Sixers Notes: Young, Draft, Granger
Thaddeus Young just played one of the best games of his career a day after surviving an exodus of Sixers players at the trade deadline. The Sixers, shorthanded and already the losers of nine in a row, still lost the game and further increased their lottery odds for next year’s draft. Here’s more from the franchise that seems most committed to “tanking” this year for future trade-offs:
- Before the game, Young commented to reporters on the Sixers not trading him, including Tom Moore of Bucks County Courier Times (via Twitter). After a lot of speculation around his rumored dissatisfaction in Philadelphia and their willingness to move him, the 25-year-old power forward doesn’t sound necessarily upset, but still wants to play for a winner. “I was prepared to stay or go,” said Young. “I’ve always said I want to play on a winning team.” The question remains whether Philadelphia’s slew of assets can develop into anything close to a winning club by next year, when Young will be on the final year of his contract.
- Sixers GM Sam Hinkie stated the obvious to reporters, including Tom Moore of Bucks County Courier News, that he will try and turn the Sixers’ $26MM cap space, two first-round picks, and five second-round picks in the upcoming draft into premium players. “I think we’ll have a whole set of interesting opportunities in June,” Hinkie said. “We are focused on what matters, on trying to build something for Philadelphia, on trying to plant seeds and to put this program in a place that we can compete when it matters. We thought (Thursday) was yet another step in that process.”
- In the same piece, coach Brett Brown said “We have to be ruthless and get the right people here” in reference to the picks and cap room that took the place of Evan Turner, Spencer Hawes, and Lavoy Allen in deadline-day trades. Brown has previously said that the rebuilding process in Philadelphia has been more difficult than he anticipated.
- Brown also said that he too will talk to newly acquired Danny Granger. Hinkie said earlier that he wanted to meet with Granger before granting the 30-year-old’s buyout wishes, and Brown says he’d like “to sit down with (Granger) and see what he wants.”
Odds & Ends: Beaubois, Jordan, Paul
Chris Paul told reporters at All-Star Weekend that he isn’t sure if he would have stayed with New Orleans or left as a free agent had he not been traded to the Clippers in 2011, reports Ken Berger of CBS Sports. “I can’t answer that because I don’t know,” Paul said. “It’s crazy; what was that, three years ago? It’s almost scary to think how much smarter I am now than I was then. That’s one of those that I don’t know.” Here are some more notes to pass along:
- Rodrigue Beaubois will work out for the Grizzlies and Wizards late next week, a league source tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. The four-year veteran point guard is still just 25 years old, but he has struggled to live up to the high expectations many had for the 6’2″ speedster. Beaubois recently recovered from a third surgery to his left hand, a procedure that has kept him from signing anywhere as a free agent so far this season.
- Jerome Jordan is leaving the Italian league’s Virtus Bologna to join the Lebanese pro league, according to Il Corriere di Bologna (translation via Emiliano Carchia of Sportando). The 7-footer spent his lone NBA season with the Knicks in 2011/12.
- St. John’s has multiple pros on the roster this year, scouts tell Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv, but none of them should come out for the upcoming draft. Zagoria runs down why the scouts think Rysheed Jordan, JaKarr Sampson, Chris Obekpa and D’Angelo Harrison, would all be best served by spending at least another year in college.
D-League Notes: Jackson, Jones
While most eyes will be watching the NBA All-Star festivities this weekend, the D-League has its own All-Star events. The D-League All-Star game will take place in just over an hour. Here are some notes from around the D-League:
- Despite being one of the more NBA-ready prospects in the D-League, Pelicans rookie Pierre Jackson has contemplated signing overseas, he tells Matt Moore of CBS Sports. The 42nd overall pick in last year’s draft has excelled and earned a D-League All-Star spot this year, but the Pelicans hold his rights and haven’t added him to their NBA roster. “(Europe’s) on the back of my mind. My family needs the money. I need to provide for m family so whatever I have to do, I’ll have to. The NBA’s always been my dream, and I think I’m good enough to play there. But the way the cards are dealt, I may have to go overseas for my career.” After failing to reach a deal with New Orleans, Jackson requested a trade earlier this year.
- Terrence Jones says his time with the Rockets‘ D-League affiliate this year helped him on his way to having a breakout season, per Matt Moore of CBS Sports. “It just helped me out a lot,” says Jones. “Because when you’re not playing, being able to go down there and work on what you’ve been working on in practice and get your confidence up, it helps a ton.”
Cavs Notes: Deadline, Waiters
We should expect the Cavs to make a deal prior to Thursday’s trade deadline, according to Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer. Pluto says that interim GM David Griffin thinks the Cavs are primed to make up the three-game distance between them and the last playoff spot, and wants to convince owner Dan Gilbert that he should be the permanent GM. Here’s more from Pluto’s latest:
- The Cavs are trying to acquire a forward with 3-point shooting range, Pluto reports in the same piece. Shooting and floor spacing has remained a need since former GM Chris Grant struck out on adding free agents Kyle Korver and Mike Dunleavy this past offseason.
- The team believes second-year guard Dion Waiters is in the beginning stages of understanding the NBA game, leading Pluto to doubt he would be traded outside of a “monster deal.”
- Pluto says the Cavs are also in pursuit of another big, but thinks an Omer Asik deal is a “long shot,” and wouldn’t include Anderson Varejao.
- In an effort to build what was lacking in team chemistry earlier this season, Waiters and Kyrie Irving have been paired in constructive activities like an extra morning shootaround with an assistant coach, says Pluto.
Celtics GM Ainge Talks Trade Deadline
Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is staying in Boston during the All-Star festivities to work through the final week of Thursday’s trade deadline, along with many of his colleagues. He told Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald how the final days could shape up for the Celtics and the rest of the league. The whole interview is worth a read, and here are some of the highlights:
On what kind of deal the Celtics are looking for:
“We would do a deal to make our team better and use assets to get better right away. And we would also move veteran players to create flexibility and get draft picks. So we could go either way right now. But right now I think it’s a feeling-out process. I’m not talking about getting three wins better. I’m talking about being able to be significantly better next year.”
On the current landscape of buyers and sellers across the league:
“I don’t have a trading partner as of this moment. Right now there’s just a lot of people trying to feel out what everybody’s trying to accomplish. A lot of it is teams wanting to find out where everybody is in case there’s a chance to do a three- or four-team, multiple-team deal, in case there isn’t something that will work with just two teams. But I think everybody’s still trying to figure out what are the goals of each team going forward. And some teams don’t have as clear goals as other teams have.”
On the continued rumors of Rajon Rondo‘s availability, despite the team’s insistence to the contrary:
“I honestly haven’t paid that much attention to it. I’ve been asked those questions before, but I don’t know anything about those rumors. It’s all a little crazy.”
Mavs GM Nelson On Deadline, Draft, Free Agency
Mavs GM Donnie Nelson recently spoke with KRLD-FM 105.3 about the team’s season and the direction of the franchise. Nelson discussed the different trajectories the team could take in building a roster during Dirk Nowitzki‘s twilight years and beyond, the CBA’s effectiveness in creating parity in the league, the strong appeal for free agents to join the Mavs, and more. The complete the audio interview is worth a listen at CBS DFW. Here are some of the highlights, as transcribed by SportsDayDFW.com:
On the Mavs activity this trade deadline:
“We’re always looking for ways to improve. Now with that being said, all of the parts are pretty intricately in twined. To get you got to give and right now the team is looking good and we’re not looking for reasons to change, but if something presented itself, obviously we’ll look at it.”
On the possibility of losing a first round draft pick this year (the Mavs’ pick is owed to the Thunder, but top-20 protected through 2017):
“This year’s draft we’ve got Boston’s pick, which is going to be at the very top of the second (round), and with the depth of the draft, sometimes it’s as good as a first-round pick. We got the ability to take that and take our other second-round pick and certainly maneuver and move up. So if that comes to pass, it’s not the absolute worst thing in the world.”
On how the Mavs will operate leading up to the draft, regardless of their first round status:
We’ve always been aggressive during draft time and (owner Mark Cuban is) not opposed to do whatever it takes to do to make the team better — and we’re creative, as you know.”
Heat Notes: Deadline, Buyouts, LeBron
LeBron James was asked about the prospect of signing in Dallas if and when he becomes a free agent, presumably for the Mavs, and gave the tongue-in-cheek answer, “Think the Dallas Cowboys will take me?” per Ethan J. Skolnick of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). Here’s some of the more realistic news out of Miami:
- Ira Winderman of Sun Sentinel thinks that March 1 could be a more significant deadline for the Heat than the trade deadline on February 20, because that is the last date that players can be waived and remain eligible to play in the postseason. He notes that Chris Andersen was a significant buyout addition for Miami last year, and sees potential fits with NBA buyout candidates like Caron Butler, Chris Kaman, and Ben Gordon, as well as remaining free agents and players overseas.
- Winderman cites the Heat’s lack of expendable assets, their history of deadline inactivity during the big-three era, and tax concerns as barriers to any big moves in Miami.
- In the same piece, Winderman relays quotes from coach Erik Spoelstra on D-Leaguer Justin Hamilton. Hamilton was named a D-League All-Star while playing on the Heat’s affiliate in Sioux Falls, but Miami no longer holds his NBA rights. Said Spoelstra, “That’s what he needs to do, keep on playing well in the D-League and if it’s with us, great. If it’s somebody else, he just has to keep plugging away.”
Kevin Love Fields Questions About His Future
Kevin Love is starting in the All-Star Game for the first time tomorrow night, and like fellow All-Star Carmelo Anthony, questions about Love’s future are swirling with the heightened national attention. Sam Amick of USA Today explains how the Timberwolves’ struggles this season, combined with the reality that LeBron’s decision this summer will leave many teams looking for a plan-B savior, creates the “perfect storm” of speculation surrounding the double-double machine. At this point, Love doesn’t want to add any fuel to the fire, short of remaining non-committal to Minnesota for the long-term. Here’s how he responded to the media spotlight yesterday:
- Kevin Love told reporters he had nothing to say regarding his potential free agency in 2015, when he can decline his player option with the Timberwolves, reports Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune: “Anything I say is going to be a misconception or be some sort of a headline. To me, it’s silly. Yeah, sure, it’s brought up. It crosses my mind. In a way, I just try to put that aside and it’s just a question that’s always going to be brought up. Really, I would love not to talk about it and focus on winning right now with the Timberwolves.”
- When asked about the moves specific teams are already making to clear cap space that would accommodate a max contract for him in two years, he was hesitant to talk about those organizations, per Zgoda: “If I say Charlotte is a great city and I love spending some time there, then all of a sudden I’m going to Charlotte.”
- Love also said he’s not sure if he is prepared for the onslaught of questions that will only increase as his decision draws nearer, per Zgoda: “Oh wow, I don’t know if I’m prepared for it,” Love said. “That’s why you change your phone number, you go into hibernation and you come out when you want. It’s something to be asked. I’m not going to say I don’t mind it. It’s flattering that other teams want me. I like the team I’m at now. I just want to win.”
Odds & Ends: Cavs, Jackson, Gordon, Ennis
The Cavs have won four straight since firing former GM Chris Grant. One of interim GM David Griffin‘s priorities was to improve the rumored chaos in the Cleveland locker room according to Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (via Twitter). Amico says that Griffin told both Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters they would not be traded, and urged the team to have fun and avoid stress (Twitter link), which could explain some of the team’s sudden positivity. Here are the rest of the notes from around the league:
- Mark Jackson took some critical comments made earlier by Warriors owner Joe Lacob in stride, per Tim Kawakami of Bay Area News Group. Jackson said he “understands” why the owner is disappointed with the team’s performance, adding, with a laugh: “I stopped reading [Lacob’s comments]. I was getting depressed.”
- Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders said he wouldn’t be surprised if Ben Gordon wound up on the Suns before the upcoming trade deadline, in response to a tweeted question he received (Twitter link). This would fall in line with the Suns’ reported preference of landing a perimeter player.
- Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim doesn’t think consensus top-10 draft prospect Tyler Ennis will enter the draft this summer, per Seth Davis of SI.com. “I think he knows and his father knows that he’s a really good college player. He has to become a better shooter and get stronger to go to the next level,” said Boeheim. “He’d go in the first round, but look at the number of first-round picks who are already out of the league in the last two years. It’s a huge number.” (hat tip to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv)
- Representatives from the Bulls attended a Eurobasket game to get a look at Nolan Smith, per David Pick of Eurobasket.com. The 25-year-old point guard spent two years with the Blazers, and was expected to join the Celtics for training camp this summer before heading overseas. Smith has averaged 9.9 minutes per game in his NBA career, and declined in nearly every statistical category last year.
- Free agent Brian Cook is attempting to make an NBA return, according to a source for Shams Charania of RealGM.com (via Twitter). The 33-year-old has nine years of NBA experience, but he hasn’t played in the NBA since splitting time with the Clippers and Wizards in the 2011/12 season.
Raja Bell Announces NBA Retirement
After 12 NBA seasons and 774 combined regular-season and playoff games, Raja Bell has decided to officially retire from the league. Bell told Talkin Hoopz of his retirement in an exclusive interview.
At 37, Bell hasn’t played a game since the 2011/12 season with the Jazz. He had a falling out with coach Tyrone Corbin after that season, and the team eventually waived him after a lengthy standoff in the 2012/13 season. Bell had talked and worked out for NBA teams up through last offseason, but never landed another contract. While he was still looking for late season work last year, he says he’s past the point, physically, of answering the call.
“Earlier this year I shut it down. I’m 37, I have three boys, I do miss it, but physically it wasn’t realistic for me to keep training and keep putting my body through what I’ve been putting it through for the last 20 years,” Bell told Talkin Hoopz. “I’m enjoying retirement, and trying to find out what the next chapter is going to hold for me.”
Bell built a reputation as a great defender over a career that started as an undrafted free agent with the Sixers in 2000/01. Bell scored just shy of 7,000 points in his career for an average of 9.9 PPG, and was a career .406 shooter from three point range. His best years came with the Suns from 2005-2008, where he was named to the NBA All-Defensive First and Second Teams in consecutive years, while playing a major part in perennial playoff runs in Phoenix. Bell also spent time with the Mavericks, Bobcats, and Warriors.
According to Basketball-Reference, Bell earned approximately $36.6MM over the course of his NBA career.