Odds & Ends: Mavericks, Heat, Dwight Howard
On this day in NBA history in 1948, Nate "Tiny" Archibald was born in New York City. The undersized guard would go on to enjoy a 14-year career spent mostly with the Kansas City Royals and the Celtics. Inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame in 1991, Archibald averaged 18.8 PPG and 7.4 APG over the course of his career.
Here's the latest news and headlines from around the league:
- Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News examines how the Mavericks could end up with Al Jefferson next summer. The center will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2012/13 season and will be available for a less than maximum deal. If the Mavs are able to sign Jefferson, they should be able to add another top player to complement him.
- The Heat's decision to guarantee Dexter Pittman's contract confuses Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel but understands it takes just one team to lose him. If Pittman went to another team, it would make LeBron James the heaviest player on the roster with Chris Bosh 15 pounds behind him. Nonetheless, Pittman will have to demonstrate that he's worth keeping around during training camp as continued poor judgement on his end could leave him off the roster at the season's start.
- Dwight Howard took out a one page ad in Sunday's edition of the Orlando Sentinel to thank fans for their support, writes the Sentinel's own Josh Robbins. The move can be viewed as questionable given how childish Howard had acted over the last year with regard to his future with the Magic.
Latest On Kings, Potential Move
SUNDAY, 10:15am: Mike Gruss of The Virginian-Pilot examines how five highly sought-after retail stores are an indicator of whether a market is likely to be suitable for the NBA. His research shows that the fewer Apple, Ikea, Anthropologie, Crate & Barrel and Brooks Brothers stores located in a market reflects an area less likely to be able to support an NBA franchise.
Simply put, these particular companies avoid areas where they believe consumers do not have enough money to spend at their stores. Gruss contends that if these stores won't come to a particular market due to financial concerns, then it is even less likely that a professional franchise would make such a move.
FRIDAY, 6:42pm: The Kings don't appear to be heading to Virginia Beach anytime soon, despite a local report last week that suggested otherwise. Still, an executive from another team told Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com that the general sentiment around the league is that chances are "more and more remote" that the Kings will remain in Sacramento (Twitter link). Howard-Cooper isn't sold on that idea, and says Sacramento may still win out in the end since the Maloof brothers, who own the Kings, face roadblocks between them and any new destination (Twitter link).
Josh Kerns of MyNorthwest.com yesterday passed along a report from Sacramento radio host Carmichael Dave that the Maloofs rejected a recent bid by investor Chris Hansen of upwards of $400MM to buy the Kings. Hansen, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been the primary force behind an effort to attract an NBA team and build a new arena in Seattle. Earlier this week Hansen purchased an $8MM piece of land in Seattle that he plans to use for the arena. That gives him all the land he's said he'd need for the project, according to Nick Eaton of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Howard-Cooper believes Anaheim, where the Kings almost moved in 2011, is still in play, and says the 20-year local TV deal between the Lakers and Time Warner Cable that kicks in for the Lakers this season could help Anaheim's case. Former Lakers broadcasters Fox Sports West and KCAL-TV could use the Kings as replacement programming (Twitter links).
Odds & Ends: Magic, C.J. Watson, Spencer Hawes
As we enter the NBA's dead month of September, we're now only weeks away from the Nets' unveiling of their brand-new uniforms. The release on September 28 coincides with the opening of the Barclays Center in the form of a concert by Jay-Z at the venue. One can only wonder if the minority owner will rock the new jersey during the performance.
Let's catch up with the latest news, stories and headlines from around the league…
- New Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn has an open mind heading into training with regard to how he sees the team's lineup and roster playing out, writes Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. "I have no preconceived thoughts about guys here," Vaughn said. "I have to judge these guys on what they show me. Not on past games, not on other people's opinions, but from my opinion. I will give them the opportunity to show me."
- Recently signed Nets guard C.J. Watson has spent the past week in Africa giving back to a community through basketball, writes Roderick Boone of Newsday. "It's fun," said Watson. "They already know a lot of stuff about basketball. It's just fun learning from a NBA player. Like someone told me, 'There might never be a time when I meet a NBA player ever again in my life.' So to get to actually come here and make these kids' dreams come true, it's just fun to meet with them."
- Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com looks at how Spencer Hawes may be able to emulate Pau Gasol while playing alongside Andrew Bynum in the Sixers' frontcourt. Head coach Doug Collins is confident in Hawes' abilities to mimic Gasol's style of play. "I want (Hawes) to play the Gasol role with Bynum,” said Collins. “Both (Hawes and Gasol) like to play out on the perimeter because they can shoot the ball and are very good passers."
Poll: Which Team Will Improve Most This Season?
There's no doubt that the best got better this offseason with teams like the Lakers and the Heat adding key pieces to strengthen their odds of making a title run. Beyond the league's powerhouses, a series of teams ranging from the 8th seed from the Eastern Conference to the squad with the worst record in the league made moves this summer that should help them improve their win totals in 2012/13. For some of these teams, success next season will be predicated on a trade made during the offseason (Sixers) or adding key pieces through the draft, free agency as well trades (Hornets).
There have been plenty of free agent signings, savy draft picks and trades this offseason that will undoubtedly improve more than a few teams this season. Let us know which of these teams below will make the biggest improvement this season based upon wins. If you have another team in mind, vote for "Other" and let us know who it is in the comments.
Which Team Will Make The Biggest Improvement This Season?
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Nets 33% (299)
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Sixers 19% (170)
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Timberwolves 18% (169)
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Other 10% (91)
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Warriors 8% (72)
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Hornets 8% (70)
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Wizards 5% (44)
Total votes: 915
Western Notes: Jazz, Stephen Curry, Coaches
The Western Conference looks to be even more competitive heading into the 2012/13 season thanks to a series of trades and signings this offseason. While the Thunder should remain the proverbial favorite led by their own Big 3, the Lakers have closed the gap with a flurry of moves including the acquisition of Dwight Howard along with Steve Nash. The Nuggets are another club to watch as the team added Andre Iguodala to its roster as a part of the Howard trade.
Here's the latest news from around the Western Conference…
- Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake City Tribune tracks the unlikely journey Dennis Lindsey took to become the general manager of the Jazz. Lindsey began his path to Utah after playing college ball at Baylor by coaching a variety of different sports at the high school level and serving as a special education teacher. It wasn't until Lindsey turned 27 that he received an entry-level opportunity with the Rockets that had him serve as a video scout, marking the first of 16 seasons of preparing for his new role with the Jazz.
- Stephen Curry's long-term future with the Warriors will be decided by five different factors, opines Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News. The fourth-year star's contract status, whether he re-signs or not, should be determined no sooner than hours before the October 31 deadline. Regardless of whether Curry can reach a deal with the Warriors, the former Davidson star will attract attention from around the league.
- The head coaching position in the NBA has been a revolving door for the majority of the league the past few season, writes Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld. Beyond the likes of the Spurs' Gregg Popovich, the Nuggets' George Karl and a handful of others, teams are seemingly becoming more likely to pull the plug on a coach in hopes of a quick fix.
Update On Overseas Players With NBA Ties
The Olympics naturally drew plenty of attention this summer, but there's another international competition going on that includes NBA players, as well as pros from overseas whose draft rights are held by NBA teams. AJ Mitnick of SheridanHoops.com looks at the Eurobasket qualification tournament and ranks the top 25 players at the event. Marcin Gortat of the Suns is No. 1, but Mitnick shares some notable observations about others on the list. Here are a few:
- Cavs small forward Omri Casspi, entering the final year of his rookie deal, is the No. 3 player on the list, and Mitnick writes that he appears more comfortable with his body after struggling to adjust to the weight he added after his rookie year.
- The buyout for Bojan Bogdanovic, who checks in at No. 7, becomes more palatable next summer, meaning the Nets, who hold his rights, could bring him aboard then. If they do, they'll be getting a gifted perimeter scorer who could be equivalent to a lottery pick, opines Mitnick.
- Like Bogdanovic, Lior Eliyahu's buyout will be easier for the Wolves to handle next summer, too, but while he's No. 10 on the list, Mitnick says he has some defensive flaws, and sees him only as an effective bench player in the NBA.
- Milan Macvan, the 54th pick in 2011, could make the Cavs' roster right now, says Mitnick, who adds that he's been one of Europe's most improved big men over the past year. Ranked No. 12 on the list, he nonetheless lacks the mobility to play power forward and the length to play center.
- Mitnick thinks Tornike Shengelia, picked No. 54 this June and No. 14 on this list, could be a steal for the Nets, especially considering the NBA game suits his style more than European play.
- Vyacheslav Kravtsov, at No. 20, is raw, lacks a feel for the game and severely limited shooting range, but his length and timing as a shot blocker could help him contribute down the road for the Pistons, Mitnick says.
Spurs Hire Scott Layden As Assistant GM
The Spurs have brought Jazz assistant coach and former Knicks president and GM Scott Layden aboard as assistant GM, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Layden also served as GM of the Jazz from 1992-99. Wojnarowski says the Spurs were also considering Gersson Rosas, vice president of player personnel for the Rockets.
One of Layden's tasks will be to administer the Spurs' scouting department. San Antonio has been renowned for its scouting over the years, finding hidden gems to help the franchise win four championships and annually compete at a high level. Dennis Lindsey, who left the post this summer to become GM of the Jazz, is the latest in a long line of Spurs assistant GMs who later became top executives with other clubs. Danny Ferry, Sam Presti and Dell Demps have all held the job in the past.
Layden helped the Jazz supplement Hall of Famers John Stockton and Karl Malone in the '90s, as Utah made back-to-back appearances in the Finals in 1997 and 1998. Layden had much less success with the Knicks from 1999 to 2003, as the team declined from perennial contender to lottery regular.
Notable Recent September Transactions
Teams will begin training camps at the end of the month, meaning there are only a few weeks left before offseason becomes preseason in the NBA. Traditionally, that's led to more player movement in September than in August, and some significant deals have gone down in Septembers past. That wasn't the case in 2011 because of the lockout, but here are some of the transactions from years past that can give you an idea of what to expect over the next 30 days.
2010
- September 30th: Joakim Noah agrees to a five-year, $60MM extension with the Bulls — Chicago ended an active offseason by locking up their young defensive stalwart at center long-term and keeping him from restricted free agency in 2011. The deal likely saved the Bulls quite a bit, considering Marc Gasol signed for four years and $57.5MM and DeAndre Jordan got four years and $43.04MM as restricted free agents last year.
- September 24th: Andray Blatche signs a five-year, $35.73MM extension with the Wizards — Career highs of 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds seemed to justify the move in 2010/11, but last year's drastic regression to 8.5 PPG and 5.8 RPG led the Wizards to use the amnesty clause to waive Blatche this summer, less than halfway into the extension. Blatche seems likely to be a part of another September transaction this year, as he's drawing interest from a handful of teams, including the Nets, as we heard today.
2009
- September 22nd: Raymond Felton signs a one-year, $5.5MM qualifying offer from the Bobcats — Felton helped the Bobcats to the only playoff appearance in franchise history that year, but the team's inability to get him to sign long-term allowed him to bolt to the Knicks the following summer for a two-year, $14.56MM deal.
- September 4th: Ramon Sessions signs a four-year, $16.445MM offer sheet from the Timberwolves. The Bucks decline to match — His departure cleared the way for Brandon Jennings in Milwaukee, while the Timberwolves seemed to quickly develop buyer's remorse, shipping Sessions to the Cavs after just one season. The final year of the contract was a player option worth $4.552MM, though Sessions might regret his decision not to opt in and stay with the contending Lakers this summer, as he'll wind up making only slightly more money this season with the woeful Bobcats.
2008
- September 29th: Francisco Garcia signs a five-year, $29.6MM extension with the Kings — Sacramento shackled itself long-term to a player whose scoring, rebounding and assists-per-game averages have declined each season of the extension, which kicked in with the 2009/10 season. He's put up only 7.5 PPG, 2.3 RPG and 1.1 APG in 20.9 MPG over the life of the extension, which still has one more season left on it plus a $6.4MM team option that the Kings will almost certainly not exercise.
- September 22nd: Goran Dragic signs a four year, $7.616MM deal with the Suns — The Suns brought aboard the Slovenian point guard whose rights they had acquired from the Spurs after San Antonio took him 45th overall in the 2008 draft. Dragic quickly established himself as a solid backup to Steve Nash, and when the Suns withdrew their qualifying offer to Aaron Brooks this summer to clear the way for Dragic to return, they more or less acknowledged the mistake they made when they traded Dragic for Brooks in 2011.
Winderman On Heat, Blatche, Draft, Free Agents
The success of the small-ball lineup during the Heat's run through the playoffs last season has changed the organization's philosophy toward big men, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. They're still likely to add a big man to the roster before training camp, but they don't feel obligated to give heavy minutes to a traditional center. Instead, they'll look for post-up opportunities from others on the floor, as former All-Star center and current Heat front office executive Alonzo Mourning says. Winderman believes they can make up for not having a 7-footer close to the boards by gang rebounding and having LeBron James and Dwyane Wade rebound at better rates than you would expect at their positions. Here's the rest of Winderman's South Beach chronicles:
- While Andray Blatche may be reluctant to sign with the Heat, who wouldn't guarantee him the playing time he'd need to show whether he's improved from last season, Winderman believes the 6'11" former Wizards big man "certainly would make some sense" for Miami (Twitter link). We heard earlier today the Nets are meeting with Blatche this weekend, while the Heat, Spurs and Timberwolves have also been linked to him.
- The value of the first-round draft pick the Sixers owe the Heat took a hit when Philadelphia acquired Andrew Bynum, Winderman notes. The Sixers were barely a playoff team and drafted 15th this June, but if Bynum helps lift the Sixers' record higher this season, it could push the pick that goes to the Heat into the 20s. The Heat traded the 27th pick this June for the lottery-protected 2013 first-rounder, as well as the 45th pick this year, which Miami used to take Croatia-bound Justin Hamilton.
- Winderman is surprised that Matt Barnes, Kenyon Martin and Josh Childress remain on the market, and expects them to sign soon after Labor Day (Sulia link). Last night we heard Barnes is talking to multiple teams.
Nets Interested In Andray Blatche
2:30pm: If the Nets sign Blatche, the contract probably wouldn't include a guarantee, a source told Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com. The team is unlikely to sign anyone else to a guaranteed deal for the rest of the offseason, Mazzeo hears. Nets coach Avery Johnson will be at the meeting with Blatche.
12:39pm: The Nets are set to meet with free agent Andray Blatche in Houston, Texas this weekend, two sources tell Howard Beck of the New York Times. The forward has been working out with a number of other NBA players under the guidance of John Lucas.
The Wizards cut the troubled big man earlier this summer and will be on the hook for the $23.4MM he is owed over the course of the next three years. Given the time he has spent on the open market combined with his up-and-down history, Blatche is widely expected to sign for the veteran minimum where ever he goes.