2013 January | Hoops Rumors

Lakers Get Disabled Player Exception For Hill

January 30th, 2013 at 5:42pm CST by Chuck Myron

The league has granted the Lakers their request for a disabled player exception for power forward Jordan Hill, tweets Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. It will be worth $1.78MM, or half of Hill’s salary for this season. The Lakers aren’t likely to use the exception, as Medina notes via Twitter, but it does give them one more way to acquire help down the stretch in case they need it.

L.A. already had a prorated portion of their midlevel exception remaining, worth about $1.235MM at this point, so now they possess multiple tools other than the midlevel exception to bring someone aboard. They can add $100K to the disabled player exception to acquire a player via trade. The Lakers have 14 players on their roster, so a spot is open.

Raptors Close To Acquiring Rudy Gay

January 30th, 2013 at 5:01pm CST by Luke Adams

5:01pm: If the Pistons are the third team in the deal, they're poised to send both Prince and Austin Daye to Memphis for Calderon, tweets Stein.

4:42pm: The Grizzlies spent the day calling around doing background work on Tayshaun Prince, according to Wojnarowski (via Twitter), so presumably Prince would be headed to Memphis if Calderon is sent to Detroit. Sam Amick of USA Today reports that the Celtics are another team in the mix to acquire Calderon.

4:35pm: If and when the deal is finalized, the Grizzlies are also expected to receive a second-round pick from the Raptors, according to Stein.

4:30pm: According to Stein (via Twitter), the Mavericks are another potential landing spot for Calderon, though Dallas is reluctant to part with Vince Carter, who the Grizzlies would want to replace Gay. Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com made the case this morning for why the Mavs make sense as the third team in a Raptors/Grizzlies deal.

4:23pm: The Grizzlies and Raptors have a deal in place that would send Gay and Hamed Haddadi to Toronto in exchange for Calderon and Davis, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter). An agreement hasn't been finalized yet because it figures to eventually include a third team, possibly the Pistons, that would acquire Calderon, says Stein (via Twitter).

4:03pm: Several sources tell Wojnarowski that the Grizzlies have a plan to move Calderon to a third team in the discussed deal with the Raptors (Twitter link).

3:48pm: As Tillery suggested, the Grizzlies would prefer to send Calderon to a third team in the trade scenario they're discussing with the Raptors. Ken Berger of CBSSports.com tweets that there are "several potential suitors" making a push for the point guard.

3:34pm: The Grizzlies appear to be moving closer to a deal that would include Rudy Gay, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Tillery reports that Memphis is weighing whether or not to pull the trigger on one of three different scenarios, including one that would send Gay to the Raptors. The Grizzlies have two other potential deals on the table if they and the Raptors can't reach an agreement by this weekend.

Adrian Wojnarowski is also reporting that the Grizzlies and Raptors are making progress on a potential trade. According to Wojnarowski, the two sides have discussed scenarios involving a third team in addition to straight-up scenarios. The Raptors would likely part with Jose Calderon and Ed Davis in any deal (Twitter links).

According to Tillery, in their talks with the Raptors, the Grizzlies are seeking a small forward, a draft pick, and possibly Davis. A third team may have to be involved to acquire Calderon and provide the small forward the Grizzlies are hoping to land. Darrell Arthur would not be involved in that hypothetical trade, says Tillery.

Wojnarowski adds in another tweet that the Grizzlies and Raptors are discussing the potential deal with their respective ownership groups, and could reach an agreement as soon as tonight.

Celtics Notes: Dooling, Rondo, Pierce

January 30th, 2013 at 3:03pm CST by Luke Adams

Even before news of Rajon Rondo's ACL tear, we figured the Celtics would be a team frequently mentioned in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline. With Rondo on the shelf and the possibility of major changes looming, we'll likely hear even more updates out of Boston as February 21st approaches. Here's the latest:

Despite rumblings that Keyon Dooling may come out of retirement to play for the Celtics this season, Dooling announced on his Twitter account that he won't be returning to the NBA in 2012/13 (hat tip to Ben Rohrbach of WEEI.com).
Rondo will seek a second opinion on his injury, possibly from renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, says A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. According to agent Bill Duffy, he and Rondo are also hoping to speak to other athletes who have suffered ACL injuries, including Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
While trading Paul Pierce might make some sense on paper, Danny Ainge owes it to Pierce and to fans to let the longtime Celtic finish his career in Boston, opines Gary Dzen of Boston.com. Pierce told reporters yesterday he hopes to retire as a Celtic.

Hawks Leaning Toward Trading Josh Smith?

January 30th, 2013 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams

Within his power rankings for Yahoo! Sports yesterday, Marc J. Spears included an interesting nugget in reference to the Hawks, noting that "expectations are growing" that the team will trade Josh Smith before the deadline. While Spears didn't specify whether he was alluding to expectations around the league or within the Hawks' organization, it certainly doesn't seem like a sure thing that Smith will be back in Atlanta next season.

Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News follows up on Spears' report with one of his own, tweeting that he's hearing Smith doesn't intend to re-sign with the Hawks, and will be moved "very soon" by the club. The timing of the reports is interesting, as Smith and the Hawks were expected to meet this week to discuss the forward's future in Atlanta. It's not clear whether that discussion has taken place yet, but if Spears' and Goodwill's reports are accurate, it sounds as if perhaps Smith has expressed, or will express, a preference to be moved.

One report earlier this month suggested that the Hawks remain committed to Smith, following an incident that earned him a one-game suspension from the team. On the heels of that suspension, agent Wallace Prather met with GM Danny Ferry to discuss what Prather called "a lot of frustration" on Smith's part. Neither Smith nor his agent requested a trade at the time, but Ken Berger of CBSSports.com wrote that the Hawks had at least taken calls from teams interested in acquiring the 27-year-old.

When I asked last week whether the Hawks will trade Smith before the February 21st deadline, the votes were split nearly right down the middle. Over at SI.com, Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney debated Smith's future today, with both scribes suggesting that a trade probably makes more sense for Atlanta than risking losing the longtime Hawk over the summer, when he'll be seeking a max contract.

D-League Moves: Kevin Jones, Julyan Stone

January 30th, 2013 at 1:47pm CST by Luke Adams

We'll track today's D-League assignments and recalls right here, with any further moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:

Rookie forward Kevin Jones has been re-assigned to the Canton Charge, the Cavaliers announced today in a press release. Jones didn't see any action during his recent stint with Cleveland, but has appeared in 15 NBA games so far. He has also excelled in his six contests with the Charge, averaging 23.8 PPG and 12.3 RPG.
The Nuggets have assigned Julyan Stone to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. Stone, who missed more than two months of the season while recovering from right hip surgery, will join Quincy Miller, the other Nugget currently playing for the D-League's Iowa Energy.

NBPA Announces Staffing, Governance Changes

January 30th, 2013 at 11:52am CST by Luke Adams

WEDNESDAY, 11:52am: Hunter and the NBPA have announced several internal changes, including new anti-nepotism and conflict of interest policies, according to a press release.

"In my work for the NBPA, my priority has always been to promote the interests of the players," Hunter said. "Through the benefit of hindsight, as with any executive, there are always things that could have been done better."

TUESDAY, 1:22pm: The annual players' meeting is set to take place next month at All-Star weekend in Houston, and the future of union chief Billy Hunter is expected to be a major topic of discussion. According to Howard Beck of the New York Times, agent Arn Tellem is urging his clients and the rest of the league's players to oust Hunter, who Tellem says has violated the players' trust.

"NBA players deserve better representation from the union they fund," Tellem wrote in a letter to his clients. "I implore you and your fellow players to take control of your union and your future. It’s time for Mr. Hunter to go."

A law firm conducting an audit of the NBPA released its findings earlier this month, concluding that while Hunter wasn't guilty of any criminal acts, he put his own interests ahead of the union's, and the NBPA ought to consider whether he should be dismissed.

It's not clear exactly what the process of removing Hunter would involve, but for his part, Hunter seems determined to keep the job. After the Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison report was critical of Hunter's nepotism, the union chief fired family members, including his daughter and daughter-in-law, who had been part of the organization, according to Scott Soshnick of Bloomberg Sports.

"Hopefully this decision will alleviate any concerns raised by their employment," Hunter wrote in a letter to a special committe of NBA players. "These measures are being taken although the report noted that both of them were highly qualified, not overpaid, and were contributing members of the NBPA staff."

Billy Hunter

Heat Re-Sign Chris Andersen

January 30th, 2013 at 11:25am CST by Ryan Raroque

WEDNESDAY, 11:25am: The Heat have officially re-signed Andersen to a second 10-day contract, the team announced today in a press release. Andersen's initial deal expired overnight, while his new deal is set to expire on February 8th.

TUESDAY, 9:39pm: Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski tweets that Chris Andersen will sign another 10-day contract with the Heat on Wednesday. The 34-year-old veteran played his first game of the season with Miami last Friday, tallying two points and two rebounds in four minutes of play against the Pistons.

With Jarvis Varnado recently re-signed, the addition of Andersen will push the Heat's roster limit to the maximum of 15. Should Miami decide to keep the 10-year veteran beyond this next deal, they would have to offer him a guaranteed contract for the rest of the season.

The Heat now have a bigger sample size to evaluate Andersen's ability to contribute, as the team has six games over the span of the next ten days (compared to just three games during his first deal). Looking at his per game averages with Denver in 2011/12 (5.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.4 BPG in 15.2 MPG), it will be interesting to see if head coach Erik Spoelstra will give the 6'10 forward more minutes to showcase himself over the next week and a half.

Kings/Seattle Rumors: Wednesday

January 30th, 2013 at 11:23am CST by Luke Adams

As we wait for the NBA to review Seattle's bid for the Kings, Sacramento continues to move closer to preparing a bid of their own to try to keep the team. Here's the latest on Sacramento, Seattle, and the Kings, with any new updates added to the top of the page throughout the day:

While the conventional wisdom suggests that Seattle has the inside track on the Kings, the league is "clearly signaling" that it wants a counter-proposal from the Kings, a source tells Tony Bizjak, Ryan Lillis, and Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee. "Sacramento has a real fighting chance," the source said. "[The NBA] knows how the community has responded to the team. If a deep-pocketed group buys, if the Maloofs get the same amount of money, and an arena set up, it will be difficult for the board of governors to just dismiss that."
Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson is expected to make a public pitch to the NBA Board of Governors in April, but the league figures to privately vet the Ron Burkle/Mark Mastrov group before that point, according to the Bee report. The Burkle/Mastrov group will have to submit their proposal directly to the league's finance committe, as opposed to the Maloofs.
The Bee report also notes that the NBA's relocation committee will be tasked with evaluating "the support of the [Kings] in the existing location by fans, telecasters, broadcasters and sponsors," which Tom Ziller of Sactown Royalty views as a positive sign for Sacramento.

Latest On Royce White, Rockets

January 30th, 2013 at 10:01am CST by Luke Adams

After failing to report to the Rockets earlier this season as he fought to get the team to establish a mental health protocol, Royce White has been reinstated by the Rockets and is expected to report to the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers on February 11th. Still, while the saga appears headed in the right direction at the moment, White still has plenty of opinions on the NBA's treatment of mental illness, and provides some very interesting quotes in a conversation with Grantland's Chuck Klosterman. The entire piece is worth a read, but here are a few of the highlights:

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 26% of Americans over age 18 suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year, but White believes the amount of NBA players with some form of mental illness is "way over 26%."
In our recent poll asking whether the Rockets' selection of White was worth the risk, about two-thirds of you said no. GM Daryl Morey seems to disagree with the majority, pointing out to Klosterman that only about 20% of players drafted 16th overall have major NBA careers anyway.
White hasn't been playing much basketball since being drafted by the Rockets. "I work out very sparingly, to be honest," White said. "I probably shoot once a week."
White wants his own personal doctor to make the final decisions on his health rather than the Rockets' doctors, and believes that's a right every player should have: "It's a conflict of interest to have the team doctor paid by the team. What we need is a doctor who can look at a situation and say, 'Listen, I know the team wants you to do this, and I know their doctor is saying you should do this. But as a non-biased doctor with no interest in how you perform athletically, I recommend differently.' Right now, you have players pushing themselves back in three weeks who have three-month injuries."
If he were to join the Rockets immediately, White believes he could play for the team the rest of the season and handle the travel demands, but potentially at a cost. "I probably could do it," White said. "But what would the effect be? What would I have left at the end of the season? How good would I be for the team during the season?"

Poll: Will Allen Iverson Play In The NBA Again?

January 30th, 2013 at 8:47am CST by Luke Adams

It's been nearly three years since Allen Iverson last appeared in an NBA game, and even longer since he played a full season. Nonetheless, the 2001 MVP still holds out hope of making a comeback, and a D-League team recently offered him the opportunity to get that comeback underway.

However, it doesn't appear that a stint with the Texas Legends is in the cards for Iverson. AI tweeted yesterday that while he views the D-League as a "great opportunity," it's not the route for him. While Iverson played briefly in Turkey in 2010/11, his pride and his salary demands have seemingly prevented him from showcasing his skills for a European or D-League squad since then.

Iverson's manager, Gary Moore, told the Associated Press yesterday that Iverson would like to pursue a role with the 76ers once his playing career is officially over, but cautioned that the 37-year-old wasn't ready to officially retire quite yet. Moore told USA Today that his client is still working out and may explore the possibility of playing in the NBA later this season.

"Hopefully, one day, he'll get an opportunity to possibly join a team and help a team — come off the bench and maybe give a team some very valuable minutes in this playoff stretch," Moore said. "I'm not a guessing man, but if I had to bet, I would surely feel like Allen is going to try and get himself in shape to return sometime this year."

At age 37 and nearly three years removed from NBA action, it seems highly improbable that Iverson could earn a spot on an NBA roster without proving that he can still be healthy and effective in the D-League or in international play. But we did see Rasheed Wallace make a comeback at age 38 this season, and 'Sheed, like Iverson, hadn't played NBA ball since the 2009/10 season.

So what do you think? Will we ever see Iverson play in another NBA game, or is it about time he officially announced his retirement?

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