Rockets Sign Ronnie Brewer
AUGUST 28TH, 12:40pm: The Rockets have officially signed Brewer, the team announced today in a press release.
AUGUST 19TH, 6:15pm: It's a two-year partially-guaranteed deal for Brewer, according to Stein (on Twitter).
5:51pm: The Rockets are wrapping up a deal with free agent Ronnie Brewer, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Brewer is a client of CAA, according to the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.
The Knicks traded Brewer to the Thunder at the trade deadline last season and the guard/forward wound up averaging a career low 10.1 minutes per contest during his short run in OKC. Despite his lack of burn with Kevin Durant & Co., Brewer said he was open to a reunion with the Thunder. The Sixers were also linked to the University of Arkansas product this summer.
Brewer, 28, has career averages of 8.2 PPG with 3.0 RPG and 1.7 APG for the Jazz, Grizzlies, Bulls, Knicks, and Thunder. In 60 combined games for New York and OKC last year, Brewer averaged 3.0 PPG and 2.3 RPG in 14.2 minutes per game.
Hoops Links: Knight, Pekovic, Beasley, Deng
On this date in 1965, we learned that even legends can be petty. Celtics star Bill Russell signed a contract as the NBA's highest paid player, making one dollar more than arch-rival Wilt Chamberlain. Russell had threatened to retire if he didn't make more than the Big Dipper, so the C's gave him a $100,001 contract to top Wilt's $100K deal.
Got a fantastic basketball blog piece that you want featured on Hoops Rumors? Send your submissions to HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here's this week's look around the web..
- Yudelytics defends Brandon Knight's defense.
- Suite Sports asks if the Wolves overpaid for Nikola Pekovic.
- Dime Mag wonders if Michael Beasley will ever wake up.
- The Basketball Post previews the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.
- Blog A Bull makes the case for Luol Deng as a stretch four.
- Hardwood Paroxysm asks if Allen Iverson was the best pound-for-pound player ever.
- Golden State Of Mind plays "What if?" with Monta Ellis.
- Pounding The Rock discusses the legacy of the 2012/13 Spurs.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.
Odds & Ends: Pierce, Odom, Collins, Cavs
The Sixers took their time in appointing a head coach this summer so it's no surprise to see them making late additions to the staff. Today, Philadelphia plucked Grizzlies assistant Lloyd Pierce to work alongside head coach Brett Brown, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo (on Twitter). Here's more from around the Association..
- A close contact of Lamar Odom told Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork (on Twitter) that even though Odom "is going through a lot in his personal life" he wants to join the Lakers.
- Nets coach Jason Kidd acknowledged that Jason Collins was a candidate to join the team this offseason, but there's no longer a place for the center with 15 men on the roster, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “I think he can still play,” Kidd said. “His knowledge as a veteran. There’s always a veteran that can help a young team. I think he’ll find a job at some point here.”
- Contrary to a report back in May, the Cavs don't plan to bring Hungarian center Greg Somogyi in to training camp, writes Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Plain Dealer. The 7'3" big man was with the Lakers, and coach Mike Brown, in training camp last season. The Cavs are still putting together their training camp roster, but they have invited St. Mary's point guard Matthew Dellavedova and are considering former Georgetown forward Henry Sims.
Clippers Nearing Deal With Antawn Jamison?
8:56pm: The Clippers have expressed renewed interest as of late, but there's no offer yet, a source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo (on Twitter). The Grizzlies and Bulls are also in the mix.
8:21pm: The Clippers are closing in on a deal with free agent Antawn Jamison, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (via Twitter). The Clippers have been in talks with the veteran for much of the summer. Terms of the deal are not yet known but the Clips can only offer Jamison the veteran's minimum.
Jamison, 37, spent last season with the Lakers, averaging 9.4 PPG and 4.8 RPG in 21.5 minutes per contest. It was a noticeable step back from the forward's previous career averages of 19.5 PPG and 7.9 RPG in 36.3 minutes per game. Jamison's new club might not give him the opportunity to shine as he has in years past, but it will save him a bit in moving fees.
The Clippers were said to be waiting on other options, namely Lamar Odom, before signing Jamison. In fact, they told Jamison as much nearly two weeks ago when he thought he was on the verge of a deal.
The UNC product is represented by the Wasserman Media Group, according to the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.
Poll: Biggest Bust Of 2013 NBA Draft?
Last week, we asked Hoops Rumors readers to weigh in on who they think will be the Rookie of the Year out of the 2013 Draft. Victor Oladipo of the Magic was the leading votegetter with over 26% of the vote while Kelly Olynyk of the Celtics finished second with about 16%. Interestingly, No. 1 overall pick Anthony Bennett got about 7% of the vote, putting him behind the likes of Trey Burke, Cody Zeller, and the ever popular "someone else".
There are definitely some intriguing prospects coming out of this June's draft, but let's face it, the 2013 class has nothing on the 2014 class and it might even be one of the weaker drafts of the last decade, if you believe what some scouts had to say. It's time to look at the glass half empty and decide who will be the biggest bust out of the top ten picks. Remember: disappointment is relative to the expectation level. What might be a decent career for someone later in the draft could be viewed as abject failure for someone at the top. Happy voting!
Biggest Top Ten Bust?
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Anthony Bennett (Cavs) 22% (287)
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Alex Len (Suns) 17% (225)
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Nerlens Noel (76ers) 16% (206)
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Cody Zeller (Bobcats) 10% (139)
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Otto Porter (Wizards) 10% (126)
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Pistons) 9% (113)
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Trey Burke (Jazz) 7% (92)
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Ben McLemore (Kings) 6% (73)
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Victor Oladipo (Magic) 3% (35)
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C.J. McCollum (Blazers) 2% (30)
Total votes: 1,326
Hoops Rumors Originals
Here's this week's look at the original analysis from the Hoops Rumors staff..
- Chuck Myron examined Derrick Favors as an extension candidate.
- Devin Harris took one of the largest pay cuts from last season to this season, Luke Adams writes.
- Most of you see Jason Collins retiring or playing outside of the NBA next season.
- We've seen more sign-and-trades despite the limits in the newest collective bargaining agreement, Chuck writes.
- Here's an examination of Nikola Pekovic and Larry Sanders' new deals, courtesy of Luke.
- I asked Hoops Rumors readers which of the two remaining available amnestied players they'd rather sign. Tyrus Thomas edged out Drew Gooden, but not by much.
- Here's the full rundown of the 2013 amnesty victims and their current status.
- Dwight Howard is making the most of any No. 1 overall pick dating back to 1996, per Chuck's list.
- Luke doesn't see Greg Monroe signing an extension.
- Chuck compiled the top 25 new contracts by average annual value.
- Here are the roster counts for 2013/14.
- Luol Deng is the rare veteran eligible for a contract extension that might actually sign one, Chuck writes.
- Chuck found that the NBA's worst teams rarely pull off turnarounds.
- Luke looked at rookie scale extensions and restricted free agents.
- The Warriors own the largest trade exception of anyone.
- Our readers predict that Victor Oladipo will be the Rookie of the Year.
- Break out your calendar and circle these important dates for the 2013/14 season.
- Here's a refresher on our regular features.
- Follow Hoops Rumors on Facebook, Twitter, and your RSS feed.
- Check out the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.
- Most of you think Chris Paul was the right choice for NBPA president.
International Notes: Collins, Jones
Let's travel around the globe for today's international news..
- Former first-round pick Mardy Collins is close to signing a deal in Italy, a source told Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Collins has career averages of 3.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 1.7 APG with the Knicks and Clippers.
- Well-traveled NBA veteran Bobby Jones signed a one-year deal with Virtus Roma, but he says that it will be his last in basketball, according to Sportando. Jones has had stints with the 76ers, Heat, Spurs, Grizzlies, and Rockets over the course of his lengthy career.
Week In Review: 8/19/13 – 8/25/13
Allen Iverson hasn't appeared in an NBA game since the 2009/10 season, but his name has been in the news plenty over the past couple of years. After multiple flirtations with comebacks – both here and abroad – AI is expected call it a career at the age of 38. Iverson averaged 26.7 PPG and 6.2 APG in 914 career regular-season contests, and increased his scoring average to 29.7 PPG in 71 playoff games. The longtime Sixer, who also spent time with the Nuggets, Pistons, and Grizzlies, was an 11-time All-Star, a four-time scoring champion, a three-time member of the All-NBA First Team, and won the MVP award in 2001. Here's more from the week that was..
- Chris Paul was elected president of the National Basketball Players Association. Roger Mason Jr. will serve as the first vice president.
- The Grizzlies traded Tony Wroten to the Sixers for a future second round pick.
- The Rockets landed Ronnie Brewer on a two-year, partially guaranteed deal.
- The Pelicans re-signed Lance Thomas.
- The Pistons signed Josh Harrellson to a partially-guaranteed two-year deal.
- New Orleans inked Syracuse product Arinze Onuaku.
- Dwight Howard wasn't wild about Mike D'Antoni or Kobe Bryant in L.A.
- The Blazers signed Dee Bost.
- The Bucks made their extension with Larry Sanders official.
- Dwyane Wade and Pat Riley never met with Lamar Odom to try and bring him to Miami.
- James Southerland will go to camp with the Bobcats.
- The Cavs officially signed Anthony Bennett.
- Seth Curry landed a non-guaranteed deal with the Warriors.
- Johan Petro is going to China.
- Dexter Pittman is coming to camp with the Bulls.
- Corey Maggette is open to returning to the Pistons.
- The Pelicans have worked out Reyshawn Terry, Josh Powell, and Josh Childress.
- Ivan Johnson is getting impatient.
- The Warriors expect to have their second round pick join them this year.
- Ben Hansbrough signed with a club in Spain.
- Kris Joseph is mulling overseas offers.
- Chris Wilcox wants to return to the Celtics but that doesn't seem likely.
Howard Wanted Kobe, D’Antoni Out Of L.A.
2:24pm: Bucher clarifies his earlier post, writing that Howard never specifically told the Lakers that he'd re-sign if the team fired D'Antoni (Sulia link). Bucher doesn't add any more about Howard's feelings toward Bryant, however.
8:41am: Since signing with the Rockets this summer, Dwight Howard has denied that he issued demands to the Lakers that weren't met. However, various people close to the situation say that there were two prerequisites for the big man to stay: fire coach Mike D'Antoni and amnesty, or "at the very least muzzle," Kobe Bryant, according to Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (Sulia link).
The Lakers asked Dwight to be patient on both fronts for at least another season, telling him that he would have to tough things out for another year, according to one source. However, Lakers VP of basketball operations Jim Buss spoke with Bucher and it sounds as though he's planning to keep Kobe well beyond 2014.
"Dwight didn't want to play with Kobe for 2-3 more years," Buss said. "I'm going to stand behind Kobe because of his history with the franchise."
Howard's rift with D'Antoni is well known and the big man reportedly felt as though he was lost in the Lakers' offense last season. This isn't the first time that we've heard that Howard was looking for a change on the bench or for Kobe to get out of the picture, but it now appears that his requests were closer to demands and those demands being met could have kept him in L.A.
Howard's gutsy demands don't come completely without precedent in Lakers' history. When Bryant re-signed in 2004, it coincided with Shaq being shipped to Miami and Phil Jackson being let go. However, the front office didn't need to be pressured to make either move at the time as they were unhappy with both men.
Nearly ten years later, it seems that the Lakers had the opportunity to hold on to the summer's most prized free agent. However, the price tag was simply too high for them.
Western Notes: Adelman, Pelicans, Calathes, Grizzlies
Heading into the 2013/14 season, Moke Hamilton of HoopsWorld gives us a seat check on the coaches of the Western Conference. The column starts with a look at Wolves coach Rick Adelman, who was the hire of previous decision maker David Kahn. While Adelman has tons of respect in the basketball world, it's possible that Flip Saunders will look to bring in his own coach, especially if Adelman cannot end the club's nine-year playoff drought. In Hamilton's view, the Rockets' Kevin McHale and Thunder coach Scott Brooks are also on the hot seat because of the lofty expectations their respective teams have. Here's more out of the West..
- It's more than just a new name. Fran Blinebury of NBA.com writes that the Pelicans are serious about rebranding, especially when it comes to their roster. While New Orleans made some seriously bold moves this summer, Blinebury wonders aloud if Eric Gordon, Jrue Holiday, and Tyreke Evans can all co-exist together.
- New Grizzlies guard Nick Calathes says that he's not a normal rookie, writes Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal. The 24-year-old has succeeded in Europe and feels that he'll have a very smooth transition to the NBA.
- Holiday only adds to the glut of talented guards in the Western Conference and Jeff Caplan of NBA.com writes that we're in store for some major All-Star snubs this winter.