Western Notes: Nuggets, Lakers, Young
The Nuggets, who finally decided to trade Timofey Mozgov, are realistic about their season being at a crossroads, Mark Kizsla of The Denver Post writes. “We came into this season expecting to be a playoff team,” GM Tim Connelly said. “At this point, we’re on the outside, looking in. We probably have a couple weeks to change that, be relevant and view ourselves as a playoff-caliber team. I’m hopeful that’s the case. But I’m also realistic to know, and honest enough with our team internally, to say: If in a couple weeks, if that’s not the case, then we have a new reality. It’s now or never. The disappointment is real with where we stand. We’ll have all we need to know about this present roster within a few weeks.”
Here’s more from the West:
- Fans of the Lakers and the Knicks shouldn’t get their hopes up that either team will be able to sign Rajon Rondo when he hits free agency this summer, since he’s unlikely to leave the Mavs, Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops writes. “Dallas will throw money at him and has a better chance at winning than the other two teams [Knicks and Lakers],” an Eastern Conference scout told Scotto.
- Nick Young,who was a member of the Clippers for part of the 2011/12 season, said that his experience with the Lakers thus far has been the superior one of his time spent in Los Angeles, Bill Oram of The Orange County Register writes. “Being a Laker, there’s nothing like it,” Young said. “I think I learn more just being here and being around an atmosphere of winning, toughness and learning how to play under a great player like Kobe Bryant.”
- When asked about the declaration that the team would contend for a title within three years made by Lakers executive VP of basketball operations Jim Buss, coach Byron Scott was non-committal about the probability of that becoming a reality, Eric Pincus of The Los Angeles Times writes. “Our plan, when you talk about the organization, is to win the championship, that’s the bottom line,” Scott said. “I don’t know what the time frame is right now. Jeanie [Buss] and Jim, obviously that’s between them. I’ll let you know in September. That’s when training camp will start next year. We’ll have our free agents, our draft picks. I’ll get a pretty good idea of what we have at that particular time and let you know.“
Central Notes: Pistons, Love, Bostic, Cavs
The Pistons have now won more games this season without Josh Smith than they did with him. This successful run isn’t a coincidence, but there are other factors involved beyond Smith’s departure, Michael Lee of The Washington Post writes. Lee also points to the sudden resurgence of Brandon Jennings and Jodie Meeks‘ return from injury as major reasons why Detroit is suddenly on a roll.
Here’s the latest out of the Central Division:
- The Pistons recalled guard Spencer Dinwiddie from the Grand Rapids Drive, their D-League affiliate, the team has announced (Twitter link). This was the first assignment of the season for Dinwiddie, and in four games with the Drive he averaged 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per contest.
- One of the Cavaliers‘ continuing struggles this season has been finding a way to properly utilize Kevin Love, Lee opines in a separate piece. With Love able to opt out of his deal at season’s end, it is imperative that coach David Blatt make the big man feel comfortable in Cleveland’s system, Lee opines.
- Pistons camp invitee Josh Bostic inked a deal with the Belgian club Proximus Spirou, Eurobasket.com reports. Bostic was playing for Detroit’s D-League affiliate, averaging 6.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 15 appearances this season.
- Newly acquired big man Timofey Mozgov brings two valuable assets with him to the Cavs: his ability to protect the rim, and a familiarity with Blatt’s system, Seth Partnow of BBallBreakdown.com opines. Blatt coached Mozgov when both were with the Russian national team, Partnow notes, which will help the big man acclimate to his new surrounding much quicker.
- The cost for the Cavs to add Mozgov to the roster, including remaining salary owed and the luxury tax hit, will be approximately $9.3MM, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com notes (Twitter link).
- In a separate piece, Windhorst broke down all the machinations and moves Cleveland made, beginning with the 2014 NBA draft, which led to the Mozgov deal.
- Cavs GM David Griffin acknowledged the team’s recent deals were costly, but were necessary if the team wanted to contend this season, Chris Fedor of The Northeast Ohio Media Group writes. “We feel like we’ve done it without completely mortgaging the future,” Griffin said. “People look at the number of picks we’ve given away, and everybody thinks, ‘oh my goodness, you’ve given away the farm.’ Well, we had an unbelievable farm. So we were putting it to work. And we’re really pleased with where we are now.”
Atlantic Notes: Wallace, Smith, Sixers, D-League
Gerald Wallace openly criticized the Nets‘ 2013 trade with Boston, where the franchise sacrificed three first-round picks for Paul Pierce, who is no longer with the team, and Kevin Garnett, who is now a shadow of his former self, Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News writes. “It was one of those stories of a get-rich-quick scheme. You either hit it big or you don’t,” Wallace said. “They took a gamble. It backfired.”
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets have recalled Markel Brown and Cory Jefferson from the Maine Red Claws of the NBA D-League, the team announced. This was the initial D-League jaunt of the season for both players.
- In a statement that may not please even the most patient of Sixers fans, coach Brett Brown said that Philadelphia’s rebuilding process could take “three to five more years,” Tom Moore of Calkins Media reports (Twitter link).
- Former Knick J.R. Smith wasn’t surprised by the trade that sent him to Cleveland, but he wasn’t thrilled about the timing of it, Chris Haynes of The Northeast Ohio Media Group writes. “The way it was done caught me off guard, warming up and stuff like that,” Smith said. “I thought that was a poor decision and then I seen what happened to Dion Waiters where he literally got his name called for the starting lineup, [then] I thought my situation wasn’t so bad.”
- Smith also commented on the difficulties that the Knicks have had since team president Phil Jackson came aboard, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com writes. “Everybody in the building was pretty much walking on eggshells, so it’s kind of hard to prosper that way, especially when you’re not accustomed to it,” Smith said. “But I’m sure they’ll get it right. I mean, it’s just difficult learning a new system, a new way to play. The whole culture over there pretty much changed. I mean, a lot of guys have certain routines when they get on the court, when they don’t get on the court, and all of that was so flip-flopped and it kind of caught everybody off guard.”
- Knicks coach Derek Fisher didn’t take issue with Smith’s comments, Begley notes. “I think we’ve been very frank about the fact that everyone was learning how to work together and become a team and become a group. Whether that’s eggshells or whether that’s just getting to learn how to win just depends on the person that you’re talking to,” Fisher said.
Lakers, Jazz Interested In Mindaugas Kuzminskas
Multiple NBA teams, including the Lakers and the Jazz, have expressed interest in Lithuanian small forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas, David Pick of Basketball Insiders reports. Kuzminskas, 25, wasn’t selected in the 2011 NBA draft, but has caught the attention of NBA scouts this season with his play for Unicaja Malaga of the Spanish League, Pick notes. The 6’9″ swingman is set to become a restricted free agent next summer, but according to Kuzminskas’ agent, Tadas Bulotas, the Spanish club may decide against re-signing the player, Pick adds.
“Kuzminskas has been very productive this season and there is NBA interest for sure. Teams have spoken with Malaga, but nothing is imminent at the moment,” Bulotas told Pick. “Kuzminskas could leave Malaga, but there is a heavy NBA buyout and [an] even higher Euroleague buyout. If Malaga [does] well in the ACB and the Euroleague, it might be worth it for the club to lower the buyout and sell Mindaugas. Otherwise, Kuzminskas could leave after next season [2015/16] for free.”
The Lithuanian is open to testing the NBA waters in this year’s Summer League showcase in Las Vegas, Pick notes. Bulotas confirmed this, saying: “We’re thinking about sending him, the Summer League came up in discussions.” Kuzminskas, who also spoke to Pick, said, “I’d like to get a chance to move to the NBA. I feel like I matched up against Team USA pretty well. USA have a lot of talent and great players, but they’re humans, not robots. I’m not thinking too much about the NBA because I have a contract with Malaga for next season. I’m trying to help the team win in the Euroleague Top 16, and to be consistent and improve in order to think about what is next.”
Kuzminskas is currently averaging 10.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game in the Euroleague, and 9.6 PPG and 4.1 RPG per contest while shooting over 38% from beyond the arc in Spanish League competition.
Blazers Ink GM Neil Olshey To Extension
The Trail Blazers have signed GM Neil Olshey to a three-year contract extension, the team has announced. David Aldridge of NBA.com (Twitter link) was the first to report the deal. Olshey has also been named President of Basketball Operations as a part of the arrangement. The deal is fully guaranteed for three years and contains a team option for a fourth season, Sam Amick of USA Today reports (Twitter link).
The 49-year-old Olshey is Portland’s 10th GM in the franchise’s history, and has been with the team since June 4th, 2012. Olshey came to the Blazers from the Clippers, where he served as the team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations for two seasons, and was with Los Angeles for a total of nine years.
“Our team has made great strides under Neil’s leadership, and I am excited to extend his contract,” team owner Paul Allen said. “Neil has done an outstanding job as General Manager by quickly rebuilding our team into a playoff contender. The franchise is clearly on the upswing, and I hope to see further improvements in the years to come.”
“This extension is a validation of the efforts of the entire Trail Blazers front office and an endorsement of the level of commitment expected of us by our owner Paul Allen,” said Olshey. “The level of passion for this franchise by our owner, season ticket holders and fans, drives us to build a team that this community can be proud of.”
In Olshey’s first season in Portland the team went 33-49, but last season the team improved markedly, posting a record of 54-28, which was the largest season-to-season improvement in franchise history and Portland’s sixth-best record all-time.
Photo courtesy USA Today Sports Images.
Players Whose Salaries Became Guaranteed
This Saturday is the leaguewide guarantee date, upon which any player still on an NBA roster will have the remainder of his salary for the season become fully guaranteed. But Wednesday was the effective deadline for teams, since they had to release any players whose deals they did not want to be on the hook for over the course of the rest of the season. This is because of the waiver process, which takes two days. So, if a team wished to have a player clear waivers and be off of its books prior to Saturday, it would have had to waive that player by 4:00pm Central time Wednesday.
We saw a number of players released over the last few days because of this, but there were quite a few who survived the leaguewide purge and now have fully guaranteed deals for the remainder of the season as a result. Some of these players may yet be waived prior to the end of the season, but now they would at least walk away with their paychecks intact.
Here is the complete roster of players whose financial outlooks became a bit more secure today, along with their 2014/15 salaries:
76ers
- Robert Covington [$1MM/$400K Partially Guaranteed]
- K.J. McDaniels [$507,336]
- JaKarr Sampson [$507,336/$50K Partially Guaranteed]
- Henry Sims [$915,243]
- Malcolm Thomas [$635,827]
- Hollis Thompson [$816,482]
Bucks
- None
Bulls
- Nazr Mohammed [$915,243]
- E’Twaun Moore [$948,163/$425K Partially Guaranteed]
Cavs
- None
Celtics
- None
Clippers
- None
Grizzlies
- None
Hawks
- Mike Muscala [$816,482/$408,241 Partially Guaranteed]
Heat
- James Ennis [$507,336/$300K Partially Guaranteed]
- Justin Hamilton [$816,482]
- Hassan Whiteside [$769,881/$100K Partially Guaranteed]
Hornets
- Jason Maxiell [$915,243]
Jazz
- Joe Ingles [$507,336]
Kings
- Eric Moreland [$507,336/$200K Partially Guaranteed] — Moreland’s deal was already effectively guaranteed, since he’s set to miss the rest of the season with injury, and the Kings are responsible for paying him until he’s healthy.
Knicks
- Travis Wear [$507,336/$62K Partially Guaranteed]
Lakers
- Tarik Black [$507,336/$50K Partially Guaranteed]
- Wayne Ellington [$915,243/$581,692 Partially Guaranteed]
- Ronnie Price [$915,243/$658,405 Partially Guaranteed]
Magic
- Dewayne Dedmon [$816,482/$250K Partially Guaranteed]
Mavericks
- Charlie Villanueva [$915,243]
Nets
- Cory Jefferson [$507,336/$75K Partially Guaranteed]
- Jerome Jordan [$816,482/$100K Partially Guaranteed]
- Darius Morris [$702,756]
Nuggets
- Erick Green [$507,336/$50K Partially Guaranteed]
Pacers
- Luis Scola [$4,868,499/$1,499,990 Partially Guaranteed]
- Shayne Whittington [$507,336/$25K Partially Guaranteed]
Pelicans
- Luke Babbitt [$981,084/$100K Partially Guaranteed]
- Dante Cunningham [$716,043]
Pistons
- None
Raptors
- Amir Johnson [$7MM/$5MM Partially Guaranteed]
- Greg Stiemsma [$915,243/$25K Partially Guaranteed]
Rockets
- Patrick Beverley [$915,243]
Spurs
- None
Suns
- None
Thunder
- Ish Smith [$861,405]
Timberwolves
- Glenn Robinson III [$507,336/$250K Partially Guaranteed]
Trail Blazers
- None
Warriors
- Leandro Barbosa [$915,243/$150K Partially Guaranteed]
- Justin Holiday [$816,482/$35K Partially Guaranteed]
Wizards
- Rasual Butler [$915,243]
The Basketball Insiders salary pages were used in the creation of this post.
Western Notes: Thunder, Lakers, Buss
The Thunder sent $550K in cash to the Hawks in the Thabo Sefolosha sign-and-trade this past summer, tweets Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders. That helped convince Atlanta to make the deal a sign-and-trade instead of a straight signing, a move that allowed Oklahoma City to create the trade exception it used for Dion Waiters, as Pincus confirms and as Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors explained earlier this week. The Thunder also created a $915,243 trade exception for Lance Thomas, Pincus notes (Twitter link).
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- Despite the Lakers‘ struggles this season, team president Jeanie Buss is satisfied with the job that coach Byron Scott is doing, Mark Medina of The Los Angeles Daily News writes. “Our record doesn’t show what we’d like it to be. But I like what coach Byron Scott is doing and establishing,” Buss said. “I believe in what he’s trying to do and I see improvement all the time. I support our front office. I support our coach. I support our players.”
- Buss also believes that the Lakers will be contending in three years time, something that her brother, vice president of basketball operations Jim Buss, predicted, Medina notes. “By three years, we will be where we should be in terms of the Western Conference,” Buss added. “That’s a challenge he [Jim Buss] presented to himself. Given all the resources that we have, our legacy and who our head coach is and who our front office is, I don’t see any problem progressing to where we need to be. We’ll be in the Western Conference finals in three years. As long as you have Kobe Bryant on your team, anything can happen in the playoffs.”
- Now that the trade market has ramped up, Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders continues his look at players who might be dealt prior to the February trade deadline. Some of the players whom Kennedy opines may be on the move include Reggie Jackson [Thunder], Jordan Hill [Lakers], Kosta Koufos [Grizzlies], and Jason Thompson [Kings].
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Atlantic Notes: Jackson, Galloway, Celtics
The Knicks still have an interest in acquiring Reggie Jackson from the Thunder, but New York likely lacks the assets to entice Oklahoma City into dealing the guard, who will become a restricted free agent at season’s end, Jon Hamm of The Oklahoman writes. The only Knicks players that the Thunder may be interested in, Pablo Prigioni and Jose Calderon, offer significant downsides, Hamm notes. Calderon’s contract is unappealing, and Prigioni’s age (37), make any deal for them with OKC unlikely, adds Hamm.
Here’s the latest out of the Atlantic Division:
- Newly-signed Langston Galloway had two things going for him that the Knicks liked: He’s well-versed in the triangle and he completed his college career, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “Langston is mature for a young player, gone to school for four years,’’ coach Derek Fisher said. “Not being afraid of the moment as a young guy was really impressive over the summer. He’s done some good things in Westchester [D-League] so far that tell us he is a guy who can develop into a good pro player. We’re excited to have him here for a short period. He’s going to try to make the most of it.’’
- Knicks team president Phil Jackson hasn’t given up on Calderon, in spite of speculation that he’ll be the next player the team trades, so it’s more likely the Knicks would let go of backup Prigioni instead, Berman writes in a separate piece.
- One of the Celtics‘ remaining trade assets who could be in demand is veteran forward Jeff Green. Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders runs down a number of possible deals that Boston can make should it decide to trade Green. Hoops Rumors’ Chuck Myron also looked at Green’s market in our Trade Candidate series.
- The $490K that remained from the $2.09MM trade exception that the Celtics had created last January from the Courtney Lee to Memphis trade expired today. Also expiring is the $884,293 trade exception that the Thunder created from the same deal for sending Ryan Gomes to Boston.
- Tony Wroten was rumored to be a part of the Sixers’ deal with the Clippers for Jared Cunningham, but for now, Wroten remains in Philadelphia. But Los Angeles is still interested in acquiring the guard, and the teams are having preliminary discussions regarding a possible trade, John Gonzalez of CSNPhilly.com reports. Wroten said that he’d like to remain in Philly, but he’s flattered that other teams are interested in him, Gonzalez adds. “I’m auditioning for everybody,” Wroten said. “But I was blessed and fortunate enough, with a few guys, who got to stay on this team. It’s like you feel wanted. I continue to play for the lovely fans and the lovely community and see where it takes us.”
Eastern Notes: Sanders, Dawkins, Waiters
Larry Sanders wouldn’t delve into specifics about his absence, but he denied Tuesday that he’s thinking about retirement, as he told reporters, including Bradford Doolittle of ESPN.com. The Bucks center hasn’t played since December 23rd, but he sat on the bench with the team for Tuesday’s game, a first since he took his leave, and he said he’s ready to start working toward a return to the court. “I haven’t said anything like that,” Sanders said of the notion he would retire. “I figure with the absence, something was going to come out like that. It’s not true. What is true is I’m in the process of trying to do what’s best for my psyche and my physical health.”
Here’s more out of the East:
- The Heat waived guard Andre Dawkins so that the team could retain some measure of roster flexibility heading forward, Surya Fernandez of FOX Sports Florida writes. “We liked ‘Doc’ and the development he was making,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Right now it makes more sense for us to have some flexibility.” When asked if any players were being looked at to fill Dawkins’ roster spot on a 10-day contract, Spoelstra said, “It could be filled at any time, that’s the whole point, but nothing is imminent.”
- In the moments after he was informed that he had been dealt to the Thunder, Dion Waiters said he felt “bitter” toward the Cavs, Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman writes. But once he settled down and thought about his destination he felt much better about his situation, Slater adds. “I’m just happy they sent me here to another great organization where I get the chance to play with another great player,” Waiters said. “I feel I’m in a win-win situation. So I take it as a positive thing. I get a chance to grow and learn from these guys.”
- Waiters was also asked about the Cavs‘ disappointing start to the season, Slater notes. Waiters responded by saying, “Uhh, we never really played together. Of course I’d played with Kyrie [Irving], but I’d never played with Kevin [Love] or LeBron [James] or those type of guys who dominated on their opposing teams. So for them to come to Cleveland, we all had to change our game for the better of the team. Like, for instance, my scoring went down. Ky, he’s used to having the ball, but with LeBron, he’s a guy that needs the ball to facilitate and make plays. It was a chemistry thing that we was still building. Like they said, Rome wasn’t built in one day. We had to continue to figure it out day by day.“
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Cavs Waive A.J. Price
4:40pm: Price has officially been released, the Cavs have announced.
4:14pm: The Cavaliers have waived guard A.J. Price, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports (Twitter link). Price’s contract was non-guaranteed, but if he wasn’t released by today’s deadline then Cleveland would have been on the hook for the remainder of his $866,789 salary. The Cavs had 15 players on their roster after the deal to acquire Timofey Mozgov, but this move will leave them with one open spot. The Cavs could conceivably bring Price back on a 10-day contract, though that is merely my speculation.
Price was signed by the Cavs prior to training camp, but was waived so that Cleveland could ink Will Cherry to a contract. The 28-year-old guard then was signed by the Pacers and appeared in 10 contests before being released when Indiana’s hardship provision they used to ink him had expired. The Cavs then brought Price full-circle when they claimed him off of waivers and waived Cherry, in order to bring Price back to Cleveland.
In 256 career games, Price has averaged 5.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. His career slash line is .382/.319/.742.