Knicks Notes: Stoudemire, Carmelo, Novak
The Knicks look to avoid being swept in their second straight postseason appearance as they take on the Heat tomorrow in Game Four. The last time the team facing elimination was able to produce a three-game winning streak in a New York-Miami playoff series was in 1997, when the Heat were able to overcome a 3-1 deficit to advance to the Conference Finals. While the chances of such a comeback by New York are quite improbable, the team will certainly be playing under that premise going into tomorrow's matinee matchup. Here's what else we've heard out of the Big Apple:
- Al Iannazzone of Newsday says that Amare Stoudemire could return to the starting lineup tomorrow in place of Steve Novak if he is cleared to play. If not, then J.R. Smith could start in place of Novak (Sulia link). Earlier, Iannazzone took note of Mike Woodson's post-practice comments about Amare, saying that he looked "pretty good." Woodson also said that he will leave it up to Stoudemire and his doctors to decide if he's ready to play.
- Newsday's Neil Best suggests that regardless of the Knicks' performance in this year's playoffs, it's still too soon to give up on Carmelo Anthony.
- Roderick Boone of Newsday discusses what's going through the mind of Steve Novak amidst his struggles against Miami. Novak says that he has no problem if Woodson decides to use him with the second unit after experimenting with him in the starting lineup in Game Three.
- Iannazzone obtained Carmelo's thoughts on avoiding a sweep.
- Benjamin Hoffman of The New York Times' Off the Dribble blog talks about the last time the Knicks won a playoff game.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Grant Hill
This past December, then-free agent Grant Hill was rumored to be interested in the Bulls, Knicks, Clippers, and Spurs before ultimately choosing to stay in Phoenix. At the time, Steve Nash had publicly stated that it was "very, very important" to him that the Suns retain Hill. Now that Nash's future with the franchise remains up in the air, the former Duke product could also be wearing a different uniform on opening night in October.
Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports quoted Hill before a loss in Miami on March 20: "I definitely think I can go another year, maybe two…If the season were to end right now, and I would sort of evaluate the season, I would definitely want to come back and play next season." Hill would undergo knee surgery 10 days later, and wasn't able to play much for the rest of the season after returning on April 13.
Now heading into another summer of free agency, it's safe to presume that Hill will have some question marks about his durability that may not have been there during last year's offseason. From 2008-09 to 2010-11, Hill managed to play in at least 80 games in each of those seasons and averaged roughly 30 MPG. Despite being able to play 28 MPG this season, he missed 17 games (many of them occurring late in the season while the Suns competed for the eighth seed in the West), which marks the most he's missed since being a member of the Magic in 2006-07.
This year, Hill averaged 10.2 PPG while shooting 44.6% from the field and 76.1% from the free throw line. Although those numbers rank among the lowest statistical averages he's produced over his 17-year career, that type of contribution could still be valuable on a playoff team looking to add depth and veteran leadership. Should he decide to play next year, I don't expect Hill to be playing nearly the same amount of minutes as he did with the Suns.
At this point, I'm not so sure he'd be able to garner a contract for more than the veteran's minimum. Hill turns 40-years-old in October, so his chances of receiving a multi-year deal are very slim. With that being said, I could see him being linked to wherever Steve Nash's name comes up this summer. Their friendship was a major reason why Hill stayed in Phoenix, and after playing five consecutive years together, the opportunity for both to compete together as teammates on a contending team will be an intriguing option to consider moving forward, especially if it will be Hill's last season as a pro.
Odds & Ends: Curry, Beal, Kidd-Gilchrist, Sloan
Warriors guard Stephen Curry had shown to be one of the league's most promising young talents after two years into his NBA career, but was limited by lingering ankle injuries during his third season. Rusty Simmons of SFGate reports that the former Davidson star views his recent ankle surgery as a relief and that he fully expects to be ready for training camp in October. Curry, who feels that backup power forward and depth are the team's biggest needs, also wants to be more involved with Golden State's draft process and plans to attend prospect workouts over the next two months (Sulia link). Here are the other significant links we've gathered up this evening:
- Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe tweeted that Bradley Beal from Florida has signed with Mark Bartelstein and Priority Sports. Beal is projected to be a top five pick in next month's NBA Draft.
- Michael Kidd-Gilchrist announced via his Twitter account that he has signed with Creative Artists Agency.
- Following a season that likely included an innumerable amount of facepalms compared to high-fives, the Bobcats are now focused on adding a new head coach after recently parting ways with Paul Silas. Mitch Lawrence of the NY Daily News hears that Charlotte might try to pursue Jerry Sloan as a possible replacement, citing GM Rich Cho and Michael Jordan's admiration for the former Jazz coach. He also mentions that Sloan turned down six head coaching offers last season (among them Golden State and Detroit), which would imply that it will take a compelling proposal to convince him to join the league's biggest re-building project.
- Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas briefly touches base on the possibility of Rick Carlisle becoming a free agent this summer. Carlisle is finishing up his last year of a four-year contract, and despite president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson continually saying that the Mavericks coach isn't going anywhere, there has been no mention of talks regarding a new deal. Owner Mark Cuban declined to elaborate on the situation today, saying that he "doesn't talk about free agent coaches or otherwise." In a separate article by Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas, Cuban insists that he does not regret letting Tyson Chandler leave because of the financial flexibility he was able to preserve.
- David West has been one of the NBA's most significant free agent acquisitions from last year's offseason, helping the Pacers secure the third seed in the Eastern Conference and homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld discusses how West's presence has benefited the culture and confidence of the team.
- Despite a second straight lottery season for the Cavaliers, owner Dan Gilbert remains a popular figure in Cleveland, writes Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston. With such a close connection to the team's fan base, Livingston sees Gilbert as a more wealthy, modern-day version of legendary baseball owner Bill Veeck.
Minor Moves: Justin Dentmon
We'll track today's news from the D-League and overseas in this post, with latest update on top:
- Justin Dentmon arrived in Italy today to join Italian league club Olympia Milano, tweets Emiliano Carchia of Sportando, who reported he signed with the team last week. Dentmon, who signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Spurs and Raptors this season, was the D-League's MVP this season, averaging 22.8 PPG and 5.5 APG for the Austin Toros.
Money Time: Upcoming Free Agents In The Playoffs
This is the time of year reputations are made in the NBA. A breakout performance or a disappointment at playoff time can change how teams view some of their most important players. The stakes are even higher for players about to head into free agency, since this is their last chance to make an on-court impression before they sign a contract.
With that in mind and a week of playoff action in the books, let's take a look at some upcoming free agents who've played particularly well, and some who've played especially poorly:
Winners
Nick Young, Clippers: He's always been capable of heating it up, and in his first playoff appearance since his rookie season, he hasn't shrunk from the spotlight. He canned three straight treys in the Clippers' amazing 27-point comeback in Game 1, and is the team's third leading postseason scorer at 15.0 PPG on 10 of 16 shooting so far.
Spencer Hawes, Sixers: When he wasn't in the starting lineup for Game 1, it looked like Hawes would have little opportunity to showcase his abilities, and the outlook was pretty grim when coach Doug Collins got visibly upset with Hawes when he got in foul trouble in Game 2. But as a starter in a Game 3 victory for the Sixers, he went for 21 points and nine rebounds in more than 32 minutes on the floor, and was a go-to option down the stretch.
JaVale McGee, Nuggets (restricted): It looked like he was adding to his lengthy personal blooper reel during an 0-for-6 playoff debut in Game 1. It's easy to get carried away with his 16-point, 15-rebound performance from Game 3, but it's a sign of the potential that makes the 7-footer a commodity. Plus, he had nine rebounds in 24 minutes in Game 2.
Losers
Ryan Anderson, Magic (restricted): He might have won the Most Improved Player of the Year award this week, but his performance in the playoffs has fueled speculation that his regular season play was a product of having a dominant center like Dwight Howard around. He's just 10-for-31 from the field, and has averaged 8.5 PPG and 3.8 RPG. He went to the bench early in the fourth quarter during today's Game 4 against the Pacers, and the Magic rallied from 19 down to force overtime without him.
Steve Novak, Knicks: He's played 67 minutes over three games, but the Heat's defense has only allowed him to shoot seven three-pointers the entire series. Novak has proven he's deadly when he gets the chance to fire away, but he's of little value if he can't get a shot off.
Josh Howard, Jazz: You could excuse him here, since he just came back from knee surgery that originally looked like it would end his season, but he's shot just 3-for-13 and averaged 5.0 PPG as the Jazz have struggled mightily against the Spurs.
Southwest Notes: Rockets, Mavs, Chandler
All three Southwest Division teams in the playoffs are in action later today, as the Spurs and Grizzlies look to take control of their series, while the Mavs seek to delay their seemingly inevitable elimination at the hands of the Thunder. Here's the latest from around the division:
- Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld takes a look at the offseason for Rockets, recommending that they package their two picks in the middle of the first round to try to move up into the top five. The team's priorities should be finding a legitimate starting center and going after a franchise player who can be the go-to option late in games, Ingram says.
- As many as 10 Mavericks could be playing their final game for the team tonight, says Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com, who adds that only Dirk Nowitzki, Vince Carter, Brandan Wright and Kelenna Azubuike seem likely to return.
- Jason Terry believes the Mavs would be putting up a better title defense if the team had re-signed Tyson Chandler, notes Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, but said he and his teammates can't dwell on that. "Tyson isn't coming back, and we've realized that," Terry said. "I definitely say he had a great season — Defensive Player of the Year — but it's a presence you've missed. An active big man that can cover ground, and so we don't have that. We try to find other ways to win with the group we have."
Petrie On Thompson, Free Agency, Draft, Whiteside
Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee sat down for a Q&A with Geoff Petrie, president of basketball operations for the Kings, and discussed a number of topics. Here are the highlights of the two–part interview:
- Restricted free agent power forward Jason Thompson is "somebody we will definitely give the qualifying offer to and look to re-sign," Petrie says.
- The team will look to make roster changes that add interior defense, three-point shooting and offensive efficiency this summer.
- The draft lottery will help decide how the team allocates its resources with regard to free agents. The Kings currently sit in the fifth slot, with a 7.6% chance of grabbing the No. 1 pick.
- The deepest positions in the draft are power forward and center, Petrie believes, and he says the team will not pick a player from overseas in the first round.
- With the team already about $15MM under the cap and no plans to spend major money in the offseason, Petrie says there's no pressing need to use the amnesty clause.
- It's been hard to assess second-year center Hassan Whiteside, who's been limited to only 19 career NBA games in large part because of injuries. His minimum-salary deal becomes guaranteed for next season if he's not waived by July 15. Petrie said the team will work with him over the summer, so that seems like a sign they'll keep him around.
- Petrie has one year left on his contract, and was noncommittal when asked how much longer he would stay in his position. "I honestly don't think about that," he said. "I think about next year and what we do. Whatever the future holds after that, personally or collectively, I really don't spend much time pondering that."
Suns Pursuing Alonzo Gee
The Suns are targeting Cavs restricted free agent Alonzo Gee with a multi-year offer worth $4MM per season, according to a tweet from Brendan Bowers of SLAM Online. Teams can't start signing other teams' free agents until July, but Bowers says the Suns are the early leaders for Gee's services.
Gee blossomed this season in Cleveland, having bounced around the NBA and the D-League his first two seasons after going undrafted out of Alabama. The 6'6", 220-pound swingman averaged 10.6 PPG and 5.1 RPG, both career highs, while posting a 13.2 PER. He supplanted Omri Casspi as the starter at small forward midway through the season. Gee just finished the second year of a minimum-salary contract he signed with the Cavs in December 2010 shortly after the Wizards waived him.
The Cavs figure to have plenty of cap space this summer, particularly once they get rid of the $18MM+ cap hold of Antawn Jamison, who's unlikely to re-sign with the team. They should have the ability to match, if they so choose. The Suns will have a lot of cap space, too, and their pursuit of Gee indicates they may be reluctant to re-sign incumbent small forward Grant Hill, who turns 40 in October. Phoenix's offseason plans are beginning to take shape, as earlier this week Lon Babby, the team's president of basketball operations, said it was likely the Suns would match any offer for restricted free agent Robin Lopez.
Odds & Ends: Mavericks, Terry, Anthony, Spurs
Tonight at the American Airlines Center, the Mavericks will look to stave off a first round sweep at the hands of the Thunder. Barring a miracle turnaround and subsequent deep playoff run, things figure to look rather different in Dallas next season. Here’s more on the Mavs and other notes from around the league..
- Guard Jason Terry is worried that tonight’s game could be his last wearing a Mavericks uniform, writes Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com. Terry will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and reportedly won’t take a discount to remain in Dallas.
- If the Mavericks don’t land Deron Williams this summer, then the team’s mission to clear cap space will be a disaster, writes Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com.
- Howard Beck of the New York Times opines that the Knicks can only go so far with a Carmelo Anthony-centric offense. Beck also adds that Phil Jackson would demand a much more team-oriented game if he were coaching in New York, though that seems unlikely to come to fruition.
- As the Spurs and the Jazz do battle in their first round series, Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune points out that the two franchises have emulated each other quite a bit over the years.
Prospect Profile: John Henson
In 2008, North Carolina celebrated the commitment of 6'11" forward John Henson, an ultra-slender high school junior out of Tampa, Florida. Weighing in at just 185 pounds, Henson was viewed as having sky-high upside potential and was ranked in the tier just below the likes of John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, and Derrick Favors by most scouting services. While those players would all come off of the board in the top 5 of the 2010 draft, Henson played three seasons at UNC and made major strides in all areas of his game. However, the forward has yet to truly harness all of his potential.
You don't need to watch film of Henson to know that the youngster's primary flaw is his lack of bulk. The big man has put on size since the day that he arrived at Chapel Hill but is still extremely slim at 220 pounds. Henson turned into a dominating presence on defense for the Tarheels over time, thanks in large part to his freakish 7'6" wingspan. However, one has to imagine that he will be easily out-muscled early on in his NBA career by opposing 4s and 5s. One area where he can make an instant impact, however, will be on the perimeter. The combination of length and quickness that Henson possesses is rare and the big man has shown that he can clog passing lanes with ease.
Even though Henson's strengths skew more towards defense, the 21-year-old will have to work to develop his offensive skill set. Henson has become more and more comfortable with the ball in his hands over the course of his collegiate career and averaged 13.7 points per contest off of 50% shooting in his final year. Henson got a great deal of his points off of finesse moves with his back to the basket. While he doesn't have the strength to bully opponents in the 7'0" range at the next level just yet, smaller defenders will struggle to keep him contained in the post. One area where he'll surely shine is in the transition game, where his long arms can lead to turnovers and easy baskets going the other way.
Henson also has the potential to become a truly dominant rebounder in the Association. The forward averaged 10 RPG across his sophomore and junior seasons as he cleaned the glass with his uncanny leaping ability. Henson's dimensions and vertical leap are actually reminiscent of another talented rebounder – JaVale McGee. A key difference between the two, however, is overall character and a strong mental aptitude for the game. Proponents of Henson's potential would argue that, unlike McGee, he has the dedication to become a rebounding force on a nightly basis. With solid workouts prior to the draft, Henson could easily join teammates Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller in the lottery.