Southwest Notes: Rockets, Gasol, Jones, Odom
Only one Southwest team is in action tonight, as Dirk Nowitizki and the Mavericks take on Steve Nash and the Suns in Phoenix. To make up for the lack of games, let's take a look at a few Thursday links out of the Southwest:
- Based on calls he's received and reports he's read, Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle concludes the Lakers are "floating the idea" that a package of Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola could get Pau Gasol to Houston. Solomon says there's no way the Rockets would do such a deal though.
- Solomon Jones' second 10-day contract has expired, and the Hornets have decided not to sign him for the rest of the season, reports John Reid of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. Jones played in 11 games for New Orleans, averaging 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per contest.
- Lamar Odom and Mavericks owner accused New York media of blowing their alleged spat out of proportion, writes Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Jamal Crawford Rumors: Thursday
The Timberwolves and Trail Blazers may be discussing a deal involving Jamal Crawford and Luke Ridnour, while the Pacers also have some interest in Crawford, as we learned yesterday. This morning, we also heard that the T-Wolves appear to be the frontrunner for the Blazers shooting guard. We'll continue to track the latest updates on the Crawford sweepstakes here throughout the day, with the newest additions up top:
- Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge reports that the Pacers and Blazers have discussed Crawford, with Portland asking for A.J. Price and a first-round pick. A source tells Golliver that "the first team to give Portland a first round pick for Crawford will have him" (Twitter links).
- The Blazers' asking price for Crawford includes a first-round pick in addition to either Ridnour for the Wolves or Eric Bledsoe for the Clippers, says Ken Berger of CBS Sports. That could pose a problem for the Clips, who have already traded both first-rounders they owned for 2012.
- Timberwolves GM David Kahn is downplaying the team's interest in making a deadline deal, says Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. Kahn says the Wolves are "not looking to address anything this season" and that he doesn't mind having three point guards in Ricky Rubio, J.J. Barea, and Ridnour. The GM did leave the door open slightly though, noting that there's still an "eternity" until next Thursday's deadline.
- Asked if he was feeling affected by the trade rumors, Crawford told Haynes: "I wouldn't say me so much me, but the people around me for sure. Because decisions like that just don't affect you, they affect everybody."
Odds & Ends: Brooks, Kahn, Raptors, McCants
Aaron Brooks' Guangdong Southern Tigers are making a run at the Chinese Basketball Association title, delaying his return to Phoenix. When his season in China ends, Brooks will find himself in a situation similar to Wilson Chandler's in Denver and Patrick Mills' in Portland, as Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic outlines. I expect the longer Brooks remains in China, the less likely he is to play in the NBA this year, since he'll be a restricted free agent again this summer if he sits out the season.
Here are a few more Thursday links from around the Association:
- David Kahn is in the final year of his contract, but the Timberwolves hold team options on Kahn for the next two years, and owner Glen Taylor tells Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press he wants to keep his GM around.
- In addition to rounding up a few rumors in his morning column for HoopsWorld, Steve Kyler also talked trades in a chat today.
- The Raptors are contemplating their trade options as the deadline approaches, says Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld.
- Rashad McCants told Primera Hora that his agent advised him to play in Puerto Rico as a potential route back to the NBA (hat tip to Sportando for the translation).
- Pistons GM Joe Dumars, who told MLive earlier this week that he's "talking to everybody," answers a few more trade-related questions from Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News.
Nets Re-Sign Gerald Green
The Nets have officially re-signed Gerald Green to a second 10-day contract, tweets Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger.
Fresh off an MVP performance in the D-League's All-Star Game, Green signed with the Nets last Monday. In his brief stint with New Jersey, the 26-year-old has averaged 18.6 minutes per contest, with double-digit scoring in his first two games with the team.
Given all the injury problems New Jersey has faced over the course of the season, Green should continue to provide valuable depth and minutes in place of sidelined players like Damion James, Shawne Williams, and Keith Bogans. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Nets sign the former first-round pick for the rest of the season when his second 10-day contract expires.
GM Billy King first told Andy Vazquez of the Bergen Record on Tuesday that the Nets would re-sign Green (Twitter link).
Josh Smith Still Hoping For Trade
Josh Smith, who has been the subject of numerous trade rumors in the past, has let the Hawks know that he wants be traded by next week's deadline, reports Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cunningham hears from a source that Smith would like a fresh start in a situation "where he can better reach his potential on and off the court."
Smith wanted out of Atlanta at the end of last season, according to Cunningham, and that desire has resurfaced recently for a number of reasons. The 26-year-old believes the Hawks didn't do enough to promote his for All-Star consideration this season, and wants to play for a franchise he feels is more dedicated to winning a championship, says Cunningham.
Earlier today, ESPN.com's Chad Ford ranked Smith as one of the likeliest big-name players to be traded by the deadline, behind only Rajon Rondo. Recent reports have suggested the Celtics and Timberwolves had some interest in Smith, though Atlanta wouldn't be interested in simply acquiring players on expiring contracts. Cunningham adds the Warriors to the teams who have inquired on Smith, but says the Hawks have yet to indicate whether they want to move the former 17th overall pick.
Smith, who has a 15% trade kicker included in his current deal, is eligible for unrestricted after next season, in the summer of 2013.
Berger On Howard, Pierce, Jackson, Beasley, Nash
The latest Postups column from Ken Berger of CBS Sports is packed with interesting deadline notes, so let's dive right in…
- While Berger doesn't necessarily predict a quiet deadline, he points to other factors that could contribute to reducing trade activity this season: For potential contenders, the need to roll the dice on a veteran is offset by a strong draft class this summer. Additionally, the amnesty clause gives teams an alternative to trying to offload bad contracts in trades.
- The Rockets and Warriors maintain interest in trading for Dwight Howard without assurances that he'd sign long-term. Houston also continues to be "in hot pursuit" of Pau Gasol.
- The Celtics are "prepared to entertain offers" on Paul Pierce, but he may be the hardest of Boston's Big Four to move, since he doesn't have an expiring contract like Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, or the youth of Rajon Rondo.
- One executive says the Trail Blazers, who have been among the most active teams, need to make major changes.
- Rival execs think that the Hawks may deal Kirk Hinrich in the next week.
- The Cavaliers are open to absorbing salary in exchange for the right assets.
- Stephen Jackson has drawn an "amazing" number of inquiries, though most interested teams would want the Bucks to take on future salary to complete a deal.
- The Magic and Nets could look into trading for Michael Beasley, with both teams ultimately sharing the same goal — enticing Dwight Howard by upgrading their rosters at other positions.
- Steve Nash is content to remain with the Suns this season, in part because it's not in his nature to ask out and become the bad guy. "He'd like to go and win," a person connected to Nash said. "But he's not prepared to play the Carmelo [Anthony] card." To me, that suggests he'd be a long shot to re-sign in Phoenix at season's end.
- Berger also shared an update on Jamal Crawford, which we covered in today's Crawford rumor round-up.
Ford On Rondo, Smith, Kaman, Wallace, Nash
While a number of NBA executives are anticipating a quiet trade deadline, the conversations ESPN.com's Chad Ford has had still lead him to believe that significant deals will be made. In an Insider-only piece, Ford listed ten impact players who could be moved, from the most likely (Rajon Rondo) to the least likely (Steve Nash). Here are the highlights from Ford's column:
- Even though the Celtics insist they won't trade Rondo, that isn't consistent with what rival GMs are saying after talking to GM Danny Ainge. Ford thinks Ainge would move Rondo if he could get two solid pieces in return.
- The Hawks have been exploring potential Josh Smith deals "for years" and would be interested in an offer that nets them a legit point guard and a decent forward.
- Chris Kaman has drawn "a lot of interest" from the Warriors, Rockets, and Heat.
- The Blazers appear more open to trading Gerald Wallace now than they were at the start of the season. Ford thinks the Magic could make a big push for the 29-year-old forward.
- If the Magic hang onto Dwight Howard, the Nets will stay the course with Deron Williams, but a Howard trade anywhere besides New Jersey could force the Nets to explore trade options for Williams.
- Ford says it doesn't make much sense for the Suns and Steve Nash not to consider a trade, since Phoenix could end up losing Nash for nothing at season's end anyway.
- Monta Ellis, Pau Gasol, and Eric Gordon also cracked Ford's list.
NBA Execs Expecting Quiet Deadline
Dwight Howard. Pau Gasol. Rajon Rondo. Monta Ellis. There has been no shortage of stars identified as potential trade candidates in the weeks leading up to the 2012 trade deadline. But with just one week left for teams to work out deals, there seems to be a growing sense that this season's deadline will be a quiet one. As a source told Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (Twitter link), "Fans want trades. GMs don't."
Teams may be reluctant to make major deals this season in part because of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement and the compressed lockout-season schedule. Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld tweets that limited practice time and a later-than-usual trade deadline will give clubs less time to incorporate new acquisitions into their systems before the playoffs get underway. Chris Mannix of SI.com (Twitter link), meanwhile, alludes to uncertainty among general managers about what the deadline will bring, since many teams seem unwilling to take on salary — perhaps a result of the new CBA's increased restrictions on teams above the luxury tax threshold.
There are still seven days for GMs to talk trades, and I expect things to heat up as next Thursday approaches. Underperforming teams will start feeling more pressure to make moves, and perhaps they'll become a little more willing to include an extra piece or two in their trade offers. But, for all the rumors we've heard involving stars like Howard, Gasol, and Rondo, this year's deadline may not feature the sort of blockbusters we saw last season, when Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams were on the move.
Thibodeau Okay With Bulls Standing Pat
C.J. Watson and Richard Hamilton won't be active for Chicago tonight as the Bulls try to follow up a last-second victory in Milwaukee with another win over the Magic. Although both players are listed as day-to-day, neither seemed on the verge of returning — Watson wore a walking boot on his sprained left ankle yesterday, while Hamilton said he was "just trying to lift [his] arm."
Even with the health of a pair of Bulls guards up in the air though, coach Tom Thibodeau doesn't feel like the team needs to add reinforcements before the trade deadline.
"If we don't do anything, we feel very good about the people we have," Thibodeau told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. "We feel depth is one of our strengths, and we have more than enough to win with."
The Bulls are still exploring possible trades, as Thibodeau acknowledged to Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago, but that's more about due diligence than a pressing desire to get anything done.
"We talk every day," Thibodeau said, referring to the Bulls' brass. "Their job is to study the league, field calls; and often times if you have a good team, you have good players, people want them, they call. That doesn't mean we're going to do anything. We listen. And if we think it could make the team better we'll consider it, if not we're more than happy with the roster that we have. We feel very good about that."
Concerns For Lakers Involving Brown, Offense
The Lakers have lost on consecutive nights to teams near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, resulting in some growing unrest in the locker room over the team's offensive performance. According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN Los Angeles, there's increasing concern among Lakers players about coach Mike Brown's offensive system, which has the club scoring at its lowest rate in the shot-clock era.
Sources tell Shelburne that the Lakers' struggles on the road have many of the team's veterans longing for a return to Phil Jackson's Triangle offense. Since the players-only meeting held by Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher last month, a few players have met privately to discussing running elements of the Triangle, says Shelburne.
"The players want to unify," one source told Shelburne. "They know how to win, and they want to fix this. I don't know if they can, though."
The other topic of discussion during that initial players-only meeting was the trade rumors surrounding the team. Following the Lakers' most recent losses, along with continued reports of the players at odds with Brown and the coaches, you'd have to think those trade rumors will only pick up steam in the coming week. Whether it's the roster, the coaching staff, or the on-court philosophy, something needs to change for the Lakers if they hope to contend for a title this season.