Trade Machine: Sessions To Knicks
The New York Knicks, losers of 11 of their past 14 games, need a point guard. The Cavaliers, having an excellent backup point guard in Ramon Sessions, need as many young pieces around their star rookie point guard Kyrie Irving as possible.
Despite the Knicks previous reluctance to part with last year's prized second round pick Landry Fields, a trade package centered around Fields and Sessions would appear to make sense for both teams.
The Knicks offense has sputtered out of the gate this season, averaging 94.7 ppg–good for 14th in the NBA. They are currently 24th in the league with 18.9 assists per game. Those two aspects of the game had previously been staples of a Mike D'Antoni offense.
Sessions, currently averaging 9.2 points and 4.8 assists per game in just slightly over 20 minutes, would provide the Knicks with the pick and roll ball handler the Knicks sorely lack, allowing D'Antoni to open up his system and properly utilize Amare Stoudemire.
Fields, a surprising second round find, would provide, at worst, quality depth on the wings for a team that leans heavily on Antawn Jamison, Alonzo Gee, Anthony Parker, and Daniel Gibson.
While the Knicks have Baron Davis waiting in the wings, relying on a player with his history of injuries and conditioning troubles in the condensed lockout season could be a recipe for disaster. Not that playing Anthony in a point forward role hasn't been so far this season.
Even though Sessions likely would not be the long term answer, the Knicks have a lot of decisions to make this offseason, and it would be best to evaluate D'Antoni and his system in its natural habitat, with a point guard that can execute his offense.
Northwest Links: Sloan, Rubio, Batum
Another element in the dustup between Karl Malone and the Jazz about the end of Jerry Sloan's lengthy tenure as head coach last year came into play today. Utah-area media outlets apparently weren't privy to a team statement that made its way to national writers, according to Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune. (Twitter link)
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports tweeted the statement, which contained Sloan's denial that he was forced out, in piecemeal fashion this afternoon. Smith then passed it along as part of a larger piece on the saga.
Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com tweets that amidst all the back-and-forth, Sloan would listen if another team becomes interested in hiring him.
Elsewhere in the Northwest Division:
- Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post offers an appreciation of durable Nuggets guard Andre Miller, who recently passed the 1,000-games-played mark:
- The Salt Lake Tribune's Jazz beat reporters spoke with Earl Watson about the advanced treatment he received on his sprained ankle.
- Jake Appleman of The New York Times looks at how Ricky Rubio is helping turn around the Timberwolves.
- Nicolas Batum, who will be a restricted free-agent this summer, will have a chance to show off his versatility against the Nuggets tonight. His agent, Bouna Ndiaye, has suggested he will look at other teams before negotiating again with the Blazers after the two sides failed to agree on an extension last month.
Dwight Howard Rumors: Saturday
Yesterday, it was reported that Dwight Howard's camp informed the Lakers that the center would opt out of his contract and test free agency if he is traded to Los Angeles. Howard, according to sources, also might be skittish about the idea of following Shaquille O'Neal's footprints with a move from Orlando to L.A. Meanwhile, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com writes that the Lakers are still among the center's finalists, along with the Nets and Mavericks. We'll keep track of all of today's news on Howard right here..
- Kobe Bryant told Dwight Howard he envisions the big man playing a Tyson Chandler-like third-fiddle role behind himself and Pau Gasol, a source tells Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM. Rudolph reiterated reports that Howard has told the Lakers he won't sign an extension with them if he's dealt to the team.
- A source close to Howard told Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter) that Bryant is the reason why the 26-year-old is leaning away from the Lakers. "Kobe messed it up. That's all I can say for now," the source told Kennedy.
Draft Notes: Irving, Harkless, Moser
The Cavs are relying on top-pick Kyrie Irving for heavy minutes, notes Tom Reed of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, and a rotation shortened by injuries is taking its toll on the team, Reed says. The heavy use must not be affecting Irving's play, however. Justin Kubatko notes in The New York Times that Kyrie Irving is quietly on his way to perhaps becoming the first rookie to ever shoot 50% from the floor, 40% from three-point range, and 80% from the free-throw line.
Here are a few notes as teams try to find the next Irving in preparation for June's draft:
- Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv reports multiple sources have said St. John's freshman Moe Harkless may enter the draft. The 6-foot-8 Harkless is rated as the 36th best prospect by DraftExpress.com. Zagoria quotes a scout who predicts a "great future," but wishes he'd stay another year.
- ESPN projects UNLV sophomore forward Mike Moser, a UCLA transfer, as a late first-round pick (Insider only), but Moser tells Jim Beseda of The Oregonian that he's glad to be a Rebel and isn't planning on leaving for the draft after this year.
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel wonders what would have happened if the Magic hadn't passed over Danny Granger for Fran Vasquez in the 2005 draft.
Odds & Ends: Noel, D’Antoni, Smith, Lopez, Russell
The Knicks suffered another tough loss last night as they fell to the Celtics, 91-89. Here's more on New York and other items from around the league..
- Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak doesn't regret trading Lamar Odom to the Mavericks in December, writes Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times.
- Kyle Singler isn't sure if he'll play for the Pistons next season, writes Justin Rogers of MLive.com. The Duke product, who was taken in the second round by Detroit in 2011, says he's enjoying his time with Real Madrid in Spain.
- Cathal Kelly of the Toronto Star asked Andrea Bargnani if he'll consider leaving the Raptors at the end of his deal in 2015. The former No. 1 overall pick said that he has made it "pretty clear" that he wants to remain in Toronto.
- Chauncey Billups recruited Kenyon Martin heavily to join the Clippers, tweets J. Michael Falgoust of USA Today. Martin and Billups are both represented by agent Andy Miller.
- Massachusetts high school center Nerlens Noel now appears to be in line for the 2013 NBA Draft rather than 2014 after reclassification, writes Adam Zagoria for Sheridan Hoops. Earlier this week, Noel told Dave Telep of ESPN.com that he's now set to graduate with the class of '12 rather than '13. The center now projects as the top pick in the 2013 draft according to DraftExpress.com.
- Despite uncertainty surrounding his job, Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni will not be fired today despite back-to-back, last-second losses to the Bulls and Celtics, NBA sources tell Marc Berman of the New York Post.
- Even though the Knicks were linked to Kenyon Martin, the guy that they've really had their eye on is J.R. Smith, writes Moke Hamilton of Sheridan Hoops. Smith said to be considering five teams, including New York. The Clippers are also in that group but they can only make Smith a minimum offer after agreeing to sign Martin using their room exception.
- Six weeks after undergoing surgery on his right foot, Nets center Brook Lopez still isn't sure when he'll be able to return, writes Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger. The Nets will likely need a healthy Lopez in order to put together a package for Orlando's Dwight Howard.
- Friday marks the league deadline for teams to either release players with non-guaranteed contracts or guarantee their deals for the rest of the season. Pistons 29-year-old rookie Walker Russell is making a strong case to stay with Detroit, writes David Mayo of MLive.com.
Nuggets Waive DeMarre Carroll
The Nuggets have waived small forward DeMarre Carroll, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Carroll joined Denver as a non-guaranteed training camp invite in December.
Carroll, 25, was drafted 27th overall by the Grizzlies in 2009 but has bounced around the league ever since. The University of Missouri product appeared in four games for the Nuggets this year for a total of 21 minutes.
Dwight Howard Rumors: Friday
Updates on the latest Dwight Howard rumors have been a daily feature over the course of Hoops Rumors' first week. Considering we still have exactly six weeks until the trade deadline, that trend may continue for a while yet. Here are Friday's Howard items, with the newest updates up top:
- Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wonders why Orlando no longer appears to be an attractive destination for NBA free agents – specifically why the Magic haven't sold Howard on the idea that they can attract stars to come to him, as opposed to the other way around.
- Howard's camp has informed the Lakers that the center would opt out and test free agency if he's dealt to Los Angeles, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
- Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM suggests the Nets should just wait out the Howard sweepstakes, since he seems interested in signing with them on the open market after the season.
- The Magic figure to push for resolution one way or the other when March arrives, says Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. The club said the DeVos family hasn't asked the Magic not to trade Howard until after the All-Star game in Orlando, Schmitz tweets.
- The Nets are quietly confident they can land Howard, with a team source telling Fred Kerber of the New York Post the team is "more than just 'in the mix.'"
- Kerber also hears from sources that Howard isn't overly enthusiastic about going to the Lakers because Shaquille O'Neal's shadow looms. After the disagreement between the two about the "Superman" nickname, I could buy that Howard would be reluctant to again follow in O'Neal's footsteps with an Orlando-to-L.A. move.
- One executive to Kerber, on the possibility of trading for Howard without being sure he'd sign a contract extension: "To bring in a player of that magnitude without assurances he’d be staying would be professional suicide."
- In an interview with 710 ESPN in Los Angeles (via ESPNLosAngeles.com), former Lakers GM Jerry West said if he were an executive in a situation similar to Howard's, he would call the player's bluff: "I don't think any agent or player is going to leave $30MM on the table. I just don't believe that's going to happen."
Berger On Howard, Williams, Chandler, Nash, GMs
Ken Berger of CBSSports weighed in on the Dwight Howard situation, Deron Williams and several other hot NBA topics. Here is a quick summary of his updates:
- Dwight Howard would already be on his way out of Orlando if he was able to make a decision on a destination, according to a person close to the situation. Rival executives believe that after the All-Star game in Orlando, the Magic will be forced to move him.
- Berger says that despite reports to the contrary, the Lakers are indeed one of Howard's finalists, along with the Mavericks and Nets. The Lakers would prefer to move Pau Gasol in a deal over newly named All-Star starter Andrew Bynum.
- While the Nets are encouraged by Deron Williams' outlook on the team, the team knows that it must complete a Dwight Howard-sized deal to resign the point guard.
- Despite league-wide concern over how the Kenyon Martin situation shook out in China, the Nuggets remain committed to signing Wilson Chandler.
- Steve Nash has not requested a trade, but if he should, the Suns would do all they can to accommodate his request.
- On top of the Lakers interest in Ramon Sessions, the team has also discussed the possibility of adding Gilbert Arenas.
- Berger suggests the following front office members have uncertain futures: Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld, Pistons team president Joe Dumars, Kings team president Geoff Petrie, Raptors team president Bryan Colangelo
Lakers Hesitant On Sessions
The Lakers are one of many teams interested in trade candidate Ramon Sessions. According to Marc Stein, the Cavaliers would be looking for at least one of the Lakers two first-round picks in 2012.
Stein says Los Angeles is balking at including either of their first-rounders, or their $8.9MM trade exception, until they have a clearer understanding of Dwight Howard's situation in Orlando. The Lakers interest in Howard is well documented, and they clearly don't want to jeopardize any of their trade assets in a deal for Sessions if there is a chance they can land Howard.
The Lakers received one of their 2012 first-round picks and the $8.9MM trade exception when they dealt Lamar Odom to Dallas in the offseason.
Wizards Working To Move Blatche
The Wizards are actively looking to move power forward Andray Blatche, according to Marc Stein in his Weekend Dime. Washington has attempted to initiate a Blatche for Tyrus Thomas swap with the Bobcats. Stein adds that ideally, the Wizards would get Boris Diaw and his expiring deal in return, but Charlotte is unlikely to take on Blatche's salary without sending Thomas and his similar sized deal to Washington.
After averaging 16.8 PPG and 8.3 RPG in 2011, Blatche has been a disappointment in 2012, averaging only 10.3 PPG and 7.1 RPG while shooting a paltry 38% from the field. Blatche has three years, and nearly $23MM remaining on a contact extension he signed in September of 2010.