Mavs To Explore Trades, Won’t Move Dirk
The Dallas Mavericks figure to be active on the trade market before the February 21 trade deadline, but owner Mark Cuban made it clear that the team has no plans to trade Dirk Nowitzki. Cuban told ESPNDallas.com that Nowitzki has the team's assurances that he is safe:
"I told Dirk we're not going to trade him. He was happy. I think," Cuban said, laughing. "I wanted to make it clear to him. I said, 'We're in this through thick and thin,' and so there's no way I would trade him, no matter what."
Cuban stated that the Mavs will be aggressive in attempting to make a move before the trade deadline, hinting that the team's salary-cap flexibility could put them in a position of advantage to make an unbalanced trade with a team looking to get under the luxury tax.
Nets Sign Damion James To 10-Day Contract
The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Damion James to a 10-day contract, the team announced in a press release. James had previously been playing for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League.
James, drafted 24th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in 2010 and acquired by the Nets in a draft-day trade, has played parts of two seasons with the team, averaging 4.5 PPG and 7.7 RPG.
Eastern Notes: Cavaliers, Martin, Carlesimo
The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer answers e-mails from readers, most of them pertaining to possible Cavaliers trade chips like Anderson Varejao and Tristan Thompson.
- Discussions between the Knicks and Kenyon Martin's representative have not progressed, according to a tweet from ESPNNY.com's Jared Zwerling.
- The New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy writes about Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo, who has his team back on the right track since taking over for the fired Avery Johnson.
Northwest Notes: Trail Blazers, Porter, Hickson
The Portland Tribune's Kerry Eggers makes the case that Trail Blazers players LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum should both make the Western Conference All-Star game.
- As he serves as head coach of the Timberwolves while Rick Adelman is on leave for personal reasons, Terry Porter wants to have a similar job full-time, writes TwinCities.com's Ray Richardson.
- The Oregonian's John Canzano writes that the Trail Blazers have an interesting decision to make with regards to whether or not they should trade center J.J. Hickson.
Pacific Notes: Nash, Barnes, Howard
Lakers guard Steve Nash believes his two new teammates, Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard, can get on the right track sooner than later by playing hard and not necessarily worrying about game plans, writes ESPNLA.com's Dave McMenamin.
- MercuryNews.com's Marcus Thompson writes that the Warriors want more aggression from their rookie, Harrison Barnes.
- The Los Angeles Times' Ben Bolch writes about Lakers center Dwight Howard, and how despite his team's struggles, he remains an upbeat personality.
Odds & Ends: Rose, Coaches, Joseph
Given all that's known medically regarding serious knee injuries today, the advisers for Derrick Rose are strongly suggesting he sit out the rest of the season, reports Comcast reporter Ric Bucher.
- SheridanHoops.com's Brian Geltzeiler speculates on several NBA head coaches who could be fired before the season is over.
- Former Celtics rookie Kris Joseph is fielding offers from several teams overseas, according to HoopsHype.com. The forward was drafted in the second round by Boston in the 2012 NBA draft, and waived earlier this month.
Poll: Where WIll Rudy Gay End His Season?
Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay has been in several trade rumors these last few weeks, and the combination of his expensive contract and team's need for outside shooting makes it possible one of them comes true. Where will he end up at the end of the season?
Where Will Rudy Gay End Up After The Deadline?
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Other 29% (335)
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Memphis 22% (255)
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Toronto 20% (227)
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Washington 10% (114)
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Phoenix 10% (109)
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Golden State 9% (101)
Total votes: 1,141
Eastern Notes: Pierce, Sixers, Bynum, Vogel
It’s more than reasonable for the Celtics to consider cashing out on an aging Paul Pierce for young assets to be used towards rebuilding, opines Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld. In another season and a half, the veteran could retire or walk away from Boston with no compensation. His trade value may never be as high as it will be now through the 2013 draft, and this may be the time to act, according to Brigham. Here's more from around the Eastern Conference.
- Sixers GM Tony DiLeo told reporters, including Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com, that the team will try to stay in contention for a playoff spot until Andrew Bynum gets back, and may make short-term upgrades that don't cut into next summer's cap space.
- DiLeo also said the Sixers "are still looking at Andrew as a long-term solution," indicating they still plan on trying to re-sign him this summer.
- The extension Frank Vogel signed with the Pacers this week runs through 2014/15, and will pay the coach $2MM per season, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
- J.J. Redick doesn’t want to be traded away from the Magic, but after hearing from GM Rob Hennigan that several teams have expressed interest, he's girding himself for the possibility, writes John Denton of Magic.com.
- The Heat signed Josh Harrellson and Jarvis Varnado to ten-day contracts simply to stall for time until something better comes along, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The Heat can get a better sense of what might be available to add at either the trading deadline or buyout deadline.
- Anderson Varejao's injury isn't devastating to his long-term trade value, as The Plain Dealer's Mary Schmitt Boyer examines.
Zach Links of Hoops Rumors also contributed to this post.
Kyler On Dwight, Hornets, Beasley, Gay, Magic
Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.com answered some questions from his Twitter followers on Saturday regarding various free agency and trade rumors.
- Just as they plan to make a run at Chris Paul (link below), the Hawks will aggressively pursue Dwight Howard as well, Kyler says.
- Hornets GM Dell Demps tells Kyler he wants to give his roster more time to play together, so New Orleans is unlikely to be active at the deadline.
- The Lakers almost traded for Michael Beasley last year, but Kyler can't see them doing so again (Twitter links).
- Kyler speculates that the Wizards are the most logical destination for Rudy Gay.
- The Magic, who possess a trade exception worth more than $17.8MM from the Dwight Howard deal, aren't likely to use it for a "splashy" move.
- If the Magic deal away J.J. Redick, he'll look to sign with a contender as a free agent this summer.
Earlier updates:
- Kyler tweets that the Hawks intend to make a strong push for Chris Paul this summer. The Bobcats will also attempt to lure him, but Kyler does not think he will leave the Clippers.
- Kyler says that Andrew Bynum will be seeking a max contract on the open market, although there is some doubt that he will get such an offer. He points to the Rockets as one team willing to take a gamble.
- The Magic value J.J. Redick highly, and it would cost several draft picks for them to move him.
- Kyler sees the Grizzlies' recent Rudy Gay trade discussions as an attempt to understand roster value.
- If Derrick Williams continues his strong play, Kyler thinks the Timberwolves may opt to move Kevin Love instead.
- The Celtics may be open to trading Paul Pierce, Kyler writes, if the return makes them more competitive right now.
Kings/Seattle Rumors: Saturday
The fate of the Kings figures to be a hot topic between now and the March 1st deadline to file for relocation. We dedicated a post to all of yesterday's rumors on a potential Kings sale, and there's more where that came from today. Here's the latest.
- Another set of local bidders has come forward with interest in buying the team, as Dale Kasler, Ryan Lillis and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee report. A group of investors, including the new owners of a troubled downtown Sacramento shopping center, say they want to purchase the team and build a $400MM arena on the site of the shopping center. The same architectural and engineering firm that designed the Barclays Center in Brooklyn has already drawn up plans for the arena, according to the Bee report.
- Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reported that the Maloofs would like to retain some decision-making role if they sell the team, as we passed along yesterday, and Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game hears that the Kings owners are threatening to take a "sweetheart deal" to move the team to Anaheim if potential buyers won't give them the control they want (Sulia link). Bucher cautions that such a move could involve the Maloofs pursuing a messy antitrust suit if the Lakers try to prevent them from setting up shop in Southern California.
- Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson thinks a Sacramento buyer would only have to pony up between $425MM and $450MM, as opposed to the rumored $500MM to $525MM asking price for the Seattle group. That's because there would be no relocation fee, and local ownership could assume a $77MM loan the city of Sacramento granted to the Maloofs, as Sam Amick of USA Today details.
- Phil Jackson keeps saying he won't coach again, but his son Charlie is close friends with Chris Hansen, the investor at the forefront of Seattle's bid for the Kings, notes Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. Nonetheless, Jackson is ignoring questions about whether he would become a part of the team if Hansen's group bought it. "Some things are too premature to even talk about," Jackson said.
- Answering a question about whether the Lakers would pursue Tyreke Evans, HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler said the Kings won't be taking on payroll during sale negotiations, which would limit their ability to swing a trade (Twitter link). Yesterday, Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors examined Evans' trade candidacy, surmising that it wouldn't be a surprise to see the fourth-year guard remain in Sacramento this season.