Minor Moves: Selby, Jazz, Ahearn, Randolph
In a team statement, the Nets announced they have signed guard Armon Johnson to a 10-day contract (Twitter link). The move was likely made to help replace Jordan Farmar, who will miss the rest of the season with a groin injury. The 6’3″ Johnson has played just five minutes this season with the Trail Blazers.
- The Grizzlies recalled Josh Selby from the D-League, according to J. Michael Falgoust of USA Today (via Twitter). If that sentence looks familiar, that’s because Memphis has sent the guard to Reno and recalled him three times this season. That’s the maximum number of times that a player can be demoted in a year, so Selby won’t be sent down again.
- The Jazz are expected to sign Blake Ahearn to a ten-day contract, according to Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune (via Twitter). Ahearn is the D-League’s all-time leading scorer and led the league in scoring this season 23.8 PPG while shooting over 40% from three-point range.
- Former NBA player Shavlik Randolph has officially signed with Puerto Rico’s Piratas de Quebradillas, according to Sportando. He spent the first part of this season in China.
Blazers Notes: General Manager, Dragic, Camby
The Trail Blazers are in action tonight and looking to score their first W against Houston this year as they trail 2-0 in the season series. A look at what’s happening in Portland..
- Team president Larry Miller said that he interviewed two GM candidates last week, one face-to-face and one by phone, tweets Jason Quick of The Oregonian. Miller added that he is “hearing interest from a number of people I didn’t necessarily think about” and “an interesting list” has emerged for the position (Twitter link). Longtime GM Donnie Walsh is reportedly thinking about the job.
- Rockets point guard Goran Dragic figures to be on the Blazers’ radar this summer and said that his top priorities will be to find a coaching staff that can help him grow as a player as well as an opportunity to start and “run the team”, according to Quick (all Twitter links). Houston should have roughly $18MM in cap space this offseason while Portland will have between $15-20MM (Twitter link).
- Former Blazer Marcus Camby said that former coach Nate McMillan never lost the team and was surprised to see him let go, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. Camby also admitted that he was a little bitter to learn that Portland traded him to the Rockets (Twitter link).
Reaction To End For Lamar Odom In Dallas
The timing of their parting was difficult to peg down, but the partnership between the Mavs and Lamar Odom has seemed doomed for a while. When Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said Odom was testing his patience last month, it looked as though that patience was already gone. Here's what people around the league are saying in the wake of this morning's news that Odom will not play anymore this season for the Mavs:
- Brian Kamenetzky of ESPNLA.com (via Twitter) doesn't see Odom rejoining the Lakers.
- Mavs General Manager Donnie Nelson says that everyone from the locker room up to the front office wanted to see Odom succeed in Dallas, tweets Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram.
- Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com opines that Odom will go down as one of the biggest disgraces in Dallas sports history. MacMahon believes that Odom's departure could give the defending champs a much-needed morale boost as they enter the playoffs.
- Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com tweets that Mavs players had little to say about the matter today, while Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd avoided the media entirely.
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News notes that Odom will continue to draw his salary even though he will not be playing. He was scheduled to make $8.9MM this season, though the lockout cut that down to about $7.16MM.
- The Lakers were going to try to trade both Odom and Pau Gasol right up until the March 15 deadline, but they knew that Odom wouldn't be able to handle the constant trade rumors, Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com tweets.
- Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio wonders, via Twitter, whether Odom will ever play in the NBA again.
- Caplan believes it was a move the Mavs had to make, as Odom, who had an emotionally turbulent offseason, simply wasn't focused on basketball.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Del Negro Says Job Was Never In Danger
Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro told J. Michael Falgoust of USA Today that reports that he lost his locker room and was on the verge of being fired were "ridiculous" and unfounded. Los Angeles limped their way through the bulk of March but have now won eight of their last nine games.
"Everyone goes through rough patches," the coach said. "Teams are losing games. The Western Conference is very difficult. You're dealing with a lot of things with this season, a whole new team. People that [coach] understand how difficult it is. If you haven't gone through it, you don't know."
Del Negro added that he speaks with upper management on an almost daily basis and had never been told that his job was in jeopardy. The Clips now sit at 34-22 and would have the fourth seed in the Western Conference if the playoffs started today.
Prospect Profile: Perry Jones III
When it comes to selecting players in the NBA draft, potential and production have long battled one another in the minds of each team's top decision makers. Is selecting an undeveloped talent with incredible "raw" ability worth more than taking a serviceable "sure thing" who holds a limited ceiling?
Earlier today, Baylor sophomore Perry Jones III announced his plan to leave school and enter the NBA draft. He's the most interesting pawn this argument's had in years; a case can be made that no player in recent memory does a better job of matching otherworldly skill with overwhelming frustration. In his two years at Baylor, Jones has been college basketball's great model of inconsistency. Before the season began, the 6'11" Jones was pegged as a sure-fire top five pick, with some scouts even pegging him in as a possible number one overall selection. But after another up and down season that saw him disappear time and time again in the biggest of moments, the prodigious 20-year-old has dropped down to the middle of the first round on several boards.
In an insider article, ESPN.com's Chad Ford says a possible reason for Jones' unpredictable play was Baylor head coach Scott Drew's decision to play him out of position. With the mentality of a guard who likes the ball in his hands on the perimeter, it's crucial for whatever team that selects Jones to place him in situations where he's comfortable. One site has compared him to Anthony Randolph, which isn't glowing praise. But on the other end, Jones has the physical skill set to dominate on both ends of the court. Think Lamar Odom or LaMarcus Aldridge.
From a statistical standpoint, Jones' numbers didn't improve from his freshman to sophomore season. He averaged 13.5 PPG this year but his points and free-throw attempts went slightly down while his rebounds (7.6 RPG) stayed the same. There was no more aggression in his second year than there was in his first, no enhancement in attitude or change in style.
Jones has unbelievable talent, but which team selects him could be a larger factor in determining what type of career he has than his ability to exercise that once in a generation type of skill. His upside is scary but so is his basement.
Perry Jones III is the 2012 draft's most delicate flower, and right now the sun isn't shining in Charlotte, Toronto, Washington D.C., or any other cities that are most likely to scoop him in a move of pure desperation.
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Celtics, Anthony, Nets
In what has to be one of the most shocking collapses in recent memory, the Sixers have gone from championship contender to fringe playoff team in a mere couple of weeks. In an Insider article, ESPN.com's John Hollinger says one reason for the constant losing has been a sharp decline in offensive efficiency. Philly.com's John Mitchell says the problem lies in the team's lack of character.
- In a column that ponders possible locations for Dwight Howard next season, Bulls.com's Sam Smith says the Sixers are almost sure to break up their potent Jrue Holliday, Evan Turner, Andre Iguodala trio.
- Rich Levine of CSNNE.com says Celtics fans should be hoping the Bucks make the playoffs. If they do, Boston gets Milwaukee's second round draft pick from the offseason Keyon Dooling.
- The New York Post's Tim Bontemps points out a rare bright spot relating to the Nets. If the Rockets make the playoffs, New Jersey receives the team's first round draft pick.
- Coming off an Easter Sunday thriller that saw Carmelo Anthony score his most points in a Knicks uniform, ESPNNY.com's Ian Begley writes that the All-Star is thriving in isolation sets. With Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin both out, New York will only go as far as Anthony can take them.
Draft Update: Mitchell, Jenkins, Cheek, Plumlee
In what's somewhat of a surprising decision being that he was projected to be a first round pick, North Texas freshman Tony Mitchell will return to school, according to the Denton Record-Chronicle's Brett Vito. Mitchell averaged 14.7 PPG, 10.3 RPG and was named the Sun Belt Conference's Freshman of the Year.
According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, sources say Vanderbilt junior John Jenkins and Villanova junior Dominic Cheek will soon declare for the draft, but Duke junior Mason Plumlee will go back to school.
Jenkins averaged 19.9 PPG on 43.9% shooting from beyond the arc last season and is projected to be an early second round pick. Cheek put up averages of 12.5 PPG and 3.9 RPG. In a separate report, Steve Wiseman of The Herald Sun writes that Plumlee still has not decided whether or not he'll enter the draft. Plumlee has until April 29th to make a decision.
Central Notes: Macklin, Pacers, Jamison
Pistons rookie Vernon Macklin, a second-round pick in last year's draft, earned rave reviews for his D-League stint, Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News writes. He averaged 14.3 PPG and 14.5 RPG in 10 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Macklin is a restricted free agent, but looks forward to working with Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander this summer, notes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
- HoopsWorld.com's Joel Brigham writes about how the Pacers firm stance to be patient in their rebuilding process has paid off. Instead of dealing franchise player Danny Granger when the public assumed they'd do just that, the team has decided to wait out the development of their last few draft picks. Their restraint appears to be working.
- Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison may not be in the team's future plans, but his recent strong play and consistent professionalim deserves some recognition, writes The Plain Dealer's Tom Reed.
Minor Moves: Kelenna Azubuike
The D-League playoffs begin this week, and we'll keep track of today's news from that circuit as well as international developments here:
- Dallas has recalled Kelenna Azubuike from the D-League Texas Legends, according to a press release from the Mavs. Earl K. Sneed of Mavs.com originally tweeted the news. The Mavs signed Azubuike March 23 and immediately sent him down to the Legends, where he appeared in seven games and averaged 6.4 PPG and 4.4 RPG in 12.9 MPG.
Cavs Re-Sign Lester Hudson
The Cavs have signed guard Lester Hudson to another 10-day contract, tweets Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. Hudson's first 10-day deal expired last night.
Hudson has averaged 12.7 PPG, 3.8 APG and 3.5 RPG in 23.8 minutes a night during his six-game stint with the Cavs. He scored 23 points Friday against the Raptors and 26 on Sunday versus the Nets. Earlier I speculated that the Hornets, in need of a point guard, might try to grab him, but this move blocks them from doing so, at least for the time being.