Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Lange, Raptors, Gay
In today's mailbag, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star writes that he doesn't like Chris Wright's chances of catching on with the Raptors in training camp. Smith views Wright as more of a perennial camp and summer league fixture, adding that if anyone is going to make the cut, he would put his money on Carlos Morais. Here's this morning's look at the Atlantic Division..
- The Sixers hired former Villanova assistant Billy Lange to join first-year head coach Brett Brown on his staff, writes Dei Lynam of CSNPhilly.com. Lange joins Chad Iske and Lloyd Pierce as assistants to Brown, who was the last head coach to be hired this offseason. Lange left Villanova in 2004 when he was hired as the head coach at Navy. Lange coached Navy for seven seasons, posting a 93-113 record during that span.
- Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld looks around the league to try and find who might be in line to make their first All-Star team in 2013/14. First on the list is the Raptors' prized acquisition from last season, Rudy Gay. He’s only averaged over 20 PPG once in his career, but he should get there this season on a team where he is the unequivocal leader.
- Jon Marks of Sheridan Hoops gives us five things to watch when it comes to the Sixers. Marks wonders when Nerlens Noel will make his debut and even throws out the idea that this Sixers team could put up one of the worst records in NBA history. That's a distinction belonging to the 9-73 Sixers of 1972-73 (.123) or the 7-59 Charlotte Bobcats of the 2011-12 lockout season, depending on who you ask.
Eastern Notes: Carmelo, Knicks, Bucks, Czyz
Roughly two-and-a-half years after the Knicks-Nuggets trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to New York, Keith Schlosser of Knicks Journal tries to parcel out who got the better of the swap. While stars of Melo's caliber are hard to come by, they did give up quite a bit to get him - Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov, and draft picks were all shipped out to Denver. Ultimately, Schlosser believes that only time (namely, this season) will tell if acquiring Anthony was worth blowing up the roster. Here's a quick look around the Eastern Conference..
- The Knicks aren't getting any closer to a title, and that means Anthony's ability to become a free agent next summer will be a cloud over the Knicks' heads all season, writes Howard Beck of The New York Times.
- Polish forward Olek Czyz has an offer from Italian club Vanoli Cremona but he may join the Bucks in training camp instead, according to a report from la Provincia di Cremona passed along by Emiliano Carchia of Sportando (via Twitter). The 23-year-old forward was in summer league with the Bulls last summer but wasn't able to make the roster.
- To say that this year's Bucks team is different from last year’s Bucks team would be a massive understatement, the HoopsWorld staff writes in their preview of Milwaukee for the upcoming season. How far will they get with Brandon Knight and O.J. Mayo replacing Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis as the Bucks’ starting backcourt? Most of the staff sees them finishing in the basement of the Central with one vote putting them in fourth place.
- Victor Oladipo's past detractors motivate him to achieve as much success as possible in the NBA, writes John Denton of NBA.com. The Indiana University product is now being predicted by many to win the 2013/14 Rookie of the Year award.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Troy Daniels To Camp With Bobcats
Former VCU guard Troy Daniels has accepted a training camp invite from the Bobcats, a source tells Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report (Twitter). Contrary to a previous report, Daniels did not agree to a deal with Charlotte in late June.
Daniels averaged 12.3 PPG and shot 40.3% on three-pointers in his final season with the Rams. The guard auditioned for the Jazz and Pacers in June but wound up going undrafted. Daniels will be joined in camp by former lottery pick Patrick O’Bryant.
Odds & Ends: Pelicans, Grizzlies, Miller, D-League
We started the day off here at Hoops Rumors with some very pleasant news as Rick Adelman is confirmed to return to the sidelines as Timberwolves coach this season. The T-Wolves haven’t been to the postseason in nearly a decade, but there’s plenty of reason to believe that this will be the year that they break through. Here’s tonight’s look around the Association..
- The Pelicans added a whole bunch of talent this offseason and with that comes dramatically increased expectations, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans will start alongside Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson with Brian Roberts, Al-Farouq Aminu, Austin Rivers, Anthony Morrow, Jason Smith, Greg Stiemsma and Jeff Withey off the bench, giving the 27-win team some serious playoff buzz.
- Andrew Ford of Sheridan Hoops runs down five things to watch when it comes to the Grizzlies this season. One of the keys for Memphis will be Mike Miller and it’ll be interesting to see if the returning veteran can hold up enough to make an impact. The 33-year-old has dealt with a litany of health issues in recent years and was let go via the amensty provision by Miami this summer.
- Gino Pilato of Ridiculous Upside ran down what we can expect out of this year’s D-League tryouts and even some tips for how the participants can impress scouts.
Patrick O’Bryant To Camp With Bobcats
The Bobcats have added another experienced NBA veteran to their training camp mix this fall. Sources close to the situation tell Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (on Twitter) that Patrick O'Bryant will be in camp with Charlotte.
O'Bryant made it known back in July that he was seeking an NBA opportunity but he wasn't getting any bites at that stage of the offseason. The ninth overall pick in the 2006 Draft, who last appeared in the NBA with the Raptors in 2009/10, was only getting interest from overseas teams at the time. Now, he'll at least have a puncher's chance of getting a job in the Association this year.
The 27-year-old spent last season with Lithuania's Lietuvos Rytas. In parts of four NBA seasons, the big man averaged 2.1 PPG and 1.4 RPG for the Warriors, Celtics, and Raptors.
Knicks To Audition Ricky Davis
Perhaps J.R. Smith isn't enough of a wild card for the Knicks organization. Ricky Davis, who last appeared in an NBA game in 2010, will be in mini-camp with New York this week, according to Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report (on Twitter).
Davis, who turns 34 in a couple of weeks, will go up against nine other camp hopefuls looking to hook on with the already crowded Knicks. New York isn't the first club to audition the veteran – the Timberwolves also gave him a look back in January. The 6'6" guard didn't catch on in Minnesota, but he looked back on the experience with positivity and class.
"They signed [Mickael] Gelabale for the whole year," Davis told Jonathan Abrams of Grantland. "I played with him in France, so that really makes me sick. That makes me really sick. That really hurts. They signed him for the whole year."
Across 12 NBA seasons, Davis averaged 13.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 3.3 APG in 29.8 minutes per contest.
Lakers Notes: Worthy, Kobe, Johnson
Get excited Lakers fans: The Machine is back. Sasha Vujacic has been out of the NBA for a couple of yeras now, but he's gearing up for a comeback in the L.A. area. There's little doubt that the 29-year-old guard could cash in on a solid contract overseas, but he's determined to find an opportunity in the NBA for 2013/14. Here's more out of La La Land..
- Fellow Lakers legend James Worthy is concerned about Kobe Bryant and the approach he'll take to his return to the hardwood, writes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. Worthy doesn't question that Bryant will return from the torn Achilles tendon that cut his 2012/13 season short, but he wonders if the ultra-intense guard will dial things back in general in order to keep himself upright.
- More from Medina, who is running down the Lakers' depth chart as the new season approaches. Today's feature focuses on offseason acquisition Wesley Johnson who is looking to shed his reputation as a draft bust after going fourth overall in 2010 and not producing a whole lot in Phoenix or Minnesota.
- Earlier tonight, the Lakers inked Marcus Landry to a contract for the upcoming season and it sounds like he's got a solid chance of making the roster.
Lakers Sign Marcus Landry
The Lakers announced that they have officially signed forward Marcus Landry. Terms of the deal were not revealed, but the deal is likely a non-guaranteed pact.
It was first reported in late July that Landry, the younger brother of Carl, was likely to hook on with the Lakers on a deal that would essentially boil down to a camp invite. Landry appeared in 18 games in the 2009/10 season with the Knicks and Celtics. Since then, he's bounced between the D-League and Europe, and played with the Reno Bighorns of the D-League last season.
Landry may not have a guaranteed gig in L.A., but he has a good chance of making the roster thanks in large part to Ryan Kelly's foot injury. The soon-to-be 28-year-old is represented by Keith Kreiter of Edge Sports, according to the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.
Sergio Rodriguez On NBA Return, Playing Overseas
Things didn't quite work out for Sergio Rodriguez during his time in the NBA and even though he's thriving once again overseas, he doesn't necessarily sound intent on trying his hand here in the states again, writes Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype. "I'm 27 with nine years as a pro player already. Everything goes very fast and I want to enjoy it," said the former Blazers guard. "I'm happy in Madrid and have two years left on my contract and the potential to win everything here or at least be in the mix. That's all I think about." Here's more from Sierra's chat with the guard who was once thought to be the future face of Portland's franchise..
Was there one moment where you lost confidence in your abilities as a player?
There have not been extended periods when I lost confidence. Of course I had down times, but not long ones. At the end of the day, I'm lucky because basketball is also my favorite hobby. There's been moments when I didn't feel too good, some during my time in the NBA or my first year in Real Madrid… But I knew things would look up eventually because I was putting in the work.
How did you feel upon your return to Europe from the NBA?
Looking back, (the NBA experience) wasn't that bad. I played 300 games, I had a blast and lived a dream… and I ended up in New York – starting for the Knicks. When I decided to return to Europe, it was Real Madrid no less, which was a big deal to me. I was going to be able to play at the Euroleague, shoot for championships and deal with the extreme pressure that comes with having to win all the time. When I left the NBA, I felt kind of empowered by the fact that I was joining Real Madrid.
Which of your three NBA stops (Portland, Sacramento, New York) was the most fun?
The three of them! I had a good time in each of the three. Of course, Portland has a bit of an advantage because it was three years there and it was kind of a family and the stars of the team were growing together at the same time. Then Sacramento was good too. Practices were very enjoyable and it was close to San Francisco. Besides, Sacramento fans are knowledgeable about basketball and one of my references as a player – Jason Williams – had played there with the Webber-led Kings, which were one of my favorite teams of all time. Then you had New York… Playing there with Tracy McGrady and in that city was a very positive experience. Maybe the timing of my arrival was not the best, though.
Knowing what you know now, would you still go to the NBA at age 20?
Yes, no doubt. My dream was to play in the NBA and I made it real and enjoyed it very much. There's a lot of players in the States fighting to be in that position, but with me it was, 'Meh, he's not playing much'. But in reality I feel fortunate that I had the career I had in the NBA. It could have been better, but it wasn't bad. Plus it helped me grow as a player. I wouldn't change anything.
Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Stone, Morais, 76ers
The Celtics pushed the reset button this offseason when they sent Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn in a package that will give them MarShon Brooks, draft picks, and a whole lot of financial flexibility. On the surface, it looked like a smart way for Danny Ainge & Co. to jump start the rebuilding process. However, Ben Rohrbach of WEEI.com has another theory as to why KG and Pierce were jettisoned from Boston after unearthing a picture of the duo wearing sunglasses at night and posing with Lakers legend Magic Johnson. Here's today's look at the Atlantic Division..
- Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun sees an interesting chase for the Raptors' 15th and final spot unfolding in the weeks ahead (Twitter links). Julyan Stone, Chris Wright, and Angolan standout Carlos Morais will audition for the last bench position and Wolstat expects Stone, if healthy, to be the frontrunner for the gig. Wright might be the least likely of the three to stick with small forwards Rudy Gay, DeMar DeRozan, and Terrence Ross in the fold with Quincy Acy also possibly seeing some time at the three. Wolstat says that the Raps could use both a scoring guard like Morais and a defensive guy like Stone (link).
- No real surprise here, but Doug Smith of the Toronto Star doesn't expect anyone competing for the Raptors' final spot to get a fully guaranteed deal.
- Commissioner David Stern is hoping that the 76ers make the playoffs this season, writes Roy Burton of SBNation. Some fans might be behind the "Riggin' For [Andrew] Wiggins" campaign, but Stern certainly doesn't endorse that line of thinking. "That is so… small," said Stern at the Beyond Sport Summit. "I hope they have a great season and don't have the chance for the No. 1 pick." Of course, the worst record only gives you a 25% chance at the top pick in the draft lottery.
- Agent Charles Briscoe told HoopsHype (via Twitter) that former Sixers combo guard Xavier Silas will work out for the Jazz today and tomorrow. Silas appeared in two games for Philly in 2011/12 and suffered a concussion in summer league with the 76ers later that year.