Seattle Approves New Arena Deal
Seattle's city council has officially approved a deal to build a new arena that would be home to an NBA and NHL team, according to an Associated Press report. Members of the council voted 6-2 to approve investor Chris Hansen's plan to construct a possible $490MM building just south of downtown.
Changes in the plan must still be approved by the King County Council, and it must pass an environmental review. The approval means that Hansen is now allowed to shop for an NBA team, eventually relocating it to Seattle.
Eastern Notes: Calderon, Bradley, Harkless, Singler
Here's a quick look around at what's going on in the busy Eastern Conference.
- A point guard who spent much of the summer embroiled in relentless trade rumors, Jose Calderon told the Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat that he never demanded a trade, and that he wants to win games in Toronto. (Twitter link) Rumors first began to surface when the Raptors traded a lottery pick for former Rockets point guard Kyle Lowry, making Calderon his backup. Given his contract as one of the team's highest paid players, (he's due $10.5MM for the 2012/13 season), the Spanish guard was also seen as a likely amnesty candidate, but it appears he's steadied both those storms and will head to Raptors training camp feeling comfortable about his situation. Calderon is set to become a free agent next summer.
- After undergoing offseason surgery on both of his shoulders, Celtics guard Avery Bradley will not be back until at least December, possibly January, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers told ESPNBoston.com's Jackie MacMullan. An earlier report by CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely surmised that Bradley could return as soon as opening day.
- Rookie guard Moe Harkless will miss all of Magic training camp as he recovers from sports hernia surgery he had in August. The Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins believes the missed time could be a crucial hindrance for Harkless' development. He isn't expected back until the middle of November.
- MLive.com's Brendan Savage writes a profile on former Duke and current Pistons forward Kyle Singler.
Odds & Ends: Blake, Seattle, Fegan, Millsap, Uzoh
According to the team's official website, Lakers guard Steve Blake suffered a puncture wound after stepping on a spike strip in a parking lot. The statement says Blake will be restricted from team activities for at least three weeks. Despite not being one of the bigger names on Los Angeles' roster, Blake's role as the team's veteran backup point guard is quite important, especially considering incoming starter Steve Nash's inability to log major minutes.
Here are a few more Monday odds and ends from around the NBA:
- Later today, Seattle City Council is expected to formally approve Chris Hansen's plan to build a $490MM arena in downtown Seattle, according to an Associated Press report (via the Seattle Times). Hansen and city council reached an agreement two weeks ago on financing for the arena proposal, meaning today's vote is expected to be merely a formality. Hansen's plan will still require an okay from the King County Council, but the city's approval would allow him to start looking for a franchise to bring to Seattle.
- One NBA GM tells Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio that he expects veteran free agents like Derek Fisher and Michael Redd to sign deals late in training camp or even after the season begins.
- It appears agent Dan Fegan will join Happy Walters at a newly-created agency called Relativity Sports, according to Darren Heitner of Sports Agent Blog. Fegan, who represents Dwight Howard, Nene, and John Wall, among others, recently left Lagardère Unlimited.
- Paul Millsap hasn't really begun thinking about free agency yet, stressing that he's "still with the Utah Jazz" and he'll consider his options when the time comes, as Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake Tribune writes.
- Jonathan Tjarks of RealGM.com views Joe Johnson's and Manu Ginobili's career paths as two examples for James Harden to consider as the fourth-year guard weighs his contract options.
- Ben Uzoh has parted ways with French team Cholet, making him a free agent again, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Uzoh has appeared in 60 total games for the Nets, Cavs, and Raptors over the past two seasons.
- Many of the storylines that SI.com's Sam Amick will be watching this season involve players on new teams, including Raymond Felton in New York, Andre Iguodala in Denver, and Andrew Bynum in Philadelphia.
Sixers Notes: Howard, Bynum, DiLeo, Harris
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reported this afternoon that Josh Howard was visiting the Sixers today and tomorrow, but that wasn't the only news out of Philadelphia today. New Sixers general manager Tony DiLeo was introduced to the media today, and Rod Thorn's eventual replacement spoke on a number of 76ers-related issues. Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com did a nice job of rounding up DiLeo's more notable comments on Twitter, so let's check them out….
- The Sixers are still looking for another wing, and plan to invite one or two to camp. If Howard's meeting with the team goes well, he would seem to be a good fit, though that's just my speculation.
- Andrew Bynum has returned from Germany, where he received platelet-rich plasma therapy on his knees, and "feels very good."
- The team has not started to talk to Bynum about a contract extension. Bynum will become eligible in mid-February to sign a three-year extension, but it's more likely he'll wait until the summer, when he could re-sign for up to five years in free agency.
- The 76ers intend to use "Moneyball-like analytics" more this year. The team also plans to add to its international scouting department.
- Owner Josh Harris has final say on basketball decisions, according to DiLeo.
- After he interviewed with Portland for the Blazers' GM opening, DiLeo reached an agreement with Harris not to talk to other teams. Three or four other teams asked permission, and, presumably, were turned away.
Hawks, Suns In Mix For Tolliver; Wolves Out?
2:28pm: Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 hears that Tolliver has reached an agreement with a team besides the T-Wolves (Twitter link). He expects official word soon.
2:03pm: Unrestricted free agent forward Anthony Tolliver has narrowed his list of potential destinations to three teams, tweets Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida. According to Tomasson, the Hawks, Timberwolves, and Suns are still in the running for Tolliver, who expects to make a decision Tuesday or Wednesday.
Tolliver also confirmed Tomasson's report that Louis Amundson will sign with Minnesota, and acknowledged that Amundson's deal could affect the T-Wolves' offer. He added that all three offers he's considering are for one year and the minimum salary, which would be a step down from both his 2011/12 salary and his asking price.
"A lot of veterans are taking the minimum," Tolliver said. "That might be the new normal."
We heard last week that Greek team Panathinaikos had interest in Tolliver and that the 27-year-old was still considering playing overseas, but it appears he'll remain in the NBA for at least one more year. Tolliver has been linked to the Timberwolves for much of the offseason, and a late-August report cited mutual interest between Tolliver and the Hawks. The Suns are new to the mix, but make some sense as a suitor — Phoenix still has about $8MM in cap space, and only 12 of its players are on fully guaranteed contracts. One of those 12, Channing Frye, may miss the entire 2012/13 season with a heart condition.
In 51 games last season for the Timberwolves, Tolliver averaged just 4.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, and 17.3 MPG, with an 8.3 PER. All those rates, among others, were his worst marks since his rookie season in San Antonio, when he appeared in just 19 games.
Doc Rivers Talks Allen, Lee, Terry, Darko
With the NBA's training camps just around the corner, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers tells Jackie MacMullan of ESPNBoston.com that he can't wait to see his team in the gym to find out if he likes his roster as much on the court as he does on paper. Rivers also discussed a number of the Celtics' summer additions and departures. Here are a few of the highlights from the conversation:
On Ray Allen's departure and the impact that Rajon Rondo had on Allen's decision:
"It's just not right to put it all on Rondo. Ray didn't leave because of Rondo. He left because of Ray. He wanted the ball more. He wanted a bunch of different things. He didn't feel loved. That doesn't make Ray a bad guy…. Sometimes guys just run their course at a place. It's probably best for all of us and for Ray that he moves on."
On adding Courtney Lee:
"I love Courtney Lee. He's a very good player. I know that sounds very simple, but it's true. He does things well. He's a good defender, a great team defender, and he shoots the ball very well. He was second best behind the 3-point line after Ray. I don't think people realize how good a shooter he is. The thing I like the most about him is he's always fit in wherever he's gone. He accepts his role and goes out and plays. That's hard to come by."
On adding Jason Terry:
"Jason is a motivated guy. He's always been that. We needed another player who could score off the dribble, who could play in the pick-and-roll. Rondo could do it, Paul [Pierce] too, and we used Ray a little, but that was one of the things he was unhappy about. He wanted us to do it more, and I just didn't think he was as good at it."
On adding Darko Milicic:
"It didn't cost us much. He has it in him, and if we can get it out of him, then great. If not, well, I'd rather take a chance on a really talented guy."
Sixers, Timberwolves Eyeing Josh Howard
A week after meeting with the Spurs, Josh Howard is set to visit the 76ers today and tomorrow, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Spears adds that Howard is also drawing interest from the Timberwolves.
Howard, 32, has been the subject of ongoing rumors this offseason. He was reportedly close to making a decision on a team in late July, but nearly two months later, he's being linked to an entirely new set of clubs — the Pacers, Warriors, Nets, and Knicks were among the teams said to be in on him earlier in the summer.
We heard last week that Howard would still like to return to the Jazz, with whom he spent the 2011/12 season. However, the team's unresolved buyout situation with Raja Bell means there probably isn't room for a guaranteed contract for Howard at this point.
The Sixers have only 13 players under contract, so there'd be room on the roster for Howard. Philadelphia also has its room exception available, though I'd be surprised if the team offered the full $2.575MM to Howard, who is coming off a down year. As for the Timberwolves, they have an open roster spot, but could only offer a minimum-salary contract.
Stephen Curry, Agent Optimistic About Extension
Stephen Curry and the Warriors have agreed to put extension talks on hold until after the team's slate of preseason games, so that both sides have a better idea of how Curry's ankle looks after an injury-plagued 2011/12. But according to Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com, Curry and agent Lance Young are both optimistic that they'll work out a long-term deal with the Warriors before the October 31st deadline.
"Definitely," Curry said, when asked if he'd like to get a new contract signed. "It’s not like I don’t want to be here. That would be a great opportunity, to be locked up another four years and make it happen before the season so I could personally feel good about it and my future."
Young added that he was "very optimistic" about working something out with the Warriors, which represents a change of tone from what we heard earlier this summer. When the free agent period began on July 1st, Ken Berger of CBS Sports reported that it appeared unlikely Curry and the Warriors would reach an agreement before the season began. However, with the the two sides waiting until after the preseason to resume talks, the Warriors should get a better idea of how confident they can be in Curry's health going forward.
"Obviously they (the Warriors) want to protect themselves and want to see during training camp," Curry said. "And I have no problem with that."
Michael Pina of Hoops Rumors examined Curry as a potential extension candidate back in August. The Golden State sharpshooter is one of 20 players entering the final year of their rookie contracts who are eligible for contract extensions. Two others, Blake Griffin and Serge Ibaka, have already agreed to new long-term deals this offseason. If Curry doesn't sign an extension by Halloween, he'll be eligible for restricted free agency next summer.
Hoops Rumors Features
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- Our Free Agent Tracker features up-to-date details on this summer's free agent signings, with data sortable by team, position, contract years, and contract amount.
- We also have free agent lists for both next summer, and the summer of 2014, which will continue to be modified as needed.
- Using our 10-day contract tracker, you can find any 10-day contract signed since 2007, sorting by player, team, year, and other variables.
- Every Thursday at 4:00pm CT, Luke Adams answers readers' questions in a live chat. You can check out transcripts of past chats here.
- Our list of outstanding traded player exceptions is updated whenever a trade exception is used or expires.
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- The Hoops Rumors glossary helps explain some of the more complex concepts in the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement.
- Our ongoing Extension Candidate series provides a look at a handful of players that could have their contracts extended before the season begins.
- Zach Links rounds up the best of the blogosphere every Saturday in his weekly Hoops Links feature.
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- Be sure to check out the Featured Posts section on the right sidebar for more original pieces from the Hoops Rumors writing team. Recently, we listed the NBA players who are still eligible to be amnestied, recapped all the trades made this offseason, and examined the largest expiring contracts of 2012/13.
Knicks No Longer Considering Tracy McGrady
Despite working him out earlier this month, the Knicks are no longer considering signing Tracy McGrady, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. However, both Berman and Al Iannazzone of Newsday confirm a weekend report that suggested the Knicks are looking at Rasheed Wallace.
Berman notes that Wallace and Knicks assistant GM Allan Houston share an agent, while Iannazzone points out that 'Sheed has a good relationship with Knicks coach Mike Woodson. Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link) suggests that a Wallace signing would be another indication that Woodson has significant input in personnel decisions. Zwerling adds (via Twitter) that the Knicks' interest in Wallace is likely dependent on how much the team believes he can improve and contribute over the course of the season, rather than his current condition.
As for McGrady, it isn't clear whether the Knicks simply weren't interested in the veteran guard, or if T-Mac's asking price made it impossible for the two sides to reach an agreement. Last we heard, McGrady was seeking a guaranteed contract from a contending team.