Isola’s Latest: Carmelo, Dolan, Love
Should the Knicks decide that it’s in their best interest to keep Carmelo Anthony and try to surround him with the requisite pieces needed for title contention, it’s almost a given that one plan would involve adding a big-name free agent during the summer of 2015 – when names such as Kevin Love and Rajon Rondo could hit the open market and New York would have plenty of cap room to work with. Such a plan might not be that appealing to Anthony, as rumblings indicate that the Syracuse star’s camp is only interested in what gets done this summer and not in 2015, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.
Here’s a roundup of more significant points from Isola’s piece:
- By July 2015, Anthony will be 31 years old; the thought of added mileage from another NBA season without the proper reinforcements could possibly be enough to dissuade the Knicks star from committing to New York long-term,
- James Dolan would be wise to bid farewell to Carmelo this summer rather than give him five years and $127MM to stay, especially when the alternative involves clearing valuable cap space and still having a first round pick in what would most likely be a rebuilding year in 2014/15.
- As for Love, Isola hears word that the 6’10” big man’s current train of thinking involves either re-signing with the Timberwolves or heading to the Lakers once he hits free agency.
- While Rondo’s success includes a championship in Boston, Isola adds that the 28-year-old point guard’s personality, his clashes with Celtics coaches in the past, and that he played a role in Ray Allen‘s decision to leave for Miami make him a less-than-ideal fit next to Carmelo.
Odds & Ends: Knicks, Dragic, Mavericks
This summer, the Knicks will have a load of expiring 2015 contracts, including Tyson Chandler, who could be used as a pawn in a trade bid for Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (Marc Berman of the New York Post). One league source didn’t mince words when commenting about New York’s chances at dealing for the 6’10 big man, telling Berman: “They’re selling New York fans land in New Mexico.’’
Carmelo Anthony recently spoke about Love’s game, and when specifically asked about the similarities between them as stretch-fours, Anthony didn’t see a comparison: “I didn’t know we had similarities…He’s a guy who became a stretch 4 but never was a stretch 4. He worked on his shot, his 3-ball and stretching the floor and spreading the floor out. He can also go inside. He’s one helluva rebounder. He’s a big load. He’s gotten better every year since been in the league and still is.’’
Here are more miscellaneous news and notes to pass along tonight:
- Former NBA coaches George Karl, Avery Johnson, and P.J. Carlesimo weighed in on the state of the Knicks, the Warriors‘ title hopes, and who should have been moved during the trade deadline, among other topics (ESPN Insiders only).
- The Suns are poised to make their first postseason appearance since the 2009/10 season, thanks in large part to an All-Star caliber season from Goran Dragic. The 27-year-old point guard recently shared his thoughts on the season with Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders, speaking with the confidence one would ideally expect from a seasoned veteran: “I’m more relaxed…I know all of the situations I’m put in and I know how the opposing teams are going to guard me. I’m just more relaxed. It feels like I’m playing basketball with my friends back home, with no pressure. I just go out there and do my job. I’ve gotten some great support from my teammates and I’m just having fun. It’s not like I’m thinking too much or anything. I’m just having fun.”
- Luol Deng and Marcin Gortat are two players that the Mavericks should go after in free agency this summer, opines Eddie Sefko of SportsDayDFW.
- Brad Stevens’ emphasis on establishing a winning culture along with the players’ continued commitment toward playing hard is proof that the Celtics haven’t given up on the season just yet, explains Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston.
Draft Notes: Pittman, Melvin, Exum
Here are a few draft-related links worth passing along tonight:
- Recent Marshall basketball standout Elijah Pittman has entered the NBDL player pool, according to Gino Pilato of DLeagueDigest.com. Pilato adds that the 6’9 forward is eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft and will look for an opportunity to impress NBA executives via a stint in the D-League.
- Former DePaul star Cleveland Melvin has been claimed from the NBDL player pool by the BayHawks, which serves as the Knicks’ D-League affiliate (Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside reports). Like Pittman, Melvin will also be eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft.
- ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla offered his thoughts on Dante Exum during a recent interview with John Ireland of ESPN 710 and surely turned a few heads (hat tip to Jabari Davis of Basketball Insiders): “He reminds me of a young, 1982 circa North Carolina Michael Jordan…He’s not going to be as great, obviously, unless I’m wrong… but he kind of reminds you of a young colt that’s just about to run his first claimer race, and you’re looking at him (thinking), ‘This guy could win the Kentucky Derby someday.”
- More from Fraschilla on Exum: “He’s got great basketball instincts…He’ll drive in, and when you think he’s going to use his right hand, he’ll switch to the left hand at the last minute. He’ll take off about a half step earlier than you think he should, but then he’ll hang in the air and bank it off the glass…Getting your own shot in the league is a skill…If I had to pick today, it would be in some order of Joel Embiid, Jabari Parker and (Exum).”
- On ESPN’s Mike and Mike Show, the unquestionably outspoken Charles Barkley offered his solution to the issue of tanking: give every lottery team one ping pong ball instead of rewarding teams with the worst record (hat tip to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv).
Poll: Should Lakers Keep Brooks?
Since a very productive rookie season with the Nets a little under two years ago, MarShon Brooks has had a difficult time establishing a niche in the NBA to say the least. Following a 2011/12 campaign in which he averaged 29.4 MPG and posted 12.6 PPG, the former Providence guard saw his minutes dip to just 12.5 per game in 2012/13. After being dealt to Boston in the offseason, Brooks saw no more than 7.3 MPG in Brad Stevens’ rotation; a deal to the Warriors after 10 games with the Celtics yielded a paltry 2.1 minute average in seven contests. However, a deadline deal which sent Brooks packing for Los Angeles has brought forth a return to NBA relevance.
Coincidentally, Brooks’ Lakers debut came against Boston less than two weeks ago, and the 6’5 guard made his presence felt, scoring 14 points on 7-for-11 shooting in 23 minutes. Two nights after notching 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting in 20 minutes against Memphis, Brooks went 9-for-13 from the field en route to 23 points in 26 minutes against Sacramento. Through six games in L.A., the former first-round pick is averaging 12.6 PPG while shooting 51.8% from the field and an uncanny 88.9% from long distance. While those percentages are derived from a small sample size and will arguably move back toward the direction of his career averages sooner or later (44.2% and 32.7% respectively), it’d be difficult to dismiss his production or the idea that he is picking up where he left off in New Jersey a few years ago.
On the flip side, there are a few sobering points worth considering. For one, the Lakers aren’t remotely within playoff contention at this stage as far as this season is concerned, and one may argue that Brooks is enjoying numbers on a team without too many expectations right now. Secondly, the team has plenty of wing players to consider, including Jodie Meeks, Kent Bazemore, and Nick Young, who appears to have a mutual interest with the franchise in staying put for the long-term. Also, with ample cap space this summer and potentially in 2015 (depending on who the team adds this summer), it’s understandable to contend that a higher priority should be placed on preserving as much flexibility as possible for much more worthwhile targets, whether via free agency or trade.
Brooks is slated to hit unrestricted free agency this summer after the Celtics declined his team option for 2014/15. As it stands, the Lakers only have three guaranteed contracts on the books for next season, and will undoubtedly face an offseason of key roster decisions. Considering all this, should the Lakers re-sign Brooks after this season?
Atlantic Notes: Young, 76ers, Leslie
When the 76ers last clinched a playoff berth, they finished the lockout-shortened 2011/12 season with a 35-31 record and reached the second round before getting eliminated. The only member of that team still remaining on the roster is Thaddeus Young, who at that time started just one of 63 games but produced 12.8 PPG and 5.2 RPG in nearly 28 MPG as a reserve.
Now at 25-years-old, Young stands as the third-oldest player on the team and has started all but one game this season – posting career highs in points (17.7), steals (2.2), and field goal attempts per game (15.4). Despite that, the 15-45 Sixers are clearly in rebuilding mode and will face another offseason of significant decisions to make. Aside from the draft, Philadelphia’s biggest question mark moving forward has to do with whether or not they’ll keep their former lottery pick, says Keith Pompey of The Inquirer.
Here’s more out of the Atlantic Division tonight, including more from the above piece:
- Young tells Pompey he understands that other teams could be targeting him but insists he’s remaining focused: “Guys always talk and they always say [that at] any given time and given moment, you are auditioning for 29 other teams…I just took it as going out there and playing and focusing in and me doing the job and the task at hand…I didn’t look at it as I was auditioning or anything like that…It crosses your mind. But at the end of the day, you have to just play basketball and things will work out.”
- Philadelphia would be wise to avoid any marquee free agent who isn’t named LeBron James this summer, argues John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News, who examines the paths that may lead the team back to respectability.
- In addition to severing ties with Chris Smith earlier today, it’s worth noting that the Bayhawks recently traded the D-League rights of forward C.J. Leslie, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. Leslie, who had been a top target on New York’s draft board last June, was reportedly unhappy with his role on the Knicks’ D-League affiliate.
Odds & Ends: Arthur, Murphy, Mekel
Darrell Arthur isn’t completely sold on exercising his player option for next season, worth more than $3.457MM, but he’s strongly leaning toward picking it up and remaining with the Nuggets, as Chris Dempsey of the Denver Post observes.
“I’m just going to wait until the season is over with and talk to (Nuggets GM) Tim (Connelly) and see what’s up and go from there,” Arthur said. “But I’m looking forward to coming back here. I like it here. I feel like when we’re healthy, we have a great team to build with, and I want to be a part of it.”
Here’s more from around the NBA:
- Former Jazz swingman Kevin Murphy received multiple NBA training camp invitations this past offseason, but he didn’t think any of them gave him a fighting chance to make an opening night roster, as he tells Cameron Schott of RealGM. Murphy has instead split the season between a French team and the D-League, where he’s putting up impressive numbers for the Idaho Stampede.
- The Mavericks have sent Gal Mekel to the D-League, the team announced. It’s a rehab assignment, notes Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The rookie point guard has missed the past 21 games for Dallas after having surgery on his right knee.
- Bucks 10-day signee Tony Mitchell admits he has a “strange game,” but coach Larry Drew explains how it fits what the team was looking for. Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has the details.
- Even if Canisius point guard Billy Baron goes undrafted, several NBA teams say they’d invite him to training camp for next season, as Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher writes.
Hoops Rumors Featured Feedback
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With the trade deadline behind us, this summer’s free agency is coming into sharper focus. Carmelo Anthony has made it plain that he’ll opt out of his contract this year, but commenter rxbrgr sees reason for him to reconsider as his next destination continues to be a hot topic.
- Would it make sense at all for Carmelo NOT to opt out this season? He’d still get a higher salary, and potentially set himself up for a higher max contract, plus he would be a free agent with the rest of the 2015 free agent class (that’s considered much better than this summer’s) and he could embark then on a Big Three quest with those free agents, finding a team with cap space for potentially three of them?
LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh apparently aren’t willing to give Miami hometown discounts this summer, but merchie89 doesn’t think the Heat need to worry.
- The Heat need to let Bosh and Wade leave, as long as LeBron will stay without them. People fail to realize that the Heat have one player under contract next year if these guys all opt out. LeBron+cap space=still favorites for championship.
The Wizards picked up Drew Gooden on a 10-day contract last week, and while the deal was still in the works, Raul advised Washington not to let the big man off the hook for spurning the team in 2010.
- Funny how times change. One day you get traded to a team and refuse to go there and force another trade to somewhere else. The next day you are out of the league and couldn’t be happier going back to said place. I say leave him in the unemployment line.
We appreciate everyone who adds to the dialogue at Hoops Rumors, and we look forward to seeing more responses like these from you!
Knicks Rumors: Chandler, Fredette, Van Gundy
The Knicks dropped a critical game Monday night to the Pistons, one of the teams ahead of them for the final playoff spot. The loss was the seventh in a row for the Knicks, who are six and a half games out of the playoffs. All of this is a boon for the Nuggets, who’ll receive New York’s first-round pick this year, as our Reverse Standings show. Here’s more from the beleaguered blue-and-orange:
- Tyson Chandler is under contract through next season, but he’s uncertain if he’ll want to re-sign with the Knicks, as Marc Berman of the New York Post observes.
- Newly signed Bulls guard Jimmer Fredette says playing for the Knicks “would have been a lot of fun,” given the team’s proximity to his hometown of Glens Falls, New York, but he’s not crestfallen that it didn’t happen, notes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
- Jeff Van Gundy, rumored as a head coaching candidate for the Knicks if they let go of Mike Woodson after the season, weighed in on the team’s struggles in an appearance on “The Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco Show” on ESPN New York 98.7. Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com transcribes the highlights.
Knicks D-League Affiliate Waives Chris Smith
1:48pm: Smith was upset over his playing time and left the team several days ago, a source tells Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
1:22pm: Smith had several run-ins with Erie’s coaches, precipitating the decision to let him go, tweets Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
1:00pm: The BayHawks have officially waived Smith, the team announced.
8:42am: The D-League affiliate of the Knicks has decided to waive former Knicks guard Chris Smith, a source tells Gino Pilato of D-League Digest. The Erie BayHawks have yet to make an official announcement, but it appears one of the most controversial additions to an NBA roster this season is about to find himself without a home in the D-League, much less the NBA.
The Knicks signed Smith, the brother of J.R. Smith, in the offseason to a minimum-salary contract that became fully guaranteed if he made the team out of camp, and he did so, sticking with New York for the first two months of the season. This was despite the reported belief of some Knicks coaches who thought Chris Smith wasn’t even qualified to play in the the D-League. The Knicks waived him in December, irking his brother, and Chris Smith wound up heading to play in the D-League, where the BayHawks grabbed his rights.
Chris Smith averaged 8.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 20.8 minutes per game for Erie, though some of his 23 appearances came on assignment while still under contract with the Knicks. The 26-year-old hasn’t played since a five-minute cameo on February 22nd. The Knicks are still on the hook for the Leon Rose client‘s full NBA salary for this season, which is compounded because of luxury tax penalties.
Both Smith brothers signed new contracts with the Knicks this summer, though it appeared that the one the team gave to Chris was in deference to J.R., who won the Sixth Man of the Year award last season. Rose, the agent for both Smiths, is with the Creative Artists Agency, which has close ties to Knicks management. Rose also represents Carmelo Anthony, who plans to opt out of his deal with New York and become a free agent this summer.
Bobcats Sign Justin Hamilton To 10-Day Pact
TUESDAY, 11:31am: Hamilton’s signing is official, the team announced via press release.
SUNDAY, 12:59pm: The Bobcats intend to sign 7-footer Justin Hamilton to a 10-day contract on Tuesday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Hamilton is currently playing for the Sioux Fall Skyforce in the NBA D-League. Hamilton was profiled here as the next possible candidate to be signed from the D-League.
Hamilton’s stats in 37 games with the Skyforce were averages of 19.3 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, and 2 BPG in 35.2 MPG.
Hamilton was drafted in the second-round in 2012 by the Sixers. He was subsequently traded to the Heat for the rights to Arnett Moultrie. The Heat then waived Hamilton back in October of 2013.