Knicks Interested In Timofey Mozgov
Timofey Mozgov is averaging fewer than 10 minutes per game this season for the Nuggets, but there was no shortage of teams pursuing him at the trade deadline, as we heard the Heat, Timberwolves, Bobcats and Knicks were after the 7'1" center. New York, the team that originally brought Mozgov to the NBA from Russia, maintains its interest in Mozgov as he approaches restricted free agency this summer, according to Mark Berman of the New York Post (Sulia link).
Berman followed up on his report last night that Mozgov is fond of his time with the Knicks, the team with which he spent half a season before going to the Nuggets in the Carmelo Anthony trade. Still, Mozgov didn't say New York has a leg up on any other team as he considers where to sign, which makes sense given the Knicks' financial constraints.
The Knicks will likely be more than $4MM over the tax threshold this summer, meaning they'll be ineligible to receive players in a sign-and-trade and couldn't offer Mozgov more than the taxpayer's mid-level exception. That exception allows for a three-year deal with a starting salary of $3.183MM next season, and based on the number of teams that seemed eager to take him on at the deadline, Mozgov could field better offers in the summer. Berman argues that his lack of playing time this year has likely depressed his market value, but Mozgov is only a season removed from his career year in 2011/12, when he started 35 games and averaged 5.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game in 44 total contests.
The Nuggets will have the right to match any offer as long as they extend a qualifying offer, and they might be tempted to match the limited contract the Knicks could put on the table. They weren't willing to trade Mozgov this season unless they received an overwhelming offer, even though the team's other centers, JaVale McGee and Kosta Koufos, both have guaranteed deals for next season.
Atlantic Rumors: Humphries, Knicks, Moultrie
Few third-place teams have a legitimate shot at a division title this late in the season, but the Celtics are an exception. The current No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference could erase a three and a half game deficit in the Atlantic Division to climb over the Nets and Knicks if they keep up their surprisingly torrid pace in the wake of Rajon Rondo's injury. The banged-up Knicks haven't played quite as well amidst their health woes, and the Nets, while relatively healthy, haven't been able to generate much momentum of late. Here's the latest on a few Atlantic teams as this season's race nears its conclusion:
- Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo has said he plans to bring Kris Humphries back into the team's rotation soon, but Humphries, whom Brooklyn reportedly offered to multiple teams at the trade deadline, isn't sure he'll be around the Nets in any capacity much longer. Fred Kerber of the New York Post has the details. "You’ve got to look at the situation," Humphries said. "It’s hard to say right now. Who knows who’s going to be here? A lot of things can change here."
- Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com speculates that James White, Pablo Prigioni and Kurt Thomas could be potential roster casualties if the Knicks elect to sign Delonte West, whom they're reportedly monitoring. The injured Rasheed Wallace would seem the most logical choice to go, but coach Mike Woodson insists he won't be waived, Begley notes.
- Rookie Arnett Moultrie has seen little playing time this year, but the Sixers plan to increase his minutes down the stretch to see what they have in the 27th overall pick from this past year, observes John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Deron Williams is averaging 23.6 points per game in March, well above his mark for the season, and he explained some of the reasons for his increased production to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Sulia link).
Jazz Expected To Keep Either Jefferson Or Millsap
After keeping both Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap at the trade deadline, Utah is expected to re-sign one of them, but not the other, when they both hit unrestricted free agency this summer, reports Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio. The Jazz will likely pursue a sign-and-trade for whichever of the pair they don't keep, Amico adds.
Removing one of the team's starting big men would open up playing time for Derrick Favors, who'll be in the final year of his rookie-scale contract next season and is up for an extension this summer. The Jazz also have center Enes Kanter, who's a recent No. 3 overall pick, just like Favors. Utah's front office is notoriously tight-lipped, and there was plenty of conflicting information before the trade deadline about whether the team was more likely to deal away Jefferson or Millsap. It turned out to be neither, though it would be even more surprising to see the Jazz keep both of them through the summer.
Jefferson makes nearly twice as much as Millsap this season, but they could be in line for similar deals in free agency. They're putting up matching 20.6 PERs this year, and the 28-year-olds are separated in age by just a month and six days. Jefferson, at 6'10", has the ability to play center that the 6'8" Millsap lacks, and the paucity of true centers figures to make Jefferson slightly more sought-after on the market.
The Jazz have Bird rights on both players and can outbid other teams, and they figure to have about $25.3MM in commitments this summer, leaving plenty of cap space to pursue other free agents if they let either Millsap or Jefferson go. They could use some of that room to accomodate whomever they can get back in a sign-and-trade, but their potential sign-and-trade partners will be somewhat limited under provisions of the new collective bargaining agreement that kick in this offseason. Taxpaying teams can't acquire anyone via sign-and-trade, so the Lakers, for instance, who brought in Steve Nash on a sign-and-trade last summer, couldn't do so this year without shedding other salaries to get below the tax line.
Hawks Want To Re-Sign Josh Smith, Kyle Korver
Among the items in Sam Amico's leaguewide roundup for Fox Sports Ohio today, he passes along that "word is" the Hawks will make re-signing Josh Smith and Kyle Korver their top priorities in the summer. If they prove to be out of Atlanta's price range, the team is likely to try to sign-and-trade one or both of those players.
Smith made headlines earlier this season when he said he felt he was deserving of a maximum-salary contract, but more recently clarified that his statements were in response to a question and not meant as a pronouncement ahead of this summer's negotiations. Nonetheless, it seems likely he'll go after a max deal, which would be worth nearly $100MM from the Hawks and a little more than $74MM if he signed with another team. Since Amico's report indicates there's a limit on how much they'll spend to retain Smith, it doesn't look like they're willing to give him the full max. They might be open to structing the deal so that Smith gets more than the $74MM he could get from another club, however, retaining their financial advantage over the rest of the league, but that's just my speculation.
Korver isn't nearly the player Smith is, but he leads the league with a 45.9% three-point percentage, and figures to have no shortage of suitors this summer. The Nuggets are already reportedly targeting Korver, who's expressed a willingness to consider a return to the Jazz and Bulls, two of his former teams. When Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors examined Korver's free agent stock earlier this month, he wrote that an offer somewhere in the neighborhood of the full mid-level exception, which includes a first-year salary of $5.15MM, might get a deal done.
The Hawks will have plenty of room under the cap to sign Smith, Korver and others this summer, when they'll have little more than $18.5MM in commitments. It appears GM Danny Ferry and company plan to be judicious with that room and aren't dead-set on re-signing any of their players if they're putting a limit on how high they'll go for the two men they count as their top priorities. That they would consider a sign-and-trade for both Smith and Korver could suggest that they don't want to rely completely on building next season's roster with free agents from other teams.
Poll: Which Guards Should The Bucks Re-Sign?
The Bucks made perhaps the most high-profile acquisition at a subdued trade deadline, bringing J.J. Redick into the fold as a third guard. He’s bolstered the team’s scoring punch off the bench, but he, like starting guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, could sign elsewhere in free agency this summer.
Each member of Milwaukee’s backcourt trio has a different contractual route out of town. Redick’s is the simplest, since his deal is up this summer, and he’ll be an unrestricted free agent. There have been indications that the team is prepared to offer him a five-year, $40MM contract to stick around.
Ellis can also elect to become an unrestricted free agent if he invokes the early-termination option on his contract to turn down the $11MM he’s due next season. Marc Stein of ESPN.com explained last night how there are conflicting opinions on which way he’ll go with that option.
Jennings is in the final year of his rookie-scale contract and is set for restricted free agency this summer. The Bucks can match any offer for Jennings as long as they extend him a one-year, $4.531MM qualifying offer, but Jennings has threatened to sign that qualifying offer, taking much less than market value in return for unrestricted free agency in 2014.
The Bucks have Bird rights for all three players, and they can give them all more money over more years than other teams can offer. Milwaukee has only about $30MM tied up for next season, and Ersan Ilyasova, in the first season of a five-year, $40MM contract, is their only major long-term commitment. The Bucks will have a potential extension for Larry Sanders to worry about this summer, but they appear to have plenty of payroll flexibility.
So, assuming Ellis invokes his option to get out of his deal, giving Milwaukee a decision to make regarding all three of its premier guards this summer, let us know which of them you think they should push to re-sign.
Which Guards Should The Bucks Re-Sign?
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Jennings and Redick 36% (259)
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Ellis and Redick 21% (148)
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All three — Brandon Jennings, J.J. Redick and Monta Ellis 18% (131)
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Jennings and Ellis 9% (64)
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Just Redick 7% (51)
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None of them 5% (33)
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Just Jennings 2% (17)
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Just Ellis 2% (12)
Total votes: 715
Stein’s Latest: Ibaka, Mavs, Bobby Brown, Raja Bell
After indulging in his love of soccer to make a cross-sport comparison of LeBron James and Lionel Messi, Marc Stein of ESPN.com delivers his usual assortment of juicy NBA rumors from around the league as part of his Weekend Dime. Here are the highlights:
- One NBA GM believes Serge Ibaka would have been worth a maximum-salary contract had he not signed a $49.4MM extension with the Thunder this past offseason. I took an early look this evening at some of this summer's rookie-scale extension candidates.
- The Mavs recently tried to free former NBA point guard Bobby Brown from his deal with Italian club Montepaschi Siena, but the potential buyout would have been too costly. Several teams have interest in Brown, 28, who's expected to return to the NBA next season. He's averaging 17.7 points and 4.4 assists this season in Italy.
- Raja Bell confirms, as we've heard, that he would have taken a buyout from the Jazz before the March 1st playoff eligibility deadline if he had an offer from another team already lined up, and that the Lakers' concerns about the luxury tax have precluded L.A. from signing him. He also said he's open to joining a team this season even though he wouldn't be eligible for the playoffs.
- Had the Nets held on to their first-round draft pick last year instead of trading it away in the Gerald Wallace deal, they likely would have passed on presumptive Rookie of the Year Damian Lillard in favor of Tyler Zeller, since they figured incumbent point guard Deron Williams would re-sign.
- Stein takes the Bulls to task for not making it clear that they're OK with Derrick Rose if he doesn't come back this season. Rose is angry that the perception that he's the only one holding up his return has been allowed to build. A source tells Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com that "a lot of people have to sign off" before he could come back.
Odds & Ends: Blatche, Suns, Wolves, Cavs, Lillard
Without Bird or even Early Bird rights, The Nets could be in a tricky situation if they want to re-sign Andray Blatche, whom Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors ranked among the best one-year contract signings this season. Blatche indicated to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News that he might make it easy on Brooklyn, since he'll still be drawing paychecks from his amnestied contract with the Wizards. "I’m very aware (of my unique situation)," Blatche said. "That’s what I’m saying. Everybody is probably thinking I’m looking to get that big check. I’m not. Not at all. I’m looking at what’s best for me."
Here's more from around the league on the one-year anniversary of the 2012 trade deadline:
- Wesley Johnson is headed for unrestricted free agency this summer after the Suns turned down his fourth-year option, but he tells Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic that he still views Phoenix as a "longtime place" for him.
- The Timberwolves seem content to carry 15 players for now, rather than applying for a hardship exception and adding a 16th man. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities reports that the team isn't interested in free agents like Donte Greene, Tony Gaffney, and Raja Bell.
- The Cavs want to see how rookie Dion Waiters handles minutes at point guard, so the team hasn't discussed adding another player at the position while Kyrie Irving misses the next three to four weeks with a sprained left shoulder, notes Jodie Valade of the Plain Dealer.
- Damian Lillard believes he's improved since he started playing alongside Eric Maynor, whom the Blazers acquired at the trade deadline, as Mike Tokito of The Oregonian observes.
- Thaddeus Young, who's on a deal that runs through 2016 with annual salaries under $10MM, is the Sixers player who'll draw the most trade inquiries from other teams, opines John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- The threat of a referendum on public funding for a new arena in Sacramento will have no impact on the city's bid to retain the Kings, sources tell Aaron Bruski of NBCSports.com (Twitter link).
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Early Look At Rookie-Scale Extension Candidates
With little more than a month to go before the final night of the regular season on April 17th, there's not much time left for soon-to-be free agents to make a final impression, and little chance for teams to evaluate their play, especially for guys who won't make the playoffs. The same is true for third-year players who'll be up for extensions on their rookie-scale contracts this summer. Since the deadline for those players and teams to agree to those extensions is at the end of October, right before next season begins, the former first-round picks will be judged on their resumes through the 2012/13 season. Many of last year's extension decisions came down to the wire, but ultimately teams committed more than $400MM to keep their key young players around long-term.
We'll look at these players more in-depth in our extension candidate series in the offseason, but here's an early look at the top candidates for rookie-scale extensions in 2013:
- Eric Bledsoe, Clippers — The Clips were wary of trading Bledsoe at the deadline in case Chris Paul bolts in free agency this summer. If Paul leaves, the fear that Bledsoe could sign a lucrative offer sheet elsewhere in the summer of 2014 could motivate L.A. to ensure it keeps at least one of its point guards long-term. Prediction: No extension, since Paul seems likely to stay.
- John Wall, Wizards — Washington has played better since his return from injury, and Wall's per-36-minute points and assist numbers are up for the second straight season. Still, his lack of an outside shot (six made three-pointers in the last two years) is a glaring weakness. The Wizards probably don't see him as a maximum-salary player, but they surely don't want to lose the former No. 1 overall pick for nothing if another team signs him to a fat offer sheet. Prediction: Four years, $42MM.
- Avery Bradley, Celtics — His defensive prowess doesn't show up well in statistics, but his numbers are up since Rajon Rondo went down with injury and he's one of the best young players on an aging Celtics team. He could draw an extension similar to fellow defensive stalwart Taj Gibson's four-year, $33MM package with the Bulls. Prediction: Four years, $35MM.
- Paul George, Pacers — The swingman picked the right time to make his first All-Star Game, emerging in the absence of Danny Granger. The Pacers have held steady despite Granger's absence and Roy Hibbert's regression. Indiana could get cold feet after committing so much money to Hibbert, and the habitually thrifty Pacers also have free agent David West to worry about this summer, but I don't think George slips through their fingers. Prediction: Four years, $50MM.
- Gordon Hayward, Jazz — He was removed from the starting lineup this season and is seeing fewer minutes than last year, but playing with the second unit has meant more shot opportunities and a significant uptick in scoring, from 11.8 PPG last season to 14.1 this year. His PER is up as well, to 16.9. That increased production is belied by a shooting percentage that's declined each of the past two years. Prediction: No extension.
- Derrick Favors, Jazz — Utah's decision not to trade either Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap means the team won't get an extended look at Favors as a starter. He's averaging 15.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per 36 minutes with a robust 17.7 PER, but it's unclear whether he'd be able to keep those numbers up if he actually received starter's minutes every night. Still, he represents a younger, cheaper option than either Jefferson or Millsap, and that value could be increased with a team-friendly extension. Prediction: Four years, $48MM.
- Larry Sanders, Bucks — Before the season, it seemed there was no way Sanders would get an extension, but his growth as a defensive anchor this season has put him on the map. He's leading the league with 3.2 blocks per game, but with the club's top three guards all potential free agents this summer and Ersan Ilyasova on a long-term deal, the frontcourt might not be a priority for Milwaukee. Prediction: No extension.
- DeMarcus Cousins, Kings — The future of the mercurial Cousins could be the hardest to predict, especially considering the equally tumultuous situation surrounding him in Sacramento. It seems likely new management will be in place for Sacramento/Seattle by the end of the summer, and they'll probably want to see how Cousins fits in under their watch before committing to him long-term. Talented centers are hard to come by, but a long-term deal with the wrong player can wreak havoc on a team's payroll. Prediction: No extension.
- Greg Monroe, Pistons — Monroe's agent, David Falk, said two weeks ago that his client was unlikely to sign an extension. That could simply be a negotiating ploy for a player who seems like one of the cornerstones of the Pistons' rebuilding effort, even as his per-36-minute numbers and shooting percentage have gone down this season. Perhaps Falk is trying to put pressure on the Pistons to increase any extension offer they might make after a down season for Monroe, but for now, we'll take Falk at his word. Prediction: No extension.
Draft Updates: Noel, Magic, Oladipo, Zeller
College basketball will take center stage for the next few weeks with the NCAA Tournament set to begin Tuesday. For NBA types, that means one final chance to evaluate a number of the top draft prospects in game action. Here are the latest draft-related dispatches we’re hearing:
- Despite a torn ACL, Kentucky center Nerlens Noel remains in line to be picked in the top five this June, and could still go No. 1. That speaks to the weakness in the upper echelon of this year’s draft class, according to an NBA front-office veteran who spoke to Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com. “He can be good defensively, but it’s not like he’s the next Bill Russell,” the executive said of Noel. “There’s another reason he’s staying that high in the draft.”
- The Magic are currently in line for the No. 2 overall selection, and Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel looks at five potential high lottery picks, projecting how their addition to the Magic would affect the team’s current roster.
- Following up on last week’s look at a few top college prospects who will miss the NCAA tournament, Chad Ford of ESPN.com has an Insider-only piece on others within the ESPN top 60 whose seasons are essentially over, noting that few scouts pay much attention to the NIT and other consolation events.
- An improved offensive showing this season is what has Victor Oladipo on a fast climb up draft boards, Howard-Cooper writes, projecting the Indiana swingman as a mid-lottery pick. That’s right around the range where teammate Cody Zeller, once thought of as a potential No. 1 pick, could wind up being drafted.
Kobe Bryant On Retirement, Dwight, Lakers
Kobe Bryant has been making plenty of headlines the past two days after injuring his ankle on his ill-fated final shot attempt in Wednesday's loss to the Hawks. The Black Mamba believed defender Dahntay Jones intentionally tried to put him in harm's way on the play, and the pair have since engaged in a back-and-forth through the media. The NBA jumped in the fray, announcing Thursday that Jones should have been called for a foul on the play. It appeared Bryant would have to miss tonight game against the Pacers, but even though Mike Trudell of Lakers.com called him "99% doubtful" for tonight, he announced just a few hours later that Bryant is in the starting lineup (Twitter links).
Bryant also spoke with Michael Wilbon for a Grantland Network video this week, and covered a litany of topics in the 20-plus-minute interview. HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy touched on a few of them in his piece, and we'll round up the highlights from Bryant's conversation with Wilbon here:
On retirement, which Bryant has frequently suggested could come in 2014:
"I’m not fooling myself thinking I’m going to be playing another five to 10 years. I mean, that’s just crazy."
On his post-retirement plans:
"I love working toward something, and I enjoy hearing people say I won’t be able retire gracefully. I enjoy that challenge. I do hear that a lot. I’m so stubborn and competitive, when I hear that, it makes me want to retire just to prove to them that I can retire gracefully. I’m going to win at something, whether it’s retiring gracefully or defeating father time. I’m going to win one of those things."
On Dwight Howard, a free agent this summer:
"(We) get along in the sense that we understand each other. We know what our responsibilities are to the team. Yeah, absolutely. It's not like, (if) you asked Dwight or you asked myself, we don't dislike each other at all. It's not like when Shaq and I were feuding, we didn't want to be around each other. For me and Dwight that's not the situation. It's not like we're best friends, either, but it's a good understanding, I think."
On the Lakers' unexpected struggles this season:
"I certainly didn't envision being this doggone tired at this point during the season, having to work this hard, but it is what it is. We didn't picture losing our head coach that early into the season, or having Steve go down with a freak fracture to his leg the second game of the season, Pau being out, all this stuff going on, we could have never envisioned it. The biggest part is that we all stuck together through the ups and downs, and now we find ourselves playing some good basketball."