Heat Re-Sign Gladness To 10-Day Contract
After clearing the 48-hour waiver window, the Heat have re-signed center Mickell Gladness to a ten-day contract.
According to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, who broke the story via Twitter, Gladness can be signed to up to two 10-day contracts (they don't have to be consecutive), after which he must be signed for the entire season or released. Gladness, 25, made his NBA debut with the Heat in December and is currently averaging 1.3 RPG in limited action this season. The former Alabama A&M star has spent most of his career in the NBA Developmental League having averaged 4.5 PPG and 3.7 RPG with the Dakota Wizards and the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 77 games.
One player who should be happy to see Gladness return to the Heat is Terrel Harris, who was known to eat dinner on the road with his fellow rookie.
Knicks Notes: Lin, Stoudemire
With his legs feeling heavier than Shaq after a Krispy Kreme donut binge, Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin willed his team to a 100-98 road win over the Timberwolves on Saturday night. Lin managed to score 20 points for a fifth straight game but shot only 8-24 and had six turnovers for a second consecutive game. Let's take a look at some Knicks-related news as the team has two days off before heading to Toronto to take on the Raptors.
- Mike Monroe of Spurs Nation named Lin to his All-Undrafted Team after the second-year player out of Harvard averaged 28.5 PPG during four games last week. While Monroe concedes no undrafted player in the history of the NBA had ever enjoyed a week on the level of Lin's, his ability to get the basket with such ease will become more difficult as teams adjust to his style of play. Over the long haul, Knicks fans should expect a level of play similar to an Avery Johnson-type player rather than one who will challenge for MVP awards.
- Yao Ming and Lin have forged a friendship in which Lin chats with Yao via text message after every game for advice and support, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. The two pals even go out to dinner together whenever they are in the same city. The friendship, however, almost became business related when Yao tried to bring Lin, 23, to China to play for his Shanghai Sharks during the NBA lockout.
- Amare Stoudemire undertook the arduous task of eulogizing the life of his older brother on Saturday, says Kevin Kernan of the New York Post. The emotional Stoudemire was supported by numerous members of the Knicks organization including injured stars Carmelo Anthony and Baron Davis. Stoudemire, 29, is expected to return to the Knicks lineup on Tuesday with hopes of securing a sixth straight victory for the team.
Lakers Notes: Iverson, Alston, Fisher
Currently in second place in the Pacific Division, the Lakers are 2-3 on their six-game, 10-day Grammy road trip. Ever since the Grammy Award ceremonies started being held at the Staples Center in 2004, the Lakers have been forced to take a lengthy road trip at this point of the season each year. Here's a look at some Lakers-related items as the team heads to Toronto this afternoon to conclude their road trip against the Raptors.
- ESPN's Stephen A. Smith says there was conversation between Allen Iverson and the Lakers about a possible contract offer. Terms of the deal would have required Iverson, 36, to spend time in the NBA Developmental League before joining the Lakers. Smith suggests signing Iverson would be a mistake given the fact that he is simply not a point guard.
- Rafer Alston, more of a true point guard than Iverson, was recently signed to the Los Angeles D-Fenders, the Lakers' NBA Developmental League affiliate. Smith contends Alston and the Lakers have talked about promoting the 35-year-old former Rockets guard to the parent club at some point in the future. There is no timeline in place for the move, however.
- Patrick Ewing points to Derek Fisher's NBA lockout duties as a cause for his poor performance thus far this season, says Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News. Ewing speaks from experience as he previously served as the president of the Players Association and believe his Achilles problems during the '98/'99 season stemmed from spending too much time talking and not enough time working out. Fisher, 37, is currently averaging 5.2 PPG, his lowest output since his rookie year.
Odds & Ends: Lin, Billups, Williams, Kaman
Lakers star Kobe Bryant eclipsed former teammate Shaquille O'Neal as the fifth all-time leading scorer in NBA history as he put up 28 points in a 95-90 loss to the 76ers. Personal records aside, Kobe's main focus remains on securing a sixth championship ring which is becoming increasingly difficult as the Lakers dropped to 14-11 on the season, with nine of those losses coming on the road. Let's take a look around the league on what was a busy Monday night for the NBA.
- Jeremy Lin scored 28 points in his first start for the Knicks this evening in a 99-88 victory over the Utah Jazz. Lin, 23, wouldn't have even received this opportunity if Baron Davis' recovery had stayed on track, tweets NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper. With his strong performances of late, Lin is nearly assured of his contract becoming guaranteed on Friday.
- Isiah Thomas' career came to an end thanks to an Achilles injury against Orlando back in 1994, says Pistons beat writer Vincent Goodwill (via Twitter). A similar fate may hold true for Chauncey Billups who left Monday's game against the Magic in the fourth quarter with what may be a left Achilles tear.
- If Billups' injury turns out to be as severe as predicted, Clippers GM Neil Olshey should be commended for his decision to not shop Mo Williams even when his team's roster was overloaded with point guards.
- Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune describes the Hornets' decision to return Chris Kaman to the active roster as a way to build a highlight-reel in order to improve trade offers. In his first game back with the Hornets, Kaman, 29, scored 10 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and made two blocks in a 100-92 loss to the Kings.
Amnesty Clause Victims: Where Are They Now?
Prior to the start of the 2011/2012 NBA season, the league ratified a new CBA under which teams could rid themselves of a bad player contract. The amnesty clause allows for teams to waive one player's contract and not have it count against the cap nor pay any luxury tax on that salary. According to the CBA, the amnesty clause may be used one time on a player signed prior to the 2011/2012 season. Teams were not forced to use the clause before the start of the current season as the proverbial "get out of jail free" card remains in play through the 2015/2016 campaign.
Let's check in and see where the players who were amnestied back in December are now:
- Baron Davis: The former UCLA star was amnestied by the Cavaliers, acquired by the Knicks and has not played yet this season due to injury.
- Chauncey Billups: After being sent to New York in the Carmelo Anthony trade, Billups was later amnestied by the Knicks, acquired by the Clippers and is currently averaging 14.8 PPG and 4.1 APG.
- Charlie Bell: Bell is currently playing in the Lega Basket Serie A with the Pepsi Caserta after being amnestied by the Warriors.
- James Posey: The former Heat small forward was amnestied by the Pacers and is currently a free agent.
- Gilbert Arenas: Hibachi was amnestied by the Magic and will be hosting an open workout in Los Angeles later this week with hopes of securing an NBA contract.
- Travis Outlaw: The former Starkville High School graduate was amnestied by the Nets, later acquired by the Kings where he is averaging 3.1 PPG and 1.5 RPG in limited minutes.
- Brandon Roy: With injuries making his contract an untenable situation for the Trail Blazers, Portland amnestied Roy, leading to his retirement.
Knicks Notes: Anthony, Davis, Stoudemire
With 15 points, eight assists and two steals three quarters into his first start as a Knick, Jeremy Lin is making a strong case to cool some of the point guard trade rumors surrounding Madison Square Garden. Beyond Lin, the uncertain state of the Knicks roster has occupied NBA conversation in the wake of new and old health concerns as well as personal tragedy.
Here are a few evening items on the Knicks as they lead the Utah Jazz 75-73 through three quarters of play:
- Already limited by Amare Stoudemire's untimely departure from the team, the Knicks lost All-Star starter Carmelo Anthony early in the first quarter to a strained groin, reports ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley. Anthony will not return to the game and may require the Knicks to scour the D-League for frontcourt help.
- Baron Davis is not expected to join the Knicks until after the All-Star break (Feb. 24-27) thanks to an elbow infection, writes Matt Buser of Yahoo! Sports. If newly-minted starter Lin cannot build on his breakout performance of Saturday night, the Knicks could look to sign a point guard to a 10-day contract, which teams can now offer free agents as of today.
- Reeling from the loss of his brother in a traffic accident earlier this morning, Stoudemire's status with the team remains unknown as he flew to Florida to be with his family, says Newsday's Al Iannazzone. With three more games this week, the Knicks will start Jared Jeffries at power forward, who may be able to boost his trade value as he currently has 13 points and seven rebounds through three quarters this evening.
Modest Proposal: Nash To Lakers
The Lakers must acquire a high-energy player to help complement Kobe Bryant and strengthen the middling point guard position in order to make a run in the playoffs this season. With Steve Blake's health still an uncertainty and Derek Fisher managing a paltry 5.3 PPG, the Lakers have put out feelers across the league in hopes of finding the right piece to help bolster their 14-10 squad. Earlier this evening, ESPN NBA Insider Chris Palmer suggested a trade (via Twitter) that would send Suns point guard Steve Nash in exchange for Fisher and Metta World Peace.
Let's take a look at what ESPN's Trade Machine has to say about this prospective deal:
In trading Fisher, 37, and World Peace, 32, to the Suns, the Lakers would project to improve by 10 wins, a hefty boost that would seemingly vault them to the top of the Western Conference. While the Trade Machine's prediction for a Steve Nash-led Lakers team sounds a bit optimistic, one must look to the success Nash, 38 on Tuesday, is currently enjoying in his 16th NBA season. Nash's minutes are slightly down (31.1 MPG) while his FG% would mark a career-high (.545), which along with his 14.5 PPG and 9.9 APG point to an overall strong season for the former first-round pick out of Santa Clara.
Among the many differences between Nash and Fisher running the point would be Nash's ability to distribute the ball while also being able to knock down a shot at a high frequency especially when a play does not materialize. Kobe's chase toward matching Michael Jordan's six championship rings would become more of a realistic goal this season upon the arrival of Nash as Bryant could decrease his minutes (38 MPG) to a more manageable level. Needless to say, Nash's overall impact may be felt most in the continued development of rising star Andrew Bynum, who was recently named an All-Star starter thanks to his 17 PPG and 12 RPG.
So far the trade looks great, but let's be honest, we've yet to consider how the Suns would fare in giving up a former two-time league MVP in Nash. The Suns front office has conceded that they are willing to deal Nash to a contender if he approached them with such a request. At 9-14, the Suns are clearly heading toward a rebuilding phase in the post-Nash era, which would become muddled with the addition of the aging Fisher and World Peace (4.9 PPG). While Fisher may serve as a strong locker room presence, World Peace's role would be a bit unclear given the roster's current glut of small forwards.
With the Trade Machine's prediction of the Suns losing an additional seven games upon trading Nash for Fisher and World Peace, Chris Palmer's trade may only come to fruition if driven solely out of respect for the future Hall of Famer Nash.
Southwest Notes: Kaman, Barea, Rockets, Hornets
Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki doesn't feel his performance this season warrants a selection to the 2012 NBA All-Star Game in Orlando. Nowitzki, 33, is averaging 17.2 PPG and 6 RPG for a Dallas squad that is underachieving with a 14-11 record this season. If tapped to represent the Western Conference, Nowitzki would be making his 11th consecutive All-Star appearance. Let's take a look around the league to see what else is happening in the Southwest Division:
- Chris Kaman was completely understanding when the Hornets shut him down last month in an attempt to find a trade suitor, writes Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune. Kaman, 29, returned to the team on Sunday morning for practice as the Hornets conceded that they were unable to finalize a deal.
- Life after winning a championship with the Mavericks in June has not been easy for Timberwolves guard J.J. Barea. According to The Dallas Morning News, Barea, 27, blames his low FG% (.367) and 2.4 APG on a series of hamstring injuries that has led to the sixth-year player missing 15 games this season.
- Rockets beat writer Jonathan Feigen suggests the team is comfortable pursuing a championship with superstar-less squad similar to the Nuggets. While a star-free locker room may do wonders for team chemistry, the Rockets should take note that only two teams have ever won a championship without an All-NBA player.
- While the Hornets have struggled this season with the worst record in the Western Conference (4-20), Sam Amico of FoxSportsOhio.com points to three bright spots for the league-owned franchise moving forward.
Raptors Rumors: Chandler, Kirilenko, Barbosa
Toronto Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo spoke candidly about a potential roster shake-up during Friday's game against the Washington Wizards, writes Hasan Alanam of Canada.com. With the team currently hovering near the bottom of the Atlantic Division, Colangelo expressed a desire to consider any and every move that may help the Raptors move closer to their goal of becoming a championship-caliber squad. In his mind, the path toward success may become a bit clearer once the future for three particular players becomes more evident.
- Colangelo discussed what adding former Utah Jazz sharpshooter Andrei Kirilenko could do for the Raptors especially considering the success AK-47 has enjoyed this season while playing in Russia. Averaging 13 PPG and nearly 8 RPG, Kirilenko, 30, has led CSKA Moscow to an undefeated regular season thus far and looks to be an early favorite for MVP. As Kirilenko announced his intentions to stay in Russia for the entire season, the Raptors would be looking to sign the former first-round draft pick this summer.
- While the Raptors will have to wait a few months to begin courting Kirilenko, Colangelo can add an important piece to his roster once small forward Wilson Chandler is released from his contract with the CBA's Zhejiang Guangsha. The fifth-year player out of DePaul is a restricted free agent which will allow for the Denver Nuggets to match any contract that the Raptors might offer Chandler. Given Chandler's upward trending career numbers and youth (24), the Raptors' bid must be overly aggressive if they have any hope of Chandler heading across the border to Toronto.
- During his concluding remarks in an interview with the Raptors broadcast team, Colangelo mentioned how he viewed Leandro Barbosa as a valuable trade chip moving forward. Colangelo expressed Barbosa's importance to the team but pondered what nearly 13 PPG from a 29-year-old veteran guard could land the Raptors in a trade with a contending team. While Barbosa remains a valuable addition for any team, his most attractive asset may be his contract which expires at the end of the season.
Odds & Ends: Sixers, Cavaliers
With a 17-7 record more than a third through the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have been a pleasant surprise under coach Doug Collins. Even with a 20-point loss at home to the Miami Heat on Friday night, the 76ers are atop the Atlantic Division and would be a 3 seed in the Eastern Conference if the season ended today. The Cleveland Cavaliers have also exceeded expectations as the team is nearly halfway to matching its win total from last season. As the NBA trade deadline approaches, both of these teams face important decisions on how to shape their rosters moving forward.
- John N. Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes that the 76ers have a strong core of players under the age of 23 but wonders if a move must be made to ensure the squad's first division title since 2001. Mitchell lauds Collins for outperforming every other coach in the league as he has gotten more out of the team's talent than anyone thought possible. Collins credits some of his team's success to the fans as the Wells Fargo Center has recently enjoyed a string of sellouts.
- Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant will be facing a series of tough decisions as the trade deadline approaches, writes Bob Finnan of The News-Herald. One of the decisions includes figuring out how Anderson Varejao, 29, fits into the team's long-term plans. If traded, Varejao could net the Cavaliers as many as two future first-round draft picks which would allow the team to continue to stockpile young talent.