Following Specific Players On Hoops Rumors
As we've outlined before, there are a number of different ways to follow Hoops Rumors via Facebook, Twitter, and RSS. If you don't want to follow all the site's updates, you can follow team-specific or transaction-only Facebook, Twitter, and RSS feeds. Although we don't have Facebook pages or Twitter feeds for specific players, you can also easily follow all our updates on your favorite player.
If, for instance, you want to keep track of all the latest news and rumors on Chris Paul as he approaches unrestricted free agency, you can visit this page. If you're interested in whether the Raptors may consider trading Jose Calderon to your favorite team, all Calderon-related updates are located here.
Every player we've written about has his own rumors page. You can find your player of choice by using our search box (located in the right sidebar); by clicking his tag at the bottom of a post where he's discussed; or, by simply typing his name in your address bar after hoopsrumors.com, substituting dashes for spaces. For example, Calderon's page is located at hoopsrumors.com/jose-calderon.
In addition to players and teams, there are a number of other subjects you can track by clicking on the tags we use at the bottom of posts. Early updates on the 2013 NBA draft, for instance, can be found on its rumors page. If you want to check out updates on Chris Hansen's quest to bring the NBA back to Seattle, those are all available here.
Jazz Won’t Rush To Trade Millsap Or Jefferson
With Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap both headed for unrestricted free agency this summer, many have speculated that the Jazz could be looking to move one or both of the big men before the February trade deadline. However, the Jazz have trading Jefferson and/or Millsap as a low priority, so long as they remain in the playoff hunt, sources near the Jazz tell Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.
If things change, General Manager Dennis Lindsey & Co. believe that it'll be easy to find a suitable deal for either player. Despite Jefferson's inconsistency and Millsap's lack of size for the power forward position, both players should still net a decent return for Utah. Jefferson is averaging 16.2 PPG with 10.2 RPG while Millsap is putting up 14.7 PPG and 8.1 RPG.
The Jazz are currently 15-14 (.517), a mark that would put them in the lottery if the playoffs were today. Utah will have to pick up the pace over the next eight weeks in order to justify holding on to their frontcourt stars.
Odds & Ends: Humphries, Anderson, Magic, Nets
Nets coach Avery Johnson has raised eyebrows around the league for his limited use of forward Kris Humphries, who is earning $12MM this season. However, we've learned today that there might be an explanation for the big man's disappointing play, decreased playing time, and yesterday's benching. Humphries missed today's practice in East Rutherford, New Jersey with an abdominal muscle issue and may require an MRI, writes Mike Gavin of Newsday. Yesterday, 86% of Hoops Rumors readers said that they expect Brooklyn to shop Humphries between now and February, but it's possible that he'll be back in the equation once he's healthy. Here's more from around the league..
- Hornets forward Ryan Anderson was caught off guard by the Magic's decision to trade him in July, writes Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida. “Obviously, they were going to go in a different direction that I wasn’t really too much aware of then,’’ said the 24-year-old. “I found out afterward what their plan is. They want to build their nucleus with young talent.’’
- Johnson's decision to 86 Humphries from the rotation will come back to haunt him, opines Amit Badlani of Sheridan Hoops. It's a decision that will satisfy Deron Williams in the short-term, but the Nets need Humphries' size in order to win in the playoffs.
- Chad Ford and Jay Bilas of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) ran down the top ten players in college basketball. Both analysts have Indiana's Cody Zeller pegged as the top talent in the NCAA.
Kings Listening To Offers On Cousins
12:59pm: The Kings have reinstated Cousins from his suspension, the team announced (via Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter).
10:19am: After a tumultuous week in which he was suspended indefinitely by the Kings, DeMarcus Cousins tells Sam Amick of USA Today that he wants to stay in Sacramento. Following his suspension and the firing of his agent this week, speculation has begun as to whether the third-year center is demanding a trade. However, although he has privately voiced his frustrations with the Kings organization, Amick writes that Cousins has yet to formally demand a trade.
Cousins is no longer considered untouchable in trade talks, Amick writes. At this point, however, the Kings are not actively shopping him as much as they are listening to offers. Although the fifth overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft is coveted by several teams, his recent behavior has resulted in his trade value declining around the league. Amick names the Pistons, Rockets, and Nuggets as teams that have had interest in trading for Cousins in the past.
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated tweets that teams around the league would be open to exploring trades for Cousins, but are not interested in giving up valuable assets for him. He also adds that the Nets and Rockets, two teams known to have had interest in Cousins in the past, are no longer pursuing him.
Mavs Notes: Nowitzki, Fisher, Beaubois
The latest news and notes on the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Eve:
- Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram writes that Dirk Nowitzki is encouraged by his season debut Sunday night for the Mavs.
- Derek Fisher's release and retirement from the Mavs surprised teammates, writes Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News would like to see greater contributions from Rodrigue Beaubois following Fisher's exit.
Southeast Notes: Bosh, Wizards, Varnado, Heat
An early roundup of links from around the Southeast Division on Christmas Eve:
- Israel Gutierrez of ESPN.com writes that Chris Bosh has proven skeptics wrong after facing criticism when he teamed with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami in 2010.
- David Aldridge of NBA.com writes that several Wizards players are frustrated with the team's struggles this season and are questioning whether the team has a direction.
- The South Florida Sun Sentinel's Ira Winderman wonders whether the Heat will regret letting Jarvis Varnado sign with the Celtics if he has more success than Miami's Dexter Pittman.
- Winderman has the same question about Wizards signee Garrett Temple, whom the Heat Let go in favor of Terrel Harris.
- Shelvin Mack was surprised the Wizards were the team to call him up from the D-League, reports Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
Dwight Howard Considered Retirement
Dwight Howard briefly considered retiring from the NBA after having surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back this spring, he tells Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com. He was advised by doctors over the summer that nerve damage caused by the herniated disc may have rendered him unable to play basketball if he had waited any longer to have surgery, forcing an early retirement:
“If I would have waited until after the season (to have the operation), if I would have tried to continue to play, then I probably wouldn’t be able to play anymore. I had to do it right away. I didn’t want to risk my career for some playoff games. They were important for me, but my health is important.”
Howard's injury caused him to miss the end of the 2011/12 regular season as well as the 2012 playoffs when he was a member of the Orlando Magic. It also prevented him from playing for Team USA at the Summer Olympics in London. Howard was traded to Los Angeles in August, but questions have lingered as to whether his back is fully healed from the surgery as the Lakers have struggled.
LeBron Considering Cleveland Return, Cavs Inquired On Love?
According to a new report from Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal, LeBron James is open to the possibility of returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers if he chooses to opt out of his contract with the Miami Heat after the 2013/14 season. Lloyd writes that James is friends with Cavs players Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson, and his new agent, Rich Paul, has local ties.
Lloyd adds, however, that Cavs GM Chris Grant is aware that the team must improve considerably in order to be considered a viable option for James. Grant is reportedly aggressively exploring options to add another impact player. Lloyd reports that Grant asked about trading an Anderson Varejao-based package for Kevin Love following Love's recent comments critical of the Timberwolves, but was rebuffed. He has also inquired on the possibility of trading for the Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge, the Grizzlies' Marc Gasol, and the Lakers' Pau Gasol.
Lloyd writes that although the Cavs are still open to moving Varejao, who is having an outstanding season, it doesn't seem likely because his recent play has raised their asking price and no team thus far has been willing to meet their demands. A trade of Varejao to the Thunder for Perry Jones III, Jeremy Lamb, and Toronto's protected 2013 first-round draft pick has been discussed, but both sides have concerns about the players they would get back.
Odds & Ends: Cousins, Rockets, Humphries
With one game still in progress from tonight's docket, let's take a look around the Association..
- Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee notes that the Rockets have had interest in Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins in the past. However, Houston may not want to take on the troubled center at the cost of breaking up what they already have in place. James Harden & Co. are two games above .500 and riding a three game winning streak.
- It would not surprise Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (on Twitter) to see the Nets try and deal forward Kris Humphries and two-guard MarShon Brooks. The early returns on tonight's poll concerning Hump's future in Brooklyn show that 85% of Hoops Rumors readers see the Nets shopping him prior to the deadline. Humphries cannot be traded until January 15th.
- Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle watched a Texas Legends game in order to check out Jared Cunningham and wound up coming away impressed by Chris Douglas-Roberts, who signed with the club earlier today, tweets Earl K. Sneed of NBA.com. The arrival of CDR meant that Dallas had to let Derek Fisher go after his short stint with the club.
- The Knicks may be "stuck" with Amare Stoudemire, but Tommy Beer of HoopsWorld doesn't necessarily see that as a bad thing. The forward was reportedly offered around the league for next-to-nothing this summer but there were no takers due to his contract and injury woes.
- With Fisher gone, now could be the time for Rodrigue Beaubois to steal the spotlight for the Mavericks, writes Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram. The 6'0" guard has been mentioned as a trade candidate this season.
Poll: Will The Nets Shop Kris Humphries?
After a red-hot start to the season, things have cooled down rather quickly in Brooklyn. The Nets are now 14-12 following today’s ugly win over the Sixers – not quite cause for absolute panic, but it’s certainly not the kind of record the Nets hoped to have after spending major money this summer. The Nets re-upped Deron Williams on a max deal, gave Gerald Wallace $40MM over four years, and inked Brook Lopez to a four-year, $60MM pact. This offseason’s biggest addition – All-Star guard Joe Johnson – is set to earn nearly $90MM through 2015/16. But the player being most scrutinized these days is forward Kris Humphries, who re-signed with the Nets on a two-year, $24MM deal.
Of course, Avery Johnson has taken his fair share of criticism from people in recent weeks (including a certain point guard wearing No. 8), but Humphries might be the biggest scapegoat on the floor. After starting more than 100 games for the Nets over the past two seasons, Humphries saw himself demoted to the bench in the midst of the club’s five-game slide. After getting back in the starting five for back-to-back games, the 27-year-old was left in his warmups this afternoon while Keith Bogans started in a downsized lineup with Reggie Evans and Andray Blatche offering support in the frontcourt.
Johnson says that Hump isn’t in the doghouse, but it’s hard to believe based on the way that he has been phased out of the rotation. Humphries has survived adversity before, from his lack of playing time in Utah, Toronto, and Dallas to the constant heckling that he endured last season thanks to a high-profile split with a certain Page Six mainstay. However, this might be a case where a trade will benefit both the player and the team.