Central Notes: Macklin, Pacers, Jamison
Pistons rookie Vernon Macklin, a second-round pick in last year's draft, earned rave reviews for his D-League stint, Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News writes. He averaged 14.3 PPG and 14.5 RPG in 10 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Macklin is a restricted free agent, but looks forward to working with Pistons strength and conditioning coach Arnie Kander this summer, notes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
- HoopsWorld.com's Joel Brigham writes about how the Pacers firm stance to be patient in their rebuilding process has paid off. Instead of dealing franchise player Danny Granger when the public assumed they'd do just that, the team has decided to wait out the development of their last few draft picks. Their restraint appears to be working.
- Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison may not be in the team's future plans, but his recent strong play and consistent professionalim deserves some recognition, writes The Plain Dealer's Tom Reed.
Week In Review: 4/2/12 – 4/8/12
A look back at the most important NBA stories from the past week.
- The week's biggest story, by far, was Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy telling reporters he was made aware that Dwight Howard wants him fired.
- The Nets have shut down center Brook Lopez for the rest of the season.
- Former Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh has been given permission by the team to seek another opportunity with a different organization.
- Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie has declared for the draft.
- The Raptors re-signed Ben Uzoh and Alan Anderson to second 10-day contracts.
- The Raptors also signed Justin Dentmon to a 10-day contract.
- The Grizzlies sent Josh Selby down to the D-League.
- In a bit of draft news, Syracuse's Fab Melo will enter the draft, UNC forward James McAdoo will stay in school, and Isaiah Cannan will stay at Murray State.
- The Wizards signed James Singelton to a 10-day contract.
- The Rockets sent Courtney Fortson down to the D-League.
- The Bulls signed Mike James for the rest of the season.
- The Rockets re-signed Earl Boykins to a second 10-day contract.
- John Calipari announced he is not interested in taking an NBA job.
- The Lakers have shown interest in Nets guard Gerald Green.
- Steve Nash announced his plans to play at least three more seasons.
- Antawn Jamison says his days in Cleveland are numbered.
- Deron Williams made it clear he would test the market upon becoming a free agent this summer. New Jersey's chances of keeping him are slim.
- Jeremy Lin underwent season-ending knee surgery.
- Shawne Williams will not accept a buy out from the Trail Blazers.
- The Warriors announced they will not re-sign Keith Benson.
- The Rockets are showing interest in Joey Dorsey, who's currently playing in Greece.
Odds & Ends: Lin, Cole, Davis
As was expected after he underwent knee surgery, Jeremy Lin doubts he will be available for first round action should the Knicks make the playoffs, according to ESPNNY.com's Ian Begley. The original timetable for Lin's return was six weeks, and he'll resume running activities next week.
- The Miami Herald's Joseph Goodman takes a look at Heat guard Norris Cole's recent struggles. Goodman expects that when Mike Miller returns from injury, that Cole's quickly fading minutes may be reduced to nothing.
- On the flip side, Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel examines the stellar play of Glen Davis, who's really come on as of late thanks to a few injuries on Orlando's front line.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 4/2/12 – 4/8/12
Here's a look at all original content produced by our writers this past week:
- Here's a rundown of our latest feature categories.
- Luke Adams takes a look at the free agent market for power forwards.
- Zach Links examines Kris Humphries in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- An examination of the free agent market for centers.
- A look at which teams are making the most use of the 10-day contract.
- Aaron Brooks is looked at by Luke Adams in our Free Agent Stock Watch series.
- I posted a poll asking who the league MVP should be. Based on your votes, Kevin Durant is the overwhelming favorite.
- Luke Adams asks who the second-best draft prospect is.
- A list of players who will leave school early to enter the 2012 draft.
- Daniel Seco asks if inactivity at the trade deadline may have hurt the Sixers.
- Sean Highkin asks if Stan Van Gundy will last the season in Orlando.
- I ask who will win the defensive player of the year.
- Highkin asks if the Knicks will re-sign Jeremy Lin.
- Zach Links takes a look around various NBA blogs to see what's going on in his weekly Hoops Links feature.
- Chuck Myron examines how the Spurs have been so successful.
- Jared Sullinger is profiled in our Prospect Profile series.
- Ryan Raroque looks at Steve Novak's situation in free agency.
- Thomas Robinson is profiled in our Prospect Profile series.
Odds & Ends: Van Gundy, Jazz, Suns, Bradley
Judging from the NBA's past, head coaches rarely win out when they battle superstar players. Going from this, it's assumed that Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy will not be working in Orlando next season. ESPN.com's John Hollinger takes a look at a few possible destinations for Van Gundy should he soon leave his current position (Insider piece). Ira Winderman from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says the chance of Van Gundy making a return to Miami are next to nothing.
- HoopsWorld.com's Derek Page assumes this summer's trade market could be full of high impact players like Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Shawn Marion, Pau Gasol, and Kevin Martin.
- The Bay Area News Group's Marcus Thompson recently tweeted a statement from Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor saying that his team absolutely would not tank games in order to keep the Warriors draft pick, which is top 7 protected.
- Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic with a nice piece about Sebastian Telfair, Michael Redd, and the unlikely success that the Suns are having with everyone in their backcourt not named Steve Nash.
- Steve Marsh wrote an enthralling piece on Grantland about Ricky Rubio, and how the Timberwolves are dealing with his season ending knee injury.
- Celtics guard Avery Bradley has been a defensive force lately, and teams are starting to game plan against him, writes CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely.
Donnie Walsh To Explore General Manager Options
Longtime general manager Donnie Walsh is interested in re-entering the profession on a full-time basis, according to CBSSports.com's Ken Berger. Walsh is still under contract with the Knicks, but has been granted permission by the organization to explore other opportunities with other organizations.
Walsh's current contract as a consultant with New York will expire on June 30. According to Berger, the 71-year-old executive will first look at the Trail Blazers, as they are soon believed to be conducting a search for a long-term general manager. But should something open up in Indiana, where rumors have recently been swirling of Larry Bird possibly stepping down from his general manger position, Walsh would strongly consider returning to the team he used to run.
Walsh will not speak with any teams until their general manager position is officially open, but some other options might be with the Wizards and Magic. Also, according to Berger, it's just a coincidence that the Knicks gave Walsh permission to seek work elsewhere on the same day that his predecessor as Knicks president, Isiah Thomas, was fired as coach of Florida International University.
Draft Update: Moultrie
According to a tweet from Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com, Mississippi State's Arnett Moultrie has officially declared for the NBA draft. The 6'11" junior has been projected for selection from mid-lottery to late first round.
Moultrie first made his intentions to declare public last week, but there was some talk of him entering a graduate program elsewhere and applying for a waiver to play one more year of college basketball.
Last season he averaged 16.4 PPG and 10.5 RPG on 54.9% shooting from the floor.
Poll: Who Will Win Defensive Player Of The Year?
With the public's general opinion on Dwight Howard taking a turn for the worst in light of yesterday's comments by his head coach, Stan Van Gundy, are Howard's chances of winning a fourth straight Defensive Player of the Year award suffering? Or is it still his award to lose?
Odds & Ends: Calipari, Bucks, McGee, Stern
- The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Michael Hunt writes that with the cap room they were afforded after they traded Andrew Bogut, the Bucks will make a strong push to re-sign free agent Ersan Ilyasova this offseason. But that they can't afford to pay him $10MM a year. If another team, like New Jersey, makes a run, Milwaukee would be wise to spend their money on a cheaper big man option.
- HoopsWorld.com's Alex Kennedy writes about how shocked former Wizard JaVale McGee was when he found out he was traded to Denver.
- Lakers center Andrew Bynum has been in the news for some unwise decision making lately. So much so that the team decided to fine him an undisclosed sum of money following last week's game against Golden State. Despite the immediate controversy, L.A.'s general manager Mitch Kupchak came out today and said Bynum was still a major part of the team's future plans, and that they still intend to exercise his $16.1MM team option next season, according to the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan.
- In his weekly mailbag, The Dallas Morning News' Eddie Sefko talked about how the Mavericks' might approach the future, specifically their involvement in the draft and how they'll deal with some of their young players.
- Today, SI.com's Sam Amick wrote a piece about how despite Minnesota's recent demise due to multiple injuries, the team still has a bright future. Financially they have flexibility by way of the amnesty provision, and Darko Milicic could be a prime candidate.
- Sean Deveney of Sporting News says that recent call ups from the D-League could have a major influence in this year's playoffs.
- In an Associated Press report, Commissioner David Stern said he'd "love to add a year" in relation to the league's age limit. Right now, all American players must be 19-years-old and one year removed from high school.
- Since joining the Grizzlies, Gilbert Arenas has shown he can play the role of mature veteran, writes NBA.com's Steve Aschburner. One interesting note from the story is Arenas saying New Jersey "kept calling" him. Most likely with hopes to lure Dwight Howard.
- Utah head coach Tyrone Corbin says he likes the mismatches his team can create playing Paul Millsap at small forward, writes The Salt Lake Tribune's Steve Luhm.
- Chicago general manager Gar Forman said that talks to extend head coach Tom Thibodeau were initiated before this season started, and that they'll resume once it's over, according to ESPNChicago.com.
Poll: Who Is The NBA’s MVP?
With only a few weeks left in the NBA’s regular season, the MVP race is starting to heat up. Who do you think is most deserving?