Protected Draft Picks Carrying Over To 2014
The final standings for the 2012/13 NBA regular season ensured that many draft pick debts have now been settled. The Warriors, for instance, after keeping their top-seven-protected pick in 2012 and using it to draft Harrison Barnes, will give up that first-round pick (now top-six-protected) in this year's draft, sending it to the Jazz.
However, there are plenty of other instances this year where protected picks won't change hands, pushing the debt back to at least 2014. With the help of RealGM's list of traded picks, here are the traded 2013 picks that will stay put this June, but will be up in the air again next year:
Pick: Bobcats (1st)
Traded to: Bulls
Future protection: Top 10 (2014), Top 8 (2015), Unprotected (2016)
Pick: Kings (1st)
Traded to: Cavaliers
Future protection: Top 12 (2014), Top 10 (2015, 2016, 2017)
Pick: Pistons (1st)
Traded to: Bobcats
Future protection: Top 8 (2014), Top 1 (2015), Unprotected (2016)
Pick: Timberwolves (1st)
Traded to: Suns
Future protection: Top 13 (2014), Top 12 (2015, 2016)
Pick: 76ers (1st)
Traded to: Heat
Future protection: Top 14 (2014, 2015)
Pick: Mavericks (1st)
Traded to: Thunder
Future protection: Top 20 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), Unprotected (2018)
Pick: Trail Blazers (2nd)
Traded to: Nuggets
Future protection: Unprotected (2014)
There are also two protected first-round picks which still may or may not change hands this season, depending on how the ping-pong balls fall in the lottery. In the case of the Raptors' 2013 first-rounder, it's very likely it will be sent to the Thunder, extinguishing future debts. The Trail Blazers' 2013 first-rounder, on the other hand, is nearly guaranteed to remain with Portland, meaning the Blazers' debt to Charlotte will be pushed back until at least 2014. Here are the details on those picks:
Pick: Raptors (1st)
Traded to: Thunder
Odds it changes hands in 2013: 97.5%
Future protection, if necessary: Top 2 and 15-30 (2014, 2015), Top 1 and 15-30 (2016, 2017), Unprotected (2018)
Pick: Trail Blazers (1st)
Traded to: Bobcats
Odds it stays put in 2013: 99.9%
Future protection: Top 12 (2014, 2015), Unprotected (2016)
J.R. Smith Wins Sixth Man Of The Year
1:44pm: Smith has been officially announced as the Sixth Man of the Year, with Crawford, Jack, Martin, and Anderson rounding out the top five, in that order. Smith received 72 of 121 first-place votes, with Crawford (31) and Jack (14) picking up most of the rest of the first-place nods.
9:12am: The NBA will make an announcement at 1:30pm CST today from the Madison Square Garden training center, according to the Knicks (Twitter link). Howard Beck of the New York Times reports (via Twitter) that the press conference will be for this year's first award winner, as J.R. Smith will be named Sixth Man of the Year.
Smith, 27, came off the bench for the Knicks in each of his 80 games this season, averaging a career-high 18.1 PPG and recording a 17.6 PER. It was the best season of Smith's nine-year NBA career, as he emerged as the Knicks' second scoring option behind Carmelo Anthony.
We'll hear later this afternoon how exactly the voting broke down, but Jamal Crawford (Clippers), Jarrett Jack (Warriors), Ryan Anderson (Pelicans), and Kevin Martin (Thunder) were also expected to receive consideration for the award.
Kyler On Paul, Teague, Jack, Billups, Bledsoe
In his latest NBA AM piece for HoopsWorld, Steve Kyler focuses on the playoff point guards that may be heading for free agency once their respective seasons end. Kyler has tidbits on those players, as well as notes on Eric Bledsoe and Phil Jackson, so let's check out the highlights:
- Chris Paul is essentially a lock to re-sign with the Clippers and he'll have a "tremendous amount of input" in the team's roster moves and overall direction.
- The Hawks will extend a qualifying offer to Jeff Teague, and while the club plans to keep its options open, it's unlikely that Teague will end up leaving Atlanta.
- Jerryd Bayless is expected to decline his player option in search of a longer-term contract.
- There's mutual interest in a new deal between Jarrett Jack and the Warriors, and the team will have Jack's Bird Rights, but the Warriors figure to be well into the tax unless they can make a cost-cutting move or two, which could complicate negotiations.
- If Chauncey Billups doesn't return to the Clippers, retirement is more likely for him than signing with another club.
- The Bucks will definitely match almost any offer sheet signed by Brandon Jennings, though if he receives the max from a rival suitor, Milwaukee will "have to seriously look at that."
- While Bledsoe is expected to be an offseason trade candidate, Clippers sources are adamant that they don't need to make a decision on Bledsoe until the summer of 2014, or at least next year's trade deadline.
- With a handful of head coaching jobs already opened up, Jackson's name will pop up frequently in the next several weeks, but Kyler hears that the odds of the 11-time champion accepting a coaching job aren't great.
Raptors GM On Casey, Bargnani, Draft, Lowry
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey and GM Bryan Colangelo spoke to reporters in Toronto today, answering questions about the 2012/13 season and looking ahead to the offseason. Although neither Casey nor Colangelo are locks to remain in their current roles through the summer, it appears the Raps are leaning toward retaining both. Colangelo addressed a few topics of note today, and Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun rounded them up, via Twitter. Let's dive in….
- Assuming Colangelo's 2013/14 option is picked up by the Raptors, Casey will also be back as the club's coach for next season, according to the GM.
- There are no updates on a potential Andrea Bargnani deal, which isn't surprising, considering this isn't generally the time of year when trade talks happen. However, Colangelo says a change of scenery has been discussed with Bargnani's agent, and may be in everyone's best interests.
- After adding three rookies last season, the Raptors likely won't have a first-round draft pick this season, as it appears headed for Oklahoma City. That's okay with Colangelo, who suggested this year's class is low on star power.
- Casey talked today about returning to a defense-first approach next season, and Wolstat questions if the roster is built for that style of play. Colangelo doesn't believe the current roster is a bad fit for Casey's philosophy.
- After undergoing a sports hernia surgery last summer, Kyle Lowry never seemed completely "right" this season, according to Colangelo, who says the point guard will have to come to camp in the fall ready to go. Lowry's contract for next season isn't fully guaranteed, but it appears there's no question he'll be back.
Samuel Dalembert Has Interest In Heat
Samuel Dalembert didn't play in the Bucks' first playoff game against the Heat yesterday, and has only appeared in one game all month. If he does see action during Milwaukee's first round series though, he may be auditioning for his next team. The free-agent-to-be told Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida that "the Heat will definitely be an option" when he searches for a new contract this summer.
"I love that option," Dalembert said of Miami's proximity to Haiti, where he was born. "That’s an option to move back and forth… I have a lot of family (in South Florida) and we have a lot of concentrated Haitian population here."
The Heat have had interest in Dalembert in the past, having explored signing him for their $3MM mini mid-level exception prior to the 2011/12 season. The big man had reservations about signing for that amount, and eventually landed a two-year, $13MM+ deal with the Bucks, while the Heat used their MLE on Shane Battier.
Whether or not Miami will pursue Dalembert again this summer remains to be seen, and could depend on whether the team decides to re-sign Chris Andersen, as Tomasson notes. As for Dalembert, he'll be looking for a chance to compete for a championship, and the Heat are a good bet to start next season as title favorites once again.
"It’s up to them and seeing what’s going to be out there," Dalembert said. "But at this point you want to be with a contending team. You don’t want to go backwards, so you want to chase that promised land."
2013/14 NBA Free Agent List Updated
With the 2012/13 regular season behind us and the postseason underway, we don't figure to see many more NBA roster changes until at least June. As our Chuck Myron detailed yesterday, there will occasionally be a transaction of note while the playoffs are still ongoing, but for the most part we won't see any signings or other moves.
As such, we've moved all the notable players who finished this season as free agents to our list of 2013/14 free agents, retiring our list of 2012/13 free agents. For the most part, players were only moved to our '13/14 list if they played in the NBA this past season. However, in some cases, I moved notable veterans to this summer's FA list, even if they didn't appear in an NBA game in '12/13. For instance, players like Gilbert Arenas, Delonte West, and Michael Redd show up in the current list, since I think they'll draw some NBA interest and perhaps even sign with a team this offseason.
Our list of 2013/14 free agents is quite extensive at the moment, as it includes players who have player or team options for next season, as well as players whose contracts are non-guaranteed. Some of those players will be removed from the list by the time July arrives — the Raptors will undoubtedly guarantee Kyle Lowry's contract, for instance, while Ben Gordon is a lock to exercise his player option, putting off his free agency for a year.
For now though, check out our '13/14 list to get an idea of which players your favorite team might target this offseason.
Northwest Notes: Thunder, Harden, Davis, Jazz
There are a lot of strong matchups in this year's playoffs, but the Thunder squaring off with the Rockets could be the most intriguing of them all. It's a pairing that didn't seem likely until James Harden & Co. started stumbling down the stretch, putting Houston in line for the No. 8 seed. Now, Harden has a chance to make OKC regret their decision to trade him and the Thunder get to show their old friend that they can still be a contender without him. Here's more on that and other items out of the Northwest..
- The parting of the Thunder and Harden absolutely had to happen, writes Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman. OKC's four-year, $53MM offer to Harden wasn't enough and there was no way the Thunder could have afforded to pay four players a combined $59MM next season and $61MM in 2014/15.
- Derek Page of HoopsWorld questions if the Pelicans made the right choice in taking Anthony Davis No. 1 instead of Damian Lillard. Teammate and fellow top-10 pick Austin Rivers credited Lillard for having a strong rookie season but said that he is 100% confident that New Orleans made the right call.
- An exciting offseason awaits the Jazz and all of their free agents, writes Mike Sorensen of the Deseret News. Sorensen sees Utah letting Al Jefferson go and instead retaining either Paul Millsap or Mo Williams, but not both.
Odds & Ends: Bledsoe, Knicks, Spurs, McGrady
Here's tonight's look around the Association..
- Eric Bledsoe is showing that he's going to be a big money player at some point, even if he doesn't get that payday from the Clippers, writes Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. Chris Paul echoed similar sentiments earlier today.
- Knicks coach Mike Woodson knows first-hand how tough Kenyon Martin and Jason Kidd can be in the playoffs thanks to his time as an assistant coach for the Pistons, writes Al Iannazzone of Newsday (on Sulia). “Both of them are still relentless and savvy,” Woodson said. “I go back to that 2004 Detroit team when they had our backs against the wall [in the conference semifinals] big time…That to me was really our championship series."
- Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni called Tracy McGrady a "wild card" but Gregg Popovich says that the veteran is "another body" and isn't sure how he'll integrate him into the rotation, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com (on Sulia). The Spurs signed T-Mac shortly after cutting Stephen Jackson.
- Former Bulls veteran Keith Bogans is now an important part of the Nets' defense, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
Hoops Links: Kobe, Smith, Nuggets, Warriors, Nets
Earlier today, the Spurs got the best of the Lakers in Game 1 as they cruised to a 91-79 victory. Those of you who watched the game while checking your timeline on Twitter probably caught wind of Coach Vino – née Kobe Bryant – giving advice to coach Mike D'Antoni as he watched at home. D'Antoni was asked after the game about his thoughts on Bryant's e-coaching and he rolled his eyes back far enough to see the front of his brain. "He's a fan. Just a fan right now," the actual Lakers coach quipped.
Bravo to D'Antoni for treating Kobe's tweets exactly how they should be treated: more unsolicited commentary from armchair observers. Bryant's basketball IQ is legendary, but he isn't the man charged with moving the Lakers' chess pieces at this time. If No. 24 wants to make a run at coaching after his playing days are through, then you can bet there will be more than one team interested in his services. However, we're (thankfully) at least a couple of years away from seeing Bryant retire. We all look forward to seeing Black Mamba on the court again, but we can do without Coach Vino on the keyboard.
Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors? Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here's this week's look around the web..
- Dime Magazine looked at the most clutch players in the playoffs, including J.R. Smith.
- The Basketball Post says Nuggets-Warriors is the most fun of any first round series.
- The Brooklyn Game gets you up to speed on the Nets' season.
- Pounding The Rock isn't optimistic about the Spurs' chances.
- Hardwood Paroxysm reflects on the season that was.
- Blog A Bull reflected on Chicago's rough Game 1.
- Red94 explores what is as stake for the Rockets.
- 3SOB works the numbers.
- SLC Dunk previewed the best one guards in the draft.
- Rufus On Fire looks back at the highs and lows of the Bobcats' year.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.
Texas Notes: Mavericks, Spurs, Cuban, Jackson
Here's a look at some items on the Mavs and Spurs..
- The Mavericks have to make all the right moves this summer in order to get back to the postseason in 2013/14, writes Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram. Price writes that the Mavs badly need a rim protector and dominant rebounder along with a point guard who can create his own shot off the dribble. They had those players two years ago in Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea, but they turned down one year offers from the Mavs.
- Former Mavericks forward Antawn Jamison believes that Mark Cuban will find a way to get Dallas back to the playoffs, Price writes. “I don’t ever count Mark out,’’ said Jamison, who is now with the Lakers. “That little rascal’s got something up his sleeves…You know him. He’s sitting there watching the playoffs like, ‘OK, they think I’m done.’ ‘’
- Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (on Sulia) disagrees with the Spurs' decision to cut Stephen Jackson loose.