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Author: Zachary Links

Eastern Notes: Sanders, Woodson, Hawks, Nets

By | at November 11, 2013 8:14 pm

The Bucks announced that center Larry Sanders will be out six weeks after he underwent surgery this afternoon to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb.  Sanders suffered the injury in an apparent nightclub skirmish.  That’s more bad news for a 2-3 Milwaukee team as Ersan Ilyasova is sidelined and Zaza Pachulia still isn’t 100%.  One has to imagine that the Bucks will at least explore a deal for some frontcourt help. Here’s a look at the latest out of the Eastern Conference..

  • If the Knicks continue to struggle, coach Mike Woodson could be the one to pay for the club falling short of expectations, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.  
  • Meanwhile, Knicks star Carmelo Anthony came to the defense of Woodson in the face of criticism from fans and the media, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com.  “It’s New York,” Anthony said. “It happens. Woody’s not out there playing. We’re out there playing. You can’t blame Woody. We’re not, as a team, giving him the effort that he’s looking for and we’ve got to change that.”
  • The Hawks announced earlier today that have assigned Jared Cunningham to the D-League’s Bakersfield Jam.  While with the Mavericks last season, Cunningham played in 15 D-League games for the Texas Legends, and averaged 15.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 34.5 minutes.
  • Kennedy also caught up with Nets rookie Mason Plumlee, who says that he has already learned a great deal from veteran forward Kevin Garnett.  Plumlee says that there isn’t much external pressure on him, but he does feel some internal pressure to play well since the expectations are so high in Brooklyn this year.
1 comment Atlanta Hawks Brooklyn Nets Milwaukee Bucks New York Knicks

Offseason In Review: New York Knicks

By | at November 11, 2013 5:47 pm

Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees, and more will be covered, as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.

Signings

Trades

Draft Picks

Camp Invitees

Departing Players

Rookie Contract Option Decisions

The Knicks won the Atlantic Division by a healthy margin last season, but they’ll have a tougher road to guaranteed home-court advantage this time around.  That’s exactly why the Knicks didn’t stand pat while their cross-borough rivals overhauled their roster.  This year, the Knicks are rolling out a different squad but one that is still chock full of familiar faces and veteran players.

The Knicks’ biggest acquisition of the summer came in late June when they agreed to send Marcus Camby, Steve Novak, Quentin Richardson, a 2014 second-round draft pick, a 2016 first-round draft pick, and a 2017 second-round draft pick north of the border for Andrea Bargnani.  The former No. 1 overall pick has struggled to stay healthy and give consistent production over the course of his career in Toronto and the Raptors’ new regime, led by GM Masai Ujiri, was very willing to cut bait with him.  The Raptors’ loss might be the Knicks’ gain as the big man looks pretty comfortable so far in blue-and-orange.  The biggest knock on Bargnani over the last seven years has been his aggressiveness and toughness and only time will tell if he can turn over a new (non-maple) leaf with his new club.  However, the offensive acumen has always been there with Bargnani and he’ll be given opportunities to score in bunches as he did on Friday night against the Bobcats (25 points off of 11-of-25 shooting).

The other headline grabbing out-of-house move to come out of MSG was the Knicks’ signing of Metta World Peace in July.  The tenacious rebounder formerly known as Ron Artest was amnestied by the Lakers over the summer, not necessarily because he’s finished, but because he’s no longer worth the $7.73MM cap hit he would have put on Los Angeles.  However, for a piece of the mini mid-level exception, World Peace is absolutely a worthwhile pickup for the Knicks.  While the forward has a reputation around the league for being a little, um, uneven, he has leveled off in recent years and Lakers star Kobe Bryant says that he’ll miss having the veteran in L.A.  World Peace more-or-less handpicked the Knicks after discouraging clubs from claiming him off of amnesty waivers (MWP’s camp told anyone that would listen that he was headed to China in 2013/14) so there’s every reason to believe that he’s on board with making this union work.  Players can sometimes get in trouble when they return to their hometown and are surrounded by the friends they grew up with, but World Peace, who celebrates his 34th birthday on Wednesday, should be able to keep any distractions at bay.

J.R. Smith returning to New York was hardly a surprise, but the mini-circus that led up to it certainly was.  Shortly after it was reported that Smith agreed to a three-year, $17.95MM deal (player option on year three) with the Knicks, the club announced that the guard would require patellar tendon surgery and an arthroscopy for a tear in the lateral meniscus of his left knee.  Conveniently, the announcement was made just as the Knicks PR staff was packing up for summer vacation.  Most Knicks fans were on board with having the reigning Sixth Man of the Year back in NYC at the time of the signing, but after the news, opinions were split on whether the deal was a good call for the club.  The strangest part of it all is that agent Leon Rose claims that the two sides originally agreed to a four-year pact before Rose had it amended to a three-year deal with a player option for the final season.  After learning that Smith would need to go under the knife, one would imagine that the Knicks would be the party looking to shorten the deal and minimize their risk.  It also doesn’t help matters that Smith was slapped with a five game suspension for a positive marijuana test.  The guard has long had a reputation for partying hard and after spending equal time on the New York Post’s backpage and Page Six thanks to his dalliances with Rihanna, the Knicks couldn’t have been thrilled about that piece of news.

Think the Smith saga was weird?  Knicks owner James Dolan, a man with a penchant for raising the ire of sports radio callers, saved his strangest move for the very end of the offseason.  After putting the finishing touches on the Knicks’ roster for 2013/14, General Manager Glen Grunwald was shown the door in favor of former MSG exec Steve Mills.  Six weeks later, the move is still a head-scratcher.  If you feel bad for Grunwald, you should save some empathy for Mills as well.  When the Knicks were trailing in the third game of the season (at home vs. Minnesota), Dolan reportedly left his seat after the first quarter to give his new GM a verbal lashing over the team’s effort.  Of course, Mills isn’t the man responsible for the Knicks’ roster as currently constructed, that would be Grunwald.

In addition to re-signing Smith, the Knicks also re-upped point guard Pablo Prigioni and forward Kenyon Martin.  Martin was out of a job for quite a while thanks in part to a perception that he wasn’t a model teammate, but he has been nothing but a positive for the Knicks since coming aboard.  The aging Prigioni earned his contract after a solid 2012/13 campaign and he’ll be helped by the tremendous addition of Beno Udrih.  The 31-year-old has taken a step back since his days in Sacramento, but he was a very solid pickup for the Knicks at the low, low price of $1.27MM.

The Knicks also rounded out the end of their roster with Cole Aldrich, Toure’ Murry, and Chris Smith – a signing that has absolutely nothing to do with the new contract given to older brother J.R.  Coach Mike Woodson & Co. haven’t stopped praising rookie shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. since drafting him in June and he figures to see significant minutes throughout the year.

Ultimately, the Knicks’ success will depend largely on another banner year from star Carmelo Anthony and their overall defensive effort.  A team featuring the likes of Melo, Smith, and Bargnani should have no trouble filling a statsheet, but getting it done on the other end will be another story, especially with Tyson Chandler sidelined for the next four-to-six weeks.  How the season plays out is anyone’s guess, but it’s probably safe to assume that the Knicks won’t finish the year in the cellar of the Atlantic alongside the Nets while the Sixers occupy the No. 1 spot.

2 comments New York Knicks Offseason In Review

Odds & Ends: Expansion, Wizards, Turner

By | at November 10, 2013 10:12 pm

Even though the NBA has 30 franchises, there are still plenty of North American markets that are deserving of teams.  Of course, Seattle is at the top of anyone’s list as the rabid Sonics fan base is starved for a new team.  Kansas City has also made a strong case for an NBA club in years past and they already have a ~19K seat NBA-ready arena in the Sprint Center.  However, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld (via Twitter) says that the league is not going to expand under the current labor agreement.  That might change under the new TV deal though, which is currently being worked on.  Here’s more from around the Association..

  • Speaking of expansion, commissioner David Stern told Chris Mannix of NBC Sports Radio (Twitter link) that the NFL will likely have a team in Europe before the NBA because “it’s relatively easy for a team to play eight home games there.”  Stern has said in the past that he is optimistic that there will be a team in Europe in the not-too-distant future.
  • Nene and new Wizards center Marcin Gortat have formed a bond in the front court, writes MIchael Lee of the Washington Post.  “It’s one thing to have two skilled big men in the block. It’s another thing for those big men to play off each other, and that’s big,” forward Martell Webster said. “When you have big guys down there that have a relationship and a chemistry, it makes it a little bit easier to occupy.”
  • Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld reflects on the four-team deal that sent Nikola Vucevic to the Magic last year.  At the time, it seemed like the Lakers (Dwight Howard) or the Sixers (Andrew Bynum) would be the big winners, but it turns out that Orlando got the best haul of anyone.
  • The price of winning in the NBA varies, writes Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld.  The 7-0 Pacers are doling out less than $853K per victory while the 2-4 Nets are paying $7MM for each win.
  • In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Mary Schmitt-Boyer of the Plain Dealer if the Cavs should give up on the Dion Waiters experiment and trade him.  Even though the guard appears to have taken a step back from last season, Cleveland isn’t as down on him as some fans might be.
  • While many thought that Sixers GM Sam Hinkie would either deal Evan Turner at the trade deadline or allow his $6.7MM salary to come off the cap next summer, the former No. 2 overall pick is making a case to stay, writes Thomas Moore of the Courier Times.  Turner has been a model of consistency, scoring at least 20 points in six of the 4-3 Sixers’ first seven games.  Earlier tonight, Sam Amico of FOX Sports suggested that the Mavericks, Thunder, and T’Wolves could be among the teams with interest if the Sixers decide to shop Turner.
  • If the Knicks continue to lose, there’s no telling how owner James Dolan might react, writes Howard Beck of Bleacher Report.
  • Magic rookie Victor Oladipo is embracing the challenge of handling the basketball, writes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
  • Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak doesn’t expect Kobe Bryant to return in the next two weeks, writes Pincus for the Los Angeles Times.  Kupchak also touches on the ill-fated Chris Paul trade and says that he still hasn’t forgiven Stern for the way things played out.
0 comments City of Kansas City City of Seattle Cleveland Cavaliers Los Angeles Lakers New York Knicks Orlando Magic Philadelphia 76ers Washington Wizards

Hoops Rumors Originals

By | at November 10, 2013 9:14 pm

Here’s a look back at the original analysis from the Hoops Rumors staff this week..

0 comments Hoops Rumors Originals

Amico On Turner, Young, Granger, Cousins

By | at November 10, 2013 8:25 pm

Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio has his weekly column posted; let’s dive in and take a look at the highlights..

  • If the Sixers start to slide and they turn their focus to the offseason, they could find a trade partner in the Mavericks.  The two sides have yet to talk, but sources around the league wonder if Dallas might be interested in landing Evan Turner in an effort to make a playoff run and appease star Dirk Nowitzki.  Turner wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg and a package of Shawn Marion and a draft pick would probably get the job done for the former No. 2 overall pick.
  • If the Sixers part with Turner, word around the league is that the Thunder and T-Wolves will also be among the teams with interest.
  • Sixers small forward Thaddeus Young is also off to a hot start and is likely to draw interest around the trade deadline or sooner.  Young may be a little tougher to move than Turner at $8.6MM this year and $9.1MM next with a player option for $9.7MM in 2015), however.
  • With the Pacers off to a 7-0 start, league execs wonder what Danny Granger‘s role might be when he comes back from injury.  With his expiring contract and recent injury history, it seems as if the Pacers would be receptive to moving him.  If they do dangle Granger, they’ll probably seek out some backcourt help, specifically someone adept at handling the basketball.
  • One league exec told Amico, “If the Kings aren’t any good, mark my words: They’ll trade (DeMarcus) Cousins.” Cousins is still on his rookie contract this year, but has a max extension kicking in next season, which will make it trickier to trade him due to CBA rules, albeit not impossible.
3 comments Dallas Mavericks Indiana Pacers Minnesota Timberwolves Oklahoma City Thunder Philadelphia 76ers Sacramento Kings

Hoops Links: Sixers, Rondo, Raptors, Parker

By | at November 10, 2013 8:01 pm

On this date in 1990, the Suns routed the Nuggets 173-143 to tie a record held by the 1959 Boston Celtics for the most points scored in a non-overtime game. The Suns had 107 points in the first half, breaking the mark of 90 set by the Nuggets three days earlier in a 161-153 loss to San Antonio. Suns Coach Cotton Fitzsimmons also picked up his 700th career coaching victory, becoming only the seventh coach in the history of the league to reach that mark.

Here at Hoops Links, we totally endorse running up the score.  Do you have a great basketball blog post that you want to be featured in next week’s edition?  Email it to me here.  Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere..

If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.

0 comments Hoops Links

Pacific Notes: Clippers, Morris, Lakers

By | at November 10, 2013 6:20 pm

Here’s a quick look at the Pacific Division..

  • The new look Clippers looked sharp in last night’s win over the Rockets, writes Sam Amick of USA Today.  New starter J.J. Redick had a strong game, scoring 22 points off of 8-15 shooting, including 3-7 from beyond the arc.
  • In his third season, Suns forward Markieff Morris is proving the club’s scouting department right, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic.  In that draft, the Suns front office went with Morris, the power forward with complete-game potential, over Kenneth Faried, known for energy and rebounding.
  • New Los Angeles D-Fenders coach Bob MacKinnon spoke with Dakota Schmidt of Ridiculous Upside about his relationship with the Lakers and the future of the D-League.  “The biggest thing is that your players know that the way things are done are the ‘Lakers Way’. We’re trying to be a mini-model of the Lakers and I think that’s attractive for players who want to achieve their dreams.“
0 comments Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns

Nets Notes: Garnett, Kirilenko, Pierce

By | at November 10, 2013 5:17 pm

It’s still early, but so far Kevin Garnett is off to a puzzling start, writes Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News.  Too often in games, the 37-year-old can be seen settling for outside shots and drifting along the perimeter when he should be doing more inside.  “I’ve just got to quit thinking so much and be more aggressive,” Garnett told reporters yesterday, following a 96-91 loss to the Pacers. “I’m trying to make things easier for (Brook) Lopez and cause opportunities for other people out there. I’ve got to be a little more aggressive and look for my offense a little bit.”  Here’s more out of Brooklyn..

  • One bright spot for the Nets has been the play of offseason acquisitions Andrei Kirilenko, backup point guard Shaun Livingston, and scrappy rookie Mason Plumlee, writes Beckley Mason of the New York Times.  Mason also notes that the older Boston teams led by Garnett and Paul Pierce were notoriously slow starters.
  • Even though Garnett and Pierce have moved on, they’re still not talking to former teammate and friend Ray Allen, writes Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.  “For them to be so upset with me is disappointing because of how everything happened,” said the Heat guard. “That banner in 2008 is still going to be there, and we’re still going to be tied to it.“
  • The Nets announced earlier today that they have re-assigned Toko Shengelia to the Springfield Armor of the NBA Development League.  The forward’s NBA stay lasted just one day as he was recalled on Saturday.
  • Former Nets forward Kris Joseph signed with France’s Elan Chalon, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.  To keep up with the global basketball scene, check out the Hoops Rumors international Player Movement Tracker, made with the help of Secret Rival’s Mark Porcaro.
  • Earlier today, I recapped the Nets’ offseason.
3 comments Brooklyn Nets NBA G League Transactions

Week In Review: 11/4/13 – 11/10/13

By | at November 10, 2013 4:22 pm

The Cavs signed Andrew Bynum this summer with the hopes that he could come back strong after missing the entire 2012/13 season.  Unfortunately, the big man is struggling to return to his old form and is considering retirement just weeks into the 2013/14 campaign.  “(Retirement) was a thought, it was a serious thought,..At the moment, it’s tough to enjoy the game because of how limited I am physically. I’m still sort of working through that…I’m a shell of myself on the court right now, I’m struggling mentally. I’m trying,” the New Jersey native said. Here’s more from the week that was..

0 comments Week in Review

Offseason In Review: Brooklyn Nets

By | at November 10, 2013 2:16 pm

Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees, and more will be covered, as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.

Signings

Trades

Draft Picks

  • Mason Plumlee (Round 1, 22nd overall). Signed via rookie exception.

Camp Invitees

Departing Players

Rookie Contract Option Decisions

  • None

Don’t let the classic black and white color scheme fool you – the Nets aren’t into being understated.  This summer, after being upset in seven games by the Derrick Rose-less Bulls in the first round, the Nets completely turned things upside-down on the sidelines and on the floor.  P. J. Carlesimo, who took over for Avery Johnson midway through the 2012/13 season, was handed his walking papers less than 24 hours after the Nets’ season came to an abrupt end.  Phil Jackson‘s name was mentioned frequently in the backend of the New York tabloids and on the sports radio airwaves, but the club turned to a future Hall of Famer and absolute coaching neophyte in Jason Kidd.  Despite the raised eyebrows (and the personal frustration that we imagine Patrick Ewing felt), the Nets’ wild offseason didn’t stop there.

Weeks later, on draft night, the Nets shook hands with the Celtics on the most shocking trade in modern NBA history.  Brooklyn landed Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry for Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, Kris Joseph, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans (sign-and-trade), and future first-round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018.  The Nets may have mortgaged their future, but the deal catapulted them from Eastern Conference also-rans to one of the most feared teams in the league.

Pierce, who gave the Nets fits as a member of the Celtics, gives the Nets a proven scorer alongside shooting machine Joe Johnson.  He may not be the superstar that he was for the C’s 2008 championship squad, but he’s still a productive scorer and underrated rebounder.  Garnett will require lots of rest at this stage of his career but he figures to give the Nets the kind of inside toughness that Brook Lopez has been unwilling or unable to provide.  Reggie Evans won fans over last season with his general disregard for his well-being, but KG is an obvious upgrade at the starting four spot.  Like Pierce, Garnett is no spring chicken, but he’s still one of the toughest defensive big men in the game thanks to his tireless work ethic.  Terry may be the forgotten piece of the swap, but he can serve as one of many dangerous weapons off of the Brooklyn bench.

The biggest challenge for the new-look Nets might be sharing the basketball and keeping egos in check.  If they can exhibit the ball movement that they showed in their home opener against the Heat, they’ll be giving opposing defenses a whole lot of trouble.  GM Billy King and cap guru Bobby Marks will have to work hard in the years to come to infuse the roster with young talent after losing three future first-rounders, but it’s hard to find fault with the trade for the here and now.

Wallace seemed lost under two different coaches last season and with 13 years in the league, his body was showing definite signs of breaking down.  Humphries was a hard-nosed rebounding presence and an efficient scorer for the Nets in 2010/11 and 2011/12, but fell flat last season and found himself 86’d from the rotation for much of the year.  Brooks, who will earn less than $1.3MM in the final season of his rookie deal, has serious upside, but it’s debatable whether he could ever realize his potential in Brooklyn if he had to fight for minutes on their ultra-deep bench.

That intimidating second unit will be led by Andrei Kirilenko, who signed a one-year, $3.18MM deal with a player option for the following year.  The Russian forward turned down a $10MM+ option with T’Wolves to sign on with Mikhail Prokhorov & Co. and the conspiracy theories immediately started flying.  However, as far as we know, the agreement is kosher, and AK47 told me in early August that he’s not fazed by the whispers that he took money under the table from the Nets.  The 32-year-old should provide the Nets with athleticism and scoring in bunches off of the bench, something the 36-year-old Pierce will certainly appreciate.

Kirilenko and Terry weren’t the only notable bench upgrades to come to Brooklyn this offseason.  Shaun Livingston was brought aboard to spell star point guard Deron Williams – a role that will be even more crucial if Williams’ ankle acts up again.  Alan Anderson was signed almost as an afterthought in late July, taking the league minimum to hook on with a winner.  That’s a pretty decent bargain for a player who averaged 10.7 PPG in 2012/13.  The Nets also tabbed Duke big man Mason Plumlee with their late first-round pick, but he’ll probably spend more time in Springfield, Massachusetts than Brooklyn, New York.  Losing C.J. Watson to the Pacers hurts a bit, but overall the Nets’ new bench is the envy of the Eastern Conference.

While Watson bolted for a pay bump, the Nets managed to retain athletic big man Andray Blatche with a one-year, $1.4MM deal.  If it weren’t for Kirilenko’s presence, Blatche’s contract would be the most shocking bargain on the Brooklyn roster.  The 27-year-old signed a minimum salary deal with the Nets last season and while there were question marks about his attitude and work ethic, Blatche averaged 10.3 points and 5.1 rebounds with a career high 51.2% field goal percentage.  I expected the 6’11” center to fetch a more lucrative deal, but it’s possible that he chose comfort and a chance to win over money, especially since he’s still cashing checks from the Wizards.

The last time the Nets were championship contenders, they had Kidd as their floor general against a less-than-stellar Eastern Conference.  Ten years later, they have Kidd (and Lawrence Frank) back, but they’re dealing with a much tougher road to the Finals.  The Pacers and Bulls both look formidable, but the Nets have as good of a chance as them or anyone else of dethroning the two-time NBA champs.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

2 comments Brooklyn Nets Offseason In Review
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