Draft Combine Updates: Thursday Morning
11:56am: More A.M. updates out of Chicago:
- Nerlens Noel told reporters that he hasn't completed any interviews so far, but that he's "pretty sure" he has one scheduled with the Magic. He's not quite so sure about the Cavaliers (Twitter links).
- Steven Adams and Kelly Olynyk are among the prospects that have met with the Wizards so far and think they'd fit in well in Washington (Twitter links). Mason Plumlee is also on the Wizards' list, tweets J. Michael of CSNWashington.com.
- Olynyk has met with the Bobcats as well, says Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (Twitter link).
- Gorgui Dieng will work out for the Bucks, who will also interview Rudy Gobert and Plumlee, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times (Twitter links).
- A couple notes from SI.com's Chriss Mannix (via Twitter): Cody Zeller has spoken to the Raptors, Trail Blazers, Rockets, and Celtics, while Mike Muscala only has interviews lined up with the Spurs and Hawks, but will do "nine or 10" workouts later. One of those workouts will be with the Blazers, tweets Jason Quick of the Oregonian.
- Shabazz Muhammad and Deshaun Thomas interviewed with the Timberwolves last night, writes Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune.
11:09am: With a number of reporters in attendance at the NBA's predraft camp in Chicago, we're expecting plenty of noteworthy tidbits to trickle in throughout the day. Here's a round-up of the first batch of updates on 2013's draft combine participants:
- According to Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal (Twitter link), the Cavaliers aren't on Otto Porter's list of teams he's meeting with this week. That's a bit of a surprise, given the rumblings that he's high on the team's big board, though as Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer tweets, the Cavs drafted a pair of players they didn't interview last year.
- Porter is scheduled to meet with the Wizards, who spoke to Victor Oladipo earlier this week, tweets Michael Lee of the Washington Post. Porter will meet with the Pistons as well, tweets Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. The Bobcats, Thunder, and Suns have already met with Porter, according to Lee (via Twitter).
- The Pistons are also prepared to meet with Shabazz Muhammad today, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com (Twitter link). Muhammad interviewed with the Trail Blazers yesterday and felt it went very well, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.
- Nate Wolters and Adonis Thomas were among the prospects who have met with the Lakers so far, says Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter).
- Glen Rice Jr., who played in the D-League this past season, has been interviewed by the Bucks, Celtics, Warriors, Sixers, and Spurs, he confirmed to reporters (all Twitter links).
Clippers Haven’t Ruled Out Retaining Del Negro
10:58am: Although the decision on Del Negro will be an organizational one, Paul and Blake Griffin will be consulted, a source tells Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com, who stresses that the decision won't be made "blindly" (Twitter link).
8:16am: While it has been widely assumed that the Clippers will seek a new head coach following their first-round exit, the team hasn't ruled out the possibiity of bringing back Vinny Del Negro, according to Ramona Shelburne and Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The ESPN duo reports that there's a "level of interest within the organization" in giving Del Negro a contract extension rather than pursuing a replacement.
The final call on Del Negro's future will be made by owner Donald Sterling, who is considered the coach's biggest supporter in the organization, according to Stein and Shelburne. For now, team officials continue the weigh their options, with no decision reached yet. Del Negro, for his part, has reportedly drawn interest from one other team for a head coaching opening, but has only explored a return to the Clippers so far.
According to ESPN.com, resolution on Del Negro's future was expected to happen within a week of the Clippers' elimination, but it has dragged beyond that because Sterling likes to take his time with major decisions. Stein and Shelburne hear from sources that the longer it takes the club to announce a decision, the likelier it is that Del Negro will be back.
The Clippers' decision on Del Negro is a significant one, since it could have an effect on another decision this summer: Chris Paul's free agency. As Stein and Shelburne note, in recent years, Sterling has leaned toward hiring coaches and front office execs willing to sign short-term, inexpensive contracts, but I wonder if continuing along that path would be sending the wrong signals to CP3.
Atlantic Rumors: Sixers, Sampson, Howard, Kidd
Let's round up the latest out of the Atlantic, where the division's lone remaining team (the Knicks) will attempt to stave off elimination at Madison Square Garden tonight….
- The Sixers have received permission to interview Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson, according to John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Sampson had already been on Philadelphia's list of candidates before former Rockets assistant GM Sam Hinkie was hired by the Sixers, but it will be interesting to see whether or not the Houston connection makes Sampson a stronger candidate for the opening.
- Mitchell adds in the same piece that Hinkie is believed to be eyeing Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek as well.
- Hinkie says he'll look at all options in building his team back up to contention, writes PhillyBurbs.com's Tom Moore.
- In identifying Dwight Howard's five likeliest free agent destinations, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld writes that there's still mutual interest between Howard and the Nets. While Kennedy notes that, due to their cap situation, the Nets are a "long shot," I'd classify Brooklyn's odds of landing Howard as even more miniscule than that.
- Mark Hale of the New York Post notes that Jason Kidd has said there's no guarantee he'll finish his current three-year contract, and wonders if Kidd's struggles during this postseason could influence a retirement decision.
Michael Pina contributed to this post.
Bulls Expected To Buy Out Richard Hamilton
Although the Bulls ultimately decided not to move Richard Hamilton at the trade deadline, the team is expected to part ways with the veteran guard this summer, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Johnson writes that Hamilton will be bought out by the Bulls, though he still hopes to play at least two more seasons in the NBA.
Hamilton, 35, is under contract for one more season, but his salary for next season is only partially guaranteed. While the Bulls would have to pay $5MM to retain Hamilton for the season, they could save $4MM of that total by buying him out for $1MM. Per Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com, an official decision on Hamilton is due by July 10th, the day after this year's July Moratorium, so it appears likely we'll see him released by then.
Significant portions of Hamilton's last two seasons with the Bulls have been wiped out by injuries. When healthy, he has played the equivalent of about one full season, averaging 10.5 PPG in 78 contests (22.9 MPG). Assuming he's officially waived, he'll join a group of unrestricted free agent shooting guards that includes Manu Ginobili, J.J. Redick, Kevin Martin, Tony Allen, Nick Young, and Chicago teammate Marco Belinelli.
Poll: Will The Kings Ever Move To Seattle?
Earlier today the NBA’s Board of Governors voted against moving the Kings to Seattle. But this process is far from over, even if the Kings play their games in Sacramento next season. Do you think the team will ever move to the Seattle?
Will The Kings Ever Move To Seattle?
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No 77% (636)
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Yes 23% (190)
Total votes: 826
Western Notes: Allen, Warriors, Suns
A few notes from around the NBA's Western Conference.
- NBA.com's Jeff Caplan writes about Grizzlies guard Tony Allen—who's an unrestricted free agent this summer—and the path it took for him to sign with Memphis as a free agent in 2010.
- The Suns prepare for the NBA draft lottery at the end of May, writes NBA.com's Aaron Seidlitz. It could be a huge day for them, especially as they go forward with a new, young general manager.
- Also related to the Suns, the team's new general manager Ryan McDonough interviewed Lindsey Hunter in Chicago today for the team's head coach position, according to Yahoo! NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski. The Suns are also looking at several other candidates, including Quin Snyder and Jeff Hornacek.
- Carl Steward of MercuryNews.com writes that Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson need to find their stroke in Game 6 against the Spurs or they'll most likely be eliminated. The article also touches on Jarrett Jack, who's stepped up when those two haven't played well, and enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
Hawks Interview Nate McMillan
The Hawks have interviewed Nate McMillan for their head coaching position today, reports Yahoo! NBA writer Adrian Wojnarowski. The team has not yet let go of current head coach Larry Drew, whose contract expires June 30th.
Atlanta's general manager, Danny Ferry, plans to conduct interviews with other candidates as well, but isn't ruling out the option of extending Drew's contract should no suitable coaches take his offer.
McMillan's last coaching stint came with the Trail Blazers, where he coached for seven seasons before being let go in 2012. The Hawks are also interested in Stan Van Gundy, but it's unlikely the former Magic coach returns to the NBA next season.
Board Of Governors Votes Down Kings Relocation
6:55pm: According to a tweet from NBA.com's David Aldridge, Ranadive announced that two more parties will be joining his investment group.
5:41pm: Stern confirmed that Ranadive's group matched the initial $525MM valuation of the Kings, adding that Seattle's increased offers didn't offend the league, according to Chris Daniels of KING5 (Twitter links).
5:32pm: Commissioner David Stern has confirmed the vote against relocation, and shared a few more tidbits. Courtesy of Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com (via Twitter)….
- Stern confirmed that it was Seattle's $625MM offer that was voted down by the league.
- The league intends to talk to the Maloof family in the next 24-48 hours to attempt to negotiate a sale to the Sacramento investment group led by Ranadive. Stern expects the Maloofs to be open to selling to the Sacramento group.
- Seattle's presentation to the Board of Governors was "excellent" and reflects the efforts put into the bid by Hansen's group, according to Stern.
- Stern says the league is looking forward to continued dialogue with potential team owners in Seattle, but that there's nothing concrete in the works for the city at the moment.
- Stern acknowledged that it would be worthwhile to consider expansion eventually, but not until after the league negotiates its next TV deal.
- Sacramento's arena term sheet is more than just a term sheet, according to Stern, who added that the land for the arena has been purchased.
5:12pm: ESPN.com's Marc Stein confirms that the Board of Governors also voted to reject the sale to Hansen's Seattle group. According to Mitch Levy of KJR in Seattle, the vote to keep the Kings in Sacramento was 22-8 (Twitter link). Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee adds (via Twitter) that the meeting was "very contentious."
4:56pm: The NBA's Board of Governors has voted against relocating the Kings to Seattle, according to Sam Amick of USA Today. The league's relocation committee, a smaller group of NBA owners, had previously recommended voting down the bid to move the franchise, so the decision doesn't come as a surprise.
The relocation of the Kings was one of two issues the Board of Governors was set to vote on today. With the move to Seattle having been vetoed, the sale of 65% of the franchise to Chris Hansen's Seattle group has also presumably been shot down. That means that for now the team remains in the hands of the Maloof family, though we don't yet know if the Maloof family will continue to pursue its backup plan with the Hansen group or if the NBA will aggressively push for a majority sale to Vivek Ranadive's Sacramento group.
While the sale of the franchise required approval from three-quarters of the league's owners, relocation simply required a majority vote. That means that at least 16 owners voted against the relocation bid, and it wouldn't surprise me if the final vote was much more one-sided than that, given the 7-0 vote by the relocation committee.
Eastern Notes: Harrington, Hudson, Robinson
A few notes from around the Eastern Conference:
- Alex Kennedy reports on Hoopsworld.com that the Magic are expected to allow Al Harrington to work out for other teams next month in the hopes of attracting some trade interest for the veteran forward.
- A pair of veterans playing on minimum-salary contracts, Nate Robinson and Chris Andersen, top Rob Mahoney's list at SI.com on players who have boosted their free agent stocks in the postseason.
- Former Cavaliers and Celtics guard Lester Hudson was among the standouts at this week's D-League camp in Chicago, with one NBA scout telling Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio that Hudson will be in the league next year (Twitter link).
Sacramento/Seattle Updates: Wednesday
4:47pm: The NBA's Board of Governors meeting is ongoing, but Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com hears from one source that there's "good news for Sacramento" (Twitter link).
10:43am: With the NBA's Board of Governors scheduled to meet today at 1:00pm central time in Dallas to discuss and vote on the future of the Kings, there are plenty of last-minute primers to catch up on, including a pair of pieces from the Sacramento Bee, a story from Chris Daniels of KING5 in Seattle, and a post by Sactown Royalty. As we wait to see what decisions the league's owners make today, we'll round up several of the notable items from these stories:
- The Maloofs continue to dispute an earlier report saying that they'd be unwilling to sell to a Sacramento investment group, but the Kings current owners have been working pretty much exclusively with the Seattle group. The sale to Chris Hansen's group still has a "great shot" to get done, in George Maloof's view.
- The relocation committee's recommendation not to allow the Kings to relocate to Seattle will likely be enough to sway today's vote in that direction, according to one top NBA executive.
- If relocation is denied, the Maloofs still hope the NBA will approve their backup plan with the Seattle group, which would involve selling 20% of the franchise to the Hansen/Steve Ballmer collective. In that scenario, the Maloofs insist they would work in good faith to complete an arena deal in Sacramento.
- Bryan May of KXTV News10 asked George Maloof whether the NBA would approve a 20% sale to the Seattle group if it had already shot down a 65% purchase. Maloof's reply: "I can sell to whoever I want to" (Twitter link).
- "Nothing against the Sacramento group," Maloof said. "But they have a backup offer, and we have a binding agreement with Chris. That is just the way the deal progressed. We have a backup from Vivek [Ranadive], but we're being true to the deal with Chris."
- Responding to a lawsuit that alleges the Sacramento arena plan is illegally using city funds, Sacramento city attorney Jim Sanchez said in a statement that "we are prepared to defend the council decision as necessary and do not believe this lawsuit has merit."