Latest On Sacramento Arena Plan
The latest links surrounding the proposed arena deal to keep the Kings in Sacramento:
Draft Update: Melo, McAdoo, Canaan
The latest news about the 2012 NBA draft from around the web:
- The Associated Press reports (via ESPN) that Syracuse center Fab Melo will enter the draft, as expected.
- North Carolina forward James Michael McAdoo will return to UNC for his sophomore season, TarHeelBlue.com reports.
- Isaiah Canaan is also returning to Murray State for his senior season, tweets Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com.
- HoopsWorld's Yannis Koutroupis lists Iowa State forward Royce White, St. Bonaventure forward Andrew Nicholson, and Kentucky guard Marquis Teague among several other players who may have played themselves into first-round pick status over the course of the NCAA tournament.
Warriors Sign Mickell Gladness
The Warriors have officially signed Mickell Gladness to a 10-day contract, according to a team release. The Warriors reportedly had been set to sign J.J. Hickson, but the forward was unexpectedly claimed by Portland before he could clear waivers.
Gladness, 25, signed a pair of 10-day contracts with the Heat this season, appearing in eight games for Miami. Over the last three seasons, he has played mostly in the D-League, averaging 4.6 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 81 career D-League contests.
Scott Schroeder of RidiculousUpside.com first reported that the Warriors would sign Gladness.
Celtics Frontrunners To Sign Hollins
The Boston Herald is reporting that the Celtics are considered by league sources to be the frontrunners to land free agent center Ryan Hollins when he clears waivers.
Hollins was waived on Tuesday by the Cavaliers, and the Celtics have been rumored to be interested, especially in light of the news that Jermaine O'Neal will miss the remainder of the season.
Hollins, 27, averaged 3.7 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 24 games with the Cavaliers this season. He is in the final year of a three-year deal worth $7MM, and is making $2.4MM this season. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Reactions To The Ronny Turiaf Signing
On Wednesday, the Miami Heat signed center Ronny Turiaf for the remainder of the 2011/12 season. Here's a roundup of reactions to the signing from around the media:
- Fox Sports Florida's Chris Tomasson thinks Turiaf could help the Heat, who needed frontcourt depth.
- ESPN.com's Tom Haberstroh points out how low-risk the signing was, and believes Turiaf is an offensive upgrade over Joel Anthony.
Odds & Ends: Kaman, Gee, Arenas
The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Wednesday night:
- NBA.com's David Aldridge reports (via Twitter) that the Hornets' stated plan to finish out the season with Chris Kaman, rather than pursuing a buyout, has not changed.
- Cavaliers coach Byron Scott told the Plain-Dealer's Tom Reed (Twitter link) that the team views Alonzo Gee as a long-term piece going forward. Gee is set to become a restricted free agent this summer.
- Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace told radio host Chris Vernon (Twitter link) that the seed for his signing of Gilbert Arenas was planted by a blog post that was sent to him.
Blazers Claim J.J. Hickson Off Waivers
5:44pm: The Oregonian's Joe Freeman claims (via Twitter) that the Blazers will waive Mehmet Okur to clear a roster spot for Hickson. The forward is in the final year of his contract and is making $2.3MM this season, meaning he fits into the trade exception the Blazers acquired from Houston in the Marcus Camby trade last week. Hickson will be a restricted free agent this summer.
5:15pm: SI.com's Sam Amick tweets that the Trail Blazers have been awarded free agent forward J.J. Hickson through the waiver process.
Hickson, who was bought out by the Kings on Monday, was previously expected to sign with the Warriors provided he cleared waivers.
The Blazers have a full 15-man roster, meaning they will have to cut a player to make room for Hickson.
Odds & Ends: Beasley, Bucks, Spurs, Nash
The latest news and notes from around the NBA on Thursday night:
- The Minneapolis Star Tribune's Jerry Zgoda talked to Michael Beasley, who was shopped heavily by the Timberwolves prior to the trade deadline. Beasley would like to remain in Minnesota past this season but recognizes that it is not in his control.
- The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Michael Hunt believes the trade of Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown makes sense for the Bucks in both the short and the long term.
- Spurs GM R.C. Buford hints that there may be another roster move to come, as reported by the San Antonio Express-News's Tim Griffin.
- The Arizona Republic's Paul Coro highlights the loyalty Steve Nash has displayed to the Suns as something that distinguishes him from other stars in the league.
Hornets To Keep Kaman?
New Orleans Hornets GM Dell Demps told the Times-Picayune's Jimmy Smith that the Hornets do not plan to buy out center Chris Kaman after failing to trade him before Thursday's deadline.
"Everything is always a possibility," Demps said. "I mean there's no reason to say I'm certain, 100 percent sure. There's always a possibility. I never want to say never. But our intention is to keep Chris."
Kaman, who is in the final year of a contract paying him $14MM this season, was one of the most talked-about trade pieces leading up to the deadline, with speculation that a buyout was likely if the Hornets did not move him. He would have then become a very attractive free agent signee for a contending team, with the Heat and Celtics rumored to be showing interest. However, Demps' comments indicate that this isn't the plan and he will remain in New Orleans for the rest of the season.
Colangelo On Raptors’ Moves
Raptors President and General Manager Bryan Colangelo spoke with HoopsWorld's Stephen Brotherston about the reasoning behind today's trade that sent Leandro Barbosa to the Pacers for cash and a second-round pick.
“I viewed this as a great opportunity for Leandro to go to a playoff team, a young upstart team that really does need some scoring punch off the bench right now. It is an Eastern Conference team and that would normally not be something that I’d like to do, take care of a team like that, but this is really a positive situation, not only for Leandro but positive for us.”
Colangelo touted the draft pick the Raptors received and the cap room Barbosa freed up as incentives for making the deal. Barbosa will make $7.6MM this season and become an unrestricted free agent this summer.