Minor Moves: Ryan Reid
We'll track today's notable international and D-League-related transactions right here:
- Ryan Reid has signed with Puerto Rican team Mets de Guaynabo, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Reid spent most of the season with the Thunder, shuttled back and forth between Oklahoma City and the team's D-League affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers. The Thunder had to waive the 25-year-old in March to clear a roster spot for Derek Fisher.
Atlantic Notes: Prokhorov, Nets, Celtics, Raptors
Nets majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov is in America this week and spoke to reporters yesterday about meeting with Deron Williams and his desire to turn the team into a championship contender. If you're looking for something substantial though, look elsewhere, says Dave D'Alessandro of the Star-Ledger. D'Alessandro calls Prokhorov an absentee owner who doesn't really follow the team closely, and wonders how that will affect players deciding whether or not to sign with the Nets.
Here are a few morning Wednesday morning links out of the Atlantic Division:
- Trail Blazers fans are hoping the Nets' first-round pick Portland holds turns into perhaps a fourth- or fifth-overall selection, but as a NetsDaily piece points out, that's not possible based on the current standings. The best the Blazers' could do with New Jersey's pick right now is seventh overall. I updated the status of this pick and other protected first-rounders yesterday.
- With the 2012 London Olympics approaching, a pair of Celtics teammates expressed a lack of interest in playing for Team USA, as Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida writes. Rajon Rondo said he loves his summers too much to consider playing in the Olympics, while Ray Allen said he believes players should be paid to participate, given the profit made off Team USA jersey sales.
- Unlike Toronto's NHL team, the Raptors shouldn't be sorry for the team's performance this season, says Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. While Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke took out an ad in the Star to apologize for his team's disappointing record, Bryan Colangelo and the Raptors have done exactly what they intended this season — develop young players, maintain cap flexibility, and incorporate the philosphies of new coach Dwane Casey.
Warriors Eyeing Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom's departure from Dallas has been impossible to avoid for the Mavericks this week. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd were still being asked about it last night, and owner Mark Cuban cited Odom's reality show as a possible factor in the veteran forward's disappointing season in Dallas.
For other teams, however, the Odom drama represents an opportunity rather than a distraction. According to Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group, Odom is on the Warriors' radar as the offseason approaches.
Getting Odom to Golden State would be difficult. He's on a non-guaranteed contract for next season, owed a buyout of $2.4MM on June 29th or $8.2MM if he's on a roster past that point. The Warriors would probably have to acquire Odom via trade, since I doubt he'd be eager to sign as a free agent with a non-contender that could only offer him the mid-level exception. Golden State would want to find a way to add Odom to a starting lineup of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, David Lee, and Andrew Bogut.
With Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com suggesting Odom left his heart and head in Los Angeles, the Warriors may have the geographic advantage over most of the league, but Oakland isn't L.A. and the Warriors aren't the Lakers. I have trouble seeing the Warriors' interest evolving into anything real here.
Odds & Ends: Odom, Bucks, Knicks, Hudson
- With Lamar Odom set to be listed as inactive for the remainder of the season, the question becomes where the former Rhode Island star will end up next year, ponders Chuck Schilken of the Los Angeles Times. Schilken checks in with a series of different sports writers from around the Tribune Co. family of newspapers and finds two teams (both hailing from Los Angeles) that may prove to be a good fit for the beleaguered forward. Even though Odom had a rough stretch with the Mavs, he is still only one season removed from being the most productive sixth man in the league.
- Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel writes Wednesday night's matchup against the Knicks is the most important game of the Bucks' entire season. A victory by the Bucks over the Knicks would give Milwaukee a head-to-head playoff tiebreaker in the case both teams finish with the same record. While the Bucks are currently on the outside of the playoff picture looking up at the Sixers and Knicks, the team does have the least difficult schedule remaining out of the three teams.
- Forget Phil Jackson and John Calipari for the Knicks head coaching job, says ESPN NBA Insider Chris Broussard, especially if the Knicks can make a run in the playoffs. Broussard thinks Mike Woodson can remain the coach in New York if he can get his team to challenge the Bulls or the Heat and make the first round of the playoffs competitive. Woodson has done an excellent job of inspiring his team to play strong defense, maximizing the offensive output of Carmelo Anthony and fostering the growth of rookie guard Iman Shumpert.
- The signing of Lester Hudson from the NBA D-League marks one of the best moves the Cavaliers have made this season, writes FOXSportsOhio.com's Sam Amico. After scoring 49 total points in his last two games, Hudson added another 25 points Tuesday night against the Bobcats. What impresses Amico most is how Hudson has provided a boost off of the bench late in the game as the former Celtics second-round draft pick has scored 32 total points in the fourth quarter of the past two games.
Atlantic Notes: Shumpert, NBA Draft, Allen
The Knicks will look to make it two in a row against the Bulls tonight with Derrick Rose on the shelf due to injury. Philadelphia made life more difficult for New York as the Sixers knocked off the Nets to pull ahead of Knicks in the race for the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Here's the latest news and updates from around the Atlantic Division for your perusal.
- Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert was told he was going to go undrafted when he decided to leave Georgia Tech early and declare for the draft one season ago, writes Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com. Shumpert, who grew up in Chicago, was a surprise pick by the Knicks, who took the guard 17th in the 2011 NBA draft. The selection has proved to be a pleasant surprise for New York as Shumpert has averaged 9.8 PPG and 3.2 SPG, making him one of the most prolific thieves in the entire NBA.
- While the Raptors may have an unlikely chance of winning the lottery in the upcoming NBA draft, the depth of talent already making themselves draft eligible improves the odds that the team will be able to acquire a player ready to contribute. Look for Bradley Beal, Harrison Barnes or Jeremy Lamb to land in Toronto if the Raptors end up with the sixth pick in the draft. All three players recently forfeited their remaining collegiate eligibility and declared for the draft.
- HoopsWorld's Derek Page lists Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen among his top six NBA postseason assassins. Page points to the fact that only Reggie Miller has made more than Allen's 285 three-pointers in the playoffs as a major reason for the former UConn star making the list. Allen, 36, has averaged 19.4 PPG, 4.0 RPG and 3.4 APG in 110 playoff appearances with the Bucks, Sonics and Celtics.
Western Notes: Cuban, Griffin, Clippers
With the playoff picture out west very much unsettled with 10 games to go, let's check in on the Western Conference to catch up on the latest news and happenings.
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban hopes making Lamar Odom inactive for the remainder of the season is addition by subtraction in his latest comments on the issue, reports Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com. While Cuban admitted he knew Odom was a fragile entity given how upset the player became in the wake of almost being sent to the Hornets in the Chris Paul trade that never materialized, the Mavs owner was confident he could get the most out of the former Rhode Island star. "Do I feel let down? No. But am I disappointed? Yeah," Cuban said. "I wanted it to work. We worked hard to make it work, but I failed. I couldn't make it work so we moved on. I failed; my business, my company, my team. When we (mess) up, I'll take responsibility."
- Jenni Carlson of The Oklahoman defends Blake Griffin against the growing notion that the former Oklahoma star has developed into a "villain" in the NBA. After being the toast of the league just a year ago, Griffin's reputation has taken a hit for reasons that truly shock new teammate Chris Paul, who has nothing but good things to say about the second-year star. Carlson suggests some of the criticism stems from the highlight-reel dunks Griffin has thrown down this season and how Griffin responds in the wake of them.
- The Clippers are heading toward unfamiliar territory as they are on track to secure the fourth seed in the Western Conference thanks to completely overhauled roster, writes John Rohde of The Oklahoman. Upon clinching their birth, the Clippers would be adding some substance to their not-so-illustrious playoff history. Making the playoffs this season would mark the team's third appearance since 1998 and fifth since 1977 when the team was known as the Buffalo Braves.
Deveney On Knicks, Sixers, Bucks
With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Sixers, Knicks and Bucks remain in the hunt for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. If the season ended today, the Knicks would take the seventh seed, the Sixers sneaking into the playoffs as the eighth seed and the Bucks would be vacationing earlier than desired as they would miss the cut as one of the top eight teams in the conference. Sean Deveney of Sporting News looks at the three teams on the playoff bubble and examines what's at stake for each respective franchise.
- Missing the playoffs would be damaging for the Knicks' reputation as a franchise and further dismay a fan base hungry for a team ready to challenge for a championship. Expectations have continued to increase in New York ever since the arrivals of Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, even though the trio may not be the perfect match for each other. Unfortunately for New York fans, the Knicks have only made the playoffs twice since 2001 and both times were swept in the first round including last season against the Celtics.
- If the Sixers complete their collapse and end up on the outside of the playoff picture, head coach Doug Collins may find himself reexamining his position with the club. After getting off to a strong start thanks to the league's top defense based on points allowed per game, the Sixers have continued to struggle offensively and lack consistency from their starting lineup. While Collins still has two years remaining on his contract and the backing of the Sixers ownership, the head coach may walk away from the job if the players cannot respond to his style of tutelage.
- John Hammond's future as the Bucks' general manager would become less likely to continue if the team fails to make the playoffs this season. Over the course of his tenure with the Bucks, Hammond has exhibited quality decision-making in his drafting of Brandon Jennings, but has made questionable choices including the decision to take Joe Alexander in the 2008 draft. Deveney says simply making the playoffs for the second time during his stint in Milwaukee should be good enough to keep Hammond employed with the Bucks.
Central Notes: Paxson, Cavs, Gordon
The Bulls look to rebound tonight against the Knicks after nearly completing a comeback at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Cavs play host to the Bobcats, a team winless in their past 12 contests in a season where the squad may not even reach double digits in victories. Let's take a look around the rest of the Central Division to catch up on the latest news and happenings.
- Bulls executive vice president John Paxson says his relationship with head coach Tom Thibodeau is "very good," despite reports stating otherwise, writes Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. In a conversation on "The Waddle & Silvy Show," Paxson denied allegations Thibodeau was unhappy with his current contract situation in which the Bulls hold a team option for the upcoming season. After a successful run as Doc Rivers' associate head coach in Boston, Thibodeau joined the Bulls as head coach prior to the 2010/2011 season after which he was named NBA Coach of the Year.
- Brendan Bowers of The Plain Dealer says not only are the Cavs in a position to set up their 2012 NBA draft in a fashion similar to how the Thunder built a championship-caliber squad, but can do so in a way that fast-tracks the process. Armed with two first-round draft picks, Cavs general manager Chris Grant has the opportunity to reshape the current roster to the point that the team could seemingly contend for a playoff spot next season. Bowers suggests Bradley Beal and Andre Drummond as potential fits for the Cavs if they end up with the fourth pick in the draft.
- Ben Gordon didn't sign with the Pistons just for the cushy contract but rather saw the organization as a place where he could consistently contend for titles, writes Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. Unfortunately for Gordon, the Pistons have not reached the playoffs since his arrival while the Bulls have made the playoffs each season since Gordon left Chicago in 2009. The Pistons, 21-36 on the season, currently hold the 10th-best record in the Eastern Conference, leaving them on the outside of the playoff bubble once again.
Odds & Ends: Trail Blazers, Przybilla, Warriors
Let's round up a few Tuesday links from around the NBA….
- The Trail Blazers have interviewed agent Noah Croom for their general manager opening, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Blazers president Larry Miller didn't confirm that Croom was interviewed, but told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com that Portland has yet to reach out to any candidates currently with NBA teams.
- Joel Przybilla told Jason Quick of the Oregonian that he plans to play in the NBA next season, but hasn't decided where yet. Przybilla added that he's "had fun" playing with the Blazers and doesn't regret choosing Portland over the Bulls and Heat (Twitter links).
- Warriors assistant coach Michael Malone could draw interest for teams looking for a head coach this offseason, writes Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com.
- ESPN.com's Chad Ford (Insider link) previews this year's Portsmouth Invitational, naming Jet Chang as his sleeper prospect in the tournament.
- The NBA announced today that the Las Vegas Summer League will return to action this July, after having been cancelled due to the lockout last summer.
- The league also announced that the NBA D-League has set new records this season for both assignments and call-ups.
Update On Protected First-Round Picks
12 teams have traded their first-round picks in the 2012 draft, but not all of those picks will end up changing hands. 11 of the 12 traded picks are protected to some degree, meaning the draft-pick debt will be deferred if certain conditions are met. Coming into the season, only the Timberwolves' first-rounder was a lock to be moved — it was unprotected and will be sent to the Hornets, via the Clippers' Chris Paul trade.
With an assist from Hoops Rumors' tentative 2012 draft order, let's run through the other 11 first-round picks that could be on the move, and check in on the likelihood that they'll actually change hands in this year's draft….
- Bobcats (to Bulls, top-14 protected): Charlotte will keep this pick, having been eliminated from playoff contention long, long ago.
- Kings (to Cavs, top-14 protected): Like the Bobcats, the Kings have been officially eliminated from the playoffs, so Sacramento will hold onto its pick for this year.
- Nets (to Blazers, top-3 protected): New Jersey is currently the league's seventh-worst team, so there's still hope here for the Nets — as it stands now, they'd have a 15% chance of jumping into the top three via the draft lottery. They could also greatly increase those chances by slipping two or three more spots in the NBA standings over the next couple weeks.
- Warriors (to Jazz, top-7 protected): With the league's ninth-worst record, Golden State's chances of retaining this pick look slim. The Warriors would only have a 6.1% shot at the top seven if the season ended today. They're two games ahead of the seventh-worst Nets, so if they could sink below New Jersey in the standings, their top-seven odds would soar to nearly 75%.
- Jazz (to Timberwolves, top-14 protected): John Hollinger's playoff odds over at ESPN.com put Utah's chances for a postseason berth at 34.7%. If the Jazz make the playoffs, they'll give up this pick, so if you trust Hollinger's formula, the team currently has a 65.3% chance of keeping its first-rounder.
- Knicks (to Rockets, top-5 protected): Barring a collapse by New York, this pick will be Houston's. If the Knicks fall out of the postseason, they'll have a very slim chance to jump into the top three and keep the pick.
- Mavericks (to Rockets, top-20 protected): Trading a first-round pick for Lamar Odom didn't exactly work out like Dallas hoped, but that pick may not be going anywhere this season. The Mavs are currently tied for 17th overall in the draft order. If they don't finish the season strong, they'll keep their first-rounder, which the Lakers flipped to Houston in the Derek Fisher deal.
- Rockets (to Nets, top-14 protected): A Rockets' playoff berth will ensure the Nets receive this pick. And right now, Hollinger's playoff odds gives Houston a 90.4% chance at the postseason.
- Clippers (to Celtics, top-10 protected): The Clips hold a four-game lead on the West's ninth-place team (Phoenix), so this pick is almost certainly heading to Boston.
- Lakers (to Cavs, top-14 protected): A lock to go to Cleveland, it currently projects as 26th overall.
- Spurs (to Warriors, top-14 protected): A lock to go to Golden State, this will likely be a bottom-five pick in the first round.