Western Notes: Kings, Harden, Griffin
Two years into his majority ownership of the Kings, Vivek Ranadive admits he has made several mistakes — including hiring former coach Michael Malone before assembling a front office and selecting a general manager in 2013 — but said he expects success in the future for the franchise, and also clarified Vlade Divac‘s role in the front office in an interview with Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee.
“Vlade makes the decisions,” said Ranadive, adding that Divac’s title as vice president of basketball and franchise operations positions him above GM Pete D’Alessandro. “Two people report directly to me. Chris Granger, who runs the business side, and Vlade from the basketball side. I want to make that clear as we move forward. We have a lot of work to do, and we are all in this together.”
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- In the same piece, Divac tells Voisin that he doesn’t expect the Kings to be a lottery team next season. “[It’s the] last time [in the lottery],” said Divac, who will represent the Kings at the proceedings on May 19th. “We’re going to move fast, and like Vivek said, we are all in this together. Me, coach, Pete, Mike [Bratz]. No separate agendas. Our only agenda now is to win.”
- James Harden is averaging 27.4 points per game this postseason, but the skilled scorer also leads the NBA in postseason turnovers, at 40, and produced plus/minus in the negative and the Rockets need him to elevate his game in the team’s series against the Clippers, Calvin Watkins of ESPN.com writes.
- Rockets coach Kevin McHale was complimentary of the Clippers‘ Blake Griffin and the star’s improvement this postseason, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes. As Feigen points out, Griffin’s averages of 25.1 points per game, 13.5 rebounds per game and 7.3 assists per game through his first 10 playoff games are all playoff career bests. “You either improve or you stay the same. If you stay the same, they draft other people at your position and you go get a job being an Uber driver or something,” McHale said. “He improved. That’s what you got to do. If you’re not better in your third or fourth year than you were in your first year, there’s something wrong with you.”
Hoops Links: D-League, Heat, Parsons
On this date in 1987, Warriors guard Sleepy Floyd set two NBA playoff records when he dropped 29 points in the fourth quarter and 39 points in the second half. Thanks to Floyd, Golden State beat the Lakers 129-121 in a high-scoring Game 4. In total, Floyd put up a whopping 51 points against Los Angeles.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…
- Upside Motor looked at how NBA assignees impacted the D-League standings this year.
- Posterized Basketball reflected on the season in Miami.
- Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues says Chandler Parsons is the face of the Mavs.
- Rant Sports says Kevin Love belongs in Los Angeles.
- Six Championship Drive ranks this summer’s free agents.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Grizzlies Notes: Gasol, Allen, Conley
Marc Gasol, who will become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end, is showcasing why he’s considered one of the elite players this summer’s market has to offer. The Grizzlies‘ big man seized control of the second quarter in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals series against the Warriors, Michael Cohen of the Commercial Appeal writes. Gasol played every second of the second quarter, scoring 12 points and grabbing five rebounds while missing only two shots from the field. Gasol, who was guarded by elite defender Draymond Green in the second quarter, finished with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
Here’s more out of Memphis:
- Tony Allen, who has two years remaining on his contract after the Grizzlies re-signed him in July 2013 to a four-year deal worth $20MM, wants to be remembered as one of the all-time elite defenders, Michael Wallace of ESPN.com writes in a lengthy profile of the veteran guard/forward. “When they talk about the Bruce Bowens, Dennis Rodmans and Michael Coopers, I want them to remember my name, too,” said Allen, who was named to the All-NBA Defensive first team in 2011/12 and 2012/13. “I’m not just playing this game to be average. I want to be elite. I think I am, and I’ve proven it this year. It’s all right to be acknowledged; nothing wrong with that.” Wallace adds that while Marc Gasol is the face of the franchise, it is Allen who resonates more with Memphis because of his blue-collar work ethic.
- Despite battling through several injuries, Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley has made things difficult for the Warriors’ Stephen Curry in the Western Conference semifinal series between the two teams, Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal writes. Conley’s five-year, $45MM extension back in November 2010 is widely considered more of a bargain than it was when he was initially inked to the deal. His contract is up after next season.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Goran Dragic
The Heat lost their top free agent last summer, and even though the stakes are much lower this time around, the franchise is hoping to keep Goran Dragic in Miami. The Heat are still reeling from LeBron James‘ announcement last July that he was returning home to Cleveland. After four straight trips to the NBA Finals, Miami missed the playoffs with a 37-45 record this season. Now, instead of dominating the NBA, the Heat have started rebuilding.
Part of that process will be re-signing Dragic, who came to Miami from Phoenix in a three-team deal at February’s trade deadline. It cost the Heat four players and two first-round draft picks to acquire Dragic, who was a Third-Team All-NBA selection in 2013/14. To get the seventh-year guard from Croatia, Miami dealt Danny Granger to the Suns, along with a top-seven protected pick in 2017 and an unprotected selection in 2021. The Heat also sent Norris Cole, Shawne Williams, Justin Hamilton and cash considerations to New Orleans to complete the deal.
After shelling out so much to get Dragic, Miami wants to make sure he stays with the franchise for the long term. He has a $7.5MM player option for next season that he has already announced he will decline. Dragic has seemed to form a bond with Miami since the trade, calling it his favorite U.S. city. “I had a great time in Miami and I want to come back,” he told Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post last month, “but we’ll see what happens.”
What might happen is a large offer from the Lakers or Knicks, who were both reportedly on a list of favored destinations — along with Miami — that Dragic compiled before being traded from Phoenix. Both teams could use an experienced point guard and both have plenty of cap room to throw maximum offers at Dragic. And there are likely to be more suitors. Dragic, represented by agents Rade Filipovich and Bill Duffy of BDA Sports Management, has repeatedly made it clear that he will listen to every offer that comes his way.
One possible landing spot for Dragic is Houston, although the Rockets would have to clear some cap room to become serious bidders. Dragic spent part of the 2010/11 season and all of 2011/12 in Houston before leaving in the summer of 2012 to sign a four-year, $30MM free-agent deal with Phoenix. The Rockets were pursuing Dragic at this year’s trade deadline before he was dealt to Miami. It was reported in February that Dragic wasn’t willing to sign a long-term deal with Houston or any other team not on his list of preferred destinations. Dragic was apparently reluctant to sign long-term with the Rockets for fear that they would trade him later.
No matter who comes calling, Dragic noted that the Heat have a “huge” advantage because they own his Bird Rights and can offer a five-year deal, while other teams are limited to four. The total value of a maximum offer from Miami would be roughly $110MM, compared to about $81MM from anyone else. Miami also has the built-in financial advantage of being located in Florida, which has no state income tax.
“As long as I’m in a happy environment and a healthy organization, that’s the most important thing,” Dragic told Lieser in a separate story. “The next three, four, five years — I want to spend it on this kind of team, like the Miami Heat. They have great players, great coaching staff and great training staff.”
The attraction of Dragic, who turned 29 last week, is obvious. In 26 games after being traded to Miami, he averaged 16.6 points and 5.3 assists. He’s a 36% career shooter from three-point range and has a reputation for being durable, appearing in 77, 75 and 78 games the last three seasons.
The Heat have been open about their desire to retain Dragic. Shortly after their season ended, coach Erik Spoelstra said that he wants to bring back Dragic and Luol Deng, who also has a player option. “They’re absolute pros,” Spoelstra said, “the kind of guys you want to build your team around, the guys you want to go to work with, the guys you want to be in a foxhole with.”
Still, the Heat have some cap concerns. Chris Bosh signed a max deal last summer that will pay him more than $118MM through 2018/19; Dwyane Wade has a player option worth more than $16MM next season, and Hassan Whiteside will be seeking a sizable new deal next summer. But if Dragic stays in Miami, his new contract will be offset by an expected jump in the salary cap once the new television deal kicks in after next season. Dragic is certain to get plenty of offers this summer, but his fondness for the city and the Heat’s financial edges should be enough to make him one of the leaders of a post-LeBron resurgence in Miami.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Eastern Notes: Haslem, Harris, Bucks
Next season could be the end of the line for “Heat lifer” Udonis Haslem, writes Surya Fernandez of Fox Sports Florida. Haslem, who has been with Miami since 2003, will make $2.9MM in 2015/16 during the final season of a two-year contract. Although he can pursue free agency, at age 36 he might find few interested parties outside of Miami. Teammate Dwyane Wade said he would be happy to have Haslem back. “I always feel like we have a great shot when he is on the floor because he will bring something that no one else can bring,” Wade said.
There’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- A New Hampshire mathematics professor has identified the Magic’s Tobias Harris as the NBA’s most underrated player, according to Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel. Harris, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, got high marks for his ability to shoot three-pointers, drive, rebound and defend.
- The Bucks will likely make roster changes this summer, but they would like to keep Khris Middleton, writes Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The team hopes the restricted free agent will choose to stay in Milwaukee and be part of the team’s young core. Co-owner Marc Lasry noted that it’s easier in the NBA to do a one-year turnaround than to maintain success. “Well, I think next year is going to be harder,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be harder. People won’t take us lightly.”
- It’s been a long journey for the Hawks‘ Mike Budenholzer to go from a small Arizona town to becoming a successful NBA coach, according to Paul Coro of The Arizona Republic. Budenholzer’s pro experience started as a film coordinator for the Spurs in 1994. He was promoted to assistant coach two years later, and stayed in San Antonio for 17 more years before landing the head coaching position with the Hawks. “One of the things that’s amazing to me is his demeanor,” said his father, Vince Budenholzer. “The Hawks don’t panic and that’s him staying calm. I think we’ll give the other Pop [Spurs coach Gregg Popovich] credit for that.”
Atlantic Notes: Lopez, Nets, Sixers, Stevens
The Nets‘ ideal scenario is to keep Brook Lopez while making significant roster changes, writes Matt Moore of cbssports.com. That may be difficult from all sides, Moore notes. The players Brooklyn would most like to part with are Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, who both carry hefty contracts and figure to have few takers, although Johnson has just one year left at $24.9MM. Lopez, on the other hand, can opt out of his deal this summer and pursue free agency. Moore doesn’t see a perfect fit for Lopez as even young teams like the Wolves, Jazz and Magic seem set at center. He also questions whether Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov would be willing to pay the repeater tax next season with a disappointing team.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets won’t be getting much help through the draft for the rest of the decade, notes Robert Windrem of NetsDaily. He examines the status of Brooklyn’s first- and second-round draft picks through 2020.
- An expected jump in the NBA’s salary cap during the summer of 2016 could take away one of the Sixers‘ favorite bargaining chips, according to Tom Moore of Calkins Media. GM Sam Hinkie is fond of using Philadelphia’s cap space to broker trades between other teams, often picking up draft picks and players in the process. But if the cap soars as much as rumored — possibly to $87MM next summer and $100MM by 2017/18 — the Sixers’ space won’t be as much in demand. Moore points out that the expected changes could prompt Hinkie to use some of the team’s projected $35MM in cap room to pursue free agents this summer.
- Brad Stevens believes that attention to detail helped make him a better coach in his second year behind the Celtics‘ bench, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Studying the intricate parts of the sport helped Boston avoid late-game breakdowns this season and post a 15-win improvement.
Southwest Notes: Rockets, Bertans, Pelicans
The Rockets‘ defense, which was bolstered by the midseason acquisitions of Josh Smith and Corey Brewer, has floundered in the playoffs, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. During the regular season, Houston ranked sixth in the NBA in points allowed per 100 possessions at 100.5. But against the Clippers, that number has ballooned to 110.6, the highest of the eight teams in the second round of the playoffs. “We have to get back in transition,” Brewer said after Friday’s loss in Game 3. “They just ran it down our throats all night.” Both Brewer and Smith will be free agents this summer.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Davis Bertans, a Latvian player whose rights are owned by the Spurs, is rehabbing from a knee injury in San Antonio, tweets David Pick of Basketball Insiders. A source said Bertans’ progress is “inspiring.” He suffered an ACL tear in his right knee during a March game.
- LaMarcus Aldridge would be the perfect addition to keep the Spurs‘ dynasty alive, contends Dave Leonardis of Bleacher Report. He estimates San Antonio would have to offer about $81MM over four years to lure the Texas native away from Portland.
- The midseason additions of Dante Cunningham and Quincy Pondexter were vital to the Pelicans‘ playoff push, writes John Reid of The Times-Picayune. Cunningham was signed as a free agent in December; Pondexter came from Memphis in a three-team deal in January. Reid notes that they gave New Orleans the flexibility to survive when a stress reaction injury knocked Jrue Holiday out for more than half the season.
Bulls Rumors: Butler, Free Agency, Thibodeau
The Bulls’ Jimmy Butler, who was already expected to be one of the hottest names on this summer’s free agent market, is helping himself with his playoff performance, writes Sam Smith of Bulls.com. Smith argues that Butler has been the MVP of the Cleveland series through its first three games, averaging 19.3 points and five rebounds per game while playing stellar defense against LeBron James. “We’re trying to make LeBron work as hard as we can, which is what Jimmy is doing,” teammate Mike Dunleavy said after Friday’s Game 3. The Bulls are hoping to sign Butler to a long-term deal this summer, but are expected to have competition from the Lakers, among others.
There’s more from the Windy City:
- Butler’s first choice is to stay in Chicago, reports Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today. The Bulls can match any offer that the restricted free agent receives — likely starting at $15MM per season — and that seems fine with the fourth-year guard. “This is a place for me. I love playing with the guys that we have,” Butler said. “They continue to bring in great, high character guys that fit the team role. I love it here. I’m happy to be here.”
- Butler credits his improvement to intense summer workouts and advice from former teammate Luol Deng, according to Shams Charania of RealGM. Charania says Butler has evolved into a perfect backcourt partner for Derrick Rose and the Bulls would love to keep him. However, he noted that Butler went to Marquette University and the Bucks have enough cap room to be a dark-horse threat.
- Tom Thibodeau, who could lose his job despite leading the Bulls to the NBA’s fourth-best record since 2010, is a victim of increased expectations across the NBA, according to Chris Herring of The Wall Street Journal. “I think there’s a heightened, unrealistic definition of success around the league: Championship or bust,” said former Portland assistant general manager Tom Penn. “And it’s caused a number of these coaches recently to become free agents too early.” Thibodeau’s fate will likely depend on the length of the Bulls’ playoff run.
Clippers Rumors: Rivers, Hawes, Farmar
Austin Rivers is justifying the faith his father showed in bringing him to the Clippers, writes Robert Morales of the Long Beach Press-Telegram. It was dismissed as nepotism in many circles when coach Doc Rivers pushed for a three-way trade in January to acquire his son. But Austin Rivers has delivered three exceptional playoff games, including a 25-point performance in Friday night’s win over the Rockets. In the deal, the Celtics received Shavlik Randolph from Phoenix and Chris Douglas-Roberts and a second-round pick in 2017 from Los Angeles. The Suns picked up Reggie Bullock from the Clippers.
Here’s more from Los Angeles on a playoff Sunday:
- Doc RIvers has taught Austin about the fickle nature of fans, according to Sam Amick of USA Today. That helped him to understand how they could chant his name Friday night, even though they doubted him when he came to Los Angeles. “Is [former Oklahoma City coach] Scott Brooks really a bad coach,” Rivers asked. “Did [former Golden State coach] Mark Jackson really do that bad of a job? That’s just the ugly part of sports. When you do well, they love you. And when you don’t, they cut you off.” L.A. fans may have the chance to continue their relationship with Austin Rivers, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
- Two significant offseason additions are having no playoff impact for the team, notes Kevin Ding of Bleacher Report. Spencer Hawes, who was given a four-year, $22.6MM free agent contract last summer, has been benched. The Clippers’ other free agent signing, Jordan Farmar, is no longer with the team after receiving a two-year deal worth $4.2MM. He received a buyout in January and is now playing in Turkey.
Southeast Notes: Pierce, Dedmon, Williams
The Wizards are enjoying great dividends from their investment in Paul Pierce, according to J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. Pierce, who hit a game-winning shot against the Hawks Saturday, came to Washington last summer after free agent Trevor Ariza left for Houston. Michael notes that the Wizards were able to sign Pierce for a little more than $5MM a year over two seasons, which was about half the money and half the commitment that Ariza wanted.
There’s more this morning from the Southeast Division:
- The Magic moved Dewayne Dedmon into their starting lineup March 4; now he hopes to stay there, writes Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. Dedmon quickly became a favorite of interim coach James Borrego with his shot blocking and high-intensity style of play. He is signed through next year, although the nearly $950K he is due to make is fully non-guaranteed if he is waived by August 1st.
- Consistency was the main thing Marvin Williams brought to the Hornets after signing as a free agent last summer, notes Matt Rochinski of hornets.com. Charlotte lured the North Carolina alum from the Jazz with a two-year deal worth $7MM each season. Through the first four months of the season, Williams averaged 6.7 points and 4.5 rebounds. From March 1 onward, he raised those numbers to 8.8 points and 6.7 boards. “I feel like I finished a lot stronger than I started,” he said. “Obviously with change, sometimes it takes a little while to get acclimated, but that’s an experience I had before in my career so it wasn’t terrible for me.”
- With their draft status uncertain, the Heat are turning their attention toward the annual Chicago pre-draft camp, which gets under way Tuesday, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. Miami faces a 9% chance of losing its first-round pick, but that won’t be determined until the May 19th lottery. In the meantime, team president Pat Riley, GM Andy Elisburg and the scouting staff are going to get an up-close look at the top prospects, not just for the first round, but also for Miami’s second-round pick, which falls at number 40.