Ford On Cousins, Gortat, Gay, Celtics
Damian Lillard is the odds on favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award right now, but there's still plenty of games to be played, said Chad Ford of ESPN.com in today's chat. The Hornets' Anthony Davis is back in action and very much in the picutre while Andre Drummond can't be ruled out either. Here's more from Ford..
- There is a lot of interest around the league in DeMarcus Cousins, but from what Ford can gather, no GMs have had any success in making progress with the Kings on trade talks so far. The Kings appear to want to hold onto him, though plenty can change in the next five weeks.
- Even though the Suns are eager to make a move, Ford sees Marcin Gortat remaining with Phoenix beyond the February 21st trade deadline. It's more likely that the club parlays their draft picks into pieces that are ready to contribute more immediately.
- Ford believes that Rudy Gay is as good as gone in Memphis. The new ownership group is looking for ways to tighten their belt and moving the forward is the quickest way to accomplish that. Recent comments by coach Lionel Hollins against analytics would appear to be a shot at recent hire John Hollinger and, by extension, the thinking of the Memphis front office.
- The Suns, Wizards, Magic, and Mavericks could all be trading away their lottery picks this summer as they'll look to win sooner rather than later. However, this isn't a terribly strong draft and it's far from a seller's market.
- Danny Ainge is downplaying the trade talk surrounding the Celtics but Ford doesn't seem to be buying it. If there's a great deal out there for Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, or anyone else, Ford expects him to pull the trigger.
Kings/Seattle Rumors: Wednesday
The Kings have been rumored to be Seattle-bound for some time now, but the deal still has a ways to go before it is 100% finalized. Here's the latest on the Kings..
- Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson will appear in front of the NBA's board of governors to present a competing bid that would prevent the Maloof family from selling the Kings to a group from Seattle, write Ryan Lillis, Dale Kasler, and Tony Bizjak of the Sacramento Bee. Johnson acknowledges that any plan he brings forth has to include a new arena for the Kings.
- Meanwhile, a new lawsuit has been filed in Seattle attempting to block construction of an arena that could house the Kings, writes Lillis. The suit cites a 2006 voter-approved initiative that requires the city of Seattle to profit from public investments in sports facilities.
- The NBA needs to take the long view when it comes to relocating teams from good basketball markets, opines Tom Ziller of SB Nation. Ziller instead suggests that the league should look into an expansion team for Seattle, but that seems far-fetched to me given the current economic climate.
- The Maloofs could save their legacy in Sacramento by selling the team to a local group interested in keeping the team where they are instead of owners who want to move them up the west coast, writes Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee.
Cuban: “100% Chance” Mavs Will Make Trade
Earlier today, Mavs owner Mark Cuban told Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com that he plans to be aggressive in attempting to make a move before the trade deadline. Now, Cuban says that a trade before February 21st is a virtual certainty.
"I would say there’s a one hundred percent chance we’ll do something," Cuban told Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News. "There’s nobody in particular we’re looking to get off or anything. But we put ourselves in position where I’m willing to take back money. If it’s the right deal, I’ll take back everything. I don’t care. It just depends. But like I said, there’s a one hundred percent chance we’re going to look to do something."
Cuban doesn't envision one deal putting the Mavs over the top, but he is determined to do everything possible to improve his squad. The owner is understandably antsy to make a change considering the club's 15-23 record, but he says that he's as confident as can be that he'll be able to get Dirk Nowitzki a second ring.
Odds & Ends: Grizzlies, Gelabale, Van Gundy
There has been lots of trade talk surrounding the Grizzlies, particularly small forward Rudy Gay, but Jeff Caplan of NBA.com opines that this team deserves the opportunity to stay together and make a run at the title in 2013. Power forward Zach Randolph agrees with that sentiment. "That’s what happens when you get new owners," said Randolph. "Mr. [Michael] Heisley (the Grizzlies’ previous owner), he had a vision of keeping us all together. He took care of all of us to build a team and try to win a championship. Now the new owner probably wants to do something different. But it’s a business." Here's more from around the league…
- Spanish team Valencia Basket announced that they have granted Mickael Gelabale permission to travel to the U.S. to negotiate a deal in the NBA, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. The forward has an NBA out in his contract with Valencia to exercise by end of January. If Gelabale doesn't find an agreement in NBA, he will return to Spain to finish out the season with Valencia.
- Former Magic coach Stan Van Gundy spoke to Chris Mannix of NBC Sports (on Twitter) about why he wouldn't be interested in the Nets' head coaching job. "I just don't think that's a place [my family] would relocate to at this point," Van Gundy explained.
- Van Gundy also expressed a similar opinion to Caplan and said that he didn't understand why the Grizzlies would move Gay right when they are accomplishing the kind of success that they've been building for (Twitter link).
- Derek Page of HoopsWorld checked in with Rockets rookie Terrence Jones and wonders if he is NBA ready at this stage. Jones has been shuttled between Houston and the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers this season.
- The D-League's influence is growing bigger and bigger every year, writes Sam Amick of USA Today. Nearly 30% of the NBA's current players have had D-League experience. This season, a record 49 NBA players have been assigned a record 100 times to the D-League. For a full list of this year's assignments and recalls, check out our handy running post.
Poll: Will LeBron James Return To Cavs In 2014?
Anyone who has either visited Miami or has the good fortune of living there knows that it's the kind of place that you don't want to leave. Fantastic weather, Cuban sandwiches, pretty girls, the ability to wear an abundance of white without getting made fun of – Miami has it all. LeBron James has gotten to toss the Labor Day rule to the wayside while enjoying all of the roast pork he could ever want for two years and change while being at the center of one of the league's most dominant teams. It's inconceivable to some that James would leave Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh by opting out after the 2013/14 season, yet some league executives and agents are absolutely convinced that he will use the opportunity to make a face turn and reverse the infamous "Decision" by returning to Cleveland in that summer.
On the surface, it seems incredibly unlikely that James would walk away from one of the strongest teams in the NBA in order to join forces with a team that still may be under construction in 18 months, even with a blossoming superstar in Kyrie Irving. And while some superteams have reportedly dealt with locker room drama (we're looking at you, Dwight and Kobe), the Heat have by and large stayed as a cohesive unit and found enough shots for everyone.
On the other hand, we already know that LeBron doesn't have any reservations about following his heart and changing zip codes if he feels that it's the best move to make. When LeBron is faced with the first of his two-opt out years with Miami, he'll be closing in on his 30th birthday and hearing the chatter about his legacy and place amongst the all-time greats more than ever. Winning a title with a Cavs team that likely won't have the same top-heavy roster as the Heat would be a massive plus for his resume. Nuggets coach George Karl is a believer. Are you?
Will LeBron Return To Cleveland?
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No 64% (1,409)
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Yes 36% (787)
Total votes: 2,196
Cavs Want 2014 Max Player, Possibly LeBron
Anderson Varejao is expected to be sidelined through the February 21st trade deadline, meaning that the standout forward likely will remain in Cleveland for the remainder of the year. The struggling Cavs could conceivably use other assets to get a healthy piece for the future, but Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal writes that league executives and agents around the league are convinced the Cavaliers won’t do anything to jeopardize their ability to sign a free agent to a max contract in the summer after next season.
Of course, 2014 is the summer where LeBron James can again become a free agent if he exercises his player option. While it may seem farfetched for a number of reasons, more and more people around the league believe there is a strong possibility James will return to Cleveland after next season.
If the Cavs feel strongly about keeping their financial flexibility for that offseason, then they won’t pull the trigger on any players with three-year deals. The Cavs may not be stacked with assets, but they do have Luke Walton’s $6MM expiring contract and about $10MM in cap space to dangle to teams looking to move long-term commitments. In a largely cap-conscious league, those two things could fetch a significant piece in a trade, but it sounds as though the Cavs are looking for something much bigger.
Luke Walton Considering Retirement
Luke Walton is set to face off against his former team when his Cavs take on the Lakers at the Staples Center on Sunday night. As he returns to his first NBA home arena, Walton tells Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports that he may call it quits at the end of the year.
“If my back feels good, I want to keep playing,” said Walton. “If my back goes out again, I’ll have to re-evaluate it at the end of the season and contemplate calling it a career. But right now the back is feeling good, so I’m just kind of enjoying playing again (and) being able to play basketball without pain for the first time in a long time.“
Walton is seeing just 14 minutes per contest for the Cavs this season and averaging 2.7 PPG. The Arizona product saw his minutes fluctuate in Los Angeles, but he was a key role player at times and put up 11.4 PPG in 33 minutes a night in 2006/07.
The forward is earning $6.091MM this year in the final season of a six-year, $30MM contract.
Wizards Interested In Rudy Gay
There's no shortage of suitors for Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay and the field just got even larger. The Wizards are now in the mix of teams that are interested in the services of the Memphis standout, one league source tells Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (on Twitter).
It's unclear what the Wizards' offer might be but the source says that it is "a good one." Bucher opines that the Grizzlies should stick with the squad that they have as it has the talent and experience to make a serious run at the title. Regardless, the Grizzlies seem open to the idea of trading their star. All indications are they're aggressively looking for a deal, Bucher writes.
The Raptors are reportedly making the hardest push for Gay of any team. The Warriors, Suns, and Kings have also shown a great deal of interest in making a trade for the seven-year veteran.
Atlantic Notes: Martin, Knicks, Nets, Brooks
Yesterday, we learned that the Lakers have lost big man Jordan Hill for the season, leaving many to speculate that they could be interested in the services of Kenyon Martin. However, another signature franchise on the opposite end of the country could beat them to the punch. Here’s more on that and other news out of the Atlantic..
- With Marcus Camby and Rasheed Wallace out, it might be time for Knicks to check in on Kenyon Martin or another available power forward/center, tweets Al Iannazzone of Newsday. However, a league source said the Knicks haven’t called about Martin at this point and coach Mike Woodson says they’ll probably stand pat for now. It’s also worth noting that Tyson Chandler is still banged up and Amare Stoudemire is on a minutes limit.
- The Nets‘ new-look bench, anchored by standout Andray Blatche, has given the Nets an extra boost during their current hot streak, writes Anthony Sulla-Heffinger of the New York Post. MarShon Brooks has also shined under new head man P.J. Carlisemo, which should silence any trade speculation for the time being. Brooks averaged just 11 minutes per contest under Avery Johnson.
- Jared Sullinger may be in his first year with the Celtics, but he is defying the rookie label, writes CSNNE.com’s A. Sherrod Blakely. Sullinger has impressed as of late and will be an even greater asset for Boston if he can stay out of foul trouble.
Hoops Links: Celtics, Kings, Spurs, Pistons
On this date in 1984, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored 15 points to become the first player in NBA history to surpass 32,000 career points, as the Lakers topped the Warriors, 131-107. Kareem would keep that mantle as he continued playing until 1989 and amassed 38,387 in total. Will we see anyone approach that number anytime soon? Kobe Bryant is fifth on the all-time list with more than 30,500 points, but the Lakers guard has made it clear that he wants to leave the Association on a high note, before his high-mileage catches up with him. LeBron James has nearly 20,000 points to his credit and a lot of basketball in front of him, but he still has a tall mountain to climb.
If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature next week, then send it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here's this week's look around the blogosphere..
- Bleed Green likes what they're seeing out of the Celtics.
- Kingdome Of Seattle Sports has a checklist for the Kings.
- The Basketball Post likes the Spurs' latest pickup.
- The NBA Geek looks at Detroit's youngsters.
- Utah Sports Net talks life without Mo Williams.
- Truth About It asks if the Wizards are ready.
- The Brooklyn Game examines the Nets' coaching bump.
- Long Distance Jayhawk ranks the Big XII.
- Red94 doesn't see the Rockets swinging for the fences.
- 3 Shades Of Blue goes behind the arc with the Grizzlies.
- Hoops Addict likes the edge that Kevin Durant is showing.
- Blazer's Edge educates us on Damian Lillard's Oakland roots.
- NBA247365 had a tough time doling out Thursday's award.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.