Nets Notes: Johnson, Williams, King
Tim Bontemps of the New York Post ran down the Nets’ 15-man roster and looked at what’s ahead for them this offseason. That includes Joe Johnson, who Bontemps feels is pretty likely to wind up elsewhere next season. The Nets would like to re-sign Brook Lopez, and moving Johnson’s mammoth deal is one of two ways the Nets can do it. The other way to make space would be to dump Deron Williams‘ contract, though his reputation and additional contract year could make him a tougher sell. More out of Brooklyn..
- While there’s been a lot of talk about stretching Williams’ contract, there’s been little discussion of a more traditional buyout like the one Dikembe Mutombo received from the Nets 12 years ago, Robert Windrem of Nets Daily writes. In fact, sources tell Windrem that like the stretch option, a traditional buyout is also a possibility for Williams and Brooklyn. The stretch option would leave only a seven-figure hit on the Nets’ cap, but it would mean that the hit extends over a longer period. A traditional buyout would hurt more in the next two years, but it would be over and done with after that.
- The Nets and GM Billy King have their work cut out for them this summer, Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com writes. While King claims that there is a market for both Johnson and Williams, it remains to be seen whether that’s the case. On the plus side, Lionel Hollins looks to be the first coach in the Nets’ Brooklyn history to make it to a second season at the helm.
- David LaRue, CEO of Bruce Ratner’s parent company Forest City Enterprises, told investors this week that Mikhail Prokhorov was not aiming to sell his stake in the Nets completely but rather “looking to monetize a portion of their asset,” according to reporter Norman Oder. Many reports indicated that Prokhorov was giving heavy consideration to selling the team.
Southwest Notes: Duncan, Gordon, Jordan
Antonio Daniels, Tim Duncan’s friend and former teammate with the Spurs, has an educated guess as to what the big man will do this summer. “I would be very surprised if he retired,” said Daniels, according to Jeff McDonald of the Express News. “As long as he’s staying at a level where he feels like he’s relevant and competing, I can’t see it.” Earlier this week, Manu Ginobili penned an article for an Argentinian outlet in which he said that he’s considering retirement more seriously than ever. He also said that Duncan’s decision will affect his own. Here’s more from the Southwest..
- When Eric Gordon was acquired by the Pelicans (née Hornets) in 2011, he was the centerpiece of the deal for New Orleans but never broke out as a star because of injuries. Now, with the emergence of Tyreke Evans and Anthony Davis, Gordon says he no longer feels the pressure of trying to carry the team by himself, John Reid of The Times-Picayune writes.
- In a recent chat with readers, Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News posited that despite his reported interest, DeAndre Jordan might have reservations about signing with the Mavericks. If Jordan were to come to Dallas, Sefko writes that he’d be leaving a team on the doorstep of winning a title in order to join a team with iffy championship chances.
- Mavericks point guard J.J. Barea recently joined KRLD-105.3 FM and was asked to name the one thing missing from the roster that could help Dallas compete against the best in the West. “Well I think we got to get more athletic, and I think that’s why [Al-Farouq] Aminu did a great job because he’s athletic,” Barea said, according to SportsDayDFW.com. “He’s quick. He’s long. He plays hard, with a lot of energy. So I think we got to get more guys like that. But other than that I think if we keep the same group together, we’re going to have a good chance.”
Q&A With Lottery Hopeful Cameron Payne
Throughout the spring and summer, Hoops Rumors will be talking with some of the most intriguing prospects in the 2015 NBA Draft. The Hoops Rumors Draft Prospect Q&A series continues with Murray State guard Cameron Payne, whom Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks No. 15 in this year’s class and Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress rates 20th.
Cameron Payne’s individual stats are impressive: he averaged 20.2 points and 5.7 assists while shooting 37.7% from beyond the arc in 2014/15. Perhaps more impressive than that, however, is that Payne helped lead Murray State to a 25-game winning streak in his final year on campus.
In a draft with several intriguing point guards, Payne is one of the very best in the bunch and quickly rising up draft boards. The Murray State star made his mark in his freshman year and took another seismic leap forward this season in his sophomore year, cementing himself as a first-round talent who could very well prove to be a lottery pick. Payne, a client of Relativity Sports agent Travis King, spoke with Hoops Rumors earlier this week about his NBA future.
Zach Links: We first heard that you were probably going pro towards the end of March. When did you first really start leaning toward entering the draft? 
Cameron Payne: For me, the possibility of it became very real after the [Ohio Valley Conference tournament semifinal] game we played against Morehead State. Afterwards, I heard from a lot of people there that I played a great game (Payne led the way with 25 points) and I felt like, man, this would be a perfect time for me to make the jump.
ZL: Were you pretty much off the national recruiting radar coming out of high school?
CP: Well, the team I played on in AAU, we had a lot of big-name players and I came off the bench, so I might have been overshadowed at the time. I just played my role there and then I got the opportunity to play at Murray State. They were the first school to recruit me and everything worked out for the best. It was a great fit for me. I became a better player at Murray State and now it looks like I’m going to get drafted pretty early.
ZL: You’ve had NBA scouts at your games for a long time now. Did you ever find it hard to stay focused on the task at hand rather than look ahead to the NBA?
CP: Not really, because I was so focused on winning and focused on trying to get our school and our team exposure in the tournament. I’m 20 [years old] and getting this attention, so I was definitely thinking about it, but all in all it was about winning as a team because the more that we won, the more attention we all got. It was all about my team and Murray State, so I wasn’t worried during the season.
ZL: When word came out that you would be going pro, you were projected as a fringe or late first-round pick. Since then, you’ve been steadily climbing up those mock drafts. What do you attribute that to?
CP: I think people are starting to watch me, that’s what I think it is, because, before then, no one really watched me. They would just see me on ESPN here and there. They’d say, “He’s pretty good and he got his team pretty far,” but after the season, people were starting to watch game film on me and seeing what kind of person and player I am on and off the court. Everything is working out for the best in the end because, man, I’ve moved up now from being a late first-round guy to earlier; some say I’ll go in the lottery.
ZL: Elfrid Payton was another underclassman out of a small school last year who shot up draft boards in similar fashion. Have you been hearing his name brought up to you a lot?
CP: I’ve definitely heard that a few times now. Elfrid came out of a mid-major and so am I. He was a late first type that climbed up the same way I’m climbing up.
ZL: Coming out of high school, what other colleges were you considering before committing to Murray State?
CP: I definitely considered Wichita State. It was between Wichita State and Murray State and, at the end, I chose to stay a little closer to home. Murray came at me early and they were close enough for my family to come see me play.
ZL: Do you think that going to a smaller school gave you a better chance to develop than a bigger school might have?
CP: Yeah, it did give me a better platform. At Murray State, I was getting minutes as a freshman; they let me mature and play through mistakes and at a mid-major they allow you to do that. It helped me grow as a player. My coach told me that I grew up faster than he ever expected me to and I think that’s because of all of the in-game experience I got.
ZL: What have you improved on since you first arrived on campus?
CP: I’ve improved on my decision making. I know that my shot selection was a problem in my freshman year and in my sophomore year that improved so much. My defense has also gotten much better because I was only 165 pounds as a freshman.
ZL: What’s your weight right now?
CP: I’m 186 pounds but still trying to get bigger. I want to be at least around 190 or 195 [pounds].
ZL: Would you say you’re a leader on the court?
CP: Absolutely. I’m a leader and I’m a selfless teammate. I want to win so bad and anything I can do to help my team win, that’s what I’ll do. If it means giving my teammate the ball because he’s hot, I’m going to keep feeding him. When it comes to being a leader, you know, I can’t be out there messing around because I’m setting the example for everyone else.
ZL: What would you say your greatest strength is on the floor?
CP: This goes back to my leadership ability, but I feel like I can have a big impact on the court, with or without the ball in my hands. I’m a really good talker and I can keep everybody involved in the game.
ZL: What NBA point guard, past or present, would you compare yourself to?
CP: He’s not a point guard but growing up I wanted to be like Kobe Bryant. That’s my guy, but I grew into a different kind of player. I think Tony Parker would be the best to compare me to if you were to compare me to someone. We do the same thing. He gets the teammates involved, he wins; that’s the main thing I like about him.
ZL: Do you have an idea as to where you’ll be drafted? What’s your floor and what’s your ceiling?
CP: To be honest, I think my ceiling … I haven’t really seen the top of it yet. I think it can really rise past even [No.] 11 or 12, but from looking at the board, i could see myself going 11 to 25 because a lot of teams in the draft can use a point guard and I’d be a perfect fit for most or all of them. I’ve worked hard to put myself in a great situation and I’m gonna work as hard as I can to move up. My goal is to get up to [No.] 7, 8, or 9. Where ever I go, though, I’ll be happy. My goal is just to get to shake the commissioner’s hand. That’s always been my dream.
ZL: Why was Travis King and the Relativity Sports agency the right fit for you?
CP: I kind of knew Travis a little bit before this NBA stuff started happening. He’s a really good guy. I like the agency and the program. They’re very loyal to their players and they’re very trustworthy. They’ve done a great job with their players and knowing Travis a bit just made it an even easier decision for me.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jarrid Famous Shifts Focus Toward NBA
Former Pacers and Grizzlies camp invitee Jarrid Famous has traveled the globe in his quest to play professional basketball at the highest level. After going everywhere from Lebanon to the Dominican Republic, the four-year pro has a passport that would make Carmen Sandiego jealous.
“I’m a huge anime fan so I loved playing in Japan and getting to know their culture there,” the 6’11” center said. “My favorite place though was probably the Philippines. They love their basketball there and you get to play in front of 20,000 screaming fans every night. Plus they have TGI Fridays, Outback Steakhouse, and Olive Garden there, so those things made me feel pretty much at home.” 
This year, after returning from China, Famous had an opportunity to play in another exotic location at a healthy rate of $30K per month, but no amount of money or bloomin’ onions could have swayed him. He shunned that opportunity and remained in the States to play in the D-League so that he could audition himself for NBA teams and get ready for training camp this coming fall, wherever that may be. Famous values his experiences around the globe, but he felt that he wasn’t getting the kind of in-game experience he needed playing internationally.
“I feel I belong in the NBA. I could have done the international thing all over again this year but I chose instead to stay here and train and do the things I need to improve in advance of training camp. Going overseas, I felt like I didn’t have the right people there pushing me. In years past, I would just go overseas and then jump right into camp or summer league. Now, I’m here, I’m preparing for camp at home and I already know that I’m going to be very well prepared for it all,” the Hazan Sports Management client explained.
So far, Famous’ plan of staying in the U.S. seems to be paying off quite well. After initially signing with a Chinese team, Famous started the 2014/15 season with the Iowa Energy, who later facilitated his request for a trade to the Texas Legends, a team that had a greater utility for his rebounding. All in all, Famous averaged 16.0 points and an eye-popping 14.9 rebounds per contest. On offense, he filled out the stat sheet while remaining an efficient scorer, knocking down 56.5% of his shots from the floor. For his quality effort in Iowa and Texas, Famous earned a runner-up nod for the title of Most Improved Player in the D-League from Ridiculous Upside.
We’re still weeks away from the meat of the offseason, but agent Daniel Hazan says that Famous already has an offer to play in minicamp. Famous’ last training camp experience is one that he’d probably like to forget. The Grizzlies were gung-ho about him in 2012, a year in which he played in the summer league for both the Pacers and the Bucks, but things were put on hold when Famous separated his left shoulder while dunking. Three years later, Famous is 100% healthy and he says he’s more ready than ever for the stiff competition he’d face in an NBA team’s camp.
Now, the well-traveled 26-year-old is making his home base at his one-time school, Westchester Community College in New York. With the help of a trainer, Famous says he’s in the best shape of his life. He also says he’s rock-solid mentally and readily credits his years of world travel for his advanced maturity.
“It’s a great experience,” Famous said of playing internationally. “It forced me to get out of my comfort zone and grow as a person. Going everywhere and seeing how other people live, it helped me appreciate the things that I have. Going to different places and how they do things helped me to grow as a person, and I took bits and pieces from every place that I went. It helped me grow.”
Famous contends that he’s a more well-rounded person, both on the court and off, thanks to his globetrotting. Years ago in college, at South Florida, Famous had a sometimes singular focus on scoring in bunches as he worked toward his NBA dream. Now, he understands what he does best on the floor and what he needs to do to help his team win. Often, that means putting up points, but it also means doing the little things, hustling, and playing tough D. Famous happily does it all and hopes to do it on the NBA stage next season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Hoops Links: Rondo, D-League, Rockets
On this date in 1988, Michael Jordan became the first player to score 50 or more points in consecutive playoff games when he drilled Cleveland for 55 points in the Bulls’ 106-101 victory in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first round series. In the game prior, Jordan scored 50 points to power Chicago’s 104-93 victory.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…
- Posterized Basketball tries to pinpoint where it all went wrong with Rajon Rondo.
- Upside Motor has an FAQ for the D-League.
- House Of Houston didn’t get their wish.
- Rant Sports pondered Roy Hibbert‘s future.
- OT Nation previewed the Western Conference semifinals.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Q&A With NBA Draft Prospect Richaun Holmes
Throughout the spring and summer, Hoops Rumors will be talking with some of the most intriguing prospects in the 2015 NBA Draft. The Hoops Rumors Draft Prospect Q&A series begins with Bowling Green product Richaun Holmes, whom Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranks No. 45 in this year’s class and Chad Ford of ESPN.com rates 59th.
Standing at 6’10”, Holmes is a lengthy forward with athleticism that translates to both sides of the floor. With a wingspan of 7’1.5″, the 21-year-old can disrupt passing lanes and protect the paint on defense. Offensively, Holmes has worked hard to improve his game, transforming from a fairly one-dimensional low-post threat to a legitimately strong shooter. Holmes can score with his back to the basket, from 15 feet out, and by driving to the hoop, and that could prove troublesome for defenders at the next level.
Holmes, a client of Keith Kreiter at Edge Sports International, took some time out of his schedule on Tuesday to chat with Hoops Rumors about his skill set, his basketball journey up to this point, and more.
Zach Links: Scouts are enamored with your athleticism, but you’ve also developed into a very solid shooter over the last couple of years. What do you attribute that to?
Richaun Holmes: Just putting the time in. A lot of the time I wasn’t shooting the ball well or consistently, I wasn’t doing it the same way every time and I was just putting up a lot of shots. I knew that I wanted to develop a solid outside shot because I was being left open at the top of the key so often. So, I put the time in and made my shot better. 
ZL: What did you change in your form?
RH: My elbow was the main thing that my coaches worked on with me. It was kind of loose and they taught me to keep it tucked in. Once I started doing that, my shots were staying on line.
ZL: You’ve shown that you can score in the post, by driving to the basket or by spotting up from further out. Which facet of your offensive game are you most comfortable with?
RH: I’m definitely most comfortable around the basket just because that’s the most natural thing I did in basketball. Scoring around the basket, getting boards around the rim, that’s what I’ve always done. That’s my domain.
ZL: If you had to write your own scouting report, what NBA player(s) would you compare yourself to?
RH: I think the main guy is Serge Ibaka because of how he affects the game defensively. Obviously, he blocks a ton of shots, and on the offensive end he’s extremely active there finishing around the rim. Now, he’s developed a very good mid-range jumper like I have, so that’s a guy I look up to as I go through this process.
ZL: In a limited sample size, you’ve done pretty well from beyond the arc, too, making 18 of 43 shots this season. Do you feel comfortable shooting from deep now?
RH: I feel like I’m more of a mid-range guy, but I feel like I can space the floor and make three point shots. I definitely have that in my game.
ZL: Are you looking to bulk up between now and the fall? In terms of size and conditioning, what are your goals as you get ready to make the jump to the NBA?
RH: I’m in the weight room just trying to get stronger and ready to compete against those guys. I can’t really put a number on [how many pounds] I want to be, I just want to be strong enough to compete at the highest level. I’ve been talking to a nutritionist, trying to put the best things in my body to keep myself going, [and] doing different weightlifting programs to get more strength and explosiveness.
ZL: You have the size and strength defensively to guard big men, but I imagine that scouts also see you as a guy that can guard on the perimeter thanks to your athleticism and wingspan (7‘1.5“ wingspan, 6’10” height). Do you feel comfortable defending against guards and smaller guys when necessary?
RH: I have the confidence to do that when my team needs me to. I’ve been assigned to a smaller guy at times because I can move pretty well and sometimes they have me switch from 1-5 all over the court. Also in pick and rolls, there are times where you have to switch assignments and I’m comfortable with doing that.
ZL: You took an unusual path to Bowling Green as you first began your collegiate career at Moraine Valley Community College in Illinois. What led you to go that route rather than a four-year program right out of high school?
RH: When I got out of high school my dream was to play [NCAA] Division I basketball but I was a late bloomer in high school. When I first came out, I didn’t have any D-I offers really. I had a lot of D-IIs and D-IIIs interested, but i wanted to play D-I so I went to MVCC and the coach there at the time told me that if I worked hard and if I played for him, he’d get me to a D-I college. I trusted him and he came through; that’s how i ended up at Bowling Green.
ZL: Did you think it would be easier to transfer from a community college rather than a D-II or a D-III school?
RH: I knew if you transferred from a community college you could play right away at a D-I and I wasn’t sure how it worked at a D-II or a D-III, so I went to community college to be sure.
ZL: When did you take that major leap forward in high school?
RH: I didn’t step into a leadership or starting role until my senior year. I really didn’t play much in my junior year.
ZL: What led you to break out?
RH: I went from 6’4″ to 6’6″ in my senior year and I just kept working as hard as I could. Then, I kept growing after high school. I measured in at 6’7″ and 3/4 inches in my sophomore year of college and now I’m 6’10”.
ZL: When did you first realize that you had an excellent chance of making it to the NBA? After playing less than 20 minutes per night in your first year at Bowling Green, did you see yourself eventually going pro?
RH: In my junior year I would talk to the coaching staff at that time with [head] coach Louis Orr and he told me that the sky was the limit, that I could play in the pros somewhere if I worked hard enough. I think towards the end of this year the NBA started to become a more realistic possibility for me.
ZL: What specific areas of your game do you feel like you need to improve upon?
RH: I would say for one, ball handling. I just want to be able to create for me and my teammates. I also want to keep developing that solid mid-range jumper because it’s so important in the NBA now for a 4 to stretch the floor and make his shots.
ZL: Have you gotten an indication of where you might go in the draft?
RH: I’m not sure. I talk to my agent, Keith Kreiter, a lot and he tells me I’m a mid-second round guy right now with a chance to get to the first round, so I’m working hard to improve my stock every day.
ZL: What led you to choose Keith Kreiter and the team at Edge Sports International to represent you?
RH: When we sat down with him — we being me, my family, and my brothers — we all just got a really good vibe from him. He was sincere and I knew he was gonna work hard for me and he really cared about me as a person, not just as a commodity. He’s been doing this for a long time and all of those elements for me made this a good decision.
ZL: Have interested teams started reaching out to you?
RH: They’ve talked to Keith and had conversations with him. They know who I am and they want to know even more about me, so that’s exciting.
ZL: What are you up to now?
RH: I’m still down at Bowling Green in school, finishing up. I work out during the week and I train back home in Chicago on the weekends, training there and working around the clock. I’ve got a pretty full slate right now with 12 credit hours, but finals week is next week so I’m almost done.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Hoops Links: Sonics, Nuggets, Jordan
On this date in 1984, the Nets shocked the world. New Jersey had never won a playoff game in their NBA history, but they managed to beat Julius Erving and the defending champion 76ers. Led by Buck Williams and Albert King, the Nets won the deciding Game 5, 101-98, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…
- Kingdome Of Seattle Sports looked at playoff-bound players with local roots for Sonics fans.
- Posterized Basketball gives their input on what the Nuggets should do this offseason.
- Air Alamo wonders if a new approach should be taken with DeAndre Jordan.
- Legion Report says this year’s champs won’t be the Cavs or the Warriors.
- Upside Motor wonders if the NCAA should allow players to test the waters in the D-League.
- House Of Houston has three reasons for the Rockets to bring K.J. McDaniels back.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Hoops Links: Rockets, Crawford, Spurs
On this date in 1986, Hawks guard Spud Webb set an NBA rookie record for assists in a playoff game with 18, to lead the Hawks over Detroit, 137-125, at the Omni in Game 2 of a first round playoff series.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…
- House Of Houston says the Rockets need to do three things to advance.
- Road To The Association has high praise for Jordan Crawford.
- Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues wonders if the Spurs will go back-to-back.
- DraftKings looked at the NBA’s salary cap in 2017.
- OT Nation handed out some regular season awards.
- Slam Dunk Zone put the spotlight on Kristaps Porzingis.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Central Notes: Rose, Pistons, Cavs
Prior to today’s contest against the Cavs, Bulls big man Joakim Noah said that he’s not thinking about how to stifle LeBron James in a possible seven-game series, Nick Friedell of ESPN.com writes. If they clash, however, you can bet that he’ll be doing his homework. The Bulls are 9-9 against James in the regular season since the 2010/11 campaign, but they are just 3-12 against James all time in the postseason. Here’s more out of the Central Division..
- Bulls star Derrick Rose told ABC’s Lisa Salters that he’ll likely return to action “sometime this week” (via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune on Twitter). As Johnson notes, Rose was initially given a four-to-six week timeline and Friday would be six weeks to the day of that prognosis. Rose said late last month that he was confident he’d return to action this season.
- The Pistons sent plenty of players down to their D-League affiliate in Grand Rapids this year but they never called anyone up, David Mayo of MLive.com writes. The Pistons planned to try more D-League call-ups this season by paring their roster to 14 and using the 15th spot to try different players once 10-day contracts opened in early January. Instead, they brought in Quincy Miller from the Reno Bighorns. Miller, as president of basketball operations and head coach Stan Van Gundy explained, was the best player available and showed enough to stay on board for the rest of the season. The team also couldn’t keep an open roster spot after Brandon Jennings‘ injury.
- After early season struggles led to speculation about David Blatt‘s job security, James was happy to see the Cavs boss win a Coach of the Month award, Chris Haynes of The Plain Dealer writes. “I just think he continues to learn every single day, and I’m so excited that I can be a part of his transition from the euro basketball league to now the NBA,” James told Haynes. “All the hard work he put into coaching, this is a dream of his and for him to be Coach of the Month, I know it’s a validation. Even though he talks about that he doesn’t need a validation to be a part of this league, it gives him even more of validation to say ‘I belong here.’ I’m a part of his first Coach of the Month, so it’s pretty cool.”
Hoops Links: Mavs, Antetokounmpo, Draft
On this date in 2001, Mavericks big man Wang Zhizhi played in his first NBA game, a 108-94 win over the Hawks, becoming the first Chinese player to compete in the NBA. Wang had six points and three rebounds in eight minutes of play against Atlanta.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…
- Posterized Basketball sees the Mavericks as a failed experiment.
- Road To The Association is excited about Thanasis Antetokounmpo.
- The Sixer Sense says Mario Hezonja is a big deal.
- Slam Dunk Zone looked at Isaiah Thomas, an unlikely Sixth Man of the Year candidate.
- House Of Houston ran down possible first round matchups for the Rockets.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.