Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Sixers, Martin, Bynum
Here's a look at the latest out of the Atlantic..
- Ten-day signee Kenyon Martin will almost assuredly remain with the Knicks for the rest of the season, and as long as he performs well in the absence of Amare Stoudemire, New York might not feel compelled to waive the injured Rasheed Wallace to pursue another healthy big man, as Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com surmises.
- A sign-and-trade of Andrew Bynum might be the best option for the Sixers, who probably won't be as eager as other teams to roll the dice on the big man's health once more, argues John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Former Celtics and Knicks guard Bill Walker has resurfaced in the D-League and is hoping to show that his inconsistent tendencies are behind him, writes Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside. Walker is with the guard-heavy Austin Toros who often have the Spurs' Cory Joseph suiting up for them, so he will have to work hard to be a regular part of their rotation.
Odds & Ends: Basketball Classic, Age Limit, Draft
Earlier today the Thunder topped the Celtics 91-79 to pick up their fifth straight win. Kevin Durant led the way with 23 points and eleven boards in a well-balanced effort at home. The C's turned in an impressive defensive effort on paper, holding Oklahoma City to their lowest output in nearly two months, but it wasn't enough to down them. Here's more from around the Association..
- In his Sunday column, the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn writes that there has been talk that commissioner David Stern would consider the idea of a World Basketball Classic, similar to baseball’s tournament. However, the challenge for Stern and FIBA would be getting American superstars to play. The major shoe companies may also have to get their taste in such a deal.
- Over at HoopsWorld, the staff debated whether players should be allowed to jump straight from high school to the NBA. Of course, there have been a number of standout players who decided to skip college and go directly to the pros from Kobe Bryant to Kevin Garnett to LeBron James. However, there have also been plenty of talented players who weren't ready for the transition like New York's Lenny Cooke.
- Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld released his latest 2013 mock draft and has Kansas' Ben McLemore going first overall to the Bobcats. After that, Marcus Smart, Cody Zeller, Shabazz Muhammad, and Nerlens Noel round out the top five.
- Virtus Roma point guard Jordan Taylor told Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport that he will likely be in the NBA Summer League, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando (on Twitter). The Wisconsin product was not taken in the 2012 draft and spent time with the Hawks' summer league team before being let go.
Week In Review: 3/4/13 – 3/10/13
Our long national Dwightmare may not reach its conclusion until this summer, but we at least have one pesky NBA storyline out of the way. This week, the Jazz finally reached agreement with veteran Raja Bell on a buyout. The two sides have been at odds all season and Bell did not suit up for Utah once all year after being told not to come to training camp. Here's more on the week that was on Hoops Rumors..
- The Raptors are likely to offer an extension to Rudy Gay and are going to look to get a proven post player in return for Andrea Bargnani.
- Bucks guard Brandon Jennings is thinking about signing a qualifying offer. The club is also going to make a strong effort to re-sign J.J. Redick.
- The Nuggets are expected to target Kyle Korver this summer.
- Three teams have interest in Italian forward Gigi Datome, including the Celtics.
- The Knicks are going to be without Amare Stoudemire for six weeks and are looking for help.
- The Jazz discussed deals for Paul Millsap with the Pacers and Clippers but ultimately did not move him.
- Speaking of near deals, the Bucks almost landed Josh Smith at the deadline. Milwaukee was closer to landing the Hawks forward than the 76ers. The Celtics also came close to moving Paul Pierce in a deal for Smith.
- Manu Ginobili wants to play for two more years.
- Al Harrington hopes to play for five more years.
- GM Daryl Morey inked an extension with the Rockets.
- The Heat were high on Nikola Vucevic but didn't land him.
- The Wolves are seeking clearance to add a 16th player. No word on whether the league will let them use six players on the court at the same time though.
- Houston signed Aaron Brooks.
- The Jazz signed Travis Leslie after dumping Bell.
- Commissioner Stern says that Sacramento has to up their bid to keep the Kings.
- Greg Oden is keeping the Cavs on his wish list.
- Pablo Prigioni isn't sure about his NBA future.
- A promising Russian forward is going to wait another year before entering the draft.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 3/4/13 – 3/10/13
Here’s a look back at the original analysis provided by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- Chuck Myron looked at recent non-guaranteed multi-year deals.
- Luke Adams checked the stock of free agent sharpshooter Kyle Korver.
- Luke gave us a preview of what a Rudy Gay contract extension might look like.
- I asked if the 76ers should re-sign Andrew Bynum and most of you were against the idea.
- The Wolves will go into the $12MM per year range to sign Nikola Pekovic in Chuck’s opinion.
- The Mavs and Hornets are among the Western Conference clubs expected to have cap room.
- Here’s a look at 2013 max contract scenarios.
- We asked Hoops Rumors readers which Western Conference team would miss the playoffs and almost half of you picked the Jazz over the Lakers, Rockets, and Warriors.
- Luke updated us on the traded 2013 first round picks.
- You can follow us by specific team.
- Alex Lee looked at Bynum’s free agent stock.
- If you missed out on Monday’s chat with Luke, you can check out the transcript here.
- Here’s a refresher on our commenting policy.
Josh Smith On Trade Rumors, Max Deal, Atlanta
Josh Smith was perhaps the most talked-about target prior to the trade deadline, and though he remained with the Hawks, speculation about his future won't end anytime soon, since he'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer. If Dwight Howard and Chris Paul remain in Los Angeles, there could be no more sough-after commodity on the market than Atlanta's athletic power forward. He recently opened up about where he stands with his career seemingly in transition, and Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe and Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News shared some of his comments. We'll pass along the highlights here:
On his inclusion in trade rumors at the deadline:
"It was total chaos, for two or three weeks. It’s good just to concentrate, knowing where I’m at, at least until the end of the season, and now we can focus on what we can do to make a playoff push and jockeying for position, knowing that it’s a real tight race. It’s good to be able to focus on basketball."
On his worth as a player:
"I’m respected in the NBA as far as the players are concerned. I know I’m a highly attractive player and all I can do is keep playing confident, hold my head high, and not really worry about what the naysayers and haters say."
On his assertion that he deserves a max contract:
"I didn’t just come up and make the statement that I was (a maximum player) — it was a question that I was asked. I gave an honest answer. It’s not added pressure. I’m not going around just stating that. It was definitely a question."
On his impending free agency:
"I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to look ahead. I focus on the present. As long as we do special things during the season or during the postseason, I don’t look into the future. I’ll think about (free agency) when it gets here."
On playing in Atlanta, a city with laid-back fans:
"It is a little difficult. Last year like I was telling everybody, we were ranked No. 1 worst sports town in the United States. It was just the whole city, baseball, football – but football always has a crazy fanbase – it is a little bit difficult. But hopefully we can turn it around sooner than later."
Mavs Rumors: Open Roster Spot, Wright, Beaubois
Lost in the noise surrounding the Lakers’ ascent in the Western Conference standings has been a similar Lazarus act by the Mavericks. Dallas is just three games back of the eighth-place Jazz and four and a half behind the Rockets, who occupy the seventh spot in the West. The Mavs made a surprise move yesterday, waiving Dominique Jones, and we have more on the aftershocks from that transaction, along with some early offseason speculation:
- The Mavs will probably fill their open roster spot with a player from the D-League, according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News, who hears the team is likely to sign someone today or Monday.
- Reserve center Brandan Wright is one of many soon-to-be unrestricted free agents on the Mavs, but he’d like to return to Dallas for next season, notes Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
- Like Jones, fellow Mavs guard Rodrigue Beaubois hasn’t seen much playing time this season, but Price thinks Beaubois’ ability to remain on the bench without complaint is one reason he’s still around. Even so, Price would be surprised to the Mavs re-sign Beaubois this summer (Twitter links).
- Dirk Nowitzki believes Jones could blossom elsewhere in the NBA, as Price documents. “He never really got a real shot at it,’‘ Nowitzki said of his teammate on the Mavs 2011 championship team. “I like his athleticism, I like what he brought, it just wasn’t a good situation to be in.”
Jazz Waive Raja Bell
The Jazz have waived Raja Bell, agent Herb Rudoy tells Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune (Twitter link). The move, which had been expected as the team neared an agreement Friday with Travis Leslie, ends a season-long standoff between the Jazz and Bell, who hasn't played a single game this season after the team told him not to come to training camp. Bell will receive his full $3.48MM salary this season, Oram tweets, and that money will remain on Utah's books as long as he clears waivers.
Bell asked for a trade last May after clashing with coach Tyrone Corbin, and he and the team have gone back and forth about the possibility of a buyout for months, reportedly even agreeing on one in July, but Utah never finalized his exit from the team until now. Bell started 33 games at shooting guard for the Jazz last season, but suffered a left knee injury in mid-March and appeared in only one game after his return, playing 18 minutes off the bench in the team's regular-season finale.
The 36-year-old Bell was reportedly telling those close to him last month he'd sign with the Lakers, but that was before the March 1st deadline for players to be waived and still be eligible for the postseason with another team. L.A. could sign Bell and use him in the regular season, but the Lakers are apparently wary of adding more salary that would increase their luxury tax bill. Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni failed in his effort to talk the team into making Bell an offer before March 1st, and without a guarantee he'd find a job with another team, Bell turned down Utah's final buyout offer before the deadline passed.
Rudoy tells Oram that Bell definitely plans to play again (Twitter link), and the Wolves and Bulls have shown interest at various points this season, though it's unclear whether they would want to give him a look now. Bell named the Heat his top choice in the fall, and as Jody Genessy of the Deseret News points out, he has spent the season hanging around Miami, where he attended high school and college. The Heat could open a roster space by electing not to re-up 10-day signee Juwan Howard, but they would have to reciprocate Bell's interest, and there's been no indication that they want to bring him aboard.
One of the reasons Bell remained in limbo for so long is that the Jazz didn't want to give in and reward what the team believed was poor behavior on Bell's part, Oram tweets, so that could scare other teams off. The 12-year veteran averaged his fewest minutes and points per game in nine seasons last year, but he still shot 39.1% from three-point range, just slightly below his 40.6% career mark.
Celtics Re-Sign White; Randolph Expected Back
10:11am: White tells Blakely he signed a second 10-day contract with the Celtics this morning. Randolph said he hasn't re-upped yet, but is optimistic about his chances (Twitter links).
10:04am: D.J. White's 10-day contract with the Celtics expired last night, and Shavlik Randolph's is over after tonight, but the team is expected to announce soon that they're re-signing both of them, tweets A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Boston brought the big men aboard along with guard Terrence Williams shortly after the trade deadline to bolster an injury-depleted roster.
White and Randolph have occupied the final two spots on Boston's 15-man roster. It's not clear whether White and Shavlik will be signed through the rest of the season or receive a second set of 10-day deals. After his first 10-day contract with the Celtics expired, Williams received a deal that runs through the season and includes a non-guaranteed second year in 2013/14.
Neither White nor Randolph has seen much time on the floor for Boston. White has appeared in just one game so far, totaling four minutes, while Randolph has yet to see game action. Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com wrote yesterday that "all indications" were that White would be back with the team, since he accompanied them on their flight to Oklahoma City for today's game. Randolph is with the team as well, as Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe noted, though he'd be eligible to play against the Thunder either way, since his contract runs a day longer than White's.
Celtics Among 3 Teams Interested In Gigi Datome
Italian small forward Luigi "Gigi" Datome has drawn interest from the Celtics, who are among three NBA teams reportedly intrigued by the 25-year-old, according to a report from the Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport passed along by Sportando's Emiliano Carchia. Datome is playing in his native Italy with Virtus Roma this season, averaging 17.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game to go with 44.3% three-point shooting over 22 contests this season.
Datome's isn't in play immediately, since he's still under contract with Virtus Roma, but that deal expires in the offseason. It's unclear how much Datome will be able to command financially, but if a bidding war ensues, the Celtics would be somewhat handicapped. Boston will likely be over the cap this summer, meaning the team couldn't exceed the mid-level exception to bring him or anyone else aboard. The first-year salary is set at $5.15MM for next year's full mid-level.
As a 21-year-old in 2009, Datome went undrafted by NBA clubs, though it appears his game has evolved since then. As witnessed by the Knicks' signing of 35-year-old Pablo Prigioni this summer, overseas prospects don't have to be young to draw attention. Datome recently switched agencies, moving from Side by Side to Sigma Sports.
Los Angeles Notes: Clark, Dwight, Clippers
To say that the Lakers' season has been a roller coaster ride would be an understatement, and with a 7-2 record over their last nine games amidst a strong push for a spot in the Western Conference playoff picture, the purple and gold faithful have reason to hope that the car keeps climbing up. However, one of the biggest pleasant surprises seems to have hit a slump, as ESPN Los Angeles' Ramona Shelburne notes that Earl Clark has only reached double figure scoring once in the team's last seven games. We have a few links to share out of Los Angeles tonight, and you can find them below:
- Chauncey Billups opens up about the adjustments that he's had to make with the Clippers, from moving to shooting guard and returning from an achilles injury (Broderick Turner of the LA Times).
- Although he's had his share of struggles from the free throw line, Dwight Howard is too valuable in other areas of the game to be kept off the court during crunch time, opines Janis Carr of the OC Register.
- Howard tells Eric Pincus of the LA Times about what he's learned by playing alongside Kobe Bryant, particularly about getting over his fear of missing shots and improving off the court habits. "I think this is a blessing for me, to experience the stuff that I've experienced this year. It's just going to make me a better man and a better player…Just from watching Kobe — this has been great for me. I wouldn't have it any other way."
- Defending the three point line has been a glaring concern for the Clippers, who may find themselves unable to advance in the playoffs if things don't change, writes Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles.
- Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer notes the importance of the Lakers making the playoffs for the Cavaliers, as Cleveland will have the option of swapping Miami's first round pick with the Lakers' if it falls out of the lottery.