Sixers Eyeing Pinckney, Griffin, Hunt
The only NBA team still without a head coach, the Sixers have requested and received permission to speak to Bulls assistants Ed Pinckney and Adrian Griffin about the job, reports Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. Broussard adds that Sam Hinkie and the 76ers are also eyeing Nuggets assistant Melvin Hunt (Twitter links).
The two Bulls assistants have already drawn interest this summer as head coaching candidates, with Pinckney interviewing for the Grizzlies' opening, while Griffin met with the Pistons about their vacancy. Hunt, meanwhile was viewed as a candidate for the Nuggets job after the team parted ways with George Karl. Multiple reports in June suggested Hunt was on the Sixers' radar.
Despite the fact that it's been nearly three months since the Sixers confirmed Doug Collins wouldn't return as the club's head coach, Philadelphia doesn't seem to have narrowed down its head coaching options to one or two choices. In addition to Pinckney, Griffin, and Hunt, the 76ers also reportedly plan to interview current assistant Michael Curry and Celtics assistant Jay Larranaga.
Notable Unsigned Free Agents
Dozens of this summer's free agents have already signed with teams, or at least reached agreements on new contracts. But that doesn't mean that all the useful rotation players are all off the market. There are still a number of intriguing names out there, including a handful of restricted free agents, led by Brandon Jennings and Nikola Pekovic. Here's a breakdown of some of the notable free agents that remain unsigned….
Guards
Brandon Jennings (rumors)
Few, if any, of this year's remaining free agents have been surrounded by as many rumors and as much drama as Jennings, who is reportedly seeking $12MM annually but isn't interested in playing for the Bucks. A sign-and-trade to the Hawks looked possible, but when Atlanta elected to match Milwaukee's offer sheet for Jeff Teague, it likely took a major suitor for Jennings out of the mix, and signaled to the point guard that two teams preferred Teague to him. As Tom Ziller of SBNation.com wrote yesterday, Jennings' options are dwindling, and accepting his one-year qualifying offer isn't entirely out of the question.
Nate Robinson (rumors)
After a memorable postseason performance with the Bulls, Robinson looked to be in line for a nice payday this summer, but so far that hasn't materialized. He's been linked to plenty of teams, including the Nuggets, Wizards, Bucks, Mavericks, Lakers, and Knicks, but most of those clubs don't have the flexibility to make him a significant offer. I still think Robinson will sign for more than the minimum, but it's certainly not the lock it once seemed to be.
D.J. Augustin (rumors)
Aaron Brooks (rumors)
Devin Harris (rumors)
Mo Williams (rumors)
Delonte West (rumors)
Wings
Gerald Henderson (rumors)
Although a report surfaced indicating that the Bobcats were exploring sign-and-trade options involving Henderson, that appears to have just been a case of due diligence. Although Charlotte is wary of overpaying, the team still wants to bring back Henderson, prefering that option to a sign-and-trade. It's unclear what other teams may make a play for the restricted free agent — the Timberwolves were said to have "heavy interest" at one point, but signed Kevin Martin instead.
Gary Neal (rumors)
The Spurs' signing of Marco Belinelli initially made it seem as if Neal might be expendable, but I think the team would still like to re-sign him. Like Henderson, Neal is a restricted free agent, so the Spurs won't want to bid against themselves, instead letting the market set the price for the 28-year-old. Last week, a report suggested the Bucks were one of four teams interested in Neal, but it's not clear how many of those potential suitors have gone in another direction since then.
Alan Anderson (rumors)
Daequan Cook (rumors)
Richard Hamilton (rumors)
Stephen Jackson (rumors)
Dahntay Jones (rumors)
Bigs
Nikola Pekovic (rumors)
All signs continue to point to a reunion between Pekovic and the Timberwolves. Both sides have repeatedly expressed interest in continuing the relationship, and we haven't heard reports of any other clubs making a push for the restricted free agent big man. The latest word on Pekovic is that the Wolves have a contract offer on the table for him, perhaps for four years and $50MM. It sounds as if Pekovic's representatives are making sure there aren't any better offers out there — if and when they decide that's the case, they'll probably circle back and accept Minnesota's proposal.
Greg Oden (rumors)
For a player who hasn't appeared in an NBA game since 2009, Oden is certainly receiving plenty of headlines this July. While the Mavericks, Kings, Pelicans, and others have entered the mix recently, it still appears that the Heat and Spurs are the frontrunners. Comments made by Mike Conley Sr., Oden's agent, suggest to me that Oden's top choice is Miami, so assuming the Heat extend a fair offer, that's my best guess for where the former No. 1 pick ends up.
DeJuan Blair (rumors)
Samuel Dalembert (rumors)
Antawn Jamison (rumors)
Timofey Mozgov (rumors)
Byron Mullens (rumors)
Lamar Odom (rumors)
Brandan Wright (rumors)
Devin Harris, Mavs In Talks On New Deal
After the Mavericks reached an agreement with Devin Harris on a three-year, $9MM contract, a toe injury forced the two sides to nix the deal. However, we heard over the weekend that there was still mutual interest in working something out.
ESPN.com's Marc Stein confirms that's the case, reporting (via Twitter) that the Mavs and Harris have re-engaged in talks on a new deal for the combo guard. The details of the new agreement are still being worked out, according to Stein (via Twitter), but the two sides remain on track to reunite for the coming season.
With Harris not necessarily on track to be ready for opening night, I'd imagine the Mavs will be interested in either a shorter-term deal, or a smaller financial commitment. The team has since agreed to sign Monta Ellis to a lucrative contract, and continues to pursue Greg Oden and Samuel Dalembert, which may not leave much room for Harris.
I wouldn't be surprised if the two sides eventually agreed upon a two-year, minimum-salary contract for Harris, with a second-year player option. That would give Harris some security in case the toe problem persists, while also allowing him to explore the market again next summer if he comes back strong.
If the Mavs reach a new agreement with Harris, it would likely take the club out of the mix for Jamaal Tinsley, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Kennedy had reported earlier this morning that Dallas had some interest in Tinsley.
Point Guard Rumors: Tinsley, Jazz, Mo Williams
Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld has passed along a few tidbits of free agent information related to the point guard market this morning, so let's round up the highlights….
- The Mavericks, Rockets, Bobcats, and Suns have all expressed interest in signing Jamaal Tinsley, tweets Kennedy.
- Tinsley spent last season in Utah, but after reaching an agreement with John Lucas III, the Jazz are no longer interested in bringing back Tinsley, according to Kennedy (Twitter link).
- Mo Williams is considering taking a discount to join a contending team like the Heat or Spurs, says Kennedy (via Twitter). No deal is imminent, but it's one potential option Williams is weighing.
- Earlier today, we heard that the Suns may have put Kendall Marshall on the trade block.
Lakers Sign Nick Young
JULY 16TH, 10:36am: Young's deal with the Lakers is actually a two-year pact, with a player option in year two, reports Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times. Since it's a minimum-salary contract, the option is worth the minimum as well.
JULY 11TH, 6:35pm: The Lakers have officially signed Young, the team announced today (via Twitter).
5:17pm: According to USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt, Young's deal with the Lakers is for one year and $1.11MM, which is the veteran's minimum for a player entering his seventh year of NBA service.
4:14pm: Nick Young has agreed to sign with the Lakers, according to agent Mark Bartelstein (Twitter link via Sam Amick of USA Today). Considering Los Angeles has already committed its mini mid-level exception to Chris Kaman and can't acquire players via sign-and-trade, Young will presumably sign a minimum-salary deal.
Young, 28, averaged 10.6 PPG with a .413 FG% in 2012/13 with the Sixers. Prior to playing in Philadelphia, Young had spent most of the rest of his six-year NBA career with the Wizards. Although he had a brief stint with the Clippers in 2011/12, the USC product "will be with the team he always dreamed of playing for" when he officially signs with the Lakers, according to Bartelstein.
While Young isn't a particularly efficient player (12.8 career PER), he'll provide some much-needed scoring for a Lakers team that's expected to open the season without Kobe Bryant. Assuming the contract is for one year and the minimum, which seems likely given the club's cap constraints and desire to avoid adding long-term salary, Young could provide a good return on the Lakers' investment.
Chuck Hayes Open To Trade
Since new ownership and management groups assumed control of the Kings, Chuck Hayes' name has surfaced in trade rumors and the Kings have added another power forward (Carl Landry) to a group that already included Hayes, Jason Thompson, and Patrick Patterson. As such, it's no surprise that Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com hears from a source close to Hayes that the veteran forward woudn't be opposed to a change of scenery.
Haynes reports that Hayes would welcome a deal if it puts him with the right team and in the right situation, but cautions that the 30-year-old would also have no issue returning to Sacramento for the coming season. Hayes has about $11.68MM left on the remaining two years of his contract, including a $5.72MM salary for 2013/14, so moving him could create a little flexibility both this year and next for the Kings.
Still, it may not be easy finding a taker for Hayes unless he's packaged with a more attractive asset such as Jimmer Fredette. Since signing a lucrative four-year deal with the Kings in December 2011, Hayes has averaged just 2.9 PPG and 4.2 RPG to go along with a 9.9 PER in 128 contests.
Rockets Sign Omri Casspi
JULY 16TH, 9:23am: The Rockets have made the Casspi signing official, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). As Feigen originally reported, it's a minimum-salary pact.
JULY 6TH, 2:58pm: Wojnarowski pegs the value of the deal at $2.6MM, which would make it more than a minimum-salary arrangement. It makes more sense that Casspi would come at the minimum, rather than at a deal that eats into the team's $2.65MM room exception, but we'll see how it shakes out when the deal becomes official after the July moratorium. Wojnarowski also notes that the Rockets became more intrigued with Casspi and his shooting touch after their agreement with Howard.
2:45pm: Casspi's deal is for the veteran's minimum, and the second year is a team option, Feigen tweets. That means a salary of $947,907 this year and $1,063,384 in 2014/15.
2:27pm: Omri Casspi and the Rockets have agreed on a two-year deal, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Houston had been pursuing the 25-year-old former first-round pick since the trade deadline, as Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle notes (on Twitter). Casspi became an unrestricted free agent when the Cavs declined to offer him a qualifying offer this summer, following a season when it appeared he'd fallen out of favor in Cleveland.
A report during the season indicated the Creative Artists Agency client would head back to his native Israel to play, but it sounds like there was enough NBA interest to keep Casspi stateside. His numbers have been in freefall since his rookie year with Sacramento, when he notched 10.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest. His 4.0 PPG and 2.7 RPG in limited minutes this year were far cries from his earlier production, and his three-point shooting, a strong suit when he was a King, deserted him in Cleveland. Presumably, the Rockets are looking for him to regain his stroke to give James Harden and Dwight Howard more room to score in the paint.
The Rockets appeared to be close to landing Casspi around the March 1st buyout deadline, but their agreement with Aaron Brooks scuttled that idea. Now, Brooks is gone and Delfino is headed to Houston.
Kendall Marshall On Trade Block?
Since drafting Kendall Marshall 13th overall in the 2012 NBA draft, the Suns have signed Goran Dragic to a long-term contract and acquired Eric Bledsoe via trade. That's not exactly a resounding vote of confidence for Marshall as the point guard of the future in Phoenix, and NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper is hearing that the UNC product could be had in a trade.
"They're trying to attach him to pretty much any deal that comes up," said a rival executive. "If you want to talk about any of their players, they include him. He's basically the price of admission to any trade right now."
While it appears that Marshall is on the trade block, new general manager Ryan McDonough downplayed his availability. McDonough suggested that just because Marshall appears to be third on the point guard depth chart doesn't mean he'll receive third-string minutes, since the team expects Dragic and Bledsoe to share the court frequently.
"I wouldn’t say he's available," McDonough said. "Everybody has a price, right? It depends on what that price is…. We view Bledsoe and Dragic as guards who can play together some. It's not going to be Bledsoe or Dragic. Most of the time, it's going to be Bledsoe and Dragic together. You need more than two, obviously. Those guys aren't going to play 48 minutes, and I think Kendall's shown he'd be pretty good in the backup role."
Although Marshall struggled in limited playing time during his rookie season, he doesn't turn 22 until next month, so it's far too early to label him a bust. If there's a team willing to give up an asset or two for him, I have to think the Suns would have interest, given the club's depth at the point.
Raptors Expected To Amnesty Linas Kleiza
Today is the last day teams are eligible to use their amnesty clause until next summer, and at least one club is expected to make a move before tonight's deadline. Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Raptors plan to amnesty Linas Kleiza, and that Kleiza is a good bet to head overseas for the coming season.
Heading into the offseason, the Raptors only had three amnesty-eligible players: Kleiza, Andrea Bargnani, and Amir Johnson. The former two were both viewed as potential amnesty candidates, but new head of basketball operations Masai Ujiri managed to send Bargnani to New York in a deal that netted the Raptors a first-round pick.
Kleiza, 28, missed a good chunk of the 2012/13 season with injuries, and wasn't effective in the 20 games he played, setting career-lows in PER (8.2) and FG% (.333). The Lithiuanian forward played for Olympiacos in Greece prior to joining the Raptors in 2010, and figures to draw more interest from European teams than he will from other NBA clubs.
Because Kleiza was owed just $4.6MM in 2013/14, there was speculation that the Raptors would simply hang on to him, perhaps to use his expiring contract as a trade chip before next year's deadline. Amnestying Kleiza won't clear any cap room for the Raps, but it should allow the team to move below the tax threshold.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Smith, Celtics
Knicks fans got some unfortunate news this evening when the club announced that J.R. Smith has undergone patellar tendon surgery and an arthroscopy for a tear in the lateral meniscus of his left knee. He'll need three to four months to recover, putting him in line for a return between October 15th and November 15th, according to the club. The timing of the news is curious as the defending Sixth Man of the Year re-signed with the Knicks on a four-year, $24.7MM deal just last week. Here's more out of the Atlantic..
- A league source told Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com that the Knicks knew that Smith would likely require surgery on his knee when they signed him to his new deal. Zwerling adds that an orthopedist once told him that about 60% of NBA players undergo knee procedures over the summer, many of which the public doesn't hear about (link).
- At today's press conference introducing Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks, and Keith Bogans to the Boston media, GM Danny Ainge admitted that there's still a lot of work ahead for him this summer. "I think everything is in flux for the next few months," Ainge said. "We have a little bit of a logjam at our big positions. We have a little bit of a logjam at the shooting guard position. So there’s some decisions and some choices that we’re going to have to make over the next few months."
- Ainge went on to say that the Nets wanted a Dream Team at any cost, writes Mike Petraglia of WEEI.com in his wrapup of the presser.
- Former Celtics guard Terrence Williams has left agent Aaron Goodwin and joined up with Herb Rudoy, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe (via Twitter). You can keep track of everyone's representation with the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.