timofey Mozgov out of action, but the Nuggets are open to dealing the Birdman. Any potential trade partner would have to take on the two years and $9MM+ that will still remain on Andersen's contract after this season.
- Brandon Jennings' comments last week about eventually exploring his free agent options haven't altered the Bucks' perception of him as a franchise cornerstone. According to Stein, Jennings' comments "struck many observers as an ill-conceived frustration rant" after the Bucks guard wasn't named to the Eastern All-Stars.
- While J.R. Smith will receive the full amount the Knicks have left on their mini mid-level exception (approximately $2.38MM), his 2011/12 NBA earnings will only work out to about $1.92MM due to the lockout pro-ration.
Trade Candidate Series
As the NBA's trade deadline approaches, Hoops Rumors will take an in-depth look at a number of players we consider to be trade candidates. These aren't players who necessarily will be traded by March 15th, but general managers figure to at least listen to offers on these guys, and perhaps even shop them in the coming weeks.
Our Trade Candidate pieces explore why a trade might happen, the likelihood of a deal going down, and potential suitors, along with other relevant details. A complete list of the players we've examined so far is below. This list can be found in our right sidebar under "Hoops Rumors Features" and will continue to be updated until the deadline, with the newest pieces up top:
Knicks Notes: Smith, Balkman, Bibby, Lin, Fields
It's been a busy day already for the Knicks, who appear poised to officially announce that they've signed J.R. Smith and waived Renaldo Balkman. As New York looks for its eighth straight win tonight, let's round up a few links that address the impact of the team's latest moves. And don't worry, there's a Jeremy Lin update too….
- Sam Amick of SI.com reports (via Twitter) that Smith will receive $2.3MM for this season and a $2.4MM player option for next year. The numbers are slightly different than what Adrian Wojnarowski reported earlier.
- The addition of Smith doesn't mean the Knicks are done looking for upgrades, tweets Al Iannazzone of Newsday.
- Coach Mike D'Antoni indicated he'll work Smith into the rotation slowly and that Landry Fields will still continue to start at the two guard for now, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post.
- With Baron Davis' return date still up in the air, Howard Beck of the New York Times tweets that the team decided to waive Balkman because they need Mike Bibby to back up Lin.
- In a piece for ESPN.com, CBA guru Larry Coon explains in detail how the Knicks can re-sign both Lin and Fields this summer.
Celtics Initiating Rondo Trade Talks
Trade rumors have swirled around Rajon Rondo ever since the NBA's lockout ended, and according to Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld, the ongoing rumblings aren't a result of mere speculation. Citing "multiple front office sources," Ingram reports the Celtics are initiating trade discussions involving Rondo.
Earlier this season, Celtics GM Danny Ainge insisted he wasn't trying to trade Rondo, stressing the difference between listening to offers on a player and aggressively shopping him. While Ainge may not be actively trying to ship Rondo out of town, the point guard, who turns 26 next Wednesday, is one of the team's few valuable young assets, as Hoops Rumors' Jesse Blanchard wrote last week. It wouldn't be a surprise if any trade inquiry Ainge makes leads to a discussion of Rondo sooner or later.
Within his HoopsWorld piece, Ingram singles the Utah Jazz out as a potential trade partner for the Celtics, arguing that a swap centered around Rondo and Paul Millsap would make sense. However, there's no indication any talks have occurred between Boston and Utah.
Odds & Ends: Nuggets, Suns, Jazz, Bulls
While we wait for official word on the Knicks' pending roster moves, let's round up a few odds and ends from around the NBA:
- Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post looks ahead to Wilson Chandler's expected return to the Nuggets, which could happen sooner than expected.
- Free agent Al Thornton will work out for the Suns today, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Michael Finley and Jermaine Taylor worked out for Phoenix yesterday, and Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic adds Elijah Millsap to the workout list as well (Twitter link).
- After Seattle officially unveiled its arena proposal yesterday, Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson tells the Sacramento Bee he doesn't blame Seattle for pursuing an NBA franchise (potentially the Kings): "If we were without a team, I would be doing the same thing. But we have laser focus, we control our own destiny and we're closer than we've ever been."
- The Jazz should listen to trade proposals over the next few weeks, but refrain from acting on anything unless they're blown away, opines Patrick Kinahan of 1320 KFAN at NBA.com.
- Sam Smith answered a number of Bulls-related trade and roster questions in his latest mailbag at Bulls.com. Smith says the delay on a Joel Przybilla signing may stem from whether or not the big man wants to continue his NBA career.
Knicks To Sign J.R. Smith
12:31pm: An official announcement is being delayed due to the FIBA paperwork required to clear Smith, tweets Marc Berman of the New York Post.
11:33am: The Knicks' offer to Smith includes a $2.5MM player option for next season, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. We heard yesterday that such an option could be a factor in Smith's decision. I don't expect him to exercise it, but it provides some security in case he underperforms or gets injured this season.
While the two sides appear to have reached an agreement, the contract has yet to be signed, adds Wojnarowski (via Twitter).
9:11am: Jeremy Lin and the Knicks will head into tonight's contest against the Hornets with the knowledge that more reinforcements are on the way. The Knicks have agreed to sign J.R. Smith, as Smith himself confirmed on his always-informative Twitter account, tweeting "New York Knicks It Is!" The team is expected to make the deal official later today.
Smith, 26, signed a $3MM contract with China's Zhejiang Golden Bulls during the NBA lockout. The deal didn't include an opt-out clause, and only allowed Smith to return to the NBA when the season ended for his CBA club. Although Smith led the league in scoring, averaging 34.4 PPG, the Golden Bulls finished the season with a 15-17 record and didn't qualify for the postseason. The team played its last regular season game on Wednesday, with Smith returning to America shortly thereafter.
In seven NBA seasons with the Hornets and Nuggets, Smith has averaged 12.5 points and 1.8 threes in 23.9 minutes per game. Smith will bring his dangerous outside shooting (career .371 3PT%) to a Knicks squad that should also have Carmelo Anthony returning soon to join Lin, Amare Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler.
The Clippers were also recruiting Smith aggressively, but the Knicks had the advantage of having more money available to offer. Smith is expected to receive a pro-rated portion of New York's mini mid-level exception, while Los Angeles could only offer him the pro-rated veteran's minimum, having used their mini MLE to sign Kenyon Martin. As Larry Coon explained yesterday, the difference between the two offers could amount to about $1.7MM.
Frank Isola of the New York Daily News first reported the Knicks were closing in on a deal with Smith, while Newsday's Al Iannazzone confirmed the agreement following Smith's tweet. Marc Berman of the New York Post reported that the team is expected to waive Renaldo Balkman to clear a spot on the roster, though no move has been announced yet.
Knicks Waive Renaldo Balkman
The Knicks have waived Renaldo Balkman, according to a tweet from Balkman himself. The Knicks were carrying a full roster of 15 players, so the move clears a spot for the newly-signed J.R. Smith, who also broke his own news on Twitter today.
Balkman, 27, was initially drafted 20th overall by the Knicks in 2006 before being traded to the Nuggets two years later. He made his way back to New York in last season's blockbuster Carmelo Anthony deal, but didn't see much playing time with the Knicks, appearing in just 17 games for the club over the last year. In 221 career contests, Balkman has averaged 4.1 points and 3.5 rebounds in just under 14 minutes per game.
Balkman's contract includes a guaranteed $1.675MM for 2012/13, so the Knicks will still be in the hook for that full amount unless the 6'8" forward signs elsewhere. If Balkman is not claimed on waivers, he'll become an unrestricted free agent.
Clippers Notes: J.R. Smith, Simmons, Free Agents
The J.R. Smith sweepstakes went down to the wire between the Knicks and Clippers, but New York ultimately won out, agreeing to a deal with Smith that could become official later today. Here's the latest on the Clips, as they move on to Plan B….
- Before Smith chose the Knicks, Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro told Smith in a text message that signing with Los Angeles would mean a spot in the starting lineup, according to John Canzano of the Oregonian.
- The Clippers will hold a free agent workout this afternoon, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
- Former Clipper Bobby Simmons will be among the players at today's workout, says Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Spears reported yesterday that Jermaine Taylor would also be working out for L.A.
Bucks Rumors: Jackson, Skiles, Fesenko
Here are a few Bucks updates, as Milwaukee tries to snap a three-game losing streak tonight in Orlando….
- It's "a given" that the Bucks will try to deal Stephen Jackson before the trade deadline, but the $10MM+ he's guaranteed next year won't make it easy, says Gery Woefel of the Racine Journal Times.
- Woelfel spoke to NBA officials who believe Jackson could be moved if he were part of a package that included a player like Ersan Ilyasova or Brandon Jennings. Ilyasova, I could see, but I'd be pretty shocked if the Bucks traded Jennings.
- Jackson's relationship with coach Scott Skiles is one reason the Bucks will try to find a suitor for the 6'8" shooter. According to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld, the two have had "numerous run-ins" relating to Jackson's professionalism and impact on young players.
- Jackson on Skiles, in an interview with Milwaukee's NBC affiliate: "We don't have no relationship like I've had with other coaches and I don't expect to have one. Too much stuff has happened."
- Within Woelfel's column for the Journal Times, he notes that the Bucks hope to set up a meeting with free agent big man Kyrylo Fesenko next week. The Heat, Bulls, and Hawks are also showing interest in Fesenko, says Woelfel.
Wilson Chandler To Return Early From China
Wilson Chandler recently helped his CBA team, the Zhejiang Lions, clinch a playoff spot, but it doesn't appear he'll be around for the team's postseason run. According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, Chandler is scheduled to return to America as early as next week, even though the CBA playoffs don't get underway until Wednesday.
Chandler, like other players who signed in China during the lockout, was expected to honor his contract and play until his CBA team finished its season. However, Stein hears that the DePaul product may have essentially been granted permission to miss the playoffs if he helped the Lions get there.
Even if Chandler returns next week, he'll still need to be granted a FIBA letter of clearance before he can officially sign with an NBA team. It's unclear whether the CBA would be willing to grant Chandler clearance before the Lions' season ends, though sources tell Stein the league may be more inclined to do so if the 24-year-old plays in the CBA's All-Star Game this weekend.
Chandler, who will be a restricted free agent upon returning, is reportedly weighing whether to sign with the Nuggets long-term or sign for the rest of the season and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. While we've heard before of Chandler's intentions to re-sign with the Nuggets one way or the other, that decision could become more complicated if he's cleared to return to the NBA by the end of the month. Since teams aren't permitted to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets after March 1st, it appeared Denver would be Chandler's only option, but returning early could open up a few more opportunities for him.