2012 June | Hoops Rumors

Celtics-Heat Notes: Spoelstra, Big 3, Shooting

By Daniel Seco | at June 6, 2012 11:05 am

Kevin Garnett reminded the world on Tuesday night that a 36-year-old player can still be a game-changer as the man known as The Big Ticket put up 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 94-90 victory over the Heat. The Celtics, deemed underdogs by perhaps even their own mothers, have willed themselves to come within one victory of beating the Heat and advancing to the NBA Finals. LeBron James is averaging a double-double in the series as he's scoring 31.8 PPG and grabbing 10.0 RPG against Boston. The Heat, losers of three in a row, face a win-or-g0-home game in Boston on Thursday with a Game 7 in Miami looming. Let's catch up on the latest news and headlines surrounding the Eastern Conference Finals…

Bulls Notes: Offseason Moves, Deng, Boozer

By Daniel Seco | at June 6, 2012 9:49 am

The Bulls will face an uphill battle next season as they find themselves without star point guard Derrick Rose for an indefinite period of time thanks to his torn ACL. Beyond Rose's injury, the Bulls could be without Luol Deng if he elects to undergo wrist surgery after playing in the London Olympic Games. The Bulls will face a series of decisions this summer as they hope to remain one of the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference after falling to the Sixers in the first round of the playoffs this spring. ESPNChicago.com's Nick Friedell has the latest news and notes out of Chicago…

5 comments Chicago Bulls C.J. Watson Carlos Boozer Kyle Korver Luol Deng Ronnie Brewer

Odds & Ends: Magic, Bobcats, Wolves, Cavs, Draft

By Alex Lee | at June 5, 2012 10:43 pm

We already heard from new Blazers' general manager Neil Olshey tonight, who implied that he all but has his mind made up that the man to fill Portland's coaching vacancy should be interim head coach Kaleb Canales. Portland is one of multiple franchises that needs to make decisions coaching and front office decisions this offseason. Let's look at some of those latest rumors as well as a couple more notes from around the league on this Tuesday night:

1 comment 2012 NBA Draft Charlotte Hornets Cleveland Cavaliers Minnesota Timberwolves Orlando Magic Courtney Lee Kevin Martin Kevin Pritchard Rudy Fernandez Tom Penn

Blazers Introduce Neil Olshey As GM

By Alex Lee | at June 5, 2012 9:47 pm

Neil Olshey was introduced as the new Blazers GM today and spoke to the press for over 30 minutes (video via CSN Northwest). Olshey will be very busy very quickly with the NBA Draft approaching, free agency looming in July and of course, the Blazers' coaching vacancy. Last week the Clippers announced that they had agreed to retain Olshey as their general manager but after Portland kept pushing, the two sides parted ways and Olshey agreed to terms with the Blazers.

0 comments Portland Trail Blazers Kaleb Canales Neil Olshey

Prospect Profile: Quincy Miller

By Alex Lee | at June 5, 2012 8:35 pm

For no NBA Draft prospect are the pre-draft workouts more important than for Baylor's Quincy Miller. If you haven't heard of Miller or don't know much about him, maybe it is because you saw him but just assumed he was Perry Jones III. There is no way one college team, much less the Baylor Bears, could have two 6-foot-10 super athletic wings who can shoot, right?

In all seriousness, the reason that Miller has flown under the radar is probably because most people think he should have gone back to Baylor for his sophomore season. Miller walked onto Baylor's campus as top-10 pick type of talent, but he was coming off a senior year in high school where he tore his ACL. And it was evident – Miller was good as a freshman, but not great. He averaged 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game for a loaded team that was ranked in the top 10 all season long.

If Miller's knee was still recovering throughout the season, he has a chance to really skyrocket up draft boards by showing it in his workouts. Miller has a lanky 6-foot-9 frame and a ridiculous 7-foot-3 wingspan. Normally when you think of a guy like that, you think project – but that isn't Miller. Miller is a polished player who has a high basketball IQ.

While Miller shot over 34 percent from three at Baylor, making NBA threes shouldn't be on his agenda just yet. Miller's mid-range jumper is strong and that is how he can attack defenses early in his career while he works on his long-range technique. He holds the ball lower than he should on his jumper which could hinder his ability to get off his shot in traffic in the NBA. But his feel is there so a few tweaks and he has the ability to turn into a long range weapon for his size.

Miller is athletic and a good ball handler for his size. He is a capable rebounder and his length makes him a natural shot blocker, even allowing him to frequently alter jump shots. How much athleticism he gets back while his knee approaches 100 percent will be a big factor in his ceiling.

Miller can eventually be very versatile in the NBA. His natural length and height is his best attribute, but he desperately needs to put on bulk. Right now he isn't strong enough to play the 4 in the NBA. If he can bulk up so he can play 3 or 4 it would just make him more valuable.

Quite frankly, the more I look at Miller and the more intrigued I get. He is going in the late 20s in most mock drafts and that sounds like a steal for a guy with this combination of skill and potential. Draft Express has him ranked 17th on their top 100 prospect list (which sounds more like it). They have his worst case scenario as Austin Daye and his ceiling as a poor man's Kevin Durant. If I am a team in the late 20s, that is a gamble I am willing to take all day. There are several teams with a second first round pick between 16 and 24 – Houston, Boston and Cleveland – for whom it would make sense to gamble early on Miller assuming they're willing to take on a little more risk than the team's with only one selection. The reward could be franchise changing.

—–

0 comments 2012 NBA Draft Prospect Profile Quincy Miller

Grizzlies Expected To Shop Rudy Gay

By Luke Adams | at June 5, 2012 6:47 pm

TUESDAY, 6:47pm: Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio confirms that "talk around the league" indicates the Grizzlies are shopping Rudy Gay. According to Amico, Memphis seems to be seeking a lottery pick in return.

"He won't be an easy move," one team executive told Amico. "It's hard to imagine them getting back what they want for him, based on what I'm hearing."

7 comments Brooklyn Nets Golden State Warriors Memphis Grizzlies Orlando Magic Toronto Raptors Rudy Gay

Offseason Outlook: Atlanta Hawks

By Luke Adams | at June 5, 2012 6:38 pm

Guaranteed Contracts

Joe Johnson ($19,752,645)
Josh Smith ($13,200,000)
Al Horford ($12,000,000)
Marvin Williams ($8,287,500)
Zaza Pachulia ($5,248,750)
Jeff Teague ($2,433,077)

Options

None

Non-Guaranteed Contracts

Ivan Johnson ($762,195)

Free Agents (Cap Holds)

Kirk Hinrich ($12,000,000)
Jason Collins ($854,389)
Erick Dampier ($854,389)
Willie Green ($854,389)
Tracy McGrady ($854,389)
Jannero Pargo ($854,389)
Vladimir Radmanovic ($854,389)
Jerry Stackhouse ($854,389)
(Hilton Armstrong – $854,389)
(Randolph Morris – $854,389)
(Josh Powell – $854,389)
(Etan Thomas – $854,389)

Draft Picks

1st Round (23rd overall)
2nd Round (43rd overall)

Cap Outlook

Guaranteed Salary: $60,921,972
Non-Guaranteed Salary, Cap Holds: $22,160,474
Total (not including draft picks): $83,082,446

2011/12 was another productive season for Joe Johnson, who averaged over 18 PPG for the seventh straight year and bested his career rates by averaging 18.4 PER and .454/.388/.849 shooting. Unfortunately for Johnson, despite his play on the court, he's still best known for signing one of the most exorbitant contracts in NBA history, one that could handicap the Hawks this summer and in the future.

Johnson's cap figure, which increases to nearly $20MM in 2012/13, isn't the only thing hampering the Hawks' financial flexibility. Teammates Al Horford and Josh Smith will also be making $12MM+, and Marvin Williams is earning $8MM+ himself. Add it all up and the Hawks have committed $60MM+ to six players for next year.

This season, the Hawks dealt with their lack of cap flexibility by signing a plethora of players to minimum-salary deals — Tracy McGrady, Erick Dampier, and Jerry Stackhouse were among the eight players earning minimum salaries for Atlanta in 2011/12. However, relying on the same strategy again likely won't get the team anywhere. For the past few years, the Hawks have been good enough to make the playoffs, but not good enough to seriously contend for the East, and a shake-up is needed if the team hopes to make its way into the top tier of the conference.

Fortunately for the Hawks, the amnesty provision is still a possibility. Unfortunately, the club has so many potential amnesty candidates that they might be best served to hang onto it for now. While a player like Williams looks like a reasonable candidate this season, it might be a mistake for the Hawks to wipe his relatively modest contract off the books and leave themselves defenseless if Horford's or Johnson's deals eventually take a turn for the worse. Assuming Horford is fully healthy, both guys are still productive contributors for now, but each have four years and plenty of money left on their contracts ($48MM for Horford, $89MM+ for Johnson). Having the opportunity to amnesty one of those veterans if they suffer from injuries or declining production later in their deals could be more valuable to Atlanta than lesser immediate savings.

If they don't use the amnesty clause to create cap space, the Hawks could turn to the trade market. Williams may still have a little value to a team interested in a former second overall pick on an expiring contract, though Atlanta likely wouldn't get anything of use in return. The Hawks' more intriguing trade candidate is Smith, who has hoped to be moved for some time. A perennial candidate for All-Star consideration, Smith should be a valuable asset, though considering he's still in Atlanta, it seems the Hawks have yet to find a suitable offer. In my view, the club's best option could be trying to deal Smith in a package for a lottery pick, without taking on much salary in return. A team like the Blazers might be a logical trade partner.

If the Hawks are interested in really blowing things up, making a play for Dwight Howard makes some sense as well. A package that includes Smith and Horford could interest the Magic, and if the Hawks acquired Howard and failed to re-sign him, at least it would give the club some flexibility to regain cap room and rebuild around Johnson.

Atlanta's other asset of note comes in the form of its first-round draft pick. While the Hawks don't pick until 23rd overall, this year's deep class of prospects means that pick could turn into something worthwhile, whether it's a guard like Tony Wroten, a big like Fab Melo, or a wing like Quincy Miller.

The Hawks may not be major players on the free agent market this summer, but it wouldn't be a surprise to hear the team mentioned in a handful of trade rumors. Something has to change if the Hawks are going to turn into a legit Eastern Conference contender, and the trade market seems to present the best opportunity for Atlanta to make significant changes this offseason.

Storytellers Contracts and Sham Sports were used in the creation of this post.

—–

0 comments Atlanta Hawks Offseason Preview

Poll: Recent Coaching Decisions

By Luke Adams | at June 5, 2012 5:17 pm

While the Bobcats and Magic search for a new head coach, several other teams have decide to retain the ones that finished the 2011/12 season. Despite a class of potential coaches that includes Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan, Nate McMillan, Stan Van Gundy, Mike D'Antoni, Michael Malone, Brian Shaw, and more, the Clippers, Knicks, and Wizards elected not to interview other candidates before retaining their own guys. Was that the right decision?

0 comments Hoops Rumors Polls Los Angeles Clippers New York Knicks Washington Wizards

Odds & Ends: Magic, Fernandez, Bynum, Knicks

By Luke Adams | at June 5, 2012 4:28 pm

Given the lack of competition for the top head coach candidates, the Magic have been able to proceed deliberately in their search for Stan Van Gundy's replacement. With the Knicks and Wizards retaining interim coaches and the 7-59 Bobcats the only other club interviewing candidates, Orlando hasn't had to worry about missing out on a head coach until now, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. Robbins writes that the Trail Blazers and new GM Neil Olshey could end up replacing Kaleb Canales, and that many of the same candidates the Magic are eyeing could have interest in the Portland job.

As the Magic decide whether to accelerate their coaching search, let's round up a few more odds and ends from around the Association….

0 comments Dallas Mavericks Los Angeles Lakers New York Knicks Orlando Magic Portland Trail Blazers Acie Law Andrew Bynum Jeff Bower Rudy Fernandez

Ted Stepien Rule

By Luke Adams | at June 5, 2012 3:21 pm

While a rule like the Gilbert Arenas provision can flatter its namesake, the late Ted Stepien, former owner of the Cavaliers, may have preferred not to go down in history as the namesake for the Ted Stepien rule. Stepien owned the Cavs in the early 1980s, and made a number of trades that left the franchise without first-round picks for several years. As a result, the league eventually instituted a rule that prohibited teams from trading out of the first round for consecutive future seasons.

Because the Stepien rule applies only to future draft picks, teams are still permitted to trade their first-rounders every year if they so choose, but they can't trade out of the first round for back-to-back future seasons. For instance, since the Knicks have traded their 2012 first-round pick to Houston, they aren't allowed to trade their 2013 first-rounder unless they receive a first-round pick (for either '12 or '13) in return. However, following the 2012 draft, the Knicks regain the right to trade that 2013 first-rounder, since their '12 first-rounder is no longer considered a future pick.

Teams will have to consider the Stepien rule over the next few weeks as they mull trading draft picks for veterans. The Warriors and Rockets, for instance, each have a pair of first-rounders and are viewed as candidates to move those picks for a veteran player or two. However, because both teams have traded their 2013 first-rounders – Golden State to the Jazz and Houston to the Nets – they can't package this year's first-rounders for players unless they receive a '12 or '13 first-rounder in return.

Here are a few more rules related to trading draft picks:

For salary-matching purposes, a draft pick counts as $0 until the player signs a contract.
The "Seven Year Rule" prohibits teams from trading draft picks more than seven years in advance. For instance, during the 2011/12 season, a 2018 draft pick could be traded, but a 2019 pick could not be dealt.
Teams are permitted to include protection on draft picks. For example, the Mavericks' 2012 first-rounder was traded to the Rockets, but was top-20-protected. Since the pick eventually landed at No. 17, Dallas was able to keep it for another season.
For non-protected traded picks, the receiving team may be granted the option of deferring the pick for one year.

Note: This is a Hoops Rumors Glossary entry. Our glossary posts will explain specific rules relating to trades, free agency, or other aspects of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement. Larry Coon's Salary Cap FAQ was used in the creation of this post.

—–

0 comments Hoops Rumors Glossary

Headlines

Month: June 2012