Heat Exercise Option On Mario Chalmers
4:32pm: The Heat have officially picked up their option on Chalmers, according to a press release from the team.
11:27am: The Heat will exercise their option to bring back Mario Chalmers for the 2013/14 season, team president Pat Riley confirmed today to reporters, including Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida (Twitter link). Once the club formally picks up the option, Chalmers will be in line for a guaranteed $4MM salary in the final year of his contract.
Word came in yesterday that James Jones and Rashard Lewis have exercised their respective player options, so with Chalmers on board as well, that ensures that 12 members of this year's NBA champions remain under contract for next season. Ray Allen has a player option to decide on, while Chris Andersen and Juwan Howard will be unrestricted free agents.
Riley addressed Allen's and Andersen's situations, telling reporters that the team loves the Birdman and would like to have him back next year (Twitter link). Riley also confessed he doesn't know what Allen will decide, indicating the club will have to wait until the end of the week to find out, though he hopes the veteran sharpshooter will return (Twitter link).
Speaking generally about free agency, Riley downplayed the likelihood of the Heat being too involved, or even using their mini mid-level exception, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel (Twitter link). The team is more likely to try to "cannibalize the market" in August and September, says Riley (Twitter link via Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald). The team president also suggested that the Heat are unlikely to amnesty Mike Miller this summer, according to Tomasson (Twitter link).
Lakers Extend Qualifying Offer To Robert Sacre
The Lakers have extended a qualifying offer to Robert Sacre, making him a restricted free agent, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. Because Sacre only has a single year of experience under his belt, Sacre's qualifying offer is worth $988,872.
The qualifying offer from the Lakers ensures that L.A. will be able to match any rival offer for Sacre, up to the mini mid-level exception ($3.18MM). For most restricted free-agents-to-be, the qualifying offer is simply a formality, with the expectation being that they'll receive larger multiyear offers and won't consider accepting the one-year QO. In Sacre's case though, I wouldn't be surprised if the 24-year-old accepts the offer to return to the Lakers.
In 2012/13, Sacre split time between the Lakers and the D-League's D-Fenders. In 32 NBA games, he averaged 1.3 PPG and 0.8 RPG, appearing in just 6.3 minutes per contest.
Lakers Exercise Team Option On Jodie Meeks
The Lakers have exercised their 2013/14 option on Jodie Meeks, according to Mike Trudell of Lakers.com (via Twitter). The move will keep Meeks under contract for one more season for a salary worth $1.55MM.
Meeks, 25, averaged 7.9 PPG and shot 35.7% on three-pointers in 78 games during his first season with the Lakers. Depending on what roster moves the team makes this offseason, Meeks could be relied upon for a few more minutes per game, with Kobe Bryant not expected to be ready to return from his Achilles injury by the fall.
Now that Metta World Peace has opted in for 2013/14 and Meeks' $1.55MM salary is guaranteed, the Lakers have over $77MM in commitments on their books for next season. That doesn't include the non-guaranteed portion of Chris Duhon's salary or the cost of bringing back Dwight Howard.
Larry Bird Returning To Pacers As President
3:57pm: The Pacers have confirmed Bird's return in a press release, announcing that he has agreed to a new multiyear deal.
"We are all very happy to have Larry back," Simon said in a statement. "When he left last July, Donnie and I both told him the door would be open for him to come back when he’s ready. Larry had a huge impact on this team and where it is now so it’s fitting that he comes back at this time. Donnie has been a friend and a valuable contributor to the franchise and will continue to be both. I wanted him to agree to stay in some capacity as I believe with Larry and Kevin, it gives us three of the best basketball minds in the business."
3:17pm: After a year away from the team, Larry Bird is returning to Indiana to reclaim the position of president of basketball operations, reports Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star. The Pacers will officially announce the move at a press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning at 9:00am central time.
For the 2012/13 season, Donnie Walsh acted as the president of basketball ops for the Pacers, but indicated he'd be ready to step aside if Bird decided to return. Bird, who took the year off to deal with physical issues and to clear his mind, is prepared to resume his duties in Indiana starting on Monday.
"He’s got plenty of rings of his own, now I want him to win one for me," said Pacers owner Herb Simon. "He’s got his energy back, his health back and he’s raring to go."
According to Kravitz, GM Kevin Pritchard will remain in his current position, acting as Bird's No. 2. Walsh will step down as president of basketball ops, but will act as a consultant for the franchise.
Cavaliers Offer No. 1 Pick To Pelicans?
3:21pm: Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio reports (via Twitter) that a Pelicans official has denied the Cavs rumor. I'm not sure whether that means the Cavs never floated the idea, but at the very least, it seems New Orleans isn't considering such a deal, which makes sense.
2:54pm: The Cavaliers have offered the first overall pick to the Pelicans in exchange for the No. 6 pick, a 2014 first-rounder, and Greivis Vasquez, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Kennedy adds that it's not clear whether the Pelicans have expressed interest in such a deal, though I'd be surprised if they were willing to give up so much to move up five spots.
If the Pelicans were to trade up to first overall, they'd have plenty of options that won't be on the table at No. 6. Nerlens Noel, Otto Porter, and Victor Oladipo are among the players expected to be off the board within the first five picks.
Parting with Vasquez and a 2014 first-round pick would be a steep price to pay to move up, however. Vasquez had a breakout year in 2012/13, averaging 13.9 PPG and 9.0 APG, and the '14 draft class is considered to be significantly stronger than this year's, making teams reluctant to part with next year's first-rounders. As such, I don't expect these talks to gain a whole lot of traction unless the Cavs' asking price comes down.
Odds & Ends: Fredette, Clippers, Terry, Oden
Following the hiring of Doc Rivers, the positive news keeps coming for Clippers fans. Rivers confirmed to the media today that he has spoken to Chris Paul since joining the franchise, which looks like a good sign for CP3's long-term future in Los Angeles (Twitter link via Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com). The Clippers also appear poised to add Alvin Gentry to Rivers' staff, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (via Twitter). Gentry had been deciding between assistant jobs with the Clippers and Lakers.
Here's more from around the NBA:
- Despite reports to the contrary, Sam Amick of USA Today is hearing that the Kings haven't had talks about trading Jimmer Fredette. Amick adds that the new management group is willing to listen to anything, but there's no indication Fredette is being shopped or even discussed in trade talks at this point (Twitter links).
- Appearing on KRLD-FM 105.3 in Dallas, Jason Terry said he hopes to wear a Mavericks uniform again before he retires. "You know what, I wear it every night anyway," Terry said (link via Dallas Morning News). "It's my home base. I'm with the Celtics for another two years. I would be more than happy to come back and put the Mavs jersey on and come back and get back on the runway for the Mavericks."
- The Cavaliers have hired former Bucks head coach Jim Boylan to be the lead assistant on Mike Brown's staff, tweets Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
- Speaking to Charley Walters of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor acknowledged that the Trail Blazers could be a thorn in Minnesota's side as the team attempts to lock up Nikola Pekovic this summer. Re-signing Pekovic remains the club's top priority, as Walters writes.
- Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck appeared on WEEI in Boston today to address the departure of Rivers and the next steps for the C's, and Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com passed along Grousbeck's comments.
- In addition to discussing several of the team's own free agents, Heat president Pat Riley confirmed that Miami has interest in Greg Oden, as Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida outlines (via Sulia).
Cavs Pushing To Acquire Mavs’ First-Round Pick
The Cavaliers are pushing to make a deal for the Mavericks' 13th overall pick, with a focus on drafting Sergey Karasev, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). It's not clear what Cleveland is offering, but various reports have suggested the Cavs would have to give up either the 19th pick or the 31st and 33rd picks for Shawn Marion and No. 13.
It doesn't appear likely Karasev will still be on the board if the Cavs stay put at No. 19. Wojnarowski notes (via Twitter) that the Cavs believe they have to at least get ahead of the Bucks at No. 15 to have a shot at the Russian forward, but it's possible they'd have to move even higher. During a chat earlier today, ESPN.com's Chad Ford named Karasev as a potential target for the Sixers (No. 11) and the Thunder (No. 12).
If the Mavs keep their first-round pick, Karasev would also be a likely target for them, since the club is looking to clear cap space to make a run at Dwight Howard. Karasev is a potential draft-and-stash candidate, though the club is reportedly much more likely to simply trade the pick.
Ford’s Latest: Draft Rumors, Aldridge, Jazz, Pacers
ESPN.com's Chad Ford is staying busy as Thursday night nears, chatting with fans this afternoon and also publishing a new story with Marc Stein on the latest draft-related rumors and rumblings. Here are the highlights from both links:
- Stein reported earlier today that the Cavaliers were offering the No. 19 pick to the Rockets for Thomas Robinson, but that pick may also be necessary to complete another deal, whether it's a Shawn Marion trade with the Mavericks or a bigger move. If the Cavs can't finalize another trade though, they'd try to acquire Robinson with that pick, according to Stein and Ford.
- Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal is skeptical that the Cavs would really offer the 19th pick for Robinson, since the team didn't have much interest in him as of a couple weeks ago (Twitter link).
- Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (Twitter link) is also hearing, like Stein and Ford, that the Cavaliers are still trying to figure out a way to make a "mega-deal." Even if the Cavs are interested in such a move, they'd have to find a willing partner, which has been tricky so far. Ford notes in his chat that the Cavs would likely have to include Tristan Thompson along with the No. 1 pick to pull off something big.
- If the Rockets can make a Robinson trade with the Cavs or Bulls, they'd almost certainly use that first-round pick to draft-and-stash an international player, according to Ford and Stein. Sergey Karasev, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lucas Nogueira, Dennis Schroeder, and Rudy Gobert are potential targets.
- Ford wouldn't be shocked if the Bobcats traded down with the Wolves and used the No. 9 pick to draft Cody Zeller. Minnesota is attempting to trade into the top five.
- Positional need likely won't be a major priority for the Kings, according to Ford, who adds that he thinks Sacramento's roster will be significantly overhauled by opening night of 2013/14.
- Ford anticipates the Trail Blazers will "seriously listen" to LaMarcus Aldridge trade offers this summer.
- If the Jazz want to move into the top 10 to take a top point guard, they'll probably have to make Alec Burks available, rather than just the Nos. 14 and 21 picks, says Ford.
- The Pacers are trying to trade the No. 23 pick, and have been linked to both Robinson and Jimmer Fredette, according to Ford.
Clippers, Blazers Discussed DeAndre Jordan
Before Doc Rivers was hired by the Clippers, the team discussed a possible DeAndre Jordan deal with the Trail Blazers, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). With Rivers now involved in the Clippers' basketball decision-making, it's not clear what Jordan's value is or whether Portland still has interest, says Wojnarowski.
It makes sense that the Blazers would have some interest in Jordan, since the club will be looking to add a rim-protecting center this summer. And with a Kevin Garnett deal no longer on the table for the Clippers, Los Angeles is free to explore other possible deals involving Jordan. I would assume that even if the Clippers and Blazers were to continue discussing Jordan, a deal wouldn't happen before July, since the Blazers will be able to take advantage of its potential cap space at that point.
Jordan is currently projected to earn $10,986,550 next season, a figure that would increase if he were moved, due to his 15% trade kicker. So any deal would have to involve significant salary coming back to L.A. or a suitor with significant cap room to take on Jordan's salary.
Magic Weighing Trading Down In Draft
While we've heard on multiple occasions that the Cavaliers are exploring possible trades involving the No. 1 overall pick in tomorrow's draft, it may be another team at the top that ends up dealing its pick.
Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel tweets that the Magic are considering moving the No. 2 overall pick, while Adrian Wojnarowski notes (via Twitter) that Orlando has been doing plenty of homework on late-lottery/mid-first-round prospects. According to Wojnarowski, the Magic are weighing possible deals involving the second overall pick.
Within his tweet, Robbins advises to keep an eye on the Timberwolves, since we've heard Minnesota has interest in trading up to draft Victor Oladipo or Ben McLemore. When I previewed the Wolves' offseason this morning, I pointed out that Oladipo was a good bet to go second overall if the Cavs take Nerlens Noel first, so acquiring that Orlando pick could be necessary if the Wolves covet the Indiana guard. The Nos. 9 and 26 picks, along with Derrick Williams, could be in play if the two sides were to discuss a deal.
Assuming the Magic keep the No. 2 pick, Noel is viewed as the player atop their draft board. If Noel is selected first overall, Oladipo and McLemore are considered the favorites for the second pick, while ESPN.com's Chad Ford cited Cody Zeller as a dark horse.