Week In Review: 9/10/12 – 9/16/12
Here's a look back at all the week's NBA related news.
- The Grizzlies are set to sign Flip Murray and Jerome Jordan.
- The Lakers signed Darius Johnson-Odom.
- The Jazz signed their second round pick, Kevin Murphy.
- Matt Barnes signed with the Clippers.
- The Wizards are close to a deal with Brian Cook.
- Ivan Johnson is set to sign a qualifying offer from the Hawks.
- The Warriors are close to signing Alex Renfroe.
- Tony DiLeo is considered a top replacement option for the Sixers general manager position.
- The Suns are not pursuing Leandro Barbosa.
- The Heat signed Garrett Temple.
- The Celtics signed Rob Kurz.
- The Nets signed Josh Childress.
- Ryan Gomes is working out for the Bobcats.
- Manny Harris signed with a team in the Ukraine.
- The Grizzlies are set to sign Ronald Dupree.
- The Nets officially signed Andray Blatche.
- The Thunder sign DeAndre Liggins.
- The Raptors signed Dominic McGuire.
- The Timberwolves are set to sign Will Conroy.
- The Wizards are set to sign Shavlik Randolph and Steven Gray.
- The Hawks have agreed to terms with Damion James.
- The Wizards agree to sign Earl Barron.
- Hassan Whiteside worked out for theHeat.
- The Knicks signed Henry Sims, Mychel Thompson, and Oscar Bellfield.
- The Mavericks are set to sign D.J. Mbenga.
- The Thunder are set to sign Andy Rautins.
Latest On Josh Howard
3:36PM: Josh Howard still has interest in signing with the Jazz, but the team's unresolved issue with Raja Bell makes it so he'll likely sign with a different team, according to a tweet from the Salt Lake Tribune's Brian T. Smith.
1:40PM: Free agent forward Josh Howard is scheduled to visit the Spurs on Monday, according to a tweet from Yahoo! Sports reporter Marc J. Spears. Earlier this summer we heard that Howard had narrowed his search down to five teams (the Jazz, Pacers, Nets, Knicks, and Warriors), but the Spurs were obviously not one of them.
Howard has also been given a look at by the Bobcats and Bulls, but Charlotte's interest qualified as nothing higher than "exploratory." The 32-year-old forward is a former All-Star coming off a year in which he started for the Jazz in their opening round playoff loss to the Spurs, and it's a bit strange that no team has been willing to bring him aboard yet.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 9/10/12 – 9/16/12
Here's a look back at all the original content produced by our team of writers last week.
- Chuck Myron goes over all the 2012 offseason trades.
- I asked between the Lakers and Clippers, which team won the offseason arms race.
- How will the Thunder proceed with James Harden's contract situation?
- Chuck Myron takes a look at roster sizes in the western conference. He then inspects the east.
- Zach Links gives us his weekly Hoops Links feature.
- A transcript of our weekly Hoops Rumors chat.
- Luke Adams looks at the NBA's roster limits.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Martin, Celtics
Last night, Knicks guard J.R. Smith weighed in on a wide range of topics including Jeremy Lin, his new contract, and his chemistry with star Carmelo Anthony. Here’s more out of Madison Square Garden and other notes from the Atlantic Division..
- Keith Schlosser of Knicks Journal takes a look at the Knicks roster, currently at 19 players, and wonders where rumored free agent target Kenyon Martin would fit in. Martin is reportedly the Knicks’ top target of the remaining free agents but the forward is refusing to play for the veteran’s minimum.
- In a Q&A session conducted by Bob Ryan (video link), Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said that recently-acquired guard Courtney Lee will “probably” be in the starting lineup to kick off the season. Rivers also weighed in on the new-look Lakers and downplayed the advantage that they might have in a Finals showdown.
- Hakeem Olajuwon says that he agreed to help the Knicks this summer as a favor to coach Mike Woodson, writes Nate Taylor of the New York Times. Woodson and Olajuwon were teammates with the Rockets from 1988 to 1990 and the older Woodson helped the center mature.
Grizzlies To Sign Flip Murray, Jerome Jordan
The Grizzlies have received four new verbal commitments from players to participate in training camp on non-guaranteed contracts, including center Jerome Jordan and guard Ronald Murray, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Former University of Oregon center Michael Dunigan and D-League forward/center Jarrid Famous are also set to join the Griz in camp.
Murray, 33, last played in the NBA for the Bulls during the 2009/10 season and has spent the last two years overseas and in the D-League. For his NBA career, the guard has averaged 9.9 PPG, 2.1 RPG, and 2.3 APG.
Jordan, 25, appeared in 22 games for the Knicks last season between stints with the Erie BayHawks of the D-League. The 7-footer was shipped to Houston in July along with Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson, and two future draft picks in the Marcus Camby deal. Jordan was waived shortly after the trade.
Famous, a 6'11" big man who spent time in the D-League last season, had just one year of eligibility at South Florida as a JUCO transfer but put himself on the NBA map thanks to his athleticism. Dunigan, who stands at 6'10", could be of significant interest to the Grizzlies as they considered taking him with the 49th pick in the 2011 draft before settling on Josh Selby instead.
Earlier this week, the Grizzlies reached agreement with journeyman forward Ronald Dupree on a non-guaranteed deal.
Southwest Rumors: Mavs, Gasol, McHale
The Southwest Division should again be one of the league's toughest this season, with the Spurs, who've won the division twice in a row, bringing back their key parts and the playoff-tested Grizzlies doing the same. The Mavericks made plenty of changes but still figure to be in the playoff mix as long as Dirk Nowitzki is around, and the Hornets brought in No. 1 pick Anthony Davis, 2011/12 Most Improved Player Award winner Ryan Anderson, and others. The Rockets appear to be the division's soft spot, but they could be in the mix for a marquee player closer to the trade deadline with their stockpile of youth and draft picks. Here's the latest, with preseason on the horizon:
- After a summer of change, the Mavericks' roster for the start of the regular season appears set, but beyond that there's plenty of uncertainty, as Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News examines.
- Marc Gasol spoke about his desire to remain long-term with the Grizzlies to the Spanish website Marca.com (translation via HoopsHype). Gasol still has three years left on the four-year, $57.5MM deal he signed after the lockout last December, so it doesn't seem like he's going anywhere soon.
- Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle heard from Rockets coach Kevin McHale about the team's overhauled and largely inexperienced roster as he prepares for the first full training camp of his coaching career.
2012 Offseason Trades
You can keep up with the offseason's free agent signings with the Hoops Rumors Free Agent Tracker, but that only tells one part of the player movement story. Here's a roundup of the offseason's trades, with the latest moves on top. Click the date above for details on the transaction. You can find out more about the trade exceptions changing hands by checking out our Outstanding Trade Exceptions post.
- The Magic get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Josh McRoberts, Maurice Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, Christian Eyenga, a protected 2014 first-round pick (from the Nuggets), a protected 2015 first-round pick (from the Sixers), a protected 2017 first-round pick (from the Lakers), the Warriors' 2013 second-round pick (from the Nuggets), and a conditional 2015 second-round pick (from the Lakers).
- The Nuggets get Andre Iguodala.
- The Sixers get Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson.
- The Lakers get Dwight Howard, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark.
- The Clippers get Willie Green.
- The Hawks get the rights to Sofoklis Schortsanitis.
- The Hornets get Robin Lopez, Hakim Warrick and $1.15MM.
- The Suns get Wesley Johnson, Brad Miller, Jerome Dyson, and a 2013 first-round pick (from Timberwolves).
- The Timberwolves get a 2013 second-round pick (from Hornets), a 2014 second-round pick (from Suns) and a 2016 second-round pick (from Hornets).
- The Cavaliers get Jeremy Pargo, a 2014 second-round pick and cash.
- The Grizzlies get D.J. Kennedy.
- The Timberwolves get Dante Cunningham.
- The Grizzlies get Wayne Ellington.
- The Celtics get Courtney Lee.
- The Rockets get JaJuan Johnson, E'Twaun Moore, Sean Williams, Bobcats' 2013 second-round pick (from Celtics), and the rights to Jon Diebler.
- The Trail Blazers get Sasha Pavlovic, the Celtics' 2013 second-round pick, the Timberwolves' 2013 second-round pick (from Celtics), and cash.
- The Knicks get Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas.
- The Trail Blazers get Jared Jeffries, Dan Gadzuric, the rights to Kostas Papanikolaou, the rights to Giorgos Printezis, cash, and a 2016 second-round pick.
- The Hawks get Kyle Korver.
- The Bulls get cash.
- The Kings get James Johnson.
- The Raptors get a 2014 second-round pick.
- The Hornets get Brad Miller, a 2013 second-round pick (from the Nets) and a 2016-second round pick (from the Timberwolves).
- The Timberwolves get a conditional 2017 second-round pick.
- Pacers get Ian Mahinmi.
- Mavericks get Darren Collison and Dahntay Jones.
- The Warriors get Jarrett Jack.
- The Sixers get Dorell Wright and Darryl Watkins.
- The Hornets get the rights to Edin Bavcic.
- The Nets get Reggie Evans.
- The Clippers get the right to swap 2016 second-round draft picks.
- The Hawks get Devin Harris.
- The Jazz get Marvin Williams.
- The Nets get Joe Johnson.
- The Hawks get Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, DeShawn Stevenson, a protected 2013 first-round pick (from the Rockets), the right to swap first-round picks with the Nets in both 2014 and 2015, and a 2017 second-round pick.
- The Hornets get Ryan Anderson.
- The Magic get Gustavo Ayon.
- The Raptors get Kyle Lowry.
- The Rockets get Gary Forbes and a protected 2013 first-round pick.
- The Lakers get Steve Nash.
- The Suns get first-round picks in 2013 and 2015 and second-round picks in 2013 and 2014.
- The Knicks get Marcus Camby.
- The Rockets get Toney Douglas, Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan and second-round picks in 2014 and 2015.
- The Clippers get Lamar Odom.
- The Jazz get Mo Williams and the rights to Shan Foster.
- The Mavericks get the rights to Tadija Dragicevic and cash.
- The Rockets get the rights to Furkan Aldemir.
- The Lakers get the 55th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Darius Johnson-Odom).
- The Mavericks get cash.
- The Nets get the 54th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Tornike Shengelia).
- The Sixers get cash.
- The Cavaliers get Kelenna Azubuike and the 17th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Tyler Zeller).
- The Mavericks get the 24th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Jared Cunningham), 33rd pick in the 2012 draft (used on Bernard James) and the 34th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Jae Crowder).
- The Sixers get the 27th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Arnett Moultrie).
- The Heat get the 45th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Justin Hamilton) and a protected 2013 first-round draft pick.
- The Nets get the 41st pick in the 2012 draft (used on Tyshawn Taylor).
- The Trail Blazers get cash.
- The Pacers get the 36th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Orlando Johnson).
- The Kings get cash.
- The Bucks get Samuel Dalembert, the 14th pick of the 2012 draft (used on John Henson), and a protected 2014 second-round draft pick.
- The Rockets get Jon Brockman, Jon Leuer, Shaun Livingston and the 12th pick of the 2012 draft (used on Jeremy Lamb).
- The Bobcats get Ben Gordon and a protected 2013 first-round pick.
- The Pistons get Corey Maggette.
- The Timberwolves get Chase Budinger and the rights to Lior Eliyahu.
- The Rockets get the 18th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Terrence Jones).
- The Wizards get Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza.
- The Hornets get Rashard Lewis and the 46th pick in the 2012 draft (used on Darius Miller).
J.R. Smith On Contract, Lin, Carmelo
Around this time last year, J.R. Smith was headed to play for Zhejiang Chouzhou in China, where he was off-limits to NBA teams for much of the season. He came back for the stretch run with the Knicks, and his performance was sufficient for him to turn down a $2.339MM option and re-sign with the team this summer on a two-year deal that gives him a raise, to $2.806MM this season. When Smith re-upped with the Knicks in July, Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors speculated that he might opt out again next summer, which his deal allows him to do, and take advantage of the Early Bird rights he will have earned with the Knicks to get yet another raise. The 26-year-old shooting guard spoke about his value as a player and touched on other topics with Josh Newman of SNY.tv. The entire piece is worth a read, but we'll run down Smith's comments here.
On his contract:
“I think anything is a bargain with me, whether I’m playing for a dollar or $20MM, it’s a bargain because I’m going to play hard no matter what. No matter how much I get paid, it will never affect how hard I play and I think that should be thought about when people see me next year.”
About Jeremy Lin:
“I was on the outside looking in waiting for my deal to get done during that whole thing and just see what pieces we would pick up instead of Jeremy Lin. We got some good pieces. Jeremy is a good player, he was good to me and I have nothing bad to say about him. I wish him the best of luck, but we’re gonna kick their ass next year.”
On playing with Carmelo Anthony:
“Me and Melo have been on the same team for the last six years and ever since we’ve been together, I feel like we’ve had a championship-caliber team. It’s just a matter going out there, passing the ball, playing defense and playing team basketball.”
Poll: Lakers/Clippers Arms Race
The Lakers and Clippers have each spent the offseason competing in a blatant arms race to takeover the city of Los Angeles. The Lakers made the two biggest splashes, trading for Dwight Howard and Steve Nash, but the Clippers improved their depth, signing multiple free agent veterans like Jamal Crawford, Grant Hill, Lamar Odom, and Matt Barnes.
Which team do you think won the offseason battle, and heads into the 2012/13 season as the better team?
Lakers/Clippers Arms Race
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Lakers 87% (520)
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Clippers 13% (80)
Total votes: 600
Odds & Ends: Kidd-Gilchrist, Raptors, 2013 Draft
During a University of Kentucky charity game that he originally wasn't scheduled to compete in, Bobcats rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist appeared to show no ill effects from a knee injury that kept him sidelined during July's Summer League in Las Vegas, writes the Charlotte Observer's Rick Bonnell.
Here's a look elsewhere around the league this Saturday evening.
- The Raptors are currently entering stage two of the rebuilding process, writes NBA.com's John Schuhmann. Even though the team's big offseason target, Steve Nash, ended up signing with the Lakers, Toronto continues to build around the strength of their talented youth.
- Hoopsworld.com and Draft Express give us their top 100 NBA prospects for the 2013 draft. UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad and Kentucky's Nerlens Noel headline the list.
- HoopsWorld.com gives us a season preview for the Trail Blazers, a team that's either rebuilding or already talented enough to compete for the eighth seed in the West. Also from HoopsWorld.com, a preview for the Bucks.
- The Jazz will enter the 2012/13 season with a new general manager and new faces on the roster, such as longtime Hawks forward Marvin Williams, writes The Salt Lake Tribune's Steve Luhm.
- Chris Smith, J.R. Smith's brother, will fight for a roster spot with the Knicks in this year's training camp, writes Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.