Week In Review: 5/27/12 – 6/3/12
Here's a look back at all NBA related news we covered over the past week.
Bulls To Target Steve Nash, Jason Kidd
Given Derrick Rose's uncertain short term future as one of the league's premier point guards, the Bulls are reportedly planning on making a strong push for two quick fix replacements: Steve Nash and Jason Kidd, according to CSNChicago.com's Aggrey Sam.
East Finals Notes: Bosh, Wade, Celtics, Heat
As the Eastern Conference Finals hits its fourth game tonight, the Celtics and Heat are continuing to make adjustments and counter reactions to one another's personnel and strategic decisions. Here are a few notes detailing just how important the game is, and how each team will try to grab momentum heading into Tuesday night's Game 5.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 5/27/12 – 6/3/12
Here's a look back at all the original content produced by our team of writers from the past week.
Odds & Ends: Lottery, Raptors, Lin, Heat
Tomorrow night's draft lottery will have huge implications for the Warriors and Jazz, writes the Deseret News' Jody Genessy. Here are a few more items from around the NBA:
- Hoopsworld.com's Stephen Brotherston asks what position the Raptors should be targeting as they head into the draft.
- On June 13, a hearing to determine whether the Knicks can re-sign Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak without using any of their exceptions will be held, writes Newsday's Al Iannazzone. The union is seeking the restoration of both players' Bird rights, and a decision will be made before July 1. The union is expected to lose the hearing.
- The Oregonian's Joe Freeman writes about the Trail Blazers working out two centers today: North Carolina's Tyler Zeller and Illinois' Meyers Leonard.
- Sources have told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin that the Lakers are talking about making Los Angeles D-Fenders general manager Glenn Carraro their team's assistant general manager.
- ESPNDallas.com's Jeff Caplan writes about how tomorrow night's draft lottery could have an especially large impact on the Nets and Mavericks.
- FoxSports.com's Chris Tomasson says LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are doing more than enough to fill in for Chris Bosh's absence.
- CBSSports.com's Ken Berger writes that at a time he's badly needed by his team, there's something wrong with Ray Allen.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Matt Barnes
In his nine year career, Matt Barnes has suited up for eight different teams. Take from that what you will, as another season ends in disappointment for the Lakers, and Barnes becomes a free agent yet again. At the age of 32, stripped of his athleticism and ability to act as a versatile two-way presence, Barnes’ offensive duties in recent years have been limited to that of a spot up shooter. He stretches the floor by standing in the corner and receiving passes from his team’s more capable on-ball play makers, but relative to the league’s better fits in this specific role, Barnes didn’t do a great job.
Barnes started the season slow—shooting 25.5 percent from behind the arc before the All-Star break—but turned it up later on, knocking down 37.2 percent of his three-pointers in the month of April. Battling an ankle injury in the playoffs, Barnes was more stationary than normal, and wasn’t able to take advantage of his idle play by knocking down open shots from beyond the arc (Barnes shot 16.1 percent from down town in 11 playoff games, and was benched for Game 5 of the second round).
In his exit interview last week, Barnes said where he chose to sign in recent years was mostly based on his pursuit of a championship. That decision making process could change this off season, as the Lakers don't appear to be a championship contending team given their current makeup. Also, if Barnes is in search of a high bidder, his current team likely won't be it.
“The last few teams I’ve went to, it was in search of a ring, and have fallen short. I’ve always turned down a significant amount of money to do that. So that’s something we’ll have to sit down and see."
With averages of 7.8 PPG and 5.5 RPG this season, there will probably be a suitor or two out there who believes Barnes can add depth and a little bit of toughness to its bench, but as has been the primary theme throughout his career, anything more than a one-year deal is unlikely. He can still play, but the role needs to be a limited one.
In July 2010, the Lakers decided to use their mid-level exception on Barnes with a two-year, $3.6MM contract. In a way, his poor play down the stretched symbolized the team’s need to become more athletic, and if the they take him back for anything more than the league minimum it would be a serious surprise.
Pacers Notes: Bird, Vogel
It's been a little over one week since the Heat eliminated the Pacers from the playoffs, but this rising team remains in the news. Here are a few recent items relating to the team.
- Pacers head coach Frank Vogel believes the success his team had this season is only the beginning of what they'll eventually accomplish, according to The Indianapolis Star's Mike Wells. "I feel like we have more room for growth than any team that's competing for a championship right now. We're excited to get back to work at some point here soon and build on what we started," Vogel said.
- Hoopsworld.com's Joel Brigham writes about where the Pacers are headed as a team, now that they've started to make a little noise.
- Larry Bird will hold a press conference tomorrow at 11 AM EST to discuss this year's team, and where they're going in the future.
Southeast Notes: Bobcats, Wizards, Mason
Here are a few interesting bits from around the NBA's Southeast Division:
- From the Charlotte Observer, Tom Sorensen writes that the Bobcats didn't tank games this season. They just weren't a very good team. He follows that up by comparing possible number one pick Anthony Davis' impact with Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton.
- From the same outlet, Rick Bonnell writes about ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy's assertion that the Bobcats did in fact tank their season in order to have the best odds at tomorrow night's lottery.
- The Washington Post's Michael Lee brings Wizards center Kevin Seraphin's late season surge to light.
- Roger Mason would like to return to the Wizards after ending his season with some stellar play. Mason shot 42.5% from the three-point line in his final 31 games.
Valanciunas Close To Signing With Raptors
Jonas Valanciunas, the fifth overall pick in last year's draft, has begun negotiating a release agreement with his current team in Lithuania, according to NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper. The agreement will ultimately consist of a $2.4MM buyout that Valanciunas will have to pay his team, Lietuvos Rytas. By league rules, the Raptors are allowed to contribute as much as $550K of the total buyout.
At the time he was drafted, Valanciunas was a seven-foot, 19-year-old prospect at center, with major questions regarding when he'd be allowed to come overseas and play in the NBA. It forced most teams to balk at the notion of drafting him, but Raptor GM Bryan Colangelo didn't hesitate.
“I have no doubt that is the right pick or was the right pick for us…despite the pressure of picking a so-called sexy pick or someone that might be a more-popular pick, we made the pick that we felt was the best decision, long term and short term, for the franchise because it fit right into this building process that we’re going through right now.”
The Raptors have a 3.5% chance at receiving the number one overall pick in tomorrow night's lottery, and a 12.3% chance at selecting in the top three. Should they get lucky, the team's roster will be filled with youth, and manageable cap space.
Week In Review: 5/21/12 – 5/27/12
A look back at last week's biggest stories from around the NBA.
- Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith were both fired by the Magic.
- The Warriors announced they will move from Oakland to San Francisco in 2017.
- The Knicks will not pursue Allen Iverson.
- The Warriors are seeking a deal that would wipe out any possibility of having to cede their first-round pick to the Jazz.
- Due to a rift with head coach Kevin McHale, Kyle Lowry wants to leave the Rockets.
- Former Knicks head coach and general manager Isaih Thomas wants to make a return to the NBA.
- The Knicks signed Mike Woodson to an extension as their head coach.
- The Clippers are interested in re-signing Nick Young.
- The Bobcats interviewed Jerry Sloan on Friday.
- The Magic have their eyes set on Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak to replace Otis Smith.
- After Chris Broussard broke the news that the Magic were interested in making Shaquille O'Neal their general manager, the former Magic center released a statement saying he wasn't interested.
- The All-NBA teams were announced.
- Warriors assistant coach Michael Malone is interested in becoming head coach of the Trail Blazers.
- The Knicks top Lamar Odom's list of desired destinations.
- Beno Udrih exercised his option for the 2012/13 season.
- Deron Williams is still undecided on his future.
- Adam Morrison is seeking a comeback to the NBA.
- Team USA announced their Select Team roster.
- Former Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan was scheduled to interview with the Bobcats for their head coach position.