Week In Review: 9/8/14 – 9/14/14
This hasn’t been a pretty week in the three major sports. The NBA was rocked this week by the Hawks controversy which will see new ownership in Atlanta and possibly a new GM to replace Danny Ferry. Let’s look beyond the ugliness and check back on the week that was..
- The Hawks re-signed Elton Brand to a one-year, $2MM deal.
- The Warriors and Jerry West agreed to an extension that will keep him in the fold through the 2016/17 season.
- Goran Dragic plans to opt out next summer.
- Several teams, including the Heat, Magic, Spurs, and Pacers, Kings, Cavs, Suns, and Mavs are interested in Zoran Dragic.
- Chauncey Billups retired.
- The Clippers finally signed Hedo Turkoglu.
- There’s a hangup in Francisco Garcia‘s deal with the Rockets but it sounds like he’ll get things worked out.
- The Mavericks will sign Charlie Villanueva to a non-guaranteed deal. Before agreeing to sign with Dallas, he was mulling an offer from the Clippers.
- Alonzo Gee and Scotty Hopson are in the Jason Terry deal, but not Josh Powell.
- D.J. Stephens is set to meet with the Jazz.
- Free agent forward Elijah Millsap signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Bucks.
- The Sixers signed Ronald Roberts Jr.
- The Cavs signed Chris Crawford to a partially guaranteed two-year deal.
- Power forward Vernon Macklin will join the Pelicans for camp. Ditto for Kevin Jones.
- Dionte Christmas is also New Orleans-bound.
- Julyan Stone has signed with an Italian club.
- Mustafa Shakur is headed to Lithuania.
- The Warriors added Las Vegas standout Justin Holiday to their training camp roster.
- Gustavo Ayon will play in Spain.
- The Nets are bringing former Knicks center Jerome Jordan in for camp.
- Ryan Gomes has signed with Spain’s Saski Baskonia.
- The Lakers auditioned Pooh Jeter, Jeremy Tyler, and others.
- The Suns signed Joe Jackson. He is really going out with them.
- The Knicks signed combo guard Langston Galloway and power forward Travis Wear.
- Big man Dallas Lauderdale will attend training camp with the Hornets.
- The Kings had their eye on Dmitry Kulagin but he decided to re-up in Russia.
- The Grizzlies and Earl Clark agreed to a training camp deal.
- The Hornets are after frontcourt help.
- Melvin Ely is headed to Japan.
Heat Sign Khem Birch
SEPTEMBER 14th, 11:23am: The signing is official, the team announced.
8:24pm: Birch’s deal is partially guaranteed, agent Mike George confirms to Ben Standig of CSNWashington.com.
SEPTEMBER 2nd, 1:22pm: Undrafted power forward Khem Birch will join the Heat on a camp deal, reports Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun (Twitter link). Birch will almost certainly be making the minimum salary should he stick until opening night, just like Andre Dawkins, who also appears headed to Miami, as another report indicated within the hour.
The Wizards were also high on Birch, Wolstat tweets, and it wouldn’t be surprising if still more teams were pursuing the former UNLV standout who entered this year’s draft as the No. 42 prospect in Chad Ford’s ESPN.com rankings. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress had him going at No. 58 in his final 2014 mock draft, so he sits at or near the top of the best undrafted talent still available from this year’s class.
The 6’9″ Birch made his mark on the boards in a breakout campaign for the Runnin’ Rebels this past season, averaging 10.2 rebounds in 31.4 minutes per game. He grabbed 5.7 RPG in 19.5 MPG with the Wizards summer league team in July.
Miami’s roster is poised to swell to 19 with the addition of Birch and Dawkins, one shy of the preseason limit. Reports have linked the Heat to several veteran shooting guards and big men in recent weeks, but it appears as though Miami is close to finishing its offseason pickups.
Poll: Who Will Win The Atlantic Division?
The 2014/15 NBA regular season doesn’t officially begin until Tuesday October 28th, when the Spurs raise their Championship banner, and host the rival Mavericks. This is the time of year when most fans can still bask in the warm glow of hope, and every team is still undefeated. It’s also the time of year for predictions to start rolling in on how the upcoming season will shake out. Today we’ll be seeing who you folks think will win the Atlantic Division. Let’s take a quick look at the possible contenders…
Note: All projected starters taken from the respective team pages at ESPN.com.
Boston Celtics
The most compelling storyline in Boston this season will be if and when Rajon Rondo is dealt, and what pieces GM Danny Ainge is able to get back for his star player. This seems like another year of draft position jockeying in Boston, but there are some nice young building blocks in place for the future. The franchise is still very much in rebuilding mode, and isn’t expected to compete for a playoff spot this season. Instead the focus will be on developing those building blocks, players such as Marcus Smart, James Young, Jared Sullinger, Tyler Zeller, and Kelly Olynyk.
The Celtics best outcome would be to deal Rondo after he establishes that he’s healthy, which would up the potential return, which in turn would hopefully include a lottery pick or two. The franchise is moving in the right direction, but this isn’t the year the team can compete for the top spot in the division. Better to spend another year near the bottom, score a better draft position, and aim for 2015/16 for bigger and better things.
Projected Starters:
- PG: Rajon Rondo
- SG: Avery Bradley
- SF: Jeff Green
- PF: Brandon Bass
- C: Tyler Zeller
Brooklyn Nets
It’s hard to predict what we’ll see out of Brooklyn this season. Health will be the make-or-break factor, and “if” will be the key word for the team. The team can be a factor in the Atlantic “if” Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, and Joe Johnson stay healthy. “If” Kevin Garnett still has anything left in the tank “if” he returns for another campaign. “If” new head coach Lionel Hollins can win over the locker room while implementing his hard-nosed defensive system. Quite a few question marks for a veteran team, and Brooklyn’s fans might not like how all the answers turn out.
Despite losing starting small forward Paul Pierce to the Wizards, there is still quite a bit of talent on the roster. If the team can get full seasons out of both Williams and Lopez, the Nets have a decent shot at taking the top spot in the Atlantic. A long playoff run is another story, and a deeper, more talented roster away from happening.
Projected Starters:
- PG: Deron Williams
- SG: Joe Johnson
- SF: Andrei Kirilenko
- PF: Kevin Garnett
- C: Brook Lopez
New York Knicks
The Knicks are a franchise still transitioning from one regime to the next. There is a sense of hope in New York, thanks to the arrival of Phil Jackson as team president, and owner James Dolan’s promise to give Jackson the space he needs to shape the franchise in his image. It remains to be seen if Jackson can be successful as an executive, or if Dolan can keep his promise of being “hands-off.”
Also adding to the uncertainty of what to expect from the team is the arrival of rookie head coach Derek Fisher and the decision to implement the triangle offense. Fisher has plenty of experience as a championship player, but how quickly he can adjust to being a head coach who has to manage egos will be a big factor early in the season.
The roster has improved from last year’s campaign, Carmelo Anthony has re-signed, and Jackson made a number of interesting moves so far. The most important addition will be Jose Calderon at point guard. The Knicks suffered from some of the worst point guard play in the league last season, and though Calderon isn’t a strong defender, he is a solid distributor and his shooting efficiency should be enhanced by the triangle offense.
I expect a bit of a bounce-back year from the Knicks, but with all the new pieces on the roster, and the new system that is being taught, expect the team to start slow and improve toward the end of the season, similar to what we saw from the Nets last year.
Projected Starters:
- PG: Jose Calderon
- SG: J.R. Smith
- SF: Carmelo Anthony
- PF: Amar’e Stoudemire
- C: Samuel Dalembert
Philadelphia Sixers
The Sixers intend to compete for the top spot next season, only it isn’t the Atlantic Division that they hope to win, but rather the top spot in next year’s NBA Draft. Whether you refer to it as tanking, or rebuilding, Philadelphia is going all in on its plan. The Sixers have stripped away almost every veteran player of note, and they have a very real shot at breaking the franchise’s own league record for losses in a season.
The most compelling aspects of the 2014/15 season in Philadelphia will be the development of Nerlens Noel, the recovery of Joel Embiid, and just how low the team can sink. While I applaud the Sixers’ attempt to speed up the rebuilding process by hitting bottom instead of laboring in mediocrity, it might not bear fruit this season. Next year’s best prospects are primarily big men, and Philadelphia has already spent two high draft picks on interior players. If a dominant wing or guard doesn’t emerge as a potential top pick, it could create an interesting logjam on the Sixers depth chart.
Unless the franchise gets into a situation like the one portrayed in the film “Major League,” and finds some way to defy every sane preseason prediction of a last place finish, another year of living in the Atlantic Division’s basement is most definitely in the cards.
Projected Starters:
- PG: Michael Carter-Williams
- SG: Tony Wroten
- SF: Hollis Thompson
- PF: Nerlens Noel
- C: Luc Mbah a Moute
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors were one of the league’s surprise teams last season, winning the Atlantic Division with a record of 48-34. They kept the core of the team intact and are in good shape to repeat as division champs. The Eastern Conference will be extremely competitive next season, and the Raptors could arguably be considered the third or fourth best team in the conference behind the Cavs, Bulls, and Wizards.
Health will be a big key, as Toronto isn’t an especially deep team at key positions. It will also be interesting to see if Kyle Lowry‘s big year was a fluke, the product of a contract-year push, or if he is indeed ready to be a franchise star. The continued development of Jonas Valanciunas will also determine just how far this franchise can go in the postseason. Toronto has enough talent to win the division and a playoff series, but more than that is probably wishful thinking.
Projected Starters:
- PG: Kyle Lowry
- SG: Terrence Ross
- SF: DeMar DeRozan
- PF: Amir Johnson
- C: Jonas Valanciunas
Who do you think will take the Atlantic Division crown next season? Vote in the poll and feel free to expand on your choice in the comments section below.
Trade Retrospective: James Harden To Rockets
In the wake of the blockbuster deal that sent Kevin Love to the Cavaliers this summer, I’ve been taking a look back at some of the bigger trades that have occurred in the NBA over the last decade. It’s always a risk to trade away a star player, and getting equal value is a near impossibility in most cases.
It’s fascinating to see the league-wide ripples that big trades can cause, and sometimes the full effects and ramifications aren’t fully felt until years later when the draft picks are used, players either reach their potential or fall short, and the won-loss records are chiseled into stone, or at the very least into the amber that is the internet.
So far I’ve looked back at Carmelo Anthony being dealt to the Knicks; Kevin Garnett to the Celtics; Dwight Howard to the Lakers; Stephon Marbury to the Knicks; Shaquille O’Neal to the Heat; Chris Paul to the Clippers; Deron Williams to the Nets, and LaMarcus Aldridge to the Blazers. Next up is the 2012 trade that saw the Thunder ship James Harden to the Rockets.
Let’s begin by reviewing the assets exchanged:
- The Rockets received Harden; Cole Aldrich; Daequan Cook; and Lazar Hayward.
- The Thunder got Kevin Martin; Jeremy Lamb; 2013 first-rounder via the Raptors (Steven Adams); 2013 second-rounder via the Hornets (Alex Abrines); and a 2014 first-rounder via the Mavericks (Mitch McGary).
The trade of Harden was 100% financially motivated on the Thunder’s part. The team had been trying to sign the 6’5″ shooting guard out of Arizona State to an extension, but Harden turned down Oklahoma City’s four-year, $55MM deal, which turned out to be a total of about $6MM less than the four-year maximum salary extension that Harden was seeking. Harden eventually got the deal he was looking for from the Rockets, and in October of 2012, just after the trade was completed, he signed the extension with Houston for five years and $78.8MM.
The Rockets had been stagnating in the Western Conference and had been desperately seeking a superstar player for years. Harden seemed like the perfect fit–a young, playoff-tested scorer who could not only improve Houston’s roster and ticket sales, but who also could be used to lure other big name stars to the city.
Let’s look back at Houston’s records prior to the trade:
- 2009/10: 42-40
- 2010/11: 43-39
- 2011/12: 34-32
Harden came in and during his first season he set career highs in virtually every statistical category, as well as beard length. He also helped make the Rockets one of the more dangerous and entertaining teams in the league, though despite Harden being paired up with Dwight Howard, the franchise hasn’t made it past the first round of the playoffs since either player has been in town, and with the brutal offseason the team has had, that outlook doesn’t look to improve this coming season.
Here’s what Harden has done since arriving in Houston:
- 2012/13: 25.9 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 1.8 SPG. His slash line was .438/.368/.851.
- 2013/14: 25.4 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 6.1 APG, and 1.6 SPG. His slash line was .456/.366/.866.
Harden has given the Rockets their money’s worth thus far, despite being a bit of a ball-stopper on the offensive side, not developing into a plus defender, and turning the ball over far too often (3.7 per game in his two seasons with the Rockets). Considering that Harden is just entering his prime, and barring injury, the best is still ahead of him as a player.
Cole Aldrich only spent 30 games in a Rockets uniform, averaging 1.7 PPG and 1.9 RPG. On February 20, 2013, Aldrich was traded to the Kings along with Toney Douglas and Patrick Patterson, and $1MM for Francisco Garcia, Thomas Robinson, and Tyler Honeycutt. He finished out the season with Sacramento, and then signed with the Knicks in the offseason.
Daequan Cook also had a short stay in Houston, appearing in just 16 games, and averaged 3.4 PPG and 1.1 RPG. He was waived by the Rockets on January 2, 2013, then signed with the Bulls and finished out the season in Chicago. That was his last year in the NBA and Cook has played overseas since then.
Lazar Hayward never played in a single game for the Rockets, as he was waived immediately after the deal. He then signed with the Timberwolves, but only appeared in four games for the franchise, averaging 2.5 PPG and 1.0 RPG. Hayward hasn’t seen any NBA action since.
From Houston’s perspective, the trade should be considered a success. They got the best player in the deal, and the star they had been seeking, and didn’t have to give up the farm to acquire him. This trade hasn’t resulted in a deep playoff run yet, but Harden is a player that the Rockets can certainly build around. For a comparison, let’s look at the Rockets’ records after trade:
- 2012/13: 45-37 (Lost in first round to Thunder)
- 2013/14: 54-28 (Lost in first round to Blazers)
It’s doubtful that the Rockets will take the next step forward this season after losing Chandler Parsons to the Mavs in free agency, and dealing away Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin while trying to clear enough cap space to sign Chris Bosh, who snubbed Houston and re-signed with the Heat. But with Dwight Howard and Harden as a foundation, the Rockets should be able to bounce back in the next few seasons.
For the Thunder, trading away Harden was a huge gamble, especially since the team had just come off a surprise trip to the NBA Finals, and with a solid young core the sky seemed to be the limit for Oklahoma City. But the team was feeling the salary cap crunch with Kevin Durant‘s, Russell Westbrook‘s, and Serge Ibaka‘s big money deals already on the books, and Harden seeking a max deal.
The trade hasn’t harmed the franchise during the regular season, but Oklahoma City definitely felt the effects in the playoffs, especially considering the team’s injury woes. For comparison let’s first look back at the Thunder’s records prior to trade:
- 2009/10: 50-32 (Lost in first round to Lakers)
- 2010/11: 55-27 (Lost in Conference Finals to Mavs)
- 2011/12: 47-19 (Lost in NBA Finals to the Heat)
As I previously mentioned, this trade was all about the Thunder trying to maintain long-term cap flexibility so they could try to surround their core with more than just minimum salary players. Dealing away Harden hasn’t affected the franchise during the regular season, as evidenced by Oklahoma City’s records since the deal.
- 2012/13: 60-22 (Lost in second round to Grizzlies)
- 2013/14: 59-23 (Lost in Conference Finals to Spurs)
The team has still performed well above the competition during the 82 game regular season, but the playoffs are where Harden’s absence has been felt the most. The loss of “The Beard” was exacerbated the last two seasons because of the injuries to Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka, where Harden’s presence could have mitigated the damage missing those two stars caused. As talented as Reggie Jackson, Martin, and Lamb are, they aren’t capable of taking over a game on the offensive end like Harden is, which is invaluable during the grind of a playoff series.
As for Oklahoma City’s side of the deal, the primary piece they received was Kevin Martin, who was counted on to replace a large portion of Harden’s scoring punch off of the bench. While nowhere near as dynamic an offensive player as Harden, Martin had averaged over 20 PPG five times in his career prior to arriving in Oklahoma City.
Martin only spent one season in a Thunder uniform, and averaged 14.0 PPG, 2.3 RPG, and 1.4 APG. His shooting numbers were .450/.426/.890. While these numbers weren’t far off of what Harden provided during his time in Oklahoma City, Martin never quite clicked with the Thunder’s style of play, and he had a rough playoff run, averaging 14.0 PPG and shooting only 38% from the field.
After the season he was part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Timberwolves and the Bucks, and Oklahoma City received the draft rights to Milwaukee’s 2003 second-round draft pick Szymon Szewczyk in return. Martin’s new contract with Minnesota was for four years and $28MM.
Martin was seen more as a one-year stopgap by the Thunder, and they were hoping to develop Jeremy Lamb to take over the backup shooting guard duties after Martin departed, and do so for a much lower salary as well. Lamb has shown flashes of potential, but I would have a difficult time making an argument that he will develop into a star on Harden’s, or even Martin’s level, anytime in the future. Here’s what Lamb has done with the Thunder during his first two seasons in the league:
- 2012/13: 3.1 PPG, 0.8 RPG, and 0.2 APG. His slash line was .353/.300/1.000.
- 2013/14: 8.5 PPG, 2.4 RPG, and 1.5 APG. His slash line was .432/.356/.797.
It can be argued that the Thunder used the two first-rounders that they received to essentially draft the same player twice. In 2013 they selected Steven Adams with the No. 12 overall selection. Adams was viewed as a long-term project who had remarkable physical tools for a big man. During his rookie season, Adams averaged 3.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 0.7 BPG. His slash line was .503/.000/.581.
Adams has quite a bit of potential, and while I don’t believe he’ll ever perform at an All-Star level, he’s the type of player who can help push a good team to the next level with the gritty play that he provides. Whether or not the Oklahoma City front office agrees with me can be debated, seeing as they selected Mitch McGary with the No. 21 overall pick in this year’s draft.
I have no issue with McGary as a player, and I think he’ll turn out to be a serviceable pro as he develops. But his game and skill set is remarkably similar to Adams’, and I can’t help think that either Shabazz Napier, Rodney Hood, or P.J. Hairston would have filled more pressing needs at that draft slot. Although, with this most likely being Kendrick Perkins‘ last run with the team, an Adams/McGary center rotation could be quite serviceable if both players can avoid injuries and continue their skill progressions.
The victor of this deal hasn’t quite been decided yet, but in my opinion Houston got the better end of the trade. Harden was easily the best player involved, and he gave the Rockets the type of star they could build around and boost season ticket sales with. He afforded Houston six years of control of a young superstar just entering his prime. They also might not have landed Howard without Harden being part of the package that they pitched to the big man.
As for the long-term, I don’t personally believe that Harden can be the best player on a championship caliber team. He’s too much of a ball-stopper, and his defense is barely average for the position. He’s a fantastic complementary piece, and if the Rockets’ front office can surround him and Howard with the right role players, Houston has a shot at a title somewhere down the line. Next season will likely be a step back for the team, and I think that they will miss Parsons quite a bit, not to mention the hit their depth took with the departures of Lin and Asik.
There was very little chance that the Thunder would come out on top in this trade. When shipping out a star player, it’s rare for a franchise to improve. During the regular season the team didn’t miss Harden, but in the playoffs his presence may have been enough to get the Thunder back to the Finals even without Westbrook or Ibaka being healthy.
Adams, McGary, and Lamb are nice complimentary players, but none has the ceiling that Harden does. It can be argued that one secondary benefit of this trade was the emergence of Jackson last season. He averaged 13.1 PPG and 4.1 APG, primarily off of the bench, and has helped fill the void that Harden left. But the Thunder face a similar situation now with Jackson up for an extension. While he most likely won’t be in line for a max-level contract, he still may command more than Oklahoma City is comfortable paying.
If the Thunder are forced to trade Jackson, they’ll probably find out once again that it’s almost impossible to get a significant return back. Just look at what they received for Harden, who is a far superior player. The Thunder have a small window to contend for an NBA Championship, and if they can snag one in the next two seasons before they run the very real risk of losing Durant to free agency, then trading Harden won’t go down as a failure. But I have to think he was worth the extra $4.5MM that was the point of contention during his negotiations with the team. With him on the Oklahoma City roster the last two seasons, it’s very possible that the Thunder would have won their first title. That’s a possibility that many OKC fans have no doubt contemplated.
Note: If there’s a particular trade that you would like to see me take a look back at, please feel free to sound off in the comments section below or hit me up on Twitter at @EddieScarito.
And-Ones: Hornets, Favors, Hawks
Earlier today, we passed along word from coach Steve Clifford that the Hornets are seeking frontcourt help. Clifford’s interview with Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer touched on some more of Charlotte’s roster, including how he’ll use newly signed Marvin Williams. “He’ll play both forward spots, but I see him primarily as a stretch [power forward],” said Clifford. “He’s a very smart player who makes smart, simple plays. And he’s very professional in his approach.” Here’s a rundown of league news and notes, including more from Clifford:
- Clifford revealed that Jeff Taylor‘s recovery from an Achilles injury has been interfered with by a personal matter. “Unfortunately, Jeff has a family situation in Sweden [keeping him away from Charlotte],” he told Bonnell. “Nothing can be done about that and you know he’s an exceptional worker, but he’s had to miss our five optional workouts. So it’s hard to get a feel for where he’s at. He did a couple of summer-league practices. Medically he’s fine. So it’s just a matter of having more continuity, so that when he plants and cuts and jumps he’s confident [in his recovery.]”
- Milos Teodosic is an NBA-caliber player lighting up the World Cup, but the Serbian star won’t consider a move stateside unless he’s offered upwards of $3MM in annual salary, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The Grizzlies were the last team to make a serious run at the point guard, when he spurned them last summer.
- Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune profiles Derrick Favors, the big man whose four-year, $48MM extension will commence this season. The center tells Jones he’s comfortable taking the next step as a franchise cornerstone for the Jazz, a sentiment GM Dennis Lindsey seconds. “This is really the second stage for Derrick,” Lindsey said. “We’ve had patience with him and he’s had a natural progression. With Derrick, nobody can accuse the Jazz of skipping steps. We know that we’re making a significant investment in him by giving him the contract extension. Derrick has taken ownership of his development.”
- The Basketball Insiders team previewed the upcoming season for the Hawks.
- J.A. Adande of ESPN.com writes that the NBA’s slowness to identify and dismiss the source of the racial slur from the scouting report on Luol Deng that triggered the Hawks scandal indicates a willingness to harbor that sentiment in the league, contrary to the commissioner’s declaration to root out racism when he first banned Donald Sterling.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Emeka Okafor
Of the league’s remaining unsigned free agents, Emeka Okafor is at the very top of the list in earnings from last year. Despite not playing a single game with the Suns, Okafor raked in $14.5MM in the last year of the six-year, $72MM deal he originally signed with Charlotte. If and when Okafor does receive a new NBA contract, it will almost certainly be for a massive pay reduction.
A herniated disc in Okafor’s neck was the reason the center missed all of 2013/14 and will likely remain unsigned for the near future. After playing 79 games for the Wizards in 2012/13, the ailment was discovered last preseason and wrecked his entire 2013/14 campaign. Okafor was subsequently traded to the Suns, who planned on flipping his contract for another asset. The center was viewed by many as a hot commodity, but his value was exclusively tied to his substantial expiring salary, which would have been useful in clearing cap space for a potential recipient. Phoenix had extensive discussions with the Lakers about moving Okafor as part of a trade to acquire Pau Gasol, but a deal never materialized.
If the status of his health weren’t up in the air, Okafor would most likely be signed by now. An intimidating interior defensive presence, the former No. 2 pick has averaged 1.7 blocks for his career, a number bolstering a virtual double-double career average in points (12.3) and rebounds (9.9) per game. The veteran did show signs of offensive decline the last season he saw the floor, turning in a career-worst .278 rate of free throw attempts per field goal attempts and a .496 true shooting percentage, well below his career average of .535. However, he still produced an above average PER of 15.8 for Washington, and maintained an elite defensive impact. While his blocks per game dropped to a career-worst 1.0, he generated a 99 defensive rating, according to his Basketball-Reference page, and 3.7 defensive win shares, top-10 and top-25 marks for the season, respectively.
Ongoing concerns about Okafor’s neck have prevented the big man from securing a deal, but they haven’t kept roughly half of the league from registering interest in his services. Contenders including the Heat, Cavs, and Clippers are among the teams interested. Those teams make a lot of on-the-court sense, as a steady rim-protector is always high on a playoff hopeful’s wishlist. The Clippers are the only team that has reportedly worked out Okafor, and they have since signed Ekpe Udoh in a move that would presumably reduce their need for Okafor on the roster. The Heat were considering both Okafor and Udoh as potential interior additions, so while Udoh’s deal with Los Angeles may hurt Okafor’s prospects there, it could very well help his outlook in Miami.
While no word has surfaced on the impression Okafor’s workout left, the league is wary of his lingering medical issues. He isn’t expected to sign anywhere until mid-season, and it’s unclear if doctors have cleared him for full basketball activities at this point. As much as a big, defensively disruptive body excites general managers, the thought of a big, ailing body under contract distresses them.
All of the teams known to be interested in Okafor are limited to paying the veteran’s minimum, as are most contenders in general at this stage in the offseason. If Okafor were to alleviate concerns about his health, a minimum salary would seem to be a discount for a player of his caliber. Elton Brand doesn’t have the same ceiling as Okafor at this stage in his career, but he just received a $2MM contract for 2014/15 on the merits of being a sturdy big off the bench. Chris Andersen, another big man expected to fill a role that’s smaller or similar to the one Okafor might play, re-signed with the Heat for two years and $10MM. Of course, Okafor may be willing to play on a one-year deal for the minimum for the chance to contend and demonstrate his viability looking toward next summer and a more lucrative deal.
Okafor could end up with more options if he waits until midseason to look for a deal. In-season pickups earn prorated salaries, meaning a team without room to squeeze the big man under the tax line now could conceivably do so later in the season, when a minimum contract’s payout would shrink. As always, opportunities could open up for Okafor if any teams lose a frontcourt piece to injury. Teams currently unable to offer Okafor more than the minimum could gain that flexibility if granted a disabled player exception after a season-ending injury to one of their players.
At this point, we’re more likely to hear updates on Okafor’s health than any announcement of a signing. The center has bounced back from injury before throughout a solid career, and I expect him to do so again. Don’t be surprised if Okafor is unemployed as the regular season opens, but making a difference once the postseason arrives.
Hawks Rumors: Saturday
This offseason won’t be remembered for anything the Hawks did to upgrade their roster, but instead the gloom of the racially charged comments from controlling owner Bruce Levenson and GM Danny Ferry will be the enduring sentiment. It’s been a busy week in Atlanta, and if you want a recap you can check out the previous updates for Monday; Tuesday; Wednesday; Thursday; and Friday. We’ll track today’s developments here, and any additional updates will be added to the top.
7:15pm update:
- In a subscription-only interview, an anonymous scout tells Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel that they’ve never seen the kind of racial stereotyping that was present in the Deng report. “I’ve never seen that before, not in a negative way,” the veteran scout said. “You might say a typical ‘European’ player, but ‘African’ has its own special connotation. It’s not neutral, and then there were the subsequent comments. I think it’s exceptionally rare. I’ve read hundreds, thousands of scouting reports. At draft time you see all the reports, and this simply does not ring a bell about a racial component. You’re always evaluating character. What’s rare is connecting character to racial stuff. That’s what was so troubling about this.”
- The scout tells Winderman that he doesn’t expect Deng’s reputation around the league to suffer from the leaked report. “All I know is one of their coaches was just ecstatic about him, coaching him,” the scout said. “The coaching staff was big on him and I think that’s more than just the fact that he was a good player. I haven’t heard anything negative. All I’ve heard is positive from their coaching staff.”
- The scout confirmed that rigorous personality scouting is considered fair game for player scouting, even to the extent of hiring a private investigator.
3:42pm update:
- Team CEO Steve Koonin released a letter apologizing for the recent incidents within the organization and acknowledged that the team’s management has let fans down. USA Today Sports’ For The Win is hosting an image of the entire piece.
- Carmelo Anthony believes the scandal will have a negative impact on the Hawks, as Tim Bontemps of the New York Post details. “[There] ain’t nobody [who] would want to go there,” said ‘Melo. “As a player, as an athlete, we’re looking for a job, we’re trying to find a place where we can move our family, we can make our family comfortable, where we can be comfortable in a comfortable environment, but those comments right there, we would never look at. I’m speaking on behalf of all athletes. We would never look at a situation like that, I don’t care what it is.“
10:55am update:
- With Ferry taking an indefinite leave of absence, Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Justin Termine of CineSport discuss his future with the franchise (video link).
- Ferry’s worst mistake, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, was that he didn’t take ownership of his comments, regardless of if he was reading them aloud, or they were his altogether. Being in charge of the franchise makes Ferry accountable for them either way, opines Wojnarowski.
- The Hawks face a number of challenges on and off the court in rebuilding their franchise’s image, writes Charles Odum of USA Today.
9:00am update:
- Aside from the racial component, the nature of the scouting report in question covered rumors and judgments regarding Luol Deng’s character, and a widespread league scouting emphasis that targets players’ private lives and personalities, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Executives and scouts tell Berger that the “dirty work” focus in scouting came about in the early 2000s, as information on college players with ever-shorter amateur careers became more scarce. Berger says that the tendencies of NBA scouts to seek information from ball boys, teammates, friends, and other non-official team sources has been mirrored by NBA reporters in seeking inside information. Berger also wonders whether African scouts will be comfortable working with Ferry if he returns to his post, but was unable to reach any for comment.
- The embarrassing dysfunction from the Hawks franchise is nothing new, Sean Deveney of the Sporting News writes, and he recounts a string of botched ownership transfers in recent decades.
- Mark Bradley of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks that Ferry’s decision to take a leave of absence has increased the GM’s odds of keeping his job in the long run.
Cray Allred contributed to this post.
New York Notes: ‘Melo, Jordan, Teague
Both New York NBA teams will be playing for new head coaches and an altered roster this season. Here’s a rundown for the Knicks and Nets:
- Carmelo Anthony was angry following the Knicks disappointing 37-win season, as he tells Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. His displeasure with missing the playoffs led him to begin working out after a short two-week break, and he’s continued the ambitious training regimen ever since, spending time with teammates of late to get a head start on new coach Derek Fisher‘s triangle offense. “I haven’t been broadcasting it, man,” said Anthony. “But I’ve been at the facility for the last couple of weeks with the young guys, with the coaches, trying to figure out that triangle offense…When people say spots, I’m going to be all over the floor in the triangle. It makes it hard to guard, it keeps all eyes off of you. I’m looking forward to it, I’ve been saying it all summer. I can’t wait.”
- Anthony voiced his support of the extended All-Star break that will take effect this season. “I love it, I’m a big fan of that. I wish it was two weeks,” said Anthony, who isn’t worried about the increased back-to-backs in the schedule necessary to accommodate a longer break. “We play too many games as it is. So another back-to-back is not gonna hurt.”
- Reed Wallach of Nets Daily takes a look at Jerome Jordan‘s game, noting the Nets‘ camp hopeful has some traits that Brooklyn could use this season.
- In the same piece, Wallach passes on a report of new coach Lionel Hollins‘ interest in Marquis Teague. Hollins’ support could curb any rumblings that the backup point guard’s guaranteed contract could be waived, while boding well for the prospects of Teague’s 2015/16 team option being picked up by the October 31st deadline, which didn’t appear likely before Hollins was hired.
Hornets Seeking Frontcourt Help
Noah Vonleh’s injury leaves the Hornets’ frontcourt with less depth than coach Steve Clifford would like, and as a result, the team is planning on adding a player to help supplement their cast of bigs, as Clifford tells Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. Vonleh, the ninth overall pick in June’s draft, likely wasn’t in line to receive major minutes in the upcoming season, but any player signed or acquired will probably take on his load in the rotation until he’s healthy enough to return.
The Hornets’ frontcourt is currently set to feature Marvin Williams, Cody Zeller, Al Jefferson, and Bismack Biyombo. The team has 14 guaranteed deals on their books as well as Dallas Lauderdale‘s likely non- or partially guaranteed pact. Lauderdale is a big man himself, but Charlotte might not feel comfortable giving him a spot in their rotation, since he lacks any NBA regular season experience. It’s possible that he could impress Clifford and GM Rich Cho enough in camp to the point that they don’t feel compelled to ink another player, but given Clifford’s admission they were looking to add someone, it seems safe to assume Lauderdale isn’t the solution the team is after.
There are several veteran bigs available on the market, as our list of 2014 free agents shows. I’d speculate that the recently waived Hasheem Thabeet might make sense if the team is looking for a center, but Dante Cunningham could be a more appealing option if they’re leaning toward bringing in a power forward. No players have been identified as potential targets yet, but that could change in the days ahead.
Charlotte can offer free agents a deal worth up to $2,732,000 using the room exception. They might not need to use that full amount, as many available players would likely settle for the minimum at this late stage of free agency, but the ability to make an offer greater than that could help them win a player who’s also being pursued by a team limited to paying the minimum.
Melvin Ely Signs With Japanese Team
Former Pelicans big man Melvin Ely has signed a deal that will have him playing with the Gunma Crane Thunders in Japan next season, the team announced. He still needs to pass a physical before the contract can be finalized, passes along Ed Odeven of the Japan Times (hat tip to Orazio Cauchi of Sportando).
Ely wasn’t a frequent topic of discussion this offseason, as the meager amount of recent activity on his rumor page shows. The former lottery pick’s non-guaranteed pact was waived by the Wizards in July after a three team swap sent him from New Orleans to Washington. The Relativity Sports client appeared in just two games for the Pelicans last season, spending most of his time in the D-League.
Terms of the new deal aren’t immediately clear, and it remains to be seen whether or not the 36-year-old’s contract will feature an escape clause allowing him to return to the NBA if a stateside club wants to sign him. Given his age and the sparse amount of NBA playing time he’s seen in recent years, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Ely wrap up his basketball career overseas.