Nowitzki On Mavs, Free Agents, Playoffs
In today’s column, NBA.com’s David Aldridge posted segments from his one-on-one chat with the Mavericks‘ Dirk Nowitzki. Nowitzki discussed his career, the club’s future, and more in a comprehensive interview. Here’s a look at some of the highlights..
Are you still confident the front office can build a contender again?
I think sometimes you just need to gamble a little bit. You need to take chances. You may have to take a contract that people may say is not a good contract. But the great thing is if you have cap space, you can do that. I think with cap space you can still turn a franchise around pretty quick. So, yeah, we’re just gonna go for it this summer and see what’s out there in free agency. If not, maybe sign and trade, or trades. We just have to wait and see. So what we have to do now is just let it all hang out in the last three weeks or so, see if we make the push to the playoffs, and if not, we’ll see what we’ve got going through the Draft, and then July will be a big month for us.
Are you a recruiter now?
I’m obviously gonna be here most of the summer. If they need me to go somewhere or call somebody, I’ll obviously be more than happy to. This is my home. Once you’ve won it all, you want that feeling again. You don’t want to be out of the playoffs looking in. We’d love to have that feeling again. The city was so excited. The franchise was. We’d love to at least play for that again. It’s a big summer for us, and anything I can do, I’ll be here.
How hard is [fighting for a playoff spot] for you?
It’s another challenge for me. We had some years in those playoffs when we weren’t top four (in the West), from four to eight. That already felt like that wasn’t a great year for us. So we obviously are used to high standards around here, the franchise and the city is disappointed in that way a little bit, with us (normally) winning 50 games every year and being right up there and having home court usually in the first round. It’s been tough since we won the championship. Last year we were obviously a seventh, eighth seed, and this year we’re still on the outside looking in. So it’s been a tough year back to back. It’s been written a bunch about the business decisions we’ve made, and we’re moving forward. But we know that this is a big summer for us. We don’t thrive on playing for the eighth seed. We thrive higher. Hopefully we can make some stuff happen this summer and be a great team again.
Southeast Notes: Heat, Dooling, Wizards, Wall
The Cavs were competitive tonight in Atlanta tonight but ultimately they were unable to pull out a W over the Hawks. Guard Devin Harris turned in a game-high 25 points as the Hawks won 102-94 and improved to 42-33 on the year. Here's more out of the Southeast..
- We saw that Keyon Dooling agreed to sign with the Grizzlies this morning. Dooling wanted to return to the Heat, but the team never called, tweets Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
- Since returning from injury, Wizards star John Wall has been turning heads and changing minds this season, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. Stan Van Gundy, who was critical of the point guard’s play earlier this year, admits that Wall’s performance of late is proving him wrong night in and night out.
- Earlier today we looked at the latest on the Wizards, including comments from Wall on why he believes that he is a max player.
Prospect Profile: Cody Zeller
Indiana's season is in the books, but Hoosiers fans will be keeping a close eye on two players in particular as we approach June. Victor Oladipo, a 6'5" walking highlight reel, figures to go in the top ten along with big man Cody Zeller. Nerlens Noel, injury and all, is still likely to be the first center off of the board, but Zeller won't be far behind in a draft class lacking impact big men.
At 7'0", Zeller made an impression right away as a freshman in 2011/12. The center led the team with 15.6 PPG and 6.6 RPG while shooting 62.3 percent from the floor, the fourth best field goal percentage in the nation. After being named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year and impressing across the board, Zeller would have been a surefire lottery pick. Instead, he chose to came back to IU for a second season. He may not have improved his stock, per se, but it's hard to imagine that it's fallen significantly given the makeup of the 2013 class.
Zeller's return powered Indiana to win the Big Ten title and averaged 16.8 PPG with 8.2 RPG while shooting 57% from the field. He can move on to the NBA knowing that he did a great deal to help his team on the way out, but he's not necessarily leaving on a high note. Syracuse downed Indiana 61-50 on Thursday and a big reason for their W was their ability to take Zeller out of the game. There was no ~60% shooting percentage here as the big man shot just 3-of-11 from the floor. He wasn't stifled by anyone in particular as much as he just seemed overwhelmed by the team pressure the Orange put on him.
Some have slammed his aggressiveness in the wake of last week's tournament exit, but that game wasn't representative of his entire body of work. Zeller definitely has a mean streak and is more than willing to bang with other big men in the paint for loose balls. The shooting performance also wasn't indicative of what he's capable of. Zeller can work well with his back to the basket and has a skillset in that realm that should position him well at the next level.
What hurts him is his play on the other side of the ball. Defensively, Zeller has been able to use his size to frustrate opponents in college. In the NBA, being 7'0" alone won't make you a difference maker. In order to really develop as an all-around player, Zeller will have to – in the words of Hulk Hogan – say his prayers and take his vitamins. If he can't get stronger, then Zeller won't get very far at the next level. That aside, you can still expect Zeller's name to be called in the top ten in this year's draft.
Odds & Ends: Meeks, Kings, Clippers, Wolves
Jodie Meeks has been a critical role player for the Lakers this season under coach Mike D'Antoni after sitting on the pine for much of Mike Brown's tenure. The Lakers hold a team option on Meeks and he believes that it will be exericsed. “Yeah, I think so,” Meeks told Shams Charania of RealGM when asked if he believes he will be part of the Lakers next year. “You can’t really worry about that right now, just finish out this year. I’ll do that and see whatever happens.” Here's more from around the Association..
- If Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman winds up walking away this summer due to family issues, J.B. Bickerstaff won't be considered a candidate for the job, according to Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (Sulia link). There are still hard feelings in the Minnesota office when Bickerstaff followed Kevin McHale to the Rockets that would keep him from being considered.
- Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times rounds up the week's news on the future of the Kings, noting that Sacramento City Council's approval of an arena plan is non-binding, just like their endorsement of an ill-fated arena proposal last year (link via the Sacramento Bee).
- The Clippers retooled bench worked hard in the offseason to become arguably the league's best bench, writes Derek Page of HoopsWorld. In order for everything to come together for L.A., it was essential for Jamal Crawford to check his ego at the door and accept being the club's sixth man.
- While we have heard that the Wolves are set to exercise GM David Kahn's option for next season, owner Glen Taylor says that he hasn't made a decision yet, writes Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune.
Hoops Links: Leonard, Watson, Asik, Jazz
In a few days, competing bidders for the Kings will go before the NBA's Board of Governors to make their cases to buy the team. Groups from Seattle and Sacramento will both present on April 3rd and while it seemed like the Kings moving up north was a done deal a few months ago, it's no longer clear cut. Who will come out on top?
Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson gives the group looking to keep the team in California's capital a 90% chance, but something tells me that he might be a little bit biased. From this outsider's perspective, it appears to be a 50/50 split with a rabid fan base in Seattle starving for basketball pit against a city that has more than 9,000 pledges to buy season tickets if the Kings stay put. If you're not a Seattle resident or a Kings fan, it's incredibly hard to pick a side to cheer for. It'll be infinitely more difficult for the league to make the actual call this week.
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..
- Pounding The Rock asks if Kawhi Leonard should have a bigger role on offense.
- Hardwood Paroxysm presents small sample size theatre with Earl Watson.
- Red94 wants to see Omer Asik win Defensive Player of the Year.
- SLC Dunk tells us what the Jazz can learn from the Spurs.
- Hoops Addict praises the play of Jeff Teague.
- The Brooklyn Game looks at the best players to ever come out of BK.
- Blog A Bull captured the best moments from the streak-stopping win.
- Bucksketball talks Milwaukee pre and post-Monta Ellis.
- Bright Side Of The Sun asks if Phoenix is tanking.
- Celtics Life talks Virgil and Dante.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.
Draft Notes: McLemore, McGary, Leslie, Smith
The list of 2013 early draft entrants continues to grow and its little surprise – in a weak talent pool, many players who would typically be keeping their fingers crossed in the second round are likely to go in the first and come away with guaranteed contracts. Staying in school and waiting for the 2014 draft doesn't just mean jumping into a tougher draft – it means being a part of one of the best draft classes in years. As March Madness continues, here's a look at today's draft news..
- HoopsWorld's Yannis Koutroupis released his latest mock draft today and still has Ben McLemore at No. 1, despite Kansas' early exit from the tournament. Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart is slated to go second with injured Kentucky big man Nerlens Noel going third.
- C.J. Leslie is likely to announce his intentions to enter the draft tomorrow, sources tell Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). We heard last week that the 6'8" forward was planning to enter the draft like teammate Lorenzo Brown.
- If Michigan big man Mitch McGary were to enter the draft, Goodman (on Twitter) hears from one NBA GM that he would be a late first-round choice. While NBA scouts might be high on the March hero, there's no indication yet that he'll be going pro this summer.
- Chad Ford of ESPN.com (via Twitter) agrees that McGary would go in round one and also sees Louisville's Russ Smith as a guy who could go inside of the first 30 picks. Michigan's Tim Hardaway Jr. and Syracuse's C.J. Fair could also vault themselves up draft boards thanks to strong tournament play.
Central Notes: Pistons, Calderon, Cavaliers
Last week, Pistons point guard Jose Calderon said that he wasn't ready to close the door on a reunion with the Raptors after spending an enjoyable seven-and-a-half years there. Even though Calderon might have an affinity for Toronto, it's unlikely that he'll be in red-and-black next year because of their cap situation. Besides, based on recent comments from Joe Dumars, it seems like he's appreciated in Detroit. Here's more on Calderon and the rest of the Central..
- The Pistons would like to re-sign Calderon, and even though the team's poor play of late hasn't dissuaded the point guard from coming back, Calderon is non-committal about his free agent plans, as Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free-Press details. Ellis suggests Calderon could command an annual salary of $6MM-$7MM.
- The summer ahead is crucial for the Pistons, opines MLive's David Mayo, who believes coach Lawrence Frank will be retained, albeit with a short leash for next season, despite rumors that he won't be back for 2013/14.
- Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal quotes an unnamed Cavs player who questions coach Byron Scott's grueling shootarounds and practices as well as his in-game strategy. Lloyd hears from another member of the organization perplexed by Scott's usage of Kyrie Irving. The Cavs picked up his $4.5MM option for next season, but it's not certain the team will retain him for 2013/14.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
D-League Moves: Baynes, Liggins, Orton
We'll keep track of today's D-League assignments and recalls here. You can take a look at all of this year's D-League moves with Hoops Rumors' running log..
- The Spurs announced that they have recalled center Aron Baynes from the Austin Toros. Baynes, who just made his fourth stint with the Toros this season, has appeared in nine games with Austin, averaging 12.2 points and 8.0 rebounds in 25.4 minutes.
- The Thunder announced that they have recalled guard DeAndre Liggins and center Daniel Orton from the Tulsa 66ers. Liggins has played in 18 games for the 66ers, averaging 11.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in 34.2 minutes per game. Orton has appeared in 29 games this season in the D-League while averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 28.3 minutes per game.
Hoops Rumors Originals: 3/25/13 – 3/31/13
Here’s a look back at the original analysis delivered by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- I kicked off our 2013 Prospect Profile series with a look at Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel.
- Luke Adams looked at injured players on expiring contracts.
- Chuck Myron broke down the colleges that produce highly paid NBA players.
- Chuck wouldn’t be surprised to see Victor Oladipo‘s rise continue.
- Despite the questions about him, Alex Lee believes that Ben McLemore is gifted enough to be an impact player.
- O.J. Mayo will easily exceed the mid-level deals signed by Jamal Crawford, Louis Williams, and Jason Terry, Luke writes.
- Opinions are split on whether the NBA should address tanking in Chuck’s poll.
- Luke compiled a list of 10-day players that have parlayed their auditions into deals for the rest-of-season.
- Nearly 20% of Hoops Rumors readers correctly predicted that the Heat’s streak would end with their March 27th showdown against the Bulls.
- Here’s a refresher on all of Hoops Rumors’ great features.
- Want to know how to follow specific players on Hoops Rumors? Peep this.
Week In Review: 3/25/13 – 3/31/13
Kobe Bryant has said for a while now that he'll retire after the 2013/14 season, but it's clear that he still has plenty of basketball left. Earlier today, we learned that the future Hall of Famer will formally announce his intentions soon. Even though things can change, Bryant still says that he's leaning towards hanging it up after next season. Here's a look at the other top stories from this past week..
- Nuggets swingman Andre Iguodala is likely to opt out of his contract this summer. Iguodala is eligible for a $16.1MM player option next year, but the ninth-year veteran would rather sign a multi-year deal that pays him less next season but brings a long-term commitment.
- Despite the team's struggles and questionable moves over the last few years, David Kahn will return as Wolves GM next season.
- Jose Calderon won't close the door on a return to Toronto.
- Speaking of the Raptors, they're among the clubs interested in Gigi Datome.
- The Hawks' Zaza Pachulia will have season ending surgery as he heads towards unrestricted free agency.
- After playing just five games this season, Danny Granger will undergo surgery on his knee.
- NBA veteran Jerry Stackhouse is likely to retire after this season.
- Sacramento approved an investment group's proposal for a new arena.
- Metta World Peace tore his meniscus and says that he may not pick up his option for 2013/14.
- The Hawks are keeping Shelvin Mack for the balance of the season.
- The Clippers signed Maalik Wayns for the rest of the year.
- The Hornets inked Terrel Harris.
- Miami guard Shane Larkin will test the draft waters.
- Arkansas guard B.J. Young is set to enter the draft.
- Royce White decided not to stick around for the D-League playoffs.
- UNLV's Anthony Bennett is headed to the NBA.
- N.C. State junior Lorenzo Brown is going pro along with teammate C.J. Leslie.
- Prep star Norvel Pelle is expected to enter the 2013 draft.
- The Sixers will sign Jrue Holiday's brother, Justin.