Lakers Notes: Gasol, Draft, Farmar
The Lakers lost eight of their 12 contests in February, but they ended the month on a good note by beating the Kings in a close game last night. As the club looks to move forward and make progress in March, let’s round up the latest news out of Los Angeles:
- Pau Gasol writes on his personal blog that while he’s open to re-signing with the Lakers, loyalty and salary–two things in Los Angeles’s favor–will take a back seat to a chance to win as he seeks a team in free agency this summer. “My franchise has the chance of offering me more money and a longer contract, but that’s not all that’s going to matter as far as my decision,” writes Gasol. “Honestly I’m not ruling out renewing my contract, I’m just open to every option… I want to be in a team with a real chance of winning a ring and where I can help to compete for it. I would like to win another championship. The financial side comes second at this stage of my career.” (translation via HoopsHype.)
- Mike Bresnahan of The Los Angeles Times takes a look at the Lakers’ draft odds. If they finished with the fourth-worst record, for which they’re currently tied with the Celtics, they would have a reasonable shot at the first overall pick. But the storied franchise isn’t proud of losing so much this year, and team employees tell Bresnahan that the silver lining of a top draft pick would be tempered by worries of a bust. You can see how the Lakers’ odds are faring with our reverse standings.
- Jordan Farmar scored a career-high 30 points last night, which is quite the turnaround for the 27-year-old. After six productive seasons in the league, Farmar spent last year in Turkey and much of this campaign recovering from a torn hamstring. He’s finally back to playing NBA basketball, and tells Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com that he isn’t concerned whether he remains a bench player or receives an increased role: “I don’t care. I don’t care, man,” said Farmar. “It’s just trying to play good basketball when I’m in there, have fun with whoever is out there on the floor with me.”
Cray Allred contributed to this post
Odds & Ends: Hawks, Raptors, Buyouts
The Hawks are close to adding five investors to their ownership group, according to Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The NBA’s approval process for the addition is underway, and should complete in mid-March. Here’s more from around the league:
- Sources tell Ryan Wolstat of The Toronto Sun that the Raptors are not planning to add any bought out players to the team (Twitter link). This falls in line with earlier reports of Toronto’s lukewarm interest in the buyout market.
- Tim Bontemps of The New York Post takes a look at which buyout players will work out the best for their new team between Glen Davis, Danny Granger, Caron Butler, Jimmer Fredette, and Beno Udrih.
- The Rockets attempted to sign Kostas Papanikolaou mid-season this year, according to Rigas Dardalis of EuroHoops.net. Houston owns the rights of the power forward currently playing in Spain, and will reportedly try to sign him again next summer.
Eastern Notes: Knicks, Lee, Magic
Geroge Willis of The New York Post thinks the Knicks don’t appreciate their own when evaluating coaching candidates, citing Mark Jackson as the latest in overlooked candidates with experience within the franchise. Mike D’Antoni was hired over Jackson in 2008, but things have ended up decidedly better for the Warriors–where Jackson landed–than the Knicks since then. Willis points out that Tom Thibodeau, Scott Brooks, Doc Rivers, Michael Malone, and Steve Clifford all had connections to the Knicks before thriving elsewhere. Patrick Ewing is a former Knicks-great that has long been looking for a head coaching opportunity; Willis wouldn’t be surprised if he proves himself away from Madison Square Garden. Let’s take a look around the East:
- David Lee has his eye on the Knicks cap situation for 2016, the summer Lee will become a free agent, a person familiar with his thinking tells Marc Berman of The New York Post. Lee says he has no hard feelings over the Knicks letting him walk as a free agent while they pursued LeBron James in 2010. ““What happened, happened. I don’t look back with any negative thoughts on my career in New York. I wish we could have won more games,” says Lee. “But we had a lot of changing pieces that were traded away for that ultimate push for the free-agency year. My only regret is we didn’t win more, but I love the city and loved my time here.‘’
- Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel wonders whether the increasingly bleak Knicks environment could motivate Carmelo Anthony to take a pay cut and/or leave the storied franchise to chase a title elsewhere. While it once seemed Anthony was destined to finish his career in New York, Winderman thinks the precedent set by LeBron James and Dwight Howard in recent years is no longer as far fetched for last season’s scoring leader.
- NBA commissioner Adam Silver told ESPN Radio’s “Mike and Mike Show” that the felony charges looming over Knicks guard Raymond Felton create an image problem for the league (transcription via Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com).
- Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel [subscription only] looks forward to the summer of 2016, when the Magic will have cap room and, ideally, a developing young talent-base that could attract superstar free agents like Kevin Love, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Rajon Rondo, or valuable restricted free agents like Klay Thompson, Reggie Jackson, and Kawhi Leonard.
Ivan Johnson Working Out For Multiple Teams
Ivan Johnson has had private workouts with NBA teams this week, and has plans for more according to Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype. Sierra wouldn’t be surprised to see him join an NBA team.
The 29-year-old big man played two years with the Hawks before signing in China this year, where he just finished an impressive season. He has career averages of 6.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in the NBA, to go with his D-League marks of 18.4 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Johnson is a client of Haylett Sports & Entertainment. No team has been specifically linked to Johnson’s workouts yet, although the Nets and Clippers have been interested according to earlier reports. A look at our roster counts shows that there are plenty of teams with fewer than the max of 15 guaranteed contracts on their books, including the Nets and Clippers. Presumably, a handful of those with room on their roster and in need of frontcourt depth are looking at the 6’8″ forward as an option.
D-League Notes: Stampede, Ohlbrecht, Taylor
The Idaho Stampede will remain a D-League team next year despite the Trail Blazers’ recent decision to end their relationship with Idaho, Idaho managing investor Bill Ilett tells Gino Pilato of D-League Digest: “Rest assured the Idaho Stampede will be in Boise next year, hopefully as a hybrid-affiliate for an NBA team.” Pilato suggests that the Stampede could become an affiliate for multiple teams as a short-term solution, an arrangement they have had in years past. Here’s more from around the D-League:
- Blazers assistant GM Bill Branch told Pilato that, for their part, the Blazers don’t see the closed partnership as a catastrophe for the Stampede. “We hope with the trades, draft selections and affiliate player acquisitions, (Pierre Jackson, Dee Bost, Richard Howell, E.J. Singler, Scott Machado, C.J. Leslie, Dallas Lauderdale), that we are leaving the Stampede with a strong talent pool.” Branch says. “Boise is a great city, and we feel another team will likely want to establish another hybrid affiliation with the Idaho Stampede.”
- Tim Ohlbrecht has been traded from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants in exchange for a 2014 D-League first round draft pick, a source tells Pilato. Ohlbrecht’s entire NBA experience came in just three games with the Rockets last year, but the 25-year-old center is still considered an NBA prospect.
- Tyshawn Taylor tells Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv he was surprised he ended up a free agent playing in the D-League less than two years after getting drafted by the Nets. “It wasn’t a tough situation until I found out I got cut from the Pelicans. My whole thing was to try to get somewhere where I can play. I gotta figure it out, where I can go next.” The Nets traded Taylor in January to the Pelicans, who waived him. The 23-year-old guard hopes to earn a call-up by playing for the Maine Red Claws. “I think this is more for my confidence and being able to play on a consistent basis. In the NBA, I only played one out of every 16 games.”
Sixers Sign Jarvis Varnado To 10-Day Contract
The Sixers have signed Jarvis Varnado to a 10-day deal, per a team release. Varnado is coming off a 10-day contract with the Bulls that just expired. The power forward joins Philadelphia on his 26th birthday, and will hope to see more minutes on a Sixers roster depleted of much NBA talent.
The shot-blocking specialist only played two minutes in a single game with Chicago, his only NBA action this season. He played in 13 games last year with the Heat and Celtics, averaging just in 0.6 points and 0.6 rebounds in 4.3 minutes per game. Varnado was a D-League All-Star selection this year, averaging 14.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks with the Iowa Energy.
Varnado is a represented by Impact Sports Basketball, according to our Agency Database. While the Bulls had room on the roster to sign Varanado to either a second 10-day contract or a deal for the rest of the year, their recent agreement with Jimmer Fredette likely precluded that possibility. The Bulls are doing their best to stay under the luxury tax line.
Central Notes: Bynum, Ilyasova, Fredette
Chronic knee injuries have taken a permanent toll on Andrew Bynum, who will have to play through pain for the rest of his career. The Pacers big man says he has the drive to push through the injuries and contribute at a high level again, despite a lost season with the Sixers and an ugly release from the Cavs this year, he tells Candace Buckner of The Indy Star. “My motivation is because I want a championship. I want to play.” Here’s more from the Central Division:
- Bynum admits to Buckner that he launched a half court shot and mocked an assistant coach in Cleveland out of frustration, which was rumored as the impetus behind the Cavs choice to suspend and then release him.
- Bynum found Cavs coach Mike Brown‘s system too complex, and the winning attitudes in Cleveland lacking. Alternately, Bynum is impressed with the Pacers culture. “It’s better, it’s more structured. You’re here, they do what they need to do with you and then you’re out. It’s not like something is going on forever. Everything has a plan and you try to stick to it and accomplish it, that’s always good.”
- Ersan Ilyasova tells Charles F. Gardner of Milwauke Journal Sentinel that he’s hoping the latest reset for the Bucks will be the last for a while. “Even last year being in the playoffs and we were hoping we were going to build on it. I came back to Milwaukee and it was like a new team. It’s really frustrating but at some point we have to find stability,” says Ilyasova. “We have a great organization. We have good fans, but we just have to be consistent with what we do. At some point I’m hoping we find the right pieces. I feel really comfortable being with the Milwaukee Bucks. We’ve had a lot of change, but I hope we find the right players.” Ilyasova requested a trade earlier in the year, but while Milwaukee shipped out guards Gary Neal and Luke Ridnour, they held on to the 26-year-old power forward they signed to a five-year, $40MM contract two offseasons ago.
- Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders thinks the Jimmer Fredette signing by the Bulls will be good for both the team and player. Chicago needs outside shooting, which Fredette can provide, and Fredette needs playing time to rebuild his value before becoming a free agent this offseason.