J.J. Redick Seeks Long-Term Deal From Magic
The Magic are clearly rebuilding, but J.J. Redick isn't anxious to jump to a team that's closer to winning, and has expressed his desire to stay in Orlando for the long haul to GM Rob Hennigan and coach Jacque Vaughn, reports John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com. Redick is entering the final season of a three-year, $20.19MM contract, but is ineligible for an extension since his deal is for less than four years. That means any new pact between Redick and the Magic would have to wait until next summer.
"I love playing here and I love playing for Orlando. I love representing our fans and our city," the 28-year-old shooting guard said. "But I understand it’s a transition year for our organization. I’ve had conversations with Rob and we’re both on the same page with my future going forward. I’ve given him my commitment that as long as I’m in Orlando and wearing a Magic uniform that I’m going to be a pro and give everything like I always have. He knows that and respects that and we’ll be fine."
Redick is optimistic that the team will be better than most expect, but since the Magic figure to finish at or near the bottom of the standings this season, an overachievement may still leave them well short of the playoffs. The focus is clearly on the future in Orlando following the Dwight Howard trade that brought back draft picks and cap space, but it could be multiple years before the team returns to the postseason. Still, it seemed apparent Howard was on his way out of town when Jameer Nelson re-signed with the Magic for another three years this summer, so Redick isn't the only veteran willing to stick around.
The Magic may have other plans, as they're reportedly looking to trade some of their vets. Since Redick is ineligible for an extension, he'll spend the whole season on an expiring contract, which makes him an attractive trade chip. Even if he remains on the club for all of 2012/13, the Magic may be hesitant to tie up some of its cap space with him, unless he's willing to sign at a discount or come back on either a one- or two-year-deal.
There's a touch of irony that Redick wants to stay with the Magic now that they're expected to lose a lot of games, since he signed his existing contract as an offer sheet from the Bulls in 2010, one year after the Magic made the NBA Finals. The Magic matched the offer sheet that summer, and elected to retain him this offseason rather than waive him before the final year of his deal, worth $6.19MM, became guaranteed. Redick, whom the Magic drafted 11th overall in 2006, averaged 11.6 points, 2.5 assists and 2.3 rebounds with a 15.1 PER last season, all of which are career highs. He started 22 games, the first time he's started more than nine games in any season.
Agent Says Yi Jianlian Will Play In China
Agent Lu Yu says former lottery pick Yi Jianlian will play for the Guangdong Tigers in the Chinese league this season, according to the Chinese-language website NetEase (translation via HoopsHype). Lu said last month that his client's first choice was to remain in the NBA, but it appears an opportunity to do so did not materialize after his inconsistent performance for the Chinese Olympic team reportedly turned off NBA scouts.
Yi drew interest from Spain's Real Madrid earlier this summer, but Yi's request of two million euros appeared to be out of the team's price range. He spent last year with the Mavs after signing a minimum-salary deal shortly after the regular season began, but appeared in only 30 games and averaged career lows in minutes (6.8), points (2.6) and rebounds (1.6) per contest. He was the sixth overall pick of the 2007 draft by the Bucks, but never came close to delivering on his promise except for his 2009/10 season with the Nets. That year, starting 51 of his 52 games played, he averaged 12.0 points and 7.2 rebounds with a 12.3 PER.
It's the second straight year that Guangdong has landed a 2007 NBA first-round pick, as 26th overall selection Aaron Brooks spent last season with the team before signing this summer with the Kings.
Knicks Hire Baron Davis For Advisory Role
Baron Davis is recovering from a serious right knee injury and isn't ready to return to the court, but he's agreed to join the Knicks as an adviser, and will do some charity and in-game entertainment work for the team as well, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. The job, which comes with no official title, may include some scouting duties as well.
Davis is an unrestricted free agent as a player, and despite suffering a partial tear of his patella tendon and complete tears of his ACL and MCL, he said last month he hopes to return to play at some point this season. Begley writes that he's not expected to be ready before May, one year after the injury occurred, which means he's likely out for the entire 2012/13 season.
Though he's played only 29 games in a Knicks uniform, he's shown affection for the team, and the feeling appears mutual, as the Knicks reportedly approached him about an advisory role this summer while he was doing rehab with the team's trainers. When Davis returns to the court, it's clear his first choice will be to remain in New York.
"I hope I return. I want to come back," the point guard said in June, according to Begley. "I want to be a Knick for the rest of my career. … Playing in the Garden and the people, the fans. I feel like New York is the mecca of basketball. This was the best stage, for who I am, to give back to the community and play for a top-notch organization."
Mickael Pietrus Talking To Pair Of Teams
Free agent swingman Mickael Pietrus spoke to Alexis Boissel of the French-language website BasketSession.com and indicated that he's narrowed his choices down to two teams. He said he would have signed already, but wasn't interested in the money he was being offered, which seems to reinforce the notion that he's holding out for more than the minimum salary.
We heard from Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com earlier this week that three teams have displayed significant interest in the 6'6" 30-year-old, with two of those teams "very motivated" to complete a deal. It appears those clubs aren't the Timberwolves and the Celtics, as a pair of reports yesterday downplayed the chances of him winding up with those teams. Haynes also wrote that Pietrus has an offer from an overseas club that includes an out if he wanted to return to the NBA.
The Bucks reportedly had interest earlier this summer, but that has since waned, and with this week's signing of Marquis Daniels bringing the roster to 15 players, all of whom are on fully guaranteed contracts, it would be quite a surprise if Pietrus wound up in Milwaukee. The Raptors had internal discussions about Pietrus, but they can't offer him more than the minimum salary. The Hawks could be a possibility, since they have their $1.957MM biannual exception available and none of their three best fits at small forward have guaranteed deals, but that's just my speculation.
Pietrus, a nine-year veteran, has averaged 8.4 points and 3.1 rebounds with an 11.8 PER for his career. He was hampered by a right knee injury last season with the Celtics, when he put up 6.9 PPG, 3.1 RPG and an 8.5 PER, but after a do-over surgery this summer, he appears to feel much better, telling Boissel that his knee problems are behind him and that he is 100%.
Jamario Moon Lobbies For Spot On Hawks
Jamario Moon has been working out on his own in Atlanta, and told Lang Greene of HoopsWorld that he thinks he'd be a fit for the Hawks.
“Atlanta makes sense to me,” Moon said. “[Hawks GM] Danny [Ferry] was the general manager when I was playing for Cleveland and [Hawks assistant general manager] Wes Wilcox was there too. They already know me and what I bring. It just makes sense.”
The Hawks are thin at small forward, as Greene points out, citing a report from last month by Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that indicates Ferry is looking for a defensive-minded wing. Kyle Korver, James Anderson and Damion James appear to be Atlanta's only options at the three, unless coach Larry Drew wants to slide athletic power forward Josh Smith into that position. Anderson and James have non-guaranteed contracts, while Korver's $5MM deal is only guaranteed for $500K. With only 12 fully guaranteed deals, Moon would seem to have a strong chance of making the team if he garners an invitation to training camp.
The 6'8", 32-year-old Moon is a veteran of five NBA seasons. He joined the Bobcats for the final two weeks of the regular season last year after spending a dozen games in the D-League, and appeared in eight contests for Charlotte, averaging 2.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game. His minimum-salary contract with the Bobcats covered 2012/13, but the season was non-guaranteed, and Charlotte waived him in July. As his Hoops Rumors page shows, we haven't heard about him drawing any interest since then.
Moon has also played with the Heat, Cavs and Clippers, but has yet to make nearly as much impact as he did with the Raptors, where he started 114 of the 132 games he played between 2007/08 and 2008/09, averaging 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 26.9 minutes per game. His 3.6 defensive win shares in 2007/08 led the team.
Knicks Interested In Rasheed Wallace?
According to Ric Bucher of ESPN.com, Rasheed Wallace has been working out with Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas at the Knicks practice facility, adding that the team is "considering" him (Twitter link).
Wallace has not played in an NBA game since June 2010 and officially announced his retirement in August of that year. This past February, there was a report which suggested that the he was planning to sign with the Lakers and had also been linked to the Heat around March, but neither situation materialized.
The 6'11 forward has some previous ties with current Knicks head coach Mike Woodson, who had been an assistant coach under Larry Brown when the Pistons won the NBA title in 2003-04. Should Wallace be invited to training camp, the recently-turned 38-year-old would be the fourth eldest player on the roster, behind Kurt Thomas (set to turn 40 in October), Jason Kidd (39), and Marcus Camby, who is older by about six months.
Odds & Ends: Aguilar, Hettsheimeir, Lakers
- Mavericks veteran Dirk Nowitzki is excited about the team's offseason additions and says that anything is possible if the chemistry is right, according to Eddie Sefko of SportsDay DFW.
- Kendrick Perkins doesn't think that he nor any of his Thunder teammates need to personally intervene in order to influence James Harden's contract negotiations, believing that his decision will be affected just by returning to training camp and seeing his "family" again (John Rohde of NewsOK reports).
- HoopsWorld provides their season preview of the Lakers, who enter the 2012-13 season with a collection of superstar talent and championship aspirations. According to Eric Pincus, the Lakers' powerfully talented lineup along with improved depth gives them the opportunity to compete at the highest level. On the flip side, Pincus writes that age is definitely not on their side and wonders if Mike Brown has the personality to lead this team to a championship.
- Brian Geltzeiler of SheridanHoops.com offers his thoughts on hot topics that he's been asked about on Twitter and the radio, namely about his projections for the Bulls this season, the idea that Ray Allen's addition to the Heat makes them unbeatable, and if the new CBA is having its desired effect.
New York Notes: Shumpert, Brooks
We're about 40 more days away from Brooklyn hosting their home opener against the Knicks, which should be one of the more exciting games to start the regular season. The NBA has not seen both of these teams make the post-season simultaneously since the 2003-04 playoffs, in which the regional rivals met in the first round. We've got some links to relay, including two that include young guards who could find themselves matched up against each other in a competitive cross-town rivalry for several years to come. Here's what we've heard out of New York tonight:
- Nate Taylor of the New York Times' Off the Dribble blog writes that Knicks guard Iman Shumpert has been walking without a brace or a limp, which gives some indication that his rehabilitation this summer has been progressing well.
- Ben Couch of BrooklynNets.com presents a comprehensive piece about MarShon Brooks that chronicles his journey to the NBA, the ebbs and flows of his rookie season, his experience during this year's Orlando Summer Pro League, and his preparation for a sophomore campaign with the Nets.
- Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York talks about the dynamic duo that the Knicks have with Tyson Chandler and Marcus Camby. In a second piece, Zwerling explores the key qualities of having Raymond Felton and Jason Kidd as part of their point guard rotation.
- Nets GM Billy King, who team owner Mikhail Prokhorov believes will win GM of the year, talks about his thought process while constructing this current roster and the challenges that it entailed (Roderick Boone of Newsday reports).
Waiters On Irving, Playoffs, Expectations
Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld shed some light on Dion Waiters, who was selected with Cleveland's fourth overall pick in this year's draft. The former Syracuse standout averaged 12.3 PPG in three games during the Las Vegas Summer League and drew praise last month from head coach Byron Scott for appearing to have improved his conditioning level since then. Waiters says that he is now in Cleveland working out with teammates and is determined to prove that the Cavaliers made the right decision in drafting him. Here are some more of the highlights from Waiters' interview with HoopsWorld.
On being able to play along side Kyrie Irving:
“Potential wise, the sky is the limit for us…We’re still young and we’re still getting better every day. We’re building on the bond that we already had. Coming out of high school together, we clicked right away and we were always together. We met in tenth grade and from that day on, we’ve been close friends. When we get on the court, it’s all about how we can make each other better. We’re going to push each other.”
On how his game will adapt to the NBA:
“I think [my game translates well to the NBA]. There’s more space and you have to be able to break your man down and get to the basket, which I can do well.”
Regarding his expectations for the Cavaliers this season:
“Hopefully we can make the playoffs…We want to achieve that. We have to work our way up to that next level. That’s the main thing. For us to do that, it’ll take hard work, dedication and sacrifice. Everybody has one goal in mind and that’s to make the playoffs. We’re young, but we’re going to do whatever it takes to get there and keep building off of each other. Hopefully we can get there.”
On the Rookie of the Year award:
“I try not to talk about my personal goals, but that’s definitely one of mine…Making the playoffs is the biggest thing, but I’m definitely thinking about [winning Rookie of the Year]. I have to put the work in and earn it though. It’s not just going to be given to me. I have to earn it and that’s something that I’m going to try to do, game in and game out.”
Western Notes: Nowitzki, Mavs, Hayward, Jazz
The Lakers have gotten the majority of the headlines in the Western Conference this summer, but there's been plenty going on elsewhere, especially this weekend. Raja Bell and the Jazz remain in a staredown over his buyout, while former Clippers big man Kenyon Martin, one of the key remaining free agents, continues to hold out for more than the minimum. Here's more from the Western Conference:
- Dirk Nowitzki says his knee feel fine, and despite the Mavs' failure to attract Deron Williams, he's upbeat about the team's roster this year, according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. "I think we have a good team again," he said. "I like all the new additions. I think we got younger on the perimeter, more atheltic and that was always our goal."
- Nowitzki singled out three of his new Mavs teammates for praise, saying, "[Chris] Kaman should be the best center offensively that I’ve ever played with in Dallas. [O.J.] Mayo is a big-time shot-maker that can also attack the basket and run some screen-and-rolls. [Darren] Collison is a fast guy who is going to push the pace. He’s great at penetrating and has a floater and creates shots."
- Gordon Hayward says he was glad to see the Jazz bring back Jeremy Evans on a three-year, $5.25MM deal this summer, and embraces the challenge he faces for a starting spot at either wing position, as he tells Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune. "You want to start for the team and you want to make sure you're the one out there on the court getting as many minutes as you can," Hayward said. "So, especially in training camp, there's going to be some competition going on. That'll just further benefit all of our games and make us better as a team."