Northwest Rumors: Adelman, Corbin, Karl, Stotts
In wake of the speculation that Rick Adelman will step away from coaching next season, Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press looks at how the longtime coach’s legacy and examines the influence he’s had on the likes of Doc Rivers, Gregg Popovich, and Tom Thibodeau. Here is tonight’s rundown on the rumors out of the Northwest Division:
- Adelman will meet with Wolves president Flip Saunders and owner Glen Taylor within the next 24 hours and make a decision about next season “fast,” tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500ESPN.com. Greder adds that the decision might surface as soon as this week (Twitter link).
- Former Nuggets coach George Karl wouldn’t be interested in taking on a coaching role for a rebuilding team like the Wolves, reveals Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune.
- Jazz players, including Trey Burke and Derrick Favors, have advocated for Tyrone Corbin‘s return next year, but Aaron Falk of the Salt Lake Tribune doesn’t think it’s a certainty that the first-year coach will remain in Utah beyond this season. The Jazz concluded their season with a double overtime victory over Minnesota tonight.
- John Canzano of the Oregonian thinks the Blazers would be wise to lock up Terry Stotts to a long-term extension in Portland. Waiting too long to show that the team has faith in Stotts might have a negative impact on the franchise, Canzano argues.
Bucks Notes: Kohl, Edens, Lasry
News broke today that the Bucks’ ownership had officially found a group to purchase the organization. Pending league approval, the ownership of Milwaukee will change hands for the first time since 1985, when Herb Kohl purchased the team from Jim Fitzgerald. Let’s round up the latest news and notes on the Bucks in wake of the sale:
- New owners Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry were one of nine groups bidding for the team, as Steve Greenberg of Allen & Co., the firm overseeing the transfer, told Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times (Twitter link).
- Kohl acknowledged that while there were other good offers on the table, Edens and Lasry were the best fit for the team, reports Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Twitter links).
- A change in ownership will impact the Bucks’ quest for a new arena, and Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel looks at what steps ownership will need to take in order to secure a new home court.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Cavs Notes: Hopson, Brown, Hawes
It was a tough season for the Cavs, who came into the year expecting to contend for a playoff berth. Although Cleveland will end up in the lottery for the fourth straight year, the team will look to end their 2013/14 on a positive note as they face off against the Nets tonight to wrap up their season. Here’s the latest from Cleveland:
- The Cavs have recalled Scotty Hopson from the D-League for their season finale tonight, the team announced (Twitter link). Cleveland sent him down to help its D-League affiliate in the playoffs, but the Canton Charge were eliminated on Monday.
- Spencer Hawes, an unrestricted free agent this summer, has enjoyed his time in Cleveland and would “for sure” be interested in re-signing with the team, reports Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio (on Twitter). The Cavs acquired Hawes from the Sixers at the trade deadline.
- Cavs owner Dan Gilbert says he regrets his decision to fire Mike Brown in 2010, but Bill Livingston of the Plain Dealer thinks Cleveland would be wise to part ways with Brown once again this summer. Livingston doesn’t think Brown’s strengths mesh with the strengths of the team.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Sim Bhullar To Enter Draft
Next Mexico State center Sim Bhullar will enter the NBA draft, writes Josh Gershon of Scout.com (on Twitter). Bhullar is a sophomore with massive size, standing at 7’5″ and weighing in at 355 pounds. During his second season as an Aggie, Bhullar put up 10.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per night while averaging just over 26 minutes every contest. His massive size advantage over opponents allowed him to shoot 64.8% from the floor while posting 3.4 blocks per game.
The move to declare for the draft is a bit puzzling because questions still linger about the big man’s ability to succeed at the next level. Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated is among those perplexed by the decision, suggesting Bhullar would be wise to find another source of career advice (Twitter link).
Bhullar isn’t on Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress‘ list of top 100 prospects, but a report last month suggested the he could be taken in the second round by a team intrigued with his colossal size. Yesterday marked the last day early entrants could withdraw from the draft and still retain NCAA eligibility, so Bhullar will be ineligible to return to New Mexico State even if he isn’t drafted.
Knicks Sign Lamar Odom
The Knicks have signed Lamar Odom for the remainder of the season, the team announced. We heard yesterday that New York was nearing a deal with Odom, but a report earlier today suggested there was a chance the team would opt to sign Ike Diogu instead. However, the Knicks eventually decided on Odom, and the big man inked a two-year, minimum salary pact that covers the final game of 2013/14 and features a non-guaranteed year next season, as Howard Beck of Bleacher Report passes along (via Twitter).
Odom’s injury will keep him from playing in the Knicks’ final contest tonight, but the real value in his signing comes from his non-guaranteed second season. New York will be able to use Odom to help match salaries in any deal the club makes before July. Or, if the Knicks are interested in potentially hanging on to the 34-year-old, they can evaluate his abilities in the offseason and cut him without taking a salary hit if it’s decided he isn’t fit to make the squad.
Over the course of 14 NBA seasons, Odom has averaged 13.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He hasn’t seen action since appearing in all 82 contests for the Clippers in 2012/13, when he played an average of 19.7 minutes per night. He’s represented by Jeff Schwartz of Excel Sports Management. The Knicks roster now stands at a league maximum 15 players to conclude the year.
Draft Order Situations To Watch Tonight
There are 15 games on the NBA schedule tonight, and only one of them, the contest between the Hawks and Bucks, won’t have any bearing on the 2014 draft order. With the help of our Reverse Standings, I’ve sketched out what’s at stake in each matchup.
Bulls at Bobcats
Charlotte owes its first-rounder to Chicago, so the outcome of tonight’s game could be doubly meaningful for the Bulls. A Chicago win would ensure the Bulls of the No. 16 pick via Charlotte, but it would drop Chicago’s own pick as low as No. 21. If Charlotte wins, the pick it sends to the Bulls might fall to 17th, while the Bulls’ own pick might go as high as No. 19.
Pacers at Magic
The Magic would seal the third-best lottery position with a loss, but a win might drop them to fourth. The Pacers’ pick belongs to the Suns, who’d be assured of No. 27 with an Indiana loss. Phoenix might wind up with No. 26 if the Pacers win.
Mavericks at Grizzlies
Dallas will have a chance to keep its first-round pick if it loses, but only if the Raptors and Bulls both win and the Mavs win a series of coin flips to determine who picks 19th. Otherwise, the selection goes to the Thunder, who might wind up picking as high as 20th if the Mavs lose and as low as 23rd if the Mavs win. The Grizzlies’ pick might go as high as No. 19 with a loss and as low as No. 23 with a win.
Jazz at Timberwolves
The Jazz can have, at best, the third-best chance of winning the lottery with a loss, or, at worst, the fifth best with a win. The Timberwolves are locked into the 13th position for the lottery.
Rockets at Pelicans
Houston might pick as high as 24th with a loss and as low as 27th with a win. New Orleans, which owes its first-rounder to the Sixers unless it wins one of the top three picks in the lottery, will be locked into the 10th lottery position with a win, but the Pelicans might climb into the ninth lottery position with a loss.
Pistons at Thunder
Detroit, which owes Charlotte its pick if it doesn’t wind up eighth or better, will be locked into the eighth lottery position with a win, but the Pistons might climb to seventh if they lose. The Thunder will pick 29th if they win, but they might pick 27th if they lose.
Lakers at Spurs
The Lakers will have the sixth lottery position if they win, but they might move into fifth with a loss. San Antonio is locked into the final pick of the first round.
Wizards at Celtics
Washington owes its selection to the Suns, who’ll pick as high as 16th with a Wizards loss and as low as 18th with a Wizards win. The Celtics might have a lottery position as high as fourth with a loss and as low as sixth with a win.
Nets at Cavaliers
Brooklyn’s pick goes to the Celtics, who’ll pick 18th if the Nets win, though the pick might go to No. 17 if the Nets lose. The Cavs can lock up the ninth lottery position with a loss, but a win could drop them to 10th.
Sixers at Heat
Miami might pick as high as 24th with a loss and as low as 27th with a win. Philadelphia is locked in to the second-best lottery position.
Raptors at Knicks
The Raptors might pick as high as 19th if they lose and as low as 22nd if they win. The Knicks owe their pick to the Nuggets, who in turn owe the Magic the least favorable of the Knicks’ pick and their own pick. Denver and New York are tied, but one of them will finish in the 11th lottery position and the other will finish in the 12th lottery position regardless of tonight’s outcomes.
Clippers at Trail Blazers
The Clippers will pick 28th if they win, but they might drop to 29th if they lose. The Blazers owe their pick to the Bobcats, who’ll pick 24th if Portland wins, but might pick as low as 26th if Portland loses.
Suns at Kings
The Suns are locked into the 14th lottery position. The Kings will have the seventh lottery position if they lose, but they might drop to eighth if they win.
Warriors at Nuggets
The Warriors owe their pick to the Jazz, who’ll pick 23rd if Golden State wins and might pick as high as 21st if Golden State loses. The Nuggets owe the least favorable of their own pick and the Knicks’ pick to the Magic. Denver and New York are tied, but one of them will finish in the 11th lottery position and the other will finish in the 12th lottery position regardless of tonight’s outcomes.
Atlantic Notes: Woodson, ‘Melo, Lowry, Nets
Mike Woodson has had little contact with Knicks president Phil Jackson, and a source close to the coach believes he knows he’ll be fired, reports Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. Woodson’s assistants have been given no assurances of their future, and if Woodson is fired, all but Herb Williams seem certain to lose their jobs, too, Isola adds. With a coaching change seemingly on the horizon, here’s more on the Knicks and their Atlantic Division rivals:
- Carmelo Anthony‘s longtime teammate J.R. Smith isn’t worried about the prospect that ‘Melo will head elsewhere and is confident he’ll re-sign with the Knicks this summer, as Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com observes.
- The Raptors are so deep into plans to move forward with soon-to-be free agent Kyle Lowry on the roster next season that Lowry would be “derailing the train” if he were to sign elsewhere, writes Cathal Kelly of The Globe and Mail.
- Shaun Livingston, also set to hit free agency, will be a priority for the Nets this summer, and he hasn’t been disappointed with his experience in Brooklyn, as Dave D’Alessandro of NJ.com notes. “I like where I’m at, let’s put it that way,” Livingston said. “This year’s been everything I could have asked for.”
Knicks Mull Signing Ike Diogu
The Knicks are considering a deal with Ike Diogu today that would extend into next season, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link). Presumably, such a move would be instead of signing Lamar Odom. The team is still in talks with Odom, according to Begley, but apparently he’s not the only one on the Knicks’ radar as they look to fill their open roster spot.
Diogu was with the Knicks during the preseason, but apparently they never intended to keep him into the regular season before cutting him prior to opening night. Still, he remained on the team’s short list, and a report in late February indicated the team was thinking about re-signing him. The Bobcats also reportedly auditioned the 30-year-old big man about a month ago before signing DJ White instead.
The veteran of parts of six NBA seasons has spent most of 2013/14 with the Bakersfield Jam in the D-League, appearing in 42 games and averaging 18.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per contest. He hasn’t appeared in official NBA games since 2011/12, when he made a two-game cameo with the Spurs. Diogu, the ninth overall pick in the 2005 draft, last saw significant NBA action with the Clippers in 2010/11.
Diogu’s salary for next season would almost certainly be non-guaranteed. The motivation to sign a player today is so that the Knicks could use that non-guaranteed salary as trade ballast to help salaries match if they make a swap before July. Still, Odom, a 14-year veteran, would be more valuable in that regard than Diogu, whose minimum salary wouldn’t be quite as high.
Candidates Emerge For Pistons Top Exec Job
1:33pm: Hill would be interested in taking a front office job eventually, but not now, tweets Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News.
11:16am: The Pistons appear to be targeting Grant Hill and Magic assistant GM Scott Perry as candidates to replace Joe Dumars atop the Detroit front office, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Stein cautions that the Pistons have promised a broad search, so Hill and Perry will likely be two of many in the running for the job.
Perry has spent most of his NBA career with the Pistons, joining the team as a scout during the same offseason in which Dumars became the club’s top basketball executive. He ascended through the ranks to become vice president of basketball operations for the team after a one-year stint as assistant GM to Sam Presti with the Thunder in 2007/08. He was said to have advocated for the Pistons to draft Carmelo Anthony rather than Darko Milicic while serving as Pistons director of player personnel in 2003, USA Today’s Sam Amick notes (Twitter link).
Hill was rumored to be a candidate for the Suns GM job last year shortly after he retired from playing at the end of the 2012/13 season. NBA teams were still interested in the 41-year-old as a player earlier this year, but Hill rejected those entreaties and has spent the season as a broadcaster. The Pistons drafted him third overall in 1994, and he played his first six NBA seasons with the team.
Amick also names Warriors assistant GM Travis Schlenk and former Raptors and Suns GM Bryan Colangelo as possible candidates (Twitter link).
Los Angeles Rumors: Rivers, Bazemore, Nash
Los Angeles has never seen an NBA season like this one. The Clippers won their franchise-record 57th game on Tuesday, while the Lakers are in the mix for the fifth-worst record in the league. Here’s the latest on a pair of franchises that have switched places in recent years:
- The Clippers will end up only a game or two better than last season, but the change in atmosphere that coach and senior VP of basketball operations Doc Rivers brought about suggests they’re primed for a greater step forward in the postseason, opines Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com. “It’s one thing when your general manager is trying to trade you,” Matt Barnes told Markazi. “It’s another when your coach is the general manager and trying to trade you.”
- Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News believes Jodie Meeks, Jordan Farmar, Ryan Kelly and Kendall Marshall are those most likely to return among the Lakers without guaranteed contracts for next season (Twitter link). Medina looks at what’s ahead for several Lakers in a full piece, suggesting the team is likely to extend a qualifying offer to Kent Bazemore to make him a restricted free agent this summer.
- Steve Nash tells Mike Trudell of NBA.com that he remains unsure of whether he’ll be able to return to the court next season, even as he holds out hope of making a positive contribution in the Lakers lineup.