Ainge On Celtics, Bradley, Potential Moves
Last season, the Celtics were a game away from their third trip to the NBA Finals in five years, but now they're just treading water at 13-12. The slow start might be cause for alarm, though it's not the first time Boston has played mediocre ball over a significant stretch during its latest run of success. Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald believes it's clear that if team basketball president Danny Ainge engineers a roster move, it won't take place until after Avery Bradley returns. “The reason is because I like what I see out of individuals,” Ainge said. “I just don’t like what the whole team has been able to put together yet. So yeah, we need to be patient and see what we have when our whole team’s together.” Bradley said trainers are targeting January 2nd for his return. Bulpett revealed more from Ainge on his plans for the team, and we'll hit the highlights here.
On the need to make changes:
"I think that every year I feel like we’re constantly evaluating our team, but the danger comes when you feel like you need to do something. That’s just talk. What we need to do is progress. We don’t need to make a change. We need to get better. So between the players and the coaches and the management, we’re all working together to try to figure out how to get better."
On whether the team, as constituted, can succeed:
"I’m uncertain. I want to see more. I want to see more before I know. I’ve been uncertain the last few years, and they (the players) give me a lot of reason to be uncertain. But then they turn around and show what they’re made of and what they have inside of them. So I want to give it more time."
On the team's tendency to coast during the regular season:
"I’ve sensed that pattern over the last few years. At the same time, I feel like our players as people, especially our leaders, have this ability to have this incredible resolve, as we’ve seen in playoff basketball with this group. So I’m seeing that same thing right now. I just don’t see that resolve. I see really good effort to come out at the start of games, and you know, they’re into it. And then it goes away. It’s not just the bench, it’s not any one player. I just think it’s collective, and we’ve got to improve on that. I think that’s for every player."
D-League Moves: White, Copeland, Leuer
We’ll keep track of all the day’s D-League moves right here. As always, you can reference the season’s comings and goings with this post.
- The Knicks have assigned James White and Chris Copeland to the Erie BayHawks of the D-League for a second time this week, tweets Keith Schlosser of Knicks Journal. The pair of forwards went to Erie on Tuesday and were called back to New York yesterday in time for both to appear in the Knicks‘ victory over the Nets. Neither played in a game for the BayHawks, and the assignments are simply a measure to get the players more practice time, as Schlosser points out.
- The Cavaliers have recalled Jon Leuer from the D-League, the team announced. Leuer has appeared in six games, all starts, for the Canton Charge since he was assigned to the club two weeks ago. The 6’10” power forward notched 20.3 points and 12.3 rebounds per game and shot 54.5% during his D-League stint.
- Tyler Honeycutt was on the active list for the Kings in their win against the Warriors last night in his first game since returning from the league’s longest D-League stint of the season. Honeycutt was sent down November 7th, the first time an NBA player was assigned to a D-League squad in 2012/13. The 6’8″ small forward averaged 10.9 points and 9.6 rebounds in seven games with the Reno Big Horns.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Bradley, Collins, Copeland
Dave D'Alessandro of the Newark Star-Ledger takes Deron Williams to task for his recent criticism of the Nets offense, believing that if Williams has issues with coach Avery Johnson just as he did with longtime Jazz boss Jerry Sloan, the problem lies with the player, not the coaches. Nonetheless, Filip Bondy of the New York Daily News questions whether Johnson can keep his job amid the signs of friction with Williams and the team's slump. The Brooklyn honeymoon appears to have ended for the 13-12 Nets, and here's more on a few of their Atlantic Division rivals.
- While Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks are "the most disgruntled players of the bunch," Moke Hamilton of SNY.tv hears that Johnson is on solid footing with most of the Nets, including Williams.
Earlier updates:
- Avery Bradley, on the mend from surgery on both shoulders, said team trainers are targeting January 2nd for his return to the Celtics, notes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
- Celtics coach Doc Rivers had been planning to wait until Bradley came back to make a lineup switch, but he went ahead and made changes last night, and minimum-salary signee Jason Collins temporarily solved the team's need for an inside presence in his first start. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com has the story.
- Rookie Chris Copeland returned to the Knicks bench last night with Carmelo Anthony back in the lineup, but it's been quite a journey for the 28-year-old rookie, and Nate Taylor of The New York Times points out that assistant GM Allan Houston was the first within the team's front office to take notice of him.
- Tom Ziller of SB Nation provides his take on five players who would be better off if they were traded, suggesting Raptors power forward Amir Johnson would be a fit for the Spurs.
Trade Rumors: Gasol, Hawks, Bucks, Bobcats
The trade deadline is two months and one day away, and we'll be hearing a lot about trade candidates in the coming weeks. HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler provides an update on a few teams and players we're likely to hear more about soon.
- While Kyler believes it's "inevitable" the Lakers will trade Pau Gasol, he doesn't think there's much of a market for him, having heard there are only three or four teams in the mix. No one is offering a "home run" deal, and trading Gasol now would mean selling low. The Lakers would like to swap Gasol for a pair of players on less lucrative deals who would be better fits, but no such deal is out there at the moment. L.A. has a full roster with 15 players, and the team would like to open up a spot. Kyler speculates that the Lakers could move Jordan Hill, Devin Ebanks, Darius Morris or Darius Johnson-Odom for a second-round pick or a backup point guard.
- The Hawks want to trade some of their expiring contracts for a player who can help the team this season, but they won't make a deal unless it's an obvious win. They still want to have enough cap space to fit Dwight Howard or Chris Paul on the team, and with only about $18.5MM in commitments for next season, not including cap holds for free agents like Josh Smith, whom they're optimistic about re-signing and, according to Kyler, not planning to trade. The Hawks could probably add a player who helps now while maintaining enough flexibility this summer.
- We heard yesterday that the Bucks have told Brandon Jennings they'll match any offer he'll get in restricted free agency. That makes Monta Ellis the more likely to be traded among the team's pair of backcourt aces, but Kyler hears that there are teams with interest in both. If Milwaukee elects to hang on to Jennings and Ellis, it isn't worried about losing either in free agency.
- Everyone on the Bobcats is available in a trade, a source tells Kyler. That's not a shock, considering the team has lost 13 in a row, but Kyler cautions that Gerald Henderson probably won't be dealt unless it's as part of a package with others.
- While the Magic are open to sending J.J. Redick away in a deal that offloads other contracts, the team doesn't want to let him go, as GM Rob Hennigan and the revamped front office has become more fond of the veteran two-guard than they were at the beginning of the season.
- Kyler believes the Raptors must trade Jose Calderon to recoup value for him before he becomes a free agent next summer, and while it seems like Andrea Bargnani is headed out of Toronto, too, uncertainty about GM Bryan Colangelo's future is complicating potential deals.
- If the Jazz remain in the playoff picture, a deal is less likely, but if not, Utah will look to unload one of its big men for draft picks and players on rookie contracts.
Magic Rumors: Redick, Davis, Buyouts
Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel hears from scouts who say J.J. Redick is the Magic's best trade chip, but Schmitz doesn't think the team can get fair value back for him, and urges the Magic to re-sign him this summer, given his commitment to the club. The Sentinel columnist also passes along a few noteworthy rumors, and we'll round them up here.
- Redick tells David Baumann of Sports Talk Florida that he wouldn't be "blindsided" by a trade, though the team is reportedly in no rush to deal him (hat tip to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld). Redick also points out that since he's on a three-year deal, he's ineligible to sign an extension this season.
Earlier updates:
- Redick said that he and his wife love Orlando and that he remains committed to the team "as long as we're going the way we're going," which Schmitz interprets to mean that Redick is satisfied as long as the team is taking the necessary steps toward contention. Still, Redick said he'd have to "weigh" playing for a team already in the title picture if such a club makes him the right offer in free agency.
- The effect of last night's shoulder injury notwithstanding, scouts have told Schmitz that the improvement of Glen Davis has made Big Baby a more intriguing trade target. Davis is in the second year of a four-year, $25.7MM deal, but the 26-year-old is averaging career highs in nearly every category. A Davis trade would hurt the team now, Schmitz argues, but help the Magic down the road.
- The Magic aren't opposed to buyouts, according to Schmitz. Still, they're already on the hook for more than $4.56MM to three players — Quentin Richardson, Christian Eyenga and Justin Harper — who are no longer on the roster. My guess is that the Magic might be looking more closely at buyouts for Hedo Turkoglu and Al Harrington next summer, when their contracts become partially guaranteed, but that's just my speculation.
Antawn Jamison Confused About Role With Lakers
Antawn Jamison was in the starting lineup for the Lakers less than a week ago, but last night, coach Mike D'Antoni never brought him off the bench in a one-point win over the Bobcats. That's left Jamison puzzled about his suddenly shrinking role in L.A., he tells Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.
"I’m here to win a championship. If me not being out there improves our chances, then you have to roll with it. Of course I’m not excited about it. I want to compete. I know if I’m out there, I can contribute. But what else can you do?" the power forward said.
Jamison's signing of a one-year, minimum-salary deal in the offseason was one of the most surprising moves of the summer, since he could have been in line for much more after a season in which he was the second-leading scorer for the Cavs, at 17.2 points per game, and also the team's third-leading rebounder, notching 6.3 boards per contest. The former North Carolina Tar Heel will be a free agent again next summer, and he said that he'd like to play for the Bobcats at some point. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer wonders whether the Lakers might just trade him to Charlotte this season if they decide they don't have a use for him (Twitter link).
D'Antoni has been tinkering with his rotation quite a bit of late, and also handed out a DNP-CD to fellow power forward Jordan Hill last night, as Pau Gasol made his return to the lineup after sitting out to rest his knees. The coach said neither Jamison nor Hill did anything to deserve their lack of playing time, and that he's just trying to figure out how best to configure the team. Hill and Jamison have both been in the starting lineup at different points this season, with Hill having made his lone start of the season on the 11th against the Cavs.
Eastern Rumors: Jamison, Celtics, D-Will, Wall
Just three games separate the 10th-place Magic from the fourth-place Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings, so it could be quite a scramble for the last few playoff spots. In the meantime, here's what's making news for Eastern teams.
- Antawn Jamison called Bobcats basketball president Rod Higgins when he chose a one-year deal with the Lakers over signing with the Cats this summer, and the veteran power forward, who played his high school ball in the Queen City, won't rule out a return to Charlotte. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer provides detail. "If they still want me back home, I’d sure listen." he said. "I have another couple of years in this body. If they want me, I’d have no reservations about putting on a Bobcats uniform."
- As part of a chat that also touches on several draft prospects, Chad Ford of ESPN.com says the Celtics are high on Tyreke Evans, though they're not as enamored with the fourth-year guard as they were some time ago, when they were willing to trade Rajon Rondo for him. Ford isn't sure the C's possess what the Kings would want in a swap for their soon-to-be restricted free agent.
- The Celtics made moves in the offseason to improve their depth, but advanced statistics show they're not getting much production from anyone other than Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, as Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe highlights.
- Deron Williams blamed the media for putting too much credence into his comparison of the Nets' offense to the motion sets he ran with the Jazz, while Brooklyn coach Avery Johnson said he doesn't take Williams' comments personally. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News has the story.
- With John Wall believing his chances of returning to play soon are 50-50, Deron Snyder of The Washington Times argues the Wizards should just shut him down for the season if he isn't back in a month. That would give him ample time to heal, and there isn't much the Wizards can accomplish this season with or without him, Snyder believes.
Spears On Jennings, Daye, Smith
- The Bucks have told Brandon Jennings they'll match any offer he gets in restricted free agency next summer, according to Spears. Jennings is averaging career highs in assists and steals this season after the Bucks turned him down for an extension before the October 31st deadline. The point guard will be one of the gems of restricted free agency in the offseason, and even if a few teams might be scared off by Milwaukee's willingness to match, Jennings could be in line for a maximum offer. In any case, this news would seem to indicate the Bucks aren't looking to trade Jennings, but that's not necessarily set in stone.
- The Pistons are "actively shopping" Austin Daye, according to Spears. I think it would be difficult to find much of a market for the 24-year-old forward, who has appeared for a total of just 40 minutes in six games this season, and the 15th overall pick from 2009 hasn't done much to distinguish himself in four seasons with the Pistons, averaging 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game for his career. MLive.com's David Mayo notes that Daye is returning to the Pistons rotation, and it's possible the team could be making that move simply to try to showcase him.
- Sources tell Spears that Hawks GM Danny Ferry isn't interested in trading Josh Smith. This is in line with what we've heard so far about the mutual satisfaction between Atlanta and the athletic forward. Smith is making $13.2MM this season in the final year of his deal.
Offseason In Review Series
Since the regular season tipped off, Hoops Rumors has been looking back at how every NBA team fared in the offseason, recapping all of their moves and providing analysis. We've now gone through all 30 teams, and if you missed your favorite, or want to look at the league as a whole, a link to each Offseason in Review is below.
Southwest Division
Northwest Division
Pacific Division
Atlantic Division
Central Division
Southeast Division
Bucher On Granger, CP3, Raptors, Cavs, McGuire
Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game is covering the Warriors these days, but the former ESPN reporter still comes across plenty of leaguewide news, as he did with his story today on the Magic, who are in no hurry to trade J.J. Redick, as Bucher reports. He shared a few more tidbits in a chat for CSNBayArea.com, and we'll round up the highlights:
- The Pacers "desperately" want Paul George to emerge as their No. 1 option so they can trade Danny Granger, who's out for the first half of the season. The problem is George hasn't exactly distinguished himself as such this year. Many of his numbers are up, but that's partly because of his increased responsibilties with Granger out. George's field goal percentage is down, as are his win shares per 48 minutes, while his PER is up only slightly, to 16.7 from 16.5 last season. Granger is due about $13MM this year and $14MM for the final year of his deal in 2013/14.
- Executives on teams other than the Clippers have told Bucher that Chris Paul isn't as satisfied in L.A., or playing with Blake Griffin, as he seems, though Bucher isn't sure whether the executives might be spinning that information in the hopes Paul will turn his attention elsewhere in free agency next summer.
- The Raptors and Cavs are eager to make a trade, according to Bucher, who adds that he thinks at least one deal will get done either this month or next. Aside from that, most teams are playing it cool with still more than two months to go before the trade deadline.
- Dominic McGuire signed with the Hornets this weekend, but Bucher says he really wanted to go back to the Warriors, for whom he played last season. Golden State, off to a 16-8 start, is content with its roster, which is at the 15-player limit.