Mavericks Links: Collison, Brand, Mayo
Headed for free agency this summer, Mavericks point guard Darren Collison told reporters that he’s capable of starting on any team. Despite finishing the final 23 games of the season as a reserve, the former UCLA product hasn’t ruled out a return to the Mavericks, even if it means he’d continue that role (Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram reports). Also, as Jon Machota of SportsDayDFW notes, Collison hasn't had any discussions with his agent about where he could end up next season. Here are a few more links to share out of Dallas:
- Price also hears that Elton Brand would like to return to Dallas next season in order to make up for being unable to help the team make the playoffs this season. Picked up off of amnesty before the start of the season, the former number one overall pick averaged 7.2 PPG and 6.0 RPG, marking the first year in his career with his scoring average in the single-figures.
- Count head coach Rick Carlisle among the proponents of bringing O.J. Mayo back in a Mavs uniform next season, writes Price. This morning, we heard that the 25-year-old swingman plans to opt out of his contract in hopes of negotiating a long-term deal with Dallas.
Jazz Links: Corbin, Williams, Carroll, McNeal
Earlier, we heard that Tyrone Corbin's job was safe after GM Dennis Lindsey showed public support for the Jazz head coach. Brad Rock of the Deseret News examines the situation a step further, noting that Utah had finished off the season winning nine of their remaining 12 games in addition to Corbin's ability to do so with much of the roster's status up in the air for next season and beyond. Here's more of what we've heard out of Salt Lake City tonight:
- Marvin Williams tells Bill Oram of the Salt Lake Tribune that he hasn’t thought about his 2013-14 player option, but made sure to mention that he loves playing for the Jazz, coach Corbin, his teammates, and the city (Twitter links)
- DeMarre Carroll has made it known that he wants to return to Utah next season, writes Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune.
- Luhm also notes that the team could take a closer look at point guard Jerel McNeal – a repeat 10-day contract signee late in the season – with Mo Williams, Jamaal Tinsley, and Earl Watson set to become free agents.
- Kurt Kragthorpe, another Tribune columnist, wrote that should both Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap leave via free agency this summer, the former would be missed more.
76ers Weighing Options On Bynum
According to Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com, the 76ers are currently undecided on the future of Andrew Bynum but would still consider re-signing him. Managing owner Josh Harris, who insists that he'd still approve last year's trade if given the chance again, told the media that the team is "going to look to bring Andrew back," despite the young center failing to suit up for Philadelphia this year due to injury. Harris adds:
“A healthy Bynum is a needle mover, a top 15 player…We’re going to weigh the positives and the negatives and try to make a reasoned assessment about what’s appropriate for Andrew. Certainly, we’re open to the prospect of bringing him back…I’m not saying we’re going to bring him back. I’m saying we haven’t ruled it out. Bringing Andrew back is an important risk that we’re not ignoring.”
Earlier this month, we heard that Bynum would consider a return to Philadelphia next season. Though with the former Lakers star slated to head into free agency coming off of arthroscopic surgery on both knees, it remains anyone's guess in terms of how interested teams will try to assess his value this summer.
Latest On Kings, Sacramento, Seattle
While the NBA Board of Governors met to discuss the future of the Kings, George Maloof told reporters that he's fine with the way the league has decided to handle deliberations as well as the process for both cities (tweets Nick Monacelli of News 10 Sacramento). It appears that today's meeting is over, but we'll keep track of more updates/Twitter links we've gathered up tonight involving the Seattle/Sacramento situation:
- Bryan May of News 10 Sacramento hears from George Maloof that he expects a final vote to be taken during the first week of May. Maloof would neither confirm nor deny if the proposed Sacramento offer was equal to Seattle's.
- According to Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee, sources close to the Maloof family say that the current Kings owners still keep their binding agreement with the Seattle group in mind and would prefer that the league decides to approve it.
- Lillis also says that Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson flew to New York last night after the Kings game in order to be ready if needed (Twitter links).
Adande On Nowitzki, Cuban, Mavericks
In this ESPN video, J.A. Adande spoke about the chances that Dirk Nowitzki stays with Dallas, Mark Cuban, and key factors that have been and could be in play with regard to the Mavericks' lack of luck in free agency. Here are the highlights:
- Though Dirk recently stated that he "belongs to this city," the star forward could be give himself the option to leave Dallas if Cuban isn't able to surround him with players that would make the Mavericks a title contender again.
- Although the team preserved cap space by acquiring players on short term contracts after striking out on their major targets last summer, Adande wonders what would happen if they miss out again. With the likelihood that both Dwight Howard and Chris Paul stay with their respective teams, it remains to be seen if Dallas can land premium free agents this year.
- Interestingly, Adande points out that not being able to play for Team USA put Dirk at a recruiting disadvantage, specifically because it didn't allow him to form the same type of friendships that certain other players – namely LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh – did while spending time on the Olympic team together before the summer of 2010.
- The appeal of Dallas as a free agent destination may have taken a hit considering that the franchise didn't necessarily reward the players that eventually led them to a title, in addition to the fact that they lost out on free agents afterward.
Dennis Lindsey, Jazz Endorse Tyrone Corbin
Although there have been a handful of newly created head coaching vacancies in the NBA, don't expect the Jazz to join the list anytime soon. Despite Utah coming up just two wins shy of a postseason berth, general manager Dennis Lindsey offered a strong endorsement of head coach Tyrone Corbin, reaffirming that he's "our coach" and has full support from team ownership (Jody Genessy of the Deseret News tweets). Bill Oram of the Salt Lake Tribune (via Twitter) also noted Lindsey's support, hearing that Corbin is seen as the right person to lead the team and is growing as a coach.
After being swept in the 2011-12 playoffs, the Jazz returned this season competitively in the hunt for a return to the playoffs. While Utah held the seventh seed in the Western Conference as far as mid-February, a 3-12 record from late February into late March pushed them to ninth – where they would ultimately finish the season. Still, as Oram mentions, Lindsey believes that Corbin deserves credit for working with nine impending free agents and four quality big men.
According to Genessy, team brass will wait until next week to evaluate this year's performances and shortcomings.
Olshey On Offseason, Maynor, Williams
Joe Freeman of the Oregonian was among the reporters addressed by Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey about the team's priorities for the upcoming offseason, among them finding a starting center and adding depth to the bench in spots six through ten. Although it isn't likely that Portland will tender a qualifying offer to Eric Maynor this summer, Olshey spoke as though the team still hopes to keep him as part of their future. Also, he said that the Trail Blazers would consider retaining Elliot Williams, whose team option for 2013-14 had been declined earlier this season (All Twitter links here).
Though the team finished with nearly a two percent drop in winning percentage compared to 2011-12, this season marked Olshey's first as well as head coach Terry Stott's tenure with the franchise. With the viewpoint that the current roster isn't talented enough, all signs point to another busy offseason, especially with a bevy of cap space at their disposal to continue building around Rookie of the Year candidate Damian Lillard. Olshey relayed that he spoke with team owner Paul Allen yesterday and promised that the franchise would be more competitive next year.
Odds & Ends: Wilcox, Kings, Pistons, McGrady
So far, Hoops Rumors readers have indicated in this morning's poll that Spurs/Lakers is the most-anticipated first round series of the NBA playoffs, with Celtics/Knicks and Thunder/Rockets rounding out the top three. We'll have to wait until Sunday for those two Western series to get underway, but Boston and New York will be the first two teams to begin their series on Saturday afternoon. As we look forward to what should be an exciting postseason, let's check in on a few odds and ends from around the NBA:
- Washington junior C.J. Wilcox has decided to return to school for his senior season, tweets Percy Allen of the Seattle Times. Wilcox was ranked 37th among this year's prospects by ESPN.com's Chad Ford.
- Michael McCann of SI.com (Twitter link) hears that, as commissioner David Stern has indicated publicly, expansion to 31 teams truly hasn't been discussed as an option by the NBA. As such, there will be no happy ending to the Kings saga for both Sacramento and Seattle basketball fans.
- With Lawrence Frank out as Pistons coach, GM Joe Dumars will be running the team's search for a new coach, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Vince Goodwill of the Detroit News has heard Nate McMillan, Kelvin Sampson, Jerry Sloan, and Heat assistant David Fizdale mentioned as potential candidates (Twitter link).
- Sixers assistant Michael Curry will interview for Philadelphia's head coaching position while keeping an eye on other openings, reports Shams Charania of RealGM.com. In Doug Collins' exit interview today, he recommended Curry as his replacement.
- Tracy McGrady is a Spur at the moment, but his 2012/13 Chinese team, the Qingdao Double Star Eagles would like to re-sign him for next season, according to a Hupu.com report (English link via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando).
- Carchia also passes along word that Latvian forward Janis Timma has decided to enter the 2013 NBA draft, according to his agent. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com ranks Timma 27th among 1992-born international prospects.
Trail Blazers Waive Jared Jeffries
The Trail Blazers have officially released Jared Jeffries, the team announced today (Twitter link). While the timing of the move may seem unusual, considering the Blazers' season is over, Jeffries' contract for next season would have become guaranteed had the team not cut him within the next five days.
Jeffries, 31, was acquired by the Blazers last July as part of the sign-and-trade deal that sent Raymond Felton to the Knicks. Jeffries also had to be signed-and-traded as part of the transaction, which meant he had to be signed to at least a three-year contract, although the Blazers only had to guarantee the first year.
Earlier this week, Jeffries told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com that he didn't expect to be retained by Portland, and would likely seek another team that would have more playing time for him. With the Blazers this season, Jeffries appeared in less than half the team's games and set career-lows in many statistical categories, including PPG (1.2) and MPG (9.2).
Robinson, McGary To Return To Michigan
3:40pm: Robinson and McGary both confirmed at this afternoon's press conference that they'll return to Michigan for the 2013/14 season, according to the school (Twitter links).
12:53pm: Robinson and McGary will both be returning to Michigan, reports Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com.
12:32pm: Michigan prospects Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary have a press conference scheduled for later this afternoon, according to the school (Twitter link). The duo will announce at 3:30pm CST whether they'll be declaring for the NBA draft or returning to the Wolverines for next season.
Robinson and McGary played large roles in helping the Wolverines advance to the NCAA championship game earlier this month against Louisville. McGary, in particular, had an impressive tournament that included a 21-point, 14-rebound games against VCU and a 25-point, 14-board game against Kansas.
Both players are ranked within the top 20 at ESPN.com, where Robinson is 14th and McGary is 15th, and at DraftExpress.com, where Jonathan Givony has McGary 16th and Robinson 19th. Nonetheless, Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com believes the two freshmen could be returning to Michigan for their sophomore years (Twitter link).
If both players enter the draft, it would be a significant blow for a Michigan program that has already seen Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. decide to go pro. Our complete list of 2013 early entrants is located right here.