Glen Taylor On Sale, Darko, CBA, Kahn, Adelman
This week we passed along a couple of updates on Glen Taylor's search for a buyer who would eventually succeed him as majority owner of the Timberwolves. Taylor, who said he won't sell the team to anyone who would move it out of Minnesota, spoke in greater detail about his plans and about the team's rebuilding process to Britt Robson of Twin Cities Business. Taylor told Robson he received "seven serious inquiries" about the team, and while most of them were rejected because they wouldn't guarantee the team wouldn't move, Taylor is confident he'll be able to announce the buyer before the Wolves' first game of the 2012/13 season, on November 2nd. It would be about six years before the new partner assumed the majority stake, Taylor said.
Taylor is also the chair of the league's board of governors, and he opened up to Robson about the new CBA and its effect on the Wolves, as well as other matters. Here are a few of his noteworthy comments:
On the decision-making process and how the team moved on from Darko Milicic:
“Most of the moves [GM] David [Kahn] is making are heavily influenced by what [coach] Rick [Adelman] has asked of us. But when it comes to finances, David will tell Rick no. At the end of the year, Rick gives me a report of what he thinks of each player. He tells me it’s the same one he gave David and that David knows he is giving it to me. Then he goes through the list. He says, ‘This is the first one I want gone’—that was Darko. ‘This is the second one I want gone. This is what I think of this player.’"
Regarding the CBA and its effect on the Wolves:
"The new deal really helps us. As bad as we’ve played and as bad as the economy has been, we were still in the middle of about 22 or 23 teams that were losing money. If we were losing $15 million or $18 million, some others were losing $40 million. [The new revenue-sharing fund] will step up over three years. Next year there is a possibility of $10 million—now, if we do well it will be less. But I would say that between $5 million and $12 million will come to us.”
About GM David Kahn:
"The person who convinced me about Kahn was Donnie Walsh, who was David’s mentor in Indiana and a guy I really like and respect. Donnie told me, ‘I’d take a risk on him. He’s very smart. He doesn’t know all the basketball stuff, but he’ll know how to run your team.’"
On coach Rick Adelman:
"We were going to build slowly with a young coach [Kurt Rambis] and young players. It was a good plan, but there was a misstep. Now we have a seasoned coach who has said ‘This is my last job.’ He is going to push faster because he wants to win sooner. But his [style of communication] is one I understand and can relate to."
Eastern Notes: Magic, Sixers, Nets, Celtics
The biggest NBA news of the day so far has come out of Philadelphia, where the 76ers are announced Tony DiLeo's promotion to general manger. SI.com's Sam Amick has a few additional details on the move, including some other names that the Sixers pursued. According to Amick, the Sixers were turned down when they asked permission to speak to Jazz executive Kevin O'Connor and Thunder exec Troy Weaver. Here are a few more Friday notes out of the Eastern Conference:
- Harkless' and Smith's injuries will not be healed in time for the regular season, keeping them out of the Magic lineup until mid-November, Schmitz writes, updating his earlier tweet (below).
Earlier updates:
- Amick adds that the 76ers may still hire a more analytically-inclined executive to work alongside DiLeo in the Philadelphia front office.
- Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov had praise for GM Billy King and coach Avery Johnson, whose contracts are set to expire at season's end. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News passes along Prokhorov's quotes in a pair of tweets.
- Al Harrington, Maurice Harkless, and Ish Smith, all recovering from offseason surgery, are expected to miss training camp, tweets Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. All three players were added by the Magic this summer.
- J.J. Redick understands that the Magic are in a transition year, but says he loves playing in Orlando and that he and GM Rob Hennigan are "on the same page" when it comes to his future (Twitterlinks via John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com).
- A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com looks into which Celtics on non-guaranteed contracts are the best bets to earn a roster spot, concluding that Dionte Christmas is a clear-cut favourite.
- Raja Bell tells Andy Slater of 640 AM Sports in Miami that the Heat would be his first choice in free agency if he can work out a buyout with the Jazz (Sulia link via Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel).
- In his latest mailbag for the Sun Sentinel, Winderman debates whether the Heat or Celtics had the better offseason and examines where Miami's roster stands.
Atlantic Links: Celts, Sixers, Moultrie, Smith
As if the Atlantic division didn't have a busy enough offseason, the Celtics were active again on Thursday . After waiving Keyon Dooling, who then retired, Boston signed Micah Downs to what is likely a non-guaranteed deal and gave guaranteed dollars to Darko Milicic. They now have 14 guaranteed roster spots and 19 total players in training camp. John Hollinger of ESPN gives his take, insider only, on the Celtics roster.
Surely, that couldn't have been it for the ever-changing Atlantic. Let's keep track of all the other links floating around on Thursday within the division:
- We have detailed at great length the roster overhaul that the Sixers went through this offseason. John Hollinger of ESPN breaks down their new roster for the 2012-13 seasons (Insider access only).
- Dei Lynam of CSN Philly looks at Andrew Bynum and Andre Iguodala, both of whom could be unrestricted free agents this offseason. Bynum seems like a good bet to re-sign in Philly, while the future of Iguodala, should he opt out, is far more difficult to predict.
- The ankle injury that has hobbled Sixers first round pick Arnett Moultrie for most of the summer has not progressed as well as the team has hoped, reports John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Moultrie's effectiveness is heavily reliant on his athleticism, making it crucial for him legs to be at full strength as a rookie.
- Jonathan Abrams examines the enigma that is Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith for Grantland. Smith is ultra-talented and has been productive, but for whatever reason has not been able to find a home.
- Former Knick Stephon Marbury talked all things Knickerbockers with Ian Begley of ESPN New York. Marbury questions Amare Stoudemire's ability to thrive without Steve Nash, the ownership's motives in bringing in Carmelo Anthony and the potential of the team to advance in the playoffs.
Keyon Dooling To Retire, Waived By Celtics
8:55pm: Chris Forsberg tweets that the Celtics may still be responsible for Dooling's $854K cap hit this year, crediting CBA guru Larry Coon with the assist.
4:21pm: The Celtics have officially waived Keyon Dooling, according to a press release from the team. Within the release, Dooling's representative, Kenge Stevenson, indicates that the veteran guard has decided to end his NBA playing career.
"Keyon has decided that he has given the NBA twelve good years and that it’s time to pursue other interests and spend more time with his family," said Stevenson. "He will never forget his time in Boston with the Celtics."
Dooling had just re-signed with the Celtics earlier this summer, so the decision comes as something of a surprise. Over the course of his NBA career, the 12-year veteran appeared in 721 games with the Clippers, Heat, Magic, Nets, Bucks, and Celtics, averaging 7.0 PPG and 2.2 APG in 19.5 MPG. According to Basketball-Reference, Dooling earned over $29MM in his playing career — it's not known whether he'll receive his entire 2012/13 salary, or if he and the Celtics agreed to a buyout.
For the Celtics, the move frees up an additional roster spot and could mean the team will decide to add another backcourt player. With Dooling out of the picture and Avery Bradley not expected to be healthy to start the season, Boston could at least extend another camp-invite or two for depth purposes.
Celtics Pursuing Darko Milicic?
A month ago today, we heard that Spanish club Real Madrid was looking into the possibility of signing the recently amnestied Darko Milicic. Now, according to a Novosti.rs report (English link via Sportando), it seems that Milicic has turned down a three-year, $6MM offer to play for Real Madrid. Milicic prefers to play in the NBA, according to the report.
It makes sense that money isn't necessarily Milicic's top priority, since, as an amnesty victim, he's still being paid a sizable salary by the Timberwolves. Darko is reportedly open to signing a minimum-salary contract to remain in the NBA, and according to Novosti.rs, the Celtics appear to be interested in the Serbian big man.
The Celtics could still offer free agents their $1.957MM bi-annual exception, but it seems the team would prefer to hang on to that. If Boston were to sign Milicic, it would almost certainly be for the veteran's minimum. The Celtics are currently carrying 17 players, but four of those contracts are either partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed, meaning there could be a couple roster spots up for grabs.
Bobcats To Sign Jeff Adrien, Eyeing Three Others
4:44pm: The Bobcats have agreed to terms with Adrien on a non-guaranteed contract, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports. According to Spears, the Rockets, Clippers, Lakers, Spurs, and Celtics also showed interest in the forward.
3:53pm: Looking to bring at least 17 players to their training camp, the Bobcats are finalizing agreements with a handful of players expected to compete for a spot on the team's roster. According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, Paris Horne, Josh Owens, Jeff Adrien, and DaJuan Summers are expected to be added to the Bobcats' roster in the near future.
Horne, 25, played in Germany last season after graduating from St. John's in 2011. He's a 6'3" guard. Owens, a 6'9" forward out of Stanford, was eligible for this year's draft and was ranked as a top-100 prospect by ESPN.com's Chad Ford, but went undrafted. Both players were part of the Bobcats' summer league squad.
Adrien and Summers both have previous NBA experience. The 6'7" Adrien, a UConn product, received limited playing time for the Warriors in 2010/11 and the Rockets in 2011/12. Summers, meanwhile, was drafted 35th overall in 2009 and has since played for the Pistons and Hornets. The 24-year-old forward has averaged 3.4 PPG in 81 career contests.
If the Bobcats finalize deals with these four players, they're likely to be non-guaranteed contracts. With 13 Charlotte players on guaranteed deals, there could be a roster spot or two available on the team for players who impress in training camp.
Eastern Notes: Gomes, Bobcats, White, Sixers
This morning, we learned that the Magic are expected to sign Armon Johnson and DeQuan Jones to non-guaranteed contracts. That's one of a handful of items related to Eastern Conference teams today, so let's round up the rest right here:
- Although he worked out with the team recently, it doesn't sound as if Ryan Gomes will be in training camp with the Bobcats, tweets Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
- Unrestricted free agent D.J. White spent the last season and a half with the Bobcats, but it doesn't appear he'll be back in Charlotte either. David Pick of Sportando reports that White is drawing interest from Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv.
- After receiving head coach consideration this offseason, Michael Curry will return to the 76ers' staff, and coach Doug Collins is elated to have him back, writes Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News.
- The Celtics have added former Erie BayHawks head coach Jay Larranaga to their staff as an assistant coach, the team announced today in a press release. Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports first reported the hire last month.
- Asked whether Ray Allen or Rashard Lewis will provide the Heat more "bang for the buck," Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel says Lewis "could be a revelation" if he provides some rebounding and defense for Miami.
No-Trade Clauses In New KG, Duncan Contracts
While the NBA's collective bargaining agreement includes certain scenarios in which a team needs a player's approval to trade him, it's rare that an actual no-trade clause is negotiated into a deal. Heading into this summer, only Kobe Bryant and Dirk Nowitzki had official no-trade clauses in their contracts.
However, according to Mark Deeks of ShamSports, the number of no-trade provisions in the Association doubled this offseason. Deeks tweets that both Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan have no-trade clauses in their new deals with the Celtics and Spurs, respectively. Both players inked three-year contracts this summer, so they can't be included in trades until those deals expire in the summer of 2015 (or 2014, for Duncan, if he declines his third-year player option).
Of course, it's unlikely that either Garnett or Duncan would have been in danger of being moved even without the no-trade provisions. Duncan has been a Spur for his entire career, while Garnett recently reiterated that he intends to retire as a Celtic.
Southwest Notes: Cunningham, Mayo, Lin, Spurs
Most training camps don't start until October 1st, though a few begin September 29th. Still, many players are getting a jump on the league calendar by organizing workouts with their teammates. We've got news on a few who changed teams this summer and are getting in some extra work for Southwest Division clubs:
- Jared Cunningham, the 24th pick in the draft this June, didn't suit up for the Mavericks in summer league because of a right hamstring injury, and is anxious to get going as he works out with several of his new teammates, as Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News writes. In a crowded backcourt, Cunningham will compete for playing time at both guard spots, Sefko says.
- Many with the Mavericks, including owner Mark Cuban, have high hopes for O.J. Mayo this year, as Sefko notes in a separate piece. “I think he can be a star and I think O.J. knows that this is his make-or-break, who-am-I-really-going-to-be-in-this-league year," Cuban said."And Coach [Rick Carlisle] is going to give him that opportunity. We’ll see what happens.”
- The Associated Press (via The New York Times) checks in with Jeremy Lin as he settles into Houston for workouts with the Rockets. It's the second straight year Lin has been in Rockets camp, but circumstances are much different this time around.
- John Hollinger of ESPN.com is rolling out his projections and scouting reports for each player in the league, releasing two teams each day. Today, it's the Spurs and the Celtics (Insider only).
Atlantic Notes: K-Mart, Knicks, Celtics, DiLeo
Among the NBA free agents still looking for work, Kenyon Martin arguably has one of the strongest career resumés. Given his past production, the former first overall pick has "remained steadfast" in not wanting to sign for the veteran's minimum, according to Alan Hahn of MSG Network (Sulia link). A few teams, including the Knicks and Celtics, have K-Mart on their radar, but New York can't offer more than the minimum, and the odds of Boston signing Martin are "slim to none," according to A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.
Here are a few more Atlantic Division notes from Hahn, Blakely, and a handful of other NBA scribes:
- The Knicks are still considering their power forward options, says Hahn, who cites Louis Amundson, Shawne Williams, and Jordan Williams as a few possibilities. Chris Andersen has "pushed the idea" of signing with the Knicks, but that interest isn't mutual, according to Hahn.
- Within Blakely's above-linked piece, he answers plenty of Celtics-related questions that he received from Twitter followers.
- The Celtics haven't ruled out adding another veteran before training camp, but it would almost definitely have to be for the minimum salary, says Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com.
- Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com spoke to Chris Copeland, who is on a non-guaranteed contract with the Knicks, about what he's learned from the team's veteran players during pre-camp workouts.
- The 76ers should give Tony DiLeo the opportunity to take over for Rod Thorn as the club's general manager, opines Neil Hartman of CSNPhilly.com.