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Month: June 2013

Sixers To Name Coach After Draft

By | at June 8, 2013 2:42 pm

The 76ers are planning to fill their head coaching vacancy after the draft, two sources familiar with the search tell John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer.  The draft takes place on June 27th, meaning that we're likely to see Philly make their announcement in early July.

One Houston-based source said president Sam Hinkie "will probably find a coach after the draft." The source also said that Hinkie believes that the coach "is secondary in the process because [Hinkie] will have an idea of what type of players" the Sixers will need to take in the draft.

The source added Hinkie would probably not be interested in hiring the recently fired George Karl.  Even though Karl, 62, is a great coach, the source belives that the club is seeking someone younger to fit a younger team.

Earlier this week, we learned that David Fizdale and Melvin Hunt are on the 76ers' radar.

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Kobe Suggests He’ll Outplay Contract

By | at June 8, 2013 12:26 pm

In a radio interview with Stephen A. Smith of ESPN Radio, Kobe Bryant suggested he might play beyond his current contract with the Lakers, writes Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times.  Bryant, whose deal expires after this season, spoke at length of the possibility of topping Spurs forward Tim Duncan in the title chase.

“My goal is to win more than five,” said Bryant. “If he does win five, hopefully that pushes our organization upstairs to be even more determined and more driven to make the necessary expenses to make sure we continue the next year and the year after that.“

Previously, Bryant has said that he doesn’t want to play too far beyond his prime.  As it stands, Bryant’s deal is set to expire after the 2013/14 season.

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Draft Notes: Cavs, Gobert, Nedovic

By | at June 8, 2013 10:39 am

We could see an awful lot of movement in this year’s NBA draft based on this morning’s news alone.  First, we learned that the Bucks and Wizards have explored a deal involving Ersan Ilyasova and the No. 3 pick.  Then, it was reported that the Magic are open to trading the No. 2 pick and moving down in the draft in order to get some NBA-ready talent in return.  Here’s the latest on the 2013 draft..

  • Sam Amico of FOX Sports (via Twitter) is pretty sure that the Cavs will draft a backup point guard if they keep their second round picks.
  • Center Rudy Gobert withdrew from the Adidas Eurocamp, citing illness, according to Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com (via Twitter).  The French center, who is a likely first round pick, has been working out in the U.S. in advance of the draft.
  • Two NBA execs compared Nemanja Nedovic to a poor man’s Russell Westbrook, tweets Howard-Cooper.  The Serbian point guard obviously isn’t of the same talent level but has a similar kind of game in that he gets to the rim and plays aggressive defense.  Nedovic, who is pegged for the second round, needs to improve his shooting.
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Bucks, Wizards Talked Ilyasova, No. 3 Pick

By | at June 8, 2013 10:00 am

The Bucks and Wizards have explored a trade involving big man Ersan Ilyasova and the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft, according to Sam Amico of FOX Sports (via Twitter).  It’s unclear if the Bucks would keep their own first round selection in such a deal, but they currently hold the No. 15 pick.

Ilyasova, 26, just finished the first year of a five-year, $40MM deal in Milwaukee.  The stretch four averaged 17.2 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 2.1 APG last season while shooting 44.4% from the outside.  Ilyasova was in high-demand at the trade deadline this year, but the Bucks turned away suitors, including the Hawks, who were dangling Josh Smith.

No one knows how the top of the draft will shake out yet, but the No. 3 pick could yield a high-level talent for the Wizards, whether it’s UNLV power forward Anthony Bennett or Georgetown’s Otto Porter.  The Washington front office is reportedly split on which player to take, but they won’t have that dilemma if they move the pick. 

It’s not clear who the Bucks are targeting at No. 3 – they could tap Bennett to replace the outgoing Ilyasova or they may instead look to one of the top guards in the draft such as Kansas’ Ben McLemore or Michigan’s Trey Burke if they can’t hold on to their key backcourt pieces this summer.

1 comment 2013 NBA Draft Milwaukee Bucks Washington Wizards

Sergey Karasev Denies Draft Promise

By | at June 8, 2013 8:49 am

Despite rumors to the contrary, prospect Sergey Karasev told Russian outlet Ria Novosti that he does not have a guarantee from a team that he will be taken in the first round (h/t Sportando).  The 19-year-old returned to Moscow earlier this week, rather than participate in private workouts, fueling speculation that he got a first round guarantee.

However, Karasev says he left the United States because he does not have time for individual workouts as he gets set for the World University Games in July.  Meanwhile, he notes that plenty of NBA scouts have already seen him play with his Russian club team and at the Hoops Summit in Portland last month.  

Earlier this week, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports said that he believes the small forward probably received a guarantee from a team between Nos. 14 and 24.  It's also curious that Karasev would opt out of private team workouts following his flat showing in Las Vegas.

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Northwest Notes: Nuggets, Karl, Wolves

By | at June 7, 2013 10:22 pm

What does a guy have to do to keep his job in Denver?  After being named the NBA's Coach of the Year, George Karl was dismissed from the Nuggets and left to find a place for himself on this offseason's coaching carousel.  The move did not go without criticism from fans and people inside basketball, and Nugs president Josh Kroenke addressed the media today to explain his decision.  Here's highlights from that and more out of the Northwest Division..

  • Kroneke had to decide between giving Karl the extension he was seeking or letting him go, and he told reporters, including Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post, that there was only one way to go.  "We talked about our future, we talked about our different desires for the organization," said Kroenke. "We both sat down and tried to figure out the best ways for both of us moving forward. My worst-case scenario that I kept coming back to was we're obviously going to start next season without (injured forward Danilo) Gallinari, and it would be a tough situation to put George in knowing that he might want to restructure his contract already."
  • The Nuggets president added that he doesn't have a timetable for replacing Karl or outgoing General Manager Masai Ujiri, Dempsey writes.
  • Dwight Howard might be the big name in free agency, but a number of teams would love to get their hands on Wolves standout Nikola Pekovic, writes Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld.  While retaining Pekovic and having a healthy club in 2013/14 should go a long way for Minnesota, they would like to accomplish much more this summer.
  • Cody Zeller told Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com (via Twitter) that it was his agent's idea to work out individually for clubs.  The Indiana product auditioned for the Blazers earlier today.
  • Earlier tonight, we learned that Kevin Durant has opted to change agencies and is expected to join Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports.
0 comments 2013 NBA Draft Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves Portland Trail Blazers

Pacific Notes: Clippers, Van Gundy, Paul, Suns

By | at June 7, 2013 6:21 pm

Here’s a look at the latest out of the Pacific Division..

  • Rob Mahoney of Sports Illustrated ran down the remaining coaching vacancies and the best fit for each one, including the Clippers.  In Mahoney’s estimation, Jeff Van Gundy is the best fit for the other L.A. job as he can unlock the defensive potential resting in the club’s frontcourt.  George Karl has also been linked to the opening and Mahoney feels that he would be a solid alternative if something can’t be worked out with JVG.
  • Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld explains how the Clippers can hang on to Chris Paul this summer.  While the Clippers are the odds-on-favorites to sign CP3, they can help lock things up with the right coaching hire.  Brian Shaw would be one quality candidate, but Ingram feels that Karl would give them the best chance of retaining their star guard.
  • The Suns might consider a backcourt upgrade in the draft later this month, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.  The Suns, of course, hold the No. 5 pick in the draft.
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Draft Updates: Saric, Cavs, McLemore, Workouts

By | at June 7, 2013 4:50 pm

Yesterday, ESPN.com's Chad Ford reported that Croatian forward Dario Saric was leaning toward withdrawing from this year's draft, a surprising stance given how much his stock has risen in recent weeks. Today, Michael McNamara of Bourbon Street Blues passes along an email he received from Saric's agent, Robert Jablan, which reads:

"We make decision this morning that we will withdraw Dario from the 2013 draft."

We have yet to hear officially that Saric has pulled his name out of this year's draft class, and it's possible something was lost in translation. But it certainly appears as if Saric is leaning in that direction. He still has 10 days to make a final decision, so while we wait for the official word on the potential lottery pick, let's check out a few more draft-related updates:

  • Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio reports that the Cavaliers are "seriously dissecting" the possibility of drafting Ben McLemore first overall, though he cautions that the team is far from decided on what it'll do with the pick (Twitter links). I'd be surprised if Cleveland eventually decided on McLemore — it sounds to me as if the team is just covering all its bases.
  • The latest Insider-only blog from Ford at ESPN.com is full of good info, including updates on Saric, Nerlens Noel, Trey Burke, and a handful of other prospects.
  • Anthony Bennett is unable to work out due to a rotator cuff injury, but he will meet with the Wizards next week, writes J. Michael of CSNWashington.com.
  • Lorenzo Brown, Myck Kabongo, Allen Crabbe, Jeff Withey, and Mike Muscala will work out for the Knicks on Monday, according to the team's official PR Twitter feed.
  • The Suns' workout today included C.J. Leslie, Matthew Dellavedova, Ian Hummer, Korie Lucious, Rodney McGruder, and Phil Pressey, says Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic (via Twitter).
  • Michael Carter-Williams intends to visit the Magic soon for a meeting and workout, tweets Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
  • Larry Drew II, E.J. Singler, Ian Clark, Ed Daniel, Trevor Mbakwe and Glen Rice Jr. worked out for the Trail Blazers today, according to a tweet from Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, who also reports that Cody Zeller is having an individual workout with Portland today.
0 comments 2013 NBA Draft Cleveland Cavaliers New York Knicks Orlando Magic Phoenix Suns Portland Trail Blazers Washington Wizards

Team Facebook/Twitter/RSS

By | at June 7, 2013 3:35 pm

If you want to keep tabs on all of Hoops Rumors' stories and updates, you can follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, or subscribe to our feed through your RSS reader of choice. However, if you prefer to only receive news about your favorite NBA team, we have you covered. Below are links to our Facebook, Twitter, and RSS pages and feeds for all 30 teams.

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Bucks Offered Monta Ellis Two-Year Extension

By | at June 7, 2013 1:59 pm

With Monta Ellis' opt-out deadline approaching, the Bucks made an attempt to extend the veteran guard, according to Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gardner reports that the Bucks offered Ellis a two-year contract extension which would have kept him under contract through the 2015/16 season. It's not clear when exactly the negotiations took place, but it appears Ellis opted to pass on Milwaukee's offer.

Because Ellis is in the fifth year of a six-year contract, he was one of a pair of Bucks veterans that was extension-eligible entering the season. Extension offers can be for no more than four total years, including the current season, so Milwaukee's offer would have added two new years in 2014/15 and 2015/16, and would have hinged on the 27-year-old exercising his player option for next season.

According to Gardner, the Bucks' extension offer would have kept Ellis under contract for three years at nearly $36MM, beginning this summer. The maximum allowable raise in a veteran extension offer is 7.5%, so if Milwaukee was offering the max, the deal would have been worth $11,000,000 in '13/14, $11,825,000 in '14/15, and $12,711,875 in '15/16, for a total of $35,536,875.

Although Ellis is expected to opt out of his contract with the Bucks on or before June 20th and test the free agent waters, I'd be a bit surprised if he landed a deal that paid him a higher annual salary than what Gardner reports Milwaukee was offering. Perhaps he thinks he can do better, or wants to secure a four-year deal, or simply prefers to sign with another team.

A recent report suggested that the Bucks would prefer to keep Ellis over Brandon Jennings, while another report indicated Ellis may have interest in joining the Kings.

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