Ferry, Hawks Mulling Decision On Larry Drew
MONDAY, 2:07pm: As Ferry weighs the next move for the Hawks, Drew and his coaching staff in Atlanta have begun exploring other employment opportunities, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. Spears hears from one source close to the staff who believes there's a "slim chance" Drew and his coaches will be retained.
SATURDAY, 7:50pm: Earlier this afternoon, we briefly heard that the Hawks planned to hold off on decisions regarding personnel (including the head coach) for a few days. According to an ESPN report (via the Associated Press), Hawks GM Danny Ferry went on record saying that he isn't ready to make a decision on whether he'll retain Larry Drew beyond this season:
"We're going to take some time, give it some distance, give it some space from the season, from the playoffs, from the emotions of that…Then we'll make decisions that we feel are best in the short-term and long-term interests of the team."
Drew – recently rumored to be interested in the 76ers' head coaching vacancy - has compiled a 128-102 record in three seasons as Atlanta's head coach. After the Hawks were dealt their second consecutive first-round playoff exit this year, Drew gave credit to his team's overall performance this season considering that many on the team's roster are headed for free agency. He also said that he's not sure about whether or not his future involves a continued tenure in Atlanta:
"I thought we had a really good season given what our circumstances were. They weren't the best…Whether I'm back here or not, I don't know. The one thing I will say is I've had a great run here."
Considering that the Hawks only have three players guaranteed to be under contract next season, I'd be surprised if Ferry didn't make a decision on the head coaching situation soon, especially before scouring free agency this summer and determining the players who would be a good fit.
Eastern Notes: Hawks, Bucks, Sampson, Nets
After the Pacers took a 1-0 lead over the Knicks with a win in New York yesterday, the second Eastern Conference Semifinal will get underway tonight, as the Heat play their first game since April 28th. As we look forward to the first game in the Bulls/Heat series, let's round up a few items from out of the Eastern Conference….
- The Hawks are facing a potential roster overhaul this summer, but Louis Williams, one of just three players on a guaranteed contract, says he's looking forward to playing with the other two (Al Horford and John Jenkins) next season. Williams also told Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution that he'd be glad to help recruit free agents if he's asked.
- Two Hawks free agents, Zaza Pachulia and Kyle Korver, are interested in re-signing with the team, as Vivlamore and Jeff Schultz write in a separate Journal Constitution piece. According to Korver, the Hawks have expressed interest in bringing him back.
- Now that the Rockets are out of the playoffs, assistant Kelvin Sampson figures to receive plenty of phone calls from teams seeking a new head coach. Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Sampson has an interview lined up for Thursday with the Bucks, and that the 76ers and Bobcats have also requested permission to speak to him.
- With the Nets searching for a new head coach, Deron Williams indicated he wouldn't be opposed to playing for ex-Jazz coach Jerry Sloan again, and Sloan says he'd be open to the idea as well, writes Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. "I'm open, I would listen," Sloan said of the Nets. "I haven't did the research on their roster, but I would definitely listen if they called."
- Appearing on the Dan Patrick Show today, the Nets' former coach, P.J. Carlesimo, said he doesn't think a first-round Nets victory would have saved his job. "I think short of winning a championship, it wouldn't have made any difference," Carlesimo said, according to Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com. "I mean, [GM] Billy [King] was pretty candid….
I think anything short of winning a championship wasn't going to change his mind or [ownership's] mind."
Free Agent Market For Power Forwards
With more teams than ever employing small-ball lineups this season, the lines between frontcourt positions are becoming increasingly blurred. Many of the players we have listed as this year's free agent power forwards could easily end up logging more minutes at the three or the five next season, depending on where they sign and how their respective teams are constructed.
Regardless of what position these bigs ultimately end up playing though, there's plenty of talent among this group, including a handful of the summer's top unrestricted free agents. Let's dive in and take a closer look at 2013's power forward market….
Unrestricted free agents
Dwight Howard and Chris Paul are probably this year's only locks to receive maximum-salary contract, but it's not out of the realm of possibility that Josh Smith lands one too. It would be an overpay, but Smith is still just 27 years old, and his versatility makes him a very valuable piece. He's probably the most talented all-around player in this group, but I'm not sure he can be the best player on a title contender.
After Smith, David West and Paul Millsap represent the other strong bets to earn eight-digit annual salaries. I expect the Pacers to do everything they can to keep West around, given what a great fit he's been in Indiana, but with Utah's offseason plans unclear, I don't think there's a clear frontrunner for Millsap at this point.
Those three are the big names, but there are plenty of intriguing options here, including young guys like J.J. Hickson and Brandan Wright, who are coming off breakout seasons. Antawn Jamison, Lamar Odom, Elton Brand, and Kenyon Martin are affordable veterans who should be able to contribute to contending teams. Jason Maxiell and Hakim Warrick could also be decent bench pieces in the right situations.
Three more free agent cases I'll be keeping an eye on, in this group: DeJuan Blair, who just turned 24 last month, and has always felt like he should be playing more than he did in San Antonio; Earl Clark, who showed flashes of promise in an otherwise disappointing year for the Lakers; and Andray Blatche, who returned to relevance in Brooklyn this year after a disappointing run in Washington.
Restricted free agents
The pickings are fairly slim when it comes to restricted power forwards, but there are a couple players who should draw some interest from teams besides their own. Chris Copeland played his way into the Knicks' rotation this year as a 28-year-old rookie, averaging an impressive 8.7 PPG in just 15.4 MPG. If he draws interest from rival suitors, the in-the-tax Knicks may be priced out of the bidding.
Tyler Hansbrough will also hit the restricted market this summer, assuming the Pacers extend him a $4.14MM qualifying offer, which isn't a given. Like West, I would think Hansbrough is a player the Pacers would like to bring back, but he's the kind of off-the-bench energy guy that any number of teams would love to add if the price is right.
Team and player options
There won't be any drama when it comes to Charlie Villanueva's option decision, as the Pistons forward isn't about to leave $8.58MM on the table. That doesn't mean Villanueva won't hit the market though, considering Detroit still has its amnesty provision in hand. Al Harrington is another Eastern Conference forward who may find himself on the market, since the Magic essentially have a team option on him — he has two years remaining on his deal, but both years are only 50% guaranteed, so Orlando could save more than $7MM by cutting him.
Villanueva and Harrington may not be huge contributors no matter where they end up, but there are some potential impact players in this group. Carl Landry's $4MM player option with the Warriors could go either way, but I'd lean toward him turning it down to secure a multiyear contract. The same might be true of Marreese Speights ($4.52MM), though I would guess his value on the open market will be a little lower than Landry's.
I don't expect an address change for Dante Cunningham, who has an affordable $2.18MM team option and had a good season for the Timberwolves. Boris Diaw ($4.7MM player option) and Matt Bonner (partially-guaranteed $3.95MM salary) are also good bets to be back with their current team, unless the Spurs' roster undergoes a bigger-than-anticipated shakeup this summer.
Previously:
Free agent market for small forwards
Free agent market for shooting guards
Free agent market for point guards
Decisions On Colangelo, Casey Expected Soon
It's been nearly three weeks since the Raptors played their last game of the 2012/13 season, but the futures of general manager Bryan Colangelo and head coach Dwane Casey are still up in the air. Both men figure to receive some clarity this week, however, as Colangelo is scheduled to meet tomorrow with the team's decision-makers, according to Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun (via Twitter).
Both Wolstat and Doug Smith of the Toronto Star note that the team has been silent over the last couple weeks, particularly in regard to Colangelo's and Casey's futures. However, Wolstat tweets that a decision is expected to come shortly after tomorrow's meeting, while Smith says it should happen at some point this week.
Casey has one more guaranteed year remaining on his contract, and the Raptors have a team option on Colangelo for '13/14. Although the belief at season's end was that both Colangelo and Casey would get one last chance to make the Raps a playoff team next season, MLSE's hiring of Tim Leiweke as president and CEO complicated matters. Leiweke has a strong relationship with Phil Jackson, which has led to reports that Toronto is pursuing Jackson with the intent of offering him control of the Raptors' basketball operations.
Colangelo has been the head of the Raptors' basketball ops since February of 2006, while Casey has coached the team to a 57-91 record over the course of his two seasons in Toronto. Colangelo stated after the season that if his '13/14 option was exercised by the Raps, Casey would return as the team's head coach.
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Nets Rumors: Blatche, Shaw, Bogdanovic
It was an eventful weekend for the Nets, who fell to the Bulls in the first round's only Game Seven, then announced that interim coach P.J. Carlesimo wouldn't be retained as the team's permanent coach going forward. This year's offseason won't be as eventful as last year's for the Nets, but it still figures to be a crucial one. Here are a few updates out of Brooklyn as the club looks ahead to its coaching search and to free agency:
- If it's up to free-agent-to-be Andray Blatche, he'll be a Net again next year, as he told reporters, including Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com. "I can’t tell you 100% yet. But that’s the plan for me," Blatche said. "I like it here, I got my second chance here and I’m loyal to being here. We just have to see what happens."
- Pacers president Donnie Walsh told Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News that Pacers assistant Brian Shaw will be permitted to speak to the Nets about their head coaching vacancy once Indiana's season is over. Based on Bondy's report, it's not entirely clear if the Nets have already asked to speak to Shaw or whether Walsh simply expects Brooklyn to reach out.
- The Nets are hoping to add 2011 second-round pick Bojan Bogdanovic to their roster for the 2013/14 season, according to GM Billy King (Twitter link via Bondy). Previous reports have indicated that Bogdanovic, who was drafted 31st overall two years ago, has an NBA out this summer on his contract in Europe.
- Mike Vaccaro of the New York Post thinks current Celtics coach Doc Rivers would be an ideal fit in Brooklyn, and suggests that King ought to at least explore the possibility of prying Rivers away from the Nets' division rival.
Odds & Ends: Nuggets, Iguodala, Pistons, Bucks
Here's the latest from around the Association..
- In an interview with Aaron J. Lopez of Nuggets.com, Nuggets president Josh Kroenke expresses his desire to have likely free agent Andre Iguodala back next season, and details his close working relationship with GM Masai Ujiri, whose contract is up this summer.
- Bucks GM John Hammond hinted that this summer he'll be seeking another interior defender to complement Larry Sanders, notes Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who takes a look at the offseason ahead for the team.
- Pistons owner Tom Gores needs to have faith in Joe Dumars' ability to turn things around in Detroit, writes Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News. While the signings of Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon didn't pan out, Goodwill notes that the mandate of previous owner Karen Davidson resulted in no activity for two years and prevented Dumars from correcting those mistakes.
Hoops Links: Hawks, Anthony, Rockets, Bucks
On this date in 1981, Celtics star Larry Bird made one of the greatest on-the-fly adjustments we've ever seen in basketball. Anticipating that his jumper from the right of the key during Game 1 of the Finals against Houston was going to be off target, he raced to the right baseline, grabbed the rebound with his right hand, switched the ball into his left hand as his momentum was taking him out of bounds, and somehow laid it in the basket. Red Auerbach called it the greatest play he had ever seen, both for Bird’s physical ability to make the shot and his basketball instinct to get into position for the rebound. The Celtics won the game 98-95, and went on to take the series in six games.
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..
- Soaring Down South looks ahead to a new beginning for the Hawks.
- Singh Sports News says big playoff minutes are affecting players, including Carmelo Anthony.
- Red94 thanks the Rockets for the memories. Cue that Green Day song.
- The Basketball Post looks at the decisions that the Bucks have to make.
- Hoops Addict thinks the Thunder now appear to be mortal.
- 3SOB is excorcising the demons of playoffs past.
- Forum Blue And Gold has four questions from the Lakers exit interviews.
- Silver Screen And Roll says the Lakers have to maintain future cap space.
- Pounding The Rock talks about the perils of smallball.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.
Pacific Notes: Suns, Majerle, Clippers, Del Negro
With the two Los Angeles teams bounced from the first round of the playoffs, the Pacific has one lone representative left in the Warriors. While Golden State figures out how to handle the Spurs, let's take a look at the rest of the division..
- Suns team president Lon Babby now has to hire a GM and a coach for his club after parting ways with GM Lance Blanks. It remains to be seen what they'll do in the front office but according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe, former Sun "Thunder" Dan Majerle is interested in the coaching job as well as ex-Suns assistant Elston Turner, who is interviewing for the Bobcats opening.
- The Clippers may take more time in deciding Vinny Del Negro's future, but will "explore all options," a source tells Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
- Chris Paul's uncertain future is leaving things murky for the Clippers franchise, writes Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News. As he approaches his 28th birthday, Paul has more to think about than ever in the wake of his club's first round ouster from the playoffs.
Hoops Rumors Originals: : 4/29/13 – 5/5/13
Here's a look back at the original analysis from the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- Chuck Myron explained the Gilbert Arenas provision.
- Luke Adams broke down the qualifying offer.
- This year's free agent crop of small forwards is far from star-studded.
- The market for shooting guards, however, is deeper.
- Matt Barnes might have to pack his bags once more this summer, Chuck writes.
- It's not a great market for first round busts, according to Chuck.
- A number of teams could be searching for a point guard this summer.
- Roughly 44% of you said that neither the C's or Rockets would come back from 0-3 in their respective series, and you were right.
- Here's a refresher on the bi-annual exception.
- Luke gave us a refresher on Bird Rights.
- Most of you think Brian Shaw is the man for the 76ers.
- Chuck writes that Earl Clark seems like a good candidate for the bi-annual exception.
- Here's how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.