Bobcats, Knicks, Bulls Interested In Josh Howard
THURSDAY, 8:31am: Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer classifies the Bobcats' interest in Howard as no more than "exploratory" at the moment.
WEDNESDAY, 6:18pm: It's a little surprising that Josh Howard remains on the free agent market this late in the offseason, considering the 32-year-old former All-Star started three out of four playoff games for the Jazz this spring. Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports hears that Howard, a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., has been working out with the Bobcats this week, and is also drawing interest from the Knicks and Bulls (Twitter link).
Aside from the draft, the Bobcats have done little to upgrade the roster that compiled the league's all-time worst winning percentage last season, with Ramon Sessions as the team's only veteran signee. They have about $2MM in cap room available, so Howard's salary could fit into that space. The Knicks would only be able to offer the veteran's minimum, which for Howard, a nine-year vet, would be about $1.229MM. The Bulls seem the unlikeliest team of the three to land Howard, since the team is under a hard cap this year and doesn't even have room to add anyone at the minimum. They'd have to swing a trade to free up the space to bring Howard aboard.
Injuries have plagued Howard after the Mavs traded him to the Wizards midway through the 2009/10 season. He's played in only 65 regular season games since, and averaged 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 23.0 minutes per game last season, with a 10.5 PER. Those numbers are well off his career highs of 19.9 PPG, 7.0 RPG and 36.3 MPG, all established in 2007/08.
Odds & Ends: Pacers, Patterson, Evans, Lakers
This year's Hall of Fame induction takes place a week from Saturday, and as Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com writes, the list of presenters, led by Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, threatens to overshadow the inductees, headlined by Reggie Miller. The figures who'll be enshrined are not without their accomplishments, however, and among them is Don Nelson, the NBA's all-time winningest coach. Nelson recently spoke about a missed opportunity to take over as coach of the Celtics in 1983, the origins of his trademark small-ball style, and how his relationship with Sarunas Marciulionis changed the way he coached. Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com has the details, and we've got more from around the Association:
- The Pacers promoted Peter Dinwiddie, the team's director of basketball administration, vice president of basketball operations, the Associated Press reports (via ESPN.com). Dinwiddie will assist GM Kevin Pritchard and team president Donnie Walsh.
- Rockets power forward Patrick Patterson says he's ready to assume a leadership role for the team after all the roster turnover this offseason, and talks about the influence of Luis Scola with Jason Friedman of Rockets.com.
- SheridanHoops.com founder Chris Sheridan believes the development of Isaiah Thomas and the signing of Aaron Brooks signal that Tyreke Evans and the Kings will soon part ways.
- The Lakers' acquisition of Dwight Howard has been the story of the summer, but if his back won't allow him to start the season on time, the team will have some lineup shuffling to do, writes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Times.
- Blazers Wesley Matthews and Elliot Williams, who have both spent the summer recovering from injuries, are ready to go for training camp, notes Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge.
- Former first-round draft choice Reece Gaines has given up his pursuit of a return to the NBA and will be an assistant coach at Bellarmine University, an NCAA Division II school, Michael Grant of the Courier-Journal reports. Gaines was the 15th overall pick of the 2003 draft by the Magic, but appeared in only 71 NBA games, the last of which was in 2005/06 with the Bucks.
What Was The Best Minimum Salary Signing?
Players generally see the minimum salary as a last resort, but sometimes quality contributors will take a voluntary paycut if they're especially eager to join a team that's short on available cash. Usually these teams are contenders who get an added boost from a title-hungry player who goes down as a bargain, but sometimes a player just thinks a certain team is the right fit, and is willing to give up a chance for better money elsewhere.
There have already been dozens of minimum salary signings, with plenty more surely to come. Let us know which of these players below is the best minimum salary signing of the offseason. If you have someone else in mind, vote for that option and let us know who it is in the comments.
What Was The Best Minimum Salary Signing?
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Antawn Jamison, Lakers 68% (728)
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Rashard Lewis, Heat 12% (132)
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Ronnie Brewer, Knicks 10% (107)
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Delonte West, Mavericks 7% (72)
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Someone Else 3% (31)
Total votes: 1,070
Veterans On Rookie Scale Contracts
The term "rookie scale" is something of a misnomer, since a player can still be on his rookie scale contract during his fourth year in the league. They're the standard, fixed contracts teams give to first-round picks, and they're generally team-friendly, with team options included in the third and fourth years. Since 30 new first-round picks enter the league every year, save for a couple who sign overseas, there are quite a few players on rookie scale deals. Every team has at least one, except the Lakers. The Wizards have the most, with six, and that doesn't include Bradley Beal, their first-round pick from June. For more on how rookie scale contracts work, check out our Hoops Rumors Glossary entry.
We've listed all the veterans on rookie scale contracts here, by team, along with the last season of the deal in parentheses. The list doesn't include Blake Griffin and Serge Ibaka, who are still on rookie contracts for 2012/13, but who have signed extensions that will kick in the following season.
Damion James Close To Decision On Signing
Small forward Damion James has one more team visit lined up, and will make a decision on where to sign by the end of the weekend, agent Mark Bartelstein tells Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). James has spent all of his brief two-year NBA career with the Nets after they acquired him from the Hawks the night Atlanta drafted him 24th overall from the University of Texas.
Fred Kerber of the New York Post speculated that James is among the small forwards the Nets could consider now that their signing of Donte Greene is on hold, and fellow New York Post scribe Tim Bontemps reported back in July that the Nets were eyeing James. If the Nets bring back James, it would be on a minimum salary deal, since the team renounced his free agent rights after declining the third-year option on his rookie scale contract.
There's been little talk about James this summer, so it seems likely he'd command no more than the minimum wherever he signs. James had his rookie season cut short after 25 games because of a broken foot, and after starting the first seven games of the season last year, he aggravated the injury and was out for the rest of 2011/12. The 6'7" James has averaged 4.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 17.9 minutes in 32 career games, 16 of them starts.
Kendall Marshall On Suns, Nash, Dragic, Tar Heels
The Suns have consistently employed some of the league's best point guards over the last 25 years, with Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd and Steve Nash among the perennial All-Stars the team has had at the position. They signed Goran Dragic this summer to replace Nash, but the future may lie with Kendall Marshall, whom Phoenix took 12th overall in June. The former North Carolina Tar Heel spoke with Dylan Murphy of Dime magazine and shared his thoughts about the Suns' offseason moves, missing out on the chance to play with Nash, backing up Dragic, and more. Here are a few of the highlights:
On the Suns' pursuit of Eric Gordon this summer and rumors connecting them to James Harden next year:
"Well they want to win, and that’s why I think it’s a great organization to be a part of. They’re going to do what it takes to get to that next level."
Whether he regrets not getting the chance to play with Nash:
"I won’t say regret, but I was looking forward to the opportunity. You know he’s a great player, I feel like I really could have learned a lot from him. But you can also learn a lot from playing against him. We get to see him four times, that’s also exciting."
About Suns coach Alvin Gentry's fast-paced system and how he feels about coming off the bench behind Dragic:
"That’s what I’m most excited about, the up-tempo offense. I feel like getting up and down with the pieces we have on our team, we can really play to our strength. As far as playing time goes, starting or coming off the bench, that’s all up to the coach. He’s going to do what’s best for the team."
On the three other Tar Heels selected in the first round (Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson) and the timing of their decisions to turn pro:
This started last year, when Z, John and H were all contemplating whether they were leaving or not. I was praying that they would stay for one more (year). I think that the lockout helped with their decision to come back, especially knowing that we were going to have a great team. With this year, we felt like, we tried that once. Let’s chase more dreams and goals that we had.
International Moves: Songaila, Woods, Armstrong
Many of the overseas leagues begin their seasons about a month earlier than the NBA does, meaning international training camps are getting under way. Some of the player movement involves guys with NBA ties, and we'll round up all today's international news here, with the latest on top:
- Darius Songaila has signed with BC Donetsk in the Ukraine, according to the team website (translation via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando). Songaila, an eight-year NBA veteran, had expressed an interest in returning to the NBA after a strong performance with the Lithuanian Olympic team, but he apparently won't be coming back this year.
- Former first-round draft pick Qyntel Woods confirmed via Twitter that he's heading to Lagun Aro of Spain, Carchia reports. Woods was taken 21st overall by the Blazers in 2002, and spent parts of four seasons in the NBA with Portland, the Heat and the Knicks.
- Hilton Armstrong wants to return to the NBA, but is drawing interest from Panathinaikos of Greece, a source tells Carchia. The 12th overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Hornets, Armstrong hasn't played in the NBA since a 12-game stint with the Hawks in 2010/11.
- We heard last night that guard Sergio Llull is content to remain with Real Madrid in Spain, and the Spanish website Marca.com reports the team has offered him a six-year contract with an option for a seventh season (translation via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando). It's not clear whether the contract would include a clause that would allow him to sign at any point with the Rockets, who hold his NBA rights.
Clippers Looking At Marqus Blakely
The Clippers brought in 6'5" forward Marqus Blakely for a workout last week and are considering signing him, a source told Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Blakely was in camp with the Clippers in 2010 and the Rockets last year, but has yet to make his official NBA debut. He split time last season between a pair of D-League teams as well as a club in the Philippines.
The undrafted University of Vermont product averaged 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and put up a PER of 19.3 over a combined 35 games with the D-League's Iowa Energy and Sioux Falls Skyforce last season. With B-Meg Llamados in the Philippines, he averaged 24.7 PPG and 13.2 RPG in 13 games.
If he signs with the Clippers, it would likely be a non-guaranteed, minimum-salary deal, but he would figure to stand a decent chance at making the roster, since the team only has 13 fully guaranteed contracts for 2012/13.
Wolves Rumors: Tolliver, Blatche, Okur, Andersen
We've heard a few dispatches about Wolves GM David Kahn's pursuit of an additional big man in recent days, and Darren Wolfson provides further detail on 1500ESPN.com. We've got the highlights here:
- Though earlier reports seemed to indicate the Wolves weren't seeking to trade for a big man, Wolfson hears the team has asked Anthony Tolliver to be patient as the team seeks a trade to free up more cap room. Tolliver's agent has said his client is not interested in the minimum salary, which is all the Minnesota has to offer free agents. Even though Tolliver has been with the Wolves the past two seasons, the team renounced his Early Bird rights earlier in the summer to clear room for Nicolas Batum's offer sheet. Tolliver is reportedly in "constant contact" with a handful of teams, including the Wolves.
- We heard yesterday that Andray Blatche and Hassan Whiteside worked out in front of a Wolves scout, and according to Wolfson, Blatche is "said to be open" to signing for the veteran's minimum.
- Mehmet Okur is a "long shot" to sign with Minnesota, a source close to Okur tells Wolfson. The 6'11" outside marksman is seeking more than the minimum.
- Wolfson reported last week that Josh Harrellson isn't in the Wolves' plans because the 6'10" former Knick doesn't possess the requisite length. Chris Andersen, who's the same height, apparently possesses a wingspan that fits what Kahn and company are looking for, but the Wolves aren't considering him, either.
Kings Not Involved In Virginia Beach Arena Talks
Comcast-Spectator president Peter Luukko on Tuesday told the Virginia Beach City Council that his company has not spoken with the Kings about plans for a new arena, reports Ryan Lillis of the Sacramento Bee. The media company has met with NBA and NHL officials to let them know they are trying to get an arena built in the city, Luukko said, but few other details about the plan emerged in Tuesday's meeting.
Comcast-Spectator would lease and manage the arena for 25 years should an NBA or NHL team commit to playing there, according to the Philadelphia Daily News. The arena would be built on city-owned land and could open as soon as 2015. Virginia Beach director of economic development Warren Harris said he, like Luukko, has met with NBA and NHL officials, and they've told him the city would become an attractive destination for teams if an arena were in place, according to the Daily News.
Lillis says Luukko and city officials didn't specify the cost of the arena or who would pay for it, though according to George Warren of News10.net, the estimated price tag is $350MM. No developer is a part of the plan. There was talk of letting the public vote on whether to build the arena, Lillis writes, which would present another hurdle to its completion.
Four of the 11 council members had comments about the arena Tuesday, and two of those four were critical of the plan, according to Lillis.
The Kings sent an email to their sponsors last week, distancing themselves from rumors that the team was considering a move to Virginia Beach. According to Lillis, part of the email read, "Any information you have heard connecting the Maloofs, the Kings, and the city of Virginia Beach are false and have no validity. The City Council in Virginia Beach and Comcast have both publicly acknowledged that they have not spoken to the Maloofs or anyone from the Kings organization or any NBA officials and rather are in discussions to create a new facility that could accommodate either an NHL or NBA team down the road."