Lakers Leaning Toward Keeping Mike D’Antoni
Mike D’Antoni has come under fire from Kobe Bryant and other Lakers players this season, and while the team hasn’t decided whether to keep the coach for next season, they’re leaning toward retaining him, according to Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding. The Lakers will apparently make their final decision quickly after the regular season, which ends two weeks from tonight.
Bryant was vague in his assessment of D’Antoni in a recent radio interview, saying that he didn’t know whether the coach deserved to return but adding that D’Antoni hasn’t gotten “a fair shake” because of all the injuries the club has dealt with during his tenure. An earlier report indicated that Bryant had “no interest” in playing for the coach any longer. Jordan Hill and Pau Gasol, both free agents at season’s end, also reportedly would like to see D’Antoni go, and Hill said Tuesday that he won’t return unless his role changes. Chris Kaman, another of the many soon-to-be free agents on the Lakers, has been critical of his limited playing time on multiple occasions, but a chat with D’Antoni’s agent Tuesday prompted the center to offer defense of the coach Tuesday, as Ding passes along.
D’Antoni and his alma mater, Marshall University, are said to have mutual interest, but it would seem highly unlikely that D’Antoni would walk away from the final guaranteed year of his contract with the Lakers if they decide to bring him back. It’s nonetheless been a trying time in L.A. for the one-time darling of the coaching profession, whose vaunted small-ball attack has failed to deliver wins and bred resentment from players who don’t fit with the scheme.
The Lakers hired D’Antoni instead of popular former coach Phil Jackson early last season, drawing the ire of their fans, and the team failed to recover from a slow start that cost Mike Brown his job after only five games in 2012/13. The Spurs swept the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs last season, and the Lakers tumbled to new lows this year, as they sit at 25-49, in danger of setting a franchise record for losses. D’Antoni is 65-81 as coach of the team.
Pacific Rumors: Warriors, Hill, Tucker, Nash
Jermaine O’Neal has hinted that he’ll retire after the season, but the 35-year-old scored 20 points Tuesday in an overtime win, and he says the rumors surrounding coach Mark Jackson and the team have been a galvanizing force in the Warriors locker room. Jeff Caplan of NBA.com has more from the 18th-year veteran, and we have the latest from around the Pacific Division:
- Jordan Hill won’t rule out a return to the Lakers in free agency this summer, but not if it means playing the same limited role he’s seen this season, notes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. Hill would reportedly like the team to replace Mike D’Antoni, but Tuesday the power forward offered praise and respect for the Lakers coach. Still, if D’Antoni is back with the team next year, Hill certainly won’t be, Medina writes.
- P.J. Tucker, a restricted free agent this summer, calls the months ahead “the most important time in my career,” but he feels indebted to the Suns, and the Arete Sports Agency client fully intends on re-signing with them, observes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. “Of course, why would I not?” Tucker said. “They brought me here. I think I exceeded their expectations and mine with what has transpired. Of course, I want to retire a Sun.”
- The Lakers plan to keep Steve Nash and his full $9.701MM salary for next season, and his 10-assist effort Tuesday against the Blazers shows that he’s still capable of being more than just a sunk cost for the team, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Following Specific Players On Hoops Rumors
There are a number of different ways to follow Hoops Rumors via Facebook, Twitter, and RSS, as we’ve outlined before. If you don’t want to follow all the site’s updates, you can subscribe to team-specific or transaction-only Facebook, Twitter, and RSS feeds. Although we don’t have Facebook pages or Twitter feeds for specific players, you can also easily follow all our updates on your favorite player.
If, for instance, you want to keep track of all the latest news and rumors on Carmelo Anthony as his free agency approaches, you can visit this page. If you’re interested in keeping tabs on a potential offseason trade candidate like Kevin Love, you can find Love’s page right here.
Every player we’ve written about has his own rumors page. You can find any player by using our search box (located in the right sidebar); by clicking his tag at the bottom of a post in which he’s discussed; or, by simply typing his name in your address bar after hoopsrumors.com, substituting dashes for spaces. For example, Carmelo’s page is located at hoopsrumors.com/carmelo-anthony.
You can also set up an RSS feed for any of our player pages by adding /feed to the end of the page URL, like this: hoopsrumors.com/carmelo-anthony/feed. Entering that URL into the reader of your choice should enable you to get updates whenever we write about Anthony. It works for teams, too. If you’re a Bulls fan, you can enter hoopsrumors.com/chicago-bulls/feed into your reader and stay on top of all the latest on the Bulls.
In addition to players and teams, there are a number of other subjects you can track by clicking on the tags we use at the bottom of posts. You can track coaches and executives under fire, like Mark Jackson and Joe Dumars. Items related to the NBA D-League, for instance, can be found on this rumors page. If you want to follow updates on the 2014 NBA draft, those are all available here. Again, you can set up a feed with any of these pages by adding /feed to the end of the URL.
And-Ones: Nash, Vasquez, Bucks
John Zitzler of Basketball Insiders looks at the steps the Bucks should take in the offseason to get their rebuilding process heading in the proper direction. He believes the team needs to select the best player available in the draft, regardless of position, and shape the rest of the roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo. Zitzler also opines that the Bucks need to retain and develop some of their other young players, such as John Henson, Brandon Knight, Khris Middleton, and Nate Wolters.
More from around the league:
- Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune chronicles the career path of Greivis Vasquez, his success with the Pelicans, and where he may end up next season.
- It is unknown if Steve Nash will be physically able to play next season, or if the Lakers will keep him on their roster. Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic looks at the toll the injuries have taken, and Nash’s likelihood of returning to Los Angeles in 2014/15.
- The Thunder don’t figure to have a top-20 selection in this year’s draft, so they will have to try and find value when they pick. The staff at NewsOK.com look at some of the prospects that might be available when the team selects, as well as opine on what the Thunder’s needs might be.
- The debate over “tanking” has gone on all season and will certainly continue all the way through the draft. Nate Duncan of Basketball Insiders thinks the whole issue is overblown, and explains why tanking isn’t ruining the league.
Eastern Notes: Hopson, Augustin, Heat
The Cavs used the room exception to sign Scotty Hopson on Monday, but because the maximum 4.5% raise permitted via the exception is tied to what he actually makes, rather than the exception’s full value, Hopson isn’t a particularly intriguing trade chip. Mark Deeks of ShamSportsexplains the matter in his latest piece for the Score, noting that Hopson’s salary of about $1.37MM this season and $1.44MM next season is roughly equivalent to what a veteran of 10 seasons or more would make on a minimum-salary deal. Hopson is ineligible to be traded until July 10th, meaning he’s of no use for a draft-night trade.
More news from around the east:
- Since being picked up by the Bulls after Toronto waived him in December, D.J. Augustin has averaged 14.3 PPG on nearly 42 percent shooting, including 41 percent from 3-point range, in 30.4 minutes per contest. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, but would love to return to Chicago, writes Cody Westerlund of CBSChicago.com.
- The Heat‘s “Big Three” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh can all become free-agents after the season. There has been speculation that one or all three would consider leaving Miami, but before making any decision, the trio plan to sit down together to discuss their options, writes Darren Rovell of ESPN.com.
- Phil Jackson has been to only two of the eight games the Knicks have played since he took over their basketball department. Some say Jackson should be with the team as much as possible to get to know the players and staff and help them in any way he can as they try to make their playoff push, but Carmelo Anthony is not one of them, writes Al Iannazzone of Newsday. Anthony said, “He’s smart. He knows what he’s doing. He’s been in this situation before with fighting for spots and trying to win basketball games. So he knows what to expect, and now he’s on the outside looking in. I guess he’s giving us our space. We’re not really concerned about that.”
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Draft Notes: Dinwiddie, Smart, Kentucky
Colorado junior Spencer Dinwiddie is leaning heavily toward leaving for the NBA, writes Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com. The 6’6″ guard, who tore the ACL in his left knee on January 12th, will likely will forgo his final college season, unless the NBA evaluation he receives back says he does not have a chance to go in the first round of the draft, reports Goodman. Dinwiddie was averaging 14.7 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 3.8 APG at the time of his injury. He is currently ranked as the 46th best prospect by Chad Ford of ESPN.com.
More news related to draft matters:
- Marcus Smart is close to signing with Wasserman Media Group, notes Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Zwerling also notes that Jay-Z and Bill Duffy are candidates to sign Andrew Wiggins.
- As many as eight Kentucky players might declare for this year’s NBA Draft. Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders breaks down each candidate and what their draft prospects are. Koutroupis has also released his latest mock draft.
- Chad Ford (Insider subscription required) breaks down which players have moved up and which have moved down his draft rankings based on their NCAA Tournament performances.
Gary Harris To Declare For NBA Draft
Michigan State sophomore Gary Harris intends to declare himself eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft, reports Darren Heitner of Forbes Magazine (Twitter link). Heitner also reports that Harris is signing with Aaron Mintz of C.A.A. for representation.
Harris would have been a potential lottery selection last season, but elected to return to school for his sophomore year. He currently sits at number 10 on Chad Ford of ESPN.com‘s Big Board, and is predicted to be selected late in this year’s lottery.
In 35 games this season Harris averaged 16.7 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 2.7 APG in 31.0 minutes per game. His slash line was .429/.352/.810. His career numbers are 14.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.0 APG, and 1.6 SPG.
2014 Free Agent Power Rankings
There are no changes to the top 10 players on the Hoops Rumors 2014 Free Agent Power Rankings a month after the debut edition, but the order is shuffled. Gordon Hayward and Dwyane Wade jumped up two spaces apiece, while Lance Stephenson was the most significant tumbler, falling from seventh to 10th. The regular season is nearing an end, meaning there’s limited time for guys on non-playoff teams like Hayward and Greg Monroe to state their cases. Still, money is often earned and lost in the playoffs, so there will be much at stake in the weeks ahead for many on this list.
We’ll be ranking the best of the 2014 free agents on a regular basis from now until free agency begins in July. Here’s our latest look:
- LeBron James — The four-time MVP is running out of time to earn his fifth such award, after a March that perhaps met his lofty standards but certainly didn’t exceed them. Still, the Heat find themselves atop the Eastern Conference standings for the first time all season today, and if a three-peat is on the offing, it’d be especially hard to see James leaving Miami with the chance of four in a row looming.
- Carmelo Anthony — The Bulls and Rockets appear to be ‘Melo’s top alternatives to re-signing with the Knicks, though it appears New York’s decision to hire Phil Jackson as team president has given the star forward a boost of enthusiasm about sticking around.
- Chris Bosh — If Bosh’s one-word answer to a true-false question is to be believed, he and LeBron will be back in Miami next season. Most league insiders reportedly feel as though all three Heat stars will opt out and hit free agency, only to re-sign with Miami.
- Eric Bledsoe — The point guard returned to the lineup this month, and while his scoring and shooting percentage are down, his rebounds are up. Perhaps most importantly, the Suns are 8-3 since his return. The Suns plan to match any offer for their restricted free agent, but he seems in line for the maximum salary.
- Greg Monroe — So much depends on who’s making basketball decisions for the Pistons come July, as I wrote when I examined the 23-year-old’s free agent stock. Detroit has fallen out of playoff contention, but Monroe had his best month of the season in March, averaging 16.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
- Gordon Hayward — Hayward likes Salt Lake City, which is a plus for him, since the Jazz have the power to match any offer. The swingman will stay clear of negotiations and leave them to the Jazz and agent Mark Bartelstein, who can point to Hayward’s improved shooting down the stretch if he keeps up his March performance in the season’s final two weeks.
- Dwyane Wade — He’ll likely do as the other Heat stars do, which indicates that he’ll remain with the Heat, the only NBA team he’s ever played for. Wade is still capable of dominance, as his 11 for 12 shooting night in his hometown of Chicago this month proved.
- Luol Deng — The small forward appears to be counting the days until he can leave Cleveland, though there’s still an outside chance the Cavs will make the playoffs and keep Deng in their uniform a little bit longer. Deng’s numbers still haven’t returned to their Chicago levels since the midseason trade that took him from the Bulls.
- Zach Randolph — Z-Bo’s best shooting month of the season coincided with a 12-5 record for the Grizzlies, who are making a late season push for the playoffs. Randolph has perhaps more to gain from a strong postseason than anyone. If he can prove he’s still a beast inside at age 32, he can opt out and sign another lucrative, long-term deal.
- Lance Stephenson — The fourth-year shooting guard’s penchant for sins of aggression, like the technical foul that prompted his ejection for the stretch run of a key game against the Heat in March, might be his most glaring flaw. His no-holds barred attitude is also one of his greatest strengths, and GMs will have to weigh the nebulous factors of psychology and intangibles when they consider Stephenson. March has been his worst month, just as its been for the entire Pacers team.
Dirk Nowitzki has a strong chance to sneak into the top 10 next time, especially if the Mavs make the playoffs and Stephenson and the Pacers can’t turn it around. Kyle Lowry‘s making a case for himself, too, although his assists were down and his turnovers were up in March.
Note: I’m not listing players under team control for 2014/15, like Tony Parker, who has a partially guaranteed contract.
Eastern Rumors: Jerebko, Hawks, Young
Jonas Jerebko has seen an uptick in minutes under Pistons interim coach John Loyer, notes Brendan Savage of MLive, who suggests that the identity of the team’s coach for 2014/15 will weigh heavily as Jerebko decides whether to opt in. He has a $4.5MM player option for next season, but I’d be surprised if he turned that money down regardless of who’s coaching. Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- The recent poor play of the Hawks has put their chances of a playoff berth in jeopardy, but injuries have had much to do with that. GM Danny Ferry praised his roster and likes the way the team is positioned for future seasons, as he tells USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt.
- Thaddeus Young seemed to want out of Philadelphia at one point this season, but he sees the team’s decision to keep him and anoint him the leader of a young Sixers team as a sign of respect, observes Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News.
- Udonis Haslem, who has a player option for next season, has been caught off guard by his lack of minutes with the Heat this season, as he tells Shams Charania of RealGM.
Johnny O’Bryant III Declares For NBA Draft
LSU junior Johnny O’Bryant III declared his intent to enter the NBA draft in a press conference today, tweets Matthew Harris of The Advocate. Steve and Alyssa Schneider of WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge originally reported the news. O’Bryant is the 65th-best prospect in Jonathan Givony’s DraftExpress rankings but just No. 101 with Chad Ford of ESPN.com.
The 6’9″ 20-year-old appears to be primarily suited to play power forward as a pro, and he cut down on an occasional tendency to wander outside his range this season, attempting just a pair of three-point shots. The Mississippi native averaged 15.4 points and 7.7 rebounds. He suffered from bouts of inconsistency, scoring 25 points against Vanderbilt and just five against Georgia two nights later, though he saw 18 shots in the first game and just eight in the second.
LSU’s season ended with a loss to SMU in the second round of the NIT. O’Bryant has until April 15th to decide whether to return to the Tigers for his senior season.