Prospective Buyer Emerges For Hornets
Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune reports that a California-based businessman named Raj Bhathal is heading up a new ownership group that is expected to make a strong push to purchase the New Orleans Hornets. The 72-year-old Bhathal founded a swimwear manufacturing company in 1972 and previously owned a franchise in the now-defunct World League of American Football.
Bhathal's group has some local ties in the form of partner Larry J. Benson, another former WLAF owner whose brother, Tom, owns the Saints. Former NBA coach and executive Mike Dunleavy is also in the group.
The NBA, which currently owns the Hornets, has expressed a strong desire for the team to remain in New Orleans, and would require any prospective buyer to sign a 10-year lease extension to stay through 2024.
NBA commissioner David Stern said earlier this week that he believes a deal to buy the Hornets will be in place in the next couple of weeks.
Steve Nash Open To Re-Signing With Suns
Steve Nash has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain in Phoenix through the end of the 2011/12 season, when his contract expires. However, it has long been assumed that upon becoming an unrestricted free agent this summer, the two-time MVP would look to sign with a contender. But a recent Associated Press interview (via ESPN.com) found Nash expressing a desire to stay with the Suns beyond this season.
According to Nash, two things would have to happen for him to re-sign: first, they would have to offer him a substantial contract, as he indicated that he is not willing to take a pay cut to re-sign; second, Nash wants the team to acquire new players and make a move towards playoff contention.
Nash, 38, will make approximately $11.6MM this season, the final year of a two-year, $22MM contract extension he signed in summer 2009.
J.R. Smith Plans To Stay With Knicks
Before Thursday night's game game against the Heat, new Knick J.R. Smith told FoxSports.com's Chris Tomasson (via Tomasson's Twitter feed) that he plans to pick up his player option and remain with the Knicks for the 2012/13 season.
Upon returning from a stint in China, Smith signed a two-year contract with the Knicks last week worth a pro-rated version of the $2.5MM mini mid-level exception. The contract included a player option for next season also worth $2.5MM.
Chris Paul Commits To Player Option
Chris Paul appeared on Jim Rome's radio show recently and stated that he intends to stay with the Clippers for the 2012/13 season, Matt Moore of CBSSports.com reports. Paul has the ability to opt out of his contract this summer and become an unrestricted free agent, but this possibility has not been discussed much recently because the Clippers traded for him in December assuming he would not do so. Thus, it comes as no surprise that he told Rome he plans to stay in Los Angeles at least through next season. However, hearing it directly out of Paul's mouth is encouraging for the Clippers organization and fans.
Kevin Durant Parts Ways With Agent
SATURDAY: Durant is considering signing with Jeff Schwartz, Rob Pelinka, or CAA, sources tell Chris Broussard of ESPN.com (via Twitter).
FRIDAY, 7:05pm: The Associated Press reports (via ESPN.com) that Durant's brother will handle agent duties until he chooses a new representitive.
6:34pm: Kevin Durant confirmed to The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry that he has parted ways with agent Aaron Goodwin (via Mayberry's Twitter).
As a Goodwin client, Durant signed a five-year extension with Oklahoma City before the 2010/11 season that will pay him approximately $86MM and keep him in a Thunder uniform through 2015/16. It is unclear at this point what prompted Durant's decision to drop Goodwin, or who will represent him going forward.
Odds & Ends: Lopez, Seattle, Jackson
Some notes from around the league on Friday night:
- Andy Vasquez of The Record reports that Brook Lopez may make his 2011/12 season debut tomorrow against the Bulls. Lopez has not played this year and is often mentioned as the centerpiece of a potential Dwight Howard deal for the Nets.
- The proposal is in place for a new NBA arena in Seattle, but the AP's Tim Booth points out that there are still hurdles to be cleared before the plan can progress.
- Stephen Jackson tells HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy that he is frustrated with his playing time in Milwaukee and does not foresee sticking around with the Bucks long-term.
- Journeyman Jeff Adrien, who has bounced around the Warriors, Rockets, and D-League since 2010, has signed a deal to play in Russia with Khimki Moscow.
LeBron Stresses Commitment To Heat
LeBron James sparked controversy earlier this week with comments that he would be open to a return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played the first seven seasons of his career. However, on Friday, he clarified these comments, as reported by the Associated Press (via The New York Times):
"I love the fans of Miami. I'm here," he said following Friday's shootaround as the Heat prepared to play the Cavs. "The question was asked of me, could I see myself playing back here. I said yeah, in the sense of I don't know what my future holds and I don't want to take that out. I love the fans of Miami.
"I've got everything thing invested with this team. I'm looking forward to the years to come."
These latest comments are intended to diffuse the firestorm caused by some earlier comments that hinted at a return to the Cavs for James in the future. He signed a six-year deal with the Heat worth $110MM in July 2010 and can opt out after the fourth year, giving him the ability to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2013/14 season.
Sixers Owner Discusses Front Office, Amnesty
Philadelphia 76ers owner Josh Harris discussed a variety of issues relating to the team in a media address before Friday's game against the Mavericks. Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News has the details:
- Harris hinted that the Sixers may look to pursue a big man to replace some of the production of the injured Spencer Hawes, but cautioned that quality, affordable centers are few and far between.
- He praised the work of president Rod Thorn and head coach Doug Collins in putting together a winning organization and building chemistry, and stated he does not believe major moves need to be made at this time.
- On whether the Sixers would ever use the amnesty clause, Harris was noncommittal, saying they would only do it if the right situation arose. Looking at their roster, nobody jumps out as a clear amnesty candidate, as the final year of Andres Nocioni's contract is a team option for $7.5MM for 2012/13. Elton Brand is slated to make approximately $18.1 million in the final year of his deal, but Brand is still productive enough that it is hard to picture Philadelphia exercising the clause.
Felton Frustrated With Role In Portland
6:36pm: Haynes reports that Felton is now claiming his comments were taken out of context, and that he has met with McMillan privately and supports the team's direction.
5:24pm: Raymond Felton is struggling in his first season with the Trail Blazers, and in an interview he gave to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, he seemed to place the blame on Blazers coach Nate McMillan:
“I know I'm struggling, but it's hard to perform the way you know how when you know they don't have confidence in you,” Felton told CSNNW.com. “Never in my days playing basketball, have I felt like a coach wasn't confident in my abilities. It's hard to play knowing that.
"Coming in and out of games is throwing my rhythm off, but it's something that I'll get through."
Felton is in the final season of a two-year, $15.8MM contract he signed with the Knicks before the 2010/11 season. He was traded to the Nuggets in the Carmelo Anthony deal last season and then to Portland in a draft-day deal in 2011 that sent Andre Miller to Denver. He will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
This developing rift between Felton and McMillan, along with the Blazers' struggles in the first half of the season, make them a team that could be in the market for a point guard as next month's trading deadline approaches. A rental of Steve Nash or a trade for Rajon Rondo seems like a long-shot for Portland, but they could target a lower-level stopgap solution to make a playoff run before entering the offseason with a significant amount of cap room.
Knicks Sign J.R. Smith
The New York Knicks have officially announced the signing of J.R. Smith to a two-year contract. An agreement between the Knicks and the veteran guard was announced earlier today. The deal is reportedly worth a pro-rated version of the Knicks' mini mid-level exception, with a player option for the 2012/13 season worth $2.5MM.
Smith played for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association during the NBA lockout, signing a one-year, $3MM contract. He played well, averaging 34.4 PPG, but his team underperformed and did not make the playoffs. Upon announcing his return to the NBA, Smith was linked to the Clippers and Lakers before ultimately deciding on the Knicks.