Clippers Sign Ryan Hollins
MONDAY, 1:25pm: The Clippers have officially signed Hollins, the team announced today in a press release.
THURSDAY, 4:34pm: Free agent Ryan Hollins has verbally agreed to join the Clippers, according to agent Todd Ramasar on Twitter. Earlier today it was reported that Los Angeles reached out to Hollins in hopes of securing a backup big man for the minimum salary.
The 27-year-old was waived by the Cavs in late March and promptly picked up by the Celtics. In 39 games last year, Hollins averaged 13.4 minutes per contest and put up 3.4 PPG and 2.1 RPG. While he has always shown promise as an athletic big, Hollins' inability to rebound was rather apparent in his time with Cleveland and Boston.
Odds & Ends: Beal, Williams, Cavs, Morrison
Bradley Beal specifically asked that the Wizards’ take him with the third-overall pick and so far he is justifying the club's decision to oblige, writes Michael Lee of the Washington Post. While summer league results aren't a perfect barometer for future success, the shooting guard impressed as he averaged 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per contest. Here's more from around the Association..
- One scout told Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer (via Twitter) that Derrick Williams, who went No. 2 in the 2011 draft, would not have have gone in the top eight in 2012. It's an interesting take as some observers seemed to be down on what the 2012 class had to offer beyond the top few selections.
- Cavaliers coach Byron Scott believes that the club's future looks bright even if they don't make a significant trade, writes Joel Brigham of USA Today. "I'm looking at a nice young core of guys," Scott said. "If we add some guys to that core, more power to us, and if we don't, we'll go with what we got because I think right now the future of our team is pretty bright."
- Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com (via Twitter) opines that Adam Morrison has played his way onto an NBA roster this season. The forward is averaging about 20 points and five boards per game for the Clippers' summer league team.
Poll: Should Bulls Match Asik’s Offer Sheet?
Earlier today, it was reported that the Bulls are expected to pass on matching the three-year, $25.1MM offer sheet that Omer Asik signed with Rockets. Houston managed to land the restricted free agent with a gameplan eerily similar to the one they used to ink Jeremy Lin. While the Bulls made it known publicly that they planned on matching any offer, it turns out that the hefty, backloaded deal was too rich for their blood.
Are the Bulls making a mistake by letting the 7'0" center walk? Mark Potash of the Chicago Tribune certainly doesn't think so. Potash writes that the $15MM cap hit that Asik would carry in the final year of the contract would loom over the team and simply wouldn't be worth it for a player who is as offensively challenged as Asik. While the Turkish big man shines in the low post defensively, he averaged just 3.1 PPG in 14.7 minutes per contest which would translate to 7.6 PPG per 36 minutes. Of course, it's hard to imagine Asik seeing that much playing time as he is firmly entrenched as a member of the club's second unit.
Still, even Potash admits that Asik's presence will be missed when the Bulls go head-to-head with the Heat. And while the Bulls found a suitable backup in Nazr Mohammed, it's hard to imagine the club getting similar output from him. It's your turn to weigh in – are the Bulls making a mistake in letting Asik go?
Should The Bulls Match Asik's Offer Sheet?
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No 88% (1,654)
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Yes 12% (215)
Total votes: 1,869
Los Angeles Notes: Gasol, Hill, Simmons
Last night, the Lakers reached agreement with big man Jordan Hill on a two-year, $8MM deal. The former No. 8 pick in the 2009 draft didn't necessarily shine in his seven regular season games for Los Angeles but averaged 4.8 points and 6.3 rebounds in 18.1 minutes per game in the postseason. Here's more out of the Staples Center..
- Kobe Bryant isn't the only one high on Pau Gasol, as Marc Stein of ESPN.com (via Twitter) says that Lakers brass has renewed excitement about him with Steve Nash joining the mix.
- The "high character guys" on the Clippers made Grant Hill's free agency decision an easy one, writes Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. Last season, Hill started 46 of 49 games for the Suns, putting up 10.2 points in 28 minutes per game.
- The Clippers are also looking into re-signing forward Bobby Simmons, Turner writes. "We've been talking," agent Mark Bartelstein said. "There is interest, but no decision has been made."
Odds & Ends: Nets, Lakers, Felton, Sixers
ESPN's Chris Broussard (video link) ran down his winners and losers of the NBA offseason thus far and the Nets top his list thanks in large part to their acquisition of Joe Johnson. The Lakers are also in the winners circle after landing Steve Nash and Antawn Jamison. Later, Broussard puts the Mavericks in the losers category as they failed to sign Deron Williams or trade for Dwight Howard. Here's more from around the league..
- Chris Bernucca of Sheridan Hoops recaps the Lakers' offseason and dismisses talk of Nash and Kobe Bryant clashing stylistically. However, he notes that the training staff in Los Angeles will have to pull the same kind of magic as the Suns staff did in order to keep the aging point guard healthy.
- Point guard Raymond Felton is looking to revitalize his career with the Knicks, writes Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld. The 28-year-old was less-than-stellar in the first half of the year with Portland but showed promise after coach Nate McMillan was fired, averaging 14.4 PPG on 46.3% shooting with 7.7 APG.
- The Sixers did a solid job of addressing their lack of size in the frontcourt this offseason and improved their team overall this summer, opined Charles Barkley in an interview with CSNPhilly.
Hoops Links: Lee, Nets, Vazquez, Lin
Twelve years ago this week, Isiah Thomas was named as head coach of the Pacers, replacing Larry Bird. As with Bird, the job in Indiana was his very first experience as head coach. Bird had the more successful coaching debut between the two: Larry Legend was named the Coach of the Year in 1997/98 after leading the club to 58 wins while Thomas led the Pacers to a .500 record in his first season.
If you have a great blog piece that you think we should feature in Hoops Links, you can send it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here's this week's look around the basketball blogosphere..
- Secret Rival offers up a list of American players heading overseas for the upcoming season.
- Hardwood Paroxysm praises the Celtics for their acquisition of Courtney Lee.
- Nets Are Scorching talks about the team's move across the river.
- The Basketball Post gets us caught up with Fran Vazquez.
- RealGM feels bad for Knicks fans after the club parted ways with Jeremy Lin.
- Basketbawful takes a closer look at the Dwight Howard saga.
- Basketball Prospectus loves Kyle Lowry's contract.
- NBA 24 7 365 isn't thrilled about the prospect of seeing advertisements on jerseys next year.
- A Wolf Among Wolves reflects on Nicolas Batum's flirtation with Minnesota through music.
- Know Hitter doesn't like the 2012 USA team's chances against the Dream Team.
- Project Spurs points out that San Antonio is stacked in the backcourt.
- Bright Side Of The Sun is happy to see Goran Dragic back in Phoenix.
- Pounding The Rock has their eye on Corey Joseph.
- Brew Hoop believes that Larry Sanders is better than his summer league play indicates.
- Piston Powered stands up for Glen Rice.
- Swish Appeal believes that the USA Women's team has some issues to deal with.
- Sactown Royalty gives Kings fans the skinny on Aaron Brooks.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Zach can be reached here.
Odds & Ends: Felton, Wizards, Thunder, Leuer
Earlier today on the MSG Network, newly acquired Knicks point guard Raymond Felton said he still would have wanted to come to New York even if they matched Jeremy Lin's offer, writes Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com. Felton knows that there will automatically be comparisons between his performance and Lin's, but as a competitor he believes that he is the superior player. Here's more from around the Association..
- Wizards owner Ted Leonsis told Mike Wise of the Washington Post that JaVale McGee and Nick Young were less-than-beneficial to the club's locker room atmosphere. "I don’t think Nick and JaVale were bad people. But they wanted stats. I understand that, relate and get it. But they weren’t playing as a team," said Leonsis.
- The staff at DailyThunder.com agrees that James Harden will likely have a new deal worked out with the Thunder by the end of summer but they are less optimistic for Serge Ibaka and Eric Maynor.
- John Hollinger of ESPN.com (via Twitter) will be surprised if a team like the Bobcats or Hornets doesn't claim Jon Leuer. Earlier tonight we learned that the T'Wolves are also interested.
- After being waived by the Kings earlier this week, Hassan Whiteside has received interest from several NBA teams, tweets Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
Northwest Notes: Timberwolves, Leuer, Nuggets
Here's a look at the latest out of the Northwest division..
- It appears that the Timberwolves may have missed out on shooting guard Courtney Lee and are now in pursuit of Jon Leuer, writes Ray Richardson of the Pioneer Press. The Minnesota native was waived yesterday by the Rockets.
- Timberwolves forward Kevin Love says he is glad that he negotiated the option to leave in three years rather than securing a five-year max deal, writes Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press. Love wants to see the club become a contender before he commits to Minnesota long term.
- Nuggets coach George Karl says that he is happy with all of the club's latest roster moves, writes Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post. The club is now left with a logjam in the frontcourt with JaVale McGee, Kenneth Faried, Al Harrington, Kosta Koufos, Timofey Mozgov, and Anthony Randolph in the mix, but Karl notes that it is preferable to being thin at the four and five.
Nets Close To Deal With Mohammed
THURSDAY, 6:43pm: The Nets will entertain Mohammed this weekend and are likely to sign him soon after, tweets David Aldridge of TNT.
WEDNESDAY, 6:46pm: The Nets are close to signing free agent center Nazr Mohammed, a source tells Alex Kennedy of Hoops World (via Twitter). The big man will likely sign for the veteran's minimum in the next 24 hours.
Mohammed, 34, logged just 11.0 minutes per contest in 2011/12, his lowest in a healthy season since 1999/00. For his career, the veteran has averaged 6.6 PPG and 5.2 RPG across his 13-year career. Last night, David Aldridge of TNT suggested that the Nets' next move could be to sign a backup center like Mohammed or Ryan Hollins.
Nets Re-Sign Keith Bogans
The Nets announced that they have officially re-signed guard Keith Bogans. Earlier this week it was reported that the Nets expected to retain the veteran.
Bogans, 32, sat out the early part of the NBA season as he waited for his phone to ring with an opportunity. The guard hooked on with the Nets in February as they were desperate for backcourt help but he wound up playing just five games before suffering a fractured left ankle. For his career, Bogans has averaged 6.7 PPG and 2.9 RPG for the Magic, Bobcats, Rockets, Bucks, Spurs, Bulls, and Nets.