Celtics Close To Signing Sean Williams
With a notoriously depleted front court that's forced Kevin Garnett to man the center position, the Celtics are close to signing free agent center Sean Williams, according to ESPN.com's Marc Stein. To make room, Boston will waive Jermaine O'Neal.
After playing eight games with Dallas earlier this season, Williams was waived by the Mavericks on March 22. The timing fortuitously came just one day before the league's deadline to give Williams eligibility to play beyond the regular season and into the playoffs for the Celtics.
With the foul prone Greg Stiemsma serving as Garnett's backup, and the recently signed Ryan Hollins filling in as the team's emergency big man, the signing of Williams gives Boston an athletic 25-year-old center to help in case the team suffers yet another injury during the postseason.
Cavaliers To Part Ways With Lester Hudson
As Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer speculated as a possibility earlier today, the Cavaliers have decided not to renew Lester Hudson's contract for the rest of the season (Twitter link). It appears the combo guard could be headed to another team, although it's not certain where at this time. One of this season's more successful 10-day contract signings, it's believed that Hudson and his representatives felt as though he was deserving of a guaranteed contract beyond the rest of this season, and, clearly, the Cavaliers felt differently.
The 27-year-old Hudson is averaging 12.7 PPG on 39.1% shooting since joining the team with his first of two 10-day contracts on March 30. The Cavs are 3-10 since he came aboard to help shore up a backcourt that has seen rookie of the year favorite Kyrie Irving go down with a shoulder injury, and his former backup, Ramon Sessions, off playing for the Lakers.
Wizards Waive Roger Mason
MONDAY, 3:02pm: The Wizards have officially waived Mason, the team announced today.
SUNDAY, 7:22pm: Michael Lee of the Washington Post tweets that the Wizards plan to add another player to reinforce their lack of depth in the back court.
2:13pm: In a tweet from Yahoo! Sports' Marc J. Spears, Wizards guard Roger Mason Jr. will have season ending finger surgery on Monday, and because of it, the team will waive him.
The 31-year-old guard signed as a free agent with the team last December, and is averaging 5.5 PPG in 52 games this season. With his contract scheduled to come off the books after this season, it's his third straight year with a field goal percentage below 40%.
Week In Review: 4/9/12 – 4/15/12
Here’s a look back at all the NBA’s most important news from the past week.
- The Mavericks decided to cut their losses with Lamar Odom, deactivating last year’s Sixth Man of the Year.
- Baylor’s Perry Jones III decided to enter the 2012 NBA draft.
- The Cavaliers chose to re-sign guard Lester Hudson to another 10-day contract.
- Raymond Felton said he would love to continue his career with the Trail Blazers.
- The Hornets signed Jerome Dyson to a 10-day contract.
- The Jazz signed Blake Ahearn to a 10-day contract.
- The Warriors are showing an interest in Lamar Odom.
- Steve Kerr is not interested in becoming the Trail Blazers’ next general manager.
- Jamal Crawford is expected to decline his option with the Trail Blazers next month. There’s speculation that he’s interested in rejoining the Warriors.
- Jason Kidd says he wants to play another year.
- Metta World Peace says he considered retiring last year.
- The Rockets signed Diamon Simpson.
- Dwight Howard insists he didn’t ask upper management to fire Stan Van Gundy.
- Florida freshman Bradley Beal will enter the 2012 NBA draft.
- Connecticut freshman Andre Drummond will also enter the 2012 NBA Draft.
- Tom Benson has decided to purchase the Hornets from the NBA for $338MM.
- North Texas freshman Tony Mitchell will enter the 2012 NBA Draft.
- Shawne Williams will opt in with the Trail Blazers, and exercise his player option for the upcoming season.
- The Hornets will retain the services of head coach Monty Williams and general manager Dell Demps.
- Gerald Wallace says he’s open to returning to the Nets.
- The Bobcats signed former Cavalier Jamario Moon for the rest of this season.
- Ramon Sessions says he’s looking for a long term contract offer from the Lakers.
- The Wizards will likely waive Roger Mason Jr. after he undergoes season ending finger surgery this Monday.
Poll: Whose Injury Will Have The Largest Postseason Impact?
With recent comments from Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy suggesting Dwight Howard‘s chances of playing in this year’s playoffs is “50-50” due to a herniated disc in his back (Twitter link), and Lakers star Kobe Bryant sitting out his fifth straight game today with a shin related issue, we ask which key player’s injury will have the largest impact on several contenders trying to make their run at the championship.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 4/9/12 – 4/15/12
Here's a look back at this past week's original posts from our writers.
- I took a look at Perry Jones III in our Prospect Profile series.
- Luke Adams gives us an update on protected first round draft picks.
- A look at the best 10-day contracts of 2012.
- An investigation into Lamar Odom's trade value.
- Ryan Raroque takes a look at Ersan Ilyasova in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- Luke Adams takes a look at Eric Gordon in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- In a poll, Sean Highkin asks where restricted free agent Eric Gordon will wind up next season.
- Royce White is given a look in our Prospect Profile series.
- Chuck Myron writes about some major April extensions.
- In his weekly Hoops Links series, Zach Links takes a look around the blogosphere to find some interesting NBA articles.
- Goran Dragic is featured in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- Daniel Seco takes a look at the top five free agent acquisitions from this past offseason.
Minor Moves: Selby, Jazz, Ahearn, Randolph
In a team statement, the Nets announced they have signed guard Armon Johnson to a 10-day contract (Twitter link). The move was likely made to help replace Jordan Farmar, who will miss the rest of the season with a groin injury. The 6’3″ Johnson has played just five minutes this season with the Trail Blazers.
- The Grizzlies recalled Josh Selby from the D-League, according to J. Michael Falgoust of USA Today (via Twitter). If that sentence looks familiar, that’s because Memphis has sent the guard to Reno and recalled him three times this season. That’s the maximum number of times that a player can be demoted in a year, so Selby won’t be sent down again.
- The Jazz are expected to sign Blake Ahearn to a ten-day contract, according to Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune (via Twitter). Ahearn is the D-League’s all-time leading scorer and led the league in scoring this season 23.8 PPG while shooting over 40% from three-point range.
- Former NBA player Shavlik Randolph has officially signed with Puerto Rico’s Piratas de Quebradillas, according to Sportando. He spent the first part of this season in China.
Prospect Profile: Perry Jones III
When it comes to selecting players in the NBA draft, potential and production have long battled one another in the minds of each team's top decision makers. Is selecting an undeveloped talent with incredible "raw" ability worth more than taking a serviceable "sure thing" who holds a limited ceiling?
Earlier today, Baylor sophomore Perry Jones III announced his plan to leave school and enter the NBA draft. He's the most interesting pawn this argument's had in years; a case can be made that no player in recent memory does a better job of matching otherworldly skill with overwhelming frustration. In his two years at Baylor, Jones has been college basketball's great model of inconsistency. Before the season began, the 6'11" Jones was pegged as a sure-fire top five pick, with some scouts even pegging him in as a possible number one overall selection. But after another up and down season that saw him disappear time and time again in the biggest of moments, the prodigious 20-year-old has dropped down to the middle of the first round on several boards.
In an insider article, ESPN.com's Chad Ford says a possible reason for Jones' unpredictable play was Baylor head coach Scott Drew's decision to play him out of position. With the mentality of a guard who likes the ball in his hands on the perimeter, it's crucial for whatever team that selects Jones to place him in situations where he's comfortable. One site has compared him to Anthony Randolph, which isn't glowing praise. But on the other end, Jones has the physical skill set to dominate on both ends of the court. Think Lamar Odom or LaMarcus Aldridge.
From a statistical standpoint, Jones' numbers didn't improve from his freshman to sophomore season. He averaged 13.5 PPG this year but his points and free-throw attempts went slightly down while his rebounds (7.6 RPG) stayed the same. There was no more aggression in his second year than there was in his first, no enhancement in attitude or change in style.
Jones has unbelievable talent, but which team selects him could be a larger factor in determining what type of career he has than his ability to exercise that once in a generation type of skill. His upside is scary but so is his basement.
Perry Jones III is the 2012 draft's most delicate flower, and right now the sun isn't shining in Charlotte, Toronto, Washington D.C., or any other cities that are most likely to scoop him in a move of pure desperation.
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Celtics, Anthony, Nets
In what has to be one of the most shocking collapses in recent memory, the Sixers have gone from championship contender to fringe playoff team in a mere couple of weeks. In an Insider article, ESPN.com's John Hollinger says one reason for the constant losing has been a sharp decline in offensive efficiency. Philly.com's John Mitchell says the problem lies in the team's lack of character.
- In a column that ponders possible locations for Dwight Howard next season, Bulls.com's Sam Smith says the Sixers are almost sure to break up their potent Jrue Holliday, Evan Turner, Andre Iguodala trio.
- Rich Levine of CSNNE.com says Celtics fans should be hoping the Bucks make the playoffs. If they do, Boston gets Milwaukee's second round draft pick from the offseason Keyon Dooling.
- The New York Post's Tim Bontemps points out a rare bright spot relating to the Nets. If the Rockets make the playoffs, New Jersey receives the team's first round draft pick.
- Coming off an Easter Sunday thriller that saw Carmelo Anthony score his most points in a Knicks uniform, ESPNNY.com's Ian Begley writes that the All-Star is thriving in isolation sets. With Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin both out, New York will only go as far as Anthony can take them.
Draft Update: Mitchell, Jenkins, Cheek, Plumlee
In what's somewhat of a surprising decision being that he was projected to be a first round pick, North Texas freshman Tony Mitchell will return to school, according to the Denton Record-Chronicle's Brett Vito. Mitchell averaged 14.7 PPG, 10.3 RPG and was named the Sun Belt Conference's Freshman of the Year.
According to Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, sources say Vanderbilt junior John Jenkins and Villanova junior Dominic Cheek will soon declare for the draft, but Duke junior Mason Plumlee will go back to school.
Jenkins averaged 19.9 PPG on 43.9% shooting from beyond the arc last season and is projected to be an early second round pick. Cheek put up averages of 12.5 PPG and 3.9 RPG. In a separate report, Steve Wiseman of The Herald Sun writes that Plumlee still has not decided whether or not he'll enter the draft. Plumlee has until April 29th to make a decision.