Offseason Outlook: Portland Trail Blazers
Guaranteed Contracts
- Nicolas Batum ($12,235,750)
- Meyers Leonard ($3,075,880)
- Damian Lillard ($4,236,287)
- C.J. McCollum ($2,525,160)
Non-Guaranteed Contracts
- Allen Crabbe ($947,276)
- Tim Frazier ($845,069)
- Chris Kaman ($5,016,000)1
Options
- Arron Afflalo ($7,750,000 — Player)2
- Steve Blake ($2,170,465 — Player)3
Restricted Free Agents/Cap Holds
- Joel Freeland ($5,725,673) — $3,766,890 qualifying offer
Unrestricted Free Agents/Cap Holds
- LaMarcus Aldridge ($18,960,000)4
- Robin Lopez ($9,187,094)5
- Wesley Matthews ($10,868,460)
- Dorell Wright ($4,075,500)
- No. 23 pick ($1,112,900)
- Alonzo Gee ($947,276)
- (Earl Watson $947,276)6
Draft Picks
- 1st Round (23rd overall)
Cap Outlook
- Guaranteed Salary: $23,073,077
- Non-Guaranteed Salary: $5,808,345
- Options: $9,920,465
- Cap Holds: $48,548,397
- Total: $87,350,284
Portland’s offseason hinges on one name: LaMarcus Aldridge. It’ll be up to him to decide whether he continues to wear a Trail Blazers uniform or not, and there will surely be a maximum-salary offer from the Blazers waiting there for the Arn Tellem client, with his choice of contract length and option clauses. Aldridge appears, by many accounts, to be reconsidering the pledge he made last summer to re-sign with the team in the offseason ahead, one that he reiterated this past fall as the season began.
It’s not the first time that the 29-year-old, who turns 30 in July, has wavered on a decision. It seemed as recently as two years ago that his exit from Portland was inevitable as he appeared eager to leave a rebuilding situation behind, but Portland’s quick turnaround in 2013/14 had him talking extension midway through the season. Aldridge put an end to extension talk when he said last summer that he would re-sign when his contract was up in 2015, though that was merely a prudent financial move on his part, as collective bargaining rules greatly disincentivize veteran extensions.
It’s unclear what’s triggered Aldridge’s renewed interest in leaving the Blazers. Portland stumbled down the stretch and fell quietly in the first round of the playoffs, but injuries played an outsized role in that, and Aldridge’s subpar 33.0% shooting in the Grizzlies series contributed to the team’s demise, too. Of course, Aldridge was battling an injury of his own, a torn ligament in his left thumb that was supposed to knock him out for six to eight weeks this season. Instead, he put off surgery and played through it, a decision that seemed only to further cement his status as a Blazers legend before doubts about his future with the team crept in.
Regardless, the Blazers would clearly prefer to keep Aldridge if they can, but if that proves impossible, they won’t be left without a way to contend next season, as was the case when LeBron James and Dwight Howard left their respective teams in recent years. The departure of Aldridge would leave Portland with a chance to open some $40MM in room against a projected $67.1MM cap, about enough to sign two 30% max free agents. More importantly, Damian Lillard‘s presence looms as reason for max-level players to entertain the idea of playing in Portland, as does GM Neil Olshey‘s track record of building winners with the Clippers and Blazers. Portland, in a vacuum, wouldn’t necessarily be an attractive destination to marquee free agents, but with a budding superstar and a canny executive at the helm, the Blazers can put forth a convincing case to stars that they can win.
Marc Stein of ESPN.com raised an intriguing possibility last week when he suggested that the Cavs could enter the picture for Aldridge as a sign-and-trade destination if Kevin Love were to pull a reversal of his own and change his plan to opt in. Love is a California native and went to UCLA, but he first burst onto the national basketball scene while attending high school in suburban Portland. The Blazers would offer him the chance to return to a familiar place and a more expansive role next to Lillard than he’s had with both James and Kyrie Irving in Cleveland. A sign-and-trade would be tricky, since teams over the tax apron can’t take on players via sign-and-trade and Cleveland is in line to zoom well into tax territory, but on the off chance Love does opt out, the Blazers could just sign him outright.
Greg Monroe, to whom the Blazers were linked last summer, looms as a much more obtainable possibility, and so would Roy Hibbert, if he opts out, as Hibbert was reportedly ready to sign an offer sheet with the Blazers in 2012 before the Pacers made it clear they’d match. Of course, Hibbert hasn’t performed like a star lately and probably wouldn’t merit the max, and there are plenty of soon-to-be free agent big men whom Portland might find more valuable, like DeAndre Jordan, Paul Millsap, Brook Lopez and Tristan Thompson. None aside from Love and Marc Gasol are Aldridge’s equal among interior players in this year’s free agent class, but Gasol seems committed to Memphis.
Of course, Aldridge isn’t the only significant soon-to-be free agent in Portland. The value of Wesley Matthews has never been more apparent than over the last two months since the theretofore remarkably durable shooting guard tore his left Achilles tendon. The fortunes of just about every Blazers free agent seem intrinsically linked to Aldridge, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Portland pushes hard to bring back Matthews regardless of what happens with the power forward. It’s uncertain if the Knicks have abandoned their reported interest in the wake of the injury, which threatens to keep him from starting next season on time, and surely other teams will be wary of his recovery. Matthews turns 29 in October, but the injury is far from a death knell for his long-term productivity. If the Blazers are willing to stomach a market value deal given the possibility of a lengthy recovery and a slow adjustment to playing again, they can probably bring back one of their anchors, as he’s expressed a preference to remain in Portland.
The Blazers acquired Arron Afflalo at the deadline to serve as a sixth man behind Matthews, but the former Nuggets shooting guard wound up starting before missing time with an injury of his own to his shoulder. That injury cost Afflalo time in the postseason and was conceivably at the root of his woeful performance, but he nonetheless reportedly plans to opt out. He stands as an in-house alternative to Matthews, but the emergence of C.J. McCollum, who’s on a rookie deal much cheaper than what Afflalo will surely command, casts doubt on Portland’s need to hang on to the Sam Goldfeder client. Still, if all of the team’s other key free agents come back at salaries commensurate to what they’re making now, it would be difficult for the Blazers to afford a replacement who can produce the way Afflalo does.
Robin Lopez appeared to be the missing piece last season, when the Blazers shot from 33-49 to 54-28 and a first-round playoff series victory. The 27-year-old’s production slipped this season, though part of that had to do with a dip in playing time as the Blazers sought to make use of an upgraded bench. His game might not be quite as complementary to a big man who isn’t Aldridge, so if Aldridge leaves this summer, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Blazers look elsewhere for a starting center. Lopez would be a natural draw for brother Brook Lopez, but Brook appears likely to opt out and re-sign with the Nets, and the twins probably wouldn’t be as effective an on-court pairing as they were at Stanford.
Complicating the frontcourt for the Blazers is Meyers Leonard‘s candidacy for a rookie scale extension this summer. The former 11th overall pick rebuilt his game and added a three-point shot after falling out of the rotation last season, and he was strong on the boards in the playoffs, averaging 11.2 rebounds per 36 minutes. He switched agents, hiring the Creative Artists Agency and Aaron Mintz, a hint that he intends to push for a deal this summer.
Of course, Leonard isn’t the most prominent Blazer up for a rookie scale extension. That distinction belongs to Lillard, who’s already made it clear that he has no plans to settle for less than a full five-year max deal. Portland probably won’t hesitate to give it to him and jump at the chance to secure the two-time All-Star for the long term. Regardless of whether the extension would prompt Aldridge to chafe against the notion that he’s not the team’s top priority, a feeling he sensed earlier in his career, the Blazers can’t afford to dally with Lillard. Quickly securing the elite point guard in the first few days of July would allow marquee free agents to bank on the chance that they’d have a star running mate for years to come if they were to sign with Portland. Aldridge might not want to be a team’s No. 2 priority, but surely other talented free agents would.
There’s little doubt that Aldridge holds all the cards this summer in Portland, but unlike some other teams, the Blazers don’t have all their chips in front of a single superstar. The preferable outcome involves the power forward returning, but the Blazers have the wherewithal to quickly jump back into contention this coming season or in 2015/16 if he bolts.
Cap Footnotes
1 — Kaman’s salary is partially guaranteed for $1,000,000.
2 — The cap hold for Afflalo if he opts out would be $11,625,000
3 — The cap hold for Blake if he opts out would be $2,492,400
4 — The cap hold for Aldridge will be the lesser of $24,384,000 and the NBA’s maximum salary for a veteran of nine seasons. It will likely be the latter, so an estimate is used above.
5 — This presumes the estimated average salary for 2015/16 won’t be equal to or greater than Lopez’s $6,124,729 salary from this season. If it is, Lopez’s cap hold would instead be $11,636,985.
6 — See our glossary entry on cap holds for an explanation why Watson technically remains on the books.
The Basketball Insiders Salary Pages were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Western Notes: Brooks, Dumars, Bonner, Draft
The Nuggets are intensifying their search for a new coach this week after having spent the past few weeks focused on scouting and the draft, reports Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post. They’ll likely chat with former Thunder coach Scott Brooks, among others, Dempsey writes amid a mailbag column, though it’s unclear if he’ll receive a formal interview. The hiring process is expected to last most if not all of May and GM Tim Connelly will collaborate with team president Josh Kroenke, son of owner Stan Kroenke, on the decision, as Dempsey details in his first piece. There’s more on the Nuggets amid the latest from around the Western Conference:
- New rumors have surfaced suggesting that the possibility of the Pelicans hiring Joe Dumars remains in play for what would be a supervisory role above GM Dell Demps, Grantland’s Zach Lowe writes. Bleacher Report’s Ric Bucher first linked the former Pistons exec to New Orleans in January.
- Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News lists Matt Bonner among the Spurs contemplating retirement. Bonner, who turned 35 last month, signed a one-year deal for the minimum to return to San Antonio last summer.
- Dempsey believes that if Nuggets end up with the No. 7 pick, their likeliest first-round position as the lottery odds show, they’d try to trade it for a pick higher in the order or attempt to deal for a second top-seven pick, as the Post scribe writes in the mailbag column linked above.
- Former Michigan State swingman Russell Byrd will be among the draft prospects at a workout the Jazz will hold Wednesday, sources tell Michael Scotto of SheridanHoops (Twitter link). Byrd is unlisted in the rankings that Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress and Chad Ford of ESPN.com compile.
Nets Close To Extension With GM Billy King?
10:41am: A league source recently told NetsDaily’s Robert Windrem that the Nets and King hadn’t engaged in extension talks (Twitter link).
10:01am: There are “serious rumblings” that the Nets are about to reach a contract extension with GM Billy King, though Nets higher-ups have been tight-lipped, Grantland’s Zach Lowe writes. King signed a multiyear extension with the team two years ago, and while the length of the arrangement wasn’t clear at the time, he currently has one more year left on his contract, according to Devin Kharpertian of The Brooklyn Game.
Owner Mikhail Prokhorov stopped short of saying last month he would rule out changes in the front office this summer, but he offered praise for King’s “bold” approach to the roster. Instead, it would appear that the future of assistant GM Bobby Marks is in doubt, as Mike Mazzeo reported last week and as Lowe notes in his report today, referring to Marks as a “cap whiz.” The team didn’t pick up its option on Marks, who’s risen within the Nets organization from the role of public relations intern 20 years ago, by the May 1st deadline to do so, according to Mazzeo, though the club could still re-sign the executive later in the offseason, Mazzeo cautioned.
King has drawn criticism as the Nets have failed to capitalize on bloated payrolls the last two seasons, including the record outlay of some $190MM in payroll and luxury tax penalties last season. Still, the Nets have been supportive of King, resisting former coach Jason Kidd‘s attempt to wrest player personnel control from the GM.
Spurs Rumors: Green, Splitter, Popovich
The champs from last year are done after round one, though the Spurs were the most accomplished team this year among the last four teams standing in 2013/14. The Heat, Pacers and Thunder, the other 2014 conference finalists, all failed to make the playoffs. That’s of cold comfort to San Antonio for now, though, and here’s more as the Spurs pick up the pieces:
- Re-signing Danny Green is a priority for the Spurs, writes Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News, though Green, who’d like to return, understands his future depends on the vagaries of the free agent market. “San Antonio is home for me,” Green said. “I love the organization. I love the fans. I love the city. In this business, you never know what is going to happen.”
- Marc Stein of ESPN.com hears increasing suggestions that the Spurs would trade Tiago Splitter and the two years and $16.75MM left on his contract to clear cap space for their pursuit of LaMarcus Aldridge and others this summer. Still, it’s unclear from Stein’s report whether the Spurs are actively pursuing the idea or even giving it strong consideration.
- Gregg Popovich pondered retirement more seriously than had been reported, Stein hears, but he consented to come back as he reached agreement in July on an extension that pays some $11MM annually, sources tell Stein, who refers to it as a five-year deal.
Jarrid Famous Shifts Focus Toward NBA
Former Pacers and Grizzlies camp invitee Jarrid Famous has traveled the globe in his quest to play professional basketball at the highest level. After going everywhere from Lebanon to the Dominican Republic, the four-year pro has a passport that would make Carmen Sandiego jealous.
“I’m a huge anime fan so I loved playing in Japan and getting to know their culture there,” the 6’11” center said. “My favorite place though was probably the Philippines. They love their basketball there and you get to play in front of 20,000 screaming fans every night. Plus they have TGI Fridays, Outback Steakhouse, and Olive Garden there, so those things made me feel pretty much at home.” 
This year, after returning from China, Famous had an opportunity to play in another exotic location at a healthy rate of $30K per month, but no amount of money or bloomin’ onions could have swayed him. He shunned that opportunity and remained in the States to play in the D-League so that he could audition himself for NBA teams and get ready for training camp this coming fall, wherever that may be. Famous values his experiences around the globe, but he felt that he wasn’t getting the kind of in-game experience he needed playing internationally.
“I feel I belong in the NBA. I could have done the international thing all over again this year but I chose instead to stay here and train and do the things I need to improve in advance of training camp. Going overseas, I felt like I didn’t have the right people there pushing me. In years past, I would just go overseas and then jump right into camp or summer league. Now, I’m here, I’m preparing for camp at home and I already know that I’m going to be very well prepared for it all,” the Hazan Sports Management client explained.
So far, Famous’ plan of staying in the U.S. seems to be paying off quite well. After initially signing with a Chinese team, Famous started the 2014/15 season with the Iowa Energy, who later facilitated his request for a trade to the Texas Legends, a team that had a greater utility for his rebounding. All in all, Famous averaged 16.0 points and an eye-popping 14.9 rebounds per contest. On offense, he filled out the stat sheet while remaining an efficient scorer, knocking down 56.5% of his shots from the floor. For his quality effort in Iowa and Texas, Famous earned a runner-up nod for the title of Most Improved Player in the D-League from Ridiculous Upside.
We’re still weeks away from the meat of the offseason, but agent Daniel Hazan says that Famous already has an offer to play in minicamp. Famous’ last training camp experience is one that he’d probably like to forget. The Grizzlies were gung-ho about him in 2012, a year in which he played in the summer league for both the Pacers and the Bucks, but things were put on hold when Famous separated his left shoulder while dunking. Three years later, Famous is 100% healthy and he says he’s more ready than ever for the stiff competition he’d face in an NBA team’s camp.
Now, the well-traveled 26-year-old is making his home base at his one-time school, Westchester Community College in New York. With the help of a trainer, Famous says he’s in the best shape of his life. He also says he’s rock-solid mentally and readily credits his years of world travel for his advanced maturity.
“It’s a great experience,” Famous said of playing internationally. “It forced me to get out of my comfort zone and grow as a person. Going everywhere and seeing how other people live, it helped me appreciate the things that I have. Going to different places and how they do things helped me to grow as a person, and I took bits and pieces from every place that I went. It helped me grow.”
Famous contends that he’s a more well-rounded person, both on the court and off, thanks to his globetrotting. Years ago in college, at South Florida, Famous had a sometimes singular focus on scoring in bunches as he worked toward his NBA dream. Now, he understands what he does best on the floor and what he needs to do to help his team win. Often, that means putting up points, but it also means doing the little things, hustling, and playing tough D. Famous happily does it all and hopes to do it on the NBA stage next season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
And-Ones: Pistons, Draft, Knicks
Pistons coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy and GM Jeff Bower are in Spain to evaluate potential lottery picks Mario Hezonja and Kristaps Porzingis, Terry Foster of the Detroit News reports. Detroit currently holds the No. 8 pick in the draft pending the results of the lottery and is seeking forwards who can stretch the floor, Foster continues. Hezonja could help the Pistons at small forward, a spot that was shared by aging veterans Tayshaun Prince and Caron Butler during the second half of the season. Porzingis has a good catch-and-shoot game, according to Foster, and could replace power forward Greg Monroe, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
In other news around the league:
- The NBA will hold its draft at the Nets’ Barclays Center for the third consecutive year next month, league sources informed Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. The June 25th event has been hosted by the Nets for five consecutive years, including two years at the team’s previous home arena, the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The focus of the draft will be on Brooklyn’s crosstown rival, the Knicks, since they have the second-best chance to get the top pick through the lottery, Bontemps points out.
- The Knicks will have anywhere from $19.1MM to $26.7MM in salary-cap space this summer, according to the latest projections by Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. The disparity is mainly due to the cap hold on Alexey Shved, who could receive a qualifying offer of just over $4.1MM.
- Tony Parker and Spurs teammate Boris Diaw are among 24 players named to France’s preliminary roster for EuroBasket 2015, Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News writes. Parker and Diaw have indicated they plan to participate in the event, which will be held in September, McCarney adds.
Western Notes: Batum, Parsons, Rockets
The Trail Blazers could move Nicolas Batum as he enters the final year of his contract, Jabari Young of CSNNW.com speculates. Batum, who will make approximately $12.2MM next season, may be shopped since GM Neil Olshey expects to actively reshape his roster this summer, Young continues. Wrist, knee and back injuries led to a disappointing 2014/15 season for Batum, as he indicated in his exit interview, the story adds. “I didn’t play the way I used to play,” he said. “I’ve been thinking too much.” If the Blazers trade Batum, they could make a run at Mavericks forward Al-Farouq Aminu, who has declared he will opt out of the final year of his contract and seek long-term security.
In other news around the Western Conference:
- Chandler Parsons will take an active role in recruiting free agents for the Mavericks this summer, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes. Parsons, who underwent knee surgery last week, feels obligated to help the team land its free-agent targets and has developed plenty of contacts and relationships around the league to make that happen, Sefko continues. Parsons is sold on the organization and has a sales pitch ready when the time comes, Sefko adds. “We have a great organization,” Parsons said to Sefko. “We have high expectations. We have the best owner in sports. We’re definitely moving in the right direction, and we have a lot of pieces that would fit well with the free agents out there right now. And we have a great coach, so I think we’re moving in the right direction. We’re a championship-caliber team.”
- Clippers coach Doc Rivers believes the Rockets became a better defensive team with the additions of Josh Smith, Corey Brewer and Pablo Prigioni, according to Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle. Smith was signed by the Rockets after the Pistons released him in December during the second year of his four-year contract. Brewer was acquired from the Timberwolves in a three-team trade during the same month, while Prigioni was dealt by the Knicks in February. “They have added great personnel,” Rivers said to the media covering the Clippers-Rockets playoff series. “When you think about the guys they added, Prigioni is a tough defensive guard and Corey Brewer has been amazing for them. Josh Smith has really been big, too.”
Prospect Profile: Sam Dekker
Sam Dekker emerged as one of the stars of this spring’s NCAA Tournament but NBA general managers and scouts knew all about him before Wisconsin’s run to the title game. The 6’9” Dekker was considered a first-round prospect heading into his junior season with the Badgers and he moved up the draft board with his tournament performances. Dekker dropped as low as No. 25 on Chad Ford’s ESPN Insider Big Board but now sits on the fringes of the lottery at No. 14 overall and No. 5 among small forwards. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress has Dekker, who declared for the draft after three seasons with the Badgers, rated one spot higher at No. 13 in his first-round mock draft. Dekker also sits at No. 13 on Hoops Rumors’ latest 2015 NBA Draft Prospect Power Rankings.
Dekker does not have one particular talent that makes him stand out from the pack but he has plenty of attributes that translate to the next level. Offensively, he’s a versatile player who can be used in a variety of ways. He’s an efficient scorer, particularly inside the 3-point arc, converting 52.5% of his field-goal attempts in his junior year.
Playing in Wisconsin’s patient system based on ball movement, Dekker was adept at moving without the ball and finding open areas for catch-and-shoot situations or making smooth cuts to the basket. He also possesses the footwork, moves and strength needed to convert on postups against smaller players. He’s athletic and quick enough to finish in transition, though he’s not a premier ball-handler. He’s also not a prolific rebounder for someone of his size but has a knack for slipping into the paint for second-chance opportunities, as evidenced by his team-high 29 putbacks in his final season.
He has shown he can slash to the basket on straight-line drives and score at the rim, though that ability will be tested when he’s faced with taller, quicker defenders than he saw in college. He’ll also have to be craftier at the rim when shot blockers come over to help on those drives.
Combining all of those strengths, Dekker delivered an unusually high 63.9% shooting percentage on his two-point attempts this season. The biggest issue for Dekker is his spotty shooting from long range, which he’ll need to improve to become a starter-quality NBA player.
Dekker’s 3-point shooting in his final two seasons with the Badgers was troubling. He knocked down just 32.6% of his long-range shots as a sophomore and improved only slightly as a junior (33.1). He shot 39.3% on threes during this year’s tournament but his streakiness was evident. He made 5-of-6 against Arizona in the regional semifinals and buried a couple more in clutch situations against Kentucky in the Final Four, then laid an 0-for-6 egg against Duke in the championship game.
With NBA teams basing their offensive strategies on pick-and-rolls and penetrating guards, Dekker must show he can make those shots when kickout passes come his way. Dekker’s shooting inconsistency might be a correctable flaw. He has some mechanical issues, according to Givony, which at times cause him to release his shot with poor balance and excessive arc. His free throw shooting is also subpar for a wing player. He converted 69.5% from the line during his college career with no noticeable improvement from year to year.
There are no questions about his basketball IQ or toughness. Dekker makes smart decisions with the ball and doesn’t get sloppy with his dribble. Dekker turned the ball over on just 7.3% of his possessions as a junior, making him the least turnover-prone player among this year’s draft prospects. That’s an underrated skill which is highly valued among NBA coaches, since games are often decided by a few crucial possessions.
Playing in the open floor more often could accentuate Dekker’s ability. He was a standout in last summer’s LeBron James camp, which led to the first-round projection for him prior to last season. Breaking free from Wisconsin’s system could turn Dekker into an even more dangerous offensive threat.
“I saw him at LeBron and I thought he was the best kid out there,” an unnamed scout told Ford. “That kid you saw in the tournament? That’s the kid we saw at LeBron and I think it’s who he is. I like him better than Kelly Oubre Jr. or Stanley Johnson. I’d take him in the lottery for sure. Maybe the top 10.”
Dekker is also a willing defender who has the build (230 pounds) and lateral quickness to match up with players at his position. Moreover, he has the height and strength to defend most stretch fours and enough foot speed to handle some shooting guards. With many NBA teams using smaller lineups, Dekker’s ability to guard three positions increases his value. He’ll be able to make switches on pick-and-rolls and acquit himself reasonably well on postups.
That emphasis on going small could mean that Dekker will see action at both forward spots, provided he doesn’t have to defend some of the more rugged and taller power forwards in the league.
Intangibles make Dekker all the more attractive. He plays with confidence and fire which turns into swagger when he’s making his outside shots. He comes from a winning, team-oriented program where he learned to make sacrifices and get the best out of his ability in Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan’s system. He loves the spotlight and isn’t afraid to take the big shot, make the extra pass or defend the opponent’s best player in crunch-time situations. With three years at a top-level program under his belt, he’s also more ready to contribute right away than most of the players in this year’s draft.
It would be an unreasonable to expect Dekker to develop into an All-Star caliber player unless he turns himself into a more prolific long-range shooter. He’s still worthy of being taken in the middle of the first round. He’s got enough talent to be a starter or, at the very least, a reliable rotation player off the bench.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Atlantic Rumors: Celtics, Pierce, Lopez
The Celtics need to improve their interior defense and make smart draft choices to become a serious contender, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com opines. Comparing Boston’s current situation with the Warriors’ rise to prominence, Blakely believes the club needs to make a free agent signing that helps establish its identity, much like Golden State did two years ago when it locked up defensive-minded swingman Andre Iguodala. The Celtics could pin their hopes on Kelly Olynyk and Jared Sullinger becoming better defenders but they could also sign a proven interior defender in free agency this summer, Blakely continues. They also must continue to build through the draft as the Warriors did with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes, who have all outperformed their draft positions, Blakely points out. The Celtics’ lottery pick last season, Marcus Smart, has the potential to make a much bigger impact and he will be tutored this summer by assistant coach Darren Erman, who helped develop Thompson as a Warriors assistant, Blakely adds.
In other news around the Atlantic Division:
- Paul Pierce would be just the type of veteran leader the Celtics need for their youth-laden roster, according to Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. Boston’s first-round playoff series against the Cavaliers might have played out differently if they had a confident, seasoned veteran like Pierce to give them guidance and confidence, Forsberg asserts. Some fans in Boston have wondered if Pierce might eventually return to the place where he started his career and won a championship in 2008, Forsberg continues. Pierce has made a major impact for the Wizards during this postseason and could get mid-level range offers if he leaves approximately $5.54MM on the table and opts out of his contract this summer, Forsberg adds.
- Nets center Brook Lopez might be wise to seek two-year offers with an opt-out clause for a third season if he goes on the free agent market this summer, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com speculates (All four Twitter links). Lopez, who holds a player option on the final year of his contract this summer worth approximately $16.74MM, would then be eligible to return to free agency in the summer of 2017 when the salary cap is projected to reach $108MM, Mazzeo continues. That would not only protect him financially in case of an injury, it would maximize his value since the cap is expected to drop to $100MM the following season, Mazzeo adds.
Southwest Notes: Mavs, Rockets, Stiggers
The Mavericks will likely have a large roster turnover this offseason, Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Starters Tyson Chandler and Rajon Rondo and reserves Amar’e Stoudemire, Richard Jefferson, J.J. Barea, Charlie Villanueva and Greg Smith will be unrestricted free agents this summer, while Monta Ellis, Al-Farouq Aminu and Raymond Felton have player options on their contracts. President of basketball operations Donnie Nelson said head coach Rick Carlisle will have to put the pieces together in training camp, Price continues. “It puts our head coach in a difficult position, because when you’re shuffling in new pieces it’s just more challenging,” Nelson said to the team’s beat writers. “It’s not the preferred way of doing business, but in this age of free agency you have to have talent to win in this league.” Carlisle has already declared that Rondo, who had a tumultuous season with the club after being traded from the Celtics in December, will not be back. Chandler did not tip his hand concerning his future plans and that means the Mavs would likely pursue other top free agent centers on the market, including DeAndre Jordan, Marc Gasol, Robin Lopez and Omer Asik, Price asserts. LaMarcus Aldridge is another prominent free agent on the team’s radar screen, according to Price, but the team might have to convince Dirk Nowitzki to come off the bench to make that happen. Aminu, coming off strong playoff performances with Chandler Parsons injured, will opt out and seek a significant raise from the approximate $1.1MM he was due next season, Price adds.
In other news around the Southwest Division:
- It’s possible that Rockets draft-and-stash prospect Sergio Llull would consent to become a backup in the NBA, but it’s not likely, as David Pick of Basketball Insiders writes in a chat with readers. GM Daryl Morey earlier this spring denied a report that the team was planning a three-year offer to Llull worth a total of $17MM or more.
- Jherrod Stiggers will be among the draft prospects working out for the Rockets on Tuesday, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders tweets. Stiggers, a junior guard from the University of Houston, averaged 14.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in his final college season. Stiggers has a long way to go to become a serious draft candidate. He is not listed among Chad Ford’s ESPN Insider Top 100 Big Board or DraftExpress’ Jonathan Givony’s Top 100 prospects.