Free Agent Stock Watch: Kyle Korver
When the Hawks acquired Kyle Korver from the Bulls last July, the trade essentially amounted to a cash dump for Chicago. All the Bulls received in exchange for Korver was cash and a trade exception that remains unused. From Korver's perspective though, the deal presented him with the chance to play more minutes than he has in years, and he's taken full advantage of that opportunity.
For the first time since 2005/06, Korver is a fixture in his team's starting lineup, rather than coming off the bench. In 54 games (45 starts) for the Hawks this year, the veteran sharpshooter is also averaging the second-most minutes of his career (31.5). While the increased playing time is part of the reason Korver has seen his numbers increase (his 11.4 PPG is his best average since 2006/07), he has also been exceptionally productive by his standards. His .458 FG% and league-leading .461 3PT% are well above his career rates, and his 14.5 PER is a career-high.
The resurgence is coming at the right time for Korver, who will hit unrestricted free agency this summer. The 31-year-old is in the final year of a three-year, $15MM contract, and given how well he has played this season, it's not hard to envision him receiving offers of at least that many years and dollars again. Korver may not land as large a deal as fellow marksman J.J. Redick, who is three years younger, but three-point shooters as deadly as Korver always draw interest, particularly from contending teams.
If mid-level money (slightly more than $5MM annually) is enough to land Korver, his list of suitors figures to be extensive. The Nuggets are one team expected to target Korver with their MLE, and I could easily see the Grizzlies and other capped-out contenders getting in the mix as well. A mid-level offer may not be the best Korver can do from a financial perspective, but if he prioritizes a chance at a title run, we could see him accept a two- or three-year offer for MLE money.
Plenty of teams, contenders and non-contenders alike, are expected to have a good chunk of cap space this summer as well, and with only a handful of big-name free agents on the market, Korver should draw interest as a complementary piece for many of those clubs. For the Jazz, Mavericks, Pistons, and others, Korver may not be the Plan A, but if they miss out on one of their top targets, Korver certainly wouldn't be a bad alternative. Depending on how much cap room those teams have to spare, Korver could even earn an offer that pays him a little more than mid-level money, though I imagine the difference wouldn't be too significant.
The Hawks also remain a viable option for Korver. Not only has the team allowed Korver to shine in an expanded role, but Atlanta only has three players on guaranteed contracts for next season. GM Danny Ferry could go in a number of directions when it comes to using the Hawks' huge amount of cap space, and re-signing Korver may not be the first move he pursues when July arrives, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see the two sides work out a deal to keep the veteran in Atlanta.
Korver has exhibited a knack for delivering his best seasons when they matter most. Prior to becoming a free agent in 2010, he shot an incredible 53.6% from three-point range for the Jazz, earning himself a big payday that summer despite playing in just 18.3 minutes per game for Utah in '09/10. His contract-year performance this time around is a little more impressive, and will likely land him another nice multiyear contract this July from a team in need of long-range shooting.
Atlantic Rumors: Sixers, Josh Smith, Knicks, White
Rob Mahoney of SI.com took a look at 18 players on troublesome contracts, and all five Atlantic Division teams have a representative. The last-place Raptors appear to have the most problems, with Rudy Gay, Andrea Bargnani, DeMar DeRozan and Landry Fields all on the list, though the Nets, with Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace, have multiple entries as well. Here's more from the Atlantic:
- The Sixers were one of several teams reportedly pursuing Josh Smith at the trade deadline, and John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that the Sixers were "close" to a deal with the Hawks. Philly's interest in the soon-to-be free agent dates back to last season, Mitchell also notes.
- Jerome Jordan, who spent last season with the Knicks, has been on the team's radar as he plays in the D-League this season, reports Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link). Zwerling says New York can't sign him this season, though the Knicks could bring him aboard if they go against their plan to re-sign Kenyon Martin when his 10-day contract expires. New York could also waive a player on a guaranteed contract, but that seems unlikely.
- Andrew Perna of RealGM.com checks in with D.J. White, who finally made his debut for the Celtics tonight after signing a 10-day contract on February 28th. White revealed that he had opportunities to play for NBA teams before heading to China in September.
Southeast Notes: Oden, Heat, Magic, Scott
The NBA's longest current winning and losing streaks both belong to Southeast Division teams, and will be on the line tonight. The Heat are hosting the Magic, in search of their 16th straight win, while the Bobcats will look to snap a seven-game losing streak at home against the Nets. As we wait for the Eastern Conference's best and worst clubs to get underway tonight, let's round up a few notes out of the Southeast….
- Agent Mike Conley Sr. doesn't expect Greg Oden to sign anywhere until July, suggesting to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida that teams will have more financial flexibility to pursue his client after the season. According to Conley, there is mutual interest between Oden and the Heat, and the two sides expect to talk again in the summer. The Cavs, Bobcats, and Spurs are other potential suitors for the former first overall pick, according to Tomasson.
- Responding to Dwight Howard's suggestion that his Magic teams were "full of people nobody wanted," Jameer Nelson shot back at his former teammate, as Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel documents. "At some point, when are you [Dwight] gonna as a man, when are you going to take ownership and stay out of the media in a professional manner?" Nelson said.
- Mike Scott has returned to Atlanta to rejoin the Hawks after a brief stint with the team's D-League affiliate, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Hawks officially announced in a press release that Scott has been recalled from the Bakersfield Jam and will be available for tonight's game against the Sixers.
Hawks Sign Shelvin Mack
10:02am: The Hawks have officially signed Mack to a 10-day contract, the team announced in a press release.
9:18am: Having freed up a roster spot by releasing Jeremy Tyler, the Hawks will sign Shelvin Mack, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (via Twitter).
Mack, 23, has made several NBA and D-League stops this season, including multiple stints with the Wizards, and a pair of 10-day contracts with the Sixers. Mack has also appeared in 23 games with the D-League's Maine Red Claws, averaging 20.1 PPG and 7.7 APG with the club. In limited action in 11 games for Washington and Philadelphia, the young point guard averaged 3.5 PPG and 2.2 APG.
It's not yet clear whether Mack will receive a 10-day contract or a rest-of-season deal from the Hawks. Given the team's cap flexibility, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Atlanta sign Mack to a contract that includes a non-guaranteed minimum salary for next season, giving the club the option of taking an extended look at him in summer-league action and in camp.
Hawks Waive Jeremy Tyler
The Hawks have released Jeremy Tyler, the team announced today in a press release. Tyler had appeared in just one game for Atlanta since the club acquired him from the Warriors at last month's trade deadline.
Although Tyler was a Hawk for less than two weeks, Atlanta didn't pay a real price to acquire him. The Warriors sent Tyler to the Hawks and Charles Jenkins to the Sixers to get out of the luxury tax — the deal with Philadelphia reportedly involved Golden State sending the Sixers more than enough cash to cover Jenkins' rest-of-season salary, and acquiring a second-round pick with heavy protection, so I'd assume the Tyler trade was similarly structured.
Tyler, 21, will become a free agent assuming he clears waivers. The Warriors won't be able to re-sign him, but the big man will be eligible to sign with any other NBA team. Meanwhile, the Hawks now have 14 players under contract, opening up a roster spot in the move.
Odds & Ends: Howard, Armstrong, Warriors
The Knicks topped the Cavaliers 102-97 tonight, but they had a serious scare in the second quarter when Carmelo Anthony stumbled near midcourt and injured his right knee. The forward was ruled out for the remainder of the game but the good news is that there are no tests planned for his knee, which probably means that he won't miss significant time. The Knicks have tomorrow off and that will give Anthony some time to rest up and reevaluate his condition before Wednesday's game against the Pistons. Here's more from around the Association..
- Plenty of people in the basketball world seem to think that Dwight Howard will skip town this summer, but Josh Smith is putting his money on Howard staying with the Lakers, writes Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News. “I can’t pick his brain and be in his head but to me, I don’t see him going anywhere,” the Hawks forward said. “It would be a shock to me.”
- The Warriors have two open roster spots, but a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter) not to be surprised if no one is added due to difficulty of landing playing time in Golden State. That fits with the report we heard earlier today about the W's not being in a rush to sign more bodies.
- With center options dwindling in the D-League, Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside looks at the big men that are left for NBA teams to consider. Former first-round pick Hilton Armstrong, currently with the Santa Cruz Warriors, is among the frontcourt players to keep an eye on.
- Shaun Powell of Sports On Earth looks at coaches on the hot seat. Hawks coach Larry Drew, Pistons coach Lawrence Frank, and Clippers head man Vinny Del Negro should all feel a little toasty, according to Powell.
Nuggets Expected To Target Korver In Offseason
The Nuggets stood pat at this year's trade deadline, electing to move forward with their current roster. However, the team figures to try to add a shooter this summer, and Kyle Korver is expected to be one of Denver's top targets, according to Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post.
Dempsey compares the Nuggets' interest in Korver to the club's interest in Andre Iguodala a year ago. Although Denver was interested in Iguodala at last season's trade deadline, it wasn't until August that the Nuggets eventually worked out a deal to acquire the veteran forward.
In Korver's case, a trade won't be required, since the sharpshooter is in the final year of his contract with the Hawks. It's not clear what sort of salary the 31-year-old will command, but he's earning mid-level money ($5MM) this season, in what has been one of the best years of his career. Korver is hitting a career-high 2.8 three-pointers per game at a league-leading 46.2% rate, and has posted a career-high 14.6 PER.
Although it's too early to predict where Korver will land this summer, he indicated last week that he'd be open to signing with the Jazz, so it sounds as if he'll consider smaller-market teams as well as big-market contenders.
Stein On Hawks, Bucks, Josh Smith, Spurs, Blair
It's more than a week after the trade deadline, but the stream of rumors is far from an end. In his Weekend Dime, Marc Stein of ESPN.com puts a bow on last week's proceedings, and provides some scuttlebutt related to tonight's buyout deadline as well. Here's what Stein has to share:
- The Hawks wanted to trade Josh Smith at the deadline, and expected they'd get a deal done. But when the Bucks refused to part with Monta Ellis, Atlanta's main target, or Ersan Ilyasova, Plan B for the Hawks, GM Danny Ferry and company walked away from a package that would have featured Beno Udrih's expiring contract and Luc Mbah a Moute, who has two years and $8.97MM remaining on his deal this season.
- DeJuan Blair has been seeking a buyout from his expiring $1.054MM contract with the Spurs, but San Antonio is reluctant to grant his wish, fearing he'd sign with another playoff team. If he's not bought out before tonight's 11pm deadline, Blair would be ineligible for the postseason if he signs elsewhere this season. Stein says it's clear that neither Blair nor the Spurs wish to continue their working relationship in 2013/14, so perhaps Blair could be a buyout candidate after tonight, but that's just my speculation.
- The Spurs were seeking a first-round pick in offers for Blair at the trade deadline, but like everyone seeking that kind of return, they were rebuffed, as Stein notes the increasing value of those picks and the rookie-scale contracts that come with them.
- According to Stein, industry standard dictates that prospective owners in the midst of a pending sale may designate two or three players they wish the team to keep, freeing current management to trade anyone else on the roster. That makes it easier to understand why the Kings shed salary, including last June's No. 5 overall pick Thomas Robinson, at the deadline, even though we heard the Chris Hansen/Howard Ballmer group from Seattle was consulted before the move was made.
- Stein sizes up the competing chances of Gregg Popovich and Doc Rivers to become the next coach of Team USA, while adding that USA Basketball executive director Jerry Colangelo wants to wait until he hears from Mike Krzyzewski after the college season to definitely rule out the Coach K's return.
- The ESPN.com scribe also checks in with new Bucks shooting guard J.J. Redick, who felt like he was going to stay with the Magic right up until they traded him.
D-League Moves: Varnado, Scott, Jones, Baynes
We'll track today's D-League assignments and recalls here, with any additional moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- Jarvis Varnado has been sent to the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Heat announced today in a press release. Varnado averaged a double-double in the D-League earlier this season, recording 14.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG, and 3.9 BPG for Sioux Falls.
- The Hawks have assigned rookie Mike Scott to the D-League, tweets Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Consitution. Scott will join the Bakersfield Jam, who have a home-and-home set against the Los Angeles D-Fenders on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.
Earlier updates:
- The Cavaliers have recalled Kevin Jones from the D-League just a day after re-assigning him, the team announced in a press release. Jones led the Canton Charge with 24 points and nine rebounds in last night's game, helping the team defeat the Idaho Stampede, 115-109. The rookie forward will be available for the Cavs tonight against the Clippers.
- Aron Baynes also led his D-League team to victory last night during his one-game assignment. The Spurs announced today in a press release that Baynes had been recalled from the Austin Toros after recording 16 points and nine boards in the club's Thursday win.
- The Celtics have assigned Fab Melo to the Maine Red Claws, according to a team press release. With D.J. White and Shavlik Randolph expected to be ready to play tonight, the C's didn't need Melo on the bench in Boston.
Atlantic Links: Gay, Bargnani, Curry
Today has already been a pretty busy day in the Atlantic division. With the Knicks and Raptors underway, let's continue to monitor all news coming out of the division here:
- Toronto head coach Dwane Casey says that Rudy Gay is the exactly the weapon that the Raptors were lacking in crunch time of tight games, writes Sam Amico of Fox Sports. Through 11 games in Toronto, Gay is averaging 20.1 points per game, many of which, Casey says, are coming when it matters most. Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld tweets that Gay has been a "great fit" since coming over in the deal from Memphis.
- In a separate report, Amico adds that the Raptors will trade Andrea Bargnani in the offseason unless they absolutely cannot find a taker for the two years and $23MM remaining on his deal. Amico hears that the Sixers are very interested, and lists the Mavericks, Rockets, Spurs, Bucks, Jazz, Hawks, Suns and Blazers as other potential destinations.
- Following Doug Collins' rant last night, sources tell Ric Bucher that should Collins resign or be let go, Sixers assistant Michael Curry will not only take over, but be considered a legitimate candidate to coach the team for the long term. Curry was last a head coach in Detroit, where he was fired in June of 2009 after a one-year 39-43 stint with the Pistons.