East Notes: Melo, Oden, Knicks, DeRozan
Like most Knicks fans, Carmelo Anthony isn’t expecting to win it all this season, as Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com writes. “I don’t expect to win a championship this year,” Anthony said in an article posted on PrimeraHora.com and translated by ESPN Deportes’ Marly Rivera. “That is something that takes time and everything has to be (synchronized) — from the front office to the players. We have a lot of work to do but that is something that motivates me. I know that we can start creating the basis for what (we want) to accomplish eventually. And this is a great start for the process.” Anthony was said to be prioritizing winning in his free agent decision and while he ostensibly expects to win a ring in New York, he knows it won’t happen overnight. More from the Eastern Conference..
- Free agent center Greg Oden has been charged with felony battery, misdemeanor domestic battery, and misdemeanor battery resulting in serious bodily injury after allegedly punching his ex-girlfriend in the face during a fight, according to The Associated Press. The former No. 1 pick spent last season with the Heat but basketball is probably the furthest thing from the 26-year-old’s mind at the moment.
- Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPNNewYork.com looked at where the Knicks stand in terms of management. The suits earn high marks thanks to James Dolan’s willingness to spend and president Phil Jackson’s championship clout. However, there are obstacles, including Jackson’s lack of experience in this role and potential clashing between him and Dolan.
- Raptors star DeMar DeRozan kept hearing from the critics in 2012 when he inked a four-year, $38MM deal, but he has continued to improve thanks to his tireless work ethic, writes Holly MacKenzie of Raptors.com.
Central Notes: Allen, Hibbert, Wiggins
Earlier today, the Cavs signed New Mexico big man Alex Kirk. The 6’11” center averaged 13.3 points and 8.7 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per game in his junior year this past season and drew interest as a second round choice but went undrafted in June. More out of the Central Division..
- Ray Allen said earlier today that we won’t need to wait for word from a secret inside source – he’ll just come out with a decision on his future when he figures it out, tweets Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio. Allen has been heavily connected to the Cavs and there has been some conflicting information about his basketball future in recent weeks.
- With speculation that the Pacers could explore a Roy Hibbert trade, Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post makes the case for the Nuggets going after him and offering JaVale McGee. Acquiring Hibbert would enhance Denver’s defensive profile while giving themselves a legitimate on-the-block scorer. Meanwhile, McGee would give Indiana an active big man that blocks shots and runs the court like a gazelle.
- Andrew Wiggins is in limbo as he waits to be sent from the Cavs to the Wolves, but he’s not losing sleep over it, writes Ian Harrison of The Associated Press. “Whatever happens is out of my control,” he said. “I’m not worrying about it right now.”
Atlantic Notes: Blatche, Durant, Raptors, Melo
After two solid seasons with the Nets, big man Andray Blatche is still without a deal in August. Earlier today, our own Chuck Myron attempted to nail down the reasons for Blatche’s unemployment, touching on his rumored locker room issues and possibly unrealistic salary expectations. Here’s more out of the Atlantic..
- The Raptors have been fined $25K for comments that rap star and “team ambassador” Drake made about Kevin Durant at a recent concert that the NBA has deemed a violation of its anti-tampering rules, sources with knowledge of the league’s ruling told Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The sources said that Durant, who attended Drake’s recent show in Toronto, was the subject of what the league regards as a public recruiting pitch from the famed Canadian artist. Durant, of course, becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2016.
- After a late June trade sending him from the Hawks to the Raptors, guard Lou Williams is excited to get started with his new team, writes Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. “I am excited to a part of a young core, I am excited be on a team that wants me, that has a high expectation level for me. My time here in Atlanta, I realized that they were going in a direction that probably didn’t fit my style of play and I probably didn’t fit Coach Bud’s style of play. I’m a guy that needs the ball to be effective and they really didn’t need that from me. They were building a different core of a basketball team. I felt like it worked out for both sides, they got some talented guys in making moves this offseason and I feel great about the fit that I’m in,” Williams said.
- Carmelo Anthony displayed his new, slimmer physique today on Instagram, as Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com details, and he wonders if the newly-resigned star will still have the bulk needed to man the power forward position. Melo is back with the Knicks on a five-year, $125MM pact.
And-Ones: Cavs, Wiggins, Embiid, Nets
Despite what you may think, Barry Tramel of The Oklahoman reminds us that building superteams in the NBA is not some new fad. The “Thunder Way” involves growing your own superstars, but the Cavs‘ route of building a superteam is not unlike what others have done in years past. The Lakers have been collecting All-Stars for decades and the 76ers build a superteam in the 1970s with ABA stars George McGinnis and Julius Erving. At the end of the day, Tramel writes, both ways work and some franchises never get to make a stab at either gameplan. Here’s tonight’s look around the league..
- Wolves president and coach Flip Saunders did well for himself in the proposed Kevin Love trade, writes Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune. Considering the general lack of leverage that Minnesota had, the Wolves did well by landing this year’s No. 1 overall pick and more. Ultimately, however, the deal will be judged on how well Saunders can mold the young talent he’s receiving.
- Kansas will have a lot of work to do without stars Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid, but don’t go crying for them just yet. Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders looks at the players who will be fueling KU this season – five-star prospects Kelly Oubre and Cliff Alexander. Oubre is a 6’6 small forward who is explosive offensively and an elite-level athlete. Alexander is a rugged big man who thrives with contact and plays with an extremely high motor. Both players are projected as lottery picks in the 2015 NBA Draft.
- Following a successful season in the D-League, Scott Rafferty of Ridiculous Upside looks at what kind of impact Robert Covington could have on the Rockets next season.
- Bojan Bogdanović expects to play a key role for the Nets next season, writes Sportando’s Hrvoje Vujanic.
Hoops Links: Paul, Sonics, George
On this date in 1920, legendary Knicks coach Red Holzman was born in Brooklyn, New York. From 1967 to 1982, Holzman manned the sidelines for the Knicks and helped lead them to two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Holzman’s lengthy stint as Knicks coach was interrupted only in 1977 when his former star pupil Willis Reed took over coaching duties, but he would return back to his rightful place on the bench near the start of the 1978/79 campaign.
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…
- Fully Clips explains how Sam Cassell helped the Clippers land Chris Paul.
- The Daily Dribble gives us their all-time Sonics/Thunder starting five.
- Indy Cornrows makes a plea on Paul George‘s behalf.
- Canis Hoopus says the Cavs and Wolves need to tread lightly.
- Bullets Forever looks back on a pivotal moment from this past season.
- Celtics Blog can wait for fireworks.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Poll: WIll Ray Allen Play In 2014/15?
Most of this offseason’s high-profile free agents have settled in with their new clubs, but we still have restricted free agents Eric Bledsoe and Greg Monroe without a home and big names like sharpshooter Ray Allen on the open market. Allen’s unemployment certainly isn’t for a lack of interest.
The incumbent Heat were thinking about bringing him back at one point, but their plans got shaken up a bit this summer and the guard himself has said a reunion is not happening. Former coach Doc Rivers would like to add Allen’s sharpshooting and veteran leadership, but so far that hasn’t yielded an agreement. And, of course, LeBron James and Mike Miller would love for Allen to take his talents to downtown Cleveland, but he might not be so eager to do that.
“It will require a perfect storm scenario for me,” said Allen earlier this month. “I’m in great shape, and I’ll continue to be in great shape, but I don’t want to go to a situation where I don’t understand the rhythm of how a coach coaches. He has to be a great coach, a veteran coach.”
New Cavs coach David Blatt, formerly of Maccabi Tel Aviv, has the experience of a veteran, but he’s making his first foray into the NBA this season. From the sound of it, Blatt isn’t the coach that Allen has in mind if he’s going to continue playing in 2014/15. Allen also inferred that he might not settle for the minimum salary, which is all many of the league’s top teams can afford to give.
Allen isn’t the superstar that he was years ago, but he proved himself to be a valuable bench player in recent seasons. Even after a career-worst 12.8 PER last season for Miami, there are at least two bonafide contenders (and probably many more) that would love to add him to their bench. Do you think Allen will bite at one of these opportunities or will he call it a career at the age of 39?
Greg Monroe Denies Five-Year, ~$60MM Offer
Last week it was reported that the Pistons increased their offer to Greg Monroe from a five-year, $60MM package to one that’s slightly more lucrative. However, the restricted free agent took to Twitter today to deny that he has received any proposal of that nature.
“[I] can’t reject anything that was not offered to me…carry on,” Monroe said in response to a Twitter follower who asked how he could turn down a five-year, $60MM offer.
The report last week indicated that Detroit’s latest offer was slightly more lucrative than the four-year, $54MM contract that Josh Smith signed with the team last summer. The David Falk client has been widely expected to seek a max contract this summer, though many execs, scouts, and agents have balked at that idea.
The Pistons have looked into the sign-and-trade market and talked shop with the Blazers, Hawks and Pelicans but so far that hasn’t yielded a trade. Even though Monroe would be a valuable asset for a number of teams, one has to imagine that the Pistons’ match power scared off prospective suitors, much in the way that the Suns’ right to match has warded off teams with an eye on guard Eric Bledsoe.
So, for now, Monroe continues to stand without a team. If Monroe wants to enter free agency unencumbered next summer, he could take the risky and unlikely route of signing his one-year qualifying offer for less than $5.5MM.
Hoops Rumors Originals
A look back at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- With Andrew Wiggins on his way to the Wolves, Chuck Myron looked at the length of stay for each No. 1 overall pick.
- Chuck looked at how salary matching affects the Love swap.
- Eddie Scarito looked back at the trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers.
- Eddie also reflected on the trade that sent Kevin Garnett to the Celtics.
- I looked at possible landing spots for Michael Beasley.
- Here’s a look at middle class deals courtesy of Chuck.
- Cray Allred checked in on the free agent stock of Ramon Sessions.
- What might a new deal for Tristan Thompson look like? Cray takes a stab at it.
- Chuck looked at the market for Ray Allen.
- Five year deals are rare in today’s NBA, Chuck writes.
- Charlie Adams asked readers to vote on the future of Eric Bledsoe.
- Nearly half of you believe that the Pacers had the worst offseason in the NBA.
- If you missed on this week’s chat, get caught up here.
- A look back at the deal that sent Deron Williams to the Nets courtesy of Eddie.
- Should the Cavs be the favorites to win it all?
- Here are the players eligible for veteran extensions.
- Here’s how you can follow specific players on Hoops Rumors.
Week In Review: 8/4/14 – 8/10/14
At long last, Kevin Love is on his way to Cleveland. Love dominated headlines here on Hoops Rumors all summer long with rumors linking him to the Warriors, Celtics, Bulls, and a number of other teams. However, LeBron James‘ decision to return to the Cavs changed everything and ever since, the Cavs have been in the lead to land the All-Star. The deal will see Love heading to the Cavs, No. 1 pick Andrew Wiggins and forward Thaddeus Young going to the Wolves, and last year’s top pick Anthony Bennett joining the 76ers. Here’s more from the week that was..
- Shawn Marion is leaning heavily towards joining the Cavs. The Pacers are making a strong push for him too.
- The Pacers will apply for the disabled player exception, meaning that Paul George has been ruled out for the season.
- Negotiations have stalled between the Pistons and Greg Monroe.
- The Spurs made history by naming Becky Hammon an assistant coach.
- Ray Allen denies that he’s leaning towards playing with the Cavs. He also may or may not have decided to lace ’em up next season.
- The Clippers will work out several free agent centers including Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum.
- LeBron says he’s not going anywhere.
- The Knicks acquired Quincy Acy and Travis Outlaw from the Kings.
- The Knicks are still considering trading Pablo Prigioni.
- The Cavs offered up a first-round choice to the Nuggets for Timofey Mozgov.
- Chauncey Billups worked out for the Cavs.
- The Heat have reached a non-guaranteed deal with undrafted power forward Shawn Jones.
- The Cavs are thinking about E’Twaun Moore.
- DeAndre Daniels and an Australian club are getting close to a deal.
- Reggie Williams will join the Heat.
- The Warriors and former Ohio State point guard Aaron Craft have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with a partial guarantee.
- The Pistons hired Quentin Richardson for their staff.
- Knicks 2014 second-round pick Thanasis Antetokounmpo is deciding between opportunities in Spain and Italy or heading to New York’s D-League affiliate in Westchester.
- The Heat signed Tyler Johnson.
- The Blazers have signed free agent small forward James Southerland.
- Former Pacers and Kings swingman Orlando Johnson is leaning toward taking a deal with Enel Brindisi of Italy.
- The Rockets and draft-and-stash prospect Kostas Papanikolaou have struck a deal.
- The Spurs have signed forward JaMychal Green.
- The Suns signed first-round pick Tyler Ennis.
- MarShon Brooks is headed to Italy.
- Roscoe Smith is going to camp with the Lakers.
- Keith Appling will be in camp with the Lakers as well.
- Former NBA lottery pick Hilton Armstrong has a deal with Besiktas of Turkey.
- Xavier Thames signed with a Spanish team.
- The 48th overall pick in this year’s draft is headed overseas, as Lamar Patterson has signed with Tofas Bursa of Turkey.
- James Anderson is headed to Lithuania.
Suns Sign T.J. Warren
AUGUST 8TH: Phoenix finally made the signing official, as the Suns announced the news on their website.
JULY 13TH: The Suns have signed T.J. Warren, according to Mark Deeks of ShamSports (on Twitter). Phoenix nabbed Warren with the No. 14 overall pick in June’s draft. Warren will earn $1.95MM as shown in Hoops Rumors’ chart for 2014 first-round picks.
Last season, the NC State star led the ACC in scoring and averaged 24.9 points per game. Warren likely would have been a first round pick in the 2013 draft as well, but he stayed in school and still wound up as a lottery choice in the talent-rich 2014 class.
Warren made his Summer League debut on Saturday night for the Suns and scored 22 points off of 10-of-16 shooting.