Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Raptors, DeRozan, Knicks
Will the Knicks trade Iman Shumpert? Two Knicks beat writers who don’t agree on much seem to think that the strong play of Tim Hardaway Jr. coupled with Shumpert’s recent confrontation with star Carmelo Anthony makes him even more available. Tonight’s look at the Atlantic Division..
- When Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett moved on from the Celtics, they warned Avery Bradley that the rebuilding process wouldn’t be easy, writes Shams Charania of RealGM. “They told me this was going to be hard,” Bradley said. “At some point in their careers, they both played on teams that were very young, and that’s how our team is now. It takes time, but if everybody buys into what we’re trying to do, everything works out.”
- With the Raptors‘ struggles starting to wear on DeMar DeRozan, Eric Koreen of the National Post wonders if it’s time for Toronto to trade him. Outside of the struggling Jonas Valanciunas, DeRozan is likely the most valuable commodity on the Raptors’ roster and he is playing the best basketball of his career.
- As if the Knicks didn’t have enough problems, offseason pickup Metta World Peace got into it with teammate Kenyon Martin, sources tell Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. One has to imagine that the club’s recent discord doesn’t bode well for coach Mike Woodson.
Odds & Ends: Beasley, Wilkins, Claver, Lakers
If it looks like Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is only now starting to formulate a plan for offseason pickup Michael Beasley, you’re not far off, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. “With Michael,” Spoelstra said, “it was more about, initially, we felt he was part of our family. We drafted him. We spent a lot of time with him, not only during those two regular seasons, but during the offseasons and we just wanted to open up our arms back into our family,” the coach said. Here’s more from around the Association..
- Damien Wilkins, who was in training camp with the Hawks over the summer, has reached agreement on a deal with Beijing in China, tweets Shams Charania of RealGM.
- Victor Claver spoke with El Mundo after the rumors about his future published by Spanish media and Emiliano Carchia of Sportando provides the translation. “Portland is the team where I want to play. But at the same time I want to play more and here I don’t have chances to. The season is very long, let’s see if something will change. Right now I am not thinking about returning to Europe. I have no idea if there is a chance to be traded. But if it happened, I hope it is for the better,” said the Spanish forward.
- Nick Young has jokingly touted himself as a Sixth Man of the Year candidate at times this season, but coach Mike D’Antoni believes the swingman has a legitimate shot at the award, notes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News.
- D’Antoni is overseeing a locker room with ten players on expiring contracts, but he appears much more effective at building camaraderie with this Lakers team than with last year’s, as Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times observes.
- In this week’s mailbag, Mary Schmitt-Boyer of the Plain Dealer fields questions on the possibility of the Cavs trading for Luol Deng and more.
Hoops Rumors Originals
This week, we put the finishing touches on our critically acclaimed Offseason In Review series for all 30 teams. In the final week, we examined the Clippers, Pelicans, Grizzles, and Mavericks. Here’s this week’s look back at the original analysis produced by the Hoops Rumors staff..
- Chuck Myron looked back on the six December trades that went down in December 2009 and 2010.
- Ryan Raroque broke down Iman Shumpert as a trade candidate.
- Luke Adams looked at upcoming contract guarantee dates.
- Here’s a look at top five picks that were traded while on their rookie deals, courtesy of Chuck.
- What would a disabled player exception look like for the Bulls in the wake of Derrick Rose‘s injury? Luke breaks it all down.
- I asked Hoops Rumors readers how they think things will play out for the Nets and Knicks. Most of you say at least one of the New York teams will make the playoffs.
- Several players have been dealt multiple times this year.
- Chuck dug up some info on partially guaranteed deals and found that most of them have already been paid.
- Should the Cavs trade Dion Waiters? Most of you say yes.
- Opinions are split on whether the Lakers will add a max player.
- December 15th is the magicial date when most players have trade restrictions lifted, but there are some players who still can’t be moved by that time.
- In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Chuck looked at the free agent signees who have the most to be thankful for.
- Bookmark this link to keep up with Hoops Rumors’ running list of trades in 2013/14.
- If you missed out on Luke’s chat, check out the transcript here. Luke fields your questions every Monday at 4pm CT.
Hoops Links: Bobcats, Rockets, Pelicans, Blazers
On this date in 1991, Isiah Thomas became Detroit’s all-time leading scorer, with 15,493 points, after scoring a game-high 22 points in the Pistons’ 94-87 win over Houston at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Thomas passed previous leader Bob Lanier on Detroit’s all-time scoring chart.
Got a great blog piece that you want featured in next week’s edition of Hoops Links? Send it to HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere..
- Queen City Hoops tips their cap to Jeff Adrien, a pleasant surprise for the Bobcats.
- Red94 says the Rockets have forged an identity for themselves.
- Bourbon Street Shots explores some ways the Pelicans can fix the small forward position.
- Blazer’s Edge wonders if tankers will become trade partners for Portland.
- RaptorsHQ explains the Raptors’ struggles step-by-step.
- SBNation has some ideas for how the Knicks can bounce back.
- Celtics Life says the Boston vets know their role.
- The Brooklyn Game wonders if things will improve from this point for the Nets.
- Keep It Cavalier is finding it hard to keep it positive.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Week In Review: 11/25/13 – 12/1/13
Iman Shumpert has dominated Hoops Rumors for the last month, but we could have another notable name on the trade block. The Cavs are said to be shopping guard Dion Waiters as the team struggles early on in the season. Shumpert, Luol Deng, and Evan Turner are said to be among the club’s targets. More from the week that was..
- Kobe Bryant and the Lakers agreed to a two-year, $48MM extension. The deal will ensure that the injured superstar remains the highest paid player in the NBA through 2015/16.
- It’s official: Derrick Rose is done for the year.
- The Kings acquired Derrick Williams from the T’Wolves for Luc Mbah a Moute. Sacramento might not be done yet.
- The Clippers may have competition for Lamar Odom. It was previously reported that the Clippers are the only club Odom will play for.
- The Cavs kicked the tires on Omer Asik at some point.
- The Rockets want two first rounders for Asik. A rival GM described the Rockets’ asking price for the center as “delusional.” I couldn’t agree more.
- Waiters may be available, but don’t expect to see him in a Knicks uniform.
- League execs expect the Mavs to go after Chris Bosh next summer.
- The Lakers said goodbye to Elias Harris.
- Metta World Peace seriously considered the Clippers after he was amenstied.
- LaMarcus Aldridge appears to be content in Portland.
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is confident Dirk Nowitzki won’t seek too much money from the team in contract negotiations this summer. Dirk won’t ink an in-season extension like Kobe.
- Former Pelicans power forward Arinze Onuaku signed with the D-League’s Canton Charge.
- Kendall Marshall is headed to the D-League.
- Kobe defended himself against criticism of his lucrative new contract. Meanwhile, he says the two-year pact will “probably” be his last deal.
- Jabari Parker is giving some thought to staying at Duke for another season to team up with former AAU teammate Jahlil Okafor, but it’s not likely.
Rockets Want For Two First Rounders For Asik
We’ve heard that the Rockets’ asking price for center Omer Asik is high, but Houston may be looking for more than anyone expected. General Manager Daryl Morey & Co. are seeking two first-round selections in exchange for the disgruntled big man, according to Alan Hahn of MSG Network (Sulia link).
Of course, that request makes it nearly impossible for the Knicks to land Asik as they cannot trade a first-round pick in any draft before 2018. The Blazers have engaged the Rockets in talks for Asik, but the Bulls apparently aren’t interested in breaking the bank for him. The Pelicans and Hawks are also among the clubs that could have interest.
Southwest Notes: Hollins, Roberts, Spurs
Former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins reportedly spoke with Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks about joining his staff as assistant, and Hollins confirms to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com that he was offered the job. He turned it down, however, intent on seeking out another NBA head coaching gig. Here’s more out of the Southwest Division..
- Pelicans point guard Brian Roberts is on a fully guaranteed minimum-salary contract, but he’s fallen out of the rotation, and that might put his roster spot in jeopardy, as Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune examines.
- The Spurs announced that they have assigned center Aron Baynes and guard Nando De Colo to the D-League’s Austin Toros. Baynes has appeared in ten games for the Spurs this season, averaging 1.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 8.1 minutes. De Colo has seen action in six contests this season for the Silver and Black, averaging 2.7 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 9.0 minutes. To keep track of all of this year’s D-League assignments, check out Hoops Rumors’ running list.
- Jeff McDonald of the Express News (on Twitter) wouldn’t be surprised to see Baynes and De Colo back in San Antonio tomorrow.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Clippers Unlikely To Sign Lamar Odom This Week
The Clippers got a bad piece of news today when they learned guard J.J. Redick will be sidelined six-to-eight weeks with a fracture in the small bone (pisiform) of his right hand and a tear of his right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Despite that setback, the Clippers are unlikely to sign Lamar Odom before their long road trip ends in mid-December, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
A report last month indicated that Odom only wanted to sign with the Clippers, but last week, coach Doc Rivers indicated that there was competition for his services. For what it’s worth, Rivers says he’s more comfortable with the idea of signing the 14-year veteran after speaking with Phil Jackson and Vinny Del Negro, both of whom have coached Odom.
Southeast Notes: Magic, Vucevic, Heat, Beasley
Worried about your team’s playoff hopes as we approach the quarter-mark of the season? As Shandel Richardson of the Sun Sentinel pointed out earlier this week, the 2010/11 Heat started out 9-8, leading some to wonder if the superstar packed club could succeed. That Heat team found its way to the 2011 Finals and went on to win back-to-back titles. Here’s a look at the Southeast Division..
- As he plays out the third year of a four-year contract, the Magic are looking to determine Nikola Vucevic‘s value, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. While the center was impressive in his first season with Orlando and has had strong flashes this season, he hasn’t taken a noticable step forward. As it stands, the Magic are expected to retain Vucevic when he becomes a restricted free agent after the 2014/15 season. A deal for Vucevic would probably fall in between the five-year, $60MM deal that Nikola Pekovic signed with the T’Wolves and Larry Sanders‘ four-year, $44MM contract with the Bucks.
- In today’s mailbag, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel writes that offseason pickup Michael Beasley looks to have taken a huge leap in his first month in Miami. The Heat are more than comfortable turning to the forward for offense, which isn’t something that most observers expected when they signed Beasley to a non-guaranteed pact.
- Dwayne Wade says that the Heat are the deepest team he’s ever played on, writes Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report. “No knock on any other team that I’ve ever played on, besides the Olympic team, this would probably be the deepest team that I’ve played on,” Dwyane Wade said Friday night.
Poll: Will Nets And Knicks Make The Playoffs?
Is it time to panic in New York? While there’s still a long way to go in this NBA season, we are nearly at the quarter-mark and the dreadful starts for the Nets and Knicks cannot be ignored. The Nets fell to 4-12 last night with a dreadful loss in Houston thanks to their matador defense and lack of ball movement on the other end of the floor. The Knicks, meanwhile, dropped their eighth straight contest, losing 97-95 on the road to the Nuggets after Carmelo Anthony‘s last second shot to force overtime missed. New Yorkers aren’t known for their patience and as both teams languish at the bottom of the Atlantic Division, both Jason Kidd and Mike Woodson find themselves on the hotseat.
While everyone is still busy chuckling at Kidd’s “cup-gate” scandal, the Nets have much larger problems facing them at this juncture of the season. Under Kidd, the Nets look like a team without direction or motivation and frankly, they look downright old. Granted, there have been injuries. Deron Williams and key reserves Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry are still sidelined with TBD return dates. Center Brook Lopez was out for seven games with a tweaked ankle before coming back last night to have the only solid performance of anyone wearing black and white. Still, the team looked out of sorts before the injury bug hit. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett appear to be fractions of what they used to be and without those two clicking, this team isn’t going to get very far. And in case you’re thinking that the Nets’ deep-pocketed ownership will sign off on another pricey acquisition between now and the trade deadline, think again. Mikhail Prokhorov has made it clear that the team is at its absolute spending limit. The Nets also don’t really have first-round picks that they can deal thanks to the Celtics blockbuster.
While some Nets fans might be wondering why Kidd was given the reins as head coach this summer, Knicks star Carmelo Anthony says the club desperately misses his veteran leadership. Maybe he’s right. The Knicks bent over backwards to re-sign last season’s Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith and upgraded their frontcourt with Andrea Bargnani, but they’ve stumbled badly out of the gate. If the Knicks can’t right the ship, it could have repercussions that go far beyond the 2012/13 season. It’s hard to envision Anthony, a free agent at season’s end, turning down the likes of the Lakers to stay with a lottery-bound Knicks squad.
Still, it’s a long season. How do you see it all playing out for the Nets and Knicks?
Will The Nets And Knicks Make The Playoffs?
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Yes, the Nets and Knicks will make the playoffs. 29% (228)
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No, neither team will make the playoffs. 29% (227)
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The Knicks will make the playoffs, the Nets won't. 22% (171)
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The Nets will make the playoffs, the Knicks won't. 19% (148)
Total votes: 774