Odds & Ends: Bledsoe, Paul, McDyess, Pacers
HoopsWorld's Eric Pincus examines the depth of the Clippers, and says that the team has received numerous inquiries about reserve point guard Eric Bledsoe. The Clippers won't consider moving Bledsoe until they sign Chris Paul to a long-term contract, Pincus hears, adding that most executives expect Paul, an unrestricted free agent next summer, to stay with the team. There's plenty of other news from around the Association on the first weekend of the regular season, so let's dive right in.
- We heard yesterday that Antonio McDyess is considering a comeback, but he has no interest in joining the Wolves, tweets Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News.
- In his third season, Lance Stephenson is finally making an impact for the Pacers as he receives minutes for the injured Danny Granger, writes Mark Montieth of Pacers.com. Montieth adds that Granger, who's out indefinitely, could face surgery on his sore left knee.
- Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com examines the options for the Warriors in the wake of Brandon Rush's season-ending injury, and mentions Mickael Pietrus, Maurice Evans, Josh Howard and Kenyon Martin as "free agent names arising" in case the team goes looking for a replacement.
- C.J. Watson drew interest from other teams that could have offered more money, but he decided to sign with the Nets on a minimum-salary deal instead, notes Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post.
- Jeff Teague is using the Hawks' decision not to extend his rookie-scale contract this week as motivation, but he isn't upset with the team, the point guard tells Lang Greene of HoopsWorld.
- In the same piece, Greene also checks in with Rockets swingman Daequan Cook, who's looking to prove his worth as a teammate after his inclusion in the James Harden trade caught him off guard.
- Neil Olshey took the Blazers' offer to become GM after owner Paul Allen put it on the table with the condition that Olshey was not to give the Clippers a chance to match, writes Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times.
- Trey Johnson, who spent 11 games with the Hornets last year, was close to signing with Angelico Biella, but it appears the deal is falling apart, Sportando's Emiliano Carchia reports.
Texas Notes: Sessions, Dominique Jones, Harden
All three Texas teams are better than .500 through three games, and the Spurs are the league's first team to go 3-0 this season. The addition of James Harden to the Rockets might give all three Lonestar State clubs a shot at the postseason this year, though last night's loss to the Blazers showed Houston still has some work to do, as we cover below in our roundup of items from the Texas Triangle.
- This summer, the Mavs strongly considered signing point guard Ramon Sessions, tweets Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Sessions wound up with the Bobcats instead.
- The Mavs declined their 2013/14 option for Dominique Jones and made multiple efforts to trade him within the last week or so, but last night Jones might have delivered the best performance of his career, as Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes.
- While Harden seemingly did it all in his first two outings, last night's signs of fatigue demonstrate why the Rockets have to find a complementary scorer, observes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Colleague Randy Harvey concurs.
- Undrafted Xavier point guard Tu Holloway, whom the Mavs waived right before training camp, has signed to play for Aliaga Petkim in Turkey, Sportando's Emiliano Carchia reports.
- As we noted earlier, the Rockets were the first team to contact the Thunder about Harden.
2012/13 Regular Season Roster Counts
We've been keeping up with the number of players on each team's roster during preseason, with separate posts for the East and West. As we move into the regular season, the numbers won't be moving quite so quickly, without the comings and goings of training camp invitees. Nonetheless, we'll consolidate the roster counts into a single post, with some updates and added information. This gives you an idea of a team's flexibility at a glance, so you can see whether a team has room to add one of the remaining free agents on the market without having to waive someone.
The total number of players on each team's roster is listed first, followed by the number of fully guaranteed contracts and, where applicable, the names of anyone on a partially guaranteed deal. For players on non-guaranteed contracts and details on the amounts of the partial guarantees, check out this post. If you notice any omissions, please let us know.
Updated 4-17-13
Atlantic Division
Celtics: 15
Knicks: 15
Nets: 15
Raptors: 15
Sixers: 15
Southeast Division
Bobcats: 15
Hawks: 15
Heat: 15
Magic: 14
Wizards: 15
Central Division
Bucks: 15
Bulls: 15
Cavaliers: 15
Pacers: 15
Pistons: 14
Southwest Division
Grizzlies: 15
Hornets: 15
Mavericks: 15
Rockets: 15
Spurs: 15
Northwest Division
Jazz: 15
Nuggets: 15
Thunder: 15
Timberwolves: 15
Trail Blazers:15
Pacific Division
Clippers: 15
Kings: 14
Lakers: 15
Suns: 15
Warriors: 15
ShamSports was used in the creation of this post.
Northwest Rumors: Harden, Thunder, Layden
If it weren't for the Lakers' 0-3 start, the Nuggets, also 0-3, might be getting a lot more attention. A trendy pick this season (Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors has the Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals over both the Lakers and the Thunder), Denver has struggled in its early East Coast trip, though the team might have scored a signature win against the Heat last night if not for Ray Allen's heroics. The Nuggets will be the last team to make their home debut this season, doing so Tuesday, so perhaps that will help them right the ship. Here's other weekend news on their Northwest Division rivals.
- Several teams reportedly had contact with the Thunder about James Harden prior to last week's trade, but Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio hears the Rockets, the last team standing, were also the first to get involved in discussions. Amico adds that the Cavs weren't in on the trade talks.
- In the same piece, Amico defends Thunder GM Sam Presti for making the trade, and believes the Thunder got just as much out of it as the Rockets did.
- Spurs assistant GM Scott Layden isn't upset he wasn't interviewed for the Jazz GM opening this summer, despite strong ties to the Utah organization, according to Jody Genessy of the Deseret News.
Lawrence On Joe Johnson, Hamilton, Sloan
We made note last night of Mitch Lawrence's theory that Mike D'Antoni, whom Lawrence hears is looking to get back into coaching in 2013/14, could be headed to the Rockets, but the New York Daily News scribe shares much more in his four-page weekly roundup. Here are the highlights.
- Rick Sund's decision to step down as Hawks GM this summer may have had an impact on at least two other teams, according to Lawrence. Sund was content to stand pat with the team's core, unlike his successor, Danny Ferry, who shipped Joe Johnson to the Nets quickly after taking the job. Without the Johnson trade, Deron Williams might have signed with the Mavs, opening the door for Dwight Howard to join him in Dallas.
- League revenues declined about $400MM in 2011/12 from the year before, a loss executives were counting on because of the lockout. Though the matter of advertising on jerseys was reportedly tabled at the last Board of Governors meeting, advertising patches will be on jerseys in two years, Lawrence reports, creating an estimated $100MM worth of revenue every season.
- The Bulls aren't finding takers for Richard Hamilton and his $5MM salary this season.
- We heard this summer that Jerry Sloan had removed his name from consideration for the Blazers head coaching job, but before he did, the team offered him the job, Lawrence hears.
Eastern Notes: Magic, Bobcats, Rasheed, Turner
The Magic will be without Hedo Turkoglu for at least four weeks because of a broken left hand, reports Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel, leaving them thin at small forward. That might suggest a move is in the offing, but as Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld observes, the team’s primary objective is to get better for the future, even if it means sacrificing the present. We’ll detail Kyler’s comments, as well as more from the Eastern Conference, right here.
- Orlando might not want to make a move at the trade deadline, but Kyler thinks the team has to, believing some of the Magic‘s contracts don’t fit the franchise’s long-term goals. He doesn’t foresee the team signing a major name next summer, either, and expects the front office to take a slow, deliberate approach to rebuilding (All four Twitter links).
- Kyler isn’t surprised the Bobcats passed on a rookie-scale extension for Gerald Henderson this week, saying the team prefers to keep the salary cap space open for free agents (Twitter link).
- Rasheed Wallace, with the Knicks on a non-guaranteed minimum-salary deal, said he’s OK with being the last man off the bench, notes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com. “Oh yeah, I accept my Brian Scalabrine role,” Wallace said. “I’m cool with it.”
- Former No. 2 overall draft pick Evan Turner will be eligible for a rookie-scale extension next summer, but he must work on his jumper if he hopes of receiving a deal similar to the extension the Sixers gave teammate Jrue Holiday this week, writes Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com.
Pacific Rumors: Rush, Warriors, Brown, Goudelock
The early signs didn’t appear positive after Brandon Rush suffered a gruesome injury last night, as Marcus Thompson II of the Bay Area News Group writes, and agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed the bad news, passing along word that Rush tore his ACL, tweets Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chroncle. Missing a significant amount of time figures to disrupt Rush’s plan to decline the $4MM option on the last year of his contract next summer. Rush was set on continuing his impressive play from last season and parlaying it into a longer, more lucrative contract in 2013, Thompson reveals. There’s more on what the next step could be for the Golden State, as well as other notes out of the Pacific this afternoon.
- The torn left ACL will keep Rush out for the season, according to Simmons, who suggests Josh Howard, Mickael Pietrus and Maurice Evans as possible replacements.
Earlier updates:
- The Warriors could request a $2MM disabled player exception if Rush is ruled out for the rest of the season, but fellow Bay Area News Group scribe Tim Kawakami points out the Warriors may pass on that option, since they’re already above the luxury tax threshold (Twitter link).
- It might be premature to suggest Mike Brown is on his way out of the Lakers coaching job, but Zach Harper of CBSSports.com notices that Brown is already showing signs of desperation.
- Former Lakers guard Andrew Goudelock was taken second in last night’s D-League draft, after JaJuan Johnson, but Ridiculous Upside’s Gino Pilato, in handing out draft grades for every D-League team, calls him “the best recent former NBA talent” in the draft.
- Suns rookie point guard Kendall Marshall doesn’t figure to see much playing time, and with practice time much less plentiful in the regular season than it was in training camp, he and assistant coach Lindsey Hunter are fitting in some one-on-one instruction, as Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic documents.
- Harper argues that while Clippers offer plenty of flash, their retooled offseason roster still has too many holes.
Undrafted Rookies On Opening-Night Rosters
A host of rookies are making their debuts this week, including several who not long ago seemed unlikely to do so. First-round picks are usually locks to make their teams, but second-rounders face a struggle, and undrafted players have the most daunting challenge of all, having to scrap just for training camp invitations, much less regular-season roster spots.
Several of the players on this list spent years developing overseas after they were passed over in their respective drafts, but a few who were left on the draft board this June managed to quickly overcome the snub and make it to the league for opening night. Many of them are on non-guaranteed deals, so their stays might not be permanent, but for now, they've made it to the big time.
The undrafted rookies are listed below by team, with their draft years in parentheses.
- Sixers: Maalik Wayns (2012)
- Hornets: Brian Roberts (2008)
- Knicks: Chris Copeland (2006), Pablo Prigioni (1999)
- Magic: DeQuan Jones (2012)
- Nets: Mirza Teletovic (2007)
- Pacers: Ben Hansbrough (2011)
- Pistons: Slava Kravstov (2009)
- Rockets: Scott Machado (2012)
- Suns: Diante Garrett (2011), Luke Zeller (2009)
- Timberwolves: Alexey Shved (2010)
- Warriors: Kent Bazemore (2012)
Marc Stein On Mike Brown, Josh Smith, Thunder
The start of the regular season means the return of Marc Stein's Weekend Dime feature on ESPN.com, and as usual, there are a few notable tidbits within the piece. Stein praises Lakers coach Mike Brown for his refusal to run from "ridiculously early" questions about his job security despite the specter of available names like Phil Jackson and Mike D'Antoni. In response to the notion of D'Antoni taking over the team, HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler calls it overreaction (Twitter link), which would seem to carry over to Jackson as well, especially considering the doubts about his desire to coach again. Here's more of what Stein had to say.
- Josh Smith is in the final season of his deal, worth $13.2MM this year, and he could represent an attractive trade chip. Stein nonetheless hears the Hawks will most likely hang on to Smith this year while retaining cap flexibility for what could be an active summer of 2013.
- One of the reasons why the Thunder traded James Harden is because the team is projected to pay, instead of receive, under the league's revenue-sharing model, despite playing in a small market.
- Seven coaches are in the final year of their contracts, including Larry Drew of the Hawks, Avery Johnson of the Nets, Vinny Del Negro of the Clippers, Lionel Hollins of the Grizzlies, Scott Skiles of the Bucks and Alvin Gentry of the Suns. Frank Vogel is the other member of that group, though the Pacers hold a team option on his deal for 2013/14.
Odds & Ends: Allen, Pistons, Jazz, Curry, Lawson
While most of the night's news has centered around extensions for a flurry of fourth-year players before the 11pm Central deadline, there's sure to be fallout over the lack of extensions for Brandon Jennings, Tyreke Evans and Jeff Teague, who will headline a class of 2013 restricted free agents that won't be as strong as first expected. In the meantime, there are plenty of other interesting tidbits from around the league.
- Before deciding on the Heat, Ray Allen was serious about joining the Clippers this summer, but believes the Clips thought he was using them as leverage, writes Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.
- Pistons owner Tom Gores, who won't rule out someday moving the team from the suburban Palace of Auburn Hills to a downtown venue, is anxious for his team to make the playoffs, but said the jobs of basketball operations president Joe Dumars and coach Lawrence Frank aren't necessarily riding on a postseason berth, as David Mayo of MLive.com observes.
- Jazz executive vice president Kevin O'Connor says the team structured its contracts so most of them would end after this season, Bill Oram of The Salt Lake Tribune reports.
- Grantland's Zach Lowe examines the extensions for Stephen Curry and Ty Lawson, believing the Warriors could trade Curry if he gets off to a fast start next season, while wondering if the Nuggets will make a cost-cutting move some time next year to fit Lawson's deal into their budget.
- Cavs forward Luke Walton, who played under Phil Jackson with the Lakers, believes his former coach won't return to the sidelines, according to Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio (Sulia link).
- Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson didn't dismiss the possibility that the team could re-sign Dominique Jones as an unrestricted free agent next summer after deciding against picking up his 2013/14 option, as Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News notes.