Atlantic Notes: Prince, Galloway, Sixers
The last time the Knicks won a game, NBA teams had only pulled off one trade during the 2014/15 regular season. By the time New York snapped its 16-game losing streak Monday, there had been 11 trades, including the January 5th three-team swap with the Cavs and the Thunder that the Knicks were a part of. While we wait to see if the Knicks can make it back-to-back victories for the first time since early November, here’s the latest from the Atlantic Division:
- It won’t be up to Brad Stevens to decide whether the Celtics keep Tayshaun Prince for the rest of the season, but the coach hopes Danny Ainge and his staff will retain the veteran forward, notes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. The Celtics are expected to try to trade Prince, and they’re likely to arrange a buyout deal if no trade partner emerges, as Bulpett reported this past weekend.
- The Sixers are the only team that voted against lottery reform this past fall that stands to benefit in this year’s draft from the measure’s failure, SB Nation’s Tom Ziller observes. Philadelphia would have a 96% chance at a top-five pick if it finishes with the league’s third worst record, which the team has now, as our Reverse Standings show. The Sixers would be in line for only a 56% chance at a top-five pick had the league’s lottery proposal passed, as Ziller explains.
- Knicks 10-day signee Langston Galloway has been a bright spot in an otherwise dreary season for the team, as George Willis of the New York Post examines.
Pacific Notes: Goodwin, Green, Jordan
Suns reserve shooting guard Archie Goodwin is frustrated with his lack of playing time amid Phoenix’s continued addition of guards, as he tells Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. Goodwin cautioned that he understands all the guys ahead of him on the team are talented players and that he wants to maintain a professional attitude. Still, the 20-year-old is putting up a strong performance while on D-League assignment, and he tells Deveney that he won’t tolerate a limited NBA role next season.
“I don’t know what they’re doing,” Goodwin said. “Honestly, I really don’t. I guess they know what they’re doing — I can just play ball and let them make the decisions. I don’t know what the purpose is for it, but there is nothing I can do about it.”
Indeed, there isn’t much recourse for Goodwin, since his rookie scale contract runs through 2016/17, but he’s not the only one dissatisfied in Phoenix, even as the Suns have won 13 out of their last 17. Here’s more from Phoenix and elsewhere in the Pacific Division:
- Gerald Green isn’t pleased with his decreased minutes this season for the Suns, as free agency looms in the summer, but there’s “no way” Phoenix will trade the swingman this year, sources tell Deveney for the same piece.
- J.J. Redick foresees a max contract for Clippers teammate DeAndre Jordan this summer, notes Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. Jordan is No. 9 in the latest Hoops Rumors Free Agent Power Rankings.
- Shaun Livingston isn’t seeing nearly as much playing time with the Warriors this season as he did with the Nets last year, but the 29-year-old, who signed as a free agent with Golden State this past summer, prefers this year’s situation because it offers a legitimate chance at the title. Carl Steward of The Bay Area News Group has the details.
- Tony Mitchell, whom the Suns released to make room for Brandan Wright, is drawing offers from European teams, reports David Pick of Eurobasket.com (Twitter link). Mitchell’s stay in Phoenix was brief, as he came over in last month’s Anthony Tolliver trade with the Pistons.
Pacific Notes: Rivers, Green, Lin, Boozer
The back-and-forth that preceded Doc Rivers‘ jump from the Celtics to the Clippers in 2013 was the product of a careful approach Rivers took to his Clippers contract, as Rivers tells Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. The coach knew then-owner Donald Sterling had resisted paying guaranteed salary to coaches he’d fired in the past, as Bulpett details.
“That was the delay, the contract,” Rivers said. “People don’t realize it, but the deal could have been done three weeks before it happened. … It’s the longest written contract in coaching history. Five different lawyers had to look at it. Even my lawyer sent it to another lawyer. That tells you the hesitation in who I was going to be working for.”
Rivers is on a different contract with the Clippers now after striking a five-year deal worth more than $50MM with new owner Steve Ballmer. There’s more from Rivers and Bulpett amid the latest from the Pacific Division:
- Rivers, who also serves as president of basketball operations for the Clippers, won’t hesitate to admit a mistake and reverse course on a personnel move he’s made in the past if necessary, a lesson he learned from Danny Ainge, as Rivers says to Bulpett.
- All signs point to the Warriors matching offers this summer for soon-to-be restricted free agent Draymond Green, even if it means shelling out a little more than they’d like and crossing the luxury tax line, USA Today’s Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick write.
- The Lakers probably won’t be re-signing offseason acquisitions Jeremy Lin and Carlos Boozer when both enter free agency this summer, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
- Austin Rivers has split with agent David Falk, notes Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe. Rivers, whom the Clippers acquired via trade last week, hits unrestricted free agency this summer.
2015 Free Agent Power Rankings
We’re in the midst of a wild trading season so far in the NBA, with 11 deals having gone down in a five-week span, and it all sets the stage for a deep crop of players who can hit free agency this summer. The names listed under “honorable mention” below show just how much talent is poised to become available, and the top 10 in the latest Hoops Rumors Free Agent Power Rankings are a star-studded bunch. Here’s where they stand as teams cross the midpoint of their 82-game schedules:
- LeBron James (player option): It looks like James won’t rule out a second free agent departure from Cleveland. It’s still seems highly unlikely that the Akron native would leave, even though the possibility that he might gives him no shortage of leverage as the Cavs scramble to reassert themselves as championship contenders. Last month: No. 1
- Kevin Love (player option): The Jeff Schwartz client pulled a surprise when he told Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group last week that he intends to opt in for next season. He has plenty of financial incentive to go back on that, even amid statistical declines this season. In any case, the 26-year-old’s relative youth gives him a slight edge on the next player on the list. Last month: No. 2
- Marc Gasol: The 7’1″ center who’s just a few days shy of his 30th birthday isn’t playing defense at the level he had last season, but his leap in offensive production and the Grizzlies’ position near the top of the Western Conference standings have cast him as a hot commodity. Still, the more the Grizzlies win, the less likely it seems that Gasol would cut his longstanding ties to Memphis. Last month: No. 3
- Jimmy Butler (restricted): The Bulls reportedly could have had Butler for between $12.5MM and $13MM a year if they had signed him to an extension in October, shortly before the initial Hoops Rumors Free Agent Power Rankings had him outside the top 10. Clearly, the Bulls weren’t the only ones who erred, but they’re ready to pay the price and are apparently planning a maximum-salary offer that’s projected to start at around $15.5MM a year. We, too, have amended our outlook on Butler, who continues his ascent. Last month: No. 5
- LaMarcus Aldridge: It’s not Aldridge’s fault that he’s slipped one spot in the rankings. The Arn Tellem client is averaging a career-high 23.5 points per game for a Trail Blazers team that’s second only to the Warriors in the Western Conference. The 29-year-old has even added a three-point threat to his attack, as he’s nailing an impressive 48.7% on 1.1 attempts per game. Last month: No. 4
- Kawhi Leonard (restricted): A hand injury has cost Leonard time, but when he’s played this season, he’s continued the year-over-year improvement that’s marked the career of the reigning Finals MVP. He’s averaging career highs in points, assists, rebounds and steals per game, and he won’t turn 24 until June. Last month: No. 6
- Greg Monroe: The subtraction of Josh Smith has done wonders for the Pistons, and Monroe has been among the beneficiaries. He averaged 16.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in 10 contests this month entering today. The Lakers have reportedly called the Pistons about trading for him, but the David Falk client apparently has no interest in waiving his de facto no trade clause this season, as doing so would cost him his Bird rights. Last month: No. 9
- Rajon Rondo: The point guard’s outside shot has looked better since the trade that took him to the Mavs, though his scoring average for the season remains in the single digits. He also admitted that his effort on defense slipped prior to the trade, but the Mavs appear willing to bet that he’ll remain engaged, as it doesn’t look like Rondo is going to be making another move this summer. Last month: No. 7
- DeAndre Jordan: Defense isn’t an issue for Jordan, and neither is rebounding, as he’s on pace to lead the league in rebounds per game for a second straight year, but the Greg Lawrence client wants to improve on offense. His 71.5% field goal percentage is the NBA’s best, but the 26-year-old has a single-digit scoring average and takes 91.2% of his shots from 3 feet and in, according to Basketball-Reference. Last month: Unranked
- Goran Dragic (player option): The Rockets have been trying to trade for the point guard this season, as Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick of USA Today reported, and Dragic won’t rule out signing with any team, having praised the Lakers and Knicks when given opportunities to do so this season. Still, the 28-year-old, who plans to turn down his $7.5MM player option for next season, reportedly intends to give the Suns the first crack at him. Last month: No. 10
Dropped out: Al Jefferson (Last month: No. 8)
Honorable mention: Al Jefferson (player option), Dwyane Wade (player option), Roy Hibbert (player option), Tristan Thompson (restricted), Brook Lopez (player option), Reggie Jackson (restricted), Paul Millsap, Monta Ellis (player option), Luol Deng (player option), Omer Asik.
Eastern Notes: Pistons, Embiid, Millsap
Pistons coach/executive Stan Van Gundy has shown no hesitation to make major moves, as Josh Smith‘s release made clear, and Van Gundy also pulled off a trade last month, swapping Tony Mitchell for Anthony Tolliver. The Lakers have apparently inquired about Greg Monroe and Brandon Jennings and the Pistons are reportedly shopping Luigi Datome, but Van Gundy doesn’t sound like he wants to make a move with the team having won 11 of its past 13.
“I’m really, really happy with the guys we have here right now,” Van Gundy said. “I’m really, really happy with our culture and how guys are working. We’ve got the right things going for our future.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference as the Pistons clash with the first-place Hawks, who’ve won 12 in a row:
- It’s believed that the Sixers would be content with 2014 No. 3 overall pick Joel Embiid missing the entire season, just as Nerlens Noel did last year after he went sixth overall, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Some inside the Sixers organization question Embiid’s work ethic, and the former Kansas big man has clashed with a member of the Sixers’ training staff, Pompey hears. A source tells Pompey that Embiid’s weight has ballooned to 300 pounds, but Embiid denied that to Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com.
- Jeff Zillgitt and Sam Amick of USA Today imply that there’s mutual interest in a new deal this summer between the Hawks and soon-to-be free agent Paul Millsap. Atlanta was eyeing a longer deal than the two-year pact Millsap signed in 2013, but the power forward who turns 30 next month, wanted to engineer a shot at another payday not long into the future, Zillgitt hears (Twitter link).
- A trade that would have sent Lance Stephenson to the Nets appeared close last week until the Nets grew skittish about him, but the Brooklyn native isn’t anxious to leave the Hornets, notes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. “I want to be here,” Stephenson said. “I feel I can definitely help this squad… It’s really not up to me.”
- Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, has been “sniffing around” the idea of making a run at purchasing the Nets, sources tell Robert Windrem of NetsDaily. She was part of a group that came up short in pursuit of the Clippers, as the NetsDaily scribe notes.
Celtics To Meet With Andre Dawkins
The Celtics are bringing former Heat long-range marksman Andre Dawkins to Boston this week and meet with him as they consider signing him to a 10-day contract, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com (Twitter links). The rookie shooting guard joined Miami’s D-League team last week after the Heat released him from their NBA squad earlier this month, and his performance at this weekend’s D-League Showcase has the Celtics intrigued, according to Stein.
The undrafted Dawkins is shooting an eye-popping 53 for 104 from behind the three-point line in the D-League this season over 11 appearances. He was only 1 for 6 in limited action during four games with the Heat in regular season, though he shot well during the preseason and in summer league.
The Heat have expressed interest in re-signing the John Spencer client to a 10-day contract later this season, but it appears the Celtics have eyes on beating them to it. Boston has an open roster spot, and Tayshaun Prince‘s future with the Celtics appears up in the air.
Heat Put Norris Cole On Trading Block
Norris Cole is on the trade block as the Heat prefer to forge ahead with 2014 first-round pick Shabazz Napier, according to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, who writes amid his leaguewide roundup. Cole “pretty much knows” the Heat are ready to move him, Amico says. The former 28th overall pick out of Cleveland State didn’t sign a rookie scale extension with Miami before the October 31st deadline to do so, so he’s poised for restricted free agency this summer.
Miami made Cole part of a trade proposal to the Nets for Brook Lopez that also included Chris Andersen and Josh McRoberts, as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported last week. Cole began the season as a starter for the Heat, but Mario Chalmers, whom the Heat re-signed this past summer for two years and $8.3MM, took back the starting job in December. Cole has seen more than 20 minutes just twice since New Year’s Day, and with Dwyane Wade out the past two games, coach Erik Spoelstra has elected to go with Napier instead of Cole alongside Chalmers in a dual point guard starting lineup. The Heat apparently rebuffed teams asking about Cole at the deadline last year, but they reportedly made him “very available” around draft time this past summer.
Cole changed agents later in the summer, joining Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, the same Cleveland-based representation that boasts LeBron James as its centerpiece client. The Cavs are on the lookout for a backup point guard and have interest in Jordan Farmar, as Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group reported Friday, and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports hears that Cleveland is particularly interested in veteran point guards. Cole is 26 and in his fourth NBA season, but it’s unclear if the Cavs have interest in him.
Warriors Sign James McAdoo To 10-Day Deal
MONDAY, 11:40am: The signing is official, the Warriors announced via press release.
SUNDAY, 12:16pm: James McAdoo has agreed to sign a 10-day deal with the Warriors, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). McAdoo was also offered a 10-day contract by the Grizzlies, but chose Golden State “because of their initial investment in his development and career,” according to his agent, Jim Tanner.
McAdoo was undrafted out of North Carolina last June, but played with Golden State’s summer league team and earned an invitation to training camp. He failed to make the regular season roster, but joined the team’s D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz after clearing waivers.
McAdoo was ranked sixth on the NBA D-League’s Prospect Watch. He averaged 17.7 points and 9.4 rebounds in 22 games with Santa Cruz.
Bucks Ink Kenyon Martin To Second 10-Day Deal
The Bucks have signed Kenyon Martin to his second 10-day contract with the team, Milwaukee announced. The move is no surprise, since the Bucks are reportedly likely to keep the former No. 1 overall pick for the rest of the season. They can’t sign him to any more 10-day contracts once this one expires, so Milwaukee would have to ink him for the rest of the season if the team wants to extend his stay.
Martin appeared in three games for a total of 15 minutes during his first 10-day contract with the Bucks, which expired Sunday night. The Bucks had been dealing with multiple injuries in their frontcourt when they first began to go after the 37-year-old, and they waived guard Nate Wolters to open a roster spot for him. Power forward Ersan Ilyasova returned to the lineup for the same game in which point guard Kendall Marshall tore his ACL last week, but it appears the Bucks are content to keep Martin around rather than bolster their backcourt.
Milwaukee’s roster is once more at 15 players with the readdition of Martin, who’s a former teammate of coach Jason Kidd. The Bucks are about $7.2MM under the cap.
Hoops Rumors Featured Feedback
We value your input on the news we cover here at Hoops Rumors. That’s why we’re passing along some of the best insight from the comments on our posts and on the Hoops Rumors Facebook page. Share your reaction to and insight on the news and rumors around the league, and you’ll have a chance to see your name here.
If you haven’t commented at Hoops Rumors before, it’s easy to sign up and start. First, read our Commenting Policy. Then, scroll to the bottom of any post, and you’ll see the word “Login” on the right side atop the comments section. Click the word and choose whether you want to comment using a Disqus account or your existing Facebook, Twitter or Google account. If you don’t have a Disqus account and you want to create one, just choose that option and click “Need an account?” at the bottom right of the box that pops up.
There are differing opinions on the Celtics’ strategy of collecting draft picks, as our comments reflected while Boston was poised to send Jeff Green to the Grizzlies for a protected first-round pick. Reader dc21892 is optimistic about Danny Ainge‘s plan.
- It gives them some serious flexibility. They can either choose to keep the picks, or trade up for a potential star in the draft, possibly even a rising star in the NBA. The core of young pieces, such as Marcus Smart, Jared Sullinger, Kelly Olynyk and Avery Bradley, mixed in with what they could do the next four years is incredible. It won’t be the fastest rebuild ever, but it’s looking extremely promising.
The Bulls passed on a chance at a discount when they failed to sign Jimmy Butler to an extension before the October deadline to do so, but Trock applauds Chicago for its apparent willingness to shell out the maximum salary for Butler this summer.
- The Bulls have a great core right now. It would be a huge loss to see Jimmy go. Glad they are coming out saying they want to get this done sooner rather then later. In the end, they may have cost themselves a few extra million each year but they weren’t too far off what they will end up paying him with the max.
The Sixers have reportedly held exploratory talks about Michael Carter-Williams with several other teams recently, and Adam Gingrich gives his take on the market for the reigning Rookie of the Year.
- Hard to find a good fit for a PG that can’t shoot. Boston? Could potentially play alongside Smart, who appears to be outperforming his scouting profile as a negative shooter. Sacramento seems to be sniffing around for a PG upgrade too. Doesn’t seem like a great fit next to Kobe Bryant or Carmelo Anthony and the Nets don’t have any assets to make a deal. Maybe the Pelicans? Denver seems to be on the verge of blowing things up too.
Check out what more readers had to say in previous editions of Hoops Rumors Featured Feedback. We appreciate everyone who adds to the dialogue at Hoops Rumors, and we look forward to seeing more responses like these from you!