Jamario Moon Lobbies For Spot On Hawks
Jamario Moon has been working out on his own in Atlanta, and told Lang Greene of HoopsWorld that he thinks he'd be a fit for the Hawks.
“Atlanta makes sense to me,” Moon said. “[Hawks GM] Danny [Ferry] was the general manager when I was playing for Cleveland and [Hawks assistant general manager] Wes Wilcox was there too. They already know me and what I bring. It just makes sense.”
The Hawks are thin at small forward, as Greene points out, citing a report from last month by Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that indicates Ferry is looking for a defensive-minded wing. Kyle Korver, James Anderson and Damion James appear to be Atlanta's only options at the three, unless coach Larry Drew wants to slide athletic power forward Josh Smith into that position. Anderson and James have non-guaranteed contracts, while Korver's $5MM deal is only guaranteed for $500K. With only 12 fully guaranteed deals, Moon would seem to have a strong chance of making the team if he garners an invitation to training camp.
The 6'8", 32-year-old Moon is a veteran of five NBA seasons. He joined the Bobcats for the final two weeks of the regular season last year after spending a dozen games in the D-League, and appeared in eight contests for Charlotte, averaging 2.3 points and 2.8 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game. His minimum-salary contract with the Bobcats covered 2012/13, but the season was non-guaranteed, and Charlotte waived him in July. As his Hoops Rumors page shows, we haven't heard about him drawing any interest since then.
Moon has also played with the Heat, Cavs and Clippers, but has yet to make nearly as much impact as he did with the Raptors, where he started 114 of the 132 games he played between 2007/08 and 2008/09, averaging 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds in 26.9 minutes per game. His 3.6 defensive win shares in 2007/08 led the team.
Western Notes: Nowitzki, Mavs, Hayward, Jazz
The Lakers have gotten the majority of the headlines in the Western Conference this summer, but there's been plenty going on elsewhere, especially this weekend. Raja Bell and the Jazz remain in a staredown over his buyout, while former Clippers big man Kenyon Martin, one of the key remaining free agents, continues to hold out for more than the minimum. Here's more from the Western Conference:
- Dirk Nowitzki says his knee feel fine, and despite the Mavs' failure to attract Deron Williams, he's upbeat about the team's roster this year, according to Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. "I think we have a good team again," he said. "I like all the new additions. I think we got younger on the perimeter, more atheltic and that was always our goal."
- Nowitzki singled out three of his new Mavs teammates for praise, saying, "[Chris] Kaman should be the best center offensively that I’ve ever played with in Dallas. [O.J.] Mayo is a big-time shot-maker that can also attack the basket and run some screen-and-rolls. [Darren] Collison is a fast guy who is going to push the pace. He’s great at penetrating and has a floater and creates shots."
- Gordon Hayward says he was glad to see the Jazz bring back Jeremy Evans on a three-year, $5.25MM deal this summer, and embraces the challenge he faces for a starting spot at either wing position, as he tells Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune. "You want to start for the team and you want to make sure you're the one out there on the court getting as many minutes as you can," Hayward said. "So, especially in training camp, there's going to be some competition going on. That'll just further benefit all of our games and make us better as a team."
Celtics Rumors: Fisher, Bibby, Barbosa, Pietrus
Keyon Dooling's retirement reduced the number of fully guaranteed contracts on the Celtics roster to 13. Though Dionte Christmas and Jamar Smith have small partial guarantees of $237K and $25K, respectively, the team appears to have the flexibility to add another free agent. They still possess their $1.957MM biannual exception, and with Dooling retired and Avery Bradley recovering from right shoulder surgery, they could be in the market for an experienced backup to point guard Rajon Rondo. In the meantime Jason Terry will serve in that capacity, according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com, who believes the former Mav will make the greatest contribution of all the new Celtics this year (Twitter links). Blakely unleashed a series of tweets full of notable Celtics rumors, and we've rounded them up here:
- While Dooling will be missed, Blakely doesn't think the team will go after Derek Fisher or Mike Bibby to replace him (Twitter links).
- Leandro Barbosa and Mickael Pietrus aren't likely to join the Celtics either, Blakely says (Twitter links). Barbosa has indicated a willingness to sign for the minimum with a contender, while Pietrus expressed an interest in returning to Boston, but for the biannual exception instead of the minimum.
- Darko Milicic, who signed a guaranteed one-year minimum deal, is a worthwhile gamble given his low price, Blakely thinks (Twitter link).
- The last we heard on Bradley's recovery was that it might keep him out until mid-December. Blakely says it's possible, although not likely, that he'll be back for the regular season opener, and believes Bradley will eventually retake the starting shooting guard job from Courtney Lee. (All Twitter links).
- Amongst the team's rookies, Jared Sullinger figures to get the most playing time, Blakely tweets.
- The Celtics have "a very good shot" at a championship, but it hinges on the team's health, Blakely opines (Twitter link).
- Kenyon Martin has been linked to the Celtics recently, but he'll require more than the minimum, according to Timberwolves assistant coach Bill Bayno, who says that's why his team isn't pursuing the big man, tweets Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500 radio.
Charania On Gibson, Thibodeau, Extensions
Mark Bartelstein, the agent for Taj Gibson, has been negotiating with Bulls GM Gar Forman about an extension for his client for most of the offseason, and Gibson and his camp are confident about getting a deal done before the October 31st extension deadline, reports Shams Charania of Real GM.com.
“Both sides have the same interests: They value Taj and Taj loves being a Bull,” Bartelstein said.“He hopes to stay in Chicago. Both sides want a long-term marriage.”
Bartelstein's comments are similar to what he said in a report yesterday by Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com. Sam also noted that the Bulls are high on Gibson, though the hefty contract of fellow power forward Carlos Boozer complicates matters.
As for Thibodeau, he and the Bulls continue to talk, but Charania hears no deal is imminent, as the Bulls are still haunted by the $4MM they had to pay off on Scott Skiles' contract after they fired him in 2007. There are whispers that owner Jerry Reinsdorf doesn't believe coaches make much of a difference, and some in the organization think Thibodeau performed poorly in the team's first-round loss to the Sixers this year.
Thibodeau is entering the final season of his deal after the Bulls picked up his option for 2012/13 a few months ago. Thibodeau and Gibson hae a strong relationship, as Charania writes, and Thibodeau has indicated Gibson will see more playing time this year.
Southeast Rumors: Heat, Dooling, Carter, Magic
The defending champion Heat have been in the news a lot over the summer, and today is no exception, as the agent for former Celtics guard Keyon Dooling denied a report that his client is reconsidering his decision to retire and wants to play with Miami. If that report were true, and Dooling wound up joining the Heat, it's safe to say the Boston-Miami rivalry would become the league's most intense, if it isn't already at that point. Ira Winderman points out that Udonis Haslem has already reached out to new teammate Ray Allen to smooth over any hard feelings that might have been lingering from Allen's time with the Celtics (Sulia link). While the Heat might look out of the Southeast Division for their chief rivalry, the rest of the division's teams would probably like nothing more than to score at least one win against the Heat this year. Here's the latest from the Southeast.
- Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida says he's received an email from Dooling that seconds his agent's denial of the report that he might come back (Sulia link). "No truth!'' Dooling wrote. "I will never play NBA ball again.''
Earlier updates:
- Amidst notes on the Raptors, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star reveals that the Magic interviewed former Toronto head man Butch Carter for the coaching job that wound up going to Jacque Vaughn.
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel, in the same report that links Dooling to the Heat, says some of the Magic's veterans, principally Al Harrington, will be on the trading block. He says the team will likely try to move Harrington at the deadline for an expiring contract, draft picks or both as it continues its rebuild.
- GM Rob Hennigan has also been retooling the Magic basketball operations department, as Schmitz writes in the same piece, having hired 23 new employees.
- HoopsWorld writers preview the Hawks, and while they conclude the team figures to be the second best in the division, Atlanta will remain in transition as GM Danny Ferry plots how to manage the financial flexibility he obtained this summer.
Latest On Raja Bell
A buyout continues to be the most likely next step for the Jazz and Raja Bell, but the situation remains "uncertain and unpredicatable," Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune reports (Twitter links). Bell could wind up in a trade, or might just spend the season on the roster without playing, Smith also tweets, as Lamar Odom and Jamaal Tinsley have done in the past.
The Jazz have considered trading Bell for a long time, according to Smith (Twitter link), and we heard recently that Bell's issues with the team date back two years. With training camp approaching, the time to get a deal done is dwindling, and while Smith says it's "almost unthinkable" Bell would suit up for the team this year, it has become a remote possibility (Twitter links). GM Dennis Lindsey, hired in August and a late comer to negotiations with Bell, declined comment to Smith on the matter (Twitter link).
Smith reported last week that buyout talks had stalled. Bell is set to make $3.48MM this season in the final year of a three-year, $9.72MM deal he signed with the team in 2010. The 36-year-old shooting guard has identified the Heat as his top choice if and when he can shake free from Utah. Six teams were reportedly interested in Bell back in July, shortly after it appeared a buyout was imminent, but most if not all of them have probably moved on to other targets. The trade market isn't active at the moment, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor said last night, so it appears that option might not be available at the moment.
Western Notes: Wolves, Suns, Akognon, Nash
Wolves owner Glen Taylor has had plenty to say of late, and while guaranteeing he'll be majority owner for the next two years to ESPN 1500 radio's Darren Wolfson, the owner also weighed in on the trade market. "Nobody is talking trade right now," Taylor said, adding that action should pick up once preseason begins. That could be interpreted as tough news for Anthony Tolliver, who'd like to return to the Wolves but has been unwilling to do so on the minimum-salary deal he'd have to take unless the team moved another of its contracts. While there hasn't been a trade since the Dwight Howard/Andrew Bynum blockbuster was finalized on August 10th, that certainly hasn't stemmed the flow of news, and we've got more from the West tonight:
- Lon Babby, president of basketball operations for the Suns, said the team "will not do anything dramatic at this point" to the roster in response to Channing Frye's season-ending heart ailment, as Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic tweets. There's no need for the Suns to seek a disabled player exception since they're more than $8MM below the cap.
- Guard Josh Akognon, who's set to join the Mavericks in training camp, is headed back to China if he doesn't make the regular season roster, reports Christopher Reina of RealGM.com. D.J. Mbenga has already agreed to go to the Mavs D-League affiliate if he's waived, but Akognon apparently wouldn't be joining him. Both are longshots to make the team, since Dallas already has 15 fully guaranteed contracts.
- Stephen Brotherston of HoopsWorld believes Steve Nash will have a greater impact on the Lakers than any other player changing teams this summer, and that includes new teammate Dwight Howard.
- Danny Green gave the Spurs more than eight times the value of his minimum-salary contract last season, according to advanced metrics compiled by Quixem Ramirez of Air Alamo. As Dan McCarney of the San Antonio Express-News points out, the Spurs had a host of players whose work exceeded their paychecks.
Clippers Add Gerald Madkins To Front Office
The Clippers have hired Gerald Madkins as director of basketball operations, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Madkins comes from the Hornets, where he was director of player personnel the last two seasons. Turner says Madkins will work alongside recently hired vice president of basketball operations Gary Sacks, though it's unclear exactly what role he'll play in the team's decision-making.
Prior to joining the Hornets, Madkins spent two years as director of scouting for the Rockets, and also worked in the scouting departments of the Sonics and Knicks. In all, his NBA experience totals 10 years. He played parts of three seasons with the Cavaliers and Warriors in the 1990s.
Sacks, the Clippers' former director of player personnel, was promoted to his current position earlier this month after spending the summer as part of a three-man management team that replaced GM Neil Olshey, who left to become Blazers GM in June. Sacks is believed to have been acting as de facto GM since his promotion, though coach Vinny Del Negro and team president Andy Roeser, the others in the management trio, still have voices in front office decision-making. Blake Griffin was vocal about his support for Sacks prior to the promotion.
Bulls Rumors: Pargo, White, Allen, Gibson
The Bulls find themselves in a pickle as training camp approaches, with a $73.55MM payroll that bumps up against a hard cap of $74.3MM invoked when they exceeded the taxpayer's mid-level exception to sign Kirk Hinrich. That gives them enough room for a rookie on a minimum-salary deal of $473,604, and they might be able to squeeze in a one-year vet at the $762,195 minimum, depending on the accuracy of their reported salaries. Aside from that, they'll have to get rid of one of their contracts to add anyone else to the regular season roster. The team could swing a trade or waive Nate Robinson and his partially guaranteed contract to find a place for Andre Emmett, a player with two years of experience who'll be in training camp on a non-guaranteed deal. Still, the team appears to continue to look around for additional free agent help, as Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com chronicles.
- Sam hears that free agents Jannero Pargo, D.J. White and Ryan Allen are joining many of the Bulls for voluntary workouts in Chicago leading up to the opening of camp. Allen is the brother of Grizzlies guard Tony Allen, and is a native of Chicago. Pargo is having discussions with a few NBA teams, as we heard yesterday, and White is reportedly drawing interest from multiple teams overseas.
- Taj Gibson indicated earlier this month that talks were under way about an extension, and agent Mark Bartelstein confirms that to Sam. "It's something we've been talking about for a while," Bartelstein said. "(GM) Gar (Forman) and I have been putting a lot of work in. Taj would love to be a Bull for a long time, there's no question about that."
- The Bulls place a high value on Gibson and privately "acknowledge he's a keeper," Sam writes, but the presence of Carlos Boozer, who has three years and $47.1MM left on his contract, at his position complicates matters. The Bulls have an October 31st deadline to extend Gibson and keep him from becoming a restricted free agent next summer.
Atlantic Links: Nets, DiLeo, Knicks
Mikhail Prokhorov had plenty to say about the Nets at today's ribbon-cutting ceremony for Barclays Center, the team's new arena in Brooklyn. We passed along his praise of GM Billy King and coach Avery Johnson earlier, and he also made it clear that he won't let the luxury tax stop him from the pursuit of a championship, as Stefan Bondy tweeted. The Nets are already well above the tax line for this season, but in coming years, when the tax penalties grow more severe under the terms of the CBA, we'll see just how far Prokhorov is willing to reach into his deep pockets to enhance his team. The Atlantic Division is full of big spenders, and we've got more on the Nets' rivals here:
- Tony DiLeo's experience and contributions to the deals that have shaped the Sixers, including the trade that brought Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia, make his promotion to GM a shrewd move for the team, argues Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com.
- HoopsWorld's Derek Page examines whether the moves the Knicks made this offseason are enough for them to show significant improvement this year.
- Former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy also weighed in on the Knicks, expressing doubts about the team's backcourt and the ability of its frontcourt pieces to mesh to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. He also lauded the Heat's acquisitions of Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, and picks Miami to repeat.