Hawks Waive Keith Benson, Isma’il Muhammad
After foreshadowing the moves via Twitter, Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports the Hawks have waived training camp invitees Keith Benson and Isma'il Muhammad, bringing the team's roster down to 17 players. Both were on non-guaranteed minimum-salary contracts.
Benson, a 6'11" big man, got into three games for the Warriors last season, but didn't score in nine minutes and wasn't retained after his 10-day contract expired. The 6'6" Muhammad was a college star in Atlanta with Georgia Tech, but went undrafted in 2005 and is still seeking his first official NBA action.
The Hawks have 14 players under partially or fully guaranteed deals, so today's moves seem to narrow the competition for the final roster spot to James Anderson, Damion James and Carldell Johnson, none of whom are big men. The lone partial guarantee belongs to Kyle Korver. The Hawks could buy out his $5MM deal for $500K, but it seems unlikely they'd do so.
Cavs Notes: Thompson, Leuer, Roster Cuts
As we heard earlier today, the NCAA is investigating agent Rich Paul and Myck Kabongo regarding a trip the Texas guard took to Cleveland this summer. Cavaliers big man Tristan Thompson, who is represented by Paul, was involved in Kabongo's trip, but doesn't think any NCAA rules were violated, as Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal writes (on Sulia).
"I had to pay for it, but then his brother reimbursed me, which is totally fine with the NCAA," Thompson said. "I think everything will work out. I don't see no eligibility issues, but that's for the NCAA to figure out."
Here are a few more Thursday notes related to the Cavs:
- Jon Leuer doesn't appear to be in jeopardy of not making Cleveland's regular season roster, though he may face an uphill battle for minutes, says Bob Finnan of the News Herald.
- Leuer was traded by the Bucks this summer, waived by the Rockets, and eventually claimed by the Cavs on waivers, and says he was caught off guard by all the movement: "I didn't see that coming at all. Milwaukee needed a center and Houston had a million things going on. It was a pretty crazy offseason, kind of a welcome to the free-agency frenzy for a young player."
- The Cavs have 18 players on their roster and will need to cut three more before the season begins. Finnan expects the team to cut one of Donald Sloan or Jeremy Pargo, and one of Luke Harangody, Luke Walton, and Kevin Jones. It's unclear who the last cut could be — perhaps Kelenna Azubuike or Micheal Eric. Finnan suggests that Cleveland may also be willing to move Daniel Gibson for a second-round pick.
- As our list of non-guaranteed deals shows, Sloan, who appears to have a leg up on Pargo, is the only Cav under contract without any sort of guarantee. So Cleveland may end up releasing three players who are all owed guaranteed money.
Jerry West Talks Warriors, Bogut, Ezeli, Lakers
Longtime Lakers and Grizzlies executive Jerry West is now a part of the Warriors' front office, the team's head consultant under owner Joe Lacob. West recently appeared on KBNR in San Francisco to discuss the Warriors' disappointing 2011/12 season, his optimism for the coming year, and his thoughts on the new-look Lakers. Here are a few highlights from West, courtesy of Sports Radio Interviews:
On why the Warriors underachieved in 2011/12:
"Last year the season was kind of cobbled, thrown together and the teams that were going to be good were the teams that had veteran players because they had been there before. They had played together before, knew each other’s personality and probably didn’t have a coaching change."
On the improvements the team has made over the last few months:
"I look at our backcourt and I say to myself, 'Oh my gosh, what a change from over a year ago.' We added Jarrett Jack, a very solid player and a productive player; Klay Thompson who is going to be a terrific player in this league; Steph Curry is back and healthy. And then I look up front and say, 'Oh my gosh, we went from a midget team to [one that's] big and strong.' I’m excited about all of those things."
On the additions of big men Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli:
"[Bogut]'s a tremendous player. He led the league in blocked shots a couple of years ago, I think, but he is probably the best passing center in basketball, and he’s a big, tough guy. He really knows how to play. I just look at his size and the Ezeli kid, who we think is going to be a terrific young backup — can you imagine going off a screen with guys that size?"
On whether the Lakers will live up to the hype:
"I think they’ve added some interesting pieces down there and I would never discount any team with Kobe Bryant on it. I would never do that. But I think it’s going to be a bigger challenge and I think defensively they will still be challenged…. On paper, they look terrific."
Odds & Ends: Harden, Spurs, Richardson, Nuggets
Of today's slate of preseason NBA games, three are scheduled for tonight, with one already in the books — the Heat defeated the Clippers 94-80 in Beijing in a contest that got underway at 6:30 CST this morning. As we await the rest of today's action, let's round up a few odds and ends from around the league….
- Grantland's Bill Simmons believes the Thunder should be able to absorb the tax hit that will come with extending or re-signing James Harden, and implores Harden not to settle for a hometown discount.
- Derrick Brown's ability to guard the three spot could set him apart in the battle to earn a roster spot among Spurs' bigs, says Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News (Twitter links). As Mike Monroe of the Express-News writes, however, Eddy Curry and Josh Powell also both played well in the team's preseason game with the Hawks.
- Jason Richardson has left agent Dan Fegan and is in the market for new representation, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter).
- Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post examines the Nuggets' quest to build a winning culture in Denver.
- Juwan Howard is remaining around the Heat in case the team decides to cut six players instead of five and has an open roster spot for him, says Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
- Agent Rich Paul, who recently began to exclusively represent LeBron James and other NBA players, is under investigation by the NCAA for his relationship with University of Texas guard Myck Kabongo, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS
If you want to keep tabs on all of Hoops Rumors' stories and updates, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or subscribe to our feed through your RSS reader of choice. However, if you prefer to only receive news about your favorite NBA team, we have you covered. Below are links to our Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds for all 30 teams.
Atlantic
- 76ers: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Celtics: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Knicks: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Nets: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Raptors: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
Central
- Bucks: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Bulls: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Cavaliers: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Pacers: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Pistons: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
Southeast
- Bobcats: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Hawks: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Heat: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Magic: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Wizards: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
Southwest
- Grizzlies: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Hornets: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Mavericks: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Rockets: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Spurs: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
Northwest
- Jazz: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Nuggets: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Thunder: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Timberwolves: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
- Trail Blazers: Facebook / Twitter / RSS
Pacific
Bucks GM: “Very Good” Odds To Retain Jennings
With Halloween now less than three weeks away, teams are slowly running out of time to negotiate new deals with their extension-eligible fourth-year players. Brandon Jennings is one player that could be extended by the end of the month, though a recent Marc Stein report suggested that's unlikely. Still, Bucks GM John Hammond told Ryan Ellerbusch of ESPNMilwaukee.com (Twitter link) that the team's chances of retaining Jennings long-term are "very good."
Even if Jennings and the Bucks don't work out an extension by the end of October, Milwaukee will still have the opportunity to re-sign the point guard next summer. Assuming the team issues Jennings a qualifying offer, he'll become a restricted free agent, meaning the Bucks will have the right to match any offer sheet he signs elsewhere. According to Ellerbusch, Hammond appeared confident the Bucks could match another team's offer, which shouldn't come as a surprise — if Monta Ellis opts out of his contract next July, the Bucks could be under the cap by $25MM+.
Recent reports have indicated that agent Bill Duffy figures to push for a maximum-salary deal for his client, which Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors opined would be mutually beneficial for Jennings and the Bucks. Still, if Jennings is holding out for a max contract, the Bucks aren't under a ton of pressure to lock him up right away. The team would still have the opportunity to retain him at that price next summer, and could potentially even save a few bucks if the 23-year-old has health issues or a decline in production in 2012/13.
Latest On Unsigned Free Agents
With Tracy McGrady having signed to play in China earlier this week, our list of 2012/13 unrestricted free agents continues to grow more and more sparse. Still, there are surprising names on there, such as Kenyon Martin, Leandro Barbosa, Mickael Pietrus, and Michael Redd. We don't have any new updates on those four, but here's the latest on a few of the other notable names on the market:
- Derek Fisher: Kobe Bryant tells Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (Twitter link) that he's confident his longtime teammate will find an NBA home soon, since "every team needs a guard like him." Fisher had been working out with the Lakers this fall, but can't re-sign with Los Angeles at this point, since the team traded him in March. There was speculation that the Celtics could kick the tires following Keyon Dooling's retirement, but there doesn't appear to be anything concrete there.
- Josh Howard: While Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com tweets that Howard should be on a roster before opening night, it's a little surprising he's still out there at all. We've heard rumblings that Howard was closing in on a decision since late July, after all. I wouldn't rule out the Sixers, who were said to be eyeing Howard last month and currently appear to have camp invitees Dan Gadzuric, Damien Wilkins, and Devin Searcy fighting for the final two roster spots.
- Chris Andersen: Within the previously-linked Zwerling tweet, the ESPNNY scribe adds that the Birdman should find a suitor by opening night as well, though it's unclear where he'll land. Andersen seems to have been willing to sign with a number of teams earlier in the offseason, but the Timberwolves, Heat, and Knicks all failed to reciprocate his interest. An August report suggesting the big man had offers of up to $5MM annually seems a little outrageous now, but perhaps there would still be modest offers available overseas.
- Maurice Evans: Another player Zwerling expects to sign with a team this month, Evans wants to continue his playing career despite receiving interest from the Wizards in a front office capacity. Last week, we heard that teams would likely evaluate what they have in camp before moving on someone like Evans, so perhaps a club disappointed with its camp invitees will turn to the veteran wing within the next few weeks.
Northwest Notes: Murphy, Burks, Roy
It was an offseason of relative stability for Northwest Division teams, three of which return double-digit numbers of players from last year's rosters. The other two teams, the Timberwolves and Trail Blazers, engaged in a tete-a-tete over Nicolas Batum, who eventually wound up as one of Portland's seven returnees. The Jazz pulled off a pair of trades but still have 11 players returning, though one of them is Raja Bell, whom the team instructed not to attend training camp as the two sides lurch toward a buyout. Here's the latest from Utah and elsewhere in the Northwest.
- Jody Genessy of the Deseret News examines how Kevin Murphy, the 47th overall pick by the Jazz this past June, is playing catch-up after missing the first four practices of training camp to be with his wife for the birth of their first child. Murphy is on a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal.
- Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune and Randy Hollis of the Deseret News take a look at second-year man Alec Burks, who could see time at point guard for the Jazz this season. The team faces a deadline at the end of the month on whether to pick up his option for 2013/14, as the Hoops Rumors rookie contract option tracker shows.
- Brandon Roy made his preseason debut for the Wolves tonight, his first NBA action since the 2011 playoffs. SI.com's team of writers debate the impact he and other players around the league who are returning from injury will have this year.
Odds & Ends: Van Gundy, Magic, Valanciunas
Former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy is upset that ESPN is denying that they had an agreement for him to join the network's broadcasting team this year, he told Dan LeBatard on 790 The Ticket radio in Miami, as Jason McIntyre of Big Lead Sports observes. Van Gundy claims ESPN pulled the offer, and sources told McIntyre that the network did so at the behest of commissioner David Stern, with whom Van Gundy has feuded in the past. Van Gundy's shadow, not to mention Dwight Howard's, still looms over Orlando, and there's more on the Magic and news from around the league on a six-game preseason night.
- The relationship between new coach Jacque Vaughn and Jameer Nelson, who had wanted Van Gundy to remain, will be critical for the Magic this season, opines Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
- A scout watching Raptors rookie big man Jonas Valanciunas described him as "soft" and "scared" to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio (Twitter link).
- Either Iman Shumpert, when he returns from injury, or Ronnie Brewer will start at shooting guard for the Knicks this season, according to Newsday's Al Iannazzone (Sulia link).
- Suns executive Lon Babby assembled a team full of guys with much to prove, writes Dan Bickley of The Arizona Republic (via USAToday.com).
- Though he was taken 27th overall, Sixers rookie Arnett Moultrie would do well to emulate the rookie season of Lavoy Allen, the 50th pick in 2011, as he tries to crack a well-stocked frontcourt in Philadelphia, writes John Finger of CSNPhilly.com.
Central Rumors: Bucks, Leuer, Irving, Bulls
The Cavaliers made a pair of cuts today, letting go of Kevin Anderson and Justin Holiday, both of whom were on non-guaranteed deals. They'll be the first of many players to go from Central Division teams this month, as all five clubs are currently over the 15-man regular season roster limit. Here's more from around the Central.
- The Bucks are counting on several of their offseason additions to improve their ability to protect the basket, as Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel writes.
- Bucks GM John Hammond acquired shot blocker Samuel Dalembert in an offseason trade, but told the Journal Sentinel he wished it hadn't been necessary to part with Jon Leuer to make the deal work financially, as Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal notes. The Rockets wound up waiving Leuer after the swap, and the Cavs successfully claimed him, bringing to an end a whirlwind of movement that's left Cavs coach Byron Scott trying to rebuild Leuer's confidence, Lloyd reports.
- Fourth overall pick Dion Waiters is off to a slow start for the Cavs, as Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer points out.
- As a 1-for-21 shooting performance in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's preseason game showed, the Bulls bench is not what it used to be after a summer of moves that depleted the team's depth, observes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.