And-Ones: Batum, Warriors, Sixers, Clippers
The Timberwolves will be on the clock just one hour from now. While we wait with eager anticipation, here’s the latest from around the league:
- The Pistons expressed interest in Nicolas Batum before he was shipped from the Blazers to the Hornets, a person with knowledge of the team’s inner workings told Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. Therefore, Ellis expects that Detroit will target a small forward in the mold of Batum in the draft.
- While the Warriors would like to move up from No. 30 in the first round, that doesn’t seem likely right now, David Aldridge of TNT tweets.
- Tom Moore of Calkins Media (on Twitter) hears that the players union didn’t like the Sixers trading for JaVale McGee at the deadline. That acquisition cost existing Sixers players money since the team had needed to spend more in order to reach the NBA salary floor. The players association is reportedly probing the moves the Sixers have made of late for possible circumvention of collective bargaining agreement tenets.
- The Clippers still attempting to purchase a first-round pick, as Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times (on Twitter) hears.
- Brandon Jennings expects he’ll be ready for training camp after having suffered a season-ending torn Achilles this past January, a source told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link).
Celtics Willing To Deal Marcus Smart For High Pick
4:20pm: The Pacers are a potential landing spot for Smart, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times (on Twitter). Indiana owns the No. 11 pick.
2:06pm: There’s more and more buzz around the idea that the Celtics are willing to surrender guard Marcus Smart if it gets them into the upper reaches of the lottery, Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. On Wednesday, it was reported that the Celtics proposed a deal to the Sixers involving Smart to get the No. 3 pick, but were rebuffed.
Earlier today, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe heard that the C’s would have to be blown away in order to part with Smart. If the latest word is accurate, Boston sees a high draft pick as enough of a prize to part ways with the promising young guard. Smart, 21, averaged 7.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG, and 3.1 APG in 27 minutes per contest in his rookie season.
The offer reportedly made to Philly would have seen Smart and the 16th and 28th picks in this year’s draft heading to the Sixers for Nerlens Noel and the No. 3 pick. Smart was a Second-Team All-Rookie pick in 2014/15.
Latest On LaMarcus Aldridge
On Thursday morning, we learned that the Rockets are planning on getting in the mix for LaMarcus Aldridge this summer, as well as Kevin Love. Of course, Houston will not be alone in that pursuit. Aldridge is reportedly becoming increasingly fond of the Lakers and many other clubs are getting ready to make a play for the four-time All-Star. Here’s the very latest on Aldridge..
- A source close to Aldridge told ESPN’s Marc Stein and Chris Broussard that he’s as good as gone from Portland. “He’s gone,” a source close to Aldridge said. “There’s a 99.9 percent chance that he’s out of Portland.” The duo says Aldridge is thinking about signing with the Hawks, which adds him to the list with the Spurs, Lakers, Knicks, and Mavs. The Cavs, they say, are a longshot team. Aldridge to Cleveland would likely mean a sign-and-trade involving Kevin Love.
Earlier updates:
- As the Blazers‘ fear of losing Aldridge grows, they’re working to use the No. 23 pick in the draft to acquire a big man either to help replace him or to bolster the frontcourt around him, Jake Fischer of SI Now tweets. There was talk of the Blazers and Sixers discussing a trade that would send the No. 23 pick to Philadelphia in exchange for the 35th and 37th picks (and perhaps more), but Fischer (link) hears the Blazers are interested in using the No. 23 pick to acquire an established big man, not get more picks.
- Teams are already preparing to line up for Aldridge, but several execs have begrudgingly acknowledged to Chris Mannix of SI (on Twitter) that the Spurs will be tough to beat.
- Jabari Young of CSNNW (on Twitter) hears that Aldridge wants to live in a more diverse area.
Draft Rumors: Lakers, Okafor, Russell
The Lakers are leaning towards taking Jahlil Okafor with the No. 2 overall pick, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times (on Twitter). However, Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (on Twitter) hears that the Lakers are undecided with both Okafor and D’Angelo Russell in play. Of course, the only word that counts will come from commissioner Adam Silver later tonight. Here’s the latest draft news..
- Frank Kaminsky is moving up draft boards in the final hours, league sources tell David Aldridge of NBA.com (on Twitter). He could very well go higher than No. 9, which is where the Hornets would like him.
- Kings owner Vivek Ranadive was known to be very high on Willie Cauley-Stein but Sam Amick of USA Today Sports (on Twitter) isn’t hearing much of that today.
- Several league sources tell Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders (on Twitter) that they expect Cauley-Stein to slip. The big man didn’t shine in workouts or interviews and his ankle is a concern.
- The Jazz are targeting Stanley Johnson and Justise Winslow at No. 12 and they’re willing to trade up if they feel it’s necessary, according to Spencer Checketts of 1280 The Zone (via Twitter links). If those trade-up scenarios don’t pan out, Utah could instead move down. If they do move down, Checketts lists the Celtics (No. 16), Bucks (17) and, Rockets (No. 18) as possible partners.
- Marcin Gortat during a press conference in Poland said the Pistons asked him about prospect Mateusz Ponitka, according to Sportando (on Twitter). Ponitka worked out for Detroit earlier this week. The shooting guard looks to be a second round (or, undrafted) prospect.
- The Bucks like UNLV forward Christian Wood, but feel that he’ll be chosen later in the first round, Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times tweets. Milwaukee owns the No. 17 pick in the first round and the No 46 pick in the second.
- David Pick of Eurobasket.net (on Twitter) hears that projected second-round pick Shawn Dawson hopes to slide under the radar and go undrafted. Dawson is currently ranked as the No. 66 prospect in the draft by DraftExpress.
Knicks Rumors: Okafor, Russell, Porzingis
Running the Knicks isn’t easy, but president Phil Jackson isn’t about to run from the challenge, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes.
“I have a five-year contract and I just finished year one,’’ Jackson told Mike & Mike of ESPN Radio. “I anticipate it will take awhile to turn this around and I want to be here through that phase. That was my commitment with Jim Dolan. He was trying to find a brand for our franchise in which people know how we play and identify the style of ball we play. I’ve had part of that history of coaching in the NBA. It allows you to take players to fit into the system that works well and had success. As time goes on, I can allow Steve to take over the whole operation. I don’t anticipate that’s going to be a big deal.’’
Here’s the latest on the Knicks as they get set for Thursday night’s draft..
- The Knicks are leaning towards taking Mudiay if they stay at No. 4, according to Chris Broussard of ESPN.com (on Twitter). If they move down, Kaminsky would be the likely target.
- The Knicks continue to pursue deals to move out of the No. 4 spot and further back in the lottery, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter).
Earlier updates:
- If Jahlil Okafor and D’Angelo Russell are off the board when the Knicks pick at No. 4, they would like to grab Kristaps Porzingis, Frank Kaminsky, or Trey Lyles, Chris Broussard of ESPN.com tweets. Emmanuel Mudiay, he adds, is “hovering.”
- The Knicks are unlikely to trade the No. 4 pick outside the top ten unless they’re offered a good young player and an additional pick, Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops tweets.
- Multiple NBA insiders believe that the Knicks should take Porzingis, Fred Kerber of the New York Post writes. “The kid can flat-out shoot,” a Western Conference executive said. “Now he’s really, really thin, but he’s athletic. A 7-footer who can step out and hit 3s is something.” Bobby Marks, the former Nets assistant general manager, also said he’d take him at No. 4.
- Charley Rosen, Phil Jackson’s longtime confidant, wants to see the Knicks take Kentucky defensive specialist Willie Cauley-Stein, Berman writes.
- Saving the Knicks will be Jackson’s ultimate test, Howard Beck of Bleacher Report writes.
- The Knicks have a history of unlucky draft picks, as Frank Isola of the New York Daily News writes.
Southeast Rumors: Hornets, Booker, Wizards
Here’s a quick look at the Southeast Division..
- After taking care of the small forward void with Nicolas Batum and adding Jeremy Lamb, the Hornets are said to be targeting guard Devin Booker at No. 9, sources tell Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (on Twitter).
- The Hornets are able to create a pair of small trade exceptions from two trades they completed today. The exchange of Matt Barnes and his $3,396,250 salary for Luke Ridnour‘s $2,750,000 would produce a $646,250 exception, while flipping Ridnour in the deal that netted Lamb and his $2,202,000 salary allows for an exception worth precisely $548K.
- Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress (on Twitter) cautions fans not to be surprised if the Hawks decide to cash in on one of the many offers they have for the No. 15 pick in the draft. Many execs feel that this draft only goes 15 deep.
- As of this afternoon, the Wizards don’t expect to move up or down from No. 19, Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post tweets.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Western Rumors: Lakers, Russell, Warriors
League sources tell Jake Fischer of SI (on Twitter) that the Lakers were always going to select whoever was available between Karl Towns and Jahlil Okafor at No. 2. The guards they worked out, like D’Angelo Russell, were only brought in as a smokescreen, according to those sources. However, with so much talk about Russell being the pick at No. 2 today, it’s hard to say what their intentions are. Here’s more from the West on one of the NBA calendar’s craziest days..
- Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group (on Twitter) heard that one team’s asking price to take David Lee‘s contract off the Warriors‘ hands was Harrison Barnes and the No. 30 pick. As Thompson writes, Warriors management probably laughed that offer off.
- At this stage, the Warriors are not working to move Lee’s contract, Jake Fischer of SI tweets. At this point, their looking to move up in the first round, though it’s not clear who their target is. The Warriors own the No. 30 pick in the draft.
- Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak will have the final say on what the team does with the pick, assuming they keep it, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, who spoke with a person familiar with the situation. The GM will receive input from team executive Jim Buss, Lakers scouting director Jesse Buss, and other scouts, but the last call will be his.
- The Timberwolves are looking to acquire an additional first-round pick, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders (on Twitter).
- The Rockets have had trade discussions with the Timberwolves, Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweets. Houston likes Ricky Rubio, but Wolfson says that it’s hard to see a match there. However, if the Wolves do move to No. 18, Tyus Jones is probably atop their target list (link). Meanwhile, there have been no talks yet between the Wolves and Mavs, who own the No. 21 pick (link).
- The Blazers have internally discussed options to grab Kristaps Porzingis since his ASM pro day, Jake Fischer of SI tweets.
Nuggets, Heat Pursuing Kings’ Eric Moreland
The Nuggets and Heat have discussed deals with the Kings involving forward Eric Moreland, league sources told Shams Charania of RealGM. Moreland underwent surgery to repair a labral tear in his left shoulder back in January, shutting him down for the season.
The talks involving Moreland are expected to be a part of larger trade possibilities. Moreland had a strong summer league showing for the Kings a year ago but appeared in just three regular-season games before his January surgery. Moreland, who went undrafted one year ago, played his college basketball at Oregon State. Later that summer, the Kings inked the 6’10” shot blocker to a multi-year pact.
Atlantic Rumors: Celtics, Smart, Nets
The latest from the Atlantic Division..
- The Celtics have indicated that they “would have to be blown away” by an opportunity to move Marcus Smart, a source tells Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe (on Twitter). Earlier this week it was reported that the Celtics were seeking Nerlens Noel in a deal for the guard. Smart and Noel were No. 6 overall picks in back-to-back years.
- Nets GM Billy King told reporters there is a possibility the Nets could go into next season with Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young, Joe Johnson, and Deron Williams all on the roster, Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com tweets.
- When asked if Lopez and Young are max players, the Nets GM replied, “Next question,” according to Mazzeo (Twitter links).
- One agent representing a fringe first-rounder the Sixers called for told Jake Fischer of SI (on Twitter) that he doesn’t want his client “to be the next K.J. McDaniels.” McDaniels was a high second round selection of the Sixers last year but wound up signing a one-year, minimum contract offer with them after a protracted contract battle. Later in the year, he was traded to the Rockets, and he’ll now hit free agency this summer.
Grizzlies, Hornets Swap Ridnour For Barnes
12:00pm: The Grizzlies confirmed the completion of the deal via press release.
8:57am: The Grizzlies have agreed to flip Luke Ridnour to the Hornets for Matt Barnes, league sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). The Hornets may waive Ridnour as his pact is non-guaranteed for 2015/16, but the Grizzlies plan to keep Barnes in the final year of his pact (link).
Ridnour didn’t get a chance to even take off his coat as the Grizzlies acquired him less than 24 hours ago. The 34-year-old was reportedly considering retirement as of March, and he hasn’t publicly said whether or not he intends to play next season. His $2.75MM salary is non-guaranteed, but if Charlotte intends on waiving him, they must do so before July 10th when it becomes fully guaranteed. Ridnour is a backup point guard who’s also seen time at the two, so the Hornets could theoretically hang on to him to bolster their backcourt depth.
Barnes, who came to Charlotte in the Lance Stephenson deal earlier this month, was a candidate to be waived if he remained in Charlotte. His salary is partially guaranteed for $1MM through July 1st, but is fully guaranteed for almost $3.543MM after. The veteran appeared in 76 games for the Clippers last season, notching 10.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 1.5 APG in 29.9 minutes per night.