Brigham On Brooks, Buyouts, Bynum
Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld has a new column that surveys several topics from around the NBA, including info on several buyout candidates. Here are the highlights:
- Brigham writes that Aaron Brooks was frustrated with his minutes with the Kings, leading to Sacramento's decision to buy him out. Brooks is expected to sign with the Rockets when he clears waivers.
- The only team that showed interest in Omri Casspi was the Rockets, meaning a buyout did not make sense for Casspi and the Cavaliers.
- Brigham disputes rumors that the Lakers were interested in Raja Bell, writing that although Bell has a relationship with Mike D'Antoni and Steve Nash, the front office was hesitant to add yet more salary to the team's payroll.
- Brigham writes that Andrew Bynum will command a max contract this summer, and it may be best for the Sixers to cut their losses rather than re-up with the oft-injured big man.
D-League Moves: Jones, West
Today's NBA D-League assignments and recalls all in one place:
- Veteran guard Delonte West, who remains unsigned by any NBA team, will report to the Texas Legends on Monday, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers have assigned rookie forward Kevin Jones to the Canton Charge of the D-League, the team announced in a press release. Jones has appeared in 19 games for the Cavs and is averaging 2.1 PPG and 1.7 RPG. He was recalled from the D-League on Friday.
Hornets Expected To Sign Henry Sims
The New Orleans Hornets are expected to sign center Henry Sims of the D-League's Erie Bayhawks to a 10-day contract, John Reid of the Times Picayune reports.
Following the announcement that Jason Smith would miss the remainder of the season with a torn labrum, it was reported that the Hornets were looking to add another big man.
Sims has averaged 17.1 PPG and 9.0 RPG with the Bayhawks this season and has never played in an NBA game.
Heat Considering Juwan Howard
9:26am: Ira Winderman of the Miami Herald tweets that Howard has been around the Heat all season and has hinted in the past that re-signing was a possibility if they needed him.
8:22am: The Miami Heat are seriously considering re-signing veteran forward Juwan Howard, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports. Howard, 40, played for the Heat the past two seasons, and won a championship with the team in 2012, but he has remained unsigned this year.
The Heat have an open roster spot they could use on Howard, having moved forward Dexter Pittman to the Grizzlies at the trade deadline. Howard's respected veteran presence and experience make him a desirable acquisition for a Heat team heavily favored to repeat as Eastern Conference champions.
Odds & Ends: Coach K, Howard, Harkless, Rookies
A roundup of the latest news and notes from around the NBA on Tuesday evening:
- Mike Krzyzewski has issued a statement refuting recent reports that he will return as head coach of Team USA, reiterating that he intends to stay retired (Reuters report via the New York Times).
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes that the Mavericks should be an attractive free-agent destination for Dwight Howard this summer.
- Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld is impressed with Maurice Harkless' recent play as he has been given a greater opportunity for minutes on the rebuilding Magic.
- Sean Deveney of the Sporting News ranks the best rookies of this season, headlined by Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard.
- Erik Gundersen of TrailBlazers.com chronicles the relationship between Trail Blazers guards Wesley Matthews and Eric Maynor, dating back to their rookie season together in Utah.
- Amir Johnson praises Cavs big man Tristan Thompson to Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun.
- Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com wonders whether the Celtics could have traded for Marcus Morris from the Rockets.
Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Gay, Bynum
With the Knicks, Celtics, and Nets all in playoff contention, the Atlantic Division is one of the busiest and most interesting in the NBA this season. Here are the latest notes and rumors from around the division:
- Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun writes that the Raptors cannot afford any more setbacks if they are to become playoff contenders going forward.
- Zicarelli also writes that Rudy Gay has taken on a leadership role in Toronto since being traded from the Grizzlies last month.
- Marc Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Andrew Bynum's absence and the uncertainty surrounding his return have been a distraction for the Sixers both this season and as they plan for free agency this summer.
Zillgitt On Wizards, Rockets, Redick, FIBA
Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today has a new column in which he touches on a variety of topics from around the NBA and elsewhere in the basketball world. Here are the highlights:
- Wizards head coach Randy Wittman talks to Zillgitt about the difficulty of keeping the locker room engaged as Washington heads towards another losing season.
- Zillgitt takes a look at the Rockets' offense, which has vaulted them into the thick of the playoff race behind the explosive play of James Harden.
- Zillgitt also gives an update on the status of Royce White, who has struggled in the D-League but does not concern the Rockets organization.
- The Magic received excellent value in return for J.J. Redick, Zillgitt writes. He praises the aquisition of cheap, young assets in Doron Lamb and Tobias Harris, as well as a capable veteran with an expiring contract in Beno Udrih.
- Many international players in the NBA are looking ahead to FIBA's Eurobasket tournament this summer, Zillgitt writes.
Northwest Notes: Jazz, Maynor, Fisher
The latest news and notes from around the Northwest Division on Tuesday evening:
- Bill Oram of the Salt Lake Tribune examines the futures of Jazz big men Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap, both of whom were rumored to be dealt at the trade deadline and will be unrestricted free agents.
- John Rohde of the Oklahoman explains how the Thunder's trade of Eric Maynor to the Trail Blazers freed up the necessary money to sign Derek Fisher.
- Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman writes that several Mavericks players are suspicious of Fisher's motivations for signing with the Thunder after asking to be waived by Dallas earlier in the season.
Bucks Will Not Buy Out Dalembert
The Milwaukee Bucks will not buy out center Samuel Dalembert, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports (via Twitter). Milwaukee tried to move the veteran center before last week's trade deadline with no success, leading to some speculation that they would buy him out to clear minutes for young big men John Henson, Larry Sanders, and Ekpe Udoh.
Dalembert, 31, is averaging 7.0 PPG and 5.8 RPG in the final year of a two-year contract he signed before the 2011/12 season. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Brandon Jennings Interested In Joining Mavs
Over the weekend, the New York Daily News reported mutual interest between Milwaukee Bucks guard Brandon Jennings and the Dallas Mavericks. Now, Jennings has acknowledged his admiration for the Mavs' roster and owner Mark Cuban, and his willingness to play in Dallas, in an interview with Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News:
“Yeah, of course,” Jennings said when asked if he could see himself fitting in Dallas. “You’ve got Dirk Nowitzki, you’ve got O.J. Mayo, Elton Brand, Chris Kaman.
“Who wouldn’t want to play in an environment like this every night? You’ve got an owner who’s so into his team and everything like that. Every time you see the Mavs, you see [Cuban] cheering or going crazy. They won a championship. They’re about winning.”
Jennings is set to become a restricted free agent this summer, meaning the Bucks will have the ability to match any offer the fourth-year guard signs. He is averaging 18.9 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 6.1 APG this season.