Odds & Ends: Pacers, Walsh, Cavs, Jones, Roy
The second, third and fourth overall picks in the 2001 draft (Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, and now Eddy Curry) have won titles in consecutive years since 2009, HoopsHype notes (via Twitter). The draft's top pick, Kwame Brown, continues to wait. Here's tonight's look around the Association..
Southeast Notes: Shaw, Magic, Heat, James
Earlier tonight, we learned that Game 5 hero Mike Miller is currently weighing his options and isn't sure if he'll return to basketball in 2012/13. The veteran guard is still under contract for three more seasons and nearly $19MM, but he may look to go out on top after winning his first NBA title in memorable fashion. Here's the latest batch of links out of SoBe and the rest of the division..
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Nash, Raptors, Celtics
Today's bird rights ruling for the players' union will have a massive effect on this summer's free agent market and is great news for several teams, including the Knicks. Now with extra flexibility, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News suggests that the club could split the mid-level exception to re-sign J.R. Smith and make a run at Jason Kidd. Here's more on the Knicks and the rest of the Atlantic Division..
Mike Miller To Decide On Future Soon
Heat guard Mike Miller will meet with doctors soon to determine if his injured back needs surgery that includes a lengthy rehabilitation process, according to the Associated Press. Miller has dealt with a slew of injuries in recent years, including a foot problem that he played through this season.
Warriors GM Bob Myers Talks Rush, Roy, Draft
About two months after we first heard that new Warriors GM Bob Myers would "aggressively" try to keep restricted free agent Brandon Rush in Golden State, Myers' comments on Rush today were even more unequivocal. "We have a restricted free agent who we really like, and who we're going to keep," the GM said, according to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Although Rush is expected to join Klay Thompson, Richard Jefferson, and Dorell Wright as options at the two and three, Myers didn't rule out targeting another veteran shooting guard — Brandon Roy.
Odds & Ends: Freeland, Thunder, Knicks, Bulls
Joel Freeland will talk to the Trail Blazers this weekend and could agree to a contract before the Olympics, according to Ian Whittell of the Wardle Whittell Agency (Twitter links). Freeland, who was drafted by the Blazers in the first round in 2006, is "open to offers" and will have four Portland execs watching him play Lithuania at an Olympic warm-up in Houston tomorrow, says Whittell (Twitter link).
Here are a few more Friday afternoon odds and ends, including items on the top player on the market, the Western Conference champs, and the NBPA's latest victory….
Draft Updates: Friday
ESPN.com's Chad Ford will be in his element over the next few days, as the NBA shifts its focus from the Finals to the 2012 draft. Ford's latest Insider-only piece at ESPN.com breaks down the first-round candidates into tiers, from Tier 1 (Anthony Davis) to Tier 6 (14 players, including Evan Fournier, John Jenkins, and Miles Plumlee). Of particular note is Tier 4, where 10 players figure to compete for the final five lottery spots. The tier ranges from the high-upside prospects (Jeremy Lamb, Perry Jones III) to the safer plays (Tyler Zeller, John Henson). As the countdown until draft night continues, we'll round up today's draft notes right here throughout Friday, with the latest updates on top:
- Raptors sources tell Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun that John Henson had a very good workout for Toronto, putting him into the mix at eighth overall (Twitter link).
- Meyers Leonard headlines the list of prospects scheduled to work out for the Warriors this weekend, according to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Earlier updates:
Hawks Have Contacted Danny Ferry About GM Job
The majority of our Danny Ferry rumors in recent weeks have seen him linked to the 76ers, as Rod Thorn's successor. However, Philadelphia isn't the only team with interest in the Spurs executive, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. Broussard reports that the Hawks have been in touch with Ferry about becoming the team's new general manager.
Southeast Notes: Clark, Miller, Hawks, Bobcats
The Southeast Division came into existence just eight years ago, in 2004, so it's no surprise that the Heat are the division's only NBA champion its inception, winning their second title last night. But Miami isn't the only franchise in the Southeast with an NBA Finals victory in its history. Before Washington's team was the Southeast's Wizards, it was the Central Division's Bullets, winning an NBA title in 1977/78. The Wizards introduced new acquisitions Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza at a press conference today, and they weren't the only Southeast club in the news — let's round up a few more Friday notes out of the division….
Ford On Pistons, Bucks, Lamb, White, Rockets
We've already linked one Friday piece from ESPN.com's Chad Ford in our daily Draft Updates post, but Ford is back with another Insider-only column full of draft news and rumors. Here are his newest items on the Pistons, Bucks, Rockets, and more….