Week In Review: 3/17/14 – 3/23/14
If Carmelo Anthony ultimately decides to leave New York this summer, Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski sees the Bulls and Rockets as the two free agent destinations that have emerged above all other alternatives, based on his conversations with people from around the league. Wojnarowski notes that while Chicago may have an easier time clearing enough cap space to sign Carmelo outright, Houston believes that they can shed the necessary contracts to be able to offer a near-max deal. One source tells Wojnarowski that the Knicks star ”will give New York every option (to convince him to stay)…But he has options – and he’s going to explore them all.” Here’s more from the week that was..
- The Grizzlies have “secondary” interest in a reunion with Pau Gasol.
- The Nets will prioritize re-signing Shaun Livingston.
- J.J. Hickson is done for the year.
- Phil Jackson was complimentary of Knicks coach Mike Woodson, but he won’t guarantee that he’ll be back.
- The Cavs signed Seth Curry and released Shane Edwards.
- The Celtics gave Chris Babb a partially-guaranteed three-year deal.
- The Bobcats signed D.J. White to a 10-day deal.
- Avery Bradley and the Celtics have mutual interest in a new deal.
- The Knicks signed Shannon Brown for the rest of the year.
- Mickael Pietrus has ruled out an NBA return in 2014/15.
- Larry Sanders is done for the year.
- Bucks owner Herb Kohl could sell his majority share.
- Tony Parker will buy a majority share in a French team.
Eastern Notes: Young, Jackson, Thompson
Sixers coach Brett Brown and GM Sam Hinkie have publicly expressed their desires to make Thaddeus Young feel as comfortable in his current situation as he can be, writes Christopher A. Vito of the Delaware County Daily Times. As the team overhauls its roster in preparation for this summer’s draft and the free-agency period, Young is the last remaining high-profile veteran on the roster. Young said, “They’ve been making a conscious effort to continue talking to me, keep trying to keep me on board as far as what’s going on with construction and rebuilding effort.” Young is posting career-best numbers of 17.9 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 2.1 APG, but he knows that his situation is less than desirable, writes Vito. “This is definitely a situation that, really, nobody wants to take on. Hey, sometimes this is how the cards are dealt to you and this is the situation that was dealt to me,” Young said.
More from around the Eastern Conference:
- According to Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News, the best way for Phil Jackson to change the culture of the Knicks is to step in and coach the team himself. Lupica thinks that if Jackson has the energy to work in the front office, then he has the energy to coach. The article also uses the Spurs’ Gregg Popovich as an example. Lupica notes that Popovich’s first important move as the team’s executive vice-president and GM was to hire himself as coach. Years later he made R.C. Buford the general manager and the two of them have been a formidable team for a long time, opines Lupica.
- In addition to working out a contract extension with Kyrie Irving and possibly pursuing LeBron James, another big offseason decision the Cavaliers will have to make is in regards to Tristan Thompson, writes Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. Thompson, like Irving, can be extended this summer. He is under the Cavs’ control for next season at $5.4MM, and any extension he signs would kick in for the 2015/16 season. By then Thompson could be in line to command upwards of $12MM a year and the team will need to decide if he’s worth the investment, writes Lloyd.
- Tim Bontemps of The New York Post examines the possibility and cap ramifications of the Nets re-signing Shaun Livingston this summer.
Josh Boone Signs With Iowa Energy
The Iowa Energy in the NBA D-League have signed center Josh Boone, the team has announced. Boone had previously signed a contract to play in the Philippines with Bangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, but only appeared in two contests for the team. In an unusual move the Kings signed former NBA player Kevin Jones to take Boone’s place before he had even appeared in his first game for the team, writes Carlo Pamintuan of Yahoo! Sports.
Boone was the 23rd overall pick by the Nets in 2006. The former Connecticut Husky averaged 5.2 PPG and 4.9 RPG in his four years with the Nets. He played for the Wizards summer league team before they cut ties with him prior to this season.
Boone appeared in two games for the Energy last season, averaging 16.5 PPG and 7.5 RPG before an injury ended his season. Boone will wear number 33 and will available for tonight’s game.
Prospect Profile: Julius Randle
Julius Randle has looked like a man amongst boys during much of his first season at Kentucky. While he didn’t enter his freshman year with quite the same hype that surrounded Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker, Randle nevertheless was seen as a potential top three pick in the upcoming 2014 NBA draft. Randle has had a strong, but inconsistent season, and though he is still projected as an early lottery pick, scouts are concerned he might not have a defined position in the NBA. Randle is currently ranked No. 5 on Chad Ford of ESPN‘s Big Board, Draft Express has him being take fourth in their latest mock draft, and NBA Draft.net has him slotted in at No. 7 overall.
On a talented Kentucky team Randle was more often than not their best player on the floor. His numbers on the season were strong. In 32 games he averaged 15.1 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, and 0.8 BPG in 30.7 minutes per game. His slash line is .504/.188/.702. Good numbers, but not as dominant as some thought he would be upon entering college.
Randle’s value is as an offensive player, though his offensive game at the NCAA level is mostly considered “bully ball”. He is stronger than most of his college peers and can physically dominate them when trying to put the ball in the basket. His superior strength works against most teams, but it can also lead to forced shots and turnovers. Randle is actually coughing it up 3.2 times a game, an awfully high number for a big man. This is mainly because he tends to recklessly attack defenses by trying to plow his way through them. He uses his natural left hand and can take any contact when hit to finish, but isn’t as confident when using his right.
One of the biggest complaints against Randle’s offensive game is that he doesn’t play on the box as much as he should, and is far too perimeter oriented. He needs to focus more on refining his post game which will be what will make or break him as a pro. Randle settles for too many jumpers at times instead of imposing his will inside. He’s shown enough ability on the block however to suggest he will continue to improve his game down there. He reminds me of Derrick Coleman when he first came into the league in this regard. Randle’s jump shot isn’t ugly by any means, and looks like it should improve with time, but it just might be his biggest weakness offensively. He has no problem taking his man off the dribble when using a pump fake, but if his outside shot ever becomes a reliable weapon, Randle could become a scoring star.
Randle hasn’t made much of an impact on the defensive end, which can probably be attributed to a combination of short arms and below-average awareness. Whether Randle ever evolves into a true 4 or becomes a combo forward like Lamar Odom, defense does not project as one of his strengths at the next level. Randle may have some trouble contesting the big leapers and towering big men in the NBA. He’s not an above the rim type player, and relies on strength more than athleticism when defending. Randle averaged 0.5 SPG and 0.8 BPG, which is poor production for a big man. Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (insider subscription required) has found that block and steal rates in college are important tools when projecting big men prospects.
One major physical trait that is the most talked about as a negative regarding Randle is his wingspan. He has been called a “T-Rex” thanks to his big body and short arms. He has a 6’11” wingspan, per Draft Express, which is enormous in most contexts, but not the “super-sized world” of the NBA. When matched up against the best power forwards in the league, he’s going to have a significant length disadvantage, a problem that could impact his game on both sides of the ball. According to Jonathan Tjarks of SB Nation, in almost any basketball context, having longer arms than your opponent is helpful. Athletes with longer arms can shoot over the top of defenders more effectively. On defense, they can play a step farther back and still contest shots, and will also have an easier time reaching for rebounds and getting hands in passing lanes. The closer you get to the basket, where there is less room to maneuver, the more important this becomes.
The final verdict on Randle is that he is an extremely unique prospect due to his combination of size (6’9″ 240 pounds), strength, scoring instincts and ball-handling skills. It’s rare to find players with his skill-set, at any level of competition, which makes him an intriguing draft candidate. He has a lot of work to do, on the defensive end in particular, but he’s clearly a top-notch prospect for the NBA. His ceiling as a pro seems to compare favorably with Zach Randolph‘s, which would make him worthy of a top ten selection in the upcoming draft. His final ranking will depend on which underclassmen declare for the draft, as well as how his pre-draft workouts fare in assuaging teams worrying about his shorter wingspan. My prediction is he goes within the top five picks.
Pistons Notes: Gores, Dumars, Isiah
It’s been a tumultuous season in Detroit this year. Team owner Tom Gores expected better than a 25-44 record when he approved the acquisitions of Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings. These expectations not being met led to the firing of coach Maurice Cheeks, and could result in Joe Dumars losing his position as president of basketball operations when his contract expires after this season. Don’t expect the decision on Dumars to linger once the Pistons season is over, writes David Mayo of MLive. Gores said, “Yeah, after the season, we’re going to address it right away. We have to. We have to let the season play out, then we’ve got to get it done.”
More from Motown:
- In a separate article, Mayo discusses the possibility of Isiah Thomas taking over for Dumars next season. When asked about the possibility of joining the Pistons front office, Thomas sidestepped the issue, but Thomas has made it known that he wants another NBA position. Thomas was also asked if he saw the current team as a number of ill-fitting pieces, and he said, “I’m not in a position to really critique the team or look at it that way. I’m just a fan that roots for the team. Every night I watch them, I want them to win and I want them to play well. I’m always going to be a fan that roots for the Pistons and loves the Pistons.“
- Tom Gores made his first public comments about the Cheeks firing last night, writes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. Gores said, “It was the right thing to do. I feel good about it. It’s a very young team so we have to put them in a position to do well as much as possible. I felt they were not in a position to grow as much as possible so I feel good about it.”
- Gores still feels good about his team despite their poor record, writes Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News. The team owner also shot down any notion of the team tanking at this point in the season, according to the article. Gores said, “Well first of all I’m not giving up. No way. It’s not possible. We have to keep building. We have great building blocks in our young guys. Look, we have a lot to do. There’s no way that anything great happens without tough times. That’s the way it goes. So I’m comfortable.”
Draft Notes: Age Limit, Ennis, Hood
One reason the NBA would want to increase the draft’s age limit to 20 would be to give teams more control of rare superstar talents like LeBron James, writes Tim Kawakami of Bay Area News Group. Kawakami notes that the one-and-done college players wouldn’t disappear with the changed limit, and that 19-year-old draftees are often can’t-miss prospects that teams would rather have under contract a year later into their prime. Here’s more regarding the draft:
- Tyler Ennis came up short in trying to help Syracuse advance in the NCAA tournament, and the freshman says he hasn’t thought about his decision regarding the draft yet. A veteran NBA scout tells Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv that Ennis is a smart, clutch talent who will need to adjust on defense. Ennis is a potential lottery pick.
- LaQuinton Ross is leaning toward declaring for this year’s draft per another Zagoria source, and could announce his decision Monday. Ross is projected to be a second round selection in DraftExpress’s latest mock draft.
- Zagoria writes that Rodney Hood is also leaning toward coming out in the same piece. Hood was ranked 13th in Chad Ford’s most recent ESPN Insider mock draft, and 16th at DraftExpress.
Western Notes: Westbrook, Jazz, Davis
While a lot of attention has shifted from the NBA to March Madness this weekend, there are still plenty of good games and intriguing stories around the league. Let’s take a look out West:
- Today’s MRI and exam of Thunder star Russell Westbrook‘s knee following last night’s collision revealed no issues of concern, per Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman. Royce Young of Daily Thunder adds that Westbrook won’t miss any time from the injury, outside of the pre-existing plan of rest for back-to-backs.
- Glen Davis is still getting acclimated to the Clippers style of play, telling Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times that he’s still trying to get a feel for his new teammates. “I’m not looking to get a real groove, as far as thinking without thinking kind of method, until the playoffs. So every day is a grind and just a way to get to know everybody,” says Davis. “What Chris Paul wants. How he wants it done. What Blake [Griffin] wants. How I should play with Blake, because he’s usually playing with a guy who’s above the rim all the time. So it’s easy for him. I’m different. I’m a different player. I’m below the rim. I’m different from DeAndre [Jordan]. So it’s learning that system and just knowing the guys on the floor.”
- Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin tells Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune that he wants to see maximum effort from his young roster as the season closes, even though Utah is well out of contention. “The fans deserve to see our best effort,” Corbin said. “I want us to play hard and do this thing the right way. We’ve got to play hard and play well and be professional.” There are plenty of Jazz players with incentive to impress; Utah has nine players that will either be free agents next year or working on non-guaranteed deals heading into 2014/15.
Eastern Notes: Plumlee, Heat, Miller
Brook Lopez recently underwent ankle surgery while sitting out the year for a foot injury, and Kevin Garnett is sidelined for at least a few more games due to back spasms. The Nets frontcourt woes have been alleviated by rookie Mason Plumlee‘s performance at center, writes Stefan Bondy of New York Daily News. “He’s growing each time he takes the floor,” coach Jason Kidd told Bondy. “The more minutes he gets, the better he gets. It’s fun to watch. Mason is a big part of our success right now.” Here’s more from around the East:
- Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel doesn’t think the Heat‘s choice to trade away Roger Mason Jr. has worked out well for the roster. The opened spot was recently filled by Justin Hamilton, but Winderman wonders if the Heat had their eye on a veteran player that didn’t pan out when they sent Mason to the Kings.
- Wizards point guard Andre Miller spoke to Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post some more about his falling out with the Nuggets. He maintains that he was unfairly portrayed to the media, and says he was surprised at how long of a process it was for him to get moved. “Yeah, I sat out for a while. But I had some time to reflect on what happened and was pretty much told to keep my mouth closed. I just worked out and tried to keep myself ready for whatever happens,” said Miller.
- Willis Reed says the Knicks “won the lottery” by getting Phil Jackson to come take over their front office, he tells Fred Kerber of The New York Post. Reed was pessimistic about New York’s chances to sign Jackson considering his connections to the Lakers organization, but is happy they did.
- Tom Moore of The Burlington County Times asked Sixers coach Brett Brown whether second year guard Tony Wroten can overcome some of his decision making deficiencies and earn a long term place with the team. “I don’t know. It’s his development. We talk to him and show him. We try to teach him. He has shown subtle signs of improvement. But the magic word or coaching trick to have him not do that entirely — I do not know,” said Brown. Philadelphia holds a $2.2MM team option for Wroten’s 2015/16 season.
Central Notes: Delfino, Wolters, Curry
Cavs coach Mike Brown won’t be giving young players extra minutes to develop as the season winds down, telling Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio he will coach with the sole purpose of winning games, even after the Cavs become mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Here’s more from around the Central:
- Seth Curry, working on a 10-day contract with the Cavs, is a player that might not benefit from Brown’s philosophy, the coach told Jodie Valade of The Plain Dealer. “There’s some little things he can help us with out on the floor, but only time will see how many minutes he gets for us with the bodies we have that are banged up,” said Brown.
- Contradicting an earlier report, Bucks officials tell Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journel Sentinel that injured guard Carlos Delfino will return to Milwaukee to rehab his foot. The earlier report indicated that Delfino would stay in his homeland of Argentina for the rest of the season.
- In the same piece, Gardner writes that Bucks rookie point guard Nate Wolters will miss the remainder of the season with a fractured hand. The 38th pick from the 2013 draft has played 22.6 minutes per game and started 31 times for Milwaukee this year.
Draft Rumors: UCLA, Robinson III, Craft
Coach Steve Alford says NBA scouts have attended 88 of 100 UCLA practices this year, per Myron Medcalf of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv tweets that the scouts would presumably be interested in projected first-round picks Kyle Anderson and Zach LaVine, along with Jordan Adams, who is projected as a second round selection. Here’s a roundup of draft rumors:
- An NBA scout tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports that Michigan’s Glenn Robinson III is a solid late first round pick (Twitter link).
- Few front office executives expect Ohio State’s Aaron Craft to be drafted, according to Bob Finnan of The Morning Journal.
- Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim tells Zagoria that college players base their decision to enter the draft solely on their expected draft position, not how they performed in the NCAA tournament. “I’m not going to be specific about anybody but my experience is guys look and if they see they fall where they’re favorable [they leave]…If you go 15th in the draft, you’re nothing. You might be out of the league in two years,” said Boeheim. “It used to be a first-round draft pick you had a chance. That’s nothing. Those guys are out of the league. Half the guys taken in the first round the last three years are not even in the league. You gotta be in the top seven, eight, 10 picks to make sure you’re going to be playing in the NBA.”
- Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress points out that Boeheim’s estimates are pretty far off (Twitter links). Only 7% of first round picks from the last three years are out of the league today, and the No. 15 pick specifically has produced a good number of high-impact players in recent years.