Randy Foye Hopes For Long-Term Stay With Jazz
Although he only signed a one-year contract with the Jazz last summer, Randy Foye wouldn't mind extending his stay in Utah. Foye tells Bill Oram of the Salt Lake Tribune that he can picture a long-term future for himself with the Jazz.
"To tell you the truth I do see myself long-term here," Foye said. "Because everything from an organization, to the values they have here is me. And in the beginning I probably never would have thought it was Utah, probably thought I was a big-city guy. But this is me. I got my family here, my family really likes it here — even when my friends come out they really like it."
While Foye is playing for his fourth team in seven NBA seasons, the 29-year-old's production has remained remarkably consistent. Many of Foye's numbers for the Jazz this season (11.9 PPG, 13.1 PER, .416 FG%) are virtually identical to his career numbers (11.6 PPG, 13.2 PER, .412 FG%). With his $2.5MM deal set to expire at season's end, Foye is hoping to re-sign with the Jazz in July, but isn't thinking too much about his contract situation at the moment.
"I love the guys here," Foye said. "I know the guys, we get along really well. I just picture myself being here for a while. I don't really want to talk about contract things, but I just picture I would want to be here for a long time."
Bucks Shopping Samuel Dalembert?
The Bucks have been shopping Samuel Dalembert and his expiring contract, thanks to the emergence of Larry Sanders, reports ESPN.com's Marc Stein (via Twitter). However, Sanders left Tuesday's game after injuring his hip, so depending on the severity of the injury, the Bucks may be more inclined to hang on to Dalembert, says Stein (via Twitter).
This isn't the first time we've heard Dalembert mentioned as a potential trade candidate — Stein named him last month as a player who had been made available by his club. However, that was around the same time that head coach Scott Skiles parted ways with the Bucks. Dalembert told Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times a week later that he'd been disappointed with the way Skiles used him, and that Bucks players were "enthusiastic" about new coach Jim Boylan.
If the Bucks are still shopping Dalembert, his performance last night certainly didn't hurt his trade stock. The big man put up 35 points and 12 rebounds in Milwaukee's loss to the Nuggets. Dalembert, who is earning about $6.7MM this season, is set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer.
Lakers “Very Confident” Howard Will Re-Sign
We began yesterday with a round-up of the latest Lakers rumors, and there's enough going on in Los Angeles lately that we're starting off today the same way. Here are the latest Lakers-related links:
- Besides asserting publicly that Dwight Howard won't be moved this month, the Lakers have also assured Howard privately that he won't be going anywhere, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN.com.
- The Lakers haven't asked Howard directly whether he plans to stay or go in free agency, but Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (within Broussard's piece) says the team is "very confident" that Howard will re-sign.
- The Hawks, Mavericks, and Rockets figure to make a play for Howard in free agency, but the Lakers will have the ability to offer D12 about $30MM more in guaranteed money, as I outlined here. According to Broussard's sources, that extra money means a lot to Howard, who may be less inclined to give up an extra year of security given his recent injury woes.
- Of the rival suitors for Howard, the Rockets may be the most dangerous, says Broussard. While Howard wasn't interested in going to Houston a year ago, he recognizes that the club is much improved since then.
- Speaking to Stephen A. Smith of ESPN.com about his future, Howard said he's committed to the Lakers — for this season.
- Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are "very concerned" about the injury Pau Gasol suffered last night, writes Chris Mannix of SI.com, adding that the club needs Howard more than ever now.
Odds & Ends: Celts, Garnett, Gay, Wolves, Draft
Here are some additional odds and ends from around the Association late Tuesday night:
- Via CSN NE, Dan Shaughnessy and Gary Tanguay debate whether or not the Celtics should move Paul Pierce and/or Kevin Garnett. Shaughnessy seems to think that, with this core's championship hopes all but dashed, the Celtics have no reason not to move one of their stars.
- CSN NE's A. Sherrod Blakely offers much of what we've already heard on Garnett within this story, adding that trade rumors hardly affect a team with the experience that the Celtics have. Armed with a no trade clause, Blakely says convincing Garnett to agree to a deal would be a "monumental task" for any team.
- Fortunate to have several friends on the Raptors — most notably Kyle Lowry — Rudy Gay will have the freedom to do more in Toronto than he's recently had in Memphis, writes Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld.
- With Minnesota and San Antonio slated to play Wednesday, Ray Richardson of the Pioneer Press writes that the Wolves — now with six international players on their roster — have followed in the Spurs' footsteps with regard to their personnel strategy.
- Chad Ford and Eamonn Brennan of ESPN debate which college point guard is the best pro prospect. While both concede that Michigan's Trey Burke is the nation's best point guard, the analysts project Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State and Michael Carter-Williams of Syracuse as better fits for the pro game.
Poll: Will The Wolves Make A Trade?
The Timberwolves, who have now been without Kevin Love for more than a month, have lost 14 of 16 and are at risk of letting their season get away from them. With Love not expected back for at least another month, there is an increasing likelihood that Minnesota will be sellers come deadline time.
Per Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press, team president Davis Kahn was asked about his team's plans before Monday's loss to the Blazers, telling reporters, "We'll do something if it's in the interest of both the now and the future. We don't feel compelled to do something. But by the same token, we also don't feel that we can afford to just kind of sit it out. We have to really find out what's out there."
The Wolves are reportedly planning to reassess their situation after their current six-game homestand. Kahn has already predictably called Ricky Rubio and Love "untouchable," and has expressed interest in keeping Nikola Pekovic around long-term as well, despite the center drawing interest around the league.
With that considered, it sounds as if Kahn understands the risks of standing pat, the most notable of which being the failure to maximize return on the team's expendable assets. So what type of move will the Wolves make, if any?
Will The Wolves Make A Trade?
-
A mid-sized deal, trading a player like Luke Ridnour or Derrick Williams 66% (613)
-
A big deal involving Pekovic 17% (162)
-
A minor deal, involving a Louis Amundson-type player 11% (105)
-
They won't make any trades 5% (50)
Total votes: 930
NBPA Update: Bryant, Hunter, Fisher, Fehr
With only 10 days remaining until we find out the fate of Billy Hunter, let's check in on any updates from the NBPA with the latest information up top:
- Should Hunter be ousted come All-Star weekend, the NBPA will target B. Todd Jones, the current Minnesota attorney general and acting director of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, reports Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski. Wojnarowski adds that the NBPA will use an executive search firm to coordinate the process.
Earlier updates:
- Kobe Bryant told Ken Berger of CBS Sports that most NBA players – including himself – need to get up to speed on the issues at hand before they can make an informed decision. "I'm pretty ignorant to what the issues are going to be when we show up, so I don't know," Bryant said on Tuesday. "I'm pretty sure most of the players are, so we'll have to educate ourselves. Will a vote come? Probably. We've just got to make sure we're educated enough to make the right the decision."
- Resigned to the reality that the owners will always have the leverage, Bryant added that he thought Hunter represented the players "as well as he possibly could." Bryant also seemed to think that this situation exemplifies why the league's stars need to be more active with regard to the union. "You always look at your marquee guys, right?" he said. "Back in the day you had Isiah [Thomas] there, you had Magic [Johnson] there, so you're looking at [Kevin] Durant, myself, Chris [Paul] and guys who are faces of the league. Even if you're not representing your team as far as a union standpoint goes, be a little more active."
- As Berger points out, Bryant's noncommital words regarding Hunter's performance come as a surprise given his relationship with NBPA President Derek Fisher, who initiated the review on Hunter. In response to rumors that he wanted Hunter's job, Fisher tweeted the following on Tuesday: "Heard rumors I'm angling for Executive Director. There are people out there better suited for that role than me. No thanks. Not interested."
- In a series of tweets, Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal indicates reports that a replacement for Hunter has been agreed upon by "NBA power agents" are false (Twitter link). Additionally, Mullen has a comment from a source close to NHLPA Executive Director Donald Fehr regarding speculation that he will step into Hunter's position: "Don is very happy in his current role and has absolutely no plans to leave the NHLPA. In the future, should the basketball players seek his guidance due to his vast sports union experience there is little doubt Don would provide that, but he won't be leaving his position at the NHLPA." (Twitter links here).
Odds & Ends: Harkless, Clark, Bynum, Oladipo
With only five games on the NBA schedule for Tuesday night, let's round up some odds and ends from around the league here:
- Now getting extended minutes, Magic rookie Maurice Harkless – acquired from Philadelphia in the Dwight Howard trade – has begun to show the skills that made him the 15th overall selecton last June, writes Josh Robbins of Orlando Sentinel. Coupled with the pleasant surprise that is Nikola Vucevic, Harkless' development makes the haul that Orlando received for Howard look better and better, especially considering past deals involving a departing superstar.
- Another forgotten piece of the Howard deal, Earl Clark has thrived since joining the Lakers, writes Josh Newman of Zags Blog. Now in his fourth year out of Lousiville, Clark has seen his minutes double in Los Angeles.
- Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops calls the Pistons' Will Bynum a prime trade target, mentioning the Thunder as an ideal candidates for a match. With James Harden in Houston and Eric Maynor and Reggie Jackson unlikely solutions to spelling Russell Westbrook, Sheridan says Bynum would be a better pick up for Oklahoma City than Derek Fisher was a year ago.
- Scheduled for June 27, the NBA Draft is just less than five months away. But as the NCAA calendar moves towards March, draft talk should start to heat up. Jeff Goodman, CBS Sports' NCAA guru, provides his updated prospect rankings as well as a mock draft.
- Three days following Indiana's thrilling win over No. 1 Michigan, Draft Express publishes a scouting report on Hoosiers' guard Victor Oladipo. Previously thought to be a defensive specialist, the ultra-athletic Oladipo has nearly ensured himself a first round grade with a breakout offensive performance as a junior.
Lakers Rumors: Gasol, Howard, Trades
With the eighth-seeded Rockets hosting the red-hot Warriors tonight, the Lakers will have the opportunity to gain some ground in the Western Conference playoff race. It won't come easy though, as the Lakers head to the Barclays Center for the first time to face the 28-19 Nets. As we wait to see how tonight's game plays out, let's round up a few of the latest rumblings out of L.A….
- D'Antoni told reporters, including Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (on Twitter), that he isn't concerned about his relationship with Gasol. "He will probably do what we ask him to do. I'm not going to Spain to vacation with him this summer, but he's good," the coach said.
- The Lakers aren't upset about Gasol's comments either, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com. The big man is a professional and they don't believe that what he said will impact the team.
Earlier updates:
- Asked by T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times how he'd feel about next season, if Mike D'Antoni remained with the Lakers and Dwight Howard re-signed, Pau Gasol admitted it would "be hard for me to deal with another season." Gasol acknowledged that it's possible he'd ask for a trade this summer in that case, but he won't do so this month: "I'm not a quitter. Just because things look better on the other side of the fence, I'm not going to take the easy way out."
- More Gasol to Simers: "I'm fortunate to be doing what I am for a living and being highly rewarded for it. But it hurts me that this unique opportunity we have with such good players is not being maximized."
- Gasol's trade value may be rising recently as he plays well with Howard out of action, but D12's absence also exhibits that Pau is an important piece for the Lakers to keep around this season, writes Brian Kamenetzky via Sulia.
- It would be a major departure from Mitch Kupchak's style for him to say he's not trading Howard and then turn around and do it, says Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (via Sulia). As such, Bucher expects the Lakers to roll with their current roster rather than making any significant changes.
Odds & Ends: Andersen, Splitter, Celtics, Pacers
Of the 10 NBA teams in action tonight, eight are currently in position to make the playoffs, while one of the remaining two is a shorthanded Lakers squad trying to claw its way back to .500. As we look forward to what should be an entertaining evening slate, let's round up some miscellaneous updates from around the Association….
- As Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida documents, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is talking as if he expects Chris Andersen to remain with the team for the rest of the season. If Miami does guarantee Andersen's contract, it will be the 15th guaranteed deal on the roster, meaning the Heat wouldn't have an open spot for someone like Greg Oden later in the season.
- Tiago Splitter is eligible for restricted free agency this summer and acknowledges to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News that he can't help but think about his future. "I’m not thinking about it during the games, of course," Splitter said. "But it’s difficult not to think about it other times. It’s in your head." Splitter's preference is to re-sign with the Spurs, though he'll likely be in line for a decent raise.
- Celtics coach Doc Rivers referred to recent trade rumors involving his players as "silly," suggesting that they're media-driven rather than substantial. Greg Payne of ESPNBoston.com has the details.
- Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star implores the Pacers to make a deal before the February 21st deadline if they want to be legit contenders in the Eastern Conference.
- In light of LeBron James' recent comments suggesting that his contract doesn't reflect his true value, ESPN.com's Henry Abbott and Brian Windhorst (video link) discuss the value of NBA superstars like LeBron.
- In a mailbag, Ian Thomsen of SI.com identifies 12 teams he thinks could be "buyers" as the trade deadline approaches.
Spears On Mozgov, Josh Smith, Rondo, Gay
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports has been busy today, publishing a piece on Lindsey Hunter's adjustment to the head coaching job in Phoenix as well as posting Yahoo!'s weekly power rankings, which features the Spurs in the No. 1 spot once again. Spears' power rankings also feature a few tidbits of note, which we'll round up right here:
- The Nuggets are getting plenty of calls about Timofey Mozgov, but aren't under any financial pressure to make a deal. They'll probably only move Mozgov for a "too-good-to-be-true offer," says Spears.
- While there's still plenty of speculation that the Hawks could trade Josh Smith, interested teams have been keeping any talks very quiet.
- A surgery date for Rajon Rondo's ACL still hasn't been set, as Rondo could seek opinions from as many as three doctors.
- A source close to Rudy Gay tells Spears that the newest Raptor was happy about leaving the Grizzlies and should be a very good fit in Toronto — not only in the team's up-tempo offense, but in the city as well.