Hoops Links: Parsons, Beal, Suns, Sonics
On this date in 1994, Pacers guard Reggie Miller drilled an NBA Playoff record five three-point field goals in the fourth quarter of the Pacers’ 93-86 win over the Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Miller finished with a game-high 39 points, including 6-of-11 from three-point range. Five players have since tied Miller’s record of five three-pointers in one quarter of a playoff game.
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 gives props to Chandler Parsons.
- Rotowire looked at the playoff performances of Bradley Beal and Draymond Green.
- iSportsWeb gives us an NBA Draft primer for the Suns.
- Sonics Rising dug up a Seattle classic from 1992.
- Bright Side Of The Sun previews the season ahead for the Phoenix Mercury.
- Nets Daily reviewed Joe Johnson‘s season.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Atlantic Notes: Katz, Melo, Ewing, Noel
There was tragic news this morning as Daniel Rubin and Alfred Lubrano of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that former Nets owner Lewis Katz died Saturday night in a plane crash. All seven people, including three crew members, perished in the accident at a Massachusetts airfield. Katz was known not only for being an investor in the Nets, New Jersey Devils, and New York Yankees, but also as a prolific philantropist. Hoops Rumors would like to extend our condolences to the friends and family of Katz and all of those who lost their lives in the awful tragedy. Here’s the latest out of the Atlantic..
- Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com weighs the pros and cons of Carmelo Anthony opting in from all sides. If Melo opts in, it’ll allow the Knicks to get a clear idea of how much cap space they’ll have to work with next summer. As for Melo, he can potentially make more money overall by waiting until next summer to sign his next big deal, whether it comes from the Knicks or someone else.
- Once again, Patrick Ewing wants to coach the Knicks but has not been contacted about the vacancy, writes Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. “My family’s still there I still have a home there,” Ewing said Saturday on CBS Sports Radio’s Eye On Basketball show. “I don’t know what is going to happen in terms of who they’re going to have to fill that void. But if I get a call, I’ll be ready.” Ewing has plenty of experience as an assistant coach but for one reason or another has not been given serious consideration for a head coaching gig.
- After sitting out all of last year, Sixers center Nerlens Noel is eager to show what he can do, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. “The whole offseason I’ve really focused on getting stronger, putting on weight and gaining muscle, and that’s what I did,” the 6’11” Noel said. “Every aspect and skill point, I’ve been working on, too. My shot, I’ve progressed a lot, and I’m working on my technique. Every part of my game I’ve improved on.”
Northwest Notes: Wolves, Love, Perkins
Former Syracuse star Jerami Grant is feeling confident after his workout today for the Wolves, according to the team’s Twitter account. Meanwhile, he says he needs to work on his shooting consistency to take the next step (link). The small forward is currently slated to go No. 25 in DraftExpress’ mock draft. The Wolves own the No. 13 pick in the first round. More out of the Northwest Division..
- Kevin Love may be vacationing in Boston, but Wolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders told reporters, including The Associated Press, that he expects the All-Star back in Minnesota next season. Love declined comment when asked if he was scouting out the city as a possible destination, but that hasn’t helped to quell any of the speculation that he wants to join the C’s.
- When asked if it’s time to turn the page on Kendrick Perkins, Thunder coach Scott Brooks replied, “That remains to be seen. There’s a lot of work to be done this summer,” tweets Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman. Perkins is entering the final year of his deal and is set to earn $9.15MM.
- Pending free agent Thabo Sefolosha says that he has “no clue” if he’ll be back with the Thunder next year, Mayberry tweets.
Week In Review: 5/26/14 – 6/1/14
Last week, Steve Ballmer secured a deal to buy the Clippers for $2 billion. That’s right; apparently the estimations of a $1 billion sale were way too conservative. More from the week that was..
- After a week full of drama, the Grizzlies signed coach Dave Joerger to an extension.
- Chris Bosh says he wants to stay with the Heat and may be willing to take a discount.
- Sixers management has considered moving Michael Carter-Williams and they’re high on Dante Exum.
- The Kings want Kevin Love, even without assurance that he’ll re-sign. Meanwhile, the Wolves would probably only be interested if they feel confident that Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh will be available at No. 8.
- The Pacers will bring back Frank Vogel.
- Carmelo Anthony is thinking about opting in.
- The Grizzlies and Zach Randolph are talking extension.
- Donald Sterling is suing the NBA for $1 billion.
- Lionel Hollins would be willing to take the Wolves’ head coaching job regardless of whether the team is able to keep Kevin Love.
- The Jazz have interest in Tyler Honeycutt.
- There are many in the Pacers’ front office that are wary of giving a lucrative long-term deal to Lance Stephenson.
- The Cavs would improve their chances of retaining Luol Deng if they hired Bulls assistant Adrian Griffin as head coach.
- The Wizards are a “stealth candidate” for Love.
- The Jazz and Warriors like James Nunnally.
- Quin Snyder is a leading candidate for the Jazz job. Both he and Adrian Griffin got second interviews.
- Jonas Jerebko will opt in and stay with the Pistons.
- The Nets will work out Ivan Johnson and others.
- Anthony Morrow will opt out and hit free agency.
- Darren Collison will opt out and test the open market.
- Vinny Del Negro interviewed with the Wolves.
- The Wizards carved out a three-year deal for coach Randy Wittman.
- The Bulls, Warriors, and Nets like Toure’ Murry.
- The Lakers met with Hollins on Thursday.
- The Lakers also met with Kurt Rambis.
- Tornike Shengelia is headed to Spain.
- Jason Kapono has retired.
Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- As I outlined earlier this week, the Raptors have room to make improvements this summer, but the biggest boost they can get will come from within.
- The Nuggets will have to take some risks to bring stars to Denver, Chuck Myron writes.
- Here’s a refresher on the biannual exception, courtesy of Chuck.
- Chuck previewed the offseason ahead for the Mavs.
- The Jazz are probably on their way to their first set of back-to-back losing seasons in 32 years, Chuck writes.
- Stan Van Gundy isn’t exactly walking into a dream scenario with the Pistons, Chuck writes.
- Here’s a rundown of all of Hoops Rumors’ great features.
- We rounded up the best comments of the week in Hoops Rumors Featured Feedback.
- If you missed Chuck’s chat on Monday, check out the transcript here.
Kings Want Love Even Without Re-Sign Promise
TUESDAY, 8:29am: Sacramento’s pitch would probably only interest the Wolves if Minnesota feels confident that either Julius Randle or Noah Vonleh will be available with the eighth overall pick, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. The Wolves prefer those two to Aaron Gordon among top-ranked power forward prospects, Wolfson adds.
MONDAY, 9:57pm: If the Wolves aren’t willing to take the gamble that Kevin Love will re-sign with them at the end of the year, the Kings are. A league source tells Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that the Kings would pull the trigger on a deal for the All-Star big man without any assurance that he’d sign a new deal.
The Kings are willing to give up their No. 8 overall pick in this year’s draft and a combination of players for Love, even though he would not be expected to sign a contract extension with Sacramento, the source said. The Kings know it’s a gamble on convincing Love to re-sign, given that the franchise is rebuilding and Love is looking to go to the postseason for the first time. They’ll also have to vie with suitors from bigger markets including the Celtics, Lakers, Knicks, Warriors, Rockets and Bulls. While Love doesn’t have a no-trade clause (few do), he figures to wield a good amount of influence over where he lines up.
If the Kings can land the All-Star, they’ll have a very dangerous frontcourt with Love, DeMarcus Cousins, and Rudy Gay, if he exercises his player option. Sacramento struggled to a 28-54 record last season and missed the playoffs for the eighth straight season, but there’s a new regime in charge that’s hoping to right the ship quickly. The Kings expect to begin playing in a new downtown Sacramento arena in 2016.
Offseason Outlook: Toronto Raptors
Guaranteed Contracts
- DeMar DeRozan ($9,500,000)
- Landry Fields ($6,250,000)
- Chuck Hayes ($5,958,750)
- Steve Novak ($3,445,947)
- Jonas Valanciunas ($3,678,360)
- Terrence Ross ($2,793,960)
- (Marcus Camby $646,609)*
Options
- None
Non-Guaranteed Contracts
- John Salmons ($7,000,000; guaranteed for $1,000,000)**
- Amir Johnson ($7,000,000; guaranteed for $5,000,000)
- Tyler Hansbrough ($3,326,235; guaranteed for $1,000,000)***
- Julyan Stone ($948,163)****
- Dwight Buycks ($816,482)*****
Free Agents / Cap Holds
- Kyle Lowry ($9,315,000)
- Patrick Patterson ($7,763,253)******
- Greivis Vasquez ($5,375,470)*******
- Nando De Colo ($1,901,900)********
- No. 20 pick ($1,215,300)
- (Sebastian Telfair $2,037,750)
- (Mickael Pietrus $915,243)
Draft Picks
- 1st Round (20th overall)
- 2nd Round (37th overall)
- 2nd Round (59th overall)
Cap Outlook
- Guaranteed Salary: $39,273,626
- Options: $0
- Non-Guaranteed Salary: $12,090,880
- Cap Holds: $28,523,916
- Total: $79,888,422
We all spent last summer talking about the Nets and Knicks. In retrospect, we should have paid some attention to the Raptors. Yes, Brooklyn bested the Raptors in a hard-fought seven game series, but the Raptors were the best team in the Atlantic Division from wire-to-wire, playing their way to a 48 win season when few had them pegged as a playoff team.
The single biggest reason for Toronto’s success in 2013/14 was the outstanding play of Kyle Lowry. The veteran was never heralded as one of the top point guards in basketball, but this past season put him squarely in the conversation. After averaging a career-high 17.9 PPG and 7.4 APG (and a career-high 20.1 PER), Lowry is set to hit the open market and figures to see a significant pay raise on a multi-year deal. Raptors CEO Tim Leiweke has made no secret of his desire to keep the 28-year-old in Toronto.
“There’s a really special bond between [GM] Masai [Ujiri] and Kyle,” Leiweke said in April. “This town should be in love with this guy. What a great story. He’s vented that anger and energy that he had last year, and it was sometimes aimed at the refs, sometimes aimed at other people. He’s figured out how to vent that and put that into the team, and this team truly loves each other.”
While it’s true that Toronto historically hasn’t been a prime free agent destination, Lowry has found a home in more ways than one with the Raptors. The Raptors hold Lowry’s bird rights and they have just ~$39MM in commitments on the books for 2014/15. There will be plenty of suitors desperate for a solid veteran PG like Lowry, but it would be a surprise to see him go elsewhere.
Earlier this month, the Raptors took care of their second-biggest free agent: head coach Dwane Casey. After guiding Toronto to a record that pretty much no one saw coming, the veteran coach was rewarded with a three-year deal that will pay him roughly $4MM per season. With a number of openings this summer, Casey was likely to get major offers elsewhere, so it was very prudent of Raptors management to wrap him up early in the offseason.
With some financial flexibility in their favor, the Raptors could do something that was unthinkable just a few years ago: bring back Vince Carter. The Mavericks veteran is coming off of a three-year, $9.3MM deal in Dallas and Mark Cuban may not have enough wiggle room to keep him. Carter is still going strong at 37 and would be a solid addition to the Raptors, as well as a feel-good story, though he says he would welcome a new deal with the Mavericks. We’re not so sure that Air Canada wouldn’t fly back home if the money was right.
Lowry is the most important free agent on the roster but he’s not the only one. The well-traveled Patrick Patterson is a restricted free agent. He showed promise at times and averaged 9.1 PPG and 5.1 RPG in 23 minutes per contest for the Raps. Patterson is an adept three-point shooter who nailed 41.1% of his shots from downtown for Toronto and may seek out an opportunity with more playing time. He’s not in line for a massive deal but a better opportunity to showcase himself could set him up for a bigger contract in the future.
The Raptors finished the season with two of their summer league invites on the roster. Dwight Buycks and Julyan Stone found their respective niches on the bench and it’s a safe bet that their inexpensive team options, $816K and $948K ($100K guaranteed) respectively, will be exercised. Still, one has to imagine that they’ll push for new deals and the Raptors may choose to lock them up on mulii-year pacts before they can increase their value further next season.
In addition to having a bit of cap room, the Raptors also have an opportunity to improve through the draft. Toronto has three picks: their first round pick selection (20th overall) and two second round picks, the No. 37 (via the Kings) and No. 59 (via the Thunder). While the Raptors are still somewhat future-minded, they got a taste of winning this season and they presumably want to position themselves for a deep playoff run in 2014/15. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Raptors move one or both of their second round picks and take calls on their No. 20 overall pick. The Raptors also have 2012 second-round pick Tomislav Zubcic stashed overseas, so they’ve already got a young prospect in the pipeline.
If the Raptors move those picks, they’ll likely target a backup center to support Jonas Valanciunas. They could also go for a veteran athletic wing player if they can’t rope VC back to his original club. John Salmons and Landry Fields were charged with this role last season and neither made a tremendous impact. Salmons gave the Raptors some solid D when he came over this season but averaged just 5 PPG and 2.0 RPG in ~21 minutes per game. Fields, who has yet to justify his three-year, $20MM contract, lost most of the season to injury. If they turn to free agency, affordable bigs on the open market could include Drew Gooden and Malcolm Thomas (non-guaranteed deal). There are also intriguing free agent veteran wings such as Danny Granger and Marvin Williams available. If the Raptors want to make a major addition instead, they could put themselves in the mix for Cavs free agent small forward Luol Deng. Many reports have indicated that Deng is unhappy in Cleveland and it stands to reason that he could make a bee line to a winning club.
The Raptors will look to re-load this summer, but improvements from within are probably more central to their success next season. If Valanciunas and Terrence Ross can take another step forward and DeMar DeRozan progresses the way we expect him to, the Raptors should find themselves at or near the top of the Atlantic with a chance to make some noise in the postseason.
Cap footnotes
* — The Raptors waived Camby in July 2013. Guaranteed money remained on the contract, even though Camby agreed to give up $2MM in a buyout arrangement.
** — Salmons’ salary becomes fully guaranteed if he’s not waived on or before June 30th.
*** — Hansbrough’s salary becomes fully guaranteed if he’s not waived on or before June 29th.
**** — Stone’s salary becomes fully guaranteed if he’s not waived on or before July 7th.
***** — Buycks’ salary becomes fully guaranteed if he’s not waived on or before July 22nd.
****** — Patterson’s qualifying offer would be $4,268,609.
******* — Vasquez’s qualifying offer would be $4,677,708.
******** — De Colo’s qualifying offer would be $1,828,750.
ShamSports and Larry Coon’s Salary Cap FAQ were used in the creation of this post.
And-Ones: Joerger, Hollins, Clippers, Lakers
After a strange week, it appears that the Grizzlies coaching situation is now settled. Dave Joerger and owner Robert Pera met today to hash things out and the coach couldn’t be happier with how things turned out. “What’s between Robert and I now is like WOW.” Joerger told Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal (on Twitter). “This is how it’s supposed to be. There’s interaction and you talk about anything.” As Joerger and Pera enjoy their budding bromance, let’s take a look around the Association..
- Most people who know Grizzlies owner Robert Pera says that he has good intentions and wants to build a winner, tweets Chris Mannix of Sports Illusrated. Unfortunately, however, Pera isn’t overly familiar with how the NBA works.
- In addition to the Lakers’ vacancy, Lionel Hollins is also being considered for the Cavs‘ opening, writes Sam Amick of USA Today. The former Memphis coach has long been considered a top candidate for the Cavs job. Hollins will chat with the Lakers late next week and probably meet with Cleveland next weekend.
- Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com (on Twitter) learned that there are six serious bidders thus far for the Clippers. Shelburne adds that Shelly Sterling won’t use an investment bank to handle the sale.
- Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com looks back on Kent Bazemore‘s season with the Lakers. There wasn’t much expected from the guard when he came over in the Steve Blake deal with the Warriorrs, but he proved to be a valuable asset off the bench.
- Chris Reichert of Ridiculous Upside explains why Clint Capela has first round sleeper potential in the draft. Last season, the power forward logged nine double-doubles and shot an astounding 66% percent from the floor.
Hoops Links: Carmelo, Love, Kerr, Randle
On this date in 1993, Suns forward Charles Barkley won the 1992-93 MVP trophy. Barkley, who helped lead the Phoenix to a franchise and NBA-best 62-20 record during the 1992-93 season, averaged 25.6 points, 12.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 76 games.
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 makes a case for Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Love in Houston.
- Six Championship Drive says the Pistons need to go after Love.
- Upper Deck Chatter talks Steve Kerr.
- Sports Of Boston looks at Julius Randle as a possible Celtics target.
- Nets Daily reviewed Andrei Kirilenko‘s season.
- At The Hive looked back on Cody Zeller‘s year.
Please send submissions for Hoops Links to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look back at the original reporting and analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- I interviewed Cincinnati guard Sean Kilpatrick, a second-round prospect in the June draft.
- Alex Lee rolled out the second edition of his 2014 mock draft.
- The Blazers will have ample opportunity to show LaMarcus Aldridge what they’re capable of this summer, Chuck Myron writes.
- I looked at the offseason ahead of the Nets and their possible options as they look to improve with no financial flexibility.
- Chuck previewed the Wizards’ offseason.
- Eddie Scarito asked readers who they think the Cavs will take No. 1 overall. Joel Embiid was the winner.
- Hoops Rumors readers say that advancing to the second round is a fair expectation for Steve Kerr in his first year as Warriors’ head coach.