Month: March 2024

December’s Expired Trade Exceptions

As we outline in our Hoops Rumors Glossary entry, traded player exceptions created in deals must be used within a year of being obtained. If they aren't used within that year, they simply expire. And that was the case for a few trade exceptions obtained last December, after the NBA lockout ended.

Listed below are the four trade exceptions that expired this month and are no longer in play. Only the Thunder's small TPE acquired in the Byron Mullens trade went completely unusued — the Clippers, Magic, and Jazz all acquired players with parts of their exceptions, including Utah absorbing Mo Williams' $8.5MM salary within the massive TPE the team acquired by sending Mehmet Okur to the Nets.

You can check out our complete list of the remaining trade exceptions around the league right here. Here are the TPEs that expired this month:

Orlando Magic
Obtained by trading: Brandon Bass (to Celtics)
Initial amount: $4,250,000
Used: $1,500,000 (Gustavo Ayon), $1,731,960 (Maurice Harkless)
Amount left: $1,018,040
Expired: 12/12/2012

Los Angeles Clippers
Obtained by trading: Al-Farouq Aminu (to Hornets)
Initial amount: $2,755,560
Used: $1,375,000 (Willie Green)
Amount left: $1,380,560
Expired: 12/14/2012

Oklahoma City Thunder
Obtained by trading: Byron Mullens (to Bobcats)
Amount: $1,288,200
Expired: 12/19/2012

Utah Jazz
Obtained by trading: Mehmet Okur (to Nets)

Initial amount: $10,890,000

Used: $8,500,000 (Mo Williams)
Amount left: $2,390,000

Expired: 12/22/2012

Odds & Ends: Nets, D-Will, Heat, Iguodala

The Nets are looking to win their third straight game under P.J. Carlesimo tonight in San Antonio, and whether or not they can pull it out, the team appears to be in no rush to begin searching for a replacement for Carlesimo. Chris Broussard of ESPN.com echoes what we've heard over the last couple days, writing that the interim head coach will get a "legit shot" to finish the 2012/13 season. Phil Jackson remains Brooklyn's "dream hire," but the club recognizes that it's difficult to hire an established coach to take over mid-season (all Twitter links). As the Nets and Spurs play one of the final games of 2012, we'll take a look at a few Monday evening odds and ends:

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D-League Moves: Warriors, Wroten, Samuels

Today's D-League assignments and recalls:

  • Kent Bazemore and Jeremy Tyler continue to bounce back and forth between Golden State and Santa Cruz, having been re-assigned to the D-League by the Warriors. The team announced the move in a press release.
  • The Grizzlies have recalled Tony Wroten from their D-League affiliate, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal (via Twitter). The rookie guard had just been sent to the Reno Bighorns last Wednesday.
  • The Cavs announced that they have recalled Samardo Samuels from the D-League's Canton Charge.  Samuels, who turns 24 in January, has seen time in 18 games for Cleveland so far this year.
  • The Mavericks announced today that they have recalled Jared Cunningham from the Texas Legends of the D-League.  During his seven game stint with the Legends he averaged 18.1 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 37 minutes per contest.
  • The Hornets announced that they have assigned forward Darius Miller to the D-League's Iowa Energy.  Miller has appeared in 23 games this season for the Hornets, averaging 2.0 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  New Orleans drafted the 6'8" Kentucky product with the 46th overall pick in the 2012 draft.

Aldridge On Nets, Phil Jackson, Cousins

It may be New Year's Eve, but that doesn't mean TNT's David Aldridge is taking a break from his weekly Morning Tip piece on NBA.com. In this week's column, Aldridge recaps the top 10 stories of 2012, including the Lakers' coaching carousel, the Dwightmare, and LeBron James' first NBA championship. He also dishes a few rumors on the Nets' coaching search and DeMarcus Cousins' availability, so let's check out the highlights:

  • According to Aldridge, the Nets thought that Avery Johnson carried his desire for a contract extension too far, considering plenty of other respected coaches around the league began coaching in the final year of their respective contracts without extensions.
  • While the Nets are saying P.J. Carlesimo will get a shot to prove he deserves to be the team's permanent head coach, Phil Jackson is still expected to get the first call if and when Brooklyn begins a coaching search in earnest. "It's Phil," a league coaching source tells Aldridge. "That's coming straight from Russia."
  • Kings GM Geoff Petrie insists that Cousins is not on the trade block in Sacramento: "He's not going anywhere. You can lay that to rest. Some of that stuff lives in its own reality." However, Aldridge hears from sources that the Kings are ready to consider moving the volatile big man for "a package of less talented, perhaps, but more emotionally grounded players."
  • Some members of the Kings were surprised when Cousins was reinstated and showed up for practice so soon after being suspended, and weren't overly moved by his attempt to apologize. "When he apologized to the team, two players stood up and said 'we've heard this bull(bleep) before,'" a source tells Aldridge. "'You're either going to be with us, or you're not. We don't want to hear any more excuses.'"
  • Examining teams with rumored interest in Cousins, Aldridge makes note of some potential roadblocks: The Celtics would be reluctant to part with Avery Bradley in any trade, the Pistons wouldn't be eager to pair Cousins with Andre Drummond, who Aldridge says "has his own growing up to do," and the Wizards likely wouldn't want to take on someone of questionable character after clearing the roster of that sort of player within the last year.

Odds & Ends: Millsap, Jackson, Cousins, Holiday

Last night at the Staples Center, the Clippers topped the Jazz 107-96 to complete a perfect 16-0 December.  The Jazz were within three points heading into the fourth quarter, but left forward Paul Millsap on the bench for all twelve minutes.  When asked if he was frustrated by that after the game, Millsap responded, "What you think? I'll let you answer that," according to Jody Genessy of the Deseret News (on Twitter).  Millsap has been a rumored trade candidate for some time as he plays out the final year of his deal in Utah.  Here's more from around the Association..

  • Most executives that Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio spoke to seem to think Phil Jackson will consider coaching the Nets. “With Phil, it’s all about how much control he has,” said one GM. “I think he’s probably OK with not winning another championship. It’s more about getting the most from his team without a bunch of annoying interferences.
  • Amico also writes that even though the Kings have denied they’re trying to trade DeMarcus Cousins, multiple sources say they have taken Sacramento's calls.  The asking price, however, "is way too high right now," according to one opposing GM.
  • Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (on Twitter) asked a handful of NBA GMs to "re-do" the 2009 Draft knowing what they know now.  The collective results had Clippers forward Blake Griffin still at No. 1, James Harden going second instead of third, and Jrue Holiday jumping from 17th to third.

Wolves Sign Lazar Hayward

12:58pm: It's a non-guaranteed deal, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (on Twitter).  The forward's deal could be guaranteed in a matter of days, however.

11:46am: The Timberwolves announced that they have signed forward Lazar Hayward.  Terms of the deal are not yet known but it is likely a non-guaranteed contract.

Minnesota auditioned the Marquette product on December 21st following Josh Howard's ACL tear and subsequent release.  The Wolves would like to replace Howard's production off of the bench as he averaged 6.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and nearly 1 steal per game in 18.8 MPG.  Hayward agreed to join the Los Angeles D-Fenders just yesterday but hopefully he didn't put his snow boots in storage.

The T'Wolves originally acquired Hayward in a 2010 draft night trade with the Wizards.  Hayward played in 42 games as rookie and averaged 3.8 points per contest.

Bobcats Deny Making Offer For Cousins

Last night, Sam Amico of FOX Sports heard from an NBA GM that the Bobcats put together a very tempting offer for Kings’ big man DeMarcus Cousins.  However, a Charlotte official texted Amico (Twitter link) this morning to deny that the team has put together “any sort of package” with Cousins in mind.

Despite Cousins’ clashes with Kings coach Keith Smart and members of the front office, it appears that he still has multiple suitors interested in him.  The Nuggets and Rockets have shown interest in Cousins in the past and the Pistons and Celtics have both expressed their interest to the Kings recently.  Sam Amick of USA Today heard from multiple sources that new agent Dan Fegan would like to steer Cousins to the Wizards since it would reunite him with Kentucky teammate and Fegan client John Wall.

Kyler On Bargnani, Gasol, Jamison, Hamilton

In this morning’s column, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld looks at the top trade candidates in the league.  Let’s dive in..

  • League sources say it would be almost impossible for the Raptors to move Andrea Bargnani and the three years and $32.25MM remaining on his deal until he returns and proves his elbow isn’t going to be a problem. Toronto hopes that he can return sometime in early February so teams can get a good look at him before the February 21st trade deadline and won’t seek much in return.  However, club sources say they don’t want a ton of long-term salary unless they’re getting exactly the right player. 
  • The stance from the Lakers is that they are not looking at deals for Pau Gasol and word is that they’re not looking at deals at all.  The Lakers have taken stock of the marketplace for the big man and have found it to be somewhat disappointing.  There are deals for Gasol, but all of them either have the Lakers taking back multiple assets, which they cannot do without eating some contracts or taking on bad deals.  Team sources say the goal is to compete for a  championship this year and that Gasol, at this point, gives them the best chance for that. 
  • On January 7th, the Lakers will need to decide on guaranteeing the non-guaranteed contracts of rookies Robert Sacre and Darius Johnson-Odom.  The Lakers could opt to cut one or both and open roster spots for free agents, other cut players with non-guaranteed deals, or 10-day contracts (which begin on January 10th). 
  • There has been speculation that Antawn Jamison wants off of the Lakers because of his decreased playing time, but the forward and sources close to him say that’s not the case.
  • League sources say Anderson Varejao is one of the more talked about trade targets in the league, but the Cavs are asking the moon for the big man.  If they cling to their evaluation of Varejao as an All-Star type talent, they may not find many buyers.
  • League sources openly question if there is a marketplace for Richard Hamilton, who has had a lot of injuries since joining the Bulls and question whether or not he’ll be anything more than a role player on another team.

Eastern Notes: Bobcats, Rose, Garnett, Knicks

According to a tweet from FoxSportsOhio.com's Sam Amico, the Bobcats might be preparing to make an offer for Kings center DeMarcus Cousins