Washburn On Martin, Dooling, Draft
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe delivers noteworthy news from around the Association in the latest installment of his weekly column, which blends a review of the top storylines from the past week with fresh news from league sources. We'll pass along the latter here:
- Washburn wonders if Kenyon Martin's resurgence with the Knicks late this season will help his free agent stock in the summer, though the veteran big man isn't looking for a change of scenery. "I would love to stay a Knick," Martin said. "I don’t want to go nowhere. I am proving to this organization what I can be and who I am as a person on and off the court, and I think they see that. I’m here now and I’m going to make the best of this opportunity."
- Keyon Dooling, whom the Grizzlies are reportedly considering, wanted to come out of retirement with the Celtics earlier this season, but he's barred from signing from Boston for a year after the team waived him in September, according to Washburn. I'm unaware of any such restriction under the collective bargaining agreement, but since the CBA isn't a public document, this could be a rule we're simply learning about for the first time.
- Washburn expects several underclassmen who are on the fence about entering the draft to go ahead and do so, given the perceived weakness of this year's field. Of course, not everyone benefits from early entry. Washburn caught up with Hawks point guard Jeff Teague, who believes his brother, Bulls rookie Marquis Teague, should have stayed in college one more year.
Amnesty Obligation Set To Expire For 3 Teams
The amnesty provision provides salary cap relief, but any team that uses the provision still must pay the player it waives. That extra money could be burdensome to owners who have to field rosters on top of their obligation to a player who is no longer around. As our amnesty tracker shows, precisely half of the league's 30 teams have used the one-time chance to erase a contract from the salary cap, if not the payroll. Some of those contracts were up after last season anyway, so those teams — the Knicks, Pacers and Warriors — are free of any amnesty-related burden. Three more teams will see their amnestied contracts expire at the end of the season. They're listed here, along with the player and the team's obligation in parentheses.
- Sixers: Elton Brand ($16,059,855)
- Cavaliers: Baron Davis ($13,900,000)
- Clippers: Ryan Gomes ($4,000,000)
The Clippers might have received a small portion of relief via set-off rights when Gomes signed last November to play in Germany. The value of Gomes' deal overseas is unclear, but it would have to be for more than $762,195 to let the Clippers off the hook for any of the money they owe him. I doubt Gomes earned that much from his German club, particularly since he and the team parted ways in January.
Getting released from the $4MM Gomes burden probably won't have much effect on the Clippers' offseason plans this year, but it will be interesting to see what the other two teams on that list do when they aren't paying eight-figure salaries to guys who aren't on the roster. Since Andrew Bynum is missing the entire season because of his troublesome knees, the Sixers actually have two high-dollar obligations that aren't paying dividends this year, totaling $32,948,855. Freed of that dead money, perhaps the Sixers will be willing to spend freely on Bynum or another sought-after free agent this summer. The same could be the case for the Cavs, who largely eschewed free agents last summer and, at little more than $54MM, have one of the smallest team salary totals this season. That number doesn't include Davis' amnestied salary, which, if it were applied to the cap, would bring Cleveland within a few million of the $70.307MM tax line.
Nine teams have to wait at least one more season for their amnesty burdens to disappear. Those squads are listed here with the amnestied player, plus the remaining salary obligation and the year the contract expires in parentheses.
- Magic: Gilbert Arenas ($43,154,456 — 2014)
- Mavericks: Brendan Haywood ($14,607,812 — 2015)
- Nets: Travis Outlaw ($8,000,000 — 2015)
- Nuggets: Chris Andersen ($4,818,000 — 2014)
- Rockets: Luis Scola ($1,847,619 — 2015)
- Suns: Josh Childress ($14,500,000 — 2015)
- Timberwolves: Darko Milicic ($1,755,000 — 2014)
- Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy ($37,206,258 — 2015)
- Wizards: Andray Blatche ($16,266,260 — 2015)
ShamSports was used in the creation of this post.
Atlantic Rumors: Bynum, Randolph, J.R. Smith
It's starting to look like the Knicks will win their first Atlantic Division title since 1993/94. Brooklyn's loss to the Jazz last night dropped the Nets four games back of New York, and five games back in the loss column. The Celtics are eight games back in the loss column. It remains to be seen whether the Knicks can duplicate another feat they pulled off in 1993/94 and make it to the NBA Finals, but while we wait for that playoff story to unfold, here's the latest buzz from the Atlantic:
- A source tells John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer that Andrew Bynum won't give the Sixers any special consideration in free agency this summer, but Mitchell believes the team's best option is to re-sign the oft-injured center and hope he can get healthy for at least a couple of seasons.
- Shavlik Randolph's play, particularly his efficient rebounding, is justifying the Celtics' decision to keep him around, observes Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe, who also points to the improved performance of offseason signee Jeff Green.
- J.R. Smith has a $2.933MM player option for 2013/14, but he should be able to command a much greater salary as a free agent if he turns it down. Newsday's Al Iannazzone looks at the career year Smith's enjoying this season with the Knicks.
- Doug Smith of the Toronto Star answers reader questions about the Raptors and other NBA issues in his mailbag column.
Kobe Bryant To Decide On Future This Summer
Kobe Bryant has frequently suggested that he will retire following the 2013/14 season, and after passing Wilt Chamberlain to become the NBA's No. 4 all-time leading scorer last night, Bryant told Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com that he'll formally announce his intentions soon. The Black Mamba will decide this summer whether next season will be his last, but said his sense at the moment is that he'll walk away in the summer of 2014.
"I’ll talk to my family and stuff and really see if I want to continue to sacrifice as much as I’m sacrificing right now," Bryant said. "I’m putting my body through a lot to just try to get ready to play every single night. To do what I’m doing right now, it’s not easy. I’ll tell you, it’s taken a lot of commitment."
Bryant, who's eligible for an extension in the offseason, insists that if he chooses retirement, he won't listen to any entreaties from the Lakers to play longer. Still, he said one reason he wants to decide this summer is so the team can make plans based on whether he'll be around. Steve Nash is the only Laker signed beyond next season, and LeBron James could opt out of his deal and highlight the free agent class in 2014, so the purple and gold could be in for some major retooling.
If Bryant sticks around, he might have a shot at passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time points lead, which would happen in 2016/17 if he keeps up his current pace. Bryant believes that record is safe, as he told reporters, including Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.
"I don’t see it happening," Bryant said. "But if I change my mind and decide to play a little bit longer and be a (point guard), that’s what I’ll do."
Mavs Recall Jared Cunningham
We'll keep track of today's D-League assignments and recalls here, with any additional moves added to the top:
- The Mavs have recalled Jared Cunningham from the D-League, the team announced via press release. Cunningham had been with the Texas Legends ever since his January 28th assignment, and he's produced 15.3 points in 34.5 minutes per game over 15 D-League contests in two stints with the Legends this season. The 24th overall pick last June has barely seen action for the big club in Dallas, appearing in eight games for a total of 26 minutes.
Zaza Pachulia To Have Season-Ending Surgery
4:35pm: Pachulia's surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, and his recovery time will be six months, the Hawks announced via press release. That would put him on track to return just in time for training camp next season.
1:59pm: Soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Zaza Pachulia will undergo surgery on his right Achilles tendon and miss the rest of the season, reports Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The nature of the surgery is unclear, as is Pachulia's timetable for recovery, according to Vivlamore, but the news appears to be a blow to the center's free agent stock. The 6'11" 10-year veteran has missed the last 15 games for Atlanta with soreness in the tendon.
The 29-year-old previously said he's been exercising caution so that he doesn't tear the Achilles, a serious injury that could jeopardize his readiness for training camp in the fall. Whether or not the tendon is torn, teams could be wary of committing to a spot starter whose health is in question. He's making $5.249MM this year in the last season of four-year, $19MM contract he inked with the Hawks in 2009.
The Hawks will miss Pachulia's size and rebounding as they fight for positioning and try to make a run in the playoffs this spring, but he'd have been hard-pressed not to take a paycut even if were entering the offseason healthy. Pachulia saw approximately 25% fewer minutes per game this year compared to 2011/12, and he's never shot 50% from the floor in any season. Only once, in 2009/10, has he averaged as much as a single block per 36 minutes.
Central Rumors: Thibodeau, Jackson, Skiles, Scott
Tom Thibodeau and the Bulls agreed before the season to a four-year, $17.5MM extension, but Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reported about six weeks ago that the coach had yet to sign the pact. The contract still remains unsigned, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, though it's not uncommon for Thibodeau to hesitate on such matters, Wojnarowski points out. Wojnarowski's entire piece, in which he also notes NBA executive vice president Stu Jackson is looking for a front-office job with a team, is worth a read, and there are plenty of other stories out involving Central Division clubs, as we round up here:
- Thibodeau says it's a "non-issue" that he hasn't signed his contract, explaining that he just received the paperwork back from lawyers who were reviewing it, tweets Jeff Caplan of NBA.com. Thibodeau added that as soon as he gets an opportunity to forward the signed contract to GM Gar Forman, he'll do so.
- Plenty of NBA GMs like Scott Skiles' no-nonsense approach, according to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio, who wonders which NBA team the former Bucks coach will be piloting next year (Twitter link).
- The Cavs haven't given any indication Byron Scott is in trouble, but Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer, in response to readers questions, isn't certain he'll be back to coach the team next year.
Earlier updates:
- Chances are "beginning to look dicey" that Pistons coach Lawrence Frank will return next season, writes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. Owner Tom Gores will decide at the end of the season whether to bring back Frank for the third season on his deal. It's the final guaranteed year on Frank's contract, which includes an option for 2013/14, according to Ellis. I'd assume that's a team option, though Ellis doesn't specify.
- Tobias Harris is seeing significantly more playing time with the Magic than he did before the Bucks traded him at the deadline, and Beno Udrih, who accompanied him from Milwaukee to Orlando in the same deal, thinks their old team wasn't giving Harris the minutes he deserved. Evan Dunlap of Orlando Pinstriped Post has the details. "When I was in Milwaukee with him, I always knew he had the potential and talent to be a great player," Udrih said. "And in Milwaukee, I think they were just holding him back. They didn't give him a real chance to show what he can do. Here, he got a chance and he's definitely proving himself and taking advantage of the chance."
- HoopsWorld's Joel Brigham catches up with Malcolm Thomas, who speaks about the uncertainties of a 10-day contract. On Friday, Thomas signed his second 10-day deal with the Bulls.
Sacramento/Seattle Updates: Saturday
Just a few days remain before competing bidders for the Kings go before the NBA's Board of Governors on Wednesday to make their cases, so news regarding the future of the team won't be in short supply. Here's the latest, with any updates added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- Marc Stein of ESPN.com doesn't agree with Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson's assertion that Sacramento has a 90% chance of keeping the Kings, but a source tells the ESPN scribe that Sacramento is "gaining momentum" in its effort to keep the team. Stein, who was told that the battle between Seattle and Sacramento is too close to call at this point, also hears that the determining factor will come down to simply how much money Sacramento bidders can pony up in their counteroffer to Chris Hansen's Seattle group.
- Minority owner John Kehriotis has ended his bid for the team after a critical financial backer withdrew from the effort, reports Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee. Kehriotis, like the primary Sacramento bidding group led by Vivek Ranadive, aimed to keep the Kings in town.
- Hansen's group has filed court documents confirming their deal to buy minority owner Bob Cook's 7% share of the team, Bizjak reports in the same piece. Four other minority owners have a right to match the offer, and two told Bizjak they're considering doing so.
- Johnson is nearing his goal of having 10,000 Sacramento-area residents pledge to buy Kings season tickets in advance of Wednesday's meeting. More than 9,000 pledges are in at HereWeBuy.org as of Saturday afternoon, up from about 7,500 a couple days ago.
Odds & Ends: Kings, White, McRoberts, Suns
Since a deal to keep the Kings in Sacramento fell through last year, there seems to have been no love lost between the Maloof family, which owns the team, and Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson. Lately, though, Johnson has taken a conciliatory tone toward the Maloofs, and Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com believes that could be strategic, since the Maloofs would still have to agree to sell the team to Sacramento investors if the league rejects their pending sale to Chris Hansen's Seattle group. We rounded up more on the Kings sale this morning, and we'll continue to monitor the story in advance of a key meeting coming up on Wednesday. In the meantime, here's more from around the Association:
- Royce White said the Rockets were on board with his plan to leave the team's D-League affiliate just before they start the playoffs, but Houston GM Daryl Morey said the Rockets and White made no such agreement, as Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle notes.
- Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap hopes his team re-signs trade-deadline acquisition Josh McRoberts, who'll be an unrestricted free agent this summer, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
- The Suns' decision to hold leading scorer Goran Dragic out of last night's game even though he was healthy led some Phoenix players to privately complain about the move, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. When I asked last night whether the NBA should try to crack down on tanking, the majority of Hoops Rumors readers who responded said the league should take measures to prevent the practice.
- Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins and Zach Randolph deny rumors that there's a rift between them, as Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal documents.
- Several league executives regard Fred Hoiberg as an NBA head coaching candidate, but it appears Hoiberg won't be leaving Iowa State anytime soon. He agreed to a 10-year, $20MM contract to remain with the Cyclones, the school confirmed via Twitter. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities first reported the news (Twitter link).
- The Celtics signed Shavlik Randolph to a multiyear deal last week, and Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston thinks the big man should be seeing more minutes.
Colleges That Produce Highly Paid NBA Players
No college
- Kobe Bryant ($27,849,149)
- Dirk Nowitzki ($20,907,128)
- Amare Stoudemire ($19,948,799)
- Dwight Howard ($19,536,360)
- Pau Gasol ($19,000,000)
- LeBron James ($17,545,000)
- Andrew Bynum ($16,889,000)
- Al Jefferson ($15,000,000)
- Manu Ginobili ($14,107,492)
- Marc Gasol ($13,891,359)
- Tyson Chandler ($13,604,188)
- Josh Smith ($13,200,000)
- Nene Hilario ($13,000,000)
- Tony Parker ($12,500,000)
- Hedo Turkoglu ($11,815,850)
- Kevin Garnett ($11,566,265)
- Jose Calderon ($11,046,591)
- Monta Ellis ($11,000,000)
- Nicolas Batum ($10,825,000)
- Andrea Bargnani ($10,000,000)
Connecticut
- Rudy Gay ($16,460,538)
- Emeka Okafor ($13,490,000)
- Ben Gordon ($12,400,000)
Duke
- Carlos Boozer ($15,000,000)
- Luol Deng ($13,305,000)
- Corey Maggette ($10,924,138)
Florida
- David Lee ($12,744,000)
- Al Horford ($12,000,000)
- Joakim Noah ($11,300,000)
Arizona
- Andre Iguodala ($14,968,250)
- Richard Jefferson ($10,164,000)
Texas
- Kevin Durant ($16,669,630)
- LaMarcus Aldridge ($13,500,000)
UCLA
- Kevin Love ($13,668,750)
- Russell Westbrook ($13,668,750)
Arkansas
- Joe Johnson ($19,752,645)
Butler County Community College
- Stephen Jackson ($10,059,750)
Georgetown
- Roy Hibbert ($13,668,750)
Georgia Tech
- Chris Bosh ($17,545,000)
Illinois
- Deron Williams ($17,177,795)
Indiana
- Eric Gordon ($13,668,750)
Kansas
- Paul Pierce ($16,790,345)
Kentucky
- Rajon Rondo ($11,000,000)
Marquette
- Dwyane Wade ($17,182,000)
Memphis
- Derrick Rose ($16,402,552)
Michigan State
- Zach Randolph ($16,500,000)
Minnesota
- Kris Humphries ($12,000,000)
Nevada
- JaVale McGee ($10,000,000)
New Mexico
- Danny Granger ($13,058,606)
Stanford
- Brook Lopez ($13,668,750)
Syracuse
- Carmelo Anthony ($20,463,024)
Texas A&M
- DeAndre Jordan ($10,532,977)
Utah
- Andrew Bogut ($13,000,000)
Wake Forest
- Chris Paul ($17,779,458)
Western Carolina
- Kevin Martin ($12,439,675)
Xavier
- David West ($10,000,000)
HoopsWorld and ShamSports were used in the creation of this post.