And-Ones: Johnson, McCallum, Bochoridis
After breaking into the rotation late in the season for a losing Kings squad, Sacramento’s second-round draft pick Ray McCallum tells Tom Markowski of The Detroit News his decision to enter the draft instead of returning for his senior year of college was worth it. “A lot of us were first-year players,” said McCallum. “We have a first-year owner (Vivek Ranadive), a first-year GM (Pete D’Alessandro) and we made a lot of trades. As the year went, on our chemistry grew.” Here’s more from around the league:
- Kevin Johnson is moving on from helping the NBPA with the Donald Sterling controversy, shifting his focus to helping them find their next executive director, per an email obtained by Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. “I feel I’ve completed my duties associated with the Sterling incident. I’m glad I could be of service during this important time and think the Executive Committee and NBPA staff can take things from here,” wrote Johnson. “For the next few months I look forward to returning the focus of my efforts to the work of the Search Committee.”
- In the same email, Johnson said that the union’s search committee has started reaching out to candidates, and that he has personally spoken with a number of retired players that want to throw their hat in the ring.
- NBA rules entitle Roger Mason Jr. to a playoff share of earnings from the Heat, despite the fact that Mason was dealt to the Kings (who waived him) at the trade deadline, per Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel.
- Lefteris Bochoridis tells Enea Trapani of Sportando that he expects to be picked in this year’s draft. “I work very hard to improve every aspect of my game and I expect [to be picked],” said Bochoridis. “If a team gives me an opportunity to make the NBA I will work hard to do it, otherwise I will continue playing in Europe.” The 20-year-old Greek shooting guard isn’t projected to be selected this year, but is ranked as the 20th best international prospect born in 1994 by Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.
Stein’s Latest On Rockets: McHale, Parsons, Love
The Rockets were eliminated from the playoffs in heart breaking fashion last night, having their season ended on a buzzer beater from Damian Lillard. Houston has one of the more active GMs in the league in Darryl Morey, and there is no doubt that Morey will be hustling to make improvements to a team that had its sights set beyond the first round. Marc Stein of ESPN.com takes a look at the offseason decisions facing Houston in his latest piece. Stein’s sources insist that coach Kevin McHale isn’t likely to be let go following the first round upset, which backs up an earlier report that this series was not a deal-breaker for McHale. Here are some more highlights from Stein’s piece:
- Carmelo Anthony has been billed as the Rockets biggest target this summer according to Stein, although it’s unclear if Stein is hearing that from within the organization.
- Stein predicts that the Rockets will do their due diligence in checking on the availability of Rajon Rondo and Kevin Love, although acquiring either via trade appears unlikely at this point.
- The ESPN scribe has heard all season that the Rockets are inclined to decline their team option for Chandler Parsons this year and re-sign him through the restricted free agency process. Despite some speculation that the team would prefer to wait to bump their salary commitment to Parsons by picking up the final year of his rookie contract, Stein believes Houston won’t go down that path considering the risk of losing Parsons as an unrestricted free agent in 2015.
- Stein hears that teams have told Houston that they would want to receive Parsons in any trade in which they took on the balloon-year deals of either Omer Asik or Jeremy Lin. The Celtics would insist on Parsons in any would-be deal with the Rockets involving Rondo, Stein writes.
Central Rumors: Cavs, Noah, ‘Melo
Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer doesn’t have a read on whether the Cavs quiet offseason to date is a good sign for coach Mike Brown. It’s possible that Brown’s job is safe after not getting a quick hook, but Boyer says another possibility is that owner Dan Gilbert is lengthening the decision-making process after making quick moves after last season. Here’s more from the Central Division:
- Boyer adds that she thinks the Cavs would take a look at Carlos Boozer this summer if the Bulls were to amnesty him, although she doesn’t think a Boozer reunion in Cleveland would be popular with Cavs fans.
- Joakim Noah‘s rumored recruitment of Carmelo Anthony didn’t end after All-Star Weekend, sources tell Joe Cowley of The Chiago Sun-Times. Noah has kept a dialogue with the Knicks superstar throughout the season, and encouraged other Bulls players to push for adding Anthony this summer.
- Noah wants Anthony as a Bulls teammate, but he doesn’t want Chicago to sacrifice Taj Gibson in such an acquisition, Cowley adds.
Coaching Rumors: Ollie, Lakers, Kerr
Bill Ingram of Basketball Insiders doesn’t think the next Lakers coach will be able to turn around the franchise in their first year on the job, a reality that could make the job pressure-packed and precarious for a high profile hire. Here are more coaching rumblings from around the league:
- A source tells Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv that while Kevin Ollie‘s ongoing negotiations with UConn could double his salary, he could still be persuaded to leave his college perch for a high enough salary offer from an NBA team.
- The Thunder have interest in Ollie as a coaching candidate, if they were to fire current coach Scott Brooks, a source tells Zagoria (Twitter link).
- If Steve Kerr accepts the Knicks head coaching position, that means he’s convinced Carmelo Anthony will re-sign in New York, since keeping ‘Melo is vital in Kerr’s mind, reports Marc Berman of The New York Post. Earlier this week, president Phil Jackson told Anthony that he expects Kerr to accept the job.
Western Notes: Stotts, Blazers, Kings
The Blazers are riding high after eliminating the Rockets on last night’s incredible, last-second shot from second year point guard Damian Lillard. The Portland franchise, plagued with draft misfortunes and teams of promise that seem to always sink back to mediocrity, is reveling in actual playoff success behind Lillard, who Nicolas Batum deemed the city’s next Brandon Roy, per a tweet from Jason Quick of The Oregonian. Here’s a Western Conference roundup, including more from Rip City:
- Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities tweets that he thinks the Blazers are likely to pick up their team option for coach Terry Stotts now that Portland has advanced to the second round.
- Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee points out that Kings personnel mistakes from recent years are obvious when watching the Blazers thrive in the playoffs (via Twitter). Sacramento selected Thomas Robinson ahead of the buzzer-beating Lillard, and didn’t obtain Robin Lopez in a three-way trade with the Blazers and Pelicans that brought in Greivis Vasquez last summer.
- Voisin adds in another tweet that she’s heard the Kings passed on Lillard because they thought Isaiah Thomas, who they planned on snagging late in the draft, was equally talented. While Thomas was a great find, he hasn’t played at near the level of Lillard.
Prospect Profile: Jarnell Stokes
There are plenty of talented big men in this year’s draft, but few can haul in rebounds like Tennessee’s Jarnell Stokes. The 6’9″ forward is coming off of a season in which he averaged 13.7 RPG per 40 minutes and an eye-popping 6.0 offensive boards per 40 minutes. The takeaway from most observers is that Stokes is able to clean the glass thanks to his phenomenal strength. While his ability to push people around definitely helps, the forward says that doesn’t tell the whole story. 
“Really, it was one thing that happened to me my sophomore year. I didn’t know that people take stats of how many rebounds you don’t go for. So, my mission my junior year was to go for every rebound and once I started doing that, I got better and hungrier. I have a knack for the ball but I also have somewhat of a defensive end type of skill set at making moves to get rebounds,” Stokes told Hoops Rumors.
Stokes, projected to be a late-first round pick by ESPN’s Chad Ford (Insider sub. req’d), put up averages of 15.1 PPG and 10.6 RPG off of 53.1% shooting from the field in 2013/14, helping to lead the Volunteers to the Sweet Sixteen. The forward humbly believes that both his numbers and his play should place him higher in the draft and he’s intent on making that a reality through workouts.
“I think my rebounding numbers set me apart and my numbers period this year set me apart. If you look at my numbers and a lot of guys who are considered lottery types, my numbers are right there, if not better,” Stokes said. “I think in college I was somewhat hurt by having to dominate the paint, so sometimes people don’t exactly understand that I was just doing what my coach instructed me to do.”
For the good of the team, coach Cuonzo Martin positioned Stokes in the post on offense and watched him overpower weaker opponents for easy baskets. Some have criticized Stokes’ lack of a mid-range game, but the 20-year-old says his jumper is just fine. The reason why he hasn’t knocked down many mid-range shots isn’t a matter of ability, but rather a matter of opportunity.
“I definitely feel like I’ve got a solid mid-range game. In fact, if you watch my high school highlights, you’ll see that I was projected to be a small forward. Ultimately, my coaches started putting me at the five and that’s kind of where I focused my game. I don’t mind playing like an undersized center again, but I look at guys like David West and Carlos Boozer and I feel like I can do most of the things that they’re doing,” explained Stokes.
There’s no doubt that his aforementioned strength coupled with his 7’1″ wingspan will help make his transition to the NBA easier. While he doesn’t have a tremendous vertical leap, his reach will help him grab loose balls and help him disrupt shots on defense.
Despite his wingspan, scouts may have concern about his size and how that’ll translate to the next level. At 6’9″, critics argue that larger opponents can get the better of him in the post and quicker players will be able to get around him on the perimeter. For all of his hustle and grit, the biggest knock on Stokes is that his lateral quickness leaves a lot to be desired. As he shows off his 15-footer in workouts, he’ll also look to display his east-to-west speed for scouts.
Even though Stokes turned in a fantastic campaign, a lot of talented underclassmen in similar positions chose to stay in school for another year rather than dive into the ultra-talented 2014 pool. Stokes understands that he has a lot of hard work ahead of him, but he’s also confident that he is ready for the challenge.
“I’ve played against the elite college guys, guys like [Florida’s] Patric Young, I’ve grown up with or played against the best out there. I want to say this as humbly as possible, I can be one of the best bigs in the draft, provided that I can show that certain things can translate.
“I did what my coach needed me to do and what my team needed me to do to win, and I’m glad I did. But there’s much more to my game than what everyone has seen.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Western Notes: Sterling, Owners, Lakers
Donald Sterling has kept a low profile since NBA commissioner Adam Silver banned him for life and fined him $2.5MM on Tuesday. Sterling broke his silence in an interview with DuJour.com, saying, “I wish I had just paid her [V. Stiviano] off.” Stiviano, in an interview with ABC’s Barbara Walters, characterized Sterling’s current state of mind as “confused,” adding, “I think he feels very alone, not truly supported by those around him. Tormented, emotionally traumatized” (link via ESPN.com).
More from out west:
- On Friday morning, Clippers coach Doc Rivers met with team employees who were still upset and angry several days after Sterling was banned for life from the NBA, writes Greg Beachum of The Associated Press. According to the article, Rivers said employees on the team’s business side considered not working for the franchise after Sterling’s racist comments were exposed. Rivers also was quoted as saying, “What I witnessed today, you realize this thing has touched a lot of people. The people that didn’t do anything are being harmed by this, and I wish we could find the right solution, and I don’t have it.”
- Bernard James, the player representative for the Mavericks, hopes the NBA forces Sterling to sell the team, but he also thinks the owners are on a “slippery slope,” writes Dwain Price of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. James said, “I’m sure morally, most of them don’t agree with what Sterling said. But them voting for him to lose his team is hard for a lot of owners. And a lot of them are scared that maybe if I (the owner) do something, or I mess up or say something, or be caught on video doing something I shouldn’t be doing, if it comes to a vote they could take my team. And this would set a precedent for it.’’
- The Lakers search for a new head coach just adds to the uncertainty about the franchise’s future, writes Mark Lamport-Stokes of The New York Times. This is in addition to 12 of the 15 players on the roster expected to become free agents this summer, notes Lamport-Stokes.
And-Ones: Parsons, Bulls, Kerr, Noah
The Rockets have a difficult decision to make with Chandler Parsons this summer. They could exercise their team option for $964,750, but that would make him an unrestricted free agent in 2015. If they decline the option, Parsons becomes a restricted free agent this summer which would surely result in a hefty pay increase for the third-year forward, or the team could lose him if they choose not to match any offers he receives. Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel believes the Magic should explore acquiring Parsons, who might be available thanks to the Rockets cap situation. Parsons averaged 16.6 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 4.0 APG this season.
More from around the league:
- Dan McGrath of The Chicago Sun-Times believes there is only so far the Bulls can go without top-tier talent, and opines that the team needs to go after Carmelo Anthony this summer to have a shot at contending.
- Joakim Noah underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and faces 8-12 weeks of rehab, reports Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (Twitter link).
- Steve Kerr is likely making his final broadcast for TNT on Saturday night when he announces Game 7 of the Grizzlies-Thunder series, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. According to an NBA source, Kerr likely will make his final decision on accepting the Knicks head coaching job soon after the weekend, notes Berman. The only thing that could hold up the decision, according to the article, is if the Warriors lose their first-round series and coach Mark Jackson is fired. Kerr would be a favorite for that position if it were available.
Poll: Best Lakers Coaching Candidate?
The resignation of Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni this week has opened up a floodgate of rumors as to who the team will target as their next coach. D’Antoni, who was hired by the Lakers to replace Mike Brown on November 12, 2012, had a 67-87 record in his two seasons with the team. The primary reason for his resignation was the Lakers refusal to provide assurances they would exercise his team option for the 2015/2016 season. D’Antoni had concerns about having a “lame duck” status next season.
The Lakers are going after marquee names and want to “make a splash” with their next coaching hire, with Connecticut’s Kevin Ollie and Kentucky’s John Calipari at the forefront, reported Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com. The team still plans to reach out to Calipari even though he denied interest in the vacancy on Thursday. The Lakers intend to hold back and focus on the draft and free agency while they gauge the coaching market, Stein and Shelburne write.
The Lakers are also considering holding off on a decision in case a high-profile free agent indicates he wants to join the team, sources told Stein and Shelburne. In that instance, the free agent would be able to influence the team’s choice of coaches.
There are plenty of other names that have been mentioned to be possible targets for the team. Here’s a quick rundown of the main candidates that the Lakers might take a look at:
- Kevin Ollie: Ollie is open to hearing from the Lakers, but is very committed to UConn, a person familiar with Ollie’s thinking said, writes Mark Medina of Los Angeles Daily News. Ollie is a hot name amongst NBA teams right now, and beyond his ability as a coach, he reportedly has a strong relationship with Kevin Durant, and that could be a boon in attempting to lure Durant to Los Angeles when he becomes a free agent in 2016. In two seasons at UConn, Ollie’s record is 52-18, including winning the NCAA Championship this past season.
- George Karl: Karl has been out of coaching since the 2012/13 season. He was let go by the Nuggets after winning Coach of the Year honors that year. He would certainly qualify as a big name coach and would most likely meet with the approval of Kobe Bryant. Karl’s lifetime record is 1131-756.
- Jeff Van Gundy: Van Gundy hasn’t coached since the 2006/07 season when he led the Rockets to a 52-30 record. His career numbers are 430-318. It isn’t known if Van Gundy is interested in the job as he has made it known that he is happy as a broadcaster.
- John Calipari: Calipari has already stated via his own Twitter account that he wasn’t interested in the position and would be staying at Kenucky. “Before it starts, I’m totally committed to helping this group of young men reach their dreams,” Calipari wrote. “I wouldn’t and couldn’t leave this group!” But Nina Mandell of USA Today Sports noted earlier that Calipari accepted the Kentucky job after proclaiming his plans to stay put at Memphis. Calipari previously coached the Nets for 2+ seasons and had an overall record of 72-112.
- Byron Scott: Scott, in an interview with Time Warner Cable Sports Net, confirmed a report that he’s interested in the job (video link). He’s also a favorite of the Buss family, Bleacher Report’s Kevin Ding noted. In 13 seasons as a head coach, Scott has a record of 416-521. He last coached the Cavaliers during the 2012/13 season, leading the team to a 24-58 record before being fired.
- Kurt Rambis: Rambis wouldn’t necessarily be the “big splash” that the team was reportedly looking to make, but his ties to the organization and desire to become a head coach again make him someone that will get some consideration. Rambis coached the Lakers during the 1998/99 season, and had a record of 24-13. He also coached the Timberwolves from 2009/10 to 2010/11. His lifetime record as a coach is 56-145.
- Steve Kerr: Ben Higgins of San Diego’s Channel 10 News (Twitter link) reported that Kerr said he would be interested in speaking to the team about the now vacant position. Kerr has repeatedly been liked to the Knicks since Phil Jackson was hired. Multiple reports suggested that Kerr would prefer to work for a team on the West Coast, but more recently Lute Olson, Kerr’s college coach, said that he didn’t believe that was the case. Marc Berman of the New York Post noted that the Lakers don’t view Kerr as a candidate for their coaching vacancy, believing he’s too far along in his negotiations with New York.
- Derek Fisher: Stein and Shelburne have noted that the Lakers are also considering Fisher, for whom the job reportedly holds “tremendous appeal.” Fisher has made it known that he is interested in pursuing position as an NBA front-office executive after he retires, but Fisher has previously stated that he had no interest in coaching, so it’s unknown if he would have a change of heart.
Who Is The Best Coaching Candidate For The Lakers?
-
Steve Kerr 31% (411)
-
Kevin Ollie 15% (197)
-
Byron Scott 15% (195)
-
George Karl 15% (193)
-
Jeff Van Gundy 7% (96)
-
Derek Fisher 7% (92)
-
Someone Else 6% (74)
-
John Calipari 3% (43)
-
Kurt Rambis 2% (22)
Total votes: 1,323
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Hoops Rumors Featured Feedback
We value your input on the news we cover here at Hoops Rumors. That’s why we’re passing along some of the best insight from our comments and the Hoops Rumors Facebook page. Share your reaction to and insight on the news and rumors around the league, and you’ll have a chance to see your name here. Check out what readers had to say in previous editions of Hoops Rumors Featured Feedback.
It’s easy to sign up and start commenting on Hoops Rumors. First, read our Commenting Policy. Then, scroll to the bottom of any post, and you’ll see the word “Login” on the right side atop the comments section. Click the word and choose whether you want to comment using a Disqus account or your existing Facebook, Twitter or Google account. If you don’t have a Disqus account and you want to create one, just choose that option and click “Need an account?” at the bottom right of the box that pops up.
This week’s report that the Bulls are likely to attempt to trade Carlos Boozer inspired a robust discussion on Hoops Rumors, and reader John Conley had much to say about a Bulls franchise he feels has underperformed. We’ll share his thoughts on what Chicago must do in the summer ahead.
- The Bulls need three scoring threats in order for them to get to the conference finals. They can’t make wide open shots during crunch time. If [Derrick] Rose comes back healthy, they need at least two guys to go with him that score at least 15 points per game and play some form of defense. They keep repackaging the same team and it isn’t working. Their bench is weak, the starting five is weak and their offense is weak. Can’t fall in love with players the way the Bulls have in recent years. We need a couple of beasts on offense. We need a Nene. Gotta be one D-Leaguer that is a beast and hungry for a chance?
Pau Gasol isn’t content with his team either, writing on his website that the Lakers would have to make significant changes for him to re-sign this summer. One of the teams likely to pursue him is Charlotte, and ozzie chimed in about whether the Bobcats, soon to be renamed the Hornets, would be a fit.
- I would say, “If Gasol could help the new Hornets in some ways, go for it.” He could be one of the missing links needed to make the Hornets a much more improved team next season. The Lakers are at a standstill with no improvement insight. The Hornets move would make more sense.
The Lakers might be anxious to make a splash with their coaching hire, but so should the Timberwolves, as Dorian Holden wrote in response to news on candidates for the Minnesota job.
- The Wolves have gotta hit a home run knowing that [Kevin] Love is entering his walk year. They need a big name splash. And I think some of these people are gonna wait for the Lakers to open up.
We appreciate everyone who adds to the dialogue at Hoops Rumors, and we look forward to seeing more responses like these from you!