Mavericks Sign P.J. Dozier
AUGUST 8: The Mavericks have officially signed Dozier, the team announced today in a press release.
JULY 27: The Mavericks have reached an agreement to bring P.J. Dozier to the team, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com tweets. The scribe adds that the deal will only be partially guaranteed.
The combo guard spent two seasons at South Carolina where he scored 10.4 points per game and shot slightly under 40.0% from the field. As a sophomore, he helped lead the Gamecocks to their first final four in school history.
Dozier was not selected in this summer’s draft, though, as an undrafted free agent, he was able to find a Summer League deal with the Lakers. He only played in two games for the franchise’s team in Las Vegas before parting ways with Los Angeles.
Poll: Northwest Division Winner
The Jazz made the leap last season, winning 51 games while taking home the Northwest Division crown. After an offseason of change, a repeat is far from certain. Utah lost Gordon Hayward in free agency, something that should knock them down in the standings. Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com projects the Jazz to take home under 45 wins next season.
Pelton predicts that the Wolves will win the division after they brought in 3-time All-Star Jimmy Butler this offseason. Minnesota added several other pieces in free agency, including Jeff Teague and Taj Gibson. Pelton has the Thunder placing second in the division with his model predicting OKC takes home 49.5 wins.
The statistician has the Nuggets finishing third in the division with Utah and Portland behind them. The mathematical model gives Denver 47.2 wins which puts them third in the division and seventh in the conference. Adding a proven veteran like Paul Millsap will certainly increase a team’s chances of making the postseason, something that the franchise hasn’t done in each of the last four seasons. The addition of Millsap, along with the progression of the team’s young nucleus, should also give the team a chance to steal the division’s crown and land a top-4 seed in the Western Conference.
What do you think? Which team will win out in what should be a tight race for the Northwest Division crown? Weigh in below with your vote and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts.
Which Team Will Win The Northwest Division?
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Wolves 42% (776)
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Thunder 37% (690)
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Blazers 8% (152)
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Jazz 7% (127)
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Nuggets 6% (116)
Total votes: 1,861
Latest On The Potential Sale Of The Nets
The Nets’ franchise is drawing interest from potential buyers and owner Mikhail Prokhorov is hoping to garner a $2 billion offer for the organization, Josh Kosman of the New York Post reports. Prokhorov recently attempted to sell a minority stake in the franchise. However, that fell through, leading the Russian billionaire to parse offers for the entire franchise.
Alibaba Executive Vice Chairman Joe Tsai reportedly has interest in buying the franchise and Kosman hears that he is trying to “box out others in the sales process.” It’s worth noting that a representative from his office, Blue Pool, has denied the rumored interest.
The Nets would like to find a Chinese backer, Kosman adds. Brooklyn’s executive VP of Global Partnership was in China last month setting up upwards of 20 meetings with potential buyers and partners.
Bucks GM Talks New Position, Antetokounmpo, Parker
Jon Horst, who is entering his first season as the GM of the Bucks, recently spoke with Steve Aschburner of NBA.com to discuss the roster and his role on the team. Here are the highlights:
On the recent ESPN story, which reminded everyone that teams will be lining up to pry Giannis Antetokounmpo away from Milwaukee once he becomes a free agent in 2021:
First of all, he’s our player. He’s under contract with us. And what did Giannis say: “I’ve got loyalty in my DNA?” That was his retort on his own. He said, “This is my team.” So, we, by and large, ignore that.
On Jabari Parker‘s recovery from a torn ACL:
For Jabari and the Bucks, this is not about this year. This is about a 22-year-old kid who is one of the best young talents in the league, and making sure he comes back physically in the right way.
On who will be making the decisions in the front office:
Obviously, ownership is ownership. Jason Kidd is our coach. They’re going to be involved in everything we do. But in taking this job, we talked about these things. Ultimately, I’ve been hired to run the basketball operations for the Milwaukee Bucks, to have the final say and to make the final decisions. I’m going to operate as such, and I have their support in doing that. The only way you can really set aside those concerns is by living it every day and watching the transactions unfold.
On the advantages of being a GM at age 34:
Maybe a level of energy, though I’ve seen people in this type of position who have more years to their name than I do. But the NBA is ever-changing. For instance, when I first started, cap guys were not a thing; everyone had an outside counsel that worked on the CBA and basketball offices were not that in tune with the cap. That’s why I got an opportunity. Shortly after that, analytics became a big thing in our sport and that’s why those people got opportunities.
My point is, with my youth, I think I’m really an open-minded, collaborative person. Not that older people aren’t, but I think it’s a strength of mine. I think that will help us find “the next thing” – what’s “the next thing” that NBA teams are going to find to have competitive advantages? Just like Jason has a young staff and they’re constantly trying to figure out, what’s “the next way” to play basketball? What’s “the next way” to get a competitive advantage on the floor?
Several Teams Eyeing Alan Anderson
Alan Anderson is drawing interest from several teams, according to Darren Wolfson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). The Timberwolves, Nets, Raptors, and Knicks are among the teams to check in on the 34-year-old.
Anderson played for the Clippers last season after signing a one-year deal with the club. He didn’t play much for Doc Rivers, appearing in only 30 games. He scored 2.9 points in 10.3 minutes per contest.
Prior to arriving in Los Angeles, Anderson played for the Wizards, Nets, Raptors, and Bobcats. He also spent time abroad playing for teams in Italy, Russia, Croatia, and Israel.
Western Notes: Kings, Rondo, Irving
The Kings‘ organization has had its share of dysfunction over the past few years, but Brandon Williams, who was recently named the team’s assistant GM, believes the franchise doesn’t get enough credit, as Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee passes along.
“I started to feel like I know what a lot of people outside of the organization know, and reading reports. And who knows if that’s true?” Williams said. “There’s always a little bit of truth, but who knows until you’re a part of it? And what I felt being around him and others is that the organization might be a little bit misunderstood.
“I do think there’s a real strong desire to put good people in place and to compete for something special, and there’s certainly no disillusionment that it isn’t going be hard. It’s going to take a lot of grinding effort.”
Before joining the Kings, Williams worked in the Sixers’ front office during their rebuild and his time in Philadelphia should only help him as he looks to build the Kings into playoff contenders.
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- The Kings added several veterans this offseason and Garrett Temple tells Alex Kennedy of Hoops Hype that he believes it will help the team build a winning culture. Sacramento added Zach Randolph on a two-year, $24MM deal, George Hill on a three-year, $51MM contract, and Vince Carter on a one-year, $8MM deal this summer.
- DeMarcus Cousins believes Rajon Rondo, who signed a one-year deal with Pelicans, can bring leadership to the team, as William Guillory of The Times-Picayune relays. “His [basketball] IQ is through the roof,” Cousins said. “He’s so smart sometimes that it’s actually kind of scary. You might think he’s psychic, it’s kind of freaky. He has leadership qualities, he’s always going to bring out the best in his teammates.”
- If they are going to enter the Kyrie Irving sweepstakes, the Jazz would likely have to give up No. 13 overall pick Donovan Mitchell, Benjamin Mehic of The Deseret News speculates. Mehic argues that a proposal of Ricky Rubio and Mitchell for Irving should entice both sides.
DeMarcus Cousins Plays Recruiter Role For Pelicans
The Pelicans made two notable signings over the past couple weeks, inking both Rajon Rondo and Ian Clark to one-year contracts. DeMarcus Cousins played a big role in both of those deals, according to coach Alvin Gentry.
“He’s done a phenomenal job this year of helping recruit free agents,” Gentry said of Cousins (via William Guillory of The Times-Picayune). “He’s talked to Rondo, he’s talked to Ian Clark, he’s talked to all of those guys that we’ve been trying to sign and he’s been very active in that.”
Cousins wants the Pelicans to add talent so the team can make the playoffs, something he never accomplished during eight years in Sacramento. He’s been doing his part to help with that process.
“We want to win. We need as much talent and as many pieces as we can get,” Cousins said. “I’ve reached out to everybody. I mean, I don’t want to throw names out there, but some of the biggest names that are on the block right now I’ve reached out to. It’s just about getting better.
“We see where the NBA is going, we need as much help and as much talent as we can get just to match up with the [reigning champion Golden State Warriors]…We’re fully invested in this and we want to win.”
The big man will be a free agent after the 2017/18 season, but his activism within the franchise could be seen as a sign that he’s not planning on going anywhere. It was reported on Wednesday that Cousins may have much at stake during the upcoming campaign.
Mavericks Sign Brandon Ashley
The Mavericks have signed Brandon Ashley, according to a team press release. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Ashley, who played for both of Dallas’ Summer League teams this offseason, spent the 2015 preseason with the Mavericks before being waived. He then joined the team’s G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends, for the 2015/16 campaign and earned a G-League All-Star appearance.
The power forward was not selected in the 2015 draft after playing three seasons at the University of Arizona. During his collegiate career, he helped the Wildcats reach the elite eight on two occasions.
Thunder Sign Daniel Hamilton To Two-Way Deal
The Thunder have signed Daniel Hamilton to a two-way contract, according to a team press release. It will be the organization’s first two-way deal.
Hamilton spent last season with the OKC Blue, the franchise’s G-League affiliate. He appeared in 49 games and averaged 14.9 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per contest. He accumulated 15 double-doubles during the season.
Oklahoma City selected the swingman in the second round of the 2016 draft with the No. 56 pick. Prior to being drafted, he spent two seasons at the University of Connecticut.
Heat Expected To Offer Extension To Josh Richardson
Miami is expected to make an extension offer to Josh Richardson in the upcoming weeks, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. Today is the first day Richardson is eligible to sign an extension.
Jackson adds that Richardson, who will turn 24 next month, is expected to consider signing an extension, but the terms will ultimately dictate whether or not he puts pen to paper. The team can give him as many as four years and upwards of $41MM in an offer, though the monetary amount could be slightly higher depending on the salary cap calculation next season.
The shooting guard will become a restricted free agent next summer should he decide to play out his current deal. Miami will have the right to match any offer and as we’ve seen over the last several offseasons, the restricted free agent market can dry up for those who are not at the top of the class. Several RFAs such as Nerlens Noel, Mason Plumlee, and Nikola Mirotic remain unsigned this offseason while the majority of teams have used up their available cap space.
Although Richardson isn’t a star, he’s been a valuable contributor on the Heat when healthy. He played in 53 games for the club last season, posting averages of 10.2 points and 1.1 steals per contest. He was spectacular as a rookie from behind the arc, making 46.1% of his attempts—a figure which bested all rookies that season. However, he came back down to earth last year, knocking down just 33.0% of his shots from downtown.