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Cavs Notes: Sessions, Varejao, Jamison

February 26th, 2012 at 11:36am CST by Chuck Myron

The Cavs hit the All-Star break in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, at 13-18 and a game and a half back of the slumping Celtics. Here's what's buzzing with the team as it chases its first post-LeBron James playoff berth:

  • Bob Finnan of The News-Herald said the Cavs would prefer to get a first-round draft pick in a trade instead of veteran talent. Nonetheless, Marvin Williams' name has come up as a potential target, as he was drafted by former Hawks executive and current Cavs GM Chris Grant. A straight-up swap of Williams for Ramon Sessions, a rumor Finnan has been hearing, wouldn't work under the salary cap, but another deal is within the realm of possibility.
  • Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist Terry Pluto believes the Cavs are better off trading Sessions for a first-round pick rather than risking that he'll turn down a $4.55MM option for next season and seek a starting job as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
  • Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer answered reader questions and said that even though Anderson Varejao is likely off the table for this year's trade discussions, the high energy big man will likely be back in trade talks next season.
  • While trade candidate Antawn Jamison could remain in Cleveland the rest of the season, Reed doubts Jamison, who's a free agent this summer, will return to the team in 2012/13. 
  • Finnan has another story on top-pick Kyrie Irving, who's reminding coach Byron Scott of a young Chris Paul. Scott, who also coached Jason Kidd during his prime in New Jersey, was Paul's first coach with the Hornets.
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Expired Trade Exceptions

February 25th, 2012 at 10:50am CST by Zachary Links

There were a great deal of trade exceptions obtained in the days leading up to last season's February 24th trade deadline and with a full year gone by they have expired.  In certain trade scenarios, a team can acquire a traded player exception, which is worth a specific amount of money and can be used at any time over the next year.

For a more detailed refresher on how trade exceptions work, check out our glossary of salary cap exceptions and Larry Coon's CBA FAQ.  Here's a look at the exceptions that expired this week..

Feb. 22nd

Feb. 23rd

Feb. 24th

*Charlotte used roughly $1.28MM of this trade exception plus a 2013 second-round pick to acquire center Byron Mullens from the Thunder in December.

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Marvin Williams Denies Requesting Trade

February 21st, 2012 at 4:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Upon hearing about Chris Broussard's report that suggested Marvin Williams wanted out of Atlanta, Williams "vehemently denied" asking for a trade, tweets Arthur Triche of the Hawks. The 25-year-old told Triche, "You know that's not me."

Broussard technically didn't report that Williams had requested a trade, writing that the Hawks forward "wants out because he wants to play somewhere where he'll have an increased role offensively." It may be a matter of semantics, but it's possible Williams is telling the truth and Broussard's report is accurate — the former second overall pick could be unhappy with his role, but not to the point where he's formally asked to be traded.

A former Tar Heel, Williams has played for the Hawks since 2005 and is playing a career-low 24.2 MPG this season. The lack of playing time has also reduced his points per game to 9.6, his lowest mark since he was a 19-year-old rookie, though his average per 36 minutes is consistent with his career rate. Williams is under contract through next season, with an early termination option for 2013/14.

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Broussard On Beaubois, Williams, Raps, Sessions

February 21st, 2012 at 8:52am CST by Luke Adams

In addition to reporting on the Lakers' interest in Michael Beasley, ESPN.com's Chris Broussard has a number of other interesting tidbits to share in his latest column. Let's check out the highlights:

  • The Mavericks are "about ready to move on" from the Rodrigue Beaubois experiment. It was only a week ago that Mark Cuban insisted Beaubois remained in the team's long-term plans, but the young guard would be an intriguing trade chip. Including him in a deal for a player on an expiring contract could improve the Mavs' roster in the short-term and help clear a little extra cap space in the long-term.
  • Marvin Williams is frustrated with his role in Atlanta and would like to play somewhere where he could contribute more on offense.
  • The Raptors are receiving plenty of inquiries on Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani. Bargnani isn't likely to be moved, and the team would want a point guard in return for Calderon.
  • The Lakers want to see if they can trade for a point guard before giving Gilbert Arenas a shot. According to Broussard's sources, the Lakers should be able to acquire Ramon Sessions for one of their first-round picks before the deadline, if they want to pull the trigger. According to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (on Twitter), the Lakers are expected to "accelerate" their pursuit of Sessions this weekend.
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Hawks Re-Sign Erick Dampier

February 20th, 2012 at 7:26am CST by Luke Adams

The Hawks have re-signed Erick Dampier on a second 10-day contract, according to a team release last night.

Atlanta signed Dampier to a 10-day deal earlier this month to shore up a frontcourt that has been hit by injuries, including pectoral surgery that has sidelined Al Horford for most of the season. In four games for the Hawks, Dampier played just under 26 minutes, recording 10 boards and a blocked shot, though he didn't score a single point.

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Bucks Rumors: Jackson, Skiles, Fesenko

February 17th, 2012 at 8:52am CST by Luke Adams

Here are a few Bucks updates, as Milwaukee tries to snap a three-game losing streak tonight in Orlando….

  • It's "a given" that the Bucks will try to deal Stephen Jackson before the trade deadline, but the $10MM+ he's guaranteed next year won't make it easy, says Gery Woefel of the Racine Journal Times.
  • Woelfel spoke to NBA officials who believe Jackson could be moved if he were part of a package that included a player like Ersan Ilyasova or Brandon Jennings. Ilyasova, I could see, but I'd be pretty shocked if the Bucks traded Jennings.
  • Jackson's relationship with coach Scott Skiles is one reason the Bucks will try to find a suitor for the 6'8" shooter. According to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld, the two have had "numerous run-ins" relating to Jackson's professionalism and impact on young players.
  • Jackson on Skiles, in an interview with Milwaukee's NBC affiliate: "We don't have no relationship like I've had with other coaches and I don't expect to have one. Too much stuff has happened."
  • Within Woelfel's column for the Journal Times, he notes that the Bucks hope to set up a meeting with free agent big man Kyrylo Fesenko next week. The Heat, Bulls, and Hawks are also showing interest in Fesenko, says Woelfel.
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Trade Exceptions Due To Expire Next Week

February 14th, 2012 at 1:10pm CST by Luke Adams

In certain NBA trade scenarios, a team can acquire a traded player exception, which is worth a specific amount of money and can be used at any time over the next year. These trade exceptions allow teams to acquire one or more players without sending any salary back. However, if a team has obtained multiple trade exceptions, it can't combine them to acquire a more expensive player.

For more details on how trade exceptions can be obtained, check out our glossary of salary cap exceptions and Larry Coon's CBA FAQ, but here's a practical example:

When the Mavericks worked out a sign-and-trade deal to send Tyson Chandler to the Knicks prior to the season, the Mavs acquired a traded player exception worth about $13.11MM — Chandler's 2011/12 cap figure. The Mavs used most of that exception to absorb Lamar Odom's salary in a trade with the Lakers, who in turn received a trade exception worth Odom's $8.9MM cap figure. Now, the Mavs have about $4.21MM of their exception remaining, while the Lakers have yet to use their $8.9MM exception.

A number of trade exceptions were obtained leading up to last season's February 24th trade deadline, and are set to expire within the next ten days. Teams aren't obligated to use their exceptions — the amounts of some exceptions aren't substantial enough to be useful, and most will simply expire quietly. But they're worth keeping an eye on over the next week and a half.

Here's the complete list of trade exceptions due to expire by next Friday:

Feb. 22nd

Feb. 23rd

Feb. 24th

Storytellers Contracts was used in the creation of this list.

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Assessing Stocks: Atlanta Hawks

February 9th, 2012 at 9:08pm CST by Jesse Blanchard

Portfolio review: At 17-9 the Atlanta Hawks are where they have been the past several seasons, stuck somewhere in the middle between the Eastern Conference's elite and bottom dwellers, with a large gap separating them in both directions.

Capped out for the foreseeable future, the Hawks would appear stuck in purgatory–good enough to make the playoffs, but not a threat once there–unless one of their players buck a trend of marginal, incremental improvement and takes a giant leap, or a major roster overhaul. 

Prime assets: Al Horford is the lone untouchable asset barring a Dwight Howard trade demand to Atlanta, leaving forward Josh Smith as the best trade chip the Hawks have. Smith is 26, a borderline All-Star, and still retains enough potential to leave some wondering if there is one more level of play in him. 

Smith has two years at $25.6MM remaining on his contract,  a very reasonable deal that matches up well with other similar borderline All-Star players (think Monta Ellis) and change. And enough talent to inquire about younger, promising but flawed players like DeMarcus Cousins. Smith remains the lone trade chip that could bring drastic change. 

Worthless stock: Joe Johnson is untradeable, tying up significant cap resources and stifling all roster flexibility. The only solace the Hawks can take is his apparent All-Star production and the amnesty provision as insurance for the moment he shows decline. 

Marvin Williams is overpaid at $7.5MM this season, but not significantly so. Ideally he would be used as a moveable contract to attach to a young, cheap talent to make salaries work. Unfortunately the Hawks lack such assets.

The Rest: Kirk Hinrich has one year left on his deal in a market that values expiring contracts less than one would think. Jeff Teague might be worth a late first rounder and his room for growth is probably better than anything the Hawks could get in return. 

If the Hawks ever decided to blow things up, the combination of Teague and Smith, along with amnestying Joe Johnson, might return enough cap space and prospects to begin rebuilding with Al Horford in earnest. 

 

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Odds & Ends: Dampier, Lin, Weems, Heat, Varejao

February 9th, 2012 at 4:33pm CST by Luke Adams

Let's take a look at a few links from around the league as we await tonight's renewal of the Lakers/Celtics rivalry in Boston….

  • In a blog entry for NBA.com, Scott Howard-Cooper discusses Seattle's push for an NBA team, the Warriors' potential trade options, and Chauncey Billups' future.
  • Hawks coach Larry Drew conceded to Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Erick Dampier isn't in great shape (Twitter link). Atlanta signed Dampier to a 10-day contract to add frontcourt depth.
  • As Jeremy Lin dominates headlines in New York, teams that could've signed and kept him look back on a missed opportunity. Donnie Nelson talked about the Mavericks' failed attempt to sign Lin (Dallas Morning News link), while Houston GM Daryl Morey tweeted that he should have held on to Lin when he was a Rocket.
  • Sonny Weems won't be returning to the NBA this season, his agent tells Sportando.
  • Talking to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, Oscar Robertson said the Heat need a center who can consistently record 12 points and 10 boards if they're going to win championships. With respect to the Hall-of-Famer, I think the Heat are talented enough to win a title without a strong presence in the middle.
  • The Cavaliers won't actively place Anderson Varejao on the trade market, since they likely wouldn't get fair value for him, writes Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
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Franchise Notes: Europe, Hawks, Anaheim, Kings

February 9th, 2012 at 12:00pm CST by Luke Adams

From the possibility of international expansion to an NBA owner making a bid for an MLB team, here are a few updates on the futures of the league and a few franchises:

  • Commissioner David Stern said the idea of NBA teams in Europe has been discussed, but it's not realistic for the near future: "It’s not the schedule and the traveling which is the problem. It’s the arenas, the ownership, the television arrangements, the pricing structure and the fan avidity. And it doesn’t pay to take anything for granted. It’s a nice thought. But basketball is not going to vend in Europe quite yet. It’s just growing. And it’s growing slowly but it’s growing nevertheless" (HoopsWorld link).
  • Stern added that would-be buyers have interest in the Hawks, but Atlanta's ownership group isn't currently entertaining the idea. The Hawks are "well down" on the league's list of worries, according to Stern.
  • Anaheim's Honda Center announced that its multi-million dollar renovation project is underway. As Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles wrote last summer, Anaheim hopes the renovations help attract an NBA team to the home of the NHL's Ducks.
  • At one point, the Kings looked Anaheim-bound, and their situation is still tenuous. Tom Couzens of the Sacramento Bee says the Maloofs "are speaking volumes by saying nothing" about financial contribution toward the city's new arena.
  • Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley is leading one of the groups bidding on the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. Up against ten other suitors, Heisley's bid is "solid but a long shot," says Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
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