Odds & Ends: Expansion, Wizards, Turner
Even though the NBA has 30 franchises, there are still plenty of North American markets that are deserving of teams. Of course, Seattle is at the top of anyone’s list as the rabid Sonics fan base is starved for a new team. Kansas City has also made a strong case for an NBA club in years past and they already have a ~19K seat NBA-ready arena in the Sprint Center. However, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld (via Twitter) says that the league is not going to expand under the current labor agreement. That might change under the new TV deal though, which is currently being worked on. Here’s more from around the Association..
- Speaking of expansion, commissioner David Stern told Chris Mannix of NBC Sports Radio (Twitter link) that the NFL will likely have a team in Europe before the NBA because “it’s relatively easy for a team to play eight home games there.” Stern has said in the past that he is optimistic that there will be a team in Europe in the not-too-distant future.
- Nene and new Wizards center Marcin Gortat have formed a bond in the front court, writes MIchael Lee of the Washington Post. “It’s one thing to have two skilled big men in the block. It’s another thing for those big men to play off each other, and that’s big,” forward Martell Webster said. “When you have big guys down there that have a relationship and a chemistry, it makes it a little bit easier to occupy.”
- Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld reflects on the four-team deal that sent Nikola Vucevic to the Magic last year. At the time, it seemed like the Lakers (Dwight Howard) or the Sixers (Andrew Bynum) would be the big winners, but it turns out that Orlando got the best haul of anyone.
- The price of winning in the NBA varies, writes Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld. The 7-0 Pacers are doling out less than $853K per victory while the 2-4 Nets are paying $7MM for each win.
- In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Mary Schmitt-Boyer of the Plain Dealer if the Cavs should give up on the Dion Waiters experiment and trade him. Even though the guard appears to have taken a step back from last season, Cleveland isn’t as down on him as some fans might be.
- While many thought that Sixers GM Sam Hinkie would either deal Evan Turner at the trade deadline or allow his $6.7MM salary to come off the cap next summer, the former No. 2 overall pick is making a case to stay, writes Thomas Moore of the Courier Times. Turner has been a model of consistency, scoring at least 20 points in six of the 4-3 Sixers’ first seven games. Earlier tonight, Sam Amico of FOX Sports suggested that the Mavericks, Thunder, and T’Wolves could be among the teams with interest if the Sixers decide to shop Turner.
- If the Knicks continue to lose, there’s no telling how owner James Dolan might react, writes Howard Beck of Bleacher Report.
- Magic rookie Victor Oladipo is embracing the challenge of handling the basketball, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
- Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak doesn’t expect Kobe Bryant to return in the next two weeks, writes Pincus for the Los Angeles Times. Kupchak also touches on the ill-fated Chris Paul trade and says that he still hasn’t forgiven Stern for the way things played out.
Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look back at the original analysis from the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- It was a relatively quiet offseason for the Magic, but next summer should be quite interesting, Chuck Myron writes.
- Luke Adams crunched the numbers and found that the Bucks and 76ers made the most offseason trades of any club.
- I recapped the Nets’ crazy offseason, including the trade that shocked the world.
- The Bulls didn’t make a ton of changes, but Luke says that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
- Chuck ran down the clubs receiving minimum-salary contract reimbursements.
- Luke and Mark Porcaro of Secret Rival ran down the whereabouts of the players from the 2013 draft.
- I asked Hoops Rumors readers to predict Danny Granger‘s future. Most of you said that he will get traded mid-season.
- Luke profiled Kobe Bryant as an extension candidate, but how it all plays out is anyone’s guess.
- New Raptors GM Masai Ujiri moved Andrea Bargnani, but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done, Luke writes.
- The Wizards locked up John Wall with an extension and now the pressure is on, Chuck writes.
- There aren’t many 2012/13 ten-day contract signees left in the NBA, writes Chuck.
- Luke examined frontcourt options for the Knicks.
- Chuck recapped the Pacers’ offseason.
- Chuck found that of the twenty-four players that received midseason deals in 2012/13 that covered 2013/14 without a full guarantee, only five of them are still on on NBA rosters,
- The Bobcats are proof that tanking doesn’t always work, writes Luke.
- Several players on $10MM+ deals are seeing limited minutes so far this year, Chuck writes.
- The specter of LeBron James possibly returning to the Cavs will surround the club all year long.
- Most Hoops Rumors readers think we’ll see Stephen Jackson again in 2013/14, but disagree on what kind of role he’ll play.
- The overwhelming majority of you think that Rudy Gay is getting traded before the deadline.
- Will Andrew Bynum retire early? Three-quarters of you say yes.
- We asked readers if the Suns will trade Goran Dragic.
- Most of you want to see the Knicks make a trade.
- If you missed out on Luke’s chat, you can check out the transcript here. Luke takes your questions every Monday afternoon at 4pm CT.
- Play nice, everyone. Here’s a refresher on our commenting policy.
Amico On Turner, Young, Granger, Cousins
Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio has his weekly column posted; let’s dive in and take a look at the highlights..
- If the Sixers start to slide and they turn their focus to the offseason, they could find a trade partner in the Mavericks. The two sides have yet to talk, but sources around the league wonder if Dallas might be interested in landing Evan Turner in an effort to make a playoff run and appease star Dirk Nowitzki. Turner wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg and a package of Shawn Marion and a draft pick would probably get the job done for the former No. 2 overall pick.
- If the Sixers part with Turner, word around the league is that the Thunder and T-Wolves will also be among the teams with interest.
- Sixers small forward Thaddeus Young is also off to a hot start and is likely to draw interest around the trade deadline or sooner. Young may be a little tougher to move than Turner at $8.6MM this year and $9.1MM next with a player option for $9.7MM in 2015), however.
- With the Pacers off to a 7-0 start, league execs wonder what Danny Granger‘s role might be when he comes back from injury. With his expiring contract and recent injury history, it seems as if the Pacers would be receptive to moving him. If they do dangle Granger, they’ll probably seek out some backcourt help, specifically someone adept at handling the basketball.
- One league exec told Amico, “If the Kings aren’t any good, mark my words: They’ll trade (DeMarcus) Cousins.” Cousins is still on his rookie contract this year, but has a max extension kicking in next season, which will make it trickier to trade him due to CBA rules, albeit not impossible.
Hoops Links: Sixers, Rondo, Raptors, Parker
On this date in 1990, the Suns routed the Nuggets 173-143 to tie a record held by the 1959 Boston Celtics for the most points scored in a non-overtime game. The Suns had 107 points in the first half, breaking the mark of 90 set by the Nuggets three days earlier in a 161-153 loss to San Antonio. Suns Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons also picked up his 700th career coaching victory, becoming only the seventh coach in the history of the league to reach that mark.
Here at Hoops Links, we totally endorse running up the score. Do you have a great basketball blog post that you want to be featured in next week’s edition? Email it to me here. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere..
- Hoop76 debunks the myth that tanking doesn’t work.
- Celtics Life wonders if Rajon Rondo will be the answer to the club’s late-game woes.
- Toronto Sports Daily is reading between the lines.
- 48 Minutes Of Hell explains how success from mid-range is still possible for Tony Parker.
- Blazer’s Edge says Portland has to communicate better on defense.
- Bourbon Street Shots gives us their early take on the Pelicans.
- Raptors Republic says Gerald Henderson‘s performance on Wednesday is indicative of a larger issue.
- Red94 has another installment of Dwight Life.
- Ballin Europe delivers an early season update out of EuroLeague.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.
Pacific Notes: Clippers, Morris, Lakers
Here’s a quick look at the Pacific Division..
- The new look Clippers looked sharp in last night’s win over the Rockets, writes Sam Amick of USA Today. New starter J.J. Redick had a strong game, scoring 22 points off of 8-15 shooting, including 3-7 from beyond the arc.
- In his third season, Suns forward Markieff Morris is proving the club’s scouting department right, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. In that draft, the Suns front office went with Morris, the power forward with complete-game potential, over Kenneth Faried, known for energy and rebounding.
- New Los Angeles D-Fenders coach Bob MacKinnon spoke with Dakota Schmidt of Ridiculous Upside about his relationship with the Lakers and the future of the D-League. “The biggest thing is that your players know that the way things are done are the ‘Lakers Way’. We’re trying to be a mini-model of the Lakers and I think that’s attractive for players who want to achieve their dreams.“
Nets Notes: Garnett, Kirilenko, Pierce
It’s still early, but so far Kevin Garnett is off to a puzzling start, writes Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News. Too often in games, the 37-year-old can be seen settling for outside shots and drifting along the perimeter when he should be doing more inside. “I’ve just got to quit thinking so much and be more aggressive,” Garnett told reporters yesterday, following a 96-91 loss to the Pacers. “I’m trying to make things easier for (Brook) Lopez and cause opportunities for other people out there. I’ve got to be a little more aggressive and look for my offense a little bit.” Here’s more out of Brooklyn..
- One bright spot for the Nets has been the play of offseason acquisitions Andrei Kirilenko, backup point guard Shaun Livingston, and scrappy rookie Mason Plumlee, writes Beckley Mason of the New York Times. Mason also notes that the older Boston teams led by Garnett and Paul Pierce were notoriously slow starters.
- Even though Garnett and Pierce have moved on, they’re still not talking to former teammate and friend Ray Allen, writes Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. “For them to be so upset with me is disappointing because of how everything happened,” said the Heat guard. “That banner in 2008 is still going to be there, and we’re still going to be tied to it.“
- The Nets announced earlier today that they have re-assigned Toko Shengelia to the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League. The forward’s NBA stay lasted just one day as he was recalled on Saturday.
- Former Nets forward Kris Joseph signed with France’s Elan Chalon, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. To keep up with the global basketball scene, check out the Hoops Rumors international Player Movement Tracker, made with the help of Secret Rival’s Mark Porcaro.
- Earlier today, I recapped the Nets’ offseason.
Week In Review: 11/4/13 – 11/10/13
The Cavs signed Andrew Bynum this summer with the hopes that he could come back strong after missing the entire 2012/13 season. Unfortunately, the big man is struggling to return to his old form and is considering retirement just weeks into the 2013/14 campaign. “(Retirement) was a thought, it was a serious thought,..At the moment, it’s tough to enjoy the game because of how limited I am physically. I’m still sort of working through that…I’m a shell of myself on the court right now, I’m struggling mentally. I’m trying,” the New Jersey native said. Here’s more from the week that was..
- The Pacers are making it known to Lance Stephenson that they intend to re-sign him. Meanwhile, Stephenson says he wants to stay put.
- Luol Deng plans to retire with the Bulls.
- Steve Nash intends to play out his contract.
- The Celtics have discussed trades involving Gerald Wallace, but his sizable contract makes a deal difficult.
- LaMarcus Aldridge says that he has no desire to be moved. Rival execs continue to monitor his situation, however.
- Derrick Favors directed his agent to hammer out an extension and didn’t want to wait until next summer for things to play out.
- Kevin Love says he’s fond of New York. The forward can hit the open market in 2015.
- Michael Redd and Dan Gadzuric are retiring.
- The Knicks acquired the D-League rights to Jeremy Tyler.
- False alarm: Kendrick Perkins doesn’t want out of OKC.
- The Knicks have talked to Louis Amundson and Jason Collins‘ reps, but they plan to stand pat for now in their big man search.
Offseason In Review: Brooklyn Nets
Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees, and more will be covered, as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.
Signings
- Andrei Kirilenko: Two years, $6.51MM. Signed via mini mid-level exception. Second year is player option.
- Andray Blatche: Two years, $2.81MM. Signed via Non-Bird rights. Second year is player option.
- Alan Anderson: Two years, $2.01MM. Signed via minimum salary exception. Second year is player option.
- Shaun Livingston: One year, $1.27MM. Signed via minimum salary exception.
Trades
- Acquired Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Jason Terry, and D.J. White from the Celtics in exchange for Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans (signed-and-traded), three first-round picks, and the ability to swap 2017 first-round picks. The three traded first-round picks are for 2014 (lesser of Nets’ and Hawks’ picks), 2016 (unprotected), and 2018 (unprotected). White was subsequently waived.
Draft Picks
- Mason Plumlee (Round 1, 22nd overall). Signed via rookie exception.
Camp Invitees
- Gary Forbes
- Jorge Gutierrez
- Marko Jaric
- Chris Johnson
- Adonis Thomas
Departing Players
- Keith Bogans
- MarShon Brooks
- Kris Humphries
- Kris Joseph
- Jerry Stackhouse
- Gerald Wallace
- C.J. Watson
Rookie Contract Option Decisions
- None
Don’t let the classic black and white color scheme fool you – the Nets aren’t into being understated. This summer, after being upset in seven games by the Derrick Rose-less Bulls in the first round, the Nets completely turned things upside-down on the sidelines and on the floor. P. J. Carlesimo, who took over for Avery Johnson midway through the 2012/13 season, was handed his walking papers less than 24 hours after the Nets’ season came to an abrupt end. Phil Jackson‘s name was mentioned frequently in the backend of the New York tabloids and on the sports radio airwaves, but the club turned to a future Hall of Famer and absolute coaching neophyte in Jason Kidd. Despite the raised eyebrows (and the personal frustration that we imagine Patrick Ewing felt), the Nets’ wild offseason didn’t stop there.
Weeks later, on draft night, the Nets shook hands with the Celtics on the most shocking trade in modern NBA history. Brooklyn landed Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry for Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans (sign-and-trade), and future first-round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018. The Nets may have mortgaged their future, but the deal catapulted them from Eastern Conference also-rans to one of the most feared teams in the league.
Pierce, who gave the Nets fits as a member of the Celtics, gives the Nets a proven scorer alongside shooting machine Joe Johnson. He may not be the superstar that he was for the C’s 2008 championship squad, but he’s still a productive scorer and underrated rebounder. Garnett will require lots of rest at this stage of his career but he figures to give the Nets the kind of inside toughness that Brook Lopez has been unwilling or unable to provide. Reggie Evans won fans over last season with his general disregard for his well-being, but KG is an obvious upgrade at the starting four spot. Like Pierce, Garnett is no spring chicken, but he’s still one of the toughest defensive big men in the game thanks to his tireless work ethic. Terry may be the forgotten piece of the swap, but he can serve as one of many dangerous weapons off of the Brooklyn bench.
The biggest challenge for the new-look Nets might be sharing the basketball and keeping egos in check. If they can exhibit the ball movement that they showed in their home opener against the Heat, they’ll be giving opposing defenses a whole lot of trouble. GM Billy King and cap guru Bobby Marks will have to work hard in the years to come to infuse the roster with young talent after losing three future first-rounders, but it’s hard to find fault with the trade for the here and now.
Wallace seemed lost under two different coaches last season and with 13 years in the league, his body was showing definite signs of breaking down. Humphries was a hard-nosed rebounding presence and an efficient scorer for the Nets in 2010/11 and 2011/12, but fell flat last season and found himself 86’d from the rotation for much of the year. Brooks, who will earn less than $1.3MM in the final season of his rookie deal, has serious upside, but it’s debatable whether he could ever realize his potential in Brooklyn if he had to fight for minutes on their ultra-deep bench.
That intimidating second unit will be led by Andrei Kirilenko, who signed a one-year, $3.18MM deal with a player option for the following year. The Russian forward turned down a $10MM+ option with T’Wolves to sign on with Mikhail Prokhorov & Co. and the conspiracy theories immediately started flying. However, as far as we know, the agreement is kosher, and AK47 told me in early August that he’s not fazed by the whispers that he took money under the table from the Nets. The 32-year-old should provide the Nets with athleticism and scoring in bunches off of the bench, something the 36-year-old Pierce will certainly appreciate.
Kirilenko and Terry weren’t the only notable bench upgrades to come to Brooklyn this offseason. Shaun Livingston was brought aboard to spell star point guard Deron Williams – a role that will be even more crucial if Williams’ ankle acts up again. Alan Anderson was signed almost as an afterthought in late July, taking the league minimum to hook on with a winner. That’s a pretty decent bargain for a player who averaged 10.7 PPG in 2012/13. The Nets also tabbed Duke big man Mason Plumlee with their late first-round pick, but he’ll probably spend more time in Springfield, Massachusetts than Brooklyn, New York. Losing C.J. Watson to the Pacers hurts a bit, but overall the Nets’ new bench is the envy of the Eastern Conference.
While Watson bolted for a pay bump, the Nets managed to retain athletic big man Andray Blatche with a one-year, $1.4MM deal. If it weren’t for Kirilenko’s presence, Blatche’s contract would be the most shocking bargain on the Brooklyn roster. The 27-year-old signed a minimum salary deal with the Nets last season and while there were question marks about his attitude and work ethic, Blatche averaged 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds with a career high 51.2% field goal percentage. I expected the 6’11” center to fetch a more lucrative deal, but it’s possible that he chose comfort and a chance to win over money, especially since he’s still cashing checks from the Wizards.
The last time the Nets were championship contenders, they had Kidd as their floor general against a less-than-stellar Eastern Conference. Ten years later, they have Kidd (and Lawrence Frank) back, but they’re dealing with a much tougher road to the Finals. The Pacers and Bulls both look formidable, but the Nets have as good of a chance as them or anyone else of dethroning the two-time NBA champs.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Several Seeing Limited Minutes On $10MM+ Deals
Much has been made of the limited playing time Larry Sanders has seen to start the season. A thumb injury he suffered in a fight at a nightclub a week ago has kept him out of action since, but he’s yet to play a single fourth-quarter minute in the three games in which he’s appeared so far. It’s not what anyone expected after the Bucks signed him to a four-year, $44MM extension in the summer, and Sanders has been frustrated with his reduced role, as he told Steve Aschburner of NBA.com.
Of course, it’s early, and it would be an even greater surprise if Sanders’ minutes-per-game average continues to hang around 17.3, where it stands for the time being. He’s not the only player seeing more bench time than court time among those who signed eight-figure deals in the offseason.
Here are the half-dozen players who have at appeared in at least one game this season but have failed to log 20 minutes per contest on new deals worth at least $10MM.
- Larry Sanders, Bucks (four years, $44MM) — 17.3 MPG
- Andrew Bynum, Cavaliers (two years, $24.79MM) — 13.8 MPG
- Keith Bogans, Celtics (three years, $15.847MM) — 3.0 MPG
- Timofey Mozgov, Nuggets (three years, $14MM) — 17.0 MPG
- Quincy Pondexter, Grizzlies (four years, $14MM) — 15.7 MPG
- Marreese Speights, Warriors (three years, $10.973MM) — 14.1 MPG
Four others who’ve signed deals of $10MM or more have injuries that have kept them from playing at all this season:
- Al Jefferson, Bobcats (three years, $40.5MM)
- Carl Landry, Kings (four years, $26.047MM)
- Chase Budinger, Timberwolves (three years, $15MM)
- Brandan Wright, Mavericks — (two years, $10MM)
J.R. Smith re-signed with the Knicks on a three-year, $17.947MM contract this summer, but he’s just now making his season debut this afternoon against the Spurs because of a five-game drug-related suspension.
The Hoops Rumors 2013 Free Agent Tracker was used in the creation of this post.
Northwest Rumors: Martin, Thunder, Lopez
The Northwest Division is home to the NBA’s only winless team, the 0-7 Jazz, along with a struggling 1-4 Nuggets outfit. Still, the Thunder are one of a pair of teams in the league with just a single loss, and the Trail Blazers and Timberwolves are off to 4-2 starts. Here’s news on the three Northwest clubs who’ve impressed so far:
- The Wolves made Kevin Martin a much better financial offer than the Thunder did this summer, but that’s not the only benefit of his decision to sign with Minnesota, writes Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. The Wolves are giving Martin a chance to start and play more than just a complementary role on a team with other marquee players.
- Martin’s departure seemed to leave the Thunder‘s bench in disrepair, but Steven Adams and Jeremy Lamb, fruits of the James Harden deal, have combined with Derek Fisher to outperform three of the team’s starters, notes Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman.
- LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard tell Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com they feel more freedom to play aggressively on defense now that offseason trade acquisition Robin Lopez is protecting the rim for the Trail Blazers.
- Lior Eliyahu is nearing a three-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel, according to Roey Gladstone of Israeli Channel 5 TV (Twitter link; hat tip to Sportando’s Emiliano Carchia). The Wolves own the 28-year-old’s NBA rights, but it’s unclear if Eliyahu’s deal would allow him to leave for the NBA before the three years are up.