Los Angeles Notes: Paul, Gasol
The latest news and notes from around the Clippers and Lakers on Sunday evening:
- Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com writes that, whatever the outcome of the Clippers' second-round series against the Spurs, the arrival and impact of Chris Paul has made this season a success.
- Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register wonders whether the Kobe Bryant/Pau Gasol partnership is on its last legs.
- ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin implies the same thing, pointing to Bryant's public blaming of Gasol after the Lakers' Saturday loss to the Thunder.
Kirilenko Hopes To Sign With Jazz Or Nets
Forward Andrei Kirilenko, currently playing for CSKA Moscow, was interviewed by Sovsport.ru, and revealed that he hopes to return to the NBA next season as either a member of the Utah Jazz or Brooklyn Nets (translation of original Russian article courtesy of HoopsHype):
Those two teams [the Jazz and Nets] are my top priorities. Utah is where I blossomed, the Nets are owned by a Russian oligarch. But no one knows how life will unfold, so please let's wait a little until July 1st, the hot time of change in the NBA.
Kirilenko, 31, played 10 seasons with the Jazz, from 2001 to 2011, before signing in Russia in October during the NBA lockout. He has not played in the NBA in 2011/12.
Warriors To Move To San Francisco
The Golden State Warriors have finalized plans for a new arena in San Francisco and hope to move by 2017, reports the San Jose Mercury News (all Twitter links).
According to the report, the arena will be paid for with private funds, and an official announcement could come as soon as Tuesday. The arena will be a state-of-the-art facility that can be used for concerts and other events, outside of replacing Oakland's aging Oracle Arena as the home of the Warriors.
Latest On Hornets Ownership And Front Office
New Hornets owner Tom Benson is revamping the team's front office with partners from other business endeavors, reports Mike Triplett of the Times-Picayune.
Benson, 85, who also owns the New Orleans Saints, is expected to make assistants Dennis Lauscha and Mickey Loomis prominent voices in the Hornets organization. He did give specific details of their roles or those of other executives that will be involved, because he has yet to assume ownership of the team officially.
Benson bought the Hornets from the NBA in April. The league previously assumed control of the franchise from cash-strapped owner George Shinn in 2010.
Traded Draft Picks Who Turned Into All-Stars
Patience is an uncommon virtue around NBA front offices, where the pressure is on to win as soon as possible. That means the future, in the form of draft picks, is often mortgaged for the sake of the present. Of the 60 selections to be made at this June's draft, 19 of them have already changed hands, with another two picks subject to be moved pending the lottery, and one more contingent on a decision by the Lakers. That's not counting picks that could be traded on draft day or shortly thereafter, before draftees sign.
As a result, plenty of talent gets moved around, and that includes future All-Stars. Thirteen guys who played in an All-Star Game during the past three seasons were traded, either as future draft picks or recent draftees, before they ever suited up for the teams that originally held their rights. That list includes Rajon Rondo, whose rights the Celtics traded for, traded away, and eventually reacquired. A similar situation happened with Amare Stoudemire and the Suns. Below is the complete list of recent All-Stars whose draft rights were traded.
LaMarcus Aldridge: Pick traded by Knicks to Bulls; Drafted by Bulls, traded to Blazers
Ray Allen: Drafted by Timberwolves, traded to Bucks
Kobe Bryant: Drafted by Hornets, traded to Lakers
Luol Deng: Drafted by Suns, traded to Bulls
Roy Hibbert: Drafted by Raptors, traded to Pacers
Marc Gasol: Drafted by Lakers, traded to Grizzlies
Pau Gasol: Drafted by Hawks, traded to Grizzlies
David Lee: Pick traded by Suns to Spurs; Pick traded by Spurs to Knicks
Kevin Love: Drafted by Grizzlies, traded to Timberwolves
Dirk Nowitzki: Drafted by Bucks, traded to Mavericks
Rajon Rondo: Pick traded by Lakers to Celtics; Pick traded by Celtics to Hawks; Pick traded by Hawks to Suns; Drafted by Suns, traded to Celtics
Amare Stoudemire: Pick traded by Suns to Magic; Pick traded by Magic to Suns
Deron Williams: Pick traded by Blazers to Jazz
Atlantic Rumors: Nets, Lopez, Young, Sixers, Draft
The Sixers and Celtics are taking the weekend off, but resume their compelling series tied at two games apiece Monday in Boston. Here's what's going on around the Atlantic Division:
- While noting that Pacers center Roy Hibbert is in line for much more, Chris Mannix of SI.com lets fly that the Nets are expecting to pay Brook Lopez somewhere between $8MM and $10MM a year in his next contract (Twitter link). Lopez, who played in just five games this season due to injuries, is a restricted free agent, so the Nets may not have a say in the terms of his deal if he chooses to sign an offer sheet with another team.
- The Sixers locked up Thaddeus Young for five years and $43MM before the season started, and he's making his presence known against the Celtics, as John Finger of CSNPhilly.com examines.
- Four second-round draft prospects — Scott Machado, Zack Rosen, Terrell Stoglin and Maalik Wayns — will work out tomorrow for the Sixers, the team announced. Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com has details.
Week In Review: 5/13/12 – 5/20/12
A look back at what made headlines around the league this week.
- The Hawks picked up their option on Larry Drew, meaning the coach will return for the 2012/13 season.
- The Rockets and Hawks joined the Grizzlies, Timberwolves and Thunder among teams interested in guard Alexey Shved, who's currently playing for CSKA Moscow.
- The oft-injured Greg Oden says the Heat is one of the teams he'd like to play for when he makes his comeback.
- The Mavs, Nets, Raptors, Blazers and Warriors are all targeting restricted free agent Jeremy Lin of the Knicks.
- The Bobcats continue to interview candidates for their coaching position, but they aren't expected to hire anyone for several weeks.
- Seattle area governments and a private investor took the next step toward building an arena.
- Larry Bird became the first man ever to win MVP, Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year, taking home the front-office honor for his work as Pacers president of basketball operations.
- The NBA revamped its competition committee, going with a smaller panel of owners, GMs, coaches and a player.
- The Bulls confirmed that Derrick Rose is not expected back until 2013.
- The union is seeking an arbitrator's ruling to determine whether players claimed off waivers retain their Bird rights, and released a statement on the issue.
- The Mavs locked up coach Rick Carlisle with an extension that will run through at least the next four seasons.
- Bouna Ndiaye, the agent for Blazers restricted free agent Nicolas Batum, says his client will jump at the first good offer he gets this summer.
- Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving, last year's No. 1 overall pick, won Rookie of the Year.
- Animosity and legal wranglings continue in the wake of the failed Sacramento arena deal.
- Ty Lawson wants to sign a long-term extension with the Nuggets.
- In addition to their interest in Jeremy Lin, the Raptors may look to sign Suns free agent Steve Nash.
Pacers-Heat Notes: Gordon, Granger, Wade, Riley
There's been no shortage of drama in the Heat-Pacers series, and the leadup to this afternoon's pivotal Game 4 has been no exception. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that Juwan Howard and Lance Stephenson, who directed a choking gesture at LeBron James during Game 3, had a verbal altercation 90 minutes prior to tipoff, the latest chapter in a history of animosity between the two. With Erik Spoelstra going to his fourth staring lineup in four games this series, let's check in on the rumors surrounding these playoff combatants:
- Bob Finnan of The News-Herald believes Hornets restricted free agent Eric Gordon, thought to be a Pacers target, might not get a max deal because of the knee problems he's dealt with the past two seasons. Finnan could see the Hornets and Pacers working out a sign-and-trade with Danny Granger headed to New Orleans, Gordon going to Indiana and Pacers shooting guard Paul George shifting to small forward.
- HoopsWorld's Stephen Litel argues that the Heat should try to trade Dwyane Wade if the team fails to come back to win the series.
- Shaun Powell of NBA.com says team president Pat Riley failed to stock the roster with competent role players, and that's one of the reasons Heat coach Erik Spoelstra may lose his job if he doesn't deliver a title.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 5/13/12 – 5/20/12
Here's the original content and analysis from the Hoops Rumors team this week.
- Zach Links sizes up Illinois center Meyers Leonard in our Prospect Profile.
- I look at veteran small forward Josh Howard in a Free Agent Stock Watch.
- The latest weekly installment of Money Time: Upcoming Free Agents In The Playoffs.
- Damian Lillard's Prospect Profile sheds light on the small-school point guard.
- Zach Links rounds up the best from the blogosphere in this week's Hoops Links.
- A look at what has Arnett Moultrie climbing up draft boards in a Prospect Profile.
- Deron Williams wouldn't be giving up too much money to leave the Nets, as Luke Adams explains.
- The Bucks seek to complement their backcourt stars as the team makes its plans for the summer.
- Alex Lee looks at the dichotomy of opinion on Jeremy Lamb in our Prospect Profile.
- Luke Adams answered reader questions in the weekly Hoops Rumors Chat.
- Chris Kaman is in line for plenty of money, as our Free Agent Stock Watch examines.
- A roundup of the top five vote-getters for each of the NBA's individual awards this season.
- The Blazers have plenty of cap room to play with as they make their offseason plans.
- Luke Adams explains the July Moratorium.
- Daniel Seco asks readers whether the Pacers will beat the Heat with Chris Bosh out.
- Ramon Sessions can elect a $4.55MM option or test the open market, as our Free Agent Stock Watch examines.
- A look at how the contract of Toney Douglas will affect the Knicks this offseason.
- The Grizzlies may give up the right to match offers for O.J. Mayo, as our Free Agent Stock Watch explains.
- Information on the Amnesty Provision, courtesy of Luke Adams.
- The improved Timberwolves look to take the next step as they plan for the offseason ahead.
- I go back in the history books to look at where contributors to playoff teams were drafted.
- The Wizards and Rashard Lewis are at a crossroads, and Luke Adams has the details.
- After a solid finish to 2011/12, the Pistons may not be eyeing a major move as they plot their offseason.
- Sean Highkin asks readers where Steve Nash will end up in free agency.
Odds & Ends: Celtics, Heat, Thunder, Spurs, Lakers
Let's go coast to coast to catch up on the latest news and headlines before King James and the Heat look to make it a series against Indiana…
- Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has been using whatever time off his team is afforded to allow them to rest and get healthier, reports the Associated Press (via the Boston Herald).
- ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst says Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra needs to make adjustments to his strategy if Miami wants to have any chance of winning against the Pacers.
- Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have matured and proven that they can co-exist in Oklahoma City, writes Sam Amick of SI.com.
- Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski believes the Thunder look like a team with legitimate title aspirations thanks to strong play by Durant and Westbrook.
- The Spurs relied on heavily-efficient play to overcome a 24-point deficit to the Clippers on Saturday, writes Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com.
- Tom Ziller of SB Nation says the Lakers should trade Andrew Bynum so that the 24-year-old center's talents don't go to waste in Los Angeles.
- Gregg Popovich's decision to sit Tim Duncan during the 2000 NBA playoffs proved to be the right decision 12 years later, contends J.A. Adande of ESPN.com.
- A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com believes the Celtics need to find a better balance in terms of getting Kevin Garnett more involved in the game on Monday evening against the Sixers.