Nets Swap Backup PGs With Pelicans, Bulls
The Nets have officially announced a pair of trades, acquiring Marquis Teague from the Bulls in a one-for-one swap for Tornike Shengelia, and sending Tyshawn Taylor and cash to the Pelicans in exchange for the draft rights to Edin Bavcic, a 29-year-old big man playing in Greece.
The moves won’t greatly impact any of the teams’ rotations, as none of the active players involved in the trade have averaged as much as 13 minutes per game this season, and each of them has seen multiple D-League assignments. Teague was a first-round pick in 2012, but he struggled to find minutes for Chicago. Shengelia doesn’t figure to be a critical piece for the Bulls, but he is a big body who can potentially provide frontcourt depth off the bench. Shams Charania of RealGM.com tweets the Bulls intend to give him a shot at some minutes. Bavcic was originally a second-round draft choice of the Raptors in 2006, but he’s never played in the NBA, so it appears he’s merely a throw-in.
Sending off Taylor will provide a bit of much-needed financial relief for Brooklyn, which is currently set to face about $80MM in luxury tax penalties in July. Shengelia and Taylor will both earn $788,872 this season, while Teague will make $1,074,720. The move will save the Nets from paying some extra tax dollars this season, but Teague’s contract runs through 2014/15, one year longer than the pacts Shengelia and Taylor are signed to.
Since the Pelicans had an open roster spot and Taylor is on a minimum-salary contract, they can absorb him without giving up a player. Brooklyn creates a vacancy on its roster with the moves, as the Nets had been carrying the maximum 15 players all season.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports was the first to report the trades, which were agreed upon Saturday (Twitter links). Originally, it appeared the Pelicans would send the Nets a heavily protected second-rounder, but it looks like the teams agreed on including Bavcic in the deal instead.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Odds & Ends: Tanking, Dwight, Bennett, Ledo
It’s been a pretty busy afternoon around the NBA, as we heard the Celtics might be trying to move Rajon Rondo, and we saw the Nets hook up with the Bulls and Pelicans to dump some salary via trade, Let’s round up some miscellaneous notes from Saturday:
- Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders examines the two deals from earlier today, and opines the moves make sense for all three teams that were involved.
- While team executives might be interested in intentionally losing games to help raise draft position, players and coaches never are, at least according to former NBA coach Tom Nissalke. Brad Rock of the Deseret News passed along this quote from Nissalke: “I think organizations tank. I don’t think players do. Players know that they’re being auditioned every time they play. If they’re on a bad team, they know they’re not going to be back the next year. There will be some draft picks, some trades made, so the players are always auditioning — and coaches are too.“
- Rockets center Dwight Howard is happy to have trade chatter behind him. “For me I think it (the trade deadline) was different from a lot of players,” Howard told Jessica Camerato of Basketball Insiders. “A lot of attention was on me and what teams were going to do that day. It’s tough. You have everybody asking what’s going to happen, what you’re going to do, all that stuff. I had a big headache and I was just happy when it was over with.”
- It’s been a disappointing start to Anthony Bennett‘s career, but his former UNLV coach Dave Rice says it’s too early for the Cavaliers to give up on last summer’s number one overall pick. The latest piece by Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer passes along Rice’s view on Bennett’s game and how he thinks the forward will develop.
- A Mavericks team press release announced that Ricky Ledo was assigned to the Texas Legends this morning. Ledo has only seen 33 minutes on the floor for Dallas this season so the move will give him the opportunity to see some action on the hardwood. It’ll be his second such assignment this season.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Celtics Attempting To Move Rajon Rondo?
Just earlier today, we passed along that ESPNBoston.com’s Chad Forsberg suggested it was unlikely Rajon Rondo would be moved, but Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News hears from “more than a few” executives around the league that the C’s will try to deal Rondo, either at the trade deadline or before the draft this June. According to Lawrence, the proposed move would probably be appealing to the recently returned Rondo since he likely won’t be eager to accept a role on a rebuilding team. He’s signed through 2014/15, and will earn about $13MM next season.
There have been a steady flux of Rondo trade rumors since the Celtics and Nets hooked up last summer on the blockbuster deal that sent Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce to Brooklyn. Boston GM Danny Ainge has repeatedly dismissed these rumors and continues to stress that he pegs Rondo as the cornerstone to build the franchise around. Rondo has recently been part of rumors involving a potential deal with the Knicks, but Lawrence hears that Phoenix and Houston are two of the most likely landing spots for him. Dallas seems to have an affinity for Rondo as well, but it doesn’t look like they’ll have the proper assets to put together a desirable package for Boston.
Lawrence’s piece implies it’s essentially a foregone conclusion that Rondo will be dealt, which I find a little surprising since there are so many questions about how he will bounce back and perform on the court after recovering from his ACL tear. Rondo’s talent is enticing though, and it’s tough to imagine there are many teams in the league that would object to his presence on their roster. We’ll likely continue to hear trade chatter about Rondo as the February 20th trade deadline fast approaches.
Eastern Notes: Rondo, Celtics, Bulls, Bennett
Rajon Rondo made his long-awaited season debut for the Celtics last night and played 19 minutes in a 107-104 home loss to the Lakers. It was the first time that Rondo had taken the floor since tearing his ACL last January, and he put up eight points while dishing out four assists. Here’s more on Rondo and the Eastern Conference:
- Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com opines that the Celtics’ decision to name Rondo captain of the team should help to dispel any trade rumors that involve the veteran point guard. It’s unlikely the club decides to name Rondo captain and then one month later ships him off to another team, Forsberg writes.
- In the same piece, Forsberg mentions that Celtics GM Danny Ainge likes the makeup of his team but feels they still need to develop: “We have a long way to go. There’s a lot of good positive things that are happening with our team and a lot of good development with a lot of our young guys. We have some good veteran guys who have set great examples, hard-workers for our young guys. And I feel like we’re figuring out who we want on the bus.“
- The Bulls created quite a bit of financial flexibility when they dealt Luol Deng to Cleveland, but Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders notes that the flexibility will more than likely be used to sign multiple players in free agency, rather than one big name like LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony.
- It’s been a tough season for last summer’s number one pick in the draft, Anthony Bennett. The Cavaliers have yet to get valuable minutes out of the forward from UNLV, and Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer notes that the acquisition of Deng will limit his time on the floor even further. Schmitt Boyer hears Cleveland isn’t against the idea of sending Bennett to the D-League, but for now the team believes his time is better spent in the NBA.
Mutual Interest Between Tom Thibodeau, Knicks?
In his latest piece for the New York Daily News, Mitch Lawrence says there are rumors around the Bulls’ camp that Tom Thibodeau might have a deal in place to become the head coach of the Knicks next season.
Thibodeau was an assistant coach in New York from 1996-2001 and is represented by CAA, Knicks owner James Dolan’s favorite agency. Lawrence is quick to note that Thibodeau is under contract through the 2016/17 season, and a regular season transition is extremely unlikely because there would be a major tampering case that might prevent Thibodeau from returning to New York at all. Doc Rivers proved last summer that coaches under contract can be shipped to another squad for the right price, and after the season ends, Thibodeau will be a viable candidate to land a job leading the Knicks.
Lawrence hears from league sources that Thibodeau was “kept in the dark” about certain details during the development of the Luol Deng trade, namely when Deng was being shipped and where he was heading. Since Deng was one of Thibodeau’s favorite players, withholding these details surely rubbed him the wrong way. Plus, we heard last week that Thibodeau wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of rebuilding, and the Deng deal certainly indicates the Bulls are interested in changing the core of their team. It’s possible that the club might want to reshape itself and form a new identity that doesn’t include Thibodeau.
Of course, Mike Woodson would need to be fired by the Knicks before any of these rumors could come to life, and right now he’s under contract through the end of the 2014/15 season. It’s worth mentioning that Dolan spoke out and gave Woodson his full support in late November. However, no one from upper management has spoken publicly on Woodson’s job status since then, leaving some to speculate that he’s on the hot seat. These are only rumors right now, but it doesn’t seem out of the question that Thibodeau might land a job with New York sometime in the not-so-distant future.
D-League Notes: Gobert, Clark, Shengelia
Here are a few points pertaining to the NBA’s D-League:
- The Jazz are expected to recall rookies Rudy Gobert and Ian Clark from the D-League this weekend, tweets Jody Genessy of Deseret News. The duo spent time playing for the Bakersfield Jam but should rejoin the Jazz sometime today or tomorrow.
- Tornike Shengelia has been recalled by the Nets, the team announced. Shengelia, who had been playing with the Springfield Armor, has played sparingly throughout his career after being selected late in the 2012 draft by the 76ers. So far for this season, Shengelia has averaged 8.4 MPG in 15 contests for Brooklyn.
- Benjamin Hoffman of the New York Times takes a look at how a couple of former D-League players, Jon Leuer and Ed Davis, have been able to be productive for the Grizzlies. With Marc Gasol sidelined, the two big men have gained valuable experience by playing more minutes than they would have otherwise.
- Earlier today, we passed along that the Hawks had officially signed James Nunnally to a 10-day contract. Nunnally caught Atlanta’s attention after a strong showing in this year’s D-League Showcase where he earned a spot as a member of the All-Showcase Second Team.
Knicks Notes: Smith, Woodson, Hardaway
The Knicks are preparing to face the 76ers on the road tonight, and we heard earlier today that J.R. Smith is once again unlikely to see any action. Much has been said about the still-developing Smith saga, but all the attention hasn’t seemed to negatively affect the team’s play. They’ve won four out of their last five games, including key victories against the Spurs and Heat. Here’s the latest on Smith and the Knicks:
- Smith spoke to reporters, including Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link) about his reaction to the Knicks souring on him as of late. “What have you done for me lately, pretty much. You miss shots, it’s going to happen,” the guard said. Smith has been in the doghouse thanks to his public reaction to his younger brother getting cut. His proclivity for untying his opponent’s shoes probably doesn’t help things either.
- Rather than taking responsibility for his actions, Begley hears that Smith is frustrated at how much his name’s been in the media lately and doesn’t understand what all the fuss is over. Smith says he’s simply misunderstood. “I guess some people don’t have a sense of humor that others have… I’ve been misunderstood my whole life. it’s not going to change now.” Coach Mike Woodson has gone on the record as saying Smith needs to grow up.
- Meanwhile, Keith Schlosser from Knicks Journal suggests Tim Hardaway Jr. might be ready to take over Smith’s role as sixth man. Schlosser argues that despite Hardaway’s lack of experience and sometimes poor shot selection, the rookie guard has the skills necessary to warrant more minutes.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Rockets To Target Mike Dunleavy?
The Rockets have interest in acquiring Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy, reveals USA Today’s Sam Amick. According to Amick, Houston GM Daryl Morey is interested in pushing his team to the elite level, and he believes acquiring Dunleavy will help bolster the team’s depth off the bench and provide relief for star guard James Harden.
Dunleavy is earning a modest $6MM over the next two seasons and is held in high regard by the Bulls front office, so it’ll be difficult to pry the three point specialist away from Chicago GM Gar Forman. Amick hears that the Rockets have yet to inquire about a possible deal, but apparently Dunleavy is “high on their wishlist.” So far this season, Dunleavy has averaged 10.7 points per night in 28.7 minutes.
Amick also hears the Rockets are likely to keep Omer Asik past the trade deadline. Earlier this season, Houston set a self-imposed deadline to move the disgruntled center by December 19th. The Rockets couldn’t find a way to put together a deal to their liking with another club, and they eventually wound up retaining him. However, Amick says this deal is unrelated to any potential Asik moves. Instead, the desire to acquire the veteran forward proves that Morey wants to push his team to the next level, and apparently he sees a potential Dunleavy acquisition as the first step in doing so.
Odds & Ends: Kidd, Acy, 2014 Draft, Williams
Because of their similar career paths, Warriors head coach Mark Jackson has been a role model for Jason Kidd, writes Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. In wake of the criticism Kidd has received for his performance as head coach of the Nets, Jackson recently spoke out and defended Kidd:
“He’s been a coach on every team he’s been on. He won a championship being an offensive coordinator [in Dallas], with all due respect to [Dallas coach] Rick Carlisle, but I’m sure Rick will tell you the same thing.”
Here are some miscellaneous tidbits from Wednesday night around the NBA:
- Quincy Acy has been a pleasant surprise for Kings coach Mike Malone, reports Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. “I knew he was talented,” said Malone, “but he’s better than I thought he was.” Acy was obtained in the trade that sent Rudy Gay packing from Toronto.
- Ian Levy of HickoryHigh uses a formula to determine the similarity between the 2014 draft class’s top prospects and current NBA players.
- By waiving Shawne Williams on Tuesday, the Lakers will end up saving about $1.1MM in player salary and tax expenses, reports Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times. Williams earned about $475K during his stint with the Lakers.
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News doesn’t see the Mavericks as a realistic suitor for Andrew Bynum. Sefko notes the Mavs won’t have as much money to offer the recently waived center as the Heat. Beyond that, the addition of Bynum would threaten to affect team chemistry, possibly in a negative way.
Eastern Notes: Magic, Knicks, Deng, Bulls
There haven’t been any updates on potential deals involving Andre Miller or J.R. Smith, so let’s have a look at the Eastern Conference in the meantime:
- Despite diminished frontcourt depth, the Magic won’t be signing a player to a 10-day contract in the near future, reports Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. The club waived Solomon Jones yesterday, and starting center Nikola Vucevic is suffering from a concussion, but apparently team management is confident in the club’s bench.
- It’s been a tough season for the 12-22 Knicks, but head coach Mike Woodson still believes his club could hang with the Heat if his players were healthy. Fred Kerber of the New York Post passes along this quote from Woodson: “Absolutely and I still believe that [we could hang with the Heat], if we could ever get back whole… I’m not taking anything away from the players who have been consistently in uniform for us, but it’s hard to judge our team.“
- Over at USA Today, a panel of sports writers takes a look at various issues surrounding the trade that sent Luol Deng from the Bulls to the Cavaliers. Among the issues discussed: the future of Chicago’s organization and the potential direction of Andrew Bynum‘s career after he was waived yesterday.
- Mike McGraw of the Daily Herald opines that the Derrick Rose Rule is the reason that the Bulls couldn’t retain Deng. McGraw argues that Chicago couldn’t offer Deng a big enough extension because they had so much tied up in the contract that Derrick Rose was allowed to sign as a result of his early-career success.