Poll: Will Delonte West Sign With A Playoff Team?
Based on talent alone, it's hard to argue that Delonte West wouldn't have a place on several playoff-bound teams. When you factor in all of the off-the-court issues plaguing the guard, the matter gets a little bit more complicated. West has nearly a lockout season's worth of postseason games (58) to his credit over the course of his career, but it's easy to understand why some teams might not even c0nsider picking him up. In tonight's column, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld wonders aloud if a playoff team will sign West.
West is still eligible for this year's playoffs, provided that he is called up by April 17 in order to play in the first round. West has showed significant signs of rust in his first two games for the D-League's Texas Legends, but he'll be given the minutes necessary to show that he's back in playing shape. If West can make some things happen in the D-League, a team could sign him to a 10-day contract and then give him a deal for the remainder of the season.
There are several teams keeping a watchful eye on West, including the Knicks, who would like to add another one-guard to the fold. They'll have the spot to make the pickup too if they wind up cutting Kurt Thomas or Rasheed Wallace. Whether they (or any of the other 15 playoff teams) want to introduce the troubled guard to the locker room is another question. Do you see West in an NBA uniform a month from now?
Will West Sign With A Playoff Team?
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No 52% (177)
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Yes 48% (163)
Total votes: 340
Bobcats Expect Significant Change This Summer
In a Q-and-A session with season ticket holders, Bobcats owner Michael Jordan said that he expects offseason change and everyone in the organization, from both the basketball and business side, will be evaluated this spring, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. Jordan declined to elaborate on the closed-door session afterwards, however.
Jordan told the audience that he’s as frustrated as anyone by the team’s NBA-worst 15-52 record on the heels of last year's 7-59 mark. During the talk, Jordan was asked specifically about the performance of first-year head coach Mike Dunlap and his inability to get much out of his veterans, but Jordan was non-committal in his answer.
General Manager Rich Cho was also present for the session and he was asked about the perception that the 2013 NBA draft will be weak. Cho replied the 2014 draft could be very rich, and that the Pistons' pick, which doesn't have much protection, should prove to be quite valuable. The Bobcats also told the season-ticket holders that no decision has been made on whether a nickname change is coming.
Heat Notes: LeBron, Gilbert, Howard
After signing Juwan Howard to back-to-back 10-day contracts, the Heat now have to sign the veteran for the balance of the season or cut him loose. Howard has been reunited with Miami for a number of their 23 consecutive wins, but he hasn’t suited up for a single one of them. Here’s more out of South Beach..
- Prior to tonight’s tip between the Cavs and Heat, Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert (via Twitter) said that he’s ready to let bygones by bygones with former star LeBron James. “Cleveland Cavaliers young talent makes our future very bright. Clearly, LeBron’s is as well. Time for everyone to focus on the road ahead,” tweeted Gilbert.
- Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel (on Twitter) questions why Gilbert would embrace James 15 months before he could potentially reach free agency after raising tampering concerns two years ago. Earlier today, Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com took an extensive look at the teams that could be in the running for James in 2014.
- Sam Smith of NBA.com wonders if this year’s Heat team could wind up being among the best in league history.
Poll: Will Heat Break Winning Streak Record?
With a 15.5 game lead over the Hawks in the Southeast and a 11.5 cushion separating them from the Pacers for the best record in the Eastern Conference, the Heat could probably afford to rest on their laurels a bit down the home stretch. However, with tonight's win over the Celtics, they now hold the second-longest winning streak in NBA history at 23. Right now, the Heat aren't chasing anyone except for the 1971/72 Lakers, who won 33 consecutive games.
Of course, rattling off another eleven straight victories won't be easy, but the Heat's schedule over the next few weeks is mostly made up of lottery teams. The schedule will feature the Cavs, Pistons, Bobcats, Magic, Bulls, Hornets, Spurs, Knicks, Bobcats (again), Sixers, and Bucks. The Spurs and Knicks should be the two toughest opponents of the bunch, but the Heat downed New York earlier this month at MSG, 99-93. It's your turn to weigh in.
Will The Heat Win 34 Straight?
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No 75% (610)
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Yes 25% (205)
Total votes: 815
Thunder Notes: Ranne, Thabeet, Fisher
The Thunder have lost just twice in their last 13 outings, and one of those Ls was against the Nuggets last Monday. Kevin Durant & Co. will have their chance at revenge against Denver tomorrow night at home, where they boast a 30-4 record. Last time around, Russell Westbrook gave Oklahoma City 38 points in a losing effort. They'll look for an improved defensive effort to help top the Nuggets in their final meeting of the regular season. Here's more on the Thunder..
- The Thunder are the latest team to make a front office hire from the agent world after plucking Jason Ranne from Arn Tellem's office, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The Grizzlies made waves when they hired former agent Jason Levien to be their new CEO last year.
- Though he may never live up to his NBA Draft hype, Hasheem Thabeet explained to HoopsWorld (video link) that he has has found a home with the Thunder. The former No. 2 overall pick has averaged just 2.3 PPG in 10.6 minutes per contest in his career.
- Last night, Mavs owner Mark Cuban took a direct swipe at Thunder guard Derek Fisher and insinuated that he tried to deceive him when he got out of his deal in Dallas.
Andrew Bynum Done For Season
Sixers center Andrew Bynum is scheduled to undergo surgery on both of his knees in New York tomorrow, sources told Howard Eskin of 94WIP Radio (on Twitter). The operations, which will clean out debris in his knees, will sideline him for the remainder of the 2012/13 season.
The news means that the 76ers didn't get a minute of Andrew Bynum on the court after giving up Andre Iguodala, Moe Harkless, and Nikola Vucevic this offseason. To make matters worse, Bynum will be a free agent after this season and despite his health troubles, the center could still command something near a max deal if everything checks out medically. Philadelphia could still make a play to keep the 25-year-old, but their frustration over what has happened is apparent.
If the Sixers do re-sign Bynum to a max deal, it'll cost them nearly $102MM over five years, as our own Luke Adams calculated recently. The max for another team would be $75.7MM over four seasons, which is still costly considering the immense risk a club would take on by signing him.
Pacific Notes: Warriors, Jackson, Thompson, Paul
Here's a look at some notes out of the Pacific Division..
- Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News asked Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob if he will consider an extension for coach Mark Jackson and the owner said that it has yet to be discussed and won't be looked at until after the season. Jackson is set to enter the final year of his initial three-year pact in 2013/14.
- The biggest statement about the Warriors' non-interest in James Harden is that they are very, very high on Klay Thompson, tweets Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com. Last week, Kawakami explained why a proposed swap involving Harden and Thompson would have been impossible over the summer.
- Moke Hamilton of Sheridan Hoops has his top free agents for next summer and it's little suprise to see the Lakers' Dwight Howard and the Clippers' Chris Paul at the top of the list. Even though the Clips have bent over backwards to appease Paul, he hasn't publicly endorsed a return to L.A.
Poll: Which Big Man Should The Jazz Keep?
Last week, we heard that the Jazz are expected to retain either Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap, but not both. Both big men are headed for unrestricted free agency and the club will likely seek out a sign-and-trade deal for whichever player that they don't keep so that they don't come away empty-handed. In a perfect world, Utah would keep both in the fold, but with Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter both figuring to see more playing time in the years to come, it doesn't make sense to cut back elsewhere to keep both players.
Regardless of which player you like more, it's certainly not a slam dunk decision. Yes, Jefferson makes significantly more this season than Millsap ($15MM versus $7.2MM) but both players are likely to command similar deals this offseason. They both have PERs of 20.6 and the age gap is only a matter of days.
Jefferson, at 6'10" can be plugged in at the center position easily, which can't be said for the 6'8" Millsap. Jefferson, however, hasn't developed as well on the defensive side of the ball as Utah would have liked. He's also not as tenacious of a rebounder as Millsap, who can help clean the glass as a complementary piece to Favors and Kanter.
Utah will have a tough decision on their hands this summer, and now you do as well, Hoops Rumors reader. Take your pick.
Which Big Man Should Utah Keep?
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Al Jefferson 56% (454)
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Paul Millsap 44% (352)
Total votes: 806
Martell Webster Wants To Return To Wizards
Fresh off of a career-high 34 point performance against the Suns, Wizards swingman Martell Webster says that he would like to stay in Washington next season, according to Michael Lee of the Washington Post (on Twitter).
“I would love to be here next year but this is a business and we’ll see what happens. I’m having an extraordinary time here," said the 26-year-old.
Webster will likely seek out a pay raise over his current salary of $1.6MM on a multi-year deal. His 34 point showing obviously isn't par for the course, but Webster has given the Wizards a career-best 11.5 PPG with 3.8 RPG and 1.9 APG this season. The former No. 6 overall pick would probably appreciate some stability as well, having played for three teams since 2009/10.
Odds & Ends: Heat, Andersen, Draft
Earlier today, the Heat won their 22nd straight game when they topped the Raptors, tying the second the longest winning streak in NBA history. LeBron James had 22 points and 12 rebounds in 32nd double-double of the season, Dwyane Wade had 24 points and nine assists, and Ray Allen had 16 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter as Miami cruised to victory. Here's more from around the Association…
- Chris Andersen tells Shams Charania of RealGM.com that was surprised the Heat picked him up earlier this year after he underwent offseason knee surgery and was released via the amnesty clause from the Nuggets. The Birdman's upside intrigued Miami's front office like no other free agent big man, Charania writes.
- One NBA scout told Sam Amico of FOX Sports (on Twitter) that most GMs wish they could sit out the 2013 draft. The trouble is, no one particularly wants to trade for their picks.
- Speaking of the 2013 draft, Joe Kotoch of Sheridan Hoops has his top 20 NBA draft prospects as we look ahead to March Madness. Despite his knee injury, Kentucky's Nerlens Noel still tops Kotoch's list.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.