Hakim Warrick Signs In China
Hakim Warrick has signed with Chinese team Liaoning Jiebao for the rest of the season and hopes to return to NBA afterward, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Warrick last appeared in the NBA with the Bobcats last season.
The Syracuse product spent the first four seasons of his career with the Grizzlies before a series of moves took him on a tour of the Association. Warrick signed with the Bucks in July 2009 and was traded to the Bulls in February 2010 before being sent to the Suns later that year for a second rounder. The traveling didn’t stop there: Warrick was shipped to the Hornets in a three-team deal in July 2012, traded to the Bobcats for Matt Carroll in November 2012, and shipped to the Magic, who promptly cut him, in February 2012.
Last month it was reported that Warrick was in China, working out for the Sichuan Blue Whales, who were looking to replace former Rutgers big man Herve Lamizana. For his career, Warrick owns averages of 9.4 PPG and 4.0 RPG, though those totals are buoyed mostly by his best years in Memphis.
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Knicks, Lowry, Dolan
First-year Sixers head coach Brett Brown is enjoying his job but has few wins to show for it, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. “There are only a handful of times – a very, very tiny handful of times – where you feel embarrassed,” Brown said. “By and large our team has played a style of play and played with an aggression that I’m proud of.” More from the Atlantic..
- The Knicks are still in play for Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, but they still won’t surrender a first-round pick to get him, tweets Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. The Knicks can’t trade a first round selection that comes up earlier than 2018.
- With strong play from Pablo Prigioni, Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com wonders if the Knicks need Lowry at all.
- Interference from owner James Dolan may hurt the Knicks badly, writes Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News. Dolan canned highly respected GM Glen Grunwald before the season in favor of Steve Mills, a GM who isn’t eager to make trades because he doesn’t want to put his job on the line, according to Lawrence.
- With all the talk of Knicks star Carmelo Anthony going elsewhere, you can count Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim amongst those who hopes he stays put, Adam Zagoria of SNY writes. “I think he came to New York, he likes New York, he wanted to be in New York,” Boeheim said. “I think that every player now is looking for the best place to win. Players aren’t looking for money or security. Elite players now are looking for, ‘Where can I win, where can I be in a winning championship-type team.’“
Hoops Rumors Originals
A look back at all of the analysis produced by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- Chuck Myron found that the Lakers lead the league in expiring deals.
- Is your favorite team Riggin For Wiggins or Jobbin’ For Jabari? Cheer them on as they race to the bottom with Hoops Rumors’ reverse standings.
- Should the Suns trade their picks for immediate help? Most of you say yes.
- Chuck explained how the Raptors/Kings trade worked financially.
- Chuck looked at this year’s one-day D-League assignments.
- Most of you see Rudy Gay getting $10-$15MM on his next contract.
- Jonathan Nehring looks at the players who signed on the mid-level exception this year.
Week In Review: 12/9/13 – 12/15/13
Kyle Lowry was set to be shipped to the Knicks and then all of a sudden, he wasn’t. After the Knicks and Raptors shook hands on a deal that would have brought the guard to New York, owner James Dolan reportedly put the kibosh on the deal. It’s believed that Dolan vetoed the deal in part because he doesn’t want to get burned by Masai Ujiri for a second time after he already gave away a boatload of talent to acquire Carmelo Anthony from Denver. More from the week that was..
- The Kings officially acquired Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray, and Quincy Acy from the Raptors for Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons, Patrick Patterson, and Chuck Hayes. No word yet on whether Rudy will allow stat sheets in the Sacramento locker room.
- Derrick Rose has told some confidantes that he’s concerned about the Bulls potentially losing key players in free agency.
- The Cavs may or may not be a suitor for Rockets center Omer Asik, depending on who you ask. Houston plans to move the big man this week.
- The Nets also like Lowry but they’ll only go so far to get him.
- The Knicks would prefer to keep Iman Shumpert out of a deal for Lowry for the purpose of including him in a future trade and perhaps packaging him with Amar’e Stoudemire.
- The Bulls met with Nikola Mirotic.
- The Suns are willing to trade their 2014 picks for a star.
- The Lakers are open to re-signing Pau Gasol but are reportedly fielding offers for him.
- The Pelicans have released swingman Josh Childress.
- Carmelo is allegedly the only Knick off-limits in a trade.
- The Clippers signed Stephen Jackson.
- Gilbert Arenas is aiming for a 2014 comeback. Insert gun joke here.
- The Bulls signed D.J. Augustin after he was waived by the Raptors.
- The Knicks might make a run at Tom Thibodeau.
- Jason Collins doesn’t believe that he’s being discriminated against for his sexual orientation.
- The Grizzlies are shopping Zach Randolph with Ryan Anderson of the Pelicans as the primary target, though that report has been disputed by others.
- Jason Thompson is on the block in Sacramento.
- The Thunder are willing to trade Jeremy Lamb.
- Cavs owner Dan Gilbert wants to keep Dion Waiters.
- The Bobcats signed Chris Douglas-Roberts. They waived James Southerland to make room.
- The Grizzlies are looking for a long-term pickup rather than a short-term fix.
- Jonas Valanciunas is the Raptor least likely to be traded, but even he isn’t entirely off-limits.
- Elias Harris is headed to Germany.
- The Warriors signed big man HIlton Armstrong.
- The Lakers will target Leandro Barbosa and other point guards.
Hoops Links: Sixers, Cavs, Gay, Asik
On this date in 1994, the NBA announced that it was changing the statistical minimum needed for a player to qualify for the three-point field goal percentage title from 50 to 82. With attempts from downtown skyrocketing, it was a necessary move.
Here at Hoops Links, we’re never afraid to pop it from beyond the arc. Got a great basketball blog post that you want featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere..
- Hoop76 isn’t thrilled with the Sixers’ efficiency on offense.
- Keep It Cavalier discusses the three-headed monster in Cleveland.
- Hoops Heads looks at the players who are really worth tanking for.
- Suite Sports looks at how the Rudy Gay deal affects the Raptors.
- Red94 still doesn’t think the Rockets will trade Omer Asik.
- Forum Blue And Gold looks at the Lakers’ latest identity change.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, please email Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Texas Notes: Mavs, Rockets, Lin, Dalembert
A quick look at the Mavericks and Rockets..
- Multiple GMs tell Alan Hahn of ESPN Radio (audio link) that there’s a strong feeling around the league that the Rockets will move Jeremy Lin if they find a taker (h/t Patrick Harrel of The Dream Shake). If Houston was able to move center Omer Asik for draft picks and deal Lin for an expiring contract, they could have enough room to offer a near-max deal this summer.
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is disappointed in what he’s seen out of offseason pickup Samuel Dalembert so far. “I think he can be playing better,” Cuban said, according to Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram. ” I just don’t think he’s been in a position where he’s been expected to perform to help a team win since his first one or two years…So I think this is a new situation for him and hopefully he’ll perform.“
- In his 2013/14 debut, Brandan Wright picked up right where he left off by shooting 9-10 from the floor, writes ESPNDallas.com’s Bryan Gutierrez. Wright re-signed with the Mavs this offseason on a two-year, $10MM deal. While he put up 19-and-six, Dalembert recorded his first DNP-coach’s decision of the season.
Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Smith, Knicks, MWP
The 7-17 Sixers are only 3.5 games out of first place in the Atlantic Division, but Tom Moore of The Intelligencer says they should pump the brakes. After all, he argues, the Sixers won’t be able to do much of anything in the playoffs against the likes of the Heat. Improving their draft position, however, could set them up nicely for years to come. More from the Atlantic..
- Knicks guard J.R. Smith was criticized by coach Mike Woodson for his poor shot selection in last week’s game against the Bulls and the guard responded by taking just one shot in 27 minutes against the Celtics, writes Frank Isola of the New York Daily News. “Mike said that after all I’ve done for you I can’t have you talking back to me like that,” the source claimed. The same source added that Smith made a lewd comment that angered Woodson.
- Anthony Reiber of Newsday sat down with Knicks veteran Metta World Peace for a wide-ranging interview in which he said that he wouldn’t be hurt if he was traded from New York just months into his time there.
- The Raptors are winning without Rudy Gay and playing more like a team, but coach Dwane Casey told reporters, including Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun, that it isn’t a case of addition by subtraction. “It has nothing to do with Rudy whatsoever. I think just the pieces fit more from that respect. It has nothing to do with Rudy personally. Rudy’s a talented player, he’s a big-time wing player. Just the fit is a different thing. If you were on a different team that needed a wing, you’d definitely have Rudy Gay on your team,” (via these Twitter links).
- First-year Nets forward Mirza Teletovic is playing well but without a real open spot in the rotation, he may not see consistent minutes, writes Tim Bontemps of the New York Post.
Lakers Interested In Shumpert, Chandler
The Lakers recently called the Knicks to express their interest in Iman Shumpert, sources close to the situation tell Chris Broussard of ESPN.com. No trade is imminent, however, and sources say the Lakers’ call was more about doing their due diligence.
The Lakers are unlikely to make a deal before the end of their current four-game trip, but they could be interested in bolstering their backcourt given the recent rash of injuries. Steve Blake has now joined point guards Steve Nash and Jordan Farmar on the injured list thanks to an elbow injury that will sideline him at least six weeks. Shumpert, of course, is a two-guard, but Kobe Bryant has been uncharacteristically pass-happy since making his return.
Shump isn’t their only possible target Sources tell Broussard the Lakers also are interested in center Tyson Chandler but have yet to inquire on him. Los Angeles is deciding whether to propose a Pau Gasol-for-Chandler trade and even though the Knicks aren’t looking to move him, they’ve gotten several calls. The Knicks would rather keep Chandler, but they’d consider moving him if it meant also dealing struggling guard J.R. Smith.
Odds & Ends: Thibodeau, Lowry, Jazz, Bobcats
Despite some speculation to the contrary, Joe Cowley of the Sun-Times insists that Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau isn’t going anywhere. It was recently reported that the Knicks could make a run at the defensively-minded coach. More from around the Association..
- With the Nets unwilling to give up a first-round pick for Kyle Lowry and the Knicks saying they won’t part with a first rounder or Tim Hardaway Jr., Al Iannazone of Newsday (on Twitter) wonders if the Knicks will wind up caving.
- The Jazz announced that they have assigned rookie guard Ian Clark and rookie center Rudy Gobert to its D-League affiliate, the Bakersfield Jam. Gobert, a 7’1″ rookie center has made 17 appearances for the Jazz in a reserve role, averaging 2.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 0.82 blocks in 10.7 minutes. Clark, 22, has appeared in eight games as a reserve for the Jazz, averaging 2.8 points in 8.8 minutes.
- The accountability of first-year coach Steve Clifford sets a good tone for the Bobcats, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
- Blazers forward Dorell Wright doesn’t sound terribly upset about the Sixers‘ decision to not re-sign him. “You see what direction they were going in. That was not in my plan at all,” said Wright, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).
- Magic officials have challenged Andrew Nicholson to become more physical since taking him with the 19th overall pick in the 2012 draft and he’s finally responding, writes Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.
Eastern Notes: Irving, Rondo, Augustin, Nets
WIll Kyrie Irving stay or go? It’s probably too early to say considering he’s still on his rookie deal with the Cavs, but this is a fanbase that has been burned before. If the yahoo who ran on to the court with a shirt imploring Kyrie not to leave is any indication, Cleveland fans will continue biting their nails until 2016. Scott Cacciola of the New York Times looked at the road ahead for the star guard and the attention that will be around his decision (with a lower case “d”) over the next few years. More from the Eastern Conference..
- Celtics coach Brad Stevens says Rajon Rondo was cleared for contact practice today but he won’t play until the New Year, tweets Jeff Goodman of ESPNBoston.com. Rondo was all over Hoops Rumors earlier this month when it was reported that Carmelo Anthony was working to woo him to New York for the summer of 2015. Both players have denied that ever happening, however.
- D.J. Augustin passed on NBA interest from elsewhere to sign on with the Bulls, writes Shams Charania of RealGM. “My agent and I both felt this would be the best opportunity,” Augustin said. “I just couldn’t pass it up.”
- The win-now approach of the Nets and Knicks is more about seeing who can spend the most money than actually vying for a title, writes Tomas Rios of Sports On Earth.