Pacific Notes: Kings, Cousins, McCallum
A quick look at the Pacific Division..
- It is clear that the Kings are trying to build their future around DeMarcus Cousins and rookie Ben McLemore, but beyond that, the right deal might pry loose almost anyone else on the roster, writes Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. It has been reported that Sacramento is “aggressively” pursuing a trade early on in the season.
- Speaking of the Kings, they announced this afternoon that they have assigned Ray McCallum to the D-League’s Reno Bighorns. McCallum, the 36th overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, has not seen action in the Kings’ eleven games this season. He averaged 3.8 points, 1.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.20 steals and 12.2 minutes per game in five games off the bench for the Kings in the preseason. The move reunites him with former Kings training camp players Brandon Heath, DeQuan Jones, and Trent Lockett.
- The Warriors recalled Nemanja Nedovic, Ognjen Kuzmic, and the newly signed Dewayne Dedmon in advance of last night’s game against the Grizzlies, the team announced. In last night’s 88-81 loss, Kuzmic was the only one of the three to see playing time. To keep tabs on this year’s D-League assignments, check out Hoops Rumors’ running list for 2013/14.
Billy Hunter Accuses Derek Fisher Of Conspiring With NBA
Billy Hunter claimed that former players’ union president Derek Fisher conspired with the NBA on a 50-50 revenue split during the lockout, in a new court filing, tweets Howard Beck of Bleacher Report. Hunter names Kobe Bryant as the source of this information, saying Bryant and agent Rob Pelinka called to say the veteran point guard had to cut a deal at a 50-50 split of revenues (link).
The court filing includes statements of support for Hunter from Theo Ratliff, Etan Thomas and Maurice Evans, who were executive members of the NBPA, saying that Fisher had secret dealings with the owners during the lockout of 2011 (Twitter link).
Hunter was ousted as executive director in February amid accusations of him misappropriating funds. The former union head was said to have given cushy jobs to to his daughter, daughter-in-law, and other people close to him while raking in a $3MM yearly salary. That salary was higher than union chiefs in the NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball and it appears that he raised it from $2.4MM without proper union consent.
Atlantic Rumors: Calipari, Knicks, Sixers
The Knicks organization and CAA Sports have a well-publicized relationship which has led to a pipeline of sorts from the agency to the team. As the Hoops Rumors Agency Database shows, CAA represents Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, and Andrea Bargnani, as well as Chris Smith, who, as Brandon Jennings will tell you, probably found his way on to the roster thanks to his older brother and agent Leon Rose. CAA also represents assistant GM Allan Houston, player personnel director Mark Warkentien, and coach Mike Woodson, but there could be another CAA client set to take Woodson’s place on the sidelines. More on that and other items out of the lowly Atlantic Division..
- Ousting Woodson and calling Kentucky head coach John Calipari could be the next step for the Knicks, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Some league executives agree with Berger’s thinking with one noting that the club will have to sell Anthony and free agents on hope, or the illusion of it, which can be accomplished by hiring Coach Cal. It won’t come cheap though – one exec says the bidding could start at $8MM per year.
- The Sixers shook things up yesterday by waiving veteran Kwame Brown and guard Darius Morris and signing free agent guards Elliot Williams and Lorenzo Brown. GM Sam Hinkie says talent evaluation is an ongoing process. “This is the stage we’re in,” Hinkie said, according to Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times. “We’ll continue to evaluate players and find ones that can help us move forward and find others on our radar that we can add to our group.”
- No one should be surprised that Bargnani is giving the Knicks good defense down low since that has always been his strength, tweets Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. His weakness, however, is poor help defense.
- Rudy Gay‘s passing performance last night helps his trade value, and Raptors GM Masai Ujiri certainly wants to see more of that, Wolstat tweets.
Nets Rumors: Kidd, AK47, Favors
After the Knicks retained J.R. Smith and added Andrea Bargnani and the Nets, well, got supercharged, it was supposed to be a tremendous year for basketball in New York CIty. Things haven’t quite worked out that way. After losing to the not-quite-as-glamorous Bobcats, the Nets have now dropped seven of their last eight. Let the finger pointing begin..
- The word from the Nets is that Jason Kidd’s job is not in danger, writes Stefan Bondy of the Daily News. The Nets invested too much into the idea of him as the long-term answer, but it’s worth noting that owner Mikhail Prokhorov hasn’t made a peep since he was in house for the Nets’ victory over Miami on Nov. 1.
- Offseason addition Andrei Kirilenko told Bondy that he had an injection in his back over a week ago that has delayed his return. AK47 has struggled with back spasms over the last few seasons, but was never out this long.
- Here’s a fun fact that will keep Nets fans up at night. Since 2010, the Nets’ list of traded draft picks includes Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Damian Lillard, Darius Morris, Gorgui Dieng, and Shane Larkin, tweets Devin Kharpertian of The Brooklyn Game. Brooklyn has also traded away their first-round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018.
Knicks Notes: Shumpert, Anthony, Rockets
Last night at the Garden, the Knicks lost a heartbreaker to the Pacers – their sixth straight loss at home. New York had a three point lead in the waning seconds when Paul George heaved up a three and was fouled in the act by Iman Shumpert. George would go on to ice all three of the free throws and send the game into OT, where the Pacers won. Coach Mike Woodson was less-than-thrilled with Shumpert’s body control on that crucial play, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post.
“The worst that can happen is he hits a three over you and it goes into overtime like it did,’’ Woodson said. “But you can’t foul him. I looked at the tape and he got him on the elbow and Joey [Crawford] made the correct call.’’
Here’s more out of MSG, where the trade talk continues to swirl around Shump..
- Carmelo Anthony hopes that Shumpert will be a part of the Knicks’ future, writes Berman. “I think he is [part of the future],’’ Anthony said. “I hope so. We have a lot of expectations with Iman, especially the way he played tonight. That’s the Iman we need him to be [defensively]. He could take it in a good way. I hope he doesn’t think about it.’’
- For his part, Shumpert says there’s “nothing he can do” about the incessant trade talk, writes Josh Newman of SNY. Yesterday, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported that both Shumpert and the Knicks have privately acknowledged that a deal is inevitable.
- If the Knicks were ever to make Anthony available, the Rockets could put together an attractive trade offer for him, tweets Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.
New York Notes: Shumpert, Woodson, Tyler
As both the Knicks and Nets are in action tonight, here is the latest out of NYC.
- Knicks guard Iman Shumpert says the trade talk isn’t getting to him, but Clyde Frazier says otherwise, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. “He’s always been a very confident guy,’’ Frazier said. “I think he just has to find his role. Sometimes he doesn’t look like he’s happy out here. Maybe that’s because he heard the rumors he’s being traded. But he’s very stern in his face. It doesn’t look like he’s having fun.’’
- If Mike Woodson gets fired, who will coach the Knicks? Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com throws out some names, including Jeff Van Gundy, Phil Jackson, and Lionel Hollins.
- Marc Berman of the NY Post tweets that Jeremy Tyler, the injured Knicks player controversially cut for Chris Smith, is rehabbing in a Tarrytown facility and could make his D-League debut in as little as two weeks.
- Emiliano Carchia of Sportando passes along a Turkish report indicating that free agent point Sundiata Gaines is set to join Turkey’s Besiktas. Gaines, who last played in the NBA in 2011/12 for the Nets, spent last season with Fujian in China.
Luke Adams and Jonathan Nehring contributed to this post.
Sixers Sign Elliot Williams, Lorenzo Brown
After cutting Kwame Brown and Darius Morris earlier today, the 76ers announced that they have signed free agent guards Elliot Williams and Lorenzo Brown.
Williams received a camp invite from the Cavaliers this season but was waived prior to the start of this season. Williams was selected by the Trail Blazers 22nd overall in the 2010 NBA Draft but appeared in only 24 games for the team – all during the 2011/12 season – in which he averaged 6.2 MPG and 3.7 PPG. Williams is represented by Thad Foucher of Wasserman Media Group.
Brown was the Timberwolves’ second-round pick in this year’s draft but was cut and signed by the team’s D-League affiliate, the Iowa Energy, prior to the season. Brown played point guard for North Carolina State last year. Brown is represented by Andy Miller of ASM Sports.
It is 76ers team policy to not disclose the terms of these signings but it is assumed both will be for the minimum salary.
Jonathan Nehring contributed to this post.
Sixers Waive Kwame Brown, Darius Morris
The Sixers have waived former No. 1 draft pick Kwame Brown and guard Darius Morris, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
Brown, 31, had been sidelined by a right hamstring injury and has yet to play this season. The big man was in a two-year, $6MM contract with the Sixers and has made approximately $64MM across his 13 NBA seasons, despite career averages of 6.6 points and 5.5 rebounds. Brown was taken first overall in the 2001 draft by Wizards president Michael Jordan, ahead of talents like Tyson Chandler, Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, Zach Randolph and Tony Parker.
Morris, 22, has played in 79 games over the past three NBA seasons, averaging 4.1 PPG and 1.6 APG in 13.2 minutes per contest. Morris’ deal was only partially guaranteed, so he’ll receive $200K from the 76ers as he seeks out his next gig.
Western Notes: Aldridge, Turner, Mavs, Rockets
LaMarcus Aldridge is starting to feel a sense of urgency in Portland, writes Ian Thomsen of Sports Illustrated. Aldridge is the star of the Blazers in 2013, but he points out that it wasn’t really supposed to be that way. “I was the glue guy when I came in..They definitely didn’t think that I’d be their go-to guy one day,” he said. “I think they felt that I was a fit-in guy, pick-and-pop, that I needed guys to create a shot for me. I was supposed to fit in with Greg Oden and Brandon Roy and Andre Miller.” Here’s more out of the Western Conference..
- The 9-2 Blazers have had a tremendous start to the 2013/14 season, but Zach Lowe of Grantland wonders if they can keep this up. It might make sense for Portland to explore trading for an upgrade. Defensive wizard Omer Asik is unhappy in Houston and would give the Blazers a big upgrade at center over Robin Lopez, but finding a workable trade is tough for a number of reasons. Chief among them is that they don’t really have a sweetener to package with Lopez to pry him away.
- Addressing trade speculation on Evan Turner, Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News says there are those in the Mavs organization who “are not big fans of his game.” Sefko adds that Shawn Marion may be more valuable helping Dallas win games and making the situation look attractive to 2014 free agents, rather than as a trade chip.
- Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider sub. required) runs down trade possibilities for Asik. Aside from Ryan Anderson, whom colleague Marc Stein says is unlikely to be a match, Pelton suggests Ersan Ilyasova, Paul Millsap, Thaddeus Young, and Jeff Green. Pelton adds that Houston could also move Asik primarily for draft picks and give more minutes to Terrence Jones.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Latest On Omer Asik, Rockets
With Omer Asik unhappy and demanding a trade on a weekly basis, the Rockets are surveying their options. Word is that they’re not boxing themselves into a specific position to target in a deal and they’re instead just looking for a difference-maker of any size, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com.
All indications are that Houston is still in the early stages of working through their Asik options, because even though he is a proven defensive anchor who protects the rim and gets boards, his offensive limitations hurt his value. There’s also sentiment within the organization that Asik is the club’s third-best player and with that mindset, they surely don’t want to give him away for nothing.
On top of that, there should be other options on the trade block including Iman Shumpert, Derrick Williams, Arron Afflalo and Jameer Nelson. In fact, Shump and the Knicks both concede that a trade is inevitable, league sources tell Stein. Despite all of the roadblocks, Stein expects Houston to find a new home for Asik between December 15th – the date when many trade restrictions are lifted – and the February trade deadline.
It remains to be seen where Asik is traded to, but Stein says not to expect a deal with New Orleans involving Ryan Anderson. The Pelicans are high on Anderson and believe that he’s a better fit for their offense than Asik. He’s also much more affordable – he still has two years left on his four-year, $34MM pact while Asik’s salary balloons to $15MM next season.