Atlantic Notes: Carmelo, Sixers, Casey
Will Carmelo Anthony stay in New York? We’ve heard lots of opinions on the matter and earlier today, his wife La La Anthony weighed in. “I definitely think he will stay [in New York]. I know that he wants to stay and I support him wherever he wants to go,” La La said in an interview with Bravo TV, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. “Listen, I used to live in Denver with him. If I can live in Denver, I can live anywhere. I just want him to be happy.” The latest from the Atlantic Division..
- Anthony badly wants to win a championship, writes Peter Botte of the New York Daily News. “(Winning a championship is) the only thing I care about. Anything else is irrelevant to me as far as when it comes to basketball,” Anthony said. “A championship is the only thing that’s on my mind, is the only thing I want to accomplish, I want to achieve and I’m going to do what I got to do to get that.” As Knicks fans are well familiar with, the Larry O’Brien trophy hasn’t come to New York since 1973.
- The Sixers have recalled Lorenzo Brown from the Delaware 87ers of the D-League just hours after assigning him, tweets Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News. Brown, as our running list shows, was sent down for a single day in his previous two trips and set a new personal record today with a stint that lasted just a few hours.
- There have been, “no really significant discussions,” on extending Raptors coach Dwane Casey‘s contract, a source tells Sean Deveney of the Sporting News. Instead, it appears that the Raptors will finish out what has been strange year so far and re-evaluate. That’s perfectly fine with Casey, who would have no problem returning to his home in Seattle and getting back to another passion of his. “I never worried about having a job,” Casey said. “I say that with all sincerity. I never worried about losing a job, getting a job. Because I learned a long time ago how to fish.”
Odds & Ends: Pelicans, Cavs, Bennett, Wade
Pelicans owner Tom Benson bought in to the NBA at the right time, writes Jimmy Smith of the Times-Picayune. The Pelicans, purchased for $338MM by Benson in April 2012, are now worth $420MM. It wasn’t an attendance boost that helped fill out Benson’s wallet even further but rather the new Collective Bargaining Agreement which is more owner-friendly than the previous one. More from around the league..
- The Cavs announced that they have recalled Carrick Felix and Sergey Karasev from the D-League. Both players were recalled and re-assigned to the Canton Charge last week but are back in the fold with the varsity squad today. Felix has played in nine games for the Charge this season, averaging 11.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 28.7 minutes per game. Karasev has appeared in six games for the Charge and is averaging 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 28.8 minutes per game.
- Meanwhile, NBA executives are stumped as to why the Cavs won’t demote Anthony Bennett, tweets Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft picked up yet another DNP-CD tonight.
- In today’s mailbag, Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel wonders if Dwyane Wade might take a financial sacrifice for the Heat by opting out and re-working his deal. Instead of taking $40MM over the next two seasons, Winderman suggests a five-year, $60MM deal for the veteran.
Hoops Rumors Originals
Here’s a look at the original analysis generated by the Hoops Rumors staff this week..
- Chuck Myron looked at the Bulls and the luxury tax.
- Charlie Adams asked if the Pacers should trade Danny Granger and most of you said yes.
- Meanwhile, Eddie Scarito asked if the Knicks should move Carmelo Anthony and, once again, you voted yes. Only 30% of Hoops Rumors readers said the Knicks should hold on to Melo.
- Chuck examined Andre Miller as a trade candidate.
- Chuck ran down the longest D-League assignments of the year.
- Cray Allred asked readers what the Hawks will do and 45% of you said they’ll stand pat.
- Will the Knicks keep Mike Woodson after this season? Nearly 80% of those who voted in Ryan Raroque’s poll said no.
- If you missed out on Chuck’s Monday chat, check out the transcript here.
Hoops Links: Mayo, All-Stars, Anteokounmpo
On this date in 1991, Rockets guard Vernon Maxwell became the fifth player in NBA history to score 30 points in a quarter, joining Wilt Chamberlain, David Thompson, George Gervin, and Michael Jordan. Maxwell, who finished with 51 points, hit for 30 in the final quarter of the Rockets’ 103-97 home win over Cleveland. Gervin holds the NBA record for scoring the most points in a quarter (33) in San Antonio’s 153-132 loss to New Orleans on Apr. 9, 1978.
Got a great basketball blog post that you want to see featured on Hoops Rumors? Send it to me at HoopsLinks@gmail.com. This week’s look around the basketball blogosphere..
- Shaw Sports asks if O.J. Mayo can still be a star player.
- It’s Boston Sean talks All-Star snubs.
- Bucksketball looks at some interesting splits for the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
- Salt City Hoops says injuries are now the only constant for the Jazz.
- A Wolf Among Wolves wants to help Kevin Martin.
- Bullets Forever discusses the future of Marcin Gortat in Washington.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, email it to Zach at HoopsLinks@gmail.com.
Atlantic Rumors: Rondo, Carmelo, Raptors
While NBA writers are handing out report cards around the season’s midway point, it’s not fair to grade Sixers coach Brett Brown yet, writes Tom Moore of the Bucks County Courier Times. Here’s this afternoon’s look at the Atlantic Division..
- Bill Ingram of Basketball Insiders continues to hear speculation from league officials that Celtics guard Rajon Rondo could wind up with the Rockets. Jeremy Lin hasn’t shown that he can run the Houston offense at a championship level and has lost his gig to journeyman Patrick Beverley. Assuming the Celtics are looking to move Rondo, however, it’s still difficult to see him landing in Houston given their lack of trade assets.
- Kobe Bryant told reporters today that he won’t actively push Carmelo Anthony to come join him in L.A., but he did explain one key difference between where he makes his home and New York, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. “Well, everybody wants to play in Los Angeles,” Bryant said before his Lakers got underway against the Knicks. “I mean New York is a beautiful place, don’t get me wrong, but it is colder than [expletive] out here. You know, palm trees and beaches obviously are a little more appealing.” As an NYC resident, I can assure you that Kobe’s assessment is accurate.
- In today’s mailbag, a reader asks Doug Smith of the Toronto Star if the success of Rudy Gay and others after leaving Toronto is a sign that the Raptors are doing something wrong.
Northwest Rumors: Miller, Nuggets, Blazers
During last night’s game against the Pacers, the Nuggets honored Carl Scheer, the man who owned the club during their ABA days and helped position them for the big move to the NBA. “We were the outlaws to the NBA guys,” Scheer told Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer. “We had small markets and no real television contract. We had to find ways to entertain people.” Scheer, the creator of the slam-dunk contest, was part of a group that also dreamed up red-white-and-blue basketballs and the three-point line. More on the Nuggets and other notes out of the Northwest..
- One league official tells Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN (on Twitter) that Nuggets guard Andre Miller will be a member of the Timberwolves or Kings before the February trade deadline. Recently, our own Chuck Myron examined the veteran guard as a trade candidate.
- The best move the Nuggets can make is to not make one, argues Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post. Moving the disgruntled Miller, however, is a different story.
- General Manager Neil Olshey deserves a great deal of credit for the job he has done with the Trail Blazers, tweets Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.
Lakers Notes: Marshall, Kobe, Carmelo
This afternoon, the Lakers travel east to take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. While neither team has set the world on fire this season, all eyes will be on Carmelo Anthony following his 62-point performance against the Bobcats. Here’s a look at the latest from Los Angeles as the defensively-challenged Lakers look to avoid a repeat of Friday night..
- Kendall Marshall is making the most of his shot with the Lakers, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. “It’s been good. I’ve enjoyed it and tried to make the most of [my opportunity],” said the 22-year-old. “When that chance does come about, you have to be ready to help the team in any way possible. It was really tough [the last year] but I lean on the people really close to me — my sisters, my parents, my close friends — that know what I can do. That support system has been great for me throughout the process.” It’s a small sample size, but the UNC product is leading the league in assists and three-point shooting.
- Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News wonders if Anthony and Kobe Bryant could ever co-exist with each other. Lakers forward Wesley Johnson, who shares an agent with Kobe and an alma mater with Melo, thinks they would get along just fine.
- Kobe told reporters, including Medina (Twitter link) that he’ll happily answer any questions Carmelo has about free agency and the Lakers but will also give him space.
Week In Review: 1/20/14 – 1/26/14
It’s safe to say that the Wizards are happy with center Marcin Gortat. After dealing for him prior to the start of the season, Washington is eager to lock him up to a brand new deal before he can hit the open market this summer. For his part, the 30-year-old big man sounds like he’s happy in Washington. Here’s more from the week that was..
- There’s mutual interest between Nikola Vucevic and the Magic in a new deal.
- The Celtics have talked about a new contract with Rajon Rondo. Meanwhile, GM Danny Ainge isn’t exactly pushing interested teams away.
- Dirk Nowitzki says he’s likely to re-sign with the Mavs.
- Eric Bledsoe is hurt, but that won’t keep the Suns from matching any offer for the restricted free agent this summer.
- Ivan Johnson is a free agent and the Clippers could have interest.
- Marcus Thornton is still on the trade block.
- The Wizards are expected to go after Greg Monroe.
- The Bulls aren’t sure if they’ll amnesty Carlos Boozer.
- Beno Udrih backed off his trade request.
- Blazers brass will mull an extension for LaMarcus Aldridge after the season.
- Two NBA teams are keeping tabs on Mickael Pietrus.
- The Hawks and Bucks got the DPE.
- The Bucks reportedly won’t make a big February deal.
- The Sacramento arena plan cleared a significant hurdle.
- Danilo Gallinari is done for the year.
- Kris Humphries wants to stay with the Celtics.
- Some execs think Duke’s Jabari Parker won’t enter the 2014 draft. Joel Embiid says he’s unsure too.
- The Pelicans would like to trade for a big man.
- The Pelicans waived Tyshawn Taylor shortly after acquiring him. Meanwhile, the European player who came to the Nets in the deal won’t be coming over to the NBA.
- Shawne Williams is headed to the D-League.
- There are serious suitors interested in buying the Bucks.
- The Suns plan to keep Leandro Barbosa for the rest of the year.
- Team USA named their finalists.
- The Sixers re-signed Dewayne Dedmon.
- The Bulls re-upped Cartier Martin.
- The Hawks re-signed James Nunnally.
- The Jazz claimed Malcolm Thomas off waivers from the Spurs.
- The Spurs signed D-Leaguer Othyus Jeffers to a 10-day contract.
- The Celtics signed Vander Blue to a 10-day.
- The Bulls inked Mike James to a 10-day deal.
- Daniel Orton will join the Celtics’ D-League team.
Odds & Ends: Bledsoe, Cuban, Gortat
Yannis Koutroupis of Basketball Insiders runs down six things you need to know about the Suns, including their enviable cap position. While some might think that Phoenix would have a hard time landing big free agents, Eric Bledsoe is the kind of guy who other elite players will want to play with because he’s a fierce competitor and unselfish. It also helps that Jeff Hornacek is a player’s coach, being a former player himself.
- Can an NBA owner do a sufficient job while living on the other side of the world? No, says Mavs owner Mark Cuban, according to Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. “Absolutely not,” Cuban said. “Hypothetically speaking — and this only applies to individuals 6-foot-5 and under — you can’t,” Cuban said as an obvious shot at 6-foot-7 Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov. “That’s why I sit so close. It’s like trying to run a company and not being able to go to the sales meetings, not being able to go to the customer service meetings or the support meeting.”
- The Hawks announced that they have recalled guard Jared Cunningham from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League. Cunningham, who was re-assigned to Bakersfield on January 1st, has averaged 15.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 29.8 minutes in 17 games (14 starts) over three stints with the Jam this season. He has appeared in three games with the Hawks this year and will be available tonight at Milwaukee. To keep up with all of this year’s D-League assignments and recalls, check out our running list.
- Wizards big man Marcin Gortat says he looks back on his time with the Suns fondly, writes Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic. Gortat has also found a nice home for himself in Washington and the Wizards are very interested in locking him up long-term.
- Scott Rafferty of Ridiculous Upside has a breakdown of P.J. Hairston’s 40 point performance for the D-League’s Texas Legends. The former UNC standout figures to be a first-rounder in the 2014 draft and could vault himself up the board with more performances like that one.
East Notes: Beasley, Heat, Oden, Tyler
Let’s face it: the voting process for All-Star starters isn’t exactly a meritocracy. Fortunately, the selections for All-Star reserves are based more on on-court accomplishments. The staff at Basketball Insiders ran down their All-Star picks for both conferences and here’s how the East bench looks: John Wall, DeMar DeRozan, Joakim Noah, Roy Hibbert, Chris Bosh, Lance Stephenson, and Paul Millsap. Today’s linkage out of the East..
- With offseason pickup Michael Beasley somewhat on the downswing and fellow newcomer Greg Oden only now beginning his comeback, it could be argued that the only true bench consistency has come from Chris Andersen, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel.
- Oden is likely to remain as a situational player for the foreseeable future, writes Winderman. A reader asks Winderman if a return to being a rotation player would mark the biggest comeback in NBA history and he says no, rightfully citing the returns of Andersen and Roy Tarpley from substance abuse issues.
- He was obviously overshadowed by Carmelo Anthony‘s 62-point performance, but the recently acquired Jeremy Tyler made some tremendous plays in last night’s win over the Bobcats, writes Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside. The Knicks plucked Tyler out of the D-League to be a physical rebounder and pestering defender, but his improved offensive skillset is a pleasant surprise.