Andre Iguodala On Trade, George Karl, Andre Miller
Andre Iguodala spoke at length about his Olympic experience to Ryan Mahan of The State Journal-Register in Springfield, Illinois, where Iguodala was born and raised. The Nuggets swingman talked about finding his role on a star-studded Team USA and what it was like to win the gold medal, but his comments to the newspaper about the blockbuster trade that sent him to Denver were perhaps most significant. Iguodala's initial reaction to the deal seemed to indicate he wasn't pleased with the thought of playing for the Nuggets, but at his introductory press conference, he hinted that he'd like to stay in Denver long-term. Here's the latest from the former Sixer:
On finding out about the trade, which went down two days before the gold medal game:
“I heard some rumors the day before. I’ve been in a lot trade rumors in the past so that didn’t faze me. When the trigger was pulled, at that time, it kind of caught me off guard. I wasn’t shocked, but it caught me off guard because the timing was weird, you know, I’m trying to focus on Team USA and trying to help those guys win any way possible.’’
On fitting in with the Nuggets:
“I think I have a really great coach in George Karl. I think he’s one of the best coaches in the NBA right now. And I played with Andre Miller before and I had my best years with him. I’m looking forward to that situation and helping the team get further than they’ve ever been before."
About Denver's playing style:
“We’ll score a lot of points. We’ll have home-court advantage, and that will be great. It’s going to be really exciting. We’ll jet up and down the court, (having) pass-first point guards, and the way they pass it to the wings.”
Knicks Rumors: Isiah, Camby, Giddens
Knicks owner James Dolan would like to have former coach and executive Isiah Thomas formally rejoin the organization in some capacity, but Thomas is reluctant come back, reports Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Thomas might fear media backlash if he is rehired, and he has lingering resentment of some MSG executives from his previous tenure with the team, Isola writes. Thomas, who was college teammates with GM Glen Grunwald and coach Mike Woodson, is serving as an unofficial adviser to the team, according to Isola's report, and an eventual return in a official capacity seems likely. Here's more from the Big Apple:
- We passed along an item about Marcus Camby's enthusiasm for the Knicks roster last night, and in the piece Keldy Ortiz wrote for Newsday, Camby also talked about how close he came to signing with the Heat. Camby said it was a phone call from former teammate and current Knicks assistant GM Allan Houston that persuaded him to come to New York. "I knew that it would have been very hard for me to put on that Miami Heat uniform, especially all the battles we used to have back in the days with Houston and those guys," Camby said. "I'm happy things worked out."
- Camby also spoke about reuniting with some of his old Nuggets and Blazers teammates who are now with him on the Knicks, and adjusting to a bench role after starting for so long, as Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of the New York Post writes.
- Former Knicks guard J.R. Giddens, who the Celtics took with the final pick of the first round in the 2008 draft, could be headed to the Italian league to play for Centrale del Latte Brescia, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
Suns Notes: Rebuild, Training Camp
The Phoenix Suns spent this summer as one of the most active teams in free agency, signing several big names to big money deals that some might believe to be higher than their market value. AZCentral.com's Paul Coro highlights all the moves this team made, and in a detailed discussion with general manager Lon Babby, visits the past to see where Phoenix's mindset currently rests.
Here are a few more pieces about the Suns from across the internet today.
- Hoopshype.com dives into the Suns in their season preview series.
- The Suns will begin voluntary workouts this week, writes AZCentral.com's Paul Coro.
Odds & Ends: Camby, Thompson, Cavs
Marcus Camby believes the Knicks have assembled all the pieces they need to dethrone the Heat and win a championship, writes Keldy Ortiz of Newsday.
Here are a few more links from around the league this Saturday evening.
- The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry talks with undrafted rookie forward Hollis Thompson as he gets acclimated with the Thunder organization, the team he signed with in July.
- How can the Raptors improve on their disappointing season last year? Hoopsworld.com's Stephen Brotherston gives six valid reasons why Toronto should make the playoffs this season.
- The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer answers questions from readers regarding Luke Walton's contract and the Cavaliers' new gold colored home uniform.
- Dwyane Wade believes the work he put in this offseason on his jump shot should make him an even better offensive player for the rest of his career, writes Sun-Sentinel.com's Ira Winderman.
- NBA.com's Steve Aschburner makes the Hall of Fame case for longtime coach Johnny Bach.
Extension Candidate: Austin Daye
Three years ago, Austin Daye was drafted out of Gonzaga with a prototypical skill set. He's really tall (6'11") and he could shoot the three-ball, which on paper made him a perfect fit for the increasingly valuable "stretch four" role that's overcome the league. But instead of taking advantage of his abilities and evolving into the type of player teams all across the league are currently salivating for—think Ryan Anderson; both players are 24 years old—Daye has struggled mightily.
Playing out last season on a poor Detroit Pistons team, Daye found himself in and (mostly) out of the rotation. His three-point shooting dropped from 40.1% in 2010/11 to 21% in 2011/12, where he shot just 32.2% overall. Daye started just four games and faced constant trade rumors throughout the year.
In April, Daye sat down with Hoopsworld.com's Steve Kyler to talk about his future with Detroit, which as of today looks bleak. Daye said he didn't think he had found a role with the team, and that the chances of him establishing one in the year ahead would most likely be predicated on his health as well as the possibility of a teammate or two ahead of him on the depth chart going down with an injury.
Instead of giving their project some room to breathe and improve, Detroit made the puzzling decision to re-sign longtime Piston Tayshaun Prince to a new four-year deal, hurting Daye's already low confidence. Both players have identical skill sets which calls into question how exactly Pistons general manager Joe Dumars views Daye in terms of his future with the team.
His $2.96MM team option was exercised for the upcoming season, so he'll be back at least one more year, but after that Daye has a $4.14MM qualifying offer. Despite averaging just 5.9PPG in his three season career, Daye's body type and age make him an interesting prospect for teams searching for a diamond in the rough. If the Pistons choose not to extend Daye beyond next year, it most certainly won't be for as much as the four-year, $36MM deal Anderson was just given by the Hornets. In fact, this season should go a long way in deciding if his current contract will also be his last.
Who Is The Best Remaining Free Agent?
There are several serviceable NBA players who remain on the free agent market with just weeks to go before training camp begins. Most of them are trying to pry more than the minimum salary from teams with limited cap space and exceptions remaining. Who do you think is the best free agent yet to sign?
Perhaps it's Alonzo Gee, a restricted free agent who seems destined to return to the Cavs. Leandro Barbosa, a double-figure scorer six of the last seven seasons, is an intriguing candidate. It could also be veteran swingman Mickael Pietrus, who has averaged double-figure points only once in his nine-year career but has consistently been a part of the rotation for playoff teams. Kenyon Martin is a season and a half removed from being a fixture in the Nuggets starting lineup, and helped the Clippers to the playoffs last year. Maybe it's Derek Fisher, who possesses five championship rings and more postseason experience than any remaining free agent. Mehmet Okur has a rare combination of size, at 6'11", and an outside shooting touch. Matt Barnes could shore up a team's perimeter defense on the second unit. Maybe it's someone else.
In any case, let us know who you think is best, and feel free to look over our comprehensive list of free agents before you cast your vote.
Who Is The Best Remaining Free Agent?
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Leandro Barbosa 43% (300)
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Kenyon Martin 13% (93)
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Mickael Pietrus 12% (82)
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Alonzo Gee 11% (75)
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Derek Fisher 7% (52)
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Matt Barnes 5% (37)
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Mehmet Okur 5% (35)
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Someone Else 4% (25)
Total votes: 699
Remaining Preps-To-Pros Players In The NBA
The 2005 draft was the last to feature players jumping directly from high school to the NBA, and as time goes by, there are fewer of those players remaining in the league. The NBA, since 2006, has required high schoolers to wait at least a year after their class graduates before entering the draft, sending would-be draftees to the college ranks and a few, like Brandon Jennings, to professional leagues oversees.
There are still about two dozen players currently on NBA rosters who had no college or international experience prior to being drafted. That contingent includes the man who started a decade-long influx of high school players, Kevin Garnett, the fifth overall pick out of Farragut Career Academy in 1995. Most of these players are doing well financially, though the list obviously doesn't include those who washed out of the league early in their careers. All the remaining preps-to-pros are listed by team below, along with the draft statuses and their 2012/13 salaries in parentheses.
Bobcats
DeSagana Diop, drafted eighth overall in 2001 ($7.372MM)
Bucks
Monta Ellis, drafted 40th overall in 2005 ($11MM)
Cavaliers
C.J. Miles, drafted 34th overall in 2005 ($2.225MM)
Celtics
Kevin Garnett, drafted fifth overall in 1995 ($11.566MM)
Hawks
Josh Smith, drafted 17th overall in 2004 ($13.2MM)
DeShawn Stevenson, drafted 23rd overall in 2000 ($2.240MM)
Lou Williams, drafted 45th overall in 2005 ($5MM)
Heat
LeBron James, drafted first overall in 2003 ($17.545MM)
Rashard Lewis, drafted 32nd overall in 1998 ($1.352MM)
Jazz
Al Jefferson, drafted 15th overall in 2004 ($15MM)
Kings
Travis Outlaw, drafted 23rd overall in 2003 ($3MM)
Lakers
Kobe Bryant, drafted 13th overall in 1996 ($27.849MM)
Dwight Howard, drafted first overall in 2004 ($19.536MM)
Magic
Al Harrington, drafted 25th overall in 1998 ($6.687MM)
Knicks
Tyson Chandler, drafted second overall in 2001 ($13.604MM)
Pacers
Gerald Green, drafted 18th overall in 2005 ($3.5MM)
Raptors
Amir Johnson, drafted 56th overall in 2005 ($6.05MM)
Rockets
Shaun Livingston, drafted fourth overall in 2004 ($3.5MM)
Sixers
Andrew Bynum, drafted 10th overall in 2005 ($16.889MM)
Kwame Brown, drafted first overall in 2001 ($2.819MM)
Dorell Wright, drafted 19th overall in 2004 ($4.106MM)
Suns
Jermaine O'Neal, drafted 17th overall in 1996 ($1.352MM)
Sebastian Telfair, drafted 13th overall in 2004 ($1.568MM)
Thunder
Kendrick Perkins, drafted 27th overall in 2003 ($8.301MM)
Wizards
Martell Webster, drafted sixth overall in 2005 ($1.75MM)
Storytellers Contracts was used in the creation of this post.
International Notes: Ubiles, Ayon, Pistons
Many overseas leagues start earlier than the NBA does, so the international tipoff of the 2012/13 season is drawing near. That means plenty of player movement, so we'll round up the day's news from around the world here:
- The French club Cholet announced that it has signed former Wizards guard Edwin Ubiles, as Emiliano Carchia of Sportando notes. Ubiles was with Washington briefly on a 10-day contract last year, but spent most of 2011/12 with the D-League's Dakota Wizards, averaging 19.6 points per game and winning the D-League Rookie of the Year award.
- Gustavo Ayon has a guaranteed contract with the Magic this season, and his deal includes another non-guaranteed season next year. Still, as he tells Marca.com (Spanish link), the 27-year-old big man won't rule out a return at some point to the Spanish league, where he played before his NBA debut last season.
- Brian Manzullo of the Detroit Free Press provides an update on Slava Kravtsov and Jonas Jerebko of the Pistons, both of whom are participating in the Eurobasket 2013 qualifying tournament. Earlier today we passed along a piece from David Mayo of MLive.com, who identified Kravtsov, a 6'11" Ukrainian big man who signed with Detroit for three years and $4.5MM this summer, as a gamble.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Isiah, Raptors
Here's a look at the latest out of the Atlantic Division, starting with the return of a familiar name to the back pages of the New York tabloids..
- LaSalle Thompson is a candidate to join the Knicks as an assistant coach, writes Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Thompson was Mike Woodson's teammate with the (Kansas City) Kings and also worked with Tyson Chandler as a Bobcats assistant.
- Knicks owner James Dolan held a business meeting with Isiah Thomas Friday morning at a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, a person familiar with the situation told Marc Berman of the New York Post. The pow-wow comes two days after the resignation of MSG sports president Scott O’Neil, who a source says helped convince Dolan that rehiring Thomas wasn’t a smart move for the Knicks brand. Thomas has pushed for a formal to the organization since he was fired as the Florida International basketball coach last spring.
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News (via Twitter) says that Thomas never truly left the Knicks organization and has been in Dolan's ear even after his formal dismissal from the team. Isola also tweets that Thomas had a hand in the team's hiring of Mike Woodson.
- The Raptors have had internal discussions about free agent Mickael Pietrus but are unlikely to sign him as they don't have their bi-annual exception available, writes Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Pietrus' agent insists that his client won't consider a minimum deal but Smith expects the Raptors to inquire on it anyway.
Odds & Ends: Bobcats, Cavs, Nelson, Heat
While there has been a great deal of championship talk surrounding the Heat, Lakers, and Thunder this summer, the Bobcats have a more modest goal of not repeating as the NBA's worst team in 2012/13. While the Bobcats are still a work in progress, this year's team in Charlotte isn't nearly as bad as last season's group, writes Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld. Offseason acquisitions including rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Ben Gordon, Brendan Haywood, and Ramon Sessions should all help lift the team a little bit further out of the basement. As for the new cellar dweller? Brigham suggests that the Magic seem to be a likely candidate. Here's today's look around the Association..
- The Cavs brought former University of Richmond point guard Kevin Anderson in for a workout this week, a source told Sportando. Anderson spent last season with French team SIG Strasbourg, averaging 12.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 4.0 RPG.
- From Lithuania to the Lakers, forward Reeves Nelson truly has come full circle, writes Wendell Maxey of Ridiculous Upside. Nelson was once viewed as a first-round talent, but off-court trouble led to him being kicked out of the UCLA program and a brief stint overseas. The Lakers signed Nelson to a non-guaranteed deal earlier this week.
- In today's mailbag, Ira Winderman of the Sun-Sentinel opines that the Heat did not make a "mistake" by whiffing on Andray Blatche, as he wouldn't have been a player of major consequence in the rotation anyway.
- David Mayo of MLive.com isn't sure what Ukrainian big man Vyacheslav Kravtsov brings to the table for the Pistons. Detroit signed the 24-year-old over the summer as their third center behind Jason Maxiell and rookie Andre Drummond.