Sixers Notes: Noel, Brown, Hinkie
Sixers fans got some rough news last night when they learned that first-round pick Nerlens Noel is expected to miss the entire 2013/14 season. It’s an especially tough blow for a Philly team that many are predicting to finish in the NBA’s cellar. Here’s more on Noel and other Sixers notes..
- In today’s column, David Aldridge of NBA.com writes that new coach Brett Brown is taking a gamble by leaving one of the league’s most stable franchises (Spurs) for a team that could lose 60 games in 2013-14. Regardless of that, Brown says that he is extremely confident in the club’s front office and vision. “I needed to feel good and secure that the ownership group was committed and had a plan, and Sam [Hinkie] was going to the be the architect of that plan, capable of delivering that plan,” Brown said. “When he combines his obvious analytic background with some human things, you can make decisions about personnel. I believed in his vision. When you talked to the ownership group and you heard the level of patience that they’re committed to, that they have traded away Holiday, that they’re looking to build something big in this city.“
- Agent Andy Miller reiterated Brown’s comments from earlier today and said that it’s not official that Noel will miss the 2013/14 season, tweets Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld. However, the news doesn’t sound terribly promising. The agent says that his camp is taking the therapy “one day at a time.”
- If the Pelicans miss the playoffs, Chris Mannix of NBC Sports (via Twitter) notes that the Sixers could have three rookie lottery picks in camp next year.
Wolves To Exercise Derrick Williams’ Option
The Wolves will exercise Derrick Williams‘ option for the 2014/15 season, owner Glen Taylor tells Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link). Minnesota technically has until October 31st to trigger the option.
The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft struggled in his rookie year but took a step forward in 2012/13, averaging 12 PPG and 5.5 RPG in 24.6 minutes per contest. For his part, the 22-year-old has been confident that the option would be picked up. Now, it’s all but certain that Williams will earn $6.33MM in the fourth and final year of his rookie deal.
The Arizona product has been linked to trade talk seemingly since the day he was drafted, but president Flip Saunders put that talk to rest over the summer.
Odds & Ends: Clippers, Favors, Pacers, Spurs
The talk of L.A. this week has been Doc Rivers‘ decision to cover up the Lakers’ championship banners with posters of seven Clippers players, including stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. For his part, the Clips coach says that it’s nothing personal. “The culture is changing and we want to be a winner,” Rivers told news reporters, including Sam Amick of USA Today. “And to do that, I think we have to make changes. (The change) at Staples Center is one that I thought we needed to make. We don’t leave a Lakers (playing) floor down, do we? And they don’t play on the Clippers floor. They take it up. That’s all we’re saying. It’s no disrespect and all that stuff. I have an amazing amount of respect for the Lakers. Having said that, I work for the Clippers. When we play it should be the Clippers’ arena.” More from around the Association..
- In examining Derrick Favors‘ new long-term deal with the Jazz, Grantland’s Zach Lowe and Tom Ziller of SBNation.com both point to Favors’ defense and age (22) as key factors in the team’s decision.
- Two members of the Pacers, center Hilton Armstrong and small forward Rasual Butler, know that the end is nigh as the regular season approaches, writes Candace Buckner of the Indianapolis Star. Indiana is currently carrying 15 players on the roster, the max allowed, but they’ve made it known that they’ll only carry 13 and Armstrong and Butler are all but guaranteed to be the ones to go.
- After releasing six camp invitees this month, the Spurs are down to 14 players, and don’t plan to add anyone before the season starts, coach Gregg Popovich tells Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link).
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Southeast Notes: Heat, Magic, Oden, Jones
The Heat announced today that they have parted ways with three players on non-guaranteed contracts: Jarvis Varnado, Larry Drew II, and Charlie Westbrook. Varnado, a shot-blocking specialist, was set to receive a partial guarantee of $250K if he remained on the roster until opening night, but Roger Mason and Michael Beasley appear to be ahead of him on the pecking order. Here’s more out of the Southeast Division..
- Now a member of the Heat, center Greg Oden is working towards forgetting his painful past, writes HoopsWorld’s Moke Hamilton. “Just being on the team, being at practice every day, being able to go to the gym, that is the greatest thing,” Oden said. “It’s everything to me.” Meanwhile, neither the center nor coach Erik Spoelstra are willing to put a timetable on his return.
- Meanwhile, David Aldridge of NBA.com is skeptical that Greg Oden can make a sizable impact on the Heat this season given his injury woes. Despite his skepticism, Aldridge says that he can’t help but root for the former No.1 overall pick to find success in Miami.
- Solomon Jones seemed like a longshot to hook on with the Magic but it’s starting to look more probable, writes Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. The USF product, who has been with five teams since 2006-07, can offer Orlando some big-man depth behind Nikola Vucevic and Kyle O’Quinn.
D-League Notes: Draft, Rockets, Sampson
We haven’t heard much about veteran Luke Walton this offseason, but earlier today we learned that the former Lakers and Cavs forward isn’t ready to call it a career. Walton’s looking to figure out his next move and he could join the L.A. D-Fenders in a player development role that will allow him to get practice reps with the squad. Here’s today’s D-League news..
- The 2013 NBA D-League draft will be held on November 1st, according to Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside. If last year’s draft is any indication, several players selected that night will likely receive NBA auditions sooner or later.
- Nevada Smith, formerly of Keystone College, will coach the Rockets’ D-League team this season, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Former Rocket Ralph Sampson had hoped to get a shot to coach the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, telling Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston, “I’m disappointed they went in a different direction” (Twitter link).
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Nerlens Noel Likely To Miss 2013/14 Season
For the second consecutive year, the Sixers might be without their star center for the entire season. New coach Brett Brown indicated to reporters that rookie big man Nerlens Noel is likely to miss all of his first season in the NBA, tweets Sam Amico of FOX Sports. While Brown said nothing is set in stone, it appears to be a longshot that Noel will suit up in 2013/14.
Noel, 19, was long expected to be the No. 1 pick in the draft after his freshman year at Kentucky. However, a vicious ACL tear in February spelled the end of his season and knocked him down a few pegs on everyone’s draft boards. The Pelicans, already armed with Anthony Davis at the five, drafted Noel and later shipped him and their 2014 first-round pick to Philadelphia for Jrue Holiday and the rights to Pierre Jackson.
Despite playing only half the season, Noel was selected to the Freshman All-America team alongside UNLV’s Anthony Bennett (Cavs), UCLA’s Shabazz Muhammad (Timberwolves), Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart, and Kansas’ Ben McLemore (Kings).
Odds & Ends: Carmelo, D-League, Oden, Wade
Mike Lupica of the New York Daily News doesn’t understand why the news that Carmelo Anthony would test the open market came as a surprise to anyone. Meanwhile, this season will be very telling for both the Knicks and Melo to figure out if they can win a championship together. Lupica openly wonders if New York can win a title with Anthony as their No. 1 player. Here’s more from around the Association..
- Mark Porcaro of Secret Rival runs down the whereabouts of prominent members of each D-League team this offseason. It’s no surprise to see that many of the D-League’s standouts from last season have found NBA homes while others have landed lucrative deals overseas. To keep up on the latest in international player movement, check out the Hoops Rumors International Tracker, made with the help of Porcaro.
- Heat offseason acquisition Greg Oden already knows he’ll have to wear a bulky knee brace when he gets back on the floor, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. Oden signed a two-year deal with Miami with a player option on 2014/15.
- In a Twitter Q&A, Dwyane Wade said he’s a big supporter of offseason pickup Michael Beasley and is a bigger fan of his than he was during his first stint in Miami, writes Winderman.
- New Pistons forward Josh Smith says he has no issues with playing the three in Detroit, tweets Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.
Western Notes: Rockets, Asik, Lakers, Kelly, Kobe
The latest from the Western Conference..
- Rockets center Omer Asik has been vocal about his displeasure with taking a backseat to Dwight Howard, but for at least one night, he’ll still have a starting role. Both big men will be in the starting lineup for preseason action against the Mavericks. Even though it sounds like he’ll be a key part in the rotation this year and could even see some time as a starter, he doesn’t seem any less disgruntled. Asik refused to comment on Kevin McHale‘s beefed up lineup idea, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle.
- Matt Moore of CBSSports.com looks at the best and worst case scenarios for the new-look Rockets this season. Expectations will be high for Houston and they could realistically win 55+ games and set themselves up for a title run in their first year together. However, if their role players don’t contribute and Jeremy Lin disappoints, Moore says they could be a one-and-done six seed in the West.
- Ryan Kelly is still fighting for a roster spot with the Lakers, but Pau Gasol might know something that we don’t as his comments tonight inferred that he’ll be on the squad, tweets Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. “We’ll have to see how much Mike (D’Antoni) is going to use (Ryan Kelly) during the season,” said the Spaniard.
- D’Antoni wasn’t wild about Kelly’s performance in preseason action in China, but he sounded optimistic about his skills overall, writes Mark Medina of the L.A. Daily News (Sulia link).
- When asked if he had a timetable for Kobe Bryant‘s return, coach Mike D’Antoni said that he has “no idea,” tweets McMenamin.
Northwest Notes: Blazers, Wolves, Jefferson
Is it playoffs or bust this season for the Trail Blazers? It sure sounds like it based on what General Manager Neil Olshey told Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld. “We’re looking to take a step forward, but I think probably an accelerated step forward based on some of the offseason acquisitions we were able to make,” Olshey said. “Getting a veteran center like Robin and then building up the bench has kind of accelerated our growth a little bit.” More out of the Northwest Division..
- Don’t expect the Timberwolves to pull the trigger on a trade anytime soon. Coach Rick Adelman says other teams are reluctant to make trades right now. “Everyone thinks they’re going to make the playoffs,” he said, according to Jerry Zgoda of the Star-Tribune (Twitter link).
- That doesn’t mean that the T’Wolves won’t keep trying, however. Adelman also made it clear that the club is looking at out-of-house options at the small forward position, Zgoda writes. The Wolves have expressed interest in free agent Richard Hamilton, but things appear to be stagnant on that front.
- Richard Jefferson is embracing his veteran role on a young Jazz squad, writes Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune. “What we’re doing is expected,” he said. “You have a young team, whose roles are expanding. When you have a veteran rearm that’s used to playing in May and June, you come in with a different mindset. You come in with: ‘Hey. Let’s get in shape. Let’s get healthy. Let’s get ready for that long haul.’ This team is more: ‘Let’s set the tone. Let’s start establishing great habits as we move into the future.'” Jefferson came to Utah this offseason as a part of the Warriors’ salary dump.
Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look back at the original content produced by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- Luke Adams gave us contract updates on 2013 first round picks.
- Chuck Myron ran down notable 2012 camp invitees who did not return to their teams.
- Here are longtime NBA vets fighting for roster spots, courtesy of Chuck.
- Luke crunched the numbers to figure out max contract scenarios for Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James.
- We have the projected cap room for teams in the 2014/15 season, courtesy of Chuck.
- Luke gives us a look at players with partial guarantees.
- Hoops Rumors readers are more or less split on whether the Hawks are playoff-bound.
- About 72% of you see the Cavs going to the playoffs.
- Here are the longest tenured players on each team.
- Chuck explained why waiver claims are a part of camp strategy.
- What will the 76ers do with Evan Turner? The majority of you say he’s getting moved this winter.
- Opinions are split on whether the Derrick Favors deal was a good idea for the Jazz. C’mon guys, can’t we agree on anything?
- Will the Wizards go to the playoffs? Roughly 54% of you say yes.
- Here’s a guide on how you can follow Hoops Rumors on Twitter, Facebook, and your RSS feed.
- If you haven’t already, check out the Hoops Rumors International Tracker.