Odds & Ends: Bucks, Thabeet, Redd
A few Monday afternoon odds and ends from around the NBA:
- Marquis Daniels, Rasual Butler, and Rodney Carney were among the free agents in attendance at a workout hosted by the Bucks, according to Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- Hasheem Thabeet spoke to John Rohde of the Oklahoman about the opportunity he has with the Thunder this season to earn playing time and reach his potential.
- Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe takes a look at Dionte Christmas, who he believes has a good chance to make the Celtics' roster with a strong training camp.
- Despite rumblings that the Grizzlies might be eyeing Michael Redd, Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal says Memphis hasn't expressed any interest in the veteran two guard.
- Assistant coaches Lloyd Pierce and Bob Thornton have verbally agreed to one-year deals with the Grizzlies for the coming season, tweets Tillery.
- Michael Scotto of RealGM.com spoke to Reggie Williams, who is entering a contract year with the Bobcats, about Williams' improbable path to the NBA.
Doc Rivers Talks Garnett, Bass, Lee, Heat
At Boston Community Development's Hoop Dreams event last week, Celtics coach Doc Rivers sat down with longtime Boston sportswriter Bob Ryan to answer a few questions about his team heading into the 2012/13 season. The Fab Empire provided video of the Q&A session in three parts, and CelticsBlog did a great job of recapping Rivers' most interesting comments, so let's check out the highlights….
- Kevin Garnett feels fantastic — "the best he has felt in years," according to Rivers.
- Rivers felt that playing Brandon Bass and Garnett at the four and five respectively created matchup problems, since opposing big men didn't want to come out of the paint to defend the duo's jump shots.
- Even before Ray Allen was injured and Avery Bradley emerged as the starting two guard last season, Rivers had hoped to bring Allen off the bench to provide scoring for the second unit. Rivers added that he expects Courtney Lee to start at shooting guard this year, at least until Bradley is fully healthy.
- Noting that the Celtics were third in field-goal percentage but 30th in field-goal attempts last season, Rivers stressed that his team has to play at a faster pace. He'd also like to see his players getting to the foul line more often, since that gives the team time to set up its defense at the other end.
- The Heat are "always on my mind," says Rivers, who adds that he brings the Eastern Conference champs up constantly to his players and wants his guys to hate Miami. The C's coach confessed that his team wouldn't likely win a "track meet" with the Heat, but said that if the game became a "thinking meet," he would give his team the edge.
Odds & Ends: Howard, Jazz, Bell, Wallace, Heat
Sunday night linkage..
- Andy Kamenetzky of ESPNLosAngeles.com breaks down Dwight Howard‘s full interview with colleague Ric Bucher. In the interview, Howard says that he doesn’t plan on toning down his jovial behavior with the Lakers and while that has rubbed some the wrong way, Kamenetzky doesn’t think that will hurt his play.
- Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune writes that Raja Bell‘s issues with the Jazz go back to two years ago when he was butting heads with Deron Williams and coach Jerry Sloan. Bell’s buyout theoretically should be a simple one as he is owed $3.5MM for the final year of his deal. The veteran has come close to accepting the buyout offer at several points but talks have now stalled.
- In a piece for the Detroit Free Press, Dan Feldman runs down the five best landing spots for Ben Wallace. The veteran-friendly Celtics and Spurs come in at No. 5 and 4, respectively, with the Clippers at No. 3 as they could use a forward in place of Kenyon Martin. The Pistons are second to the Heat in Feldman’s eyes because Detroit won’t be a contender in 2012/13.
- The Heat are bringing 6’6″ swingman Chamberlain Oguchi in for another workout, according to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel (via Twitter). Oguchi starred for the Nigerian national team this summer and has previous experience in the D-League.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Martin, Celtics
Last night, Knicks guard J.R. Smith weighed in on a wide range of topics including Jeremy Lin, his new contract, and his chemistry with star Carmelo Anthony. Here’s more out of Madison Square Garden and other notes from the Atlantic Division..
- Keith Schlosser of Knicks Journal takes a look at the Knicks roster, currently at 19 players, and wonders where rumored free agent target Kenyon Martin would fit in. Martin is reportedly the Knicks’ top target of the remaining free agents but the forward is refusing to play for the veteran’s minimum.
- In a Q&A session conducted by Bob Ryan (video link), Celtics head coach Doc Rivers said that recently-acquired guard Courtney Lee will “probably” be in the starting lineup to kick off the season. Rivers also weighed in on the new-look Lakers and downplayed the advantage that they might have in a Finals showdown.
- Hakeem Olajuwon says that he agreed to help the Knicks this summer as a favor to coach Mike Woodson, writes Nate Taylor of the New York Times. Woodson and Olajuwon were teammates with the Rockets from 1988 to 1990 and the older Woodson helped the center mature.
Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Green, Wright, Sixers
Chuck Myron already outlined today the flurry of Atlantic Division activity that has occured this week and it just keeps rolling in. Few would argue that the Celtics, 76ers and Nets have had big offseasons and the talented roster of the Knicks has had one more offseason to jell. This year promises to be an eventful one in the Northeast. Let's round up some of the Atlantic Division links coming in on Friday night:
- Greg Payne of ESPN Boston reports that a bunch of Celtics, including Jeff Green and newcomers Jason Terry, Kris Joseph, Jamar Smith and Dionte Christmas, have been participating in informal workouts at the team's practice facility. Payne adds that Joseph, Smith and Christmas will all be vying for the same job.
- Speaking of Green, the 26-year-old says he has been "cleared for everything" according to ESPN Boston's Chris Forsberg. Green's contract was held up most of the offseason by insurance issues stemming from the heart surgery that caused him to miss last season. Green's return is one reason why many think that the Celtics were big winners this offseason. Green said today, "I've really been able to do everything — contact, my movements, my shot is there, my lift is there. Everything is coming along."
- Dei Lynam of CSN Philly continues her offseason look at the Sixers' roster by analyzing sniper Dorell Wright, who the team acquired via trade in the offseason. Lynam thinks that Wright is best suited to come off the bench for Philly while noting that no matter what, the 6-foot-9 swingman will get minutes. The link includes a video with Doug Collins, who says Evan Turner, Jrue Holiday and Andrew Bynum are the only locks to start.
- Max Rappaport of Sixers.com offers his breakdown of the two vacant open spots in the Philly starting lineup. He thinks a shooter on the perimeter next to Evan Turner is vital and that Spencer Hawes has the inside track next to Bynum. It is incredible how different the Sixers team will look from a year ago.
- Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York caught up with four Knicks training camp invitees this week. Oscar Bellfield, John Shurna, Henry Sims and Mychel Thompson are longshots to make the team's roster, but all seem to be in good spirits in their time at the Knicks practice facility.
Atlantic Rumors: Knicks, Green, Lin, Brooks
An active offseason for Atlantic Division teams continued this week, with the Knicks bringing in a handful of training camp invites, the Nets finalizing deals with Josh Childress and Andray Blatche, the Celtics signing Rob Kurz, and the Raptors inking Dominic McGuire. The Sixers didn't make any signings, but we heard Tony DiLeo has become a candidate to replace Rod Thorn as GM. Our Transactions page will fill you in on any signings you may have missed, and we've got the latest rumors out of the Atlantic right here:
- Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com hears the Knicks are prioritizing a big man as they seek to make one more signing, a point he reiterated in a chat today, but Ian Begley, his ESPNNewYork.com colleague, says the team is still deciding between a big and a wing (Twitter link).
- Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com passed along comments from Celtics forward Jeff Green, who spoke about the perception that he's playing under pressure after signing a sizable, four-year, $36MM deal so soon after heart surgery. "You guys put the pressure on me," Green said to reporters. "There’s no pressure on myself. What I went through, it’s a blessing in disguise, it allowed me to sit back, see things from a different point of view. Now I have to go out there and play basketball."
- Carmelo Anthony says the Knicks are still trying to get over the loss of Jeremy Lin, as the Associated Press reports, via ESPN.com. "I know it was kind of hard for the Knicks to let him go," said Anthony, in Puerto Rico with his charitable foundation. "(The Rockets) played the free agents' market to a T."
- Zwerling checks in with Nets guard MarShon Brooks, who's traveling in Russia as part of the Basketball Without Borders tour. Brooks and owner Mikhail Prokhorov met for the first time as part of the trip, Zwerling reports.
Atlantic Notes: McGrady, Nets, Sixers, Celtics
The Knicks worked out Tracy McGrady yesterday to see if the 33-year-old could give the club some extra depth with Iman Shumpert and Ronnie Brewer recovering from injuries. A team source told Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com that even though McGrady appeared to be in good health, it doesn't appear that a signing is imminent. T-Mac also worked out for the Spurs this week and hopes to land a guaranteed deal with a contender. Here's more out of the Atlantic Division..
- While the Nets are still expected to bring two or three more players to training camp, Josh Childress and Andray Blatche are solid bets to be on the roster when they open the season, writes Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. Childress fills a significant need for the Nets at backup small forward after Donte Greene, who was set to sign on a non-guaranteed deal, injured his ankle in a pickup game.
- Sixers head coach Doug Collins told Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News that he felt last year's team peaked, necessitating some significant changes this offseason. Collins also insisted that the club did not draft Moe Harkless as trade bait for the Magic but instead truly believed that he was the best player on the board at No. 15.
- Gary Dzen of the Boston Globe profiles center Jason Collins, who hooked on with the Celtics for the veteran's minimum this summer. The C's won't look for a ton of minutes out of the big man with Kevin Garnett, Brandon Bass, Chris Wilcox, and Jared Sullinger playing in front of him.
Celtics Sign Rob Kurz
The Celtics have signed Rob Kurz to a non-guaranteed deal with a camp invite, according to SI.com's Sam Amick (via Twitter). The move brings the Celtics' roster to 17 players, including four on non-guaranteed contracts.
Kurz, a Notre Dame product, went undrafted in 2008 and appeared in 40 games for the Warriors in the 2008/09 season. The 27-year-old has spent the last few seasons overseas before joining the Kings' summer league squad in July.
Even with two roster spots potentially open, Kurz appears to be an extreme long shot to make the Celtics' roster, with Kris Joseph, Dionte Christmas, and Jamar Smith also competing for those open spots. If the 6'9" forward doesn't make the Celtics' regular-season roster, he could end up on the team's D-League affiliate in Maine.
Amick On Martin, Fisher, Fesenko, Williams
In addition to reporting that Matt Barnes is closing in on a deal with the Clippers, SI.com's Sam Amick shared updates on a handful of other free agents in his latest piece. Let's dive in and round up a few highlights from the SI.com scribe:
- Most, if not all, of the teams interested in Kenyon Martin only have interest at the veteran's minimum. The Lakers and Celtics were among the teams in play earlier in the offseason, but now Amick wonders if Martin will wait until midseason or even retire if he doesn't find a situation he likes.
- Derek Fisher may be in the same boat as Martin, with retirement or signing halfway through the season both potentially in play. Fisher turned down an offer from the Bulls before Chicago signed Nate Robinson, and the chances of the veteran point guard returning to the Thunder are "remote."
- Kyrylo Fesenko is scheduled to work out with the Spurs next week, and may work out for the Cavaliers after that. The Hawks and Heat have also been in touch with the big man.
- The Pistons will work out Terrence Williams this week. The Mavericks and Celtics are also believed to have interest in Williams.
Atlantic Notes: D-Will, Knicks, Garnett, Sullinger
Deron Williams has mentioned since his free agent decision in early July that he came very close to signing with the Mavericks rather than the Nets. And according to D-Will, if it weren't for the Nets' move to Brooklyn, he almost certainly wouldn't be back with the team this season.
"It was a huge factor," Williams told Tony Manfred of Business Insider. "I don't think I would have even thought about staying if [the Nets were] staying in New Jersey."
Williams' stance may not come as a surprise, but as Manfred notes, it's another reminder of the impact a larger market can have on the free agent decisions of NBA stars. Here are a few more Tuesday morning items from around the Atlantic Division:
- Williams is "definitely open" to playing for Team USA at the 2014 World Cup of Basketball, according to an Associated Press report (via NBA.com).
- The Knicks figure to hire an assistant coach to replace the departing Kenny Atkinson, and Lasalle Thompson is a leading candidate, according to Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
- Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com shares his top five picks for Knicks-related storylines that just won't go away.
- In a recent interview in China, Kevin Garnett discussed his last few years with the Celtics, including the end of the Big Three era. Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com passes along video of the conversation.
- Forsberg and Greg Payne of ESPNBoston.com take a shot at predicting how Jared Sullinger's rookie season for the Celtics will play out.