Week In Review: 1/5/14 – 1/11/14
On Monday night, the Cavs, Knicks, and Thunder completed a stunning three-way deal that apparently broke Twitter. The swap sent Dion Waiters to the Thunder, Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith to the Cavs, and Lance Thomas, Louis Amundson, and Alex Kirk to the Knicks. In addition, the Cavs received a future first-round choice from OKC and the Knicks got the Cavs’ 2019 second-round choice. The deal gave the Thunder a solid scorer off the bench, shook things up in Cleveland, and gave the Knicks a whole lot of salary relief. Phil Jackson also waived Samuel Dalembert to make the deal possible. Here’s our look back at the week that was..
- The Cavs later got the big man they wanted when they acquired Timofey Mozgov from the Nuggets. Mozgov heads to Cleveland in exchange for the Grizzlies’ 2015 first-round pick and the Thunder’s 2015 first-round pick, both of which carry protections. The Nuggets send Cleveland the less favorable of the Bulls’ 2015 second-round pick and the Blazers’ 2015 second-round pick.
- The Grizzlies are nearing a deal with the Celtics for Jeff Green with a little bit of help for the Pelicans. The deal should become official tomorrow. Austin Rivers, who is going to the C’s in the proposed deal, might not be in Boston for long. The Clippers are interested in taking on Rivers if they can find a third team to give Boston an expiring contract and a second-rounder in a potential deal.
- The Grizzlies were also said to have their eye on Luol Deng.
- Larry Sanders wouldn’t delve into specifics about his absence, but he denied that he’s thinking about retirement.
- The Bulls are planning a max offer for Jimmy Butler.
- The Suns acquired Brandan Wright from the Celtics.
- The Knicks waived Thomas, Kirk, and Amundson shortly after acquiring them in the three-team deal. Thomas and Amundson were later signed to 10-day deals.
- The Trail Blazers signed GM Neil Olshey to a three-year contract extension.
- The Sixers waived Jared Cunningham shortly after acquiring him from the Clippers. It turns out that they never had to waive someone to open up a roster spot for him due to Andrei Kirilenko‘s absence.
- Speaking of AK47, he has been suspended without pay.
- A number of people, including a group featuring former Suns and Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo, have their eye on buying the Hawks. Investor Chris Hansen and financier Thomas Tull are reportedly planning to make separate bids to buy the Hawks and move them to Seattle.
- Tyrus Thomas is D-League bound.
- The Bucks waived Nate Wolters to accommodate their 10-day deal with Kenyon Martin.
- The Hornets continue to explore the market for Lance Stephenson, and they’re looking for frontcourt help, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. Berger also reports that Clippers guard Jamal Crawford is off-limits in trade talks.
- Despite the Lakers‘ struggles this season, team president Jeanie Buss is satisfied with the job that coach Byron Scott is doing.
- The Knicks still have an interest in acquiring Reggie Jackson from the Thunder, but New York likely lacks the assets to pull that off.
- Wizards have maintained “routine” contact with Ray Allen since first reaching out to him in July and they plan on chasing him until he retires or turns them down. Still, it’s a longshot that he lands in D.C.
- The Nets waived recent trade acquisition Brandon Davies.
- The Cavaliers waived guard A.J. Price.
- The Wolves released Jeff Adrien.
- The Wizards said goodbye to Glen Rice Jr.
- The Wolves inked Miroslav Raduljica to a 10-day deal.
- The Knicks signed Langston Galloway to a 10-day pact.
- The Heat will re-sign Tyler Johnson to a 10-day deal.
- It’s likely that the Knicks will eventually decide to shut down Carmelo Anthony for the rest of the season so he can rest his sore left knee.
- The Jazz signed Elliot Williams to a 10-day deal. The Jazz waived Patrick Christopher to make room.
- The Blazers are now after Jermaine O’Neal.
- Marquee draft prospect Emmanuel Mudiay plans to stay in China all season.
- The Heat waived Andre Dawkins.
- Multiple NBA teams, including the Lakers and the Jazz, have expressed interest in Lithuanian small forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas.
- Jabari Parker sounds intent on staying in Milwaukee and isn’t concerned about market size.
And-Ones: Waiters, Lakers, Lopez, Thunder
The Thunder landed Dion Waiters earlier tonight, but the Lakers previously made a run at him, Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com tweets. However, the Cavs weren’t just looking for a straight salary dump and Shumpert is more valuable than Robert Sacre, who the Lakers would have included. Here’s more from around the Association..
- The Nets and Thunder recently discussed a deal that would have involved Brook Lopez, Kendrick Perkins (and his expiring contract), Perry Jones, and Lance Thomas, but the Nets decided to stand pat as they liked what they were seeing, tweets Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com.
- The Rajon Rondo deal is looking pretty good for the Mavericks so far, writes Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram. Center Tyson Chandler and coach Rick Carlisle are among those over the moon with what Rondo has done in Dallas. The Mavs have won six of their last eight games, including their last five.
- Sometimes, the best move is standing pat. The Warriors held on to budding star Klay Thompson rather than using him to get Kevin Love and that looks like a smart decision right now, as Jon Krawczynski of The Associated Press writes. Many were surprised at the Warriors’ decision, but it’s one that had the full support of coach Steve Kerr.”For me as a new coach, what I saw was maybe the best backcourt in the NBA and a chance to keep the group together,” Kerr said. “And that’s pretty powerful, especially when you know you’re already pretty good.”
- Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders won’t rush to judge Bucks center Larry Sanders. While speculation flies about his situation, Koutroupis notes that Sanders has worked hard at his craft and has even independently trained in the offseason to work on some lagging aspects of his game. Earlier tonight, agent Happy Walters denied the report indicating that his client wants to walk away from basketball, so it will be very interesting to hear from Sanders himself.
Cavs, Knicks, Thunder Complete Three-Way Deal
9:56pm: The Thunder, Cavs, and Knicks all announced the deal via press release.
“Dion Waiters is a player that we’ve tracked and liked since his time at Syracuse, in the NBA, and with USA Basketball. Dion provides another proven scorer that positively impacts our roster and adds depth and flexibility,” said Presti in OKC’s release. “We have a lot of respect for his toughness and competitiveness, and believe that he is a physical playmaker who will enhance the versatility of our team. We are excited to welcome Dion to Oklahoma City and the Thunder organization.”
The Thunder’s draft pick being conveyed is protected 1-18 in 2015 and 1-15 in 2016 and 2017, respectively, according to the release from the Thunder. Should the pick not convey during this period, Oklahoma City would send the Cavs its second round draft picks in 2018 and 2019.
The Knicks’ release also makes it official that Dalembert has been waived.
8:26pm: The Knicks will receive Thomas, Amundson, and Kirk in the deal but will only keep Thomas, according to Howard Beck of Bleacher Report (via Twitter). The Knicks will also waive Dalembert.
The Cavs are sending their 2019 second-round pick to the Knicks, sources tell Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The duo hears that team officials spoke with LeBron James about his willingness to play alongside Smith before executing the deal.
Even though the deal weakens the Knicks in the short-term, Beck (link) hears that the Knicks are not giving up on the season. The Knicks plan on making more moves between now and the February trade deadline.
At present, it appears that the deal will have Waiters going to the Thunder, Shumpert and Smith going to the Cavs, and Thomas, Amundson, and Kirk going to the Knicks. In addition, the Cavs will receive a future first-round pick from the Thunder and the Knicks will get the Cavs’ 2019 second-round choice.
Waiters has been the subject of trade talks for some time and the Cavs were reportedly telling teams around the league that they’d be willing to part with him. Cleveland wanted Grizzlies big man Kosta Koufos, who would fit the bill as the “difference-making center” they were after, but they have found another deal in this proposed three-way swap. Waiters, 23, has averaged 10.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 1.7 RPG – all career lows – through 33 games this season. The former No. 4 overall pick was reportedly being shopped in August as well, but the Cavs couldn’t find a suitable deal. Waiters might not be the most complete player in the NBA, but he is a scoring threat and should add lots of punch for OKC off of the bench.
The Knicks wanted to trade Smith more than anyone else, according to a December report from ESPN.com’s Chris Broussard. In fact, the Knicks have been huddling up internally for some time to figure out how they could move the polarizing guard. There hasn’t been much trade buzz surrounding Smith in recent weeks, but the Knicks were able to find a taker in tonight’s three-team blockbuster. The 29-year-old New Jersey native is averaging 10.9 PPG, 3.4 APG, and 2.4 RPG this season. The scoring output is his lowest since his sophomore season in 2005/06. His PER rating of 11.7 – a career low – tells a more complete story of his struggles this season. Thanks to his 15% trade kicker, Smith will collect on something of a belated Christmas bonus.
Shumpert, 24, has been a mainstay on Hoops Rumors and on the back pages of the New York tabloids for the last two seasons. The Knicks might not have been intent on moving Shumpert, but by including him they were able to move both his salary and Smith’s without taking much back. The combo guard is averaging 9.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG, and 3.3 APG in 26 minutes per contest this season. Shump is also headed towards restricted free agency this offseason and the Knicks, ostensibly, weren’t going to make a big play to retain him.
The Knicks didn’t add much in terms of assets, but they have greatly improved their financial situation by moving Smith’s substantial contract. The guard is making nearly $6MM this season and he holds a player option worth nearly $6.4MM for 2015/16. It’s possible that the shooting guard could turn down the option in order to seek a more lucrative multi-year deal, but that’s not a risk that Phil Jackson & Co. were willing to take. Beyond the financial benefit of moving Smith’s deal, the Knicks are also moving a player who might not be a wonderful locker room presence.
Multiple Teams Eyeing DeAndre Kane
MONDAY, 9:55pm: A source tells Jorge Sierra of HoopsHype that Kane’s contract with Belgium’s Antwerp includes an out clause that would allow him to play in the NBA this season if there’s a firm offer.
SUNDAY, 1:41pm: The Celtics, Kings, and Jazz are all keeping an eye on guard DeAndre Kane, according to Shams Charania of RealGM. Kane, who went undrafted out of Iowa State last summer, is currently playing for the Antwerp Giants in Belgium.
The 25-year-old, who has averaged 14.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 5.0 APG in the EuroChallenge, has a deal that is “expected” to run through the remainder of the NBA’s regular season, according to Charania. Still, even if he’s not available to NBA teams between now and April, he’ll likely be a candidate for workouts and the summer league for the clubs interested.
In his senior season at Iowa State, Kane averaged 17.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists across 36 games. After helping to vault the Cyclones to the Sweet Sixteen, Kane hit the workout circuit hard and auditioned for a number of teams, including the Kings and Jazz.
Kane first established himself as an intriguing prospect at Marshall, where he spent played his first three seasons of collegiate ball. He also made a transfer of sorts in his first year overseas – Kane signed on with Russia’s Krasny Oktyabr but joined up with Antwerp following his November release.
Cavs Still In Pursuit Of Center
Last month, it was reported that the Cavs were looking to move Dion Waiters for a “difference-making center“. They didn’t get that center in tonight’s three-team deal involving Waiters, but that doesn’t mean they’ve given up on finding a five that can make an impact. Sources tell Sam Amico of FOX Sports (on Twitter) that the Cavs plan on using the first-round choice from the Thunder as a part of a different trade for a big man.
No deal is imminent, Amico adds, but the Cavs are certainly looking. Cleveland remains interested in Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov and Grizzlies forward/center Kosta Koufos (link). Still, Denver remains reluctant to part with Mozgov, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter).
It’s not clear what it would take for the Cavs to land Koufos, though he hasn’t been a major part of the gameplan in Memphis over the last two seasons. Koufos started 81 games and averaged 22.4 minutes per contest for the Nuggets in 2012/13 and saw that playing time cut to 16.9 MPG in his first season with the Grizzlies. That figure is down to 15.4 minutes per contest this season, though there has been a slight uptick in recent weeks.
The Cavs tried over a period of months to pry Mozgov away from Denver but Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio reported in late December that there wasn’t much in the way of recent talks. It’s possible that the Cavs’ newly-acquired first round choice could help reignite that chatter, however.
Jazz Sign Elijah Millsap To 10-Day Deal
MONDAY, 11:45am: The signing of Millsap is official, the team announced.
SUNDAY, 4:48pm: The Jazz will sign Elijah Millsap to a 10-day deal, according to Shams Charania of RealGM. Millsap is represented by Hazan Sports Management, as shown in the Hoops Rumors Agency Database.
Millsap has been averaging 20.6 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 5.2 APG for the Bakersfield Jam of the D-League. The 27-year-old has been a familiar face in preseason and most recently had a training camp stint with the Bucks. Finally, it appears that Millsap has achieved his NBA dream. Utah had the league-maximum 15 players on its roster but the team created a space earlier today by waiving Toure’ Murry.
Hoops Rumors spoke with Millsap back in September as he was fighting to make the Bucks’ roster. Marc Stein of ESPN.com and Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune first reported that Millsap was on the verge of signing with the Jazz.
And-Ones: Cauley-Stein, Warriors, Rondo
Kentucky center Willie Cauley-Stein could be climbing his way into top five of the 2015 Draft, Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders writes. Cauley-Stein has been projected as a mid-to-late first round pick in the last two years but each time opted to stay in school for more seasoning. It seemed unlikely that he could boost his stock further, but he has done just that this season. DraftExpress currently has the junior at No. 4 in their 2015 mock draft. More from around the league..
- The Warriors announced that they have recalled center Ognjen Kuzmic from their D-League affiliate in Santa Cruz. Kuzmic recorded six points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in last night’s 98-83 victory over the Canton Charge. The brief trip was Kuzmic’s third assignment of the year.
- Since the Rajon Rondo deal, the Celtics have seen a significant dip in rebounding, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com. Prior to the trade, Boston was ranked eleventh in the league in rebounding with 44.2 per game. In the eight games since, the C’s are down to 41.9 rebounds, which ranks 21st in the league.
- Trade season is fast approaching and EJ Ayala of Basketball Insiders looked at six players to keep an eye on over the next several weeks. Nets guard Deron Williams, who has been bumped from the starting lineup in favor of Jarrett Jack, tops the list.
- The Bulls‘ 2011 draft is shaping up to be one of the most influential in franchise history, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. The 2011 draft brought the Bulls both Nikola Mirotic and Jimmy Butler, two players who are pillars of their current squad.
Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- Eddie Scarito gave us the 2015/16 salary rankings for small forwards and power forwards.
- Wondering where the 2013/14 10-day signees are today? Chuck Myron gets us caught up.
- Chuck profiles Wilson Chandler as a trade candidate.
- More players have become available for veteran extensions.
- Here’s a refresher on 10-day deals, courtesy of Chuck.
- Keep tabs on the race to the bottom with Hoops Rumors’ Reverse Standings.
- Can the Pistons make the playoffs? Hoops Rumors readers are split in Chris Crouse’s recent poll.
- If you missed out on this week’s chat, check out the transcript here.
- Download the Trade Rumors App for iOS/Android!
Hoops Links: Rockets, Pistons, Rondo
On this date in 1992, Celtics center Robert Parish became the fifth player in NBA history to register 2,000 career blocks during the Celtics’ 100-96 road loss at Minnesota. Parish joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Mark Eaton, Wayne Rollins, and George Johnson in the exclusive club.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. Here’s this week’s look around the basketball blogosphere…
- House Of Houston feels that the Rockets’ bench production will improve.
- Six Championship Drive put a theoretical value on every Pistons asset.
- Green Street discussed Rajon Rondo‘s return to Boston.
- The Daily Dribble looked at prospects coming out of mid-majors.
- New York Sports Hub isn’t surprised by the Knicks’ record so far.
- Legion Report wonders if Nikola Mirotic is the next Dirk Nowitzki.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Cavs GM David Griffin On David Blatt And More
Prior to today’s contest against the Mavericks, Cavs GM David Griffin spoke with reporters about a number of topics concerning the team, including recent speculation about first-year coach David Blatt. Chris Haynes of The Plain Dealer has the goods and the entire recap is worth a read, but here are just a few of the highlights from Griffin’s chat..
On rumors concerning coach David Blatt’s job security:
This narrative of our coaching situation is truly ridiculous. It is a non-story. It’s a non-narrative. Coach Blatt is our coach. He’s going to remain our coach. Do not write that as a vote of confidence. He never needed one. It was never a question. So don’t write it that way. I heard the entire audio file of LeBron James‘ comments. No more than three different times he said, ‘We’re growing together every day, the team grows together every day and I’m happy with who we have at the helm.’ “But that wasn’t a sexy pool quote, so we kept looking for something else until we could pool something that sounded negative. That narrative is done. No change is being made, period.
On trade activity:
We’re very actively working the phones and doing everything we can to improve the team. At the same time, unfortunately our timing doesn’t always match the timing of everybody else. Until the trade deadline, people typically don’t have a lot of reason to do anything in a specific time. So we’re doing what we can and certainly working every angle we can. This ownership group has always been one to turn over every stone and this is no different.
On the team’s areas of need:
Clearly we came into the year talking about our need for rim protection before Andy got injured. I think it’s very clear that we have a real need for more size. Our team is versatile in that we can play multiple position but we’re not terribly big. I’d like to improve that at multiple positions.
I think it’s clear that point-guard depth is something we need to address. [Matthew Dellavedova] missed 15 games and a big portion of that, we really didn’t have a backup point guard that knew our system and was available to play a lot of minutes, and that’s on me. All of that responsibility lies with me. So I think relative to what we need to do to improve, certainly we could address some talent issues but more than anything else, what we need to do is address our fit and our size.