Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Garnett, Knicks, Nets
Last night, Kevin Garnett made it 6-0 against his former team, the Timberwolves. Here's more on the Celtics and the rest of the Atlantic Division..
- During the second quarter of last night's game in Minnesota, a fan hollered at Garnett, "Hey Kevin, please come back next year!" and the forward simply muttered: "No way," according to Jon Krawczynski of the Associated Press.
- Knicks rookie center Josh Harrellson isn't sure if his former coach at Kentucky John Calipari is suited to succeed in the NBA, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post.
- The Nets pulled out an exciting win in Golden State last night but it will cost them in the draft lottery, writes Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger. The Nets' pick will belong to the Trail Blazers if it falls outside of the top three.
- Former Knicks guard Stephon Marbury helped propel his team to the CBA championship and now hopes to someday coach the Chinese national team, writes Guan Weijia of Sheridan Hoops.
Atlantic Notes: O’Neal, Garnett, D-League, Davis
The Celtics announced today that Jermaine O'Neal underwent successful surgery on his injured left wrist. And as A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com tweets, all went well with Chris Wilcox's heart surgery yesterday too. Wilcox was waived by the Celtics earlier this month, and Boston could choose to let O'Neal go as well if the team needs to use his roster spot. For now though, the Celtics don't appear to be eyeing any free agents.
Here are a few more Friday afternoon updates out of the Atlantic Division:
- Celtics big man Kevin Garnett appeared on WEEI's Mutt and Merloni show yesterday, and made some interesting comments, as Rich Levine of CSNNE.com writes. "I never wanted to be pieced around, or treated like a pawn, or a piece on the board," Garnett said. "Loyalty in this game has been depleted on both sides. The business of this game is terrible for players. It's all over the place. I have to choose and make a decision to whether to be part of the future of that. I wish players would take more of a stand in our league and understand that it's a player's league." Reading between the lines, Levine surmises that Garnett may have been referring to the lockout, the trade deadline, or both.
- The NBA's D-League has turned into more of a true minor league system and is helping players reach the NBA, writes Jorge Castillo of the Star-Ledger. Castillo's piece is an interesting read, with a focus on the Nets' D-League call-ups, including Gerald Green and Jerry Smith.
- The Knicks' offseason addition of Baron Davis fell under the radar following Jeremy Lin's emergence, but Lin's injury has given Davis a chance to re-enter the spotlight, says Keith Schlosser of the New York Times.
Odds & Ends: Garnett, Spurs, Randolph, Howard
The top of this year's draft figures to be particularly UNC-heavy, with three Tar Heel underclassmen declaring their intentions to enter the draft earlier today. Harrison Barnes, John Henson, and Kendall Marshall will join senior Tyler Zeller as potential North Carolina lottery picks. And as ESPN.com's Chad Ford writes, the Tar Heels could make it five first-rounders if James McAdoo decides to enter the draft as well (Insider link).
Here are a few more afternoon links from around the Association:
- Kevin Garnett seems open to returning to the Celtics next year and it's hard to argue Boston would be better off without him, writes Paul Flannery of WEEI.com.
- Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News breaks down the contract details for Boris Diaw and Patrick Mills. Each of the new Spurs signed a minimum deal, with Diaw's expiring at season's end and Mills holding a minimum-salary player option for next season.
- The Kings worked out Shavlik Randolph yesterday, but didn't sign him to a contract, tweets Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee. Jones adds that Randolph may be an option for Sacramento later.
- According to Jeff Van Gundy, "only the most gullible fans" would believe Dwight Howard's decision to play another season with the Magic was about loyalty. Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel has the details and more quotes from Van Gundy.
Odds & Ends: Garnett, Randolph, Kings, Warriors
Don't look now, but the playoffs begin just one month from today. Most NBA teams are in action tonight with 10 games on the schedule, so let's dive in and check on the news from around The Association:
- Kevin Garnett will be a free agent this summer, but a return to the Wolves might not be at the top of his wish list. He gave a nod to Minnesota fans, but says he had "nothing positive to say" about the franchise, tweets Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
- Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee noticed Shavlik Randolph walking through the Kings' locker room tonight, though there's no word if the team is looking to sign him (Twitter link). Randolph reportedly worked out for the Heat earlier this month and has apparently spoken to at least two clubs regarding a deal.
- Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com looks ahead to next year for the Warriors and concludes they need to get a solid third guard, a quality backup for David Lee and Andrew Bogut, and an upgrade at small forward:
- Don Nelson, the NBA's all-time winningest coach, says he's been informed he'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame, writes Jeff Caplan of ESPN Dallas. Nelson coached the Bucks, Warriors, Knicks and Mavs after a playing career spent mostly with the Celtics. The official announcement of the 2012 Hall class will come Monday.
- Chris Broussard of ESPN.com takes a look at stars who've changed teams in recent years and says what's happened to them since should be a cautionary tale to Dwight Howard and others who could be looking to make a move (Insider link).
- A year after the Jazz parted ways with Jerry Sloan in the wake of a rift between the coach and Deron Williams, new coach Tyrone Corbin has established rapport with his players, which has been key to the team's playoff push this year, writes Sean Deveney of The Sporting News.
- The Nets have an open roster spot and might look to fill it after finishing tonight's 100-84 victory over the Pacers with only eight healthy players, as the Associated Press reports, via The New York Times. Centers Shelden Williams and Jordan Williams went down, so if those two are to miss any time, the team may target a big man.
- Rookie Malcolm Lee is adjusting to life as an NBA point guard as he finds his way into the Wolves' rotation, writes Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune.
Northwest Rumors: Hickson, Fisher, Miles
Three Northwest Division teams are playing tonight, all of them on the road, while the first-place Thunder await their showdown with the Lakers tomorrow night. Here's what's news around the Northwest:
- New Thunder point guard Derek Fisher is spilling his vast knowledge of the Lakers to Oklahoma City coach coach Scott Brooks and his staff in advance of tomorrow night's meeting, but Brooks downplays the value of such insight, given the advanced scouting and video study that teams do on their opponents, writes John Rohde of The Oklahoman.
- Jazz swingman C.J. Miles will be a restricted free agent this summer, and Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe thinks he'll be a bargain the Celtics will pursue (Twitter link). Still, Utah has Bird rights on Miles, who's on the last year of a four-year, $14.8MM contract and putting up 9.3 points a game and a 13.1 PER this season.
- In addition to rounding up the available free agents, HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy checks in with J.J. Hickson, who's averaging 13 points a night and shooting 65.4% since the Blazers claimed him on waivers last week.
Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Uzoh, Raptors, Stoudemire
Earlier today, we heard that the Nets may target Kevin Garnett and Ersan Ilyasova in free agency this summer. Here are a few more of the morning's updates out of the Atlantic Division….
- Having signed Ryan Hollins, the Celtics may be done adding players, though that's not a certainty, writes Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com. "We may add another guy just to get through the year," said coach Doc Rivers. "But we'll see; there's no one out there…. Honestly, I'd be surprised if we brought a big in."
- The Raptors are expected to sign Ben Uzoh, says Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. Uzoh, who signed a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers last month, has spent most of the season with the D-League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers.
- Amare Stoudemire is out indefinitely due to a bulging disk in his back, and according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, word on whether the forward requires season-ending surgery could come as soon as today. Berger says Stoudemire's absence could benefit Carmelo Anthony, though not necessarily the Knicks, while George Willis of the New York Post says the injury shouldn't doom the team's season.
Nets Eyeing Kevin Garnett, Ersan Ilyasova
Although the Nets acquired Gerald Wallace at the trade deadline to provide immediate on-court help, the team has been in a nosedive over the last week and a half, losing six of its seven games since the trade. The slide has taken New Jersey out of the playoff picture, though it has increased the team's chances of retaining its lottery pick, which is top-three protected.
According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, if the Nets don't luck out in the draft lottery, the club will target power forwards like Kevin Garnett and Ersan Ilyasova in free agency. SI.com's Chris Mannix previously identified Garnett and restricted free agent Ryan Anderson as potential targets for the Nets, and Bondy says Anderson would also be a "welcome upgrade." However, the Nets would prefer a stronger rebounder to play alongside Brook Lopez.
The Nets, who were long thought to be a player for Dwight Howard this summer, are exploring backup plans now that D12 has opted into the final year of his Magic contract. If Wallace and Jordan Farmar choose to play out the final year of their contracts, and the Nets are able to re-sign Deron Williams and Lopez, the team won't have as much cap space as initially thought. However, the expiring contract of Kris Humphries, among others, should still create enough room to make a play for at least one free agent.
Atlantic Rumors: Celtics, Jackson, Casey
The Atlantic Division race could be the most exciting in the NBA, with the Sixers clinging to a half-game lead over the Celtics and the Knicks sitting just three games back. The winner gets, at worst, the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference — though for practical purposes, it could be the fifth seed, as winning percentage, not seeding, determines home-court advantage in the postseason. If the playoffs started today, the Sixers would go on the road for Game 1 against the fifth-seeded Hawks, who have a better record. Here's the latest from the NBA's northeastern corner:
- New Celtics center Ryan Hollins has always looked up to Kevin Garnett, and they bonded during the lockout, writes Jessica Camerato of CSNNE.com. Their relationship might explain why the Celtics chose Hollins to shore up their front line this week.
- Phil Jackson looms as a coaching candidate for the Knicks and other teams, but girlfriend Jeanie Buss says no teams have been in contact with Jackson, David Singer of Los Angeles' 710 ESPN Radio tweets. (Hat tip to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com)
- In The New York Times, William C. Rhoden takes a look at how involvement in a scandal at the University of Kentucky set Raptors coach Dwane Casey on a path away from college and toward the NBA. In an appreciation, Frank Zicarelli of the Toronto Sun wonders whether Casey might be the greatest coach in the team's 17-season history. That's a stretch for a guy who's 16-33 in less than one full season.
Jeff Green Eyeing Return To Celtics?
Free agent forward Jeff Green is out for the year after surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm, and the Celtics voided his contract when he failed a preseason physical. Nonetheless, he's been attending the team's home games this year, occasionally sitting on the team's bench, and CSNNE.com's A. Sherrod Blakely believes it's clear Green prefers to re-sign with Boston as an unrestricted free-agent this summer (Twitter link). Michael Lee of The Washington Post adds, via Twitter, that Green still has a home in the Boston area.
Green's pending unrestricted free agency comes about by an odd set of circumstances, and that's not simply because of his heart ailment. When the Celtics voided the one-year, $9MM offer after his failed physical, they also withdrew their qualifying offer to him, making him an unrestricted free agent instead of a restricted one, which allows any team to sign Green to a deal without giving the Celtics a chance to match it.
Perhaps Green feels a debt of gratitude over the move, which the Celtics didn't have to make. Still, with the expiring contracts of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, the Celtics will have plenty of cap space this summer, and with Green coming off surgery, he won't command the type of contract he otherwise would. The former No. 5 overall pick has career averages of 13.9 PPG and 5.5 RPG, and was acquired by the Celtics last year at the trading deadline.
Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Hollins, Garnett, Knicks
Last night the Sixers took care of the Celtics at home, winning 99-86 thanks in large part to a 37 point outburst in the third quarter. More importantly, Mickael Pietrus has been cleared to travel after his scare in Philly. Here's more out of the Atlantic division..
- Celtics coach Doc Rivers is pushing the newly acquired Ryan Hollins to improve his rebounding, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald. For his part, the 7-footer said that joining the C's was a no-brainer upon released by Cleveland.
- Rivers told CSNNE's Greg Dickerson that he absolutely wants to see Kevin Garnett back with the Celtics next season. The soon-to-be 36-year-old has surprised many with his strong play this season as he's averaging 15.3 PPG and 8.3 RPG.
- Knicks big man Tyson Chandler says that the team didn't quit on coach Mike D'Antoni, writes Al Iannazzone of Newsday. As for the Knicks' recently improved play under Mike Woodson? "Sometimes you hear the same message from a different person,'' the center said, "and for whatever reason it registers."