Landry Hopes To Stay With Warriors Long-Term
Over the summer, forward Carl Landry signed with the Warriors on a two-year, $8MM deal that grants him a player option for the 2013/14 season. While Landry can put his toe in the free agent waters this summer, he told Lang Greene of HoopsWorld that he would like to sign a long-term deal with Golden State.
“Golden State has been more than good to me so far and that’s an understatement,” Landry said. “I’m really excited to be here. I signed a two-year deal and hopefully I can be here for a very long time…I think every player wants some type of security. I’ve been fortunate enough to be in the league for six years and I’m very blessed to have an opportunity to do so."
As Greene notes, Landry has made just 63 starts over the course of his career despite being a starting-caliber forward. For his career, Landry has averaged 12.2 PPG and 5.3 RPG on 54% shooting from the floor. On a Per 36 minute basis, Landry has even stronger career averages of 17.6 PPG and 7.6 RPG.
Landry may look to be a starter – and get paid like one – in his next deal. If he looks to make that happen this summer, he may have a hard time finding the deal he seeks from the Warriors. Golden State already has $75MM in commitments for next season, likely placing them in luxury tax territory.
D-League Notes: Motiejunas, Copeland, White
We'll keep track of today's D-League news right here..
- Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Iman Shumpert could also head to the D-League when he's healthy again, tweets Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.
- The Rockets have recalled Donatas Motiejunas from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the team announced. The 7'0" rookie was assigned on Friday to the Vipers for the second time this season, and he averaged 23.0 points and 12.0 rebounds in two weekend contests.
- The Knicks have also assigned Chris Copeland and James White to the BayHawks so that they can practice with them in Westchester, New York, tweets Al Iannazzone of Newsday. Copeland, White, and Stoudemire will be called back up tomorrow.
- Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace told Sports 56 WHBQ that Josh Selby will return from the D-League after two games, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal (via Twitter). When Selby returns, Tony Wroten will be sent back to Reno.
- Avery Bradley said the Celtics have talked with him about a D-League stint, but he plans on traveling west with the C's on their post-Christmas trip, tweets Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
- The Knicks announced that they have assigned Amare Stoudemire to the Erie BayHawks of the Developmental League so that he can get practice reps before returning to the Knicks this weekend. Coach Mike Woodson disclosed yesterday that Stoudemire would practice with the BayHawks, but it wasn't clear if he would be formally assigned to them.
Odds & Ends: Billups, Pistons, Aldridge, Blazers
Clippers guard Chauncey Billups says that he would like to keep playing for a few more years and won't rule out a return to the Pistons, writes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press. "You never say never to any situation. I got nothing but great memories about here and winning, and this building was on fire. I would like for my memories to stay like that," said the 36-year-old. Here's more from around the Association..
- The Blazers have said repeatedly that big man LaMarcus Aldridge will be the cornerstone of the franchise for years to come, but Aldridge doesn't see himself as "untouchable", writes Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. Aldridge is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2014-15 season.
- The Hawks made a bold move this summer when they traded franchise player Joe Johnson to the Nets in an effort to improve their depth. The Lakers might want to take a page out of their book, writes Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld.
- The Timberwolves may have an abundance of point guards after Ricky Rubio's return, but Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel doesn't see the Heat pursuing them as they want to avoid taking on long-term money. Luke Ridnour will make $4.3MM next season, while J.J. Barea has two additional seasons at more than $9MM total.
- Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld looks at five underrated members of the rookie class, including Nando De Colo of the Spurs and Pablo Prigioni of the Knicks.
Nets Notes: Ilyasova, Williams, Johnson
The Nets have been struggling as of late and people are trying to find answers for the team's recent slide. With the Jazz coming into Brooklyn tonight, Deron Williams opened up about his time in Utah and admitted that he has struggled to fit in with coach Avery Johnson's system. Here's more on the Nets..
- The Nets are reportedly interested in Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova, but it would be difficult for the two sides to match up for a trade, writes Dan Sinclair of Brew Hoop. The big man has a $7.9MM average annual salary and everyone on the Nets' roster makes either more than $9.6MM or less than $3.1MM. Beyond the logistics, there's also the question of whether the Bucks would be interested in dealing Ilyasova just one year into his new deal.
- Williams' open pining for Jerry Sloan's system could be viewed as subtle criticism of Johnson's offense, writes Howard Beck of the New York Times. The guard said that there are too many isolation sets in the Nets' offense, but an Eastern Conference scout noted that the U.C.L.A. sets that Johnson is running now appear to be in place for Williams’s benefit as he never used them in Dallas.
- It's pretty early in Williams' five-year, $98MM deal for him to pine for Sloan, tweets Jeff Caplan of NBA.com.
Magic Won’t Rush To Trade Redick
It would surprise no one if J.J. Redick were moved before the February trade deadline, but there's no urgency on the part of the Magic, a source tells Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (on Twitter). Many have speculated that the Magic will move the 28-year-old guard as the club isn't likely to contend in the next couple of years.
After a rough 5-10 start, Orlando has gone 6-3 and would like to stay competitive for as long as they can this season. If Redick is moved, it will be for a younger talent and/or a draft pick, acqusitions that won't help in the short-term. Also, the potential suitors for Redick aren't anywhere near making their best offer. The likeliest trade partners include the Bulls, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Bucks, and Jazz.
The Bulls were interested in Redick as a free agent and Memphis is said to have expressed recent interest in him. Bucher hasn't heard directly that Minnesota, Milwaukee, and Utah have talked to Orlando, but he writes that Redick fits their systems and/or fills a need.
Recently, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld opined that he didn't see a Redick deal as likely because the guard fits with the culture that the Magic are trying to establish. Redick is in the final season of a three-year, $20.19MM contract.
Odds & Ends: Kings, Evans, Augustin, Draft
Two of the league's premier franchises received good news this afternoon. Knicks coach Mike Woodson announced that Amare Stoudemire was cleared for practice and will practice with the club's D-League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks. Meanwhile, sources told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that Lakers guard Steve Nash is eyeing a return to the Lakers' lineup Saturday against the Warriors if practice goes well this week. The Lakers have considered trading Pau Gasol, but reports have indicated that they are waiting to see what the club looks like with Nash in the fold before making a drastic change. Here's more from around the Association..
- The Kings are still saying that they plan on holding on to Tyreke Evans, according to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld (via Twitter). Evans and General Manager Geoff Petrie recently had a productive meeting, but a source close to the guard told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that the club will move him if they don't think they can afford to re-sign him. Evans will be a restricted free agent this summer.
- More from Kyler (via Twitter), who was asked if Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard might look to trade guard D.J. Augustin. It seems like a possibility, but Kyler writes that his weak play as of late may mean that no one wants him. Meanwhile, the one-guard's name is coming up frequently as a trade candidate.
- Jay Bilas and Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) run down the top players in the 2013 NBA Draft. Neither analyst sees a franchise-changing superstar in the class but both agree that Kentucky's Nerlens Noel is the top talent in the draft, not Maryland's Alex Len.
Deron Williams On Johnson, Nets, Jazz
In February of 2011, Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan resigned after 23 years with the organization. Shortly after it happened, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that Sloan stepped away largely because of repeated clashes with star guard Deron Williams. Weeks later, Utah sent Williams to the Nets for guard Devin Harris, forward Derrick Favors, two first round draft picks, and $3MM in cash.
Both Williams and Sloan have denied that their rift led to Sloan’s resignation, but multiple reports saw it differently. As the Nets get set to host the Jazz tomorrow night, Williams opened up to reporters about his time in Utah and difficulties in Brooklyn just months after signing a five-year, $98MM deal to stay put. Here’s a look at some of the highlights, courtesy of Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News..
On difficulties adjusting to coach Avery Johnson‘s offense:
“I’ve really had injuries I’ve been dealing with the whole time. I didn’t have the talent around me I did there. Their system was a great system for my style of play, I am a system player. I loved coach (Jerry) Sloan’s system there, I loved the offense there…In college (at Illinois), we ran the motion offense. A lot of cutting, a lot passing, a lot of screening, a lot of extra passes. I’m used to just movement. So I’m still trying to adjust. It’s been an adjustment for me.
On making things work in Brooklyn:
“I believe I can adapt to anything. We’re still a young team. Things don’t happen overnight. It’s still just December. We’re working on it.“
On being traded from Utah:
“I understand what they were doing. It was smart on their point, because there was a possibility that I wouldn’t have come back.”
Al Harrington Not Considering Retirement
Earlier today it was reported that Magic forward Al Harrington was thinking about calling it a career thanks to complications from knee surgery. However, the veteran took to Twitter tonight to make it known that he has no plans to retire.
“The report that I’m considering Retirement is completely False and has absolutely no Truth to the article that’s being circulated!,” Harrington tweeted (sic).
Harrington has missed the entire season to date thanks to a staph infection that developed in his knee following surgery. Last week, it was reported that the 32-year-old planned on returning to action before the trade deadline in February and hoped to play for five more years. The big man is making $6.687MM this year and has two half-guaranteed seasons remaining on his deal for roughly $14.7MM. For his career, Harrington has averaged 13.8 PPG with 5.7 RPG over 14 years in the league.
Odds & Ends: Mayo, Lakers, Howard, Hornets
While the defending champs can't kick themselves too much over personnel decisions, the Heat might have benefited if Pat Riley had listened to Dwyane Wade back in 2008, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Miami took Michael Beasley No. 2 overall, but Wade pushed for the team to draft guard O.J. Mayo. Other players passed up by Miami include Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook. Here's the latest from around the league..
- The Lakers are on the hook for about $30MM in luxury tax payments this season, but that's almost nothing compared with what they may pay next season, writes Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times. If the Lakers re-sign Dwight Howard and keep most of the existing roster together, they'll be looking at a $103MM payroll. If the tax threshold climbs by 5% to $73.8MM, the Lakers would owe approximately $81.5MM in tax.
- The Hornets signed Dominic McGuire today because coach Monty Williams has not been pleased with the play of his small forwards, tweets John Reid of the Times-Picayune. McGuire was released by the Raptors at the end of November to make room for Mickael Pietrus.
- Bulls rookie Marquis Teague is starting to find his groove as he plays with the starting five, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. However, the guard will head back to the bench soon as Kirk Hinrich is getting ready to return to action.
Poll: Should The Sixers Trade Andrew Bynum?
Could the Sixers be looking to trade prized summer acquisition Andrew Bynum? Depends on who you ask. One NBA General Manager told Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that the Sixers have been making trade inquiries about adding a starting caliber center. “They got to be a little panicked now,” the GM said. “They could get a really interesting deal for him. I could see them doing that.” Meanwhile, 76ers GM Tony DiLeo told Tom Moore of Calkins Newspapers that he hasn’t been shopping Bynum as he wants to see what the team looks like at full strength. DiLeo reasons that the post-presence of Bynum will free up the perimeter shooters, boosting the club’s offense as a whole.
Bynum is currently earning $16.1MM, the final year of the four-year, $58MM contract he signed back in 2008 with the Lakers. The center figured to be in line for a five-year, $100MM deal this summer, but he obviously won’t fetch that kind of pact until he can prove that he is healthy and back to his old form. The Sixers could wait things out with Bynum to see if he can get back on the floor sometime before February 21st, or they could move him for an impact piece that can help in the short-term and possibly beyond 2012/13. Trading Bynum might be a tough sell considering that the Sixers parted ways with fan favorite Andre Iguodala, promising young center Nikola Vucevic, and the draft rights to Maurice Harkless to land him. However, it might be the best move for the Sixers for the long-haul.
Should The Sixers Trade Andrew Bynum?
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Yes 59% (571)
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No 41% (396)
Total votes: 967