And-Ones: Mavs, Koponen, Chandler
Two games into FIBA World Cup pool play, Bulls star Derrick Rose is pain free, writes Joe Cowley of the Sun Times. Rose didn’t light up the scoreboard against Turkey on Sunday as he scored just two points, but he looked sharp as he scored 12 points in 22 minutes against Finland on Saturday. Here’s more from around the league..
- Finnish point guard Petteri Koponen, whose rights are owned by the Mavericks, hopes to be playing in the NBA by the 2015/16 season, writes Marc Stein of ESPN.com. “I always said my dream is to play in the NBA,” Koponen said. “Every summer we talk a little bit with Dallas to see what the situation is and what they think. I’ve got one more year left on my contract in Russia and then of course I would like to come over. I hope I get some options to go there and show I can play at that level.” Team sources tell Stein that the Mavs have not ruled out importing Koponen themselves in the future, but there was no talk of doing that this season with four point guards already on the roster. Of course, they could also deal his rights to another team.
- Even though he only played just one season for the Mavs, Tyson Chandler says his heart was always in Dallas, says Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram. “I enjoyed my entire time with the Mavericks and it was a sad process for me and my family leaving Dallas, especially after the amazing experience and amazing run that we had,’’ said Chandler, who was shipped back to Dallas this summer. “As I left I told those guys, ‘You know, I love you and I’ll love you forever and I love everything you have done for me and did for me.’ I understand the (NBA) business and I guess it wasn’t meant for me. But I guess it is meant for me to be back now.’’
- The Spurs kept the band together after winning the championship but not every defending champion has been so lucky. Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders looks at some of the worst defending champs in NBA history.
- According to Italian basketball exec Gianmaria Vacirca, Thanasis Antetokounmpo had an agreement to play with Pallacanestro Varese before deciding to stay in America to play for the Knicks D-League affiliate, as Emiliano Carchia of Sportando writes.
Poll: Should The Celtics Trade Rajon Rondo?
Rumors of Rajon Rondo‘s departure have been greatly exaggerated, apparently. A clip emanating from ESPN’s “Around The Horn” had the internet wondering if Rondo had asked for a trade out of Boston. However, Rondo’s agency quickly denied such speculation. Furthermore, ESPN took the video down and a network spokesperson told our own Chuck Myron today that it was pulled because the clip was being characterized as reporting rather than “an informed conversation among our panelists.” In short, Celtics fans, don’t go putting your No. 9 jerseys on eBay just yet.
Rondo, who has said that he isn’t a big fan of change and wouldn’t mind spending the rest of his career in green and white, is apparently more patient than some have given him credit for. After watching his star teammates get shipped off and missing roughly one calendar year due to an ACL tear, many believed that Rondo would aim for a fresh start with another team. If we are to take Rondo and his reps for their word, he’s still eager to help Boston get back to glory.
Still, even if Rondo is on board with rebuilding, that doesn’t mean the C’s won’t explore trading him anyway. At 28, Rondo stands as one of the league’s very best point guards and as he enters his walk year he could bring Boston a windfall of even more young assets and draft picks to build with. The Kings could be a trade partner and although Rondo might be reluctant to sign a new deal with them, they were reportedly willing to deal for Kevin Love without any such guarantee, so it’s possible Sacramento would roll the dice anyway.
The Celtics have a promising rookie one-guard in Marcus Smart and they can afford to wait on his development as they’re ostensibly future-minded. Still, Rondo isn’t exactly a graybeard like ex-teammates Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. He could fit into Boston’s timetable and Danny Ainge seems to believe he and Smart could co-exist just fine.
“Absolutely. No question,” Ainge said in June when asked whether Smart and Rondo could share the floor. “And [Smart] and [Avery] Bradley. No question. [Smart]’s a very versatile player. He can play off the ball. He can handle the ball. With his length and his size, he can probably play against a lot of small forwards — 6’3″, long wingspan, 230 pounds. He’s a very versatile player. Easily those guys can play together, and I think they would really thrive playing together, all of them.”
For now, it seems as though Rondo wants to remain in Boston and Ainge has told anyone that will listen that he wants to keep him there. If you were at the helm of the Celtics, would you trade Rondo between now and the February deadline or hang on to him?
Anderson Varejao Wants To Stay With Cavs
Anderson Varejao has spent his entire career with the Cavs and, if he has his way, he’ll keep it that way until he’s through playing. The big man told Raul Barrigon of HoopsHype that he has every intention of staying in Cleveland even though he is slated to hit the open market next summer.
“I want to stay in Cleveland, I really don’t think about that. They know what I want to do, they know I want to stay,” said Varejao, who answered in the affirmative when asked if he wants to retire in Cleveland.
The whole interview is worth a read, but are a few more highlights from Varejao’s Q&A with Barrigon..
On whether he thought he’d ever play with LeBron James again:
I did! I wasn’t sure when, but I thought there was a chance for him to come back. I didn’t expect it now, but eventually, because he’s from there, I thought there was a chance…All these years there were a lot of people on my ear telling me that I should ask for a trade because LeBron wasn’t there and the team was in a rebuilding process. They told me I should leave, that I should go to another team and try to help win a title and I always said no, I won’t. I don’t need to leave. I like the city, I like the people here, and I’m going to keep fighting through this. And now that LeBron is back the people [are] telling me I did the right thing [laughs].
On whether the arrival of Kevin Love means that his role will change:
I don’t think it’s going to change. I played with LeBron for six years and what I did was playing defense, setting screens for everybody, fighting for every rebound and being ready on the offensive side when I get the ball.
On the new-look team developing chemistry:
Sometimes it takes some time to have it, for everybody to get on the same page, to know what to do. And we have a new coach, new system, a lot of new things going on. But we’re going to have to stay patient and grow as a team.
Mike Moser To Join Lithuanian Team
Lithuanian club Lietuvos Rytas has signed Oregon product Mike Moser, according to Enea Trapani of Sportando. Meanwhile, agent Adam Pensack tells Hoops Rumors (Twitter links) that Moser, who shined in camp with the Celtics this summer, does not have an NBA out clause in his deal.
While it’s somewhat surprising to hear that the Moser’s deal does not contain an NBA out given widespread interest from around the league, Pensack explained that the power forward wanted the opportunity to play major minutes for a strong Eurocup team. And, while the agent declined to disclose the terms of the deal, he explained that it’s a lucrative one-year pact.
The undrafted power forward averaged 13.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game during his collegiate career and according to his agent, about “half” of the NBA wanted to bring him in for training camp. Pensack and Moser whittled that list down to about three or four clubs that were exceptionally interested, but the opportunity overseas was too good to pass up.
And-Ones: McRae, Clippers, Dudley
Kevin Durant won’t be a free agent for another two years, but he was on the verge of hitting the open market when it comes to endorsements. Durant secured an offer of between $265MM-$285MM from Under Armour, but Nike exercised its right to match today, as Darren Rovell and Marc Stein of ESPN.com write. The exact parameters of the deal aren’t known, but it’s expected that Durant will earn more from the sneaker contract than he will from the Thunder over the next two years. Here’s tonight’s look around the NBA..
- Chris Anstey, the coach of CTI Melbourne United, spoke highly of his team’s newest addition, 76ers rookie Jordan McRae in an email to Marc Narducci of The Inquirer. “We are thrilled to have Jordan join us and play a part in his continued development, in consultation with Sixers coaching staff, to give him the best possible chance of making their roster next year or earlier,” Anstey wrote. The coach also confirmed that the Sixers have the right to call McRae back until January. McRae spoke with Hoops Rumors over the summer prior to the draft about his skill set and NBA goals.
- Even though Milwaukee was “a little cold” for his tastes and he was waived by the Clippers just days after they acquired him, Miroslav Raduljica said he still wants to stay in the NBA, writes NBA.com’s John Schuhmann. He didn’t go into detail on who might be interested, however, saying he’s only heard rumors about other teams.
- The Clippers‘ trade of Jared Dudley might have been perplexing to some, but it made sense for a couple of financial reasons, as Jesse Blancarte of Basketball Insiders explains. Thanks to the deal, the Clippers saved roughly $3.5MM this season and gives them some breathing room under the hard-cap. And, by waiving Carlos Delfino and Raduljica, the Clippers opened up some roster space. They’re reportedly on the verge of a new deal with veteran Hedo Turkoglu.
Hoops Links: World Cup, Thunder, Rondo
On this date in 1990, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African American player in Knicks history, passed away at the age of 67 from a heart attack. As a 27-year-old NBA rookie, Clifton helped lead the Knicks to their first-ever appearance in the NBA finals, losing in Game Seven. During his eight seasons in the NBA, Clifton averaged 10 PPG and 9 RPG per contest. At age 34, he became the oldest player to that point in NBA history to be named an All-Star.
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…
- Six Championship Drive previews the 2014 World Cup.
- Hoops Habit has five bold predictions for the Thunder.
- The Daily Dribble looks at potential landing spots for Rajon Rondo.
- Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues looks at the Kevin Love deal from a fantasy perspective.
- Red Rock Basketball talks Knicks on their latest podcast.
- Liberty Ballers previews something very cool coming to Philadelphia.
- Detroit Bad Boys is excited for some long distance shooting.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
And-Ones: Wolves, Martin, Allen
Wolves president Flip Saunders hopes the Wolves new players’ athleticism will translate into improved defense, Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press writes. Saunders said, “I’m hoping that the biggest change is going to be defensively. Always a key in your ability to guard is your athleticism. The quicker you are, the longer you are, the better chance you have to be a good defensive team.”
Here’s more from around the league:
- Doc Rivers was in contact with free agent guard Ray Allen earlier this summer, and Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com (on Twitter) expects the Clippers to make a run at him again.
- Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is still over the moon about reacquiring Tyson Chandler this summer, as NBA.com’s Jeff Caplan writes. “It was kind of surprising that we got it done, just because with that many pieces and the fact that no one finds out,” Cuban said of the trade. “I’m glad we got it done. We’re excited. He can kind of quarterback our defense, he makes everybody better defensively and he’ll make Monta [Ellis] better offensively.”
- Keith Schlosser of The Knicks Blog wonders if the Knicks would welcome back Kenyon Martin. Martin gave the Knicks one of the most intimidating and physical defensive presences they’ve had in years, but he struggles to stay on the court. Even though he’s seen just 50 games of action over the last two seasons, Schlosser sees K-Mart as a player who the Knicks could call on midseason if Amar’e Stoudemire, Andrea Bargnani, or Samuel Dalembert have injury troubles of their own.
Eddie Scarito contributed to this post.
Int’l Notes: Dragic, Andersen, Moser
Not everyone on the Dream Team can be a Hall of Famer, and Joel Brigham of Basketball Insiders goes back through history to isolate the worst-ever Team USA members. Among those earning the dubious distinction are Kirk Hinrich (2006), Raef LaFrentz (2002), and the 1998 roster, which was made up of college players thanks to the NBA lockout. Speaking of international competition, here’s today’s look around the globe…
- NBA teams continue to eye Zoran Dragic, tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com, who writes in a full story that the younger brother of Goran Dragic “badly wants” to play in the Association. Still, Zoran signed a two-year extension last month with Unicaja Malaga of Spain, which Stein says offers the 25-year-old greater financial security. The Rockets appeared to be at the front of the line for the younger Dragic as of May.
- Australian center David Andersen is eyeing a return to the NBA and has kept his dance card open beyond the World Cup, writes Roy Ward of the Sydney Morning Herald. The 34-year-old, who has been traded three times within the NBA, last appeared in the Association with New Orleans in 2010/11. Across 103 career games, Andersen averaged 4.9 PPG and 2.8 RPG in 12.3 minutes per contest.
- Despite lots of interest from teams overseas, Celtics summer camp standout Mike Moser will be in an NBA training camp next month, tweets A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Murphy, Bost To Join Jazz For Training Camp
AUGUST 27TH: Murphy’s deal is official, too, the team announced.
AUGUST 25TH: The team hasn’t announced Murphy’s signing, but it has occured according to Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders (on Twitter). Pincus reports that both players’ deals are partially guaranteed at $65K, and Murphy’s total salary is set at $840K. Bost’s total salary was already reported to be at the minimum for three seasons (none of which are fully guaranteed).
AUGUST 15TH: The Jazz officially announced the signing of Bost, tweets Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune.
AUGUST 14TH: Kevin Murphy and Dee Bost will join the Jazz for training camp, according to Gino Pilato of D-League Digest (on Twitter). Both players spent last season with the Idaho Stampede of the D-League.
Bost, 25 in October, signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Blazers last fall before being waived in October. The guard went undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2012 and spent the following season overseas with Budućnost Podgorica in Montenegro, averaging 8.3 PPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.3 turnovers in 21.5 minutes per contest. In 50 games for Idaho last season, Bost averaged 15.2 PPG and 6.1 RPG in 40.5 minutes per night.
Murphy auditioned for the 76ers in March in hopes of securing a 10-day deal and also worked out for the Nets earlier this offseason.
Emeka Okafor Drawing Widespread Interest
MONDAY, 1:45pm: Teams had been taking a cautious approach in evaluating Okafor as of a few weeks ago, as J. Michael of CSNWashington says today, adding that the center has much to prove before doctors would declare him healthy (Twitter link). It’s unclear whether teams have become more optimistic since Michael last heard news on the center.
SUNDAY, 10:46pm: Emeka Okafor is in high demand even after missing all of 2013/14, writes Marc Stein of ESPN.com. In fact, roughly half of the league has registered interest this summer in the big man. Okafor is nonetheless unlikely to sign anywhere until midseason given the lingering effects of his neck injury, Stein also hears.
A number of teams, including contending clubs, would like to add the 31-year-old Okafor to their benches. The Cavs and Heat are among the teams to have checked in, according to Stein, echoing an earlier report from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that identified the Heat’s interest in the 10-year veteran.
Okafor suffered his injury in the preseason while with Washington last October and was dealt to the Suns shortly before opening night in the trade that brought Marcin Gortat to the Wizards. Okafor’s nearly $14.5MM expiring contract was linked in trade rumors to Pau Gasol and others, but the Suns never found a deal to their liking that would have allowed them to flip Okafor before his lucrative pact ran out.
Okafor was one of a handful of big men to reportedly audition for the Clippers earlier this month.