Western Notes: Timberwolves, Rockets, Clippers
Back in December, there were some rumblings of frustration brewing with Kevin Love about the direction of the Timberwolves franchise (though he would insist that he desired to stay in Minnesota soon after making those comments). Today, team owner Glen Taylor said that after meeting with Love this week, both of them are – and have been – on the same page. Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press writes that Taylor and Love have met periodically to discuss the future of the team, and that their latest encounter has given the impression that all is currently well in Minnesota. Here's the rest of tonight's miscellaneous links out of the Western Conference:
- Kevin McHale thinks that having James Harden will make the Rockets an attractive destination for free agents (Jonathan Feigen of Ultimate Rockets reports). In another article, Sam Amick of USA Today talks about Harden's emergence into superstardom in Houston.
- Jamal Crawford tells HoopsHype that he doesn't want the Clippers to make any trades right now: "We are family and it would be like trading a family member…We don’t think there is one thing we need that is missing. We have everything."
- Dave of the Blazers Edge answered a few questions about the Trail Blazers in his mailbag, saying that it's a "pretty safe bet" that Portland won't retain many of its bench players next season and that a backup point guard will surely be a target. He mentions Luke Ridnour and Jarrett Jack as hypothetical targets, but adds that the team will have to be wary of the cap in order to try adding a starting center or quality bench players as well.
- Tim Cowlishaw of SportsDayDFW took part in a chat with fans earlier today about the Mavericks. Among his more notable thoughts are that Dallas will miss out on the big names this summer and that he doesn't believe Dirk Nowitzki will ask to be traded. In the event that Dirk wants out, Cowlishaw thinks that Mark Cuban would try to convince him to stay first. In another article, Eddie Sefko (also of SportsDayDFW) makes an argument about why Darren Collison could be a keeper moving forward.
- The Warriors have taken pride in the progress they've made this season, and with four representatives participating in the All-Star weekend festivities, higher ratings for games, and sitting 30-22 in the Western Conference, there is a sense that Golden State is headed in the right direction (Marcus Thompson II of San Jose Mercury News).
Eastern Notes: Bulls, Magic, Bobcats, Garnett
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times relayed some gems out of Bulls camp tonight, reporting that Chicago is still taking and making phone calls as the trade deadline approaches. He cites a source within the organization that says talks between the Bulls and Raptors involving Carlos Boozer are "off the table," and that there hasn't been a high demand for Richard Hamilton. As for Derrick Rose's status, the reality that he might not return this season hasn't put any additional pressure on Chicago to find more help or try to lessen the payroll. Here's more of what we've heard tonight out of the Eastern Conference:
- Several Magic veterans weighed in on the possibility of being traded before next Thursday's deadline including J.J. Redick, who is in the final year of his deal and has drawn significant interest from other teams. Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel says that although the front office has told their players that they aren't being shopped, they still acknowledge that they are responsible for listening to offers and taking into account what could make them better in the long term.
- Amidst reports of tension boiling over between Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap and embattled guard Ben Gordon on Monday, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer notes that it wasn't the first time that the 29-year-old guard appeared frustrated this season and that Gordon and Dunlap have already met twice before to discuss his role.
- Celtics forward Kevin Garnett explained his comments that this Sunday would be his last All-Star game, as some had seen it as possible hint that he would retire after this year: "Let's just put it like this: I'm more than grateful for going. I'm not going to act like I've got more All-Star games in me. So I'm just going to actually enjoy this one with friends and family. That's what I meant" (NBA.com).
- Rich Levine of CSNNE.com said that nothing definitive can be concluded by Garnett's comments, and that only time will tell if he is actually contemplating retirement soon.
Latest On Billy Hunter, NBPA
Recently placed on indefinite leave, NBPA executive director Billy Hunter is prepared to actively pursue efforts to keep his job in the next coming days as the annual player's meeting is set to take place this weekend in Houston (Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today). Facing accusations of nepotism and questions about the approval of his contract, Hunter and his lawyers are prepared to refute the independent report conducted by the law firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, which says that he failed to properly put the interests of the Union above his personal interests.
"There's no there there…This is an effort to make zero plus zero plus zero equal one," said Corey Worcestor, one of Hunter's lawyers who asserts that his client had done nothing wrong and acted in accordance with union bylaws.
This article from NBA.com indicates that while Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison originally planned to release a supplement to their original report, the New York law firm will hold off for now being that the government is now conducting its own investigation.
Zillgitt writes that the players will need a majority vote from the executive committee in order to fire Hunter, with or without cause. According to his contract, firing with cause would involve finding him guilty of "embezzlement, theft, larceny, material fraud or other acts of dishonesty." In this case, Hunter would be paid for the remainder of the year. Should he be fired without cause, Hunter would accrue all of what he is owed under his current contract, which isn't thought to be a consideration among the players union at this point. Zillgitt also adds the opinion of Geoffrey Rapp, a sports law expert and professor at the Toledo College of Law, who says that the players would likely only focus on the "acts of dishonesty" phrase being that Hunter hasn't been accused of committing embezzlement, theft, or larceny.
According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, J.J. Redick, who serves as the Magic's acting representative to the Union, along with the rest of his teammates in Orlando believe that Hunter's time as executive director is up:"I think most everyone in the NBA has reached the same conclusion, and that’s that we need some change.”
Kyle Korver, who is the Hawks' representative, also weighed in: "I think one of the weaknesses so far at this point has been a lack of communication. I think a lot of us were taken by surprise by a lot of things that supposedly have been found."
While Hunter is expected to release a statement to defend himself, the New York law firm plans to present information directly to union membership this weekend in Houston.
Odds & Ends: Mavericks, Gordon, Heat, Rose
Despite Mark Cuban's belief that adding an overpaid player with a massive contract would be a huge mistake considering the framework of the current CBA, Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas wonders if the Mavericks would explore trading for Hornets guard Eric Gordon as a possible fallback option if the team falls short in its effort to land Dwight Howard this summer. On another note, Moke Hamilton of Sheridan Hoops explains why it would be wise for Dallas to deal Vince Carter and Shawn Marion for expiring contracts and draft picks now if they want to give themselves a legitimate chance at going after Howard, Chris Paul, or Andrew Bynum in upcoming free agency.
Here are more of this evening's odds and ends:
- A report from ESPN (via the Associated Press) states that NBA Commissioner David Stern expects a concrete plan from Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson within the next two weeks regarding the Kings' future. Although the NBA Board of Governors does not meet until April 17-18, Stern believes that the official proposal could be made by March 1st "if (Mayor Johnson) follows through on what he's told us." He also put the kibosh on the idea of expansion and doesn't foresee a scenario where both Seattle and Sacramento wind up with teams.
- With 15 guaranteed contracts and the team on a roll as of late, Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida figures that the Heat will be very quiet at the trade deadline next week (Twitter link).
- Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago gets the sense that Bulls superstar Derrick Rose won't be returning this season.
- Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside provides a rundown of the top available point guards in the D-League and organizes them in groups by what they specifically have to offer.
- After suffering a torn ACL on Tuesday night, Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel figures to be on a six-to-eight month recovery. Once touted by some to be the number one overall pick in this June's draft, Noel has slid to number three in Chad Ford's ESPN rankings of the top 30 prospects (Insiders only). On a side note, Darren Rovell (also of ESPN) tweets that Noel has a $10MM insurance policy in the event that he suffers a career ending injury.
- In a statement issued to Michael Lee of the Washington Post, David Falk (the former agent of Michael Jordan) apologized for his disparaging comments about John Wall and the Wizards recently.
- There have been a flurry of reports today about Lakers owner Jerry Buss' bout with terminal cancer, which was first reported by Amber Goodhand of Radar Online this morning. In a statement issued by the team today, it was made clear that there is no intention of selling the team to an outside group and that the Buss family plans to keep ownership of the Lakers for many generations to come (Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News).
Ainge On Trade Options, Team Plans, Delonte
Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge made his weekly appearance on 93.7 WEEI FM in Boston to discuss a number of topics about the team, most notably saying that a tough week lies ahead in terms of making personnel decisions. Here's an outline of some of the highlights from the transcript:
- Trade options right now have dwindled since the team dealt with injuries to Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger, and Leandro Barbosa.
- The team "will eventually get some help", but Ainge feels that there aren't any players out there who could make the same impact that those three have made when healthy. Anyone comparable to Barbosa is currently under a "multimillion dollar and multiyear contract", and no one who impacts the dynamic of team rebounding the way Sullinger does is available, which would make the task of acquiring replacements very challenging.
- They'll take this next week to explore trades and free agent signings, and Delonte West is one of the players on their long list of targets. According to Ainge, West is "someone who we certainly know, probably better than anyone in the NBA." However, Ainge also added that it'd be difficult for someone to have sat out for almost a year and immediately contribute.
- He didn't perceive the team would do so well after Rondo got hurt, saying that short samples can sometimes be deceiving.
- One key for the Celtics moving forward hinges on how well they can exploit the matchup advantages that Jeff Green can create offensively.
Knicks Considering Martin, Amundson
Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld writes that the Knicks have had internal discussions about possibly going after Kenyon Martin or Louis Amundson. New York's interest stems from concerns about their frontcourt depth as both Rasheed Wallace and Marcus Camby are yet to return from injuries. Although coach Mike Woodson told reporters that Wallace would be available at some point after the All-Star break, there appears to be some doubt about just how effective he'll be. As for Camby, Woodson said that he really doesn't know when the 38-year-old center will return.
With their roster currently at 15, the Knicks would have to release one of their guaranteed contracts or find a way to create a roster spot via trade in order to sign a free agent. Should the team stand pat heading up to the trade deadline, Kennedy thinks that New York will wait and see just how productive Wallace will be once he re-joins the lineup before determining whether or not they will look to sign Martin or Amundson for the remainder of the season.
We've heard that the Lakers and 76ers have also been considering Amundson, whereas Martin doesn't seem to have been drawing much interest outside of New York lately. Kennedy notes that teams will have until April 17, which marks the final day of the regular season, to sign free agents.
Berger’s Latest: Warriors, Mavericks, Kings, NBPA
In addition to publishing a new installment of his Postups column, Ken Berger of CBSports.com joined Kevin Corke (video link) to discuss a few trade rumors. Here are a few items of note from both Berger links:
- The Warriors don't necessarily have to get under the tax threshold this year, but at some point they're interested in getting out from under Andris Biedrins' and/or Richard Jefferson's contracts. Golden State may be willing to include a first-round pick to move one of those two players.
- Berger feels like the Mavericks could be a darkhorse for Josh Smith, despite reports indicating that Dallas isn't interested. The Mavs have at least internally discussed the possibility of making a run at Smith, says Berger.
- While Sacramento isn't expected to officially present its bid to keep the Kings to the NBA's Board of Governors until April, mayor Kevin Johnson will be in Houston this weekend to update David Stern on his progress and to lobby team owners to not give up on Sacramento.
- The player's union is also expected to meet during All-Star weekend to decide on Billy Hunter's future. However, even if the player reps vote to oust the executive director, Hunter may challenge the authority and composition of the union's new interim executive committee. Such a decision could also open the door for a civil lawsuit.
Celtics Considering Jannero Pargo
As they survey the free agent market and the D-League for potential short-term backcourt options, the Celtics have expressed some interest in Jannero Pargo, agent Mark Bartelstein tells A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.
"Yes, we have talked," Bartelstein said. "But I know Danny [Ainge] is weighing a lot of different options right now, looking for what works best for them. We're doing the same thing, too."
We heard from Ainge yesterday that the Celtics, who have lost Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger, and Leandro Barbosa to season-ending injuries, will likely sign a player to a 10-day contract after the All-Star break, and are considering players overseas as well as stateside. Ainge's comments seemed to suggest that he favored a veteran who could contribute right away rather than a young prospect, which could work in Pargo's favor.
Pargo, 33, was recently re-signed to a pair of 10-day contracts by the Hawks, but wasn't retained for the rest of the season when his second deal expired. Atlanta reportedly had interest in bringing the veteran point guard back, but wanted to keep its 15th roster spot open in case it came in handy at the trade deadline.
Rockets Recall Jones, Smith From D-League
Today's D-League assignments and recalls can be found below, with any additional moves added to the top of the list throughout the day:
- The Rockets have recalled Terrence Jones and Greg Smith from their D-League affiliate, the team announced today in a press release. The Rockets won't play again until next Wednesday, but the Rio Grande Valley Vipers have an even longer layoff, with their next game coming on February 22nd. While Smith has appeared in just three contests for the Vipers, Jones earned a spot in the D-League's All-Star game, averaging 18.4 PPG and 9.3 RPG in 17 games so far.
Daryl Morey Expecting Quiet Deadline For Rockets
Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reported last weekend that the Rockets are unlikely to be major players at this year's trade deadline, as the team attempts to maintain its flexibility for this summer. That's a point that GM Daryl Morey reiterated in speaking to Sam Amick of USA Today, telling Amick he doesn't expect to make a blockbuster deal in the next week.
"Most likely, it's not going to be through trade," Morey said, of upgrading his roster. "Most likely, it's going to be through the use of our cap room where we have max room this summer…. I think (the next week) is going to be quiet. Of course a year ago, if you would've said, 'James Harden — what about him?' I would've said, 'No way. They won't trade him.' You never know. You stay opportunistic. But I would guess that this trade deadline is going to be quiet."
As Chris Broussard of ESPN.com noted earlier today, the Rockets figure to have enough cap room to make a play for the top free agents on the market in July. Dwight Howard will likely be the team's top target, with Andrew Bynum looming as a potential Plan B. Even if the Rockets can't land a premium free agent, that cap space could be useful for facilitating trades or signing second-tier players.