Nelson: Carlisle Not Going Anywhere
A day after their title defense ended at the hands of the Thunder, Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson gave positive public acknowledgment regarding Rick Carlisle's future as head coach of the team, according to ESPNDallas.com's Jeff Caplan. Carlisle is at the end of a four-year contract, but is widely regarded as one of the game's better game to game strategists, as proven evident by his job steering Dallas to their unexpected championship run last season.
"He likes us, we like him and those situations generally get worked out," Nelson said. "Rick's not going anywhere."
In four seasons with the Mavericks, Carlisle has compiled a 198-114 record in the regular season and a 23-18 mark in the playoffs.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 4/30/12 – 5/6/12
Here's a look back at all the original conent produced by our team of writers from the past week.
- In our Offseason Outlook series, Luke Adams takes a deep look at the Bobcats.
- Zach Links analyzes Tyler Zeller in our Prospect Profile series.
- Meet the Hoops Rumors team of writers.
- Luke Adams explains the importance of a Cap Hold.
- The Wizards are profiled in our Offseason Outlook series.
- The Cavaliers are profiled in our Offseason Outlook series.
- In a poll, Luke Adams asked whether or not the Heat would end up sweeping the Knicks, something that could become a reality later today.
- Here's a recap of 2012's 10-day contracts.
- A relevant look at the league's current qualifying offers.
- A transcript of our weekly Hoops Rumors chat.
- In our Free Agent Stock Watch series, I took a look at the constantly improving Roy Hibbert.
- A defining look at the league's waiver system.
- The Hornets are given a look in our Offseason Outlook series.
- Chuck Myron writes an enthralling piece explaining the construction of a playoff team.
- Zach Links gives us his weekly Hoops Links installment.
- Zach Links profiles John Henson in our Prospect Profile series.
- Chuck Myron looks at a few upcoming free agents playing in the playoffs, and how they're doing.
- Ryan Raroque inspects Grant Hill in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- Daniel Seco looks at the top five new additions for playoff contenders.
- In another piece from Seco, here's a look at Jason Terry in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
Odds & Ends: Odom, Novak, Lottery, Sessions
Bob Young from AZCentral.com thinks the Suns should take a long, hard look at signing Lamar Odom this offseason. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has a ton to prove coming off a terrible experiment with the Mavericks.
- Earlier tonight, the Heat defeated the Knicks—who were without starting power forward Amare Stoudemire—87-70. In Stoudemire's place, New York head coach Mike Woodson chose to start Steve Novak. The results were disastrous, writes Newsday's Roderick Boone.
- After the obvious tanking strategy we saw employed by teams like the Warriors and Hornets, the Houston Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen calls for the weighted lottery to become a true lottery, giving every team that doesn't make the playoffs an equal chance at the number one overall pick.
- FoxSportsOhio.com's Sam Amico writes that Ramon Sessions ability to fit in with the Lakers has once again made them a championship contender.
- Every team faces tough decisions in the offseason, but this summer the Suns will have an incredibly difficult decision staring them down, as they figure out whether they should continue the Steve Nash era, or finally move on. Hoopsworld.com's Jason Fleming dissects the team's dire situation.
- Melissa Isaacson from ESPNChicago.com writes that a first round loss to the Sixers could have a long-term negative impact on the Bulls.
- After initially believing he might be able to return for Game 4 of his series against the Heat, Jeremy Lin has all but ruled himself out for the early return, according to ESPNNewYork.com's Ian Begley.
- ESPNChicago.com's Donald Hunt talks about Jrue Holiday's need to keep up his stellar play if the Sixers want to pull off an upset.
- While Shawn Marion is keeping Kevin Durant in check through the first two games of their series, Russell Westbrook has had a field day, and it'll be interesting to see whether the Mavericks choose to change their match-ups as the series moves forward, writes the Dallas Morning News' Brad Townsend.
- Hoopsworld.com's Eric Pincus talks about how the Lakers should look to bring back Jordan Hill, who's a free agent this offseason.
Free Agent Stock Watch: Roy Hibbert
Size matters in the NBA. Roy Hibbert is listed at 7'2". When adding those two sentences together, you begin to arrive at the conclusion that Hibbert, a restricted free agent, could be one of the most sought-after commodities this summer. He entered the league as a serviceable project with what appeared to be a limited ceiling, but coming off his first All-Star appearance this year, Hibbert's future now appears brighter than most who play his position.
Last season Hibbert averaged 12.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.0 BPG, 3.7 FTAPG, 29.8 MPG, and shot 49.7% from the floor. In a lockout-shortened, physically-excruciating season, all were career bests. He's a player who should only get better over the next few years of his career, and whoever signs him will have a rebounding advantage almost every night that he suits up.
Depending on how you look at it, the Pacers are in an enviable position with loads of cap space heading into the offseason. It's a roster compiled of hard-working, high-intensity guys, but with no go-to crunch-time scorer their team that has no realistic shot at winning a championship without making a significant upgrade to their roster. They've been patient for years, but with one of their most prized projects hitting restricted free agency, a slew of teams will be lined up to make Roy Hibbert significant contract offers. As a small market organization that's forced to make shrewd financial decisions when it comes to paying players big money, the Pacers will have a difficult decision to make regarding whether they keep Hibbert on board, or choose to set him free.
Here are the figures a few centers made in the first year of their deals signed this past offseason: DeAndre Jordan ($10MM), Marc Gasol ($12.9MM), Tyson Chandler ($13.1MM), and Nene ($13MM). Hibbert should stand to make somewhere between $10-14MM.
While almost every team in the NBA could use a center who's above average on both ends of the floor, improving each and every season, the Celtics and Rockets are two teams who not only have the need, but the cap space to make a legitimate offer. Both have rebouding issues, and both struggle getting easy baskets with interior play in the post. Along with becoming a regular participant at All-Star weekend over the next few years, Hibbert has the physical intangibles to be an efficient difference-maker on a title contender. It's only a matter of where he ends up next season that could determine the impact Roy Hibbert has throughout his career.
Week In Review: 4/22/12 – 4/29/12
A look back at the NBA's biggest stories from the past week.
- Derrick Rose will miss the rest of the season, and the 2012 Summer Olympics, after tearing his ACL in yesterday's victory over the Sixers.
- Jamal Crawford says he will opt-out of his contract for next season.
- The city of Sacramento and the Kings have failed to reach a deal on the construction of a new arena, placing the team's future in jeopardy.
- The NBA is under investigation from the US Attorney's office.
- The Trail Blazers are likely to match all offers for restricted free agent Nicolas Batum. A few teams are currently eyeing him, including the Spurs.
- Gerald Wallace wants a multi-year contract.
- The Raptors have exercised the option on first year head coach Dwane Casey's contract.
- Despite saying he wants to spend the rest of his career with the Magic, Jameer Nelson will likely opt-out of his contract.
- Antawn Jamison will not return to the Cavaliers next season.
- The Spurs signed Derrick Byars.
- Al Horford will not return for the second round of the playoffs.
- Sasha Vujacic will seek a return to the NBA.
- Beno Udrih is set to exercise his player option with the Bucks.
- Dominique Ferguson will declare for the NBA draft.
- Warriors new general manager Bob Myers wants to retain Brandon Rush.
- The Rockets plan to add Donatas Motiejunas next season.
- The Sixers signed Xavier Silas.
- The Knicks have named Glen Grunwald their permanent general manager.
- Baylor forward Quincy Miller is set to enter the NBA draft.
- The Wizards and Ernie Grunfeld have agreed on a new contract extension.
- John Hammond is interested in the Trail Blazer's open general manager position.
- Courtney Lee wants to return to the Rockets.
- The Rockets signed Dionte Christmas.
- The Timberwolves exercised the option on general manager David Khan's contract.
- The Clippers recalled Travis Leslie from the D-league.
Jeremy Lin Hopes To Return This Season
Knicks guard Jeremy Lin said at Sunday's praetice that he thinks coming back for New York's first round series against Miami is a realistic possibility, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. During Saturday's Game One loss, the Knicks lost guard Iman Shumpert to a torn ACL, and had starting point guard Baron Davis suffer a minor back injury. The team is in desperate need of back court assistance.
On March 31, the Knicks announced Lin would undergo knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The timetable for recovery was between four and six weeks, so for Lin to return by the end of his team's first round series wouldn't be a total shock, but before today's comments it wasn't expected.
In his one game against the Heat earlier this season, Lin went 1-11 from the field in one of the worst outings of his short career.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 4/22/12 – 4/29/12
Here's a look back at all the original content produced by our team of writers over the past week.
- Daniel Seco takes a look at Austin Rivers in our Prospect Profile series.
- All of the traded 2012 second-round picks.
- Luke Adams asks who the Thunder should sign: James Harden or Serge Ibaka?
- A look into the Bi-Annual Exception.
- Chuck Myron profiles Nicolas Batum in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- Luke Adams profiles Gerald Green in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- A look into the Mid-Level Exception.
- A breakdown of the NBA draft lottery.
- In a poll, I asked whether or not the Spurs would get upset in the first round for a second straight year.
- A look into the league's Disabled Player Exception.
- A full transcript of our weekly Hoops Rumors live chat.
- Sean Highkin asks whether or not Deron Williams will stay with the Nets.
- An update on all traded first round picks.
- The 2012 draft tiebreaker order.
- Chuck Myron covers Andre Drummond in our Prospect Profile series.
- Zach Links gives us great links from various NBA blogs around the internet.
- A look at the 2012 waiver claims.
Odds & Ends: Vujacic, Lee, Love, Wall
In a tweet, ESPN.com's Marc Stein says that the Raptors have no interest in former Net and Laker, Sasha Vujacic. Here are the rest of the evening's updates:
- The Warriors shut forward David Lee down with what they called a groin injury earlier this month. At the time, the team was well out of the playoff picture, and the Warriors' main goal down the stretch was to lose as many games as possible in order to try and get their first round draft pick back from the Jazz. Lee's injury was treated as a convenient way to tank games, and the announcement was viewed with a skeptic eye by many. Now it appears Lee will have surger on Thursday to repair a torn abdominal muscle, according to the team.
- MercuryNews.com's Marcus Thompson II breaks down what the Warriors need to do if they want to keep their first round draft pick.
- Stephen Curry underwent successful surgery on his ankles today. He's expected to be ready for action in 3-4 months, NBA.com's David Aldridge reports in a tweet.
- The Plain Dealer's Bill Livingston points out the significance of what a third MVP for LeBron James would mean.
- Even before Dwight Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge suffered injuries that will prevent them from participating in this summer's Olympic games, there was a strong chance Kevin Love would make the 12-man roster. The Timberwolves forward feels more confident than ever before that he'll make the team, according to TwinCities.com's Ray Richardson.
- Kobe Bryant fully expects the Lakers to win the title, writes ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin.
- John Wall spoke to his friend Kevin Durant about what it took to turn one of the league's worst teams into one of the best, writes FoxSportsFlorida.com's Chris Tomasson.
- The Timberwolves will receive the Jazz's first round draft pick now that Utah is heading to the playoffs, according to the StarTribune's Kent Youngblood.
Trail Blazer Free Agents Talk About Their Future
With the Trail Blazers assuming the look of a franchise trying to turn the page and overhaul almost every key piece, CSNNW.com's Chris Haynes attended the team's final practice today and asked seven of the team's free agents—Nicolas Batum, Raymond Felton, Joel Przybilla, Jamal Crawford, J.J. Hickson, Hasheem Thabeet, and Jonny Flynn—if they expected to be back with the team next season. Their answers were both varied and interesting. Here's what they said.
Batum, a restricted free agent, said he would see whether or not the team is willing to match any offers he gets. If they don't he'll probably leave. Hickson called his relationship with the Trail Blazers a "win-win" situation; he'd prefer to stay. Thabeet said he'd love to stay in Portland. Flynn says anything could happen, but that he appreciates the opportunity the Trail Blazers organization gave him to see the court.
Przybilla says he'll probably have minor surgery on his left foot once the season ends, but that he'd like to come back next year and thinks he'd be more effective in a regular 82 game campaign. Felton and Crawford, two players who had disappointing first years with the team, both gave uncommitted answers as to whether or not they pictured themselves back next season. Crawford's contract has a player option for next season, but it's believed he will opt out of it.
Poll: Will The Spurs Get Upset Again?
Last night, in what basically amounted to a play-in game for the Western Conference's eighth seed, Utah took advantage of their deep front court and home crowd to defeat Phoenix. The Jazz are now scheduled to face off against the number one seeded Spurs. With last year's tough first round loss to Memphis fresh in everybody's mind, this sets up a very interesting first round series. Utah's great strength is their very skilled front court, headed by Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors, and Enes Kanter. Last year the Spurs struggled against the Grizzlies dynamic duo of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Will history repeat itself?