Prospect Profile: Jeff Withey
In a sense, Jeff Withey is the anti-Cody Zeller. While the short-armed Zeller's strength is his offensive game, Withey uses his long arms and athleticism to protect the basket like few others. Zeller is a 20-year-old sophomore who's been highly touted for a while, and Withey's a 23-year-old late-blooming senior. Both were increasingly overshadowed on their college teams by a pair of two-guards who made fast climbs up draft boards, but while there's still some debate about whether Zeller or Victor Oladipo is the better prospect, it's clear Ben McLemore has the edge on Withey.
Zeller is widely projected as a lottery pick, but Withey checks in at No. 19 on Jonathan Givony's DraftExpress rankings and at No. 24 with Chad Ford of ESPN.com. Yet if Withey was "arguably the best overall defender in the NCAA," as Givony writes, maybe he should be rated closer to Zeller. Defense is, after all, half of the game, even if it isn't as thrilling as offense. Withey isn't inept offensively, as he's shown the ability to finish around the basket. He doesn't have a back-t0-the-basket post game, and rarely dares to take a mid-range jumper, but there aren't many polished centers in the NBA, anyway.
He's either 6'11", as DraftExpress has him, or 7'0", according to ESPN's measurements, and his wingspan is variously described as 7'1.5" and 7'3". Regardless of his precise measurements, Withey used his length to block 3.9 shots per game this season. That average jumped to 5.7 in three NCAA tournament games, including back-to-back five-block performances against North Carolina and Michigan. He also had 16 points and a season-high 16 boards against the Tar Heels, showing not only an ability to perform in the spotlight but also a rebounding acumen that he rarely displayed during the season. Four of Withey's rebounds in that game came on the offensive glass, and as Givony points out, Withey had the fewest offensive rebounds per 40 minutes of any center among his top 100 prospects.
That stat is disconcerting, especially considering Withey does most of his offensive work around the basket. Not every center in the NBA is called upon to grab a bunch of rebounds, with Brook Lopez and the Nets, who rely upon Reggie Evans for their board work, as Exhibit A. Still, that, more than his offensive shortcomings, could be why NBA teams wouldn't consider drafting him until after the lottery picks are through.
Of the teams drafting 15th through 25th, the Celtics, at No. 16, and Cavs, at No. 19, jump out as clubs that could benefit from a shot-blocking center like Withey. If he winds up in Cleveland, he would coincidentally become teammates with Tyler Zeller, Cody's brother. The Nets, at No. 22, could see Withey as a backup to Lopez and once more rely on their power forwards to man the boards. The Hawks, at Nos. 17 and 18, and Jazz, at No. 21, are wild cards, given all their free agents, though Utah seems like a longshot because of its frontcourt depth.
All of that can change between now and draft night, as teams exchange picks via trade and players make impressions in pre-draft workouts. If Withey shows that he can be more active on the boards, I wouldn't be surprised if he sneaks into the latter part of the lottery. Size, after all, has always been a commodity in the NBA.
Phil Jackson Would Consider Coaching Cavs
The Cavs are reportedly expected to reach out to Phil Jackson to fill their coaching vacancy, and a source close to the Zen Master tells Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio that Jackson would "absolutely" listen if the team called to discuss the job. The same source confirmed another report that Jackson is interested in a return to the NBA, and though it seemed he was more interested in a front-office role than coaching, it appears Jackson still wants to be on the sidelines.
Amico's source downplayed the notion that Jackson would prefer to go to a large-market team that's close to winning a championship, pointing to the deep store of young talent in Cleveland. It also sounds like a return to the Lakers is unlikely, since Jackson soured on the situation there after the team passed him over in favor of Mike D'Antoni earlier this season, according to Amico's report. The Nets have been linked to Jackson in recent weeks, though they have interim coach P.J. Carlesimo in place as they begin the playoffs this weekend.
If the Cavs can't land Jackson, the team has plenty of other high-profile targets. There's apparently mutual interest between the Cavs and Mike Brown, who seemed as recently as yesterday to be the leading candidate. GM Chris Grant and company are also intrigued by Scott Skiles and Stan Van Gundy, though it looks like Van Gundy wouldn't want the job. Amico yesterday mentioned current NBA assistant coaches Michael Malone, Brian Shaw and David Fizdale in connection with the Cavs opening as well.
Odds & Ends: Magic, Noel, Stan Van Gundy, Curry
The future of the Kings was far from the only issue on the table at the NBA's Board of Governors meeting this week. USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt rounds up the other issues that owners discussed, including human growth hormone testing for players, the effect of widespread reliance on three-pointers, and the possibility of a joint bid for the 2015 All-Star Game between New York and Brooklyn. Here's more from the Association on the eve of the playoffs:
- Magic GM Rob Hennigan has demonstrated a reluctance to pick up players with question marks surrounding their health, but Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel hears they wouldn't hesitate to draft top prospect Nerlens Noel, who tore his left ACL in February.
- Schmitz also hears Stan Van Gundy has no interest in becoming the next coach of the Cavaliers, Sixers or Pistons, the three teams with current coaching vacancies. The former Magic coach has been linked to the openings in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
- Sixers assistant coach Michael Curry will interview for the head job in Philly, but a source tells John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer that interest from other teams will be high.
- Jamaal Tinsley started 32 games in place of the injured Mo Williams for the Jazz this season, and the 35-year-old Tinsley is convinced he has plenty left, telling Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune he "realistically" thinks he can play for another three or four years in the league (Twitter link).
- A report earlier this season suggested Omri Casspi was thinking about returning to play in his native Israel, but he tells Walla Sport that as long as he receives an offer from an NBA club, he won't play overseas next season (translation via HoopsHype).
- Mike Dunlap is rumored to be in danger of losing his job with the Bobcats, but the team is in no hurry to make its decision about him, preferring to listen to exit interviews and watch the coaching market develop first, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
- Warriors GM Bob Myers told Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group that he had every confidence Stephen Curry would remain healthy when he signed the point guard to his four-year, $44MM extension last fall.
Pacific Links: Paul, Hunter, Nash, Assistants
Three Pacific Division teams are preparing for the playoffs this weekend, while the other two have May 21st, the date of the draft lottery, circled on their calendars. By the end of that night, the Kings will know which pick they'll have in the first round, and apparently which city they'll be playing in next year, too, according to comments David Stern made today. We've been keeping close tabs on Kings developments, and there's news involving the other four teams in the division as well.
- A source close to Chris Paul tells HoopsWorld's Bill Ingram that there's no way CP3 will leave the Clippers (Twitter link). That's in keeping with the signals Paul's camp has been putting out all season.
- Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports unveils his final power rankings of the 2012/13 season, and in so doing passes along news that the Suns are thinking about keeping interim coach Lindsey Hunter, according to a source.
- Steve Nash has endured a season of injuries and dished out his fewest assists per game since 1999/00, but he's giving no thought to retirement, notes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com (Sulia link).
- From conversations with general managers, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports gleans the names of four assistant coaches who appear to be top candidates to wind up as head coaches (Twitter link). Three have Pacific Division ties: Michael Malone of the Warriors, Steve Clifford of the Lakers, and former Lakers assistant Quin Snyder, who's now an assistant in Russia with CSKA Moscow. The other name on Wojnarowski's list is Kelvin Sampson, who temporarily took over head coaching duties for the Rockets this season while Kevin McHale tended to his ailing daughter.
Players Who Made China-To-NBA Jump This Year
Last year's lockout prompted many NBA players without contracts to jump to a league they might not have otherwise considered. Chinese Basketball Association teams don't allow their imports from overseas an out in case the NBA comes calling, but with the 2011/12 season in doubt, Wilson Chandler, J.R. Smith, Aaron Brooks and a handful of others took the chance and signed to play in China.
The lockout ended in December, but since the Chinese league's season ends much earlier than the NBA's, the prominent Americans playing in China were able to come back stateside. The gamble paid off particularly well for Chandler, who inked a five-year, $31.72MM deal with the Nuggets upon his return.
Even without the specter of the lockout this season, the CBA has continued to funnel talent to the NBA, with the early end to its schedule a key factor. No team took advantage quite like the Celtics, who brought three players over from China when injuries depleted their roster. Here's a look at all the players who wound up in the NBA after playing in the CBA this season:
- Shavlik Randolph, Celtics: After pouring in 32.0 PPG and 14.5 RPG for the Foshan Long Lions, Boston signed Randolph to a pair of 10-day contracts and a deal that covers the rest of the season and beyond. The power forward was the CBA's leading scorer and third-leading rebounder in 2012/13.
- Josh Akognon, Mavericks: The 5'11" guard parlayed 29.0 PPG and four made three-pointers per contest for the Liaoning Jiebao Hunters into a 10-day contract with the Mavericks, who re-signed him to a deal for the rest of this season with a team option for next year.
- Solomon Jones, Knicks: Akognon's Liaoning teammate put up 15.8 PPG and 10.4 RPG, and that got him a deal with the Knicks. It didn't last long, as the Knicks waived him two games and less than 72 hours later.
- Terrence Williams, Celtics: Williams was the first of Boston's three China refugees to sign for the rest of the season and beyond, even though his numbers for the Guangdong Southern Tigers weren't eye-popping. He averaged 17.9 PPG and 4.1 APG, and shot worse from the field (42%) and from three-point range (31.7%) than he has with Boston.
- Tracy McGrady, Spurs: San Antonio followed up its surprising release of Stephen Jackson with McGrady's unexpected signing this week. The two-time NBA scoring champ showed an all-around game for the Qingdao Double Star Eagles, racking up 25.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 5.1 APG.
- D.J. White, Celtics: Gilbert Arenas, White's teammate on the Shanghai Sharks, carries much more starpower, but White was the Chinese team's leading scorer this season, at 21.6 PPG. He also notched 9.7 RPG en route to a pair of 10-day contracts with the Celtics, who ultimately signed him for the rest of the season with a team option for 2013/14.
- Honorary mention: James Singleton of the Xinjiang Flying Tigers had an agreement in place to sign with the Knicks last week, but the Tigers had trouble arranging his FIBA letter of clearance, which is required when players jump between leagues in different countries. That prevented Singleton's deal with the Knicks from coming to fruition.
Pat Riley On Big Three, Andersen, Spoelstra
Heat president Pat Riley held court with the media today for the first time since July, and offered insight on how the 66-win Heat were built, as well as a few hints about his plan to keep the defending champs together. Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and Tom Haberstroh of ESPN.com all provide detail. We'll round it up here:
- Riley suggested the team may need a new, high-dollar local television contract to absorb the tax hit necessary to keep LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh together beyond 2014, when they can all opt out and become free agents. A report last summer suggested the team was in talks with Fox Sports about a deal that would pay them $80MM-$100MM per season, but both the team and Fox denied it.
- Riley thinks keeping the team together is "doable" and said the front office has already begun to craft its plan for doing so, but said it's ultimately up to Micky Arison to decide how much he wants to shell out.
- Coach Erik Spoelstra was the driving force behind the team's midseason acquisition of Chris Andersen. "If I got another text from (Spoelstra) about getting Chris Andersen, I was going to put my hands around his neck," Riley quipped.
- Riley declined comment on Spoelstra's contract, which runs out after next season.
- The team believes Wade can handle point guard duties in case Mario Chalmers or Norris Cole goes down, and that's why they didn't seek more depth at the position this season.
- It doesn't seem as though the Heat will fully embrace analytics anytime soon, as Riley said proponents of advance metrics "make me squeamy a little bit," Haberstroh tweets.
Dennis Schroeder To Enter Draft
German point guard Dennis Schroeder will enter the draft, agent Ademola Okulaja tells Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com (Twitter link). The speedy 6'2" 19-year-old projects as a second-rounder who could climb into the first, as Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks him 55th overall among draft prospects, while Givony tabs him 31st.
Schroeder is taking part in the Nike Hoop Summit set for tomorrow in Portland, as Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports tweets. The event pits top American high school seniors against a team of some of the best players age 19 and under from around the world.
A strong performance tomorrow could help Schroeder ascend draft boards, but if he falters, he can withdraw from the draft anytime before June 17th and continue playing overseas. College students who've declared for the draft can no longer pull out and return to school now that this week's deadline to do so has passed.
Odds & Ends: Jeffries, Coaches, Kahn, Raptors
Blazers owner Paul Allen spoke to reporters this evening about the offseason for his team, which begins tomorrow, and it seems one decision will have to be made fairly quickly. Jared Jeffries is under contract for the next two seasons, but neither is guaranteed. Next season would become guaranteed if he's not waived by the fifth day following Portland's final game this season, according to Mark Deeks of ShamSports. Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com believes it's likely that Jeffries won't be back, judging by the 31-year-old's lack of playing time this season, so it appears the Blazers could be cutting him loose soon. Jeffries wants to remain in the NBA next season, however, and tells Haynes that he'll be looking for more playing time wherever he winds up.
As we wait to learn the fate of Jeffries and others as the offseason begins for nearly half the league, there's plenty more NBA news:
- Sam Amick of USA Today examines which coaches are most likely to be out of work soon, placing Mike Dunlap among those in the greatest danger of losing their jobs, along with Keith Smart, Byron Scott and Lawrence Frank. He also suggests that if Rick Adelman returns to the Wolves, GM David Kahn will as well, but if the coach isn't back, Kahn may be on the outs, too.
- Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo insists to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun that he never tried to fire coach Dwane Casey this season, as Simmons had previously reported.
- Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, speaking with the team's broadcasters during tonight's game, said retaining unrestricted free agent Martell Webster will be key, confirming a pair of recent reports. CSNWashington.com has the video, in which Leonsis also expresses a desire to keep John Wall long-term.
- Executives around the league who spoke to Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game are widely split on how much O.J. Mayo could command if he turns down his $4.2MM option for next season. Some figure he can't expect much of a raise, and others believe he could easily make $10MM-$12MM (Sulia link).
- Point guard Josiah Turner, who played professionally in Canada this year after leaving the University of Arizona, will enter the draft, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link). Neither DraftExpress nor ESPN.com rate Turner as a top 100 prospect.
Blazers Owner On Olshey, Stotts, Tax, Kings
Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen met with reporters this evening before the team's final game, expressing his disappointment about the Blazers' failure to make the playoffs as well as his belief that the team is nonetheless headed in a positive direction. Allen had plenty more to say, and Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge provides a full transcript. We'll pass along a few highlights here:
On GM Neil Olshey and coach Terry Stotts, both in their first year with the team:
I think they are both doing a very good job. Obviously the end of the season, injuries can really get you. Wes (Matthews), Nic (Batum) and (LaMarcus Aldridge) having some issues. That can always — especially when you don' t have as much depth as you would like. I think you saw Terry institute that new brand of basketball to start out the season and I think compared to styles we've had in previous seasons, I think it's refreshing, unselfish style. In terms of what Neil did, we did very well in the draft, there's no question about that. I think getting Eric Maynor at the trade deadline that was a nice move. We're positioning ourselves for the future with cap room, draft picks, flexibility. It's going to be a very interesting offseason.
On his approach to the luxury tax:
Well, I'm not going to be a repeat offender with the multiplicative tax. That's something we'll try to stay, we'll be moderate, we're not going to be like the big-market teams that are paying the tax when they're in a championship window. People should understand, big markets have a huge local cable deal and can afford it when you're in a championship window, otherwise those taxes are so punitive they'll have their desired effect.
On the fight over the Kings between Sacramento and Seattle:
I think the league announced that there wasn't going to be a decision at this owners meeting. If there was, I'd be back in New York talking to people, forming my opinion. I think it's a tough call. While I supported the Sonics staying in Seattle when they ended up leaving, I think in general there's some feeling that if there's good fan support and there's good political support sufficient to have a state of the art facility, that's more than enough reason to keep a franchise in the same place. Then you can get into all the parameters of who has made the best offer, who hasn't made the best offer. It's a very difficult thing. Steve Ballmer is a very good friend of mine and I think he would be a great owner. I reserve my final decision.
Frank Wants Out Unless Pistons Pick Up Option
Lawrence Frank has told Pistons owner Tom Gores and team president Joe Dumars that he doesn't want to return as coach unless they exercise his option for 2014/15, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Frank is concerned about being a lame-duck coach as the team continues to rebuild, Wojnarowski writes. The team has already picked up Frank's option for next season, but he's reportedly on thin ice after leading the team to back-to-back lottery seasons in his two years as coach.
The Pistons will be on the hook for Frank's salary next season regardless of whether he's their coach. Wojnarowski pegs that guarantee at $4MM, while Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News has the figure at $3.7MM. The 2014/15 option would be for $4MM, according to Wojnarowski. Regardless, Gores wasn't enthusiastic when he spoke about the performance of Frank and Dumars earlier this week, and Frank wasn't optimistic when he spoke to reporters, including Goodwill, before the team's loss to the Nets tonight.
"Let's hope for the best, but we understand what reality could be," the coach said. "There's dialogue there so we'll see what happens."
The Pistons are expected to give Frank their decision tomorrow. A decision could be coming soon on Dumars as well, as a report this weekend suggested he could be on his way out as well.