Atlantic Notes: Milicic, Sixers, Brooks, ‘Sheed
The Celtics opened up preseason play with a thud on Friday, losing 97-91 to Turkish team Fenerbahce Ulker in Istanbul. It's tough to draw much from the first preseason game for an NBA team when they're going against an overseas squad with greater motivation to win, and despite the loss, the C's had to be encouraged by the play of Jeff Green and rookie Jared Sullinger, who led the team with 16 points apiece. Romain Sato, a 2004 second-round pick by the Spurs, led Fenerbache with 24 points, while Ilkan Karaman, whom the Nets took 57th overall in this year's draft, was held to just four. Here's the latest on the Celtics, as they continue their European tour, and the rest of the Atlantic:
- Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe passes along a couple of comments from Celtics coach Doc Rivers about the team's management of Darko Milicic's psyche, well-worn from the expectations of being a No. 2 overall pick and an up-and-down NBA career (Sulia link).
- Newcomers Jason Richardson, Dorell Wright and Nick Young give the Sixers a significant boost from three-point territory, points out Bob Cooney of the the Philadelphia Daily News. John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer tackles the same issue, noting that coach Doug Collins expects the team to average seven or eight made three-pointers a game.
- MarShon Brooks figures to come off the bench this season for the Nets, a year after serving as the team's second option on offense behind Deron Williams. Tim Bontemps of the New York Post examines his adjustment.
- Knicks coach Mike Woodson says Rasheed Wallace is still working his way back into shape, as Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com tweets. "He's not ready yet. He's just not there where we want him to be," Woodson said. "But he'll get there."
Teams With Designated Players
The October 31st deadline for teams with players eligible to extend their rookie-scale contracts is drawing near, and as it does, the new CBA provides an extra wrinkle to consider. Teams can only agree a five-year rookie-scale extension with one player, known as the "designated player" in CBA parlance. As long as the designated player is on the roster, none of the team's other first-round picks nearing the end of their original deals may receive an extension of longer than four years.
The Thunder, for instance, are barred from giving James Harden a fifth year in an extension because they agreed to a five-year extension with Russell Westbrook in January. If they had that option, it would have given Oklahoma City an opportunity to spread out Harden's cap hit over one more season, easing the team's luxury tax concerns.
Teams can acquire one more designated player via trade, and extensions signed under the old CBA are grandfathered in. The latter exception explains how Westbrook was able to get a five-year extension after Kevin Durant had already signed a five-year extension in 2010. Still, the rule presents a challenge for teams like the Thunder who have built through the draft.
Only three teams have designated players so far, with more likely by the end of the month. Here's a breakdown of those teams, and how the five-year extensions they've handed out limit them in the future:
Bulls — Derrick Rose (signed five-year extension on December 11th, 2011 that runs through 2017)
Others limited to rookie-scale extension of four years or fewer:
- Taj Gibson (extension-eligible in 2012)
- Jimmy Butler (extension-eligible in 2014)
- Marquis Teague (extension-eligible in 2015)
- Any first-round pick the team adds next summer will be ineligible for a five-year extension as well, since he'd be eligible for an extension in 2016, when Rose is still under his extension.
Thunder — Russell Westbrook (signed five-year extension on January 19th, 2012 that runs through 2017)
Others limited to rookie-scale extension of four years or fewer:
- James Harden (extension-eligible in 2012)
- Eric Maynor (extension-eligible in 2012)
- Cole Aldrich (extension-eligible in 2013)
- Lazar Hayward (extension-eligible in 2013)
- Reggie Jackson (extension-eligible in 2014)
- Perry Jones (extension-eligible in 2015)
- Any first-round pick the team adds next summer will be ineligible for a five-year extension as well, since he'd be eligible for an extension in 2016, when Westbrook is still under his extension.
Clippers — Blake Griffin (signed five-year extension on July 11th, 2012 that runs through 2018)
Others limited to rookie-scale extension of four years or fewer:
- Eric Bledsoe (extension-eligible in 2013)
- Any first-round picks the team adds next summer and in will 2014 be ineligible for a five-year extension as well, since they'd be eligible for an extension in 2016 and 2017, when Griffin is still under his extension.
Clippers Notes: Del Negro, Paul, Odom
Here's a look at some news on the Clippers courtesy of SI.com's Sam Amick..
- Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro indicated that he feels strong support from team ownership as he enters the final year of his deal. However, Del Negro wouldn't disclose whether he and Donald Sterling have had conversations about a new deal yet.
- The question of whether Chris Paul is happy in Los Angeles will loom all year long as people discuss his impending free agency, but Amick writes that he is clearly content with the Clippers. Paul has said that having a hand in shaping the team is a huge plus for him and signed off on the acquisitions of Lamar Odom, Matt Barnes, and Willie Green.
- Odom is back on track mentally but it will take the forward some time to get into playing shape. However, it's not from a lack of trying as Del Negro confirmed that he hasn't missed a practice or slacked off at all in camp.
Odds & Ends: Lin, White, Heat, Teague
Knicks coach Mike Woodson isn't looking to discuss Jeremy Lin as training camp underway, but Tyson Chandler was willing to give his thoughts on the former toast of the town, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. “Jeremy was a young point guard who was inexperienced, who brought a great light to the organization. But as far as being able to run the offense and putting players in the right position he just wasn’t there. We got some veteran point guards that are capable of doing that," said Chandler. All things considered, the big man believes that this year's trio of Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd, and Pablo Prigioni is a big step up over last season’s trio of Lin, Baron Davis, and Mike Bibby. Here's more from around the league..
- Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter) is happy to see that Royce White and the Rockets worked out an arrangement for the forward to travel to some road games via bus but wonders what took the team so long. Kennedy notes that White made his fear of flying well known to clubs during the draft process.
- Heat training camp invite Jack McClinton is currently deciding between playing in the D-League this year and taking a more lucrative offer in China, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The former University of Miami standout was leaning towards the latter until coach Erik Spoelstra told him that he was good enough to make an NBA team. Staying stateside would give McClinton an easier path to the league as a mid-season pickup.
- Bulls rookie Marquis Teague is working hard to help contribute as much as possible in the absence of Derrick Rose, writes Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld.
Jennings, DeRozan Unlikely To Land Extensions
With 25 days until the extension deadline, Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter) hears that Denver's Ty Lawson and Philadelphia's Jrue Holiday are likely to get new deals. Meanwhile, Milwaukee's Brandon Jennings and Toronto's DeMar DeRozan are not likely to get extensions done with their respective teams.
Jennings is set to earn $3.18MM in the final year of his rookie scale contract but the dynamic point guard is said to be seeking a maximum deal. While the one-guard has shown a great deal of promise, it seems unlikely that Milwaukee would spend that much to keep him in the fold, especially with Monta Ellis holding an option at the end of the year. Jennings has expressed dissatisfaction with the Bucks in the past but over the summer he publicly said that he hopes to reach a new deal with the club.
Earlier this week, we heard that the Raptors still view DeRozan as a key part of their future and have had extension talks with the guard. However, Bryan Colangelo said that he wasn't sure if he'd get a deal done with DeRozan prior to the deadline. For his part, the 23-year-old has said that he is happy with the Raptors.
It was reported that Holiday was seeking a max extension earlier this summer, an expectation that seemed overly ambitious at best. However, the 22-year-old recently clarified those remarks, explaining that it is simply a goal of his to be on that level as a player.
Lawson recently followed LeBron James' lead and opted to leave the powerful Creative Arts Agency as he enters his final year under contract. Luke Adams recently looked at what it'll take for the Nuggets to lock the point guard up and sees a deal with a ~$10MM average annual value.
Other 2009 draftees in the mix for extensions include Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Bulls forward Taj Gibson, and, of course, Thunder guard James Harden, Stein tweets. We've already seen fellow '09ers Blake Griffin and Serge Ibaka sign lucrative contract extensions with the Clippers and Thunder, respectively.
Hoops Links: Brown, Blair, Suns, Nuggets
On this date in 1993, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA. Well, his first retirement, anyway. The league's biggest star shocked the world when he called a press conference to announce that he was stepping away from the game and he would later disclose that it was largely shaped by the tragic murder of his father than summer. James R. Jordan Sr. always envisioned his son as a Major League Baseball player and months later, MJ would ink a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox. Of course, Jordan didn't quite flourish in baseball and his time away from the hardwood proved to be short-lived as he returned to the Bulls in the 1994/95 season.
If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature in Hoops Links, then send it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..
- Rufus On Fire remembers Kwame Brown's comeback in Charlotte.
- Pounding The Rock wonders if DeJuan Blair can put the distractions aside this season.
- Bright Side Of The Sun is ready for some rebuilding.
- Wages Of Wins thinks that the Nuggets will be strong if they go with the right rotation.
- The NBA Geek sees a big step forward for the T'Wolves this year.
- Stepien Rules looks at Dion Waiters' chances at a Rookie of the Year bid.
- The Basketball Post previews the 2012/13 NCAA season.
- The NBA Mistress sees Andre Iguodala as a defensive difference-maker for Denver.
- Smooth's Hoops, meanwhile, doesn't like the Iguodala deal for the Nuggets.
- Hardwood Paroxysm talks San Diego Clippers basketball.
- NBA 24 7 365 breaks down the Celtics' exhibition against Fenerbahce Ulker.
- SBNation brings us the story of SlamBall.
- Raptors Republic wants to see some trades in Toronto.
- Hoops Addict believes that the Nets will need defense to win this year.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.
Odds & Ends: Dirk, Smith, Johnson, Vucevic
The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Friday evening:
- Dirk Nowitzki wants to play beyond the two seasons remaining on his contract, writes Eddie Sefko of SportsDayDFW.com.
- J.R. Smith tells Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com that he would rather start than come off the bench for the Knicks this season.
- Stefan Swiat of Suns.com writes that Wesley Johnson has looked strong in training camp. The third-year guard was acquired by Phoenix from the Timberwolves in a three-team deal in July.
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel speculates that Nikola Vucevic, acquired from Philadelphia in the Dwight Howard trade, will replace Howard as the Magic's starting center.
- Raptors coach Dwayne Casey tells Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun that he expects John Lucas to be a contributor this season.
Blazers Notes: Barton, Jeffries, Center, Cuts
The latest updates out of Portland from Trail Blazers training camp on Friday evening:
- Rookie guard Will Barton tells CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes that he will continue to sit out team practices until his sore hamstring is completely healed.
- Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge reports that Jared Jeffries underwent the cutting-edge orthokine treatment popularized by Kobe Bryant and baseball star Alex Rodriguez.
- Head coach Terry Stotts tells The Oregonian's Joe Freeman that he will not name a starting center in the immediate future, preferring to create competition in training camp between Meyers Leonard, J.J. Hickson, and Joel Freeland.
- Freeman also reports that Stotts will not begin making cuts to the training-camp roster for another couple of weeks.
Latest On Thunder, Harden, Maynor
As the October 31 deadline approaches for the Thunder and James Harden to agree to an extension, here's the latest on Harden's contract situation and other developments out of Oklahoma City:
- The Oklahoman's Jenni Carlson believes that Harden and the Thunder will not agree to an extension before the deadline, citing a gap in their desired dollar amounts. If an extension is not signed, Harden will become a restricted free agent on July 1.
- The Oklahoman's John Rohde examines the future of Thunder backup point guard Eric Maynor, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Rohde believes it will be difficult for the Thunder to retain both Harden and Maynor, and a productive season from Maynor may place him out of OKC's price range.
- Rohde also speculates that if Harden does not sign an extension, he and Maynor could both become trade chips during the season.
Ingram On Billups, Clippers, Warriors, Hibbert
HoopsWorld's Bill Ingram has a new column that touches on several topics from around the league, including the rivalry in Los Angeles and the Warriors' expectations.
- Ingram talks to Clippers guard Chauncey Billups, who says he is taking his time getting healthy after tearing his left Achilles' tendon last season.
- Billups also praises the Clippers' depth, citing the additions of Lamar Odom and Jamal Crawford as moves that will improve the team.
- Warriors coach Mark Jackson is optimistic Andrew Bogut, acquired last season at the trade deadline, will be ready on opening night. He also thinks the team's three rookies, including lottery pick Harrison Barnes, will be valuable contributors this season.
- Despite coming close to signing with the Trail Blazers in July, Pacers center Roy Hibbert says he never wanted to leave Indiana and that money was not a factor in his decision. Hibbert signed a four-year, $58MM deal with the Pacers this summer.