Odds & Ends: Gay, Knicks, Bulls, Sullinger
The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Thursday night:
- Rudy Gay is turning to his friends around the NBA for support as trade rumors swirl, writes Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
- Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News writes that Carmelo Anthony's recent fight with Kevin Garnett brings into question Knicks owner James Dolan's decision to build the roster around him.
- K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes that Richard Hamilton is starting to realize that his career is coming to a close.
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times praises the recent play of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer for the Bulls.
- A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes that Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger is showing an increased aggressiveness in recent weeks.
- Jodie Valade of the Plain Dealer reports that former Cavs center Zydrunas Ilgauskas is mentoring the team's two young bigs, Tyler Zeller and Tristan Thompson.
- Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is impressed with the job interim head coach Jim Boylan has done for the Bucks since replacing Scott Skiles.
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer writes that Gerald Henderson understands that his primary role with the Bobcats is three-point shooting.
Northwest Notes: Williams, Lillard, Thunder
The latest links and updates in the Northwest Division on Thursday:
- Ray Richardson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press praises Timberwolves forward Derrick Williams for taking advantage of the opportunity created by Kevin Love's latest hand injury.
- Marcus Thompson of the San Jose Mercury News writes that Oakland native Damian Lillard is the favorite to win Rookie of the Year with the Blazers.
- Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman reports that Eric Maynor has no interest in a D-League assignment despite falling out of the Thunder's rotation as backup point guard.
- Mayberry also has a quote from Nick Collison, who cites his ability to take a lesser role as a major reaso he's been able to stay relevant in the NBA.
Latest On Possible Kings Sale
Earlier Thursday, Sacramento Kings co-owner George Maloof stated that the reported sale to Chris Hansen's Seattle-based group was not close. Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com tweets that Wednesday's reports of an imminent sale continue to be premature, citing sources close to the negotiations.
Speaking at a public event on Thursday in Washington, D.C., NBA commissioner David Stern addressed the Kings' situation. Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today tweets that Stern does not plan to get personally involved in the negotiation or potential relocation process, leaving those responsibilities to the NBA's board of governors. Zillgitt adds that Stern believes an ownership group committed to keeping the Kings in Sacramento should be given a fair chance to match the offer made by the Seattle group.
Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com spoke to Kings head coach Keith Smart, who understands that the uncertainty of the team's ownership status could pose a distraction for the players and the coaching staff. However, Smart believes the players will be able to tune out the speculation.
Lakers Rumors: Buss, Howard, Gasol
As the Lakers continue to struggle, rumors are swirling as to which adjustments they will make to adjust for injuries and lack of chemistry. Here's the latest from Los Angeles:
- Lakers Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Jim Buss backs head coach Mike D'Antoni and says the team will not make any moves out of panic, according to Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times.
- Ramona Shelburne and Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com debate the likelihood of Dwight Howard re-signing with the Lakers this summer as a free agent. Shelburne believes that Los Angeles is still Howard's best long-term option, while Markazi wouldn't be surprised if the team's struggles this season drive Howard to look elsewhere.
- The Orange County Register reports that Pau Gasol is improving after suffering a concussion but still has not been cleared to resume play.
Kennedy On Martin, Anderson, McGrady
Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com has a new column touching on a few relevant topics from around the NBA. Here are the highlights:
- Kennedy wonders whether the Knicks or Lakers may consider signing veteran forward Kenyon Martin as they continue to battle injuries. Martin does not currently have any NBA offers.
- In a video interview posted by Kennedy in the column, Hornets forward Ryan Anderson tells HoopsWorld writer Steve Kyler that he's happy in New Orleans after signing a four-year, $36MM offer sheet this summer.
- Kennedy speculates that Tracy McGrady may attempt an NBA comeback soon, as he is struggling and frustrated playing for the Qingdao Eagles of the Chinese Basketball Association.
Hornets Notes: Gordon, Anderson, Smith
The latest updates on the New Orleans Hornets on Thursday evening:
- John Reid of the Times-Picayune writes that Eric Gordon expects to have both good and bad games as he gets back into shape after missing the first two months of the season.
- Ryan Anderson tells Kyle Bass of Hornets.com that he has worked on diversifying his offense beyond just three-point shooting in his first season with the Hornets after signing an offer sheet this summer.
- Jason Smith discusses his role on the team in an interview with the Times-Picayune.
- Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune believes the Hornets have showed signs of maturation over the past week.
Potential Kings Sale Could Impact Trades
On Wednesday, Yahoo! Sports reported that the Maloof family was in talks to sell the Sacramento Kings to a Seattle-based ownership group led by investor Chris Hansen. While the status of the deal is still up in the air, Grantland's Zach Lowe examines how the potential sale could affect the Kings' willingness to make trades as the deadline approaches.
Lowe writes that executives around the league believe the Kings will still be willing trade partners, despite the complications that may arise in the event of an ownership transfer. He believes there is a unanimous belief within the organization that DeMarcus Cousins, despite his recent troubles, is considered off-limits in any trade discussions.
The three players beyond Cousins that Lowe points to as potential pieces the Kings could move are Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, and Francisco Garcia. Lowe suggests that these and other players could be turned into a package for Rudy Gay.
Lowe also speculates about the status of Evans, who is headed to restricted free agency after the 2012/13 season. He writes that Evans may have a similar experience in free agency to that of O.J. Mayo, who signed a two-year contract with the Mavericks when no long-term deal presented itself.
Maloof: Deal To Sell Kings “Not Close”
A deal to sell the Kings to a Seattle-based group led by Chris Hansen is "not close," Kings co-owner George Maloof tells Bryan May of ABC News10 in Sacramento (Twitter link). It's the first public comment made by a member of the Maloof family since Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported yesterday that the two sides were nearing an agreement.
While it's a little good news for Kings fans in Sacramento, it hardly means that a sale won't eventually be finalized, as Sactown Royalty notes. The Sactown Royalty piece points out that George was the Maloof brother at the forefront of relocation talks with Virginia Beach and Anaheim, and helped kill the Sacramento arena deal in the spring of 2012.
Multiple reports besides Wojnarowski's have indicated that Kings ownership is in talks with Hansen's group, but based on those reports and Maloof's comments, it appears that discussions may not come reach a resolution (one way or the other) in the immediate future.
Odds & Ends: Knicks, Cousins, Fernandez, Cavs
The Pacers and Trail Blazers head into today having each won 11 of their last 14 contests, but both teams will be in for tough matchups at home tonight, as the Knicks arrive in Indiana and the Heat play in Portland. As we look forward to what should be a fun TNT doubleheader, let's check in on a few afternoon links from around the NBA:
- While the Knicks have inquired on Kenyon Martin, they won't make a decision on the free agent big man one way or another until they determine Rasheed Wallace's timetable, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.
- One NBA team executive predicts to Ian Thomsen of SI.com that if DeMarcus Cousins becomes available, there won't be as much interest as there might have been in the past. "We do all of this research and background work on players now before we draft them," said the exec. "I think half of the consideration when we look at players now is trying to understand who these guys are as people. I really do think that most teams are going to say they don't want any part of him."
- Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News thinks that the Lakers should trade Dwight Howard for Dirk Nowitzki. However, even if the Lakers were interested in such a move, which seems extremely unlikely, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wouldn't be, as he tells David Baumann of Sports Talk Florida: "No knock on Dwight, I just won't trade Dirk" (Twitter link).
- Although he signed a three-year deal overseas this past offseason, Rudy Fernandez isn't ruling out an eventual return to the NBA, writes CNN.com's Paul Gittings.
- The Cavaliers should attempt to make a play for Rudy Gay, suggests Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
- Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post wonders if Wilson Chandler's return to the Nuggets lineup could lead to a trade, either of Chandler or another player.
Oden Eyeing NBA Return; Heat, Others Interested
11:58am: Several teams, including the Heat, have expressed interest in signing Oden to a multiyear deal that begins this season, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. However, even if Oden signs during the 2012/13 season, he's unlikely to return to the court until 2013/14, says Windhorst. A multiyear contract that begins this season would allow him to continue his rehab with an NBA club.
9:20am: It has been more than three years since Greg Oden appeared in a regular-season NBA game, but the former first overall pick hasn't given up on his playing career yet. Mike Conley, Oden's former teammate at Ohio State and the son of Oden's agent Mike Conley Sr., tells Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (Sulia link) that the big man hopes to hit the free agent market and join an NBA team before the end of the 2012/13 season.
According to Conley, Oden is back in Columbus, taking classes and trying to work himself into playing shape. If Oden decides he isn't ready to return to the court by season's end, or if there isn't sufficient interest among NBA teams, the seven-footer intends to look ahead to next season and try again in the fall.
The last we heard from Oden himself, back in August, he was downplaying his chances of returning this season. However, he did admit that if he feels good and is healthy enough to come back, he'd "love to play this year." Oden underwent his most recent microfracture surgery on his left knee last March.