And-Ones: Bogdanovic, Pierce, Haywood
Bojan Bogdanovic, in an interview with Hrvoje Sliskovic of Jutarnji List, said he is happy with the Nets and does not want to be traded. A source told Robert Windrem of NetsDaily that Bogdanovic should have nothing to fear, however, saying, “He is not going anywhere.” The shooting guard was benched earlier this season by Nets coach Lionel Hollins, but seemingly responded well with a solid year. He won Rookie of the Month honors in April. Nets GM Billy King recently talked about Bogdanovic being in the team’s rotation going forward.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Paul Pierce, who has a player option for 2015/16 worth $5,543,725 he can opt out of this offseason, continues to prove his worth with the Wizards despite being 37, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders writes. Pierce’s winning shot in Game 3 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Hawks provided another example, Hamilton writes. “These are the moments why you have a guy like him,” Wizards head coach Randy Wittman said about the shot.
- Brendan Haywood is this summer’s top trade chip in terms of shedding expiring salary, Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders writes in a list about the topic. Haywood is due to make $10,522,500 next season in the final year of his deal. Depending on their luxury-tax position, the Cavaliers can bring in a player making $13-15.5MM in salary in return for Haywood, Pincus notes. The team acquiring the veteran center would presumably cut him, Pincus adds, clearing a good chunk of money off their books. Others Pincus lists as top trade chips include: Caron Butler of the Pistons, Wilson Chandler of the Nuggets and the Nuggets‘ Ben Gordon.
Atlantic Notes: Lopez, Nets, Sixers, Stevens
The Nets‘ ideal scenario is to keep Brook Lopez while making significant roster changes, writes Matt Moore of cbssports.com. That may be difficult from all sides, Moore notes. The players Brooklyn would most like to part with are Deron Williams and Joe Johnson, who both carry hefty contracts and figure to have few takers, although Johnson has just one year left at $24.9MM. Lopez, on the other hand, can opt out of his deal this summer and pursue free agency. Moore doesn’t see a perfect fit for Lopez as even young teams like the Wolves, Jazz and Magic seem set at center. He also questions whether Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov would be willing to pay the repeater tax next season with a disappointing team.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Nets won’t be getting much help through the draft for the rest of the decade, notes Robert Windrem of NetsDaily. He examines the status of Brooklyn’s first- and second-round draft picks through 2020.
- An expected jump in the NBA’s salary cap during the summer of 2016 could take away one of the Sixers‘ favorite bargaining chips, according to Tom Moore of Calkins Media. GM Sam Hinkie is fond of using Philadelphia’s cap space to broker trades between other teams, often picking up draft picks and players in the process. But if the cap soars as much as rumored — possibly to $87MM next summer and $100MM by 2017/18 — the Sixers’ space won’t be as much in demand. Moore points out that the expected changes could prompt Hinkie to use some of the team’s projected $35MM in cap room to pursue free agents this summer.
- Brad Stevens believes that attention to detail helped make him a better coach in his second year behind the Celtics‘ bench, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Studying the intricate parts of the sport helped Boston avoid late-game breakdowns this season and post a 15-win improvement.
Atlantic Draft Notes: Knicks, Nets, Celtics
Justise Winslow and Carmelo Anthony sat together at Yankees Stadium on Friday night and Ian Begley of ESPN.com wonders if the two players could become teammates in New York next season. Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress ranks Winslow as the fifth best prospect, while Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks him as the sixth. Meanwhile, the Knicks reportedly have Winslow in the fifth spot on their draft board.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The lowest pick the Knicks can have via the lottery will be the fifth selection and Marc Berman of the New York Post talks to Ryan Blake, the NBA’s scouting consultant, about the top five players on New York’s draft board. The list includes Winslow, D’Angelo Russell, Emmanuel Mudiay, Jahlil Okafor and Karl-Anthony Towns in ascending order.
- Robert Windrem of NetsDaily examines the moves that Brooklyn made in order to lose control of their own first-rounder through the 2018 draft. The Hawks have the right to trade picks with the Nets this season because of the Joe Johnson trade.
- Boston will pick a few spots lower in the draft because it made the playoffs and Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald wonders if the short playoff run was worth it. The Celtics have the 16th pick in the draft, as our Draft Order page shows, but if they would have won a few less games, the team would likely own the 11th pick and a slim chance at a top three selection.
Western Notes: D-League, Donovan, Williams
Billy Donovan‘s track record of success at the University of Florida bodes well for his chances as the Thunder‘s new coach, Joseph Goodman of The Miami Herald writes. In addition to leading his team to back-to-back championships, Donovan also has proven adept at getting his star players to remain longer than they otherwise would have, Goodman notes. The organization certainly hopes this ability will carryover to the pros, since the pending free agency of Kevin Durant in the summer of 2016 is sure to be a hot-button topic in OKC all season long in 2015/16.
Here’s more from the Western Conference:
- The L.A. D-Fenders, the Lakers‘ D-League affiliate, informed coach Phil Hubbard that the franchise would not be exercising its team option for him next season, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reports (Twitter links). The D-Fenders struggled to a record of 17-33 under the first-year coach, though NBA callups for Jabari Brown, Jamaal Franklin, and Vander Blue certainly didn’t help Hubbard’s cause, Spears notes.
- If the Nets and Deron Williams were to agree to a buyout or if the franchise waives him via the stretch provision, the point guard returning to play for the Jazz is a possibility, posits Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News (Twitter link). Williams spent the first five and a half seasons of his career in Utah before being dealt to Brooklyn back in 2011.
- Blazers big man Chris Kaman went to Portland with the intention of being a reserve and mentoring the team’s younger big men, but injuries derailed that plan, Jabari Young of CSNNW.com writes in his review of Kaman’s season. While many players would be thrilled to become a starter, even if it was due to injuries, Kaman wasn’t a huge fan of the change, Young adds. When discussing his role change, Kaman said, “It’s not bad, but it’s not what I came here to do. I knew I came here to back up [Robin] Lopez. And that’s where I see myself and that’s where I feel comfortable.” The veteran has one year remaining on his current deal, though only $1MM of his $5,016,000 salary for 2015/16 is guaranteed.
Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Teletovic, Saric
This year’s crop of international players isn’t an especially deep group, and if the Celtics decide to try and strike gold by drafting a player from overseas, the team is more likely to do so in the second round, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com writes. Boston currently owns the No. 33 and No. 48 overall selections in the second round, and potential international targets could include Timothe Luwawu (France), Cedi Osman (Turkey), and Aleksander Vezenkov (Bulgaria), Blakley opines.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Mirza Teletovic, who is eligible to become a restricted free agent this summer if the Nets tender him a qualifying offer worth $4,210,125, indicated that he strongly wishes to remain in Brooklyn, Robert Windrem of NetsDaily writes. “I like Brooklyn, people are great, I know the team and everyone, especially doctors, treated me great when all that happened. I really would like to stay in Brooklyn,” said Teletovic, referring to the multiple blood clots found in in his lungs in January. “I know my teammates and everything is really great. I do not know what will be, but I’ll know more in June when free agent market starts.“
- The 29-year-old forward also expressed the importance for the Nets to have continuity heading into the 2015/16 campaign, Windrem adds. “I think we had a good season, given the fact that they changed the coach and teammates,” Teletovic said. “Deron [Williams], Brook [Lopez], Joe [Johnson] and I are the only players who have not changed. I think it is important for the Nets to stay with the same system. Some changes good and some bad … but it is very difficult when there are a lot of changes.“
- Sixers draft-and-stash pick Dario Saric has impressed a number of scouts and journalists who have watched the 21-year-old Croatian play this season, Tom Moore of Calkins Media writes. Saric’s overseas contract doesn’t include a buyout provision until after the second season, so it’s unlikely that Philadelphia’s fans will see him in a Sixers jersey until the 2016/17 campaign at the earliest, Moore notes.
Mirza Teletovic Hopes To Stay With Nets
At a press conference in Bosnia, Mirza Teletovic told reporters that his “desire is to stay with the Nets,” according to Robert Windrem of NetsDaily (on Twitter). Teletovic is eligible for restricted free agency this summer and he cited the Nets’ treatment of his blood clots as a reason for wanting to remain in Brooklyn.
Earlier this week, Nets GM Billy King confirmed that the Nets will extend the more than $4.21MM qualifying offer required to match competing offers for the sharpshooter. King also added that the market will dictate Teletovic’s next deal and from the outside it seems very possible that the Nets will set a hard limit on how far they’re willing to go to keep him.
Teletovic is in the final year of his contract, making slightly more than $3.368MM, and he said in the fall that he planned to listen to offers from the Nets as well as others after the season. The 29-year-old was averaging 8.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 40 games this season before he was diagnosed with multiple blood clots in his lungs in January. The third-year veteran had been seeing more minutes per game this season (22.3) than in his previous two NBA campaigns, though his playing time had been receding with each passing month.
Nets Notes: Johnson, Williams, King
Tim Bontemps of the New York Post ran down the Nets’ 15-man roster and looked at what’s ahead for them this offseason. That includes Joe Johnson, who Bontemps feels is pretty likely to wind up elsewhere next season. The Nets would like to re-sign Brook Lopez, and moving Johnson’s mammoth deal is one of two ways the Nets can do it. The other way to make space would be to dump Deron Williams‘ contract, though his reputation and additional contract year could make him a tougher sell. More out of Brooklyn..
- While there’s been a lot of talk about stretching Williams’ contract, there’s been little discussion of a more traditional buyout like the one Dikembe Mutombo received from the Nets 12 years ago, Robert Windrem of Nets Daily writes. In fact, sources tell Windrem that like the stretch option, a traditional buyout is also a possibility for Williams and Brooklyn. The stretch option would leave only a seven-figure hit on the Nets’ cap, but it would mean that the hit extends over a longer period. A traditional buyout would hurt more in the next two years, but it would be over and done with after that.
- The Nets and GM Billy King have their work cut out for them this summer, Mike Mazzeo of ESPNNewYork.com writes. While King claims that there is a market for both Johnson and Williams, it remains to be seen whether that’s the case. On the plus side, Lionel Hollins looks to be the first coach in the Nets’ Brooklyn history to make it to a second season at the helm.
- David LaRue, CEO of Bruce Ratner’s parent company Forest City Enterprises, told investors this week that Mikhail Prokhorov was not aiming to sell his stake in the Nets completely but rather “looking to monetize a portion of their asset,” according to reporter Norman Oder. Many reports indicated that Prokhorov was giving heavy consideration to selling the team.
Eastern Notes: Nets, Draft, Pierce
Nets GM Billy King said that the franchise’s draft strategy would be to go for the best player available rather than to try and fill a specific need, Thomas Duffy of NetsDaily relays. “We’re not going to just target a position because we might miss on somebody else,” King said. “And I will say that we’re trying to move up in the draft. We’ll explore options to get higher. … We already know of some teams who maybe want to move their pick so we’ll be talking to them next week.” Brooklyn currently owns the No. 29 and No. 41 overall selections in June’s draft.
Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:
- While the Nets have dealt away quite a few of their future draft picks, King believes there are moves he can make to offset this handicap, Duffy notes. “I think there are ways to get around [the team’s lack of future draft picks],” King said. “I’ll use my own experience for example. In Philadelphia in 2005, we didn’t have a first-round pick, but we were able to come out of the draft with Kyle Korver and Willie Green. And the next year it was Louis Williams in the second round. It’s incumbent on us, when you don’t have those picks, to be creative and come up with others ways to do it. It’s a challenge, but it’s doable… [Not having picks] doesn’t mean you can’t add quality players to your roster.”
- One of the things that Paul Pierce enjoys about playing for the Wizards is the opportunity he has to mentor the team’s younger players, Ben Standig of CSNWashington.com writes. “I feel like even if it’s one year, two years, or three years I’m here, I feel like I’m going to have a relationship with these guys for a long, long time even after basketball,” Pierce said. “It seems like we connect, and I connected with the city.” The veteran forward has a player option for 2015/16 worth $5,543,725 he can opt out of this offseason.
- The Bucks improved their win total from 15 during the 2013/14 campaign to 41 and a playoff berth this season. Charles F. Gardner of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel grades how the team and each individual player performed during the 2014/15 season.
Atlantic Notes: Lopez, Nets, Jones
Nets GM Billy King reiterated that re-signing center Brook Lopez is a priority for the franchise, which views the big man as a centerpiece to build around, Tim Bontemps of The New York Post writes. “For us to get in the playoffs that stretch, [Lopez] was the guy who carried us. He was our best player,” King said. “Without Brook Lopez, there’s no way we even get to where we go to this year. I’ll say it again: We want him back. I want him back, [coach] Lionel [Hollins] wants him back, ownership wants him back. We’ve all said it. There shouldn’t be any more doubts about it.” Lopez has a player option worth $16,744,2187 for 2015/16, but can become an unrestricted free agent if he opts out this summer.
Here’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- King refused to comment on the status of extension talks between he and the Nets, but said he was comfortable working next season without agreeing to a new deal, Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com relays (Twitter link).
- When asked if there is a trade market for the Nets‘ big money contracts like Deron Williams‘ and Joe Johnson‘s, King said, “We could have moved them,” Andy Vasquez of The Record tweets.
- The Sixers are potentially interested in selecting Jamal Jones and making him a domestic draft-and-stash pick this June, similar to what the Thunder did with Josh Huestis last season, Shams Charania of RealGM writes. “The Sixers have had interest in me all year just because even though I didn’t have a good season with Delaware, they were always there for the practices and they have seen what I’m capable of,” Jones told Charania. “They’re very interested, and want me come up, work out for them and see how I’ve progressed in the time since the season ended.” Jones appeared in 45 contests for Philly’s D-League affiliate this past season, averaging 7.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.9 assists.
Latest On Thaddeus Young, Option Decision
WEDNESDAY, 2:40pm: A source close to Young told SB Nation’s Jake Fischer that the forward is very interested in testing the free agent market (Twitter link).
SATURDAY, 11:31am: Nets forward Thaddeus Young may have given an indication today regarding whether or not he would exercise his early termination option for next season, Tim Bontemps of The New York Post relays (Twitter links). During his exit interview with the press, Young said that his agent Jim Tanner suggested he opt in and then hit free agency during the summer of 2016 when the salary cap is expected to increase dramatically, Bontemps notes. The value of Young’s option for 2015/16 is $10,221,739.
Young said that he still has a lot of factors to consider, but reiterated that he loves being in Brooklyn and with the Nets, and is comfortable living on the East Coast, Bontemps adds. The 26-year-old had previously noted how pleased he was with the deal that sent him from the Timberwolves to the Nets. “It was the perfect situation for me, especially with me being good friends with [Nets GM] Billy [King], just knowing him and him drafting me in Philly,” Young said. “So it was a good situation, plus they had the right mix of players for me and I felt like I could be a great complementary piece to a lot of guys on this team.”
If Young indeed opts in for next season it would be a reversal of his intentions prior to the trade deadline. The player had reportedly informed Minnesota that he didn’t intend to pick up his option for 2015/16, and would become a free agent at season’s end. It was this request that likely swayed the Wolves to deal away Young for franchise icon Kevin Garnett. King had also previously indicated the franchise would like for Young to return, saying the team will do what it can to retain Young. As the GM apparently sees him as a building block for the team’s future.
In 28 games for the Nets last season, Young averaged 13.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 29.6 minutes per contest. His career numbers through 592 games are 13.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.5 APG. Young’s career shooting numbers are .495/.323/.693.