Northwest Notes: Nuggets, Thunder, Wolves
D.J. Augustin proved to have the ability to learn on the fly in his Nuggets debut on Friday and will have to continue to play well because he is the primary backup at point guard, behind Emmanuel Mudiay, Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post writes. Augustin had eight points, six assists and three steals in 19 minutes as the reserve point guard Friday despite dealing with a hectic 24 hours, Dempsey details. Nuggets point guard Jameer Nelson remains out with a wrist injury and there is no clear timetable for his return. The Nuggets acquired Augustin from the Thunder Thursday in exchange for Randy Foye.
Here’s more from around the Northwest Division:
- Speaking of Foye, his addition to the Thunder doesn’t seem to move the needle much, but his versatility as a back-up shooting guard and capable point guard gives Oklahoma City another option off the bench, at the very least, Royce Young of ESPN.com explains.
- That trade, which involved the Thunder moving Steve Novak as well, helps the franchise from a financial perspective, as Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman details. The Thunder saved about $9.8MM when adding the remaining $1.3MM on Novak’s contract and the $8.5MM taken off the Thunder’s luxury tax bill by clearing him off the books, Slater relays.
- Wolves interim coach Sam Mitchell deserves to lead the team beyond this season because of the way Minnesota improved heading into the All-Star break, Sid Hartman of The Star Tribune argues. There remains a lot of hope for the second half of the season for the Wolves because their young players have started to mesh well together under Mitchell’s guidance, Hartman adds.
Central Notes: Pistons, Cavs, Bulls
The Pistons have asked for a 24-hour extension of the typical 72-hour trade window to further evaluate Donatas Motiejunas’ back condition, Detroit coach/executive Stan Van Gundy told reporters, including Keith Langlois of NBA.com (Twitter link). There is a chance that the trade could be voided, but Rod Beard of the Detroit News tweets the possibility of that is “small.” The Pistons’ request has not been approved yet, as David Mayo of MLive points out (on Twitter). The 72-hour window would end tonight and the extension would push that deadline to Monday night. The Pistons acquired Motiejunas and Marcus Thornton from the Rockets as part of a three-team trade Thursday involving the Sixers, despite acknowledging the risk that came with adding Motiejunas because of his persistent back issues. The Pistons have consulted with a back specialist in addition to several doctors, which has contributed to the delay, Beard tweets.
Here’s more from around the Central Division:
- The Bulls are currently the front-runners to re-sign Pau Gasol this summer, but the way Chicago finishes the season will hold weight, and the center revealed the coaching change from Tom Thibodeau to Fred Hoiberg will also factor into his decision, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times relays.
- The Cavs should have retained Anderson Varejao because of his selfless attitude and willingness to accept a diminished role in a quest toward a championship, Chris Haynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group and the Cleveland Plain Dealer opines. The Cavs acquired Channing Frye and traded Varejao to the Trail Blazers in a deal that was officially structured as two separate trades. The Blazers then waived Varejao. Haynes wonders if adding Frye significantly improves the Cavs and if his presence was worth moving Varejao, who has played his entire 13-year career in Cleveland.
- LeBron James was not consulted by the Cavs front office before Varejao was moved, according to Joe Vardon of the Northeast Ohio Media Group. James has referred to Varejao as one of his favorite teammates, as Vardon notes.
Eastern Notes: Gasol, Knicks, Heat
The Bulls plan to make a run at re-signing Pau Gasol this summer, Chicago GM Gar Forman told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Gasol intends to use his player option to become a free agent this summer, but added the Bulls are the front-runners to re-sign him, Johnson notes in a full story. The Bulls turned down at least two offers for Gasol, according to Johnson.
“This is where I wanted to be and where I want to be right now. I don’t want to give up on this team just because we’re going through some difficulties and challenges right now,” Gasol said. “Things really haven’t turned out the way I wanted them to. But at the same time, there are things that I couldn’t anticipate. All I can do is continue to give my best. And I do still believe we can still turn this thing around a little bit or a lot and put ourselves in a good position.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- The Bucks made a run at Dwight Howard within the last 24 hours before the deadline, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports said on The Vertical online trade deadline show, as RealGM transcribes. The talks broke down because Howard wouldn’t pick up his player option for next season, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
- The Knicks rejected an offer from the Rockets involving point guard Patrick Beverley because the asking price of a first-round pick and two rotation players was too high, Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops tweets.
- The Heat made attempts to add a rotation player, but changed course and looked for ways to cut costs after realizing a deal was not going to be made, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports (on Twitter). Miami got beneath the tax threshold and the specter of repeat-offender penalties with its moves today.
Western Rumors: Anderson, Rockets, Lakers
The price New Orleans has set for Ryan Anderson is “exorbitant,” tweets Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal. The Cavs were one of several teams linked to having interest in acquiring Anderson, who is set to be a free agent this summer. Anderson is expected to attract a salary starting at $16MM-$18MM when he hits the market this summer. It’s interesting to note how much the Pelicans are asking for Anderson because they aren’t even sure if they can keep him beyond this season.
Here is more trade deadline news from the Western Conference:
- The Rockets have been gauging the value of point guard Patrick Beverley, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
- P.J. Tucker is one of the Suns‘ top assets, but he has been told he will not be traded, according to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.
- The Lakers have taken calls regarding Roy Hibbert, but they don’t intend to buy him out if he is not dealt, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.com tweets. Most teams interested in Brandon Bass and Hibbert would force the Lakers to take back unattractive contracts, Shelburne also tweets.
- Mike Conley‘s first choice when he hits free agency this summer is to stay with the Grizzlies, Sean Deveney of The Sporting News reports.
Eastern Rumors: Teague, Gasol, Nets
- The Nets never wound up interviewing Wizards senior VP of basketball operations Tommy Sheppard despite asking Washington’s permission to do so, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
- Knicks GM Steve Mills spoke with the Timberwolves about Ricky Rubio, but the Knicks believe Minnesota won’t deal him, and while New York contacted the Rockets about Ty Lawson, neither dialogue is active, reports Marc Berman of the New York Post.
- The Celtics have thus far been unwilling to pay a premium for Al Horford or Dwight Howard, sources tell Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
- The Bucks have reached out to the Sixers about Kendall Marshall but haven’t made progress on that front, reports Wojnarowski (Twitter link).
- Pau Gasol confirmed today the Bulls are in the lead to re-sign him when he opts out, as expected, this summer, tweets K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. An earlier report indicated he preferred to join forces with Marc Gasol on the Grizzlies.
- The Pistons are still deliberating on their point guard situation, Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press hears (Twitter link).
- The Magic are expected to make a big push this summer for Horford, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com tweets.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Mavs, Celtics Call Nets About Thaddeus Young
12:08pm: Mavs GM Donnie Nelson told reporters, including Tim Cato of SB Nation, that Dallas will not be making any moves (link to Twitter).
11:25am: The Celtics also reached out to the Nets about Young, Fischer tweets.
10:54am: The Mavericks have spoken to the Nets to gauge the availability of Thaddeus Young, who has interest in joining a playoff team, reports Jake Fischer of SI Now (Twitter link). Several teams with interest in trading for Young have already attempted to reach Sean Marks, whom Brooklyn hired today as its new GM, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports tweets.
It was reported yesterday that Young appears the most likely member of the Nets to be traded. What’s the more, the Nets are willing to deal Young, according to Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. The Raptors and Clippers are two other teams that reportedly have interest in Young.
Young, a ninth-year veteran, re-signed with the Nets this past summer on a four-year, $50MM deal. Young has enjoyed a solid season and is averaging 15.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
Jazz To Acquire Shelvin Mack
The Jazz are set to acquire Shelvin Mack from the Hawks in exchange for a second round draft pick, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports tweets. The move is part of a three-team trade involving the Bulls. More details here.
The Jazz are still trying to add a point guard in the wake of their failed talks with the Rockets about Ty Lawson, Marc J. Spears of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports reported earlier today (Twitter link). Marc Stein of ESPN.com added that Mack was one name Utah looked into (on Twitter).
The Hawks re-signed Mack in August 2014 to a three-year deal worth $7.3MM. Mack, 25, is averaging 3.9 points and 1.6 assists per game while making 24 appearances.
Thunder, Nuggets Discuss Randy Foye Trade
The Thunder and Nuggets are in advanced talks on a trade involving Randy Foye, Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical on Yahoo Sports reports (on Twitter). Wojnarowski reported yesterday that Foye’s eminently positive locker room presence appeals to the Nuggets, so it will be interesting to see what it takes to acquire him.
Foye is making $3.135MM on an expiring contract. Foye was said to be available as of mid-December, as Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders reported then. His role has increasingly shrunk with Denver. Foye has also been linked to the Heat.
Pistons Offer Anthony To Rockets For Motiejunas
The Pistons have offered center Joel Anthony to the Rockets in exchange for power forward Donatas Motiejunas, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The teams discussed this swap on draft night and at that time the talks involved picks as well, according to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter links).
It’s a “lock” that either Terrence Jones or Motiejunas will leave the Rockets as restricted free agents this summer, Zach Lowe of ESPN.com reported earlier this week.
Nets Open To Dealing Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young
TUESDAY, 5:01pm: The Clippers are also interested in Young, Frank Isola of The New York Daily News relays (via Twitter).
MONDAY, 8:10am: Toronto and Brooklyn are talking in “basic, non-specific terms” about Young, one source told Fred Kerber of the New York Post.
8:50pm: The Raptors are interested in Young, but have yet to make a serious offer, one source tells NetsDaily.
SUNDAY, 7:49pm: The Nets are willing to deal Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young despite the franchise still being in the process of hiring a general manager, several league executives told Frank Isola of the New York Daily News.
One potential deal, according to Isola, involves Young being traded to the Raptors in exchange for Patrick Patterson and Delon Wright. The Raptors own the Knicks’ 2016 first round draft pick and that may be part of the package, Isola adds. It was recently reported that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is not 100% committed to retaining Lopez and Young. The Raptors are reportedly looking to add a power forward and Young’s name has already been attached to Toronto in that capacity.
Lopez landed a three-year deal for the max this past summer despite his history of foot problems. His contract contains only conditional guarantees for next season and 2017/18 based on the health of his right foot. Young, a ninth-year veteran, re-signed with the Nets this past summer on a four-year, $50MM deal. Young has enjoyed a solid season and is averaging 15.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.