Draft Notes: Carter-Williams, Burke, Len
In 2003, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim directed a squad led by NBA-hopefuls Hakim Warrick, Gerry McNamara, and freshman Carmelo Anthony through the NCAA tournament and ultimately to a national championship after besting Roy Williams and the Kansas Jayhawks in the final game. Boeheim increased his chances of celebrating the ten-year anniversary of that title win with another one this year, as his Orangemen – headed by first-round prospect Michael Carter-Williams – advanced to the Final Four after defeating Marquette tonight. That aside, here are a few rumblings surrounding some potential draft prospects this year:
- ESPN NBA insider Chad Ford tweets that Carter-Williams is peaking at the right time and could be one of three point guards selected in the top 10 in June.
- Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld discusses how Michigan's Trey Burke has helped his draft stock with a strong tournament thus far, but the same can't be said for Oklahoma State's Marcus Smart or Indiana's Cody Zeller. While Smart and Zeller have been ranked ahead of Burke for the most part, Brigham thinks that the Wolverine point guard could have a chance at leapfrogging both on the draft board this summer.
- Alex Prewitt of The Washington Post takes an in-depth look at Alex Len of Maryland, using advanced stats to gauge the 7'1 center's efficiency as a low-post player.
Iguodala To Likely Opt Out
According to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida, Nuggets swingman Andre Iguodala will likely opt out of his contract this summer. He is currently averaging 12.7 PPG, 5.1 APG, and 5.1 RPG while shooting 44.5% from the field in 34.4 MPG.
Though Iguodala is eligible $16.1MM player option next year, Tomasson writes that the ninth-year veteran would rather sign a multi-year deal that pays him less next season but brings a long-term commitment:
“Yeah, definitely…You got to weigh options. Security-wise, a player would opt, especially with the type of season we’ve had as a team. Teams know what I can bring to them, and I know (the Nuggets) know what I can bring to a team here…Players get like $50, $60 or $70 or $80 (million over multiple years), whatever the number was, they gave up a big number (in an option season by opting out). But in the grand scheme of things, pretty much get it back. You got security.’’
The University of Arizona product offered no guarantees that he would stay in Denver beyond this season if he opts out, but added that he likes the direction that the team is headed:
“Obviously, it’s a business, so you’re going to look at your options. Here we have some good (prospects). But I’m not making any promises. But I’ve liked the last month and a half, two months, three months or however long (that Denver has been on a roll). It’s important for the future, so I’m just trying to win.’’
Odds & Ends: Webster, Wright, Pachulia
In his Weekend Dime piece, ESPN's Marc Stein writes that one of the main reasons for the Wizards dealing Jordan Crawford for Leandro Barbosa's expiring contract – despite Barbosa being out from a season ending injury – was to create more flexibility to increase their chances of retaining Martell Webster this summer. The former Seattle Prep star is arguably having his best pro season in Washington this year, putting up career bests in scoring (11.7), free throw percentage (86.4%), field goal percentage (45.4%), and three-point percentage (43.3%) in 29.3 MPG. Here are a few more tidbits from around the league tonight:
- Aggrey Sam of CSN Chicago (via Twitter) expects Mavericks big man Brandan Wright to be an under-the-radar commodity this summer as an unrestricted free agent.
- Hawks center Zaza Pachulia – projected to be out six months after season ending surgery next week – says that he hasn't thought about his future and adds, "I'm still part of this team until July 31," tweets Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution.
- Derek Page of HoopsWorld held his weekly chat with readers this afternoon, discussing how Nerlens Noel and Cody Zeller are his top overall draft prospects and that the Mavericks won't rebuild until Dirk Nowitzki is finished playing, among other topics.
- Looking back at the summer of 2010, former Suns GM Steve Kerr says that he, along with Phoenix brass and their medical staff, agreed that a large financial commitment to Amare Stoudemire would not have been prudent considering the possible health issues down the line (Frank Isola of the New York Daily News).
Larkin Expected To Test Draft Waters
University of Miami guard Shane Larkin is expected to submit his name for this year's NBA Draft with the possibility of withdrawing, says Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida.
After seeing about an 11 MPG increase in playing time in 2012-13, the 5'11 sophomore nearly doubled his scoring and assists averages relative to his freshman season, producing 14.5 PPG and 4.6 APG this year (compared to 7.4 and 2.5 in 2011-12). Larkin's field goal percentages (47.9% overall and 40.6% from long range) along with a two steals per game are worth noting as well.
Byron Larkin, Shane's uncle and adviser, spoke about the likelihood that his nephew tests the draft waters: “That’s probably what is going to happen…That’s what they’re going to do. You want to get as much information as possible. We’ll probably have (Miami coach Jim) Larranaga get some opinions on where he stands and he’ll sit down with Shane."
Larranaga, who has already spoken to some NBA personnel and hears that it's too early to determine where Larkin could be drafted, also agreed that Shane would likely submit his name into consideration. Though there is no final decision as of right now, the general feeling is that there is no harm in getting a feel for his standing as a draft prospect, whether or not Larkin decides to stay in Miami or leave for the NBA soon.
Bobcats To Re-Sign Jannero Pargo
SATURDAY, 11:36am: The Bobcats have re-signed Pargo to a second 10-day contract, according to Bonnell (via Twitter).
FRIDAY, 6:02pm: Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports that the Bobcats will re-sign Jannero Pargo to a second 10-day contract, and whether or not they decide to keep him further than that will depend on the health status of Ramon Sessions (Twitter links). Sessions has been recovering from a sprained MCL he suffered earlier this month, and faced a timetable of two to four weeks.
In four games for Charlotte, Pargo has averaged 10 PPG and 3.3 APG while shooting 44.8% from the field and a remarkable 55.6% from long range on 4.5 attempts per game. He's also scored in double figures in three consecutive contests for the Bobcats.
Martin “Would Love” To Re-Sign With Knicks
Ian Begley of ESPN New York tweets that Kenyon Martin plans to play next year and "would love" to re-sign with the Knicks. In ten games with New York, the former number one draft pick has been averaging 7.7 PPG, 5.1 RPG. 1.1 steals per game, and nearly one block in 22.7 minutes per night.
It had been a rough year for Martin, who started the season looking for a contract worth the mini-mid level exception but found no takers. Even after he conceded to playing for a minimum contract, the 35-year-old forward struggled to find an offer before New York managed to clear a roster spot to sign him earlier this month. Now Martin's production could not have come at a better time, as the team has been dealing with injuries to Amare Stoudemire, Rasheed Wallace, and Kurt Thomas.
Odds & Ends: Ayon, Brooks, Mavericks
Bucks center Gustavo Ayon expressed some frustration about not being able to find court time in Milwaukee, and told reporters that he could return to Europe when his contract runs out, writes Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel. Though coach Jim Boylan reportedly likes what he sees from the Mexican-born center, there hasn't been enough practice time to incorporate him into the rotation. We've got a few more tidbits to share from around the league tonight, and you can find them below:
- In addition to wondering what the 76ers will do with Andrew Bynum, Tom Moore of Philly Burbs also ponders the future of Evan Turner, who will be eligible for an $8.7MM qualifying offer after he finishes his fourth year option worth $6.7MM next season. Moore adds that if Turner doesn't figure to be in the team's plans, the Sixers could look to trade him this summer or during next year's trade deadline.
- HoopsWorld's Derek Page held his weekly chat with fans earlier today, and here are some of the highlights: he sees DeMarcus Cousins as a max-level player, thinks Josh Smith could be the biggest name to move in free agency, predicts that Dwight Howard and Chris Paul remain in Los Angeles beyond this season, and isn't sure that O.J. Mayo or Tyreke Evans are long-term solutions for the Mavericks.
- Darnell Mayberry of NewsOK delves into what could have been as he revisits Scott Brooks' challenging contract negotiations with the Thunder last summer, and discussing the possibility that he could have joined the Trail Blazers.
- Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram reeled in some quotes about upcoming free agency from Mavericks owner Mark Cuban: "Our goal is to win championships, not win the summer, and so we have to see what’s available and what’s out there…We do the same thing we do every year and be opportunistic. We’re going to be opportunistic, and depending on how things go, we’ll make our decision."
Injury Notes: Gasol, Noah, Garnett, Lee
There aren't very many games left in the regular season, and the playoff picture in both conferences could look drastically different by mid-April with plenty of teams close together in the standings as of today. While it's not usual for us to focus on injuries, we have a few significant notes worth mentioning tonight:
- Pistons rookie big man Andre Drummond could be close to returning after a 21-game absence, says David Mayo of MLive. Although the Pistons aren't in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, a few more regular season games couldn't hurt the former UConn product's development if healthy.
- Clippers guard Chauncey Billups is still day-to-day with a groin strain but could return on Tuesday against the Mavericks, writes Arash Markazi of ESPN Los Angeles.
- Mike Bresnahan of the LA Times tweets that Lakers forward Antawn Jamison has ligament damage in his right wrist. Although he'll try to play through it, Jamison probably faces surgery in the offseason.
- According to Ken Berger of CBS Sports (via Twitter), the Grizzlies have announced that center Marc Gasol will be out indefinitely after re-aggravating an abdominal tear last night against the Hornets. Though they are ahead of the sixth place Warriors by a comfortable margin in the standings, Memphis is separated from the third place Nuggets by one game and the fourth place Clippers by just half a game.
- Joakim Noah will sit both of the Bulls' games this weekend as he continues to deal with plantar fasciitis in his right foot, says Nick Friedell of ESPN Chicago. The team is currently one game behind the fifth-place Hawks and a half game ahead of the Celtics.
- Greg Payne of ESPN Boston says that both Courtney Lee and Kevin Garnett are individually recovering from sprained left ankles. There doesn't appear to be a sense that those injuries are expected to keep either out for an extended period of time, but with just 14 games left and Boston currently on a three-game slide, missing two key rotation players can't necessarily help.
- Knicks center Tyson Chandler has already missed six straight games due to a neck strain, and is still considered day-to-day (Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York reports). New York still remains atop the Atlantic Division, and while they are only one game behind the Pacers for second place in the East, the fourth place Nets aren't too far behind in their rear view mirror (1.5 games).
Maynor Unlikely To Receive Qualifying Offer
Joe Freeman of The Oregonian writes that while Eric Maynor has been a solid addition for the Trail Blazers, it isn't likely that Portland would offer him the $3.4MM qualifying offer that he's eligible for this summer. However, Freeman writes that a more plausible scenario would involve the Blazers to allow Maynor to become an unrestricted free agent in order to let the market set his value, which is how they handled J.J. Hickson's free agency before he ultimately returned to the team.
With plenty of contracts set to expire in the offseason, Portland expects to have a significant amount of cap space to have at their disposal. However, Maynor's $5.85MM cap hold would significantly eat into the team's flexibility, which explains why they could prefer to relinquish their rights over him as a restricted free agent. The 6'3 guard, who has seen his playing time nearly double since being acquired from the Thunder, has put up 7.1 PPG and 3.6 APG for the Blazers in 14 games.
Sacramento Finalizes Bid, Arena Proposal
Sam Amick of USA Today reports that the prospective ownership-group led by Vivek Ranadive, Mark Mastrov, and Ron Burkle have agreed on a deal with the city of Sacramento for a new bid that will be presented to the Board of Governors meeting on April 3. Among the near billion dollars that will go toward purchasing the team, creating a new arena, and local real estate development, $190MM is expected to go toward the arena, which Amick notes is $58MM more than what the Maloof brothers and the NBA had originally agreed on last year before the deal fell through.
According to an ESPN report (via the Associated Press), Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson announced that the city of Sacramento and the Ranadive-Mastrov-Burkle investment group have agreed on an arena deal worth $448MM. The City Council is expected to vote on the non-binding term sheet on Tuesday. If passed, the city would contribute $258MM through leasing parking garages and land. Amick adds that Sacramento's general fund would not be affected and no new taxes would be involved.
Ranadive's involvement bodes very well for the Sacramento investors, especially after David Stern had recently commented that the initial bid presented under the leadership of Mark Mastrov needed to be increased. While the official size of the updated offer is yet to be announced, it is expected to meet Stern's expectations. Amick writes that the addition of Ranadive into the picture and the infusion of cash that accompanied him were exactly what was needed in the 11th hour for those working hard to keep the Kings.