Knicks Move Closer To Signing Lamar Odom
MARCH 15TH: The Knicks and Odom are making progress toward striking a deal before the regular season is over on Wednesday, according to Stein. Odom probably isn’t healthy enough to play in either of the Knicks’ final two games, Stein hears, but the contract would cover 2014/15 with non-guaranteed money, the ESPN.com scribe adds.
MARCH 11TH: The Knicks are considering signing Lamar Odom prior to the end of the season, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter link). According to Stein (Twitter link) the team is considering a deal with a team option for the 2014/15 season so they could take the summer to evaluate him and his health.
Odom had recently met with Knicks president Phil Jackson, but the reason for the meeting wasn’t made public. Odom, who played for Jackson when both were with the Lakers, had his NBA comeback stalled due to an injury while signed overseas.
He last saw NBA action with the Clippers during the 2012/13 season. In 82 games he averaged 4.0 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 1.7 APG in 19.7 minutes per game. His career averages are 13.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, and 3.7 APG in 33.4 minutes a night.
And-Ones: Collins, Dumars, Farmar, Thomas
Sources identified a long list of potential NBA GM candidates to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Doug Collins, Mavs director of player personnel Tony Ronzone, Blazers director of college scouting Chad Buchanan, Bucks assistant GM David Morway, Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks, Knicks director of pro personnel Mark Hughes, Wizards director of player personnel Frank Ross, Pacers director of scouting Ryan Carr, Heat assistant GM Adam Simon, Magic assistant GM Matt Lloyd, Jazz assistant GM Justin Zanik, and Rockets executive VP of basketball ops Gersson Rosas all earned mentions. Here’s tonight’s look around the Association..
- The Kings have recalled Willie Reed from the Reno Bighorns, according to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee (on Twitter). The Bighorns were eliminated from the D-League playoffs on Sunday.
- Some people familiar with Pistons exec Joe Dumars expect him to take some time off before pursuing another top executive role, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
- Jordan Farmar reiterated his interest in re-signing with the Lakers following the club’s 102-90 loss yesterday to the Grizzlies, writes Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News. “Of course, I’d be a Laker,” Farmar said. “And if I was [General Manager] Mitch [Kupchak], I would sign me.” The guard averaged 10.3 points and 4.8 assists despite playing in only 39 games this season due to injury.
- The Bulls tried to lure Kurt Thomas to Chicago, but Marc Stein of ESPN.com hears that the big man considers himself retired.
- The T’Wolves never had interest in putting in a waiver claim for Greg Smith, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Smith landed with the Bulls earlier today.
- Who will be the biggest name traded this offseason? The Basketball Insiders staff held a mini-debate and the names of Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Love, and Rajon Rondo all came up in conversation.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Southwest Notes: Rockets, Randolph, Pelicans
Tonight’s look at the Southwest Division..
- The Rockets announced (on Twitter) that Isaiah Canaan and Robert Covington have been assigned the club’s affiliate in Reno Grande Valley. Both players are extremely familiar with the Vipers.
- Zach Randolph reiterates his desire to remain with the Grizzlies for the rest of his career, though he adds in his interview with Marc Stein of ESPN.com that he hasn’t had any talks with team management as a decision on his player option for next season looms (video link).
- The Pelicans‘ late-season release of Greg Stiemsma is an embarrassment, opines Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune. New Orleans signed veteran journeyman Melvin Ely in his stead.
Knicks Notes: Carmelo, Bulls, Woodson
The Knicks reportedly have a pitch for Carmelo Anthony that includes finishing in the bottom of the 2014/15 standings. The full plan: lose big next season, watch the contracts of Amar’e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani, and Tyson Chandler come off the books, and make a big free agent splash next summer. Here’s the latest from MSG..
- Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News doesn’t see Carmelo Anthony leaving New York this summer. While there are potential suitors out there including the Bulls, Lakers, and Rockets, there are roadblocks in each of those destinations. The only thing that can prevent No. 7 from coming back to MSG, in Lawrence’s view, is if Phil Jackson has a better plan.
- The Bulls have a lot to offer Carmelo, if he’s interested, writes Harvey Araton of the New York Times. Coach Tom Thibodeau was very complimentary in discussing the Knicks star over the weekend. Reading between the lines, Araton thinks that Thibs is saying that he can enhance his virtues and camouflage his weaknesses if he comes to the Windy City.
- Coach Mike Woodson, Stoudemire, and Anthony all took a share of the responsibility for the Knicks’ disappointing season, writes Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. Mea culpas are great and all, but it seems likely that Woodson will be the one who gets the ax in New York.
Neil Olshey On Lopez, Williams, Aldridge
The Blazers are playoff bound this year and that’s thanks in part to the work of General Manager Neil Olshey. The Portland decision-maker took some time last week to sit down with Dwight Jaynes of CSNNW for an interview and Chris Haynes has the goods. Let’s take a look at the highlights..
How were you able to acquire Robin Lopez for virtually nothing?
It’s the old, how do you become a millionaire? First start with a million dollars. So, I think what we had to do was be really optimistic. We had a very specific need and that solidified what we were looking at. We knew the type of player we wanted to bring in and we found two teams that basically had different goals where we could facilitate a transaction between them and we were able to participate in that. A lot of it, Arn Tellem was great to us because Robin really liked the Portland market. Arn liked the situation basketball wise. He also represents LaMarcus Aldridge so everybody involved wanted to make the deal work. And everybody’s goals were met. New Orleans ended up with Tyreke Evans, Sacramento ended up with assets and we ended up with the missing piece for us, which was a defensive-minded center.
How did signing Mo Williams come about?
I think guards win games. We all just watched the NCAA Tournament and you look at guard-oriented teams. This is clearly different, our league but guards are just so critical with our game, the new rules, the floor being more open. I had a great comfort level with Mo. I traded for him with L.A., when I was with the Clippers. I had worked him out for the draft before I got into the NBA. Terry [Stotts] had coached him. So much of what we do is predicated on the ability to trust the pass and make shots. And that’s what Mo brings. One of the other goals was we wanted to have somebody that could play on or off the ball. It was so important for us when we looked at what Eric Maynor brought to the table back in March of last year, how efficient our offense was. Knowing how good we can be when Damian gets to get off the ball, not have primary playmaking responsibilities every possession. And Mo does that. He’s leading the league in assists off the bench. I think if you look at it, how efficient Damian is when he gets off the ball and you have two primary ball handlers, our offensive efficiency just goes up.
What do you think about LaMarucs Aldridge and Damian Lillard saying they’ll actively recruit players to come to Portland?
Well, I think it’s a window into what type of people LaMarcus and Damian are. And I think probably even more important than whether or not they can deliver on that promise, is the fact that they are willing to try. And it’s an endorsement of our culture, it’s an endorsement of the things we’re trying to do here. It’s a belief in our mission. I do think that one of the things we tried to do when we got here was a lot of teams face different challenges in their markets in the league. Not every market is based in one of the Top 2 cities in the league on a beach; nightlife and you can’t answer all the questions. But one of things you can answer and can control is the basketball environment. The renovation of the practice facility, things going on at the Moda Center, an incredible fan base, an owner who couldn’t be more committed and passionate about winning, who has a track record of winning and just won a Super Bowl. So I think the belief there is that you want players, not only to be able to retain your own players, which I think is critical with the new collective bargaining agreement, but when you go out to recruit, the ability to say transparently, this is the best basketball environment you can be in for your career.
Willie Cauley-Stein Won’t Enter Draft
Kentucky standout Willie Cauley-Stein announced (via Twitter) that he will return for another year at Kentucky. Cauley-Stein’s projected draft position varied depending on who you ask, but he was a virtual lock for the middle of the first round.
Given the 7-footer’s draft stock, it’s a surprise to see him staying in school for another season. In 37 games, the 20-year-old averaged 6.8 PPG and 6.1 RPG in 23.8 minutes per contest, displaying his above-average athleticism and vertical game. Cauley-Stein was a top 20 projection in most 2014 mock drafts and the folks at DraftExpress have already taken note of his decision, slotting him as their No. 8 prospect in the 2015 mock.
With Cauley-Stein back in the fold for his junior season, Kentucky is now faced with a potential frontcourt logjam. The 7’0″, 244 pound center will join Dakari Johnson, Marcus Lee, Trey Lyles, Karl Towns and Alex Poythress in 2014/15.
Hoops Links: Pistons, Spurs, Sixers, Shumpert
On this date in 1994, the Sonics became the second NBA team to have ten different players score in double figures during a 150-101 win over the visiting Clippers as Detlef Schrempf led the scoring parade for Seattle with 21 points. Seattle also had ten double-figure scorers in a 135-104 win over the Trail Blazers on March 30, 1980, with Gus Williams notching a team-high 23 points. The Suns joined the group on November 23, 1994 during a 140-109 triumph over the Clippers as Wesley Person’s 19 points led ten double-figure scorers for the Suns.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want featured on Hoops Rumors? Send me a link at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere..
- Six Championship Drive looks ahead to next year for possible Pistons backcourt targets.
- 48 Minutes Of Hell is impressed by the Spurs’ pace.
- Hoop76 breaks down Philadelphia’s revolving door.
- Posting And Toasting gives a tip of the cap to Iman Shumpert‘s defense.
- Bourbon Street Shots is poking the bear.
You can send your submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Lakers, Suns Interested In Luol Deng
The Lakers and Suns are among the teams interested in soon-to-be free agent Luol Deng, sources tell Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio. There were conflicting reports in February about Deng as an offseason target of the Lakers, but the Suns appear to be a newcomer to his list of suitors. Both teams will have plenty of cap flexibility this summer for the Herb Rudoy client, who’s rumored to be eyeing salaries of more than $13.5MM.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports wrote shortly before the trade deadline that there was increasing doubt the Lakers would make a run at Deng in the summer. Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times countered soon afterward with a report that the Lakers are high on Deng, but that they don’t want to overpay him, with the franchise’s focus primarily on 2015’s free agent class. Around the same time, Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News put the Lakers on a list of teams likely to pursue Deng in free agency that also identified the Mavs, Celtics, Magic and Bobcats.
Deng has appeared unlikely to re-sign with the Cavs almost since he arrived from the Bulls in a January trade. The Cavs explored flipping him at the trade deadline, but other teams were wary of taking him on without an assurance he would re-sign. Deng, who turns 29 on Wednesday, is No. 8 on the Hoops Rumors 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings.
Draft Rumors: Williams-Goss, Clarkson, Towns
There’s been a flurry of draft-related news today, with reports indicating Aaron Gordon, Jerami Grant and Glenn Robinson III are all entering the draft, while Montrezl Harrell took to Twitter to announce that he won’t be in this year’s draft. Our list of early entrants is up to date, and you can follow all of this year’s draft-related news on this page. Here’s the latest:
- Washington point guard Nigel Williams-Goss has decided against entering this year’s draft, as he tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. The freshman was a 2013 McDonald’s All-American while in high school, but he’s just the 178th-best draft prospect in the rankings that Chad Ford of ESPN.com compiles. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress has him outside his top 100 prospects, rating him as the 23rd-best freshman in this year’s class.
- A source tells Sean Deveney of The Sporting News that Missouri combo guard Jordan Clarkson has signed with Mike George of Excel Sports Management (Twitter link). That contradicts an earlier report suggesting that Clarkson is going with ASM Sports. The move remains unofficial, so it remains to be seen which agency Clarkson ultimately picks.
- Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports profiles Karl-Anthony Towns, a 7-foot high schooler headed to Kentucky next year who’s a potential 2015 lottery pick.
Bulls Sign Greg Smith
12:50pm: Smith’s contract is fully guaranteed for next season, tweets Shams Charania of RealGM. It’s for the minimum salary both this year and next, since the capped-out Bulls are out of exceptions.
12:30pm: The Bulls have signed former Rockets center Greg Smith, the team announced. The move comes just a half hour after the team waived Tornike Shengelia, presumably to make room. Smith is likely out for the season after undergoing surgery on his right knee in January, and that motivated Houston to cut ties. He’s ineligible to play in the postseason for Chicago since the Rockets waived him last week, long after the March 1st deadline for him to retain the ability to take part in the playoffs with another team. Given his unavailability for this season, Chicago’s contract with Smith probably extends into next season.
Chicago strongly pursued the retired Kurt Thomas, but wound up inking Smith and, last week, Lou Amundson instead, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. That might have accounted for the lag between the team’s announcements today.
Smith appeared in only 11 games for the Rockets this year, in part because of injuries and in part because of a crowded frontcourt that includes Dwight Howard and Omer Asik. He was in the team’s rotation last season, averaging 6.0 points and 4.6 rebounds in 15.0 minutes per game across 70 appearances, 10 of which were starts.