Central Notes: Sessions, Jamison, Pacers, Pistons
Representatives of the Central Division didn't see much action in Sunday's All-Star Game, as Bulls forward Luol Deng and Pacers center Roy Hibbert received the fewest minutes of any Eastern Conference player. The division's only starter, Derrick Rose, played just over 18 minutes, significantly less than the 30+ minutes the East's other four starters logged. So to make up for the Central's lack of face time Sunday, let's round up a few Monday morning notes from the division…
- Bob Finnan of the News-Herald breaks down the Cavaliers' first half and looks ahead to the rest of the season. He says Ramon Sessions is expected to be traded, but Antawn Jamison isn't quite as likely to go, since he's one of the team's leaders.
- Roy Hibbert trusts the Pacers to make good decisions at the trade deadline, as he tells Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld (Twitter link).
- In a Pistons.com mailbag, Keith Langlois answers questions about whether the Pistons could try to acquire Emeka Okafor or eventually take a flier on Greg Oden.
Largest Expiring Contracts Of 2011/12
While a team may not be thrilled to see one of its top players approaching free agency, expiring contracts are a valuable asset in the NBA. If a team has one or more large contracts set to expire, it stands to gain a good chunk of cap flexibility going forward. Players on expiring contracts can be used as trade chips, but the higher the salary, the trickier it is to find a suitable trade partner. As such, many of the impending free agents listed below will simply finish the season with their current clubs.
Here are the largest 2011/12 salaries set to come off the books this summer (minimum $5MM):
Kevin Garnett, Celtics: $21.25MM
Tim Duncan, Spurs: $21.16MM
Antawn Jamison, Cavaliers: $15.08MM
Chris Kaman, Hornets: $14.03MM
Steve Nash, Suns: $11.69MM
Jason Terry, Mavericks: $11.16MM
Marcus Camby, Trail Blazers: $11.07MM
Mehmet Okur, Nets: $10.89MM
Ray Allen, Celtics: $10MM
Jason Kidd, Mavericks: $9.62MM
Boris Diaw, Bobcats: $9MM
Carl Landry, Hornets: $8.5MM
Kirk Hinrich, Hawks: $8.1MM
Kris Humphries, Nets: $8MM
Andre Miller, Nuggets: $7.81MM
Leandro Barbosa, Raptors: $7.6MM
Raymond Felton, Trail Blazers: $7.56MM
Kwame Brown, Warriors: $6.75MM
Grant Hill, Suns: $6.5MM
* Michael Beasley, Timberwolves: $6.26MM
Jermaine O'Neal, Celtics: $6.23MM
* O.J. Mayo, Grizzlies: $5.63MM
Hasheem Thabeet, Rockets: $5.13MM
Additional notes:
- Players marked with an asterisk will be eligible for restricted free agency if their respective teams extend them qualifying offers.
- The Lakers and 76ers hold team options for Andrew Bynum and Andres Nocioni, respectively. Bynum's option will likely be exercised, but Nocioni's won't, clearing his $6.65MM 2011/12 cap figure.
- A number of $5MM+ players have non-guaranteed contracts for next season: Kyle Korver, Lamar Odom, Samuel Dalembert, Martell Webster, Rashard Lewis, and J.J. Redick could all be bought out, taking a portion of their salaries off the cap.
Storytellers Contracts was used in the creation of this list.
Dwight Howard Rumors: Sunday
Today could be the last hurrah for Dwight Howard in Orlando, where the rumored departure of yet another "Superman" has cast a pall over the mood surrounding All-Star weekend, observes Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News. We'll track the D12 rumors through tonight's All-Star Game here in this post, with the latest stuff up top, as usual:
- John Denton, who writes for the Magic website and recently published a book with Howard, tweets that he heard from a "very reliable source" that the Nets doubt that the Magic will move Howard before the March 15th deadline.
- If you watched the All-Star Game, you saw Craig Sager report that Dwight Howard's mom wants him to stay in Orlando. Howard spoke to it after the game, saying, "I don’t know what she said, but that’s my mom’s opinion. That’s it." (via Twitter here and here)
- Magic CEO Alex Martins has denied that they are close to a three way deal that would send Howard to the Lakers, according to Josh Robbins at the Orlando Sentinel. Orlando intends to talk to its All-Star center before March 1st about his offseason intentions.
- While it's unknown whether it would be a factor, Adidas would not object to Howard joining fellow Adidas headliner Derrick Rose in Chicago, despite reports to the contrary, says ESPN Chicago's Nick Friedell.
- Brian Schmitz from the Orlando Sentinel says he has heard rumblings of a three way deal that could happen as soon as March 1st. The deal has Howard going to the Lakers with Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu. Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Jose Calderon would end up in Orlando. Schmitz isn't sure what the Raptors would receive for Calderon. That would be an impressive haul for Orlando.
- Salary cap guru Larry Coon says the Nets and Magic are working on a long-rumored trade involving Dwight Howard and Brook Lopez, though nothing is imminent. A third team could be in on the deal. Coon doubts Dwight Howard will wind up with the Knicks, though the odds of D12 staying are lower than the Magic think they are. (Twitter links)
- The Knicks could be a darkhorse in the Howard sweepstakes, writes Peter Vecsey of the New York Post. He quotes an unnamed Eastern Conference GM who says, "I’m positive the Knicks have called just in case Dwight changes up. I’m sure they’ve offered a combination of everybody, excluding Jeremy Lin, of course. [Magic GM] Otis [Smith] deserves a lot of credit for not putting it out on the street which teams have offered what."
- Vecsey also says a Western Conference executive has told him the Lakers have offered Andrew Bynum for Howard, but the Magic have no interest.
- Carmelo Anthony is glad to be watching Dwight Howard field countless questions about his future this year, instead of being the focus of last year's Melo-drama, notes Marc Berman of the New York Post. Anthony called last year's proceedings "a zoo."
Magic To Pursue Steve Nash?
The rumors continue to pour out of Orlando, though with the Dwight Howard sweepstakes and the All-Star game coinciding, it's hardly surprising. The Magic have already denied that they were nearing a three team trade involving the Lakers and Raptors.
Now, RealGM's Jarrod Rudolph tweets that multiple sources have told him that Otis Smith will "aggressively pursue" Steve Nash at the trade deadline, presumably in an attempt to keep Howard by showing that they are serious about adding talent around him. While it's an interesting idea for Orlando, giving up assets for a Nash rental seems pretty risky considering Nash and Howard could both walk at season's end.
Nash, an unrestricted free agent after the season, already indicated that he would be open to a trade. Paul Coro from The Arizona Republic tweets that the Suns stance to keep him remains.
Odds & Ends: Thomas, Jones, Miles, Howard
With the All-Star Game about to kick off in Orlando, here are some other things going on around the league:
- After signing Lance Thomas to a couple of 10-day contracts, league sources have confirmed that the New Orleans Hornets will now sign the forward for the remainder of the season, according to John Reid at the Times Picayune.
- Reid also indicates that the Hornets will offer big man Solomon Jones his second 10-day contract this year. Both of these moves will be announced later this week.
- Utah Jazz forward C.J. Miles discussed his upcoming free agent status with Brian Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune. Miles indicates that while he will explore his options, he is definitely open to re-signing with the Jazz.
- Smith also talked to Jazz forward Josh Howard, who like Miles, will also consider re-signing with Utah.
Trade Candidate: Marvin Williams
Last week, rumors circulated around Atlanta forward Marvin Williams and his reported request to be traded. While the report was squashed shortly after it came out, the rumor coincidentely happens to be backed by the lowest workload Williams has seen since 2007. In other words, even if Williams didn’t request a trade, now might be an appropriate time for him to do so.
Williams is playing the fewest minutes per game of his entire career (10 fewer minutes per game than he did in the 2009 season) which is incredible given the injury issues Atlanta has seen in their frontcourt this year. If he is in fact unhappy with his role in the Hawks’ offense, he may have a logical reason. Despite the team losing Jamal Crawford to free agency before the season—a player who never met a shot he didn’t want to marry—the 25-year-old veteran’s field goal attempts are the lowest they’ve been since he was a 19-year-old rookie. All this while finally showing some serious improvement in his three-point shot. Williams is taking more threes per 36 minutes than at any point in his career, and making a personal best 43.2% of them.
Atlanta is over the cap, but barely under the luxury tax, so if they were lucky enough to find a potential suitor for Williams’ services (his contract isn’t attractive), it wouldn’t be with the intention of bringing back any increase in salary.
One possible deal that could either work out for both teams (and players), or leave everyone hardly noticing a trade was made at all, would be Marvin Williams to Washington for the talented, yet oft-maligned Andray Blatche. Both players have worn out their welcome with the franchises that drafted them, and both could see an uptick in production when placed in a new situation. Atlanta still needs depth in their frontcourt; pairing Blatche with Josh Smith and a healthy Al Horford next year could make the team’s weakness a strength.
The move would also allow Washington to amnesty Rashard Lewis—Williams could slide in as the long-term replacement—and not have to overpay players just to meet the minimum salary line. He’s never been an elite defender or potent offensive threat, but if placed in a new situation, surrounded by young athletes, Marvin Williams could have a large impact on basketball games.
Blatche is owed approximately 6.6MM more in guaranteed money over the course of their respective contracts, but Atlanta would save $2.2MM over the next two years. It’s a risky deal, but an interesting one.
The Cavaliers have also reportedly shown interest in Williams’ services. One possible deal could be Williams for Ramon Sessions and either center Ryan Hollins or forward Christian Eyenga.
Week In Review: 2/19/12 – 2/25/12
Here's a look back at the biggest stories we covered from the past week:
- Dwight Howard's ongoing trade saga stayed in the news.
- Steve Nash says he'd be "completely open" to a trade.
- Rumors of the Lakers trading Pau Gasol has been picking up steam.
- Wilson Chandler's return to the NBA has been a topic of much discussion.
- Atlanta re-signed Erick Dampier for a second 10-day contract.
- Unfortunate news out of Portland, as it was announced Greg Oden will miss the rest of this season after undergoing a third microfracture knee surgery. He has no plans to retire.
- The Cavaliers signed Manny Harris to a 10-day contract.
- The Spurs signed Eric Dawson to a 10-day contract.
- The Hornets re-signed Donald Sloan to a second 10-day contract.
- After it was speculated that Hawks forward Marvin Williams had requested a trade, Williams came out and denied everything.
- Center Joel Przybilla signed with Portland.
- Nets forward Shawne Williams underwent foot surgery and will miss the rest of the season.
- Clippers guard Chris Paul confirmed what most already suspected when he announced he'd pick up his player option for the 2012/13 season.
- The Lakers will sign former Piston and Celtic Rasheed Wallace.
- The league plans to make 13-man rosters permanent.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 2/19/12 – 2/25/12
Here's a look back at some original material our writers produced over the past week:
- Jesse Blanchard analyzed the rosters in Golden State, Denver, and Detroit, and took a look at where they stand with tradeable assets.
- Luke Adams took a look at Chris Andersen as a possible trade candidate.
- We asked readers if they think Pau Gasol will be traded before the deadline. To date, 57% believe he will be moved.
- I took a look into Shawn Marion's status as a trade candidate.
- Luke Adams went through new trade rules in the latest CBA.
- We broke down all teams with plentiful cap space.
- Zach Links details teams with trade exceptions that expired this week.
- Chuck Myron writes about why Kevin Martin might be a good trade candidate.
Odds & Ends: Celtics, Rose, Paul
With the All-Star game taking place later tonight in Orlando, all eyes will be on the best players in the world. Next year's consensus number one overall draft pick, Anthony Davis, could participate in the game sooner than later. CBS Sports columnist Gregg Doyel wrote a piece on why Davis may be the most impactful college basketball player since Shaquille O'Neal.
Here's a look into what else is happening on the last day of All-Star weekend:
- To continue a theme that's run through their organization since last year's Kendrick Perkins deal, the Celtics are in search of a big man. According to CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely, Boston should be interested in D-league center Jeff Foote, a seven-foot, 265 pound Cornell graduate. It's been reported that New Jersey and Milwaukee have also shown interest in adding Foote.
- Yannis Koutroupis of Hoopsworld talked with Chris Paul about his immediate future with the Clippers.
- Derrick Rose's recent 14-year, $250MM deal with Adidas has opened speculation that the magnitude of shoe contracts could influence a player's decision regarding which market they'd like to play in. Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times says the worry is big-market teams could avoid the harsh luxury tax by paying less for players but getting help from shoe companies to draw them in.
- Golden State owner Joe Lacob tells Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee that he wants the Kings to stay in Sacramento.
Minor Moves: Jeremy Tyler
In a tweet, Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski says that Golden State will send rookie Jeremy Tyler down to the D-league’s Dakota Wizards after the All-Star break.
Tyler, who was taken 39th overall by the Bobcats in last year’s draft before being traded to Golden State for cash, was averaging 1.9 PPG and 1.0 RPG in 14 games with the Warriors this season.