Bulls Send Marquis Teague To D-League
The Bulls announced this morning via press release that Marquis Teague has been assigned to the D-League’s Iowa Energy. Teague has seen limited minutes for Chicago this season and figures to get more playing time as a member of the Energy. This is Teague’s second D-League assignment this season. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes that efforts to trade the 20-year-old Kentucky product have yielded little interest from around the league. However, Nick Friedell from ESPNChicago.com notes that Bulls GM Gar Forman spoke on ESPN Chicago 1000’s “Waddle & Silvy Show” and revealed he hasn’t lost faith in Teague:
“He’s 20 now. And I think we’ve seen potential; he’s a talented kid, he had a really good summer… And our thought was let’s get him to our D-League affiliate and give him some time on the floor. But in our minds, it’s not a long-term thing. And it’s something we may do several times throughout the season.”
Meanwhile, Bob Cooney from the Daily News tweets that a source tells him the 76ers have plans to assign Lorenzo Brown to the Delaware 87ers of the D-League. Brown hasn’t been seeing much playing time in Philadelphia, and with Michael Carter-Williams returning from his injury, there’s not much of a spot for him in the 76ers’ rotation. Brown, a product of North Carolina State, was selected 52nd overall by the Timberwolves last June but was waived and eventually signed on with in Philly during the season.
New York Notes: Garnett, Nets, Carmelo, Clippers
Both New York clubs are set to take the floor today as the Nets face off against the Bulls in Brooklyn and the Knicks take on the Thunder in Oklahoma City. Here’s the latest out of NYC:
- Kevin Garnett spoke on the Nets’ lack of success this season and stated he’s not sure if the club has an identity, reveals Andy Vasquez of The Record. “I don’t know what we are… I’m not an excuse kind of guy and I’ll figure it out. But I don’t think we have an identity.” The Nets are a disappointing 9-18 so far this year, but still sit just two games back from a playoff spot in the underwhelming Eastern Conference.
- Jabari Davis of HoopsWorld sees the injury to Brook Lopez as an opportunity for Andray Blatche, Mason Plumlee, and Mirza Teletovic to display their skills in increased playing time. The Nets had shown some interest in bringing a player aboard via the Disabled Player Exception, but it seems unlikely they’ll acquire anyone, given their already complicated financial situation.
- Recent Knicks rumors suggested Carmelo Anthony might wind up in a Clippers uniform next season, but Howard Beck of Bleacher Report doesn’t see it happening since the Clippers have such little cap flexibility (Twitter link).
- Beck also refutes the possibility of a sign-and-trade involving Anthony (via Twitter) since the Knicks would only engage in such a move if the Clippers had the ability to sign him outright.
Central Notes: Bucks, Bulls, Datome, Cavaliers
Howard Beck of Bleacher Reports writes that Monta Ellis looks like a “changed man” this season in Dallas, and Ellis acknowledges as much, telling Beck that he was frustrated last year with the Bucks:
“I think I got into a dark place where I wasn’t myself… Some games I’d come and I could be motivated to play. And some games, it was hard, because of the type of players I was around.”
Milwaukee is playing even worse now, and as Jim Paschke noted this morning (via Twitter), half of the club’s remaining games are against Western Conference teams. That might be a blessing in disguise, since it should mean the Bucks have a good shot at the number one overall pick in the draft come June. Here are some more tidbits out of the Central Division:
- The Bulls have struggled without Derrick Rose, and there have been plenty of rumbles about the club making a big move to stir things up in Chicago. Joe Cowley from the Chicago Sun-Times dissects the team’s roster and reveals the players he believes to be the most valuable on the trade market, as well as the ones he figures would be the hardest to move.
- Luigi Datome has played relatively well in the limited action he’s seen for the Pistons so far this season, and the former Italian League star figures to see an increase in minutes, reports Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. The Pistons signed the 26-year-old small forward to a two-year, $3.5MM contract this past offseason.
- Another offseason acquisition, Andrew Bynum, has been inconsistent and flat out bad at times this season for the Cavaliers. Coming off of a game where he shot 0-11 from the floor, Bob Finnan of the News-Herald believes Bynum to be one of the biggest reasons for Cleveland’s struggles. He suggests that the club relies too much on the banged up center to generate offense.
Luke Adams contributed to this post
California Notes: Kobe, Jackson, Thomas
Merry Christmas from Hoops Rumors! There’s plenty of NBA action set to take place today, including an intriguing matchup between the Heat and Lakers. In the preseason, this game was billed as a would-be face-off in Los Angeles between LeBron James and a recently having-returned Kobe Bryant. Unfortunately, Bryant finds himself sidelined once again and won’t be playing anytime soon. This will mark the first time time that Bryant has missed a game on Christmas since 1991. Let’s take a look at a few NBA notes from within the state of California..
- Ramona Shelburne over at ESPNLosAngeles.com examines how different the Lakers are without Bryant, and not just for his on-court heroics. She points to his strong leadership and work ethic that are missed by teammates and goes on to suggest that in his absence, the club has struggled to find its identity.
- Matt Barnes was a “big advocate” of Stephen Jackson signing with the Clippers, reports Eric Patten of Clippers.com. Barnes and Jackson are good friends and have a similar hard-nosed demeanor on the court. They were teammates in Golden State for several years but haven’t found themselves playing together since the conclusion of the 2007/08 NBA season.
- Ailene Voisin from the Sacramento Bee writes that despite being the last pick in the 2011 draft, Isaiah Thomas has outperformed all the other players who have competed to be the starting point guard for the Kings, including Tyreke Evans, Jimmer Fredette, Aaron Brooks, and Greivis Vasquez. Says Thomas: “I’ve always had to prove something… I still look at getting picked last as being disrespected. Some teams passed on me twice. The Lakers had four picks and passed on me four times. The questions, all that stuff, it just motivates me.”
Lakers Sign Kendall Marshall
2:00pm: Marshall’s deal with the Lakers is a two-year pact, tweets Pincus. That doesn’t necessarily mean Marshall will have a multiyear stint in Los Angeles, since the contract is non-guaranteed, but it gives the team the flexibility to keep him around if he impresses.
FRIDAY, 12:58pm: The Lakers have officially signed Marshall, who inked his contract after shootaround today, says Mike Trudell of Lakers.com (via Twitter).
THURSDAY, 9:00pm: As expected, Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times reports the deal is non-guaranteed.
7:54pm: Marshall’s agent Jeff Austin has confirmed the signing via text message, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.
7:37pm: The Lakers have agreed to sign former Suns point guard Kendall Marshall, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports. This signing comes following news that Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash both expect to miss extended time for a team that was already without guards Steve Blake and Jordan Farmar.
Marshall, 22, has yet to see NBA action this season. He was acquired by the Wizards in October as part of the deal that sent Marcin Gortat to Washington, but he was promptly waived and signed on with Delaware 87ers of the D-League. Mike D’Antoni acknowledged earlier today that the club would need to sign a point guard, and the Lakers opted to take a flier on the former lottery pick out of the University of North Carolina.
In seven games for the 87ers this season, Marshall posted 19.4 PPG and 9.6 APG in 37.6 MPG. The deal figures to be non-guaranteed, as Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak suggested might be the case earlier today. The Lakers will have the option to waive Marshall’s contract before it becomes fully guaranteed, but in the meantime, his presence will help aid the ailing backcourt in Los Angeles.
Western Notes: Asik, Thunder, Spurs, Jefferson
It turned out to be Kendall Marshall making headlines tonight and not the much-discussed Omer Asik. Marshall agreed to terms with the Lakers this evening after being linked to the Grizzlies and Jazz in recent weeks. Here are some notes from around the Western Conference:
- Players on the Rockets roster are glad that Asik wasn’t dealt to another club today, according to Jenny Dial Creech of the Houston Chronicle. Several players expressed their appreciation of the center’s talents, including James Harden: “He’s one of the best big men in the NBA, defensively as well. He complements our team so well. We’re fortunate to have him on our team.“
- Speaking of the Rockets, Jeremy Lin sat down with Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld and discussed how he deals with trade rumors: “I still remember what it was like being on the edge of my seat and wondering if I was even going to be on a roster tomorrow… I’ve seen the whole Linsanity thing and I’ve seen the D-League and getting cut… I think having that wide scope of perspective helps me stay more balanced and stay more even keel through ups and downs.“
- Ken Berger of CBSSports.com opines that a large reason for the success of the Thunder and Spurs comes from how responsibly the two clubs have handled their assets. Rather than trading future draft picks for quick fixes, Berger notes that the two squads have focused on player development and have set themselves up for years of winning basketball.
- Richard Jefferson spoke with SiriusXM NBA Radio hosts Kenny Smith and Jason Goff and made it clear he wanted to play for a championship team, as Jody Genessy of the Deseret News passes along. “If I get an opportunity to play for a championship team, I’m going to go hunting for them… I have no loyalty… I’m a gun for hire.” Jefferson is on an expiring contract but is set to make $11MM this year.
- Paul Coro of AZ Central Sports examines how Jeff Hornacek‘s use of Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe gives the Suns a legitimate playmaker on the floor at all times.
- With so many injury problems and an overall lack of talent, Lee Jenkins of Sports Illustrated suggests that this might be the best time for the Lakers to blow up their roster and fully involve themselves in the rebuilding process.
Poll: How Many Games Will The Lakers Win?
The Lakers are 25 games into their season and sit just one contest below the .500 mark. Kobe Bryant, the face of their franchise, started out the year sidelined, recovering from a torn Achilles. Upon his return, he played in just 6 games before going down with another season ending injury. The team was just 2-4 with him in the lineup, but his recent injury has still caused a great deal of panic in Los Angeles. Sam Amick of USA Today went so far as to write that the club’s entire future is in jeopardy as a result of the future Hall of Famer going down.
It doesn’t help that fellow guards Steve Nash, Steve Blake, and Jordan Farmar have had their own share of injury woes. Nash is at least a month away from returning. Blake will be sidelined a minimum of six more weeks. Farmar is set to return soon, but the team still felt it was necessary to add some backcourt depth, so tonight they agreed to terms with former lottery pick Kendall Marshall.
So the question: how many games will the Lakers end up winning this year? It’s true that they’re lacking depth right now, but it might be too early to completely give up on the season. Xavier Henry, Jordan Hill, Wesley Johnson, and Nick Young have all played surprisingly well, although you won’t find many people who believe those four along with Pau Gasol can lead a team to the playoffs. The Lakers have managed to play close to .500 basketball without much star power, but can they continue to succeed without Bryant?
Let’s hear your thoughts. Vote in the poll below, and leave a comment to share your thoughts!
Eastern Notes: Lowry, Bobcats, Cavs, Woodson
The Bulls are the only team from the East that will see any action on the hardwood tonight, but that doesn’t mean other clubs from around the conference aren’t making some noise off of the court. Let’s take a look at a few notes from around the Eastern Conference..
- The Raptors aren’t urgently trying to move Kyle Lowry, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld reports (via Twitter). This report comes as a bit of a surprise since we heard yesterday that the club was working hard to move the veteran guard. It seems likely that Lowry will be moved before the trade deadline, but how soon remains unclear.
- Nate Duncan of HoopsWorld examines the rosters of the Bobcats and Cavaliers and reveals who he thinks could be franchise players for each club.
- The Knicks have won five out of their last ten games, but Marc Stein of ESPNNewYork.com reports that Mike Woodson is still on the hot seat and being evaluated on a “game-by-game basis” by upper management. Stein notes that if the Knicks had lost to the Bucks last night, it might have marked the end of Woodson’s tenure in New York.
- Chauncey Billups has no desire to coach after his playing days, Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald notes in his latest piece. He wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a front office gig, however.
- The Bucks will not attempt to deal for Omer Asik, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times. It’s not completely clear, but Woelfel might be talking about a trade in the long term since we’ve heard that Asik will remain in a Rockets uniform for the time being.
- Danny Granger is returning to the Pacers’ lineup, but it’s a much different squad than the one he left, notes Candace Buckner of USA Today Sports. Buckner still sees Granger as a valuable asset to the team but suggests he will have a different role than the one he had before his injury.
Bulls Sign D.J. Augustin
FRIDAY: The Bulls have officially signed Augustin, according to a press release from the team. I’d guess it will be a non-guaranteed pact, but terms of the agreement weren’t disclosed.
WEDNESDAY: The Bulls and D.J. Augustin have a reached a deal, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. We had heard earlier that Chicago was the clear favorite to sign the recently waived Augustin, and Wojnarowski reports that the two sides have reached an agreement, pending a Thursday morning physical.
The Raptors waived Augustin in order to make room on an overcrowded roster that came about as a result of the seven-player blockbuster that sent Rudy Gay to the Kings. The Bulls were seeking some much-needed depth in their backcourt after losing Derrick Rose to a season-ending injury. Augustin has played limited minutes this year; he’s averaging 8.2 MPG in 10 contests. Still, the four-year veteran will help supplement an ailing cast of guards in Chicago.
Odds & Ends: Jackson, Gordon, Draft
As tonight’s games start to wind down, let’s take a look at a few miscellaneous tidbits from around the NBA:
- Josh Cohen from OrlandoMagic.com examines a few potential trade scenarios that he suggests might make sense for a variety of teams around the Association. Among the interesting ideas: Rajon Rondo to the Kings and Luol Deng and Joakim Noah to the Trail Blazers.
- Assistant Clippers coach Tyronn Lue reached out to recent-signee Stephen Jackson three weeks ago in an attempt to recruit him to the team, Andrew Perna of RealGM reports. Jackson made his Clippers debut tonight, playing 12 minutes in a Clippers win.
- There’s a chance highly regarded prospect Aaron Gordon stays at Arizona rather than entering the 2014 draft, Chad Ford of ESPN.com suggested today as part of a chat with readers.
- While the upcoming draft might be chock-full of highly regarded prospects, Shaun Powell of Sports on Earth describes the 2013 NBA Draft as potentially one of the worst classes in history. Powell breaks down the lottery selections and analyzes the contributions they’ve made to their respective clubs thus far.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post