Pistons Notes: Dumars, Coach, Sampson
Last night, we learned that Stan Van Gundy isn't interested in becoming the next coach of the 76ers, Cavaliers, or Pistons, the three teams with coaching vacancies. Detroit let Lawrence Frank go at the end of the season, bringing an end to his tenure which saw the club go 54-94 across two seasons. Here's a look at the latest out of The Palace as they get set for what should be a very interesting offseason..
- Joe Dumars will be in charge of finding the next coach of the team, but he won't rush his search, writes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. There's no hurry for Dumars as potential candidates – such as Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson– are in the playoffs.
- The foundation is set for Dumars to improve the fortunes of the Pistons, writes Vincent Goodwill of The Detroit News. The Pistons have flexibility, young players and play in a fairly desirable market, which can't be said for other clubs in similar positions. One league executive told Goodwill that Dumars is still heavily respected by players and agents around the league and that he represents "organizational strength" despite the Pistons not being a big-market team.
- Without mentioning him by name, former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy blasted Dumars for making Frank the scapegoat for the club's problems, writes Brendan Savage of MLive.com.
New York Notes: Carlesimo, Nets, Martin, Knicks
Here's a look at some items on the Nets and Knicks as they get set to take on the Bulls and Celtics, respectively..
- When asked what it will take in the playoffs to keep his job, Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo responded that he has "no idea", writes Andy Vasquez of the Bergen Record. Carlesimo has had great success since taking over as interim coach, compiling a record of 35-19 since Avery Johnson was let go.
- In an interview with Steve Serby of the New York Post, Knicks forward Kenyon Martin had high praise for coach Mike Woodson. Martin explained that Woodson is unlike any other coach he has had and loves how he has a laid back demeanor but can also be stern when necessary. Martin will be a free agent this summer but has made it clear that he enjoys New York.
- The Knicks hope their age doesn't show as they get set for their playoff run, writes Mitch Lawrence of the Daily News.
Grizzlies Sign Willie Reed
WEDNESDAY, 2:01pm: The Grizzlies have officially signed Reed, the team announced in a press release.
SUNDAY, 5:27pm: Reed's deal will be a multi-year, non-guaranteed pact, according to Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal (on Twitter).
3:17pm: The Grizzlies have signed Willie Reed for the remainder of the season, agent Joel Bell tells Shams Charania of RealGM (via Twitter). Reed, 22, played two seasons at St. Louis before going undrafted in the 2011 NBA draft.
Reed averaged 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 blocks for the Springfield Armor of the NBA Developmental League. Terms of Reed's deal beyond the 2012/13 season are currently being worked on between the Grizzlies and Bell.
Doug Collins Tells 76ers He Won’t Stay As Coach
TUESDAY, 7:12pm: According to ESPN's Marc Stein, a press release was issued earlier today from the office of John Langel, Collins' agent, that a deal was done to make Collins a "special consultant" with the Sixers. Shortly after, however, another release was issued stating that the original was wrong (Twitter links). This is curious to say the least, though it likely indicates that the two sides are discussing of some type of a buyout.
SUNDAY, 10:49pm: An amicable agreement is being pursued by both sides with possibilities ranging from a buyout to Collins staying on in a front office role, tweets Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.
SUNDAY, 9:17pm: Sixers coach Doug Collins has informed ownership that he will resign at season's end, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The 62-year-old has one year left on a four-year deal, but has told management he won't return in that role. Collins' possible return to the franchise in another capacity, possibly something in the front office, hasn't been ruled out, according to a source.
Despite talk about his job security, ownership wanted him to return for the final season of a his deal that would've paid him $4.5MM, but Collins informed owner Josh Harris of his decision in recent days.
There could soon be space for Collins in the front office as president Rod Thorn is likely to move into a consultant's role at season's end and GM Tony DiLeo could be let go or have an ultimate decision-maker hired to preside over him.
The Sixers are 33-47, good for ninth place in the Eastern Conference. It has been a trying year for Collins and the 76ers who were supposed to have Andrew Bynum in the middle and a real shot at challenging the elite teams in the East this season. However, knee injuries sidelined the All-Star for the entire season, leaving the club with nothing to show for parting with Andre Iguodala, Nik Vucevic, and Moe Harkless.
Reggie Bullock To Enter Draft
North Carolina junior Reggie Bullock will enter the 2013 draft, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Wojnarowski reportered earlier today that the forward was leaning strongly towards going pro.
Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress has Bullock ranked No. 35 on his top 100 list of prospects and has him just making the first round cut at No. 30 in his mock draft. The 22-year-old averaged 13.9 PPG with 6.6 RPG for UNC this past season.
Pacific Notes: Kings, Suns, Brown, Lakers, Kobe
Here's a look at the latest out of the Pacific..
- The Sacramento group hoping to purchase the Kings got reinforcements today when venture capitalist Naren Gupta and tech entrepreneur Andy Miller came aboard, writes Dale Kasler, Ryan Lillis, and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee. Primary investor Vivek Ranadive laid out an ambitious vision for the club to transform it into a "global brand", but offered little in the way of details on their actual purchase offer for the team. Earlier today, we looked at the latest in the Kings ownership battle.
- Shannon Brown is less-than-thrilled with his bench role in Phoenix, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. Brown said that the upside of it all is that he's saving his body for next season, a year in which the Suns have him under contract but only $1.75MM of his $3.5MM deal is guaranteed.
- Larry Coon of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) explains how the Lakers can use the CBA to their advantage in the wake of Kobe Bryant's injury. While GM Mitch Kupchak says that using the amnesty clause on Bryant isn't something that's being discussed, Coon says it's something that will be considered if he will be sidelined for most or all of the 2013/14 season.
Raptors Still Hope To Trade Andrea Bargnani
Andrea Bargnani got a great deal of ink on Hoops Rumors this season and at one point it seemed like a lock that the big man would be moved. General Manager Bryan Colangelo was candid about his efforts to trade the former No. 1 overall pick and Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld writes that the club still hopes to move him this summer.
“We obviously had some frank discussions with Andrea and his agent that a change of scenery might benefit everyone, but his two random and unrelated elbow injuries dismissed whatever trade scenarios were being contemplated,” the GM said. “With the timing of his injuries, we simply just ran out of runway prior to the trade deadline. As far as value, I would disagree [that his is low], good size-to-skill ratio is a commodity in this league, especially the way the game is trending. If Andrea stays, however, I’m hoping [head coach Dwane] Case[y] can find a way to duplicate his tremendous start to the 11-12 campaign, where he was performing at an All-Star level on both ends of the floor.”
Colangelo added that he is happy with the talent level of his young core and that he will look to add a veteran presence to the club this summer. The club also has a decision to make on a veteran of their own in Alan Anderson. Our own Luke Adams spoke with the 30-year-old as he gets set for free agency after the season.
Latest On Kings, City Of Seattle
After months of back-and-forth jostling, it's finally time for the NBA owners to vote on the sale of the Kings to the group backed by Seattle investor Chris Hansen. Hansen needs 23 of 30 votes to secure the sale and we know that he has at least one in the Maloofs. The Sacramento side, meanwhile, needs eight no votes to block the transaction. If the sale goes through, all Hansen needs is a simple majority of 16 votes to move the club to Seattle. If Hansen gets denied the overall sale, however, it could create an opening for Sacramento, as detailed by NBA.com's David Aldridge.
If the Seattle deal is rejected, Sacramento stands ready with a counteroffer to the Maloofs that may match the parameters of the Seattle offer. Some sources involved in the discussions say it does but others say it doesn't. Regardless, a source indicated that the Maloofs would be willing to sign a backup offer with the Sacramento-led Vivek Ranadive group if the Hansen deal was rejected by the NBA.
Factors like television market size can come into play in the approval process, but there are three major factors that will influence the decision, according to Aldridge.
- The key issue is the arena, as in, which side can get the building finished first and closest to the estimated price tag. There are significant hurdles on both sides. The new Seattle arena – which would be heavily financed by Hansen – might not be ready until 2017, which means that the team would have to play in Key Arena for longer than the previously estimated two year span. The $448MM proposed arena in Sacramento would see $250MM from taxpayers, but there's still the matter of securing the land necessary and purchasing it, and that could cost more than estimated in total.
- There's also a matter of a $30MM non-refundable deposit that the Maloofs have secured from Hansen but have yet to receive from Ranadive's team. It's still unknown whether the Sacramento group will take that plunge.
- Finally, the league's new revenue sharing system will affect the franchise differently, depending on where it lands. If the Kings stay in Sacramento, league sources believe the team will continue to take in money from the pool. If the Kings move to Seattle, those sources believe the team will become a revenue payer, which obviously benefits the league more.
On the surface, it would appear that the cards are stacked against Sacramento. However, there is always the wild card of commissioner David Stern, who is said to be helping the Sacramento group behind the scenes. The Maloofs, who still want to make the deal happen with Hansen, believe that Stern has gone above and beyond in his efforts to keep the Kings where they are. Stern has backed off and let franchises move in the past, like when the Sonics were moved to Oklahoma City, but has also prevented sales that would have lead to relocation, like the Hornets' proposed sale to Larry Ellison, who probably would have brought them to San Jose.
As it stands, Hansen probably has the upper hand, but Stern could shift things to Sacramento's side in a hurry if he can help secure more financing for them.
Atlantic Notes: Teletovic, Nets, Carlesimo, 76ers
Here's a look at the latest out of the Atlantic..
- The Nets received more calls at the trade deadline about Mirza Teletovic than any other player, as other teams found his three-year, $9.687MM contract a bargain given his track record in Europe, reports Fred Kerber of the New York Post. Teletovic has only averaged 9.1 minutes per game this season, but he's intent on making it in the NBA and has no plans to return to Europe.
- Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo defended Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni from the criticism he's taken over Kobe Bryant's injury, writes Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. “When you’re playing for a playoff position, and in particular you’re playing a guy that would play 48 minutes if you’d let him, I think there’s been a lot of unfair commentary directed towards Mike. The only way you get Kobe off the floor is if you pull him off the floor," said the coach.
- Julius Erving told John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter) that he wouldn't mind being involved in the vetting process for free agents for the 76ers.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Dwight Howard Expected To Stay With Lakers
Could our long national Dwightmare reach a drama-free conclusion this summer? Two sources close to Lakers center Dwight Howard told Sam Amick of USA Today that they fully expect him to return to L.A. even though he has kept mum on the subject. In fact, the organization expected Howard to take over the Lakers even before the season-ending injury to Kobe Bryant.
Of course, Howard is notorious for changing his mind, meaning there's always a chance his outlook could change by the time July rolls around. The Mavericks, Rockets and even the Suns, who could make room for D12 with a few moves, are hoping that's the case.
Howard could definitely have a change of heart if he is not factor in the Lakers' offense sans Kobe in these final two games and they fall short of making the playoffs. Financially, the smart move would be to stay in L.A. as Howard's max extension with the Lakers would be for five years and $117.9MM while the rest of the field could only give him something in the vicinity of a four-year, $87.6MM ontract, as calculated by our own Luke Adams.