Marcus Smart To Return To Oklahoma State
APRIL 26TH: According to Aran Smith of NBADraft.net (Twitter link), "word on the street" suggests that Smart is second-guessing his decision to forgo the draft. While Smith says not to be shocked if Smart changes his mind, for now the junior guard remains on track to return to Oklahoma State. He'll have until Sunday night to finalize his decision.
APRIL 16TH: We just heard that the Oklahoma State basketball program scheduled a press conference for tomorrow afternoon and now we know why. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Cowboys guard Marcus Smart will return to Stillwater for his sophomore season (Twitter link). This is a big surprise because, as Wojnarowski points out, Smart was on his way to being a top five selection in June. This makes an already weak top of the draft even weaker.
Chad Ford of ESPN thinks that Smart would have gone top three, tweeting that he is the first player since Blake Griffin to return to school with that high a draft projection. Ford calls Smart a "different" kid who values winning and college experience. With Smart out of the mix, Ford will elevate Trey Burke to the top point guard spot on his board (Twitter links).
Odds & Ends: Budinger, McGrady, Hennigan
As Tuesday night winds down, here are some odds and ends from around the NBA:
- Chase Budinger, a soon-to-be unrestricted free agent, would like to return to the Timberwolves next season but is only likely to do so if Rick Adelman is retained as the head coach, writes Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Adelman pushed the Wolves to acquire Budinger, who he coached in Houston, in a draft-day trade with the Rockets last June. Budinger missed four months this season with a knee injury.
- After he signed Tracy McGrady, general manager R.C. Buford said that with the status of the Spurs roster right now, they "felt like [they] needed to look at some depth and experience," tweets Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News (via Twitter).
- The true winner of last summer's biggest blockbuster was Magic GM Rob Hennigan, writes Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel. Hennigan fleeced the Sixers and obtained three first-round draft picks and Arron Afflalo, says Bianchi, and most important, did not end up with Andrew Bynum.
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer looks at the biggest issues facing the lowly Bobcats this summer, specifically pointing at the futures of head coach Mike Dunlap, restricted free-agent-to-be Gerald Henderson as well as the six other Bobcats who could become free agents.
Poll: Did Marcus Smart Make The Right Decision?
In light of Marcus Smart's decision to return to Oklahoma State for his sophomore season, the debate over whether he made the right decision is already underway. Smart was all but a lock to be drafted top five come June with an outside chance at going No. 1 overall (per ESPN's Chad Ford on Twitter). This year's NBA Draft is considered weak, especially at the top, and the prevailing thought on next year's draft, albeit 14 months away, is that it will be considerably stronger. The downside of Smart's decision is clear; he could be costing himself millions of dollars. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, who broke the Smart news, adds via Twitter that the overwhelming response of NBA executives on Smart's decision thus far is "shock."
But as Ford tweets, Smart is the type of "different" kid that values winning and college experience. Maybe Smart is returning to Stillwater because he values the development of his game over the paycheck that will come with his draft slot. Top five picks, by definition, typically go to the worst teams in the NBA. Sometimes those are not the best destinations for players who are not ready for the bright lights of the professional ranks. Who knows? Maybe Smart's decision will result in a bigger payday or more prosperous career down the road than he ever would have had stuck on a perpetual loser.
It is a subjective debate for sure… which is why it is important to ask the question. Did Marcus Smart make the right decision? Please feel free to elaborate on your answer in the comments section.
Draft Notes: McAdoo, Franklin, Smart
Let's keep track of all things NBA Draft from Tuesday night right here:
- James McAdoo has decided to return to North Carolina for his junior season, reports Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports. Despite being a highly touted recruit who averaged of 14.4 points per contest this year, McAdoo was clearly not happy with his draft projection. Citing NBA executives, Goodman says that reports on the rangy Tar Heel label him as a man without a position in the NBA, not yet comfortable in the post and not a good enough shooter to play on the perimeter.
- Before the announcement, McAdoo ranked 20th on the Draft Express Top 100 and projected as the 19th pick in the site's most recent mock draft. Three picks later, Draft Express pegs Jamaal Franklin as the Nets pick at 22. Franklin has the experience and polish to be an instant contributor for a contender that picks in the 20s, if he lasts that long. Franklin is the Draft Express NBA Draft Prospect of the Week, and Walker Beeken profiles him here.
- Oklahoma State basketball has scheduled a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, tweets ESPN's Chad Ford, who suggests that the school may announce the plans of top-five hopeful Marcus Smart. Smart is ranked as the third best prospect in the draft by Draft Express. The last we heard from him, there were conflicting reports of his intentions regarding the draft.
Pacific Notes: Bryant, Amnesty, Cousins
With three NBA games scheduled, the Clippers are the only Pacific division team in action tonight. Let's round up links from the division here:
- Just because the Lakers aren't thinking about amnestying Kobe Bryant just yet, doesn't mean everyone else isn't. An ESPN Los Angeles poll shows that most do not think the Lakers should use the amnesty provision on their longtime star. Amin Elhassan of ESPN is in favor of cutting ties with Bryant, writing that the team could conceivably re-sign him if he can return to full strength. On the other hand, Arash Markazi sees Bryant helping the Lakers next season and thinks the franchise's image would take a hit should they release him.
- Markazi follows up on Twitter, clarifying that the Lakers can only use their amnesty provision on Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Blake or Metta World Peace, adding that he believes the team will use it on either Blake or World Peace. Markazi also tweets that for a player to be eligible for the amnesty provision, he must have been with the team that amnesties him since July 1st, 2011, as Luke Adams noted in his amnesty refresher this afternoon.
- In an all-access interview with Bleacher Report's Jimmy Spencer, Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins insists that he is not interested in a change of scenery. "No, I am loyal to this organization," Cousins said. "The biggest reward to me would be, at the end of the day, hearing them say, 'He turned this around. He stuck with it through thick and thin and he made it happen.'" While the story comes with a disclaimer that Cousins granted the interview with an agenda in mind, there are plenty of worthwhile quotes that make it worth a read.
NBA Delays Vote On Kings
Seattle mayor Mike McGinn said that he has been informed that there will be no vote regarding the fate of the Kings taken this week when the NBA Board of Governors meets in New York City, reports Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. A combination of the NBA's relocation and finance committees are meeting in New York tomorrow and the full Board of Governors (the owners of the 30 NBA teams) will be meeting on Thursday and Friday.
Tony Bizjak and Dale Kasler of the Sacramento Bee confirm Condotta's report, adding that while no reason was given for the postponement, David Stern did hint a few weeks back that a decision may not be made by this week. Per the Bee, Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson indicated the city's bid is being finalized and will be ready by tomorrow's NBA meetings. Johnson expressed confidence that the bid "can win favor with both the NBA and the Maloof family," but also implied that it will not match the increased offer Seattle's group announced Friday night.
Votes on the approval of sale and relocation were expected to happen this week, but McGinn said he was told by Stern himself not to expect a decision by Friday. As we outlined yesterday, once it does happen, it will take the votes of 23 of 30 owners to approve the sale of the Kings to the group led by Seattle investor Chris Hansen and the votes of 16 of 30 owners to approve the request to relocate the team.
Despite this latest delay, Seattle continues to move forward with their plans. According to King TV's Chris Daniels, McGinn also announced on Tuesday that a formal deal for Key Arena has been struck between the city and Hansen's group that calls for a minimum of $3MM in permanent investments and guarantees $2MM more annually, which will bump to $750,000 should the arena add an NHL team. The investments will enable seating and technology upgrades along with locker room and club improvements. (Twitter links located here)
Draft Notes: Hairston, Burton, Wolters, Greek Freak
With a blank slate tonight in the professional ranks, expect most NBA fans to turn their attention to the NCAA title game between Michigan and Louisville. Both teams are loaded with future NBAers. Let's round up all draft-related news and notes from tonight here:
- Per the Associated Press (via ESPN), New Mexico guard Tony Snell will enter the NBA draft. There were reports a few weeks back that Snell was leaning towards the draft and on Monday he made it official, stating at an on-campus news conference, "in my heart, I feel like it's a good decision to leave now."
- Mitch McGary's NBA draft stock is soaring, writes Adam Zagoria of SNY. Quoting a pair of pro scouts, Zagoria implies that McGary needs to at least consider leaving Ann Arbor because it is unlikely that his stock will ever be this high again.
Earlier updates:
- Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports tweeted yesterday that North Carolina sophomore guard P.J. Hairston will be returning to Chapel Hill. However, Hairston's mother says that they are still in the process of making that decision, writes Andrew Carter of the Charlotte Observer. Hairston emerged as a legitimate scoring threat once he was inserted into the starting lineup for the Tar Heels in mid-February. According to Carter, Roy Williams is optimistic that Hairston, James McAdoo and Reggie Bullock will all return, though he cautioned that no announcement will be made by the school until all three decide.
- Nevada's Deonte Burton will return for his senior season, reports Chris Murray of the Reno Gazette-Journal. The point guard, who averaged 16.3 points and 3.6 assists per game as a junior for the Wolf Pack, was projected anywhere from a late second-rounder to undrafted.
- South Dakota State senior Nate Wolters has signed with agent Jared Karnes, tweets HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy, who adds that the Jack Rabbits star is expected to be an early second round pick. Wolters has been one of the best mid-major players in the country in his career, averaging 19.5, 21.2 and 22.3 points-per-game from his sophomore to senior seasons.
- Giannis Antetokoumpo, a 6-foot-10 point guard from Greece with a giant wingspan, is shooting up NBA draft boards, reports Chris Sheridan in a video courtesy of Sheridan Hoops. As we've seen, the "Greek Freak" is drawing a ton of interest from NBA teams and Sheridan opines that Antetokoumpo could end up being a lottery pick if he decides to enter this June's draft.
- Joe Kotoch of Sheridan Hoops shares his latest NBA mock draft here, adding that Antetokoumpo could end up being this year's Bismack Biyombo.
Kevin Love To Have Left Knee Scoped
Kevin Love, who has been out for three months with a hand injury, will now undergo a "minor arthroscopic procedure" on his left knee, according to the Timberwolves Twitter feed. The procedure is intended to remove the buildup of scar tissue in the knee, according to the team, and has a typical recovery time of 4-6 weeks.
Love was expected back in March but was unable to get doctor clearance for contact. Whispers that he would be shut down until next season began to proliferate a few weeks ago and this announcement from the Wolves confirms it. The 2012-13 campaign will go down as one to forget for the 24-year-old. In only 18 games, Love averaged 18.3 points and shot a miserable 35.2 percent from the field.
In a series of tweets from the team's Twitter feed, general manager David Kahn said the following about the Love situation:
"Disappointing news, but the only course of action we could take. Kevin tried very hard to get back. It was causing him enough pain and concern that the decision was made to do it now. We waited to the last possible moment. You feel so bad for Kevin. He feels very badly about it, too. As time went on, and as he began ramping up his workout with the intent of playing, the knee started to hurt more. The knee was starting to impact the way he runs and we decided that it was time to do this now," Kahn said, adding that there is no long-term concern over the injury and that Love should be cleared for contact in June. (Full series of Twitter links here)
Odds & Ends: Mack, Suns, Favors, Smith, Dirk
While there are no games on the NBA docket tonight, there are still plenty of news items to pass along. Here are some odds and ends from around the league:
- Shelvin Mack has finally found a home in Atlanta, writes NBA.com's Jon Cooper. Mack, who re-signed with the Hawks after the expiration of his second 10-day contract on March 26, has received a bump in minutes of late and has responded with a handful of solid performances.
- Along with their own first round pick, which figures to be high, the Suns will also have another selection in round one – either the Lakers pick if they miss the playoffs or the Heat's pick if L.A. sneaks in. Jay Dieffenbach of AzCentral takes a look at the top, middle and back of the past four NBA draft's to give Suns fans an idea of what they should expect.
- Jazz big man Derrick Favors has made the most of the increased playing time that has resulted from Enes Kanter's season-ending injury, writes Steve Luhm of The Salt Lake Tribune. According to Luhm, Favors is also completely settled in as a member of the Jazz after being dealt to Utah two years ago as a teenager.
- Here is a transcript of a J.R. Smith interview on ESPN Radio New York, courtesy of SportsRadioInterviews.com, within which Smith details the keys to his breakout season with the Knicks. Smith is the owner of a $2.93MM player option this offseason. If declined, he will become a free agent coming off a career year.
- In HoopsWorld's NBA PM column, Bill Ingram writes that it won't be a surprise if Dirk Nowitzki's patience runs out should the Mavericks strike out once again this offseason. Nowitzki has repeatedly professed his loyalty to the Dallas organization, despite the dismantling of the 2010-11 title team and the disappointment of what was supposed to be a huge summer in 2012. The Mavs are again ideally positioned to make an impact this summer, but it remains to be seen what players make it to free agency.
Odds & Ends: Jay-Z, Salary Cap, Free Agency
Here are some odds and ends from around the NBA as we wind down on this Tuesday night:
- In HoopsWorld's daily NBA PM feature, Yannis Koutroupis writes that Jay-Z, between his relationships with the NBA's stars and the respect he gets amongst America's youth, could become a "serious force in quick fashion" as he enters the realm of the sports agency. Koutroupis also hits on the Pacers coping to life without Granger and the Knicks thriving with a healthy roster.
- ESPN's salary cap guru Larry Coon separates about half of the NBA's teams into four tiers in his latest Insiders only piece; big spenders, low-tax teams, just below the [luxury] tax line and teams with big cap room. It looks like the new CBA rules will harshy impact the Heat, Knicks and Lakers, while the Cavaliers, Pistons, Jazz and Hawks are in good shape to make an offseason splash.
- Moke Hamilton of Sheridan Hoops releases version 5.0 of his free agency rankings, within which Kenyon Martin and Andray Blatche have slid into the 11 and 15 spots respectively, and bumped Manu Ginobili and Andrew Bynum from the list.