Execs Losing Faith That Ray Allen Will Sign
There is a growing feeling among GMs and league executives who are interested in signing Ray Allen that the veteran guard won’t play this season, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports. Allen has been mulling a comeback all season, but neither he, nor his agent Jim Tanner, have made any definitive statements that the player would return to the hardwood during the 2014/15 campaign, Wojnarowski adds. It was rumored that the 39-year-old sharpshooter was going to make a choice regarding his future shortly after the All-Star break.
Allen has been working out, but not at a pace that would allow him a quick transition into NBA playing shape, sources tell Wojnarowski. There’s still time for Allen to make a decision to return, but as one GM told the Yahoo! Sports scribe, “It’s getting late in the game for this to happen.”
The Grizzlies are one team that’s maintained an interest in Allen, as Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal writes in a subscription-only piece. Other teams that have been reportedly linked to the veteran include the Warriors, Wizards, Cavs, Spurs, Heat and Hawks.
Sixers Sign Tim Frazier To 2nd 10-Day Deal
FRIDAY, 3:44pm: The signing is official, the team announced in a press release.
THURSDAY, 3:57pm: The Sixers intend to sign guard Tim Frazier to a second 10-day contract, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports (Twitter link). The point guard appeared in three games with Philadelphia, averaging five points, 4.7 rebounds, and 8.7 assists per game during his first 10-day deal.
Frazier had been playing for the Maine Red Claws, the Celtics’ D-League affiliate, prior to inking his first 10-day deal with Philly. In 27 D-League games this season, Frazier averaged 15.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8.9 assists in 35.8 minutes per contest. His slash line was .450/.271/.783.
The 24-year-old went undrafted out of Penn State in 2014, and had worked out for both the Wolves and the Celtics this past summer. The 6’1″ guard had attended training camp with Boston, but was waived before opening night.
Spurs Sign Reggie Williams For Rest Of Season
FRIDAY, 1:52pm: The deal is official, the team announced via press release.
THURSDAY, 3:47pm: The Spurs have reached an agreement with guard Reggie Williams on a deal for him to remain in San Antonio for the remainder of the season, Shams Charania of RealGM reports (Twitter link). Williams recently completed his second 10-day contract with the Spurs.
The 28-year-old Williams was with the Heat on a training camp deal earlier this season, but he failed to make the opening night roster and then caught on with the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s D-League affiliate, last month. When initially signed by San Antonio, Williams had taken the place of JaMychal Green, with whom the Spurs failed to reach agreement on a new deal after his initial 10-day arrangement had expired.
In three appearances for the Spurs this season, Williams has averaged 0.7 points in 3.7 minutes of action per game. His career numbers are 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Williams’ career slash line is .459/.368/.745.
Kings Sign David Stockton To 10-Day Pact
FRIDAY, 12:32pm: The deal is official, the team announced.
THURSDAY, 11:40pm: The Kings intend to sign David Stockton to a 10-day deal, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports (Twitter link). Sacramento’s current roster count sits at 14, including the Andre Miller, who was acquired Thursday from the Wizards in exchange for Ramon Sessions.
Stockton is the son of NBA legend John Stockton, and he went undrafted in 2014 after four seasons at Gonzaga. His college numbers were 4.8 PPG, 1.6 RPG, and 3.1 APG. His career slash line was .424/.306/.700. Stockton played for the Suns in the summer league, scoring a total of six points in less than 19 minutes over two games. Stockton was in training camp with the Wizards earlier this season.
The 23-year-old point guard has been playing for the Reno Bighorns, Sacramento’s D-League affiliate. In 31 games for the Bighorns this season, Stockton is averaging 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in 27.4 minutes of action per contest.
And-Ones: Bucks, Mekel, Bargnani
The Bucks rejected an offer from the Suns that would have sent Goran Dragic to Milwaukee for Brandon Knight, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com, adding that Michael Carter-Williams and Tyler Ennis, whom Milwaukee acquired instead of Dragic, were who they wanted all along. Gery Woelfel of The Journal Times disputes that Milwaukee ever turned down a Dragic proposal, however (Twitter link).
Here’s more from around the league:
- Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside wonders if Peyton Siva is being overshadowed with the Erie BayHawks this season. Seth Curry has gotten most of the attention on the team, but Siva is still having a relatively strong campaign in his own right.
- Danny Granger says he wanted to rejoin the Pacers when he was a free agent this summer but couldn’t afford to wait for them to decide what to do with Lance Stephenson, as Granger tells Scott Agness of VigilantSports.com (Twitter link).
- Unless an NBA offer materializes in the next few days, Gal Mekel is going to play in Europe, David Pick of Eurobasket.com tweets. The point guard has reportedly passed on numerous overseas offers after being released by the Pelicans back in December.
- Knicks team president Phil Jackson said there are no immediate plans to reach a buyout arrangement with Andrea Bargnani, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “It’s debatable,’’ Jackson said regarding a buyout. “Now that we have a gap in scoring, this is a guy that is a natural scorer. I think the coaching staff would like to have him on the court and be competitive with his scoring capabilities. Without Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, we are going to need some scorers out there. And we would like to give him a forum. I am not going to hold it against him if he wasn’t here for the first 40-something games.’’
- The Sixers almost wound up with Isaiah Thomas in their three-team deal with the Bucks and Suns, but they let the Suns send him to the Celtics in a separate transaction instead, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Zach Links and Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Western Notes: Cooley, Garnett, Jazz
Jack Cooley is a candidate to be signed to a 10-day deal by the Jazz, Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune reports (Twitter link). Utah is in need of frontcourt depth in the wake of the Enes Kanter trade. Cooley currently plays for the Idaho Stampede, the Jazz‘s D-League affiliate. In 15 D-League games, Cooley is averaging 15.0 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 28.5 minutes per contest.
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Jazz re-sign swingman Chris Johnson, whom the team had on a 10-day contract a few weeks ago, tweets Jody Genessy of the Deseret News.
- The Clippers met with D-Leaguer Eric Griffin in New York over the weekend and discussed a 10-day deal, but no move is expected, league sources tell Shams Charania of RealGM (on Twitter). Griffin hooked on with the Texas Legends after being waived by the Mavs in October.
- The Clippers have two roster openings and Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com (on Twitter) hears that they plan to fill both. They’ll likely go with two bought out players but they could sign one buyout guy and one player to a 10-day deal.
- The Jazz like Alex Abrines, one of the Thunder’s draft-and-stash prospects, Genessy notes (Twitter link). Abrines, a 21-year-old shooting guard, is under contract with Barcelona of Spain until 2016, as our draft rights held players database shows.
- The Jazz showed interest in Shane Larkin before the deadline, sources told Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (Twitter link).
- Just as the Timberwolves would reportedly like to sign Kevin Garnett for two more years, Garnett fully intends to play at least one more season, according to Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune (Twitter link).
Chuck Myron and Zach Links contributed to this post.
Eastern Notes: Sessions, Heat, Pacers
Ramon Sessions‘ agent, Jared Karnes, is excited to see his client join the Wizards, Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today Sports writes. “Washington is a great situation for Ramon,” Karnes said. “He’s obviously looking forward to going to the playoffs. He has a contract year coming up and this gives him a chance shake things up and be part of a playoff team. Ramon appreciated his time in Sacramento and wishes them success.”
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- The Pacers made a serious bid to acquire Reggie Jackson from the Thunder, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Of course, the Pacers wound up losing out to the Pistons.
- The Heat made Hassan Whiteside an untouchable in trade talks along with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
- Knicks president Phil Jackson can learn a lot about being a successful NBA executive from the Heat‘s Pat Riley, Mike Vaccaro of The New York Post writes.
- Raptors GM Masai Ujiri was happy enough with his roster to not make any moves prior to the trade deadline, Holly MacKenzie of NBA.com writes. “We feel confident in this team,” Ujiri said. “In terms of growth, in terms of growing, we’re still a long ways away. We understand that, but a lot of things that were put in front of us were things that maybe [helped] immediately, something that makes you a slightly better now, but it also takes away from younger guys continuing to grow. We felt it wasn’t the time.”
- Goran Dragic is likely to sign a long-term deal this summer to remain with the Heat, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News writes. More than anything else, Dragic desires stability in his career, Deveney adds. “Finding a place where I can be a part of something and build toward something, that is what I have wanted most, really. Having stability,” Dragic told the Sporting News scribe.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
Celtics Acquire Isaiah Thomas
The Celtics have acquired point guard Isaiah Thomas from the Suns, Boston and Phoenix have announced in a press release. In return for its diminutive guard, Phoenix received Marcus Thornton and the Cavaliers’ 2016 first round draft pick, which is top-10 protected. “Isaiah is a dynamic offensive player whose scoring and playmaking abilities add to an already well-rounded backcourt with Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley,” said Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “We are excited to welcome Isaiah to the Celtics family.”
Thomas, 26, has appeared in 46 contests for the Suns this season and is averaging 15.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steal in 25.7 minutes per game. He is averaging 15.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.0 steal in 28.5 minutes per game for his career. Thomas’ career slash line is .444/.365/.860.
The 27-year-old Thornton has made 39 appearances for the Celtics this season. He is averaging 8.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per contest. Thornton’s career NBA numbers are 12.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. His career shooting statistics are .430/.365/.828.
Bucks Waive Kenyon Martin
9:16pm: Milwaukee has waived Martin, the team announced.
6:04pm: The Bucks intend to waive Kenyon Martin, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports (Twitter link). Milwaukee had signed the veteran big man for the remainder of the season back in January after he had completed his second 10-day deal with the team. Martin’s contract for 2014/15 pays him $414,551.
Milwaukee’s roster would come to 16, one over the limit, after today’s multiteam deal that sent Brandon Knight to the Suns and brought Michael Carter-Williams, Tyler Ennis, and Miles Plumlee to the Bucks. The team has also reportedly reached a buyout arrangement with Larry Sanders, who intends to sit out the remainder of the season due to personal reasons. If both Sanders and Martin are indeed waived, the team will have one empty roster spot as a result.
In 11 appearances for the Bucks this season Martin is averaging 1.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game. His career numbers over 14 seasons in the NBA are 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game. Martin’s career shooting percentages are .483/.234/.629.
Atlantic Notes: Sullinger, Celtics, Knicks
Celtics big man Jared Sullinger will be out indefinitely with a stress reaction in his left foot, Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com reports. “Jared is going to be out a while,” said coach Brad Stevens. “Supposedly it happened in the Atlanta game and he was talking a little bit about it [Wednesday], with regard to feeling some discomfort and so he went through a little bit of practice, then pulled himself out. [Team trainer] Ed [Lacerte] took him to get the X-ray [Thursday], so that’s not good news on the Jared front, that’s for sure. He’s not going to play on this trip, and I don’t anticipate him playing any time soon.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- In an interview with Andy Gresh and John Wallach on 98.5 The Sports Hub, Celtics GM Danny Ainge inadvertently shot down rumors linking his team to Suns guard Goran Dragic, as Jimmy Toscano of CSNNE.com writes. “We are also looking to acquire players that are already under contract,” Ainge said. “We really don’t want to get rid of multiple draft picks for players with uncertainty in the free agent market, a situation like we were in with Rondo as an example. We’re not looking to do those kind of games, but we’re looking for more certainty. It’s more likely that we will be busier in the summer time and actually get more accomplished than here at the trade deadline.”
- The Knicks’ hopes to sign an impact free agent this summer took a big hit with Reggie Jackson headed to Detroit and Goran Dragic joining the Heat, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com writes. With both players expected to re-sign with their new teams, the Knicks will now have to scramble to attract some of the second-tier free agents, Begley adds.
- Carmelo Anthony underwent successful surgery today to repair damage to his left knee, and the Knicks‘ star is expected to be out of action for four to six months, Andrew Keh of The New York Times reports.
- The Celtics‘ acquisition of Isaiah Thomas is one that will help the team now and in the future, Jimmy Toscano of CSNNE.com opines.
Zach Links contributed to this post.