Atlantic Notes: Raptors, Diogu, Knicks, Nets
No Atlantic teams were in action on the NBA’s opening night, but all five are ready to go tonight, including three preparing to host their home openers. While the Nets play in Cleveland, the Celtics will visit the Raptors, the Sixers will host the Heat, and the Knicks will be in action at MSG against the Bucks.
As we look forward to all five Atlantic teams getting their seasons underway, let’s check out a few notes from out of the division:
- According to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun, new Raptors GM Masai Ujiri and CEO Tim Leiweke don’t share Bryan Colangelo‘s belief that Toronto is just a piece or two away from being a legit contender, and would prefer to blow things up to move forward. However, as the season gets underway, Ujiri has “a whole lot of houses for sale, not that many viewings, and almost no buyers,” writes Simmons.
- Knicks camp invitee Josh Powell will head to China to play with the Guangdong Southern Tigers, but according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, that opportunity arose after fellow Knick invitee Ike Diogu turned down an offer from the team. Diogu, who played for Guangdong last season, didn’t want to return due to poor management, but is considering other options in China, says Iannazzone (Twitter links).
- While many of their Eastern Conference rivals made bigger offseason splashes, the Knicks‘ notable moves included acquiring Andrea Bargnani and signing Metta World Peace. Nonetheless, James Dolan’s expectations are high — he believes the team has enough talent to win an NBA title this year, says Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
- Despite being one of the highest-paid players in the NBA, Joe Johnson is happy to fly under the radar on the new-look Nets, as Fred Kerber of the New York Post details.
Odds & Ends: Lakers, LeBron, Gibson, KG
Magic Johnson tells the “Max and Marcellus Show” on ESPNLA 710 that he’d be willing to help the Lakers recruit free agents during what he calls a “crucial summer” ahead. “If it’s (Lakers co-owner) Jim Buss going up against Pat Riley, he’s going to lose that battle. He needs help,” Johnson said. “You have to have a recruiter. Jim needs a recruiter with him.” Johnson touched on plenty more about the Lakers and their recent past, and Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com rounds up the highlights. Here’s more from opening night in the Association:
- LeBron James tried to recruit Taj Gibson to the Heat when Gibson was a year away from restricted free agency, but Gibson doesn’t think he’ll return the favor with James poised to hit free agency this summer, as Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times details.
- Kevin Garnett has yet to make his official debut for the Nets, but he’s already the “heartbeat of the team,” according to fellow offseason addition Alan Anderson. Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News has more.
- Kevin Love tells Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune that he and Ricky Rubio have spoken about a long-term future together, but for now, they’re focusing on the present. Both Timberwolves can become free agents in 2015.
- Sixers GM Sam Hinkie is confident that the city of Philadelphia can be a selling point for marquee free agents when he’s ready to make a run at them, but Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer wonders if local fans will turn on him before he gets to that point.
- Brett Brown admits that the challenge of coaching the Sixers is harder than he envisioned when he took over the team in August, observes Tom Moore of The Intelligencer.
- Xavier Henry remains on a non-guaranteed contract after making the Lakers out of camp, but he’s drawing raves from coach Mike D’Antoni, notes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com (Twitter link).
Nets Waive Gutierrez, Johnson, Thomas
The Nets announced that they have waived guard Jorge Gutierrez and forwards Chris Johnson and Adonis Thomas. Brooklyn’s roster now stands at the max of 15.
Gutierrez, who was signed to the training camp roster on September 30, appeared in five preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. Johnson, who was also signed to the training camp roster on September 30, played in seven preseason games, averaging 5.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. Thomas, who was signed to the training camp roster on October 18, did not appear in any preseason games for the Nets.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, Celtics, Anderson
According to Zach Braziller of the New York Post, Knicks coach Mike Woodson plans to meet with GM Steve Mills and team brass either tonight or tomorrow to determine the five cuts he has to make before Monday’s deadline. In another piece, Braziller writes about how Carmelo Anthony took it upon himself to have a heart-to-heart talk with J.R. Smith about the importance of staying focused and keeping out of trouble moving forward.
You can find more of tonight’s links out of the Atlantic Division below:
- Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston notes that Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge is “very proud” of Rajon Rondo‘s progress in rehab: “I think he’s working as hard as he can. I’ve been very proud of him of how he really wants to get out there and I think he wants to get out there, not for his own benefit, but he wants to really help the team. He sees how he’s missed and he just loves to play. He wants to get back for all the right reasons.”
- Ainge also elaborated on why he wants to keep the team under the luxury tax: “Right now we’re barely under the luxury tax, so we really have no choice…If there are deals made later in the year, that would open up roster spots and open up to keep us under the tax. But we will stay under the tax this year. We have to. As we’re rebuilding, not just from a standpoint of the financial budget, but as a competitive advantage.”
- Yesterday, we heard that James Anderson was one player who had “all but wrapped up” a spot on the 76ers’ roster. Today, Tom Moore of The Intelligencer discusses how Anderson secured a spot in Philadelphia after establishing himself as a starter and the team’s top perimeter threat.
- Former NBA executive and current NBA analyst Steve Kerr explains why he thinks the Knicks are the fifth-best team in the East (Justin Terranova of the New York Post).
- Clippers coach Doc Rivers took time to defend current Nets Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce from the criticism hurled at them by LeBron James last week, who insinuated that they had abandoned Boston: “Paul and Kevin were traded…They were traded. Paul was traded whether he wanted to be or not. Kevin was the only one who had to agree to be traded even though he had already been traded. He had to agree to the trade. That’s completely different…You could make more of a case for me leaving than Paul and Kevin” (Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News [hat tip to ESPN Radio in Miami]).
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Tyler, Smith, Sixers
The Nets look like have their opening-night roster set, with 15 fully guaranteed contracts and three players on non-guaranteed camp deals who probably won’t be sticking around. The roster isn’t likely to change much throughout the season, as Billy King told Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report earlier this week that his club won’t sign anyone, even a minimum-salary player, as a replacement should someone get hurt. Most other rosters aren’t as stable, and we’ll examine some potential changes for a pair of Brooklyn’s Atlantic Division rivals:
- The Knicks are “leaning toward” keeping Jeremy Tyler‘s partially guaranteed contract, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post, who adds that the team will likely make its first cuts Thursday night. Tyler is recovering from foot surgery and might not play until late next month. “He’s still patiently going through rehab,” coach Mike Woodson said. “I don’t think we kick him to the curb. We thought so much coming out of summer league. I think at least see it through, see what he has to offer. He’s a young big. Our thought process was to try to develop him.”
- Woodson admits nepotism could influence the Knicks‘ decision on whether to keep J.R. Smith‘s brother Chris Smith on the roster for opening night, but even if he makes the team, Chris Smith expects to spend much of the season on assignment to the D-League, Berman notes in the same piece.
- The Sixers have 20 players on the roster and only 11 of them have fully guaranteed deals, but perhaps as few as one opening-night spot is still up in the air, coach Brett Brown said. Rodney Williams is one of five with at least a partial guarantee, and he appears still in the running to make the team, as Brown said the staff is continuing to evaluate him. Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com tweets the details.
David Stern Talks CBA, Nets, Kings, Wolves
NBA owners voted unanimously today to change the NBA Finals to a 2-2-1-1-1 format, after nearly three decades of using a 2-3-2 format. As Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com writes, commissioner David Stern called it an “easy sell,” since it helps improve competitive balance and aligns the Finals schedule with the rest of the postseason. In addition to announcing the change, Stern provided a few more notable updates following his last owners’ meeting as commissioner. Here are the highlights from Windhorst:
- According to Stern, the league’s new revenue sharing system, which includes more punitive tax penalties, is working, with the league expecting about 24 or 25 franchises to be profitable by the end of the 2014/15 season. Of the teams not projected to be profitable, most are doing so of their own volition, by carrying high team payrolls.
- Stern, on the Nets, a team that figures to pay significant tax penalties going forward: “I haven’t looked at the Nets’ balance sheet but my guess is they’re not necessarily going to be profitable.”
- Stern indicated that plans for a new Kings arena in Sacramento are “going swimmingly,” adding that he expects it to open on time for the 2016/17 season.
- Additionally, the Timberwolves are in final negotiations on the terms of a plan to overhaul and upgrade the Target Center, according to the commissioner.
Atlantic Notes: KG, Pierce, Knicks, Celtics
All five Nets starters will be rested for tonight’s preseason game in Boston, meaning that while Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will be revisiting their old Celtics home, they aren’t expected to see any action. Nonetheless, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com focuses on the return of KG and Pierce to Boston, with quotes from C’s GM Danny Ainge and others.
Here are a few more Wednesday items from around the Atlantic Division:
- With opening night fast approaching, the Knicks have just a few more days to decide which players will make the team’s regular-season roster, and which will be cut. And as coach Mike Woodson tells Chris Herring of the Wall Street Journal, Chris Smith‘s family ties could factor into the team’s decision. Herring tweets that Woodson says he has “great respect” for the Smith family, including Chris and older brother J.R. Smith.
- “Patience” is one of the keywords in Boston this season as the Celtics enter the first year of their rebuild. Howard Ulman of the AP has the details (link via the Boston Globe).
- A pair of New York players show up on Chris Sheridan’s list of the NBA’s top five most overpaid players in the NBA at Sheridan Hoops: Amar’e Stoudemire of the Knicks and Joe Johnson of the Nets.
Odds & Ends: Heat, Smith, Kidd, Wiggins
The Heat were picked as the clear favorite to win the 2013/14 title in this year’s GM survey, writes John Schuhmann of NBA.com. There were a few dissenters with the Spurs and Pacers receiving 6.9% of the vote and the Bulls, Clippers, and Thunder also getting nods. LeBron James was the overwhelming pick to win the MVP trophy and Pelicans big man Anthony Davis was pegged as the breakout player of the year. Magic guard Victor Oladipo was picked to win the Rookie of the Year award and GMs feel that he’ll be the best player out of this class five years from now. Here’s more from around the Association..
- Pistons forward Josh Smith spoke to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld about his decision to leave the Hawks this summer. “It wasn’t as hard as other people saw it,” Smith said. “It was time for me to experience a different thing in my life, a new situation, new opportunity and I’m happy where I’m at.” It also didn’t hurt that Detroit gave him a four-year, $54MM deal.
- David Aldridge of NBA.com sat down with new Nets head coach Jason Kidd for a Q&A. The discussion covered his learning curve and former coaches that the point guard has apologized to now that he has discovered the difficulty of the job.
- Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle, Dante Exum, Jabari Parker, and Aaron Gordon are all candidates to go No. 1 overall in next June’s draft, in Kyler’s view (Twitter link). Not everyone would agree with that assessment as Wiggins has long been viewed as the top talent in the 2014 class.
Bucher On Nets, Pacers, Stephenson, Jordan, Collins
In his first column for Bleacher Report, Ric Bucher writes that GMs from across the league are reporting that their owners have skyhigh/unrealistic expectations for the upcoming season. Bucher spoke to several execs and asked them about their chief concern for 2013/14 and Nets GM Billy King was the only one whose biggest concern centered on basketball. The expectation level of owners and front office turnover has changed the mindset of many execs who were once seeking the formula for success but are now zeroed in on survival. More from Bucher’s column..
- The Pacers are a young squad with a payroll ($71.431MM) on the cusp of the luxury-tax threshold, but one opposing GM said that, for financial reasons, they will have a hard time ever fielding a team deeper in talent than this one. Danny Granger’s $14MM contract comes off the books next season, but that savings is wiped out by Paul George’s extension kicking in. The bottom line is that locking up free-agent-to-be Lance Stephenson will require stripping the roster of its current depth. “One thing I can tell you,” the exec said. “Indy is not paying the luxury tax.”
- Some are skeptical of Clippers coach Doc Rivers‘ praise for center DeAndre Jordan and his effort, but Bucher hears that it’s legit. “He’s more engaged than ever before,” a scout said of Jordan, who clashed with previous coach Vinny Del Negro. “He’s constantly talking on defense, and that’s new.” Of course, Rivers will have quite a bit of say in personnel in L.A.
- Several GMs say they have an aversion to free agent center Jason Collins – not because of his sexual orientation, but over the relentless media attention it will generate. “If it were just an initial blast and you knew it would settle down after that, it would be one thing,” said one executive. “But you know this is something that he and his teammates are going to be asked about everywhere they go, all season long, and all it takes is one guy to say something a little off and it could really blow up. He’s still good enough to play in the league, but when you throw in the ongoing media frenzy, most teams are going to decide it’s just not worth it.” The Nets and Pistons were reportedly among the clubs with some level of interest in the free agent big man.
- One GM who was polled said the shift from commissioner David Stern to Adam Silver is his biggest worry. “I don’t know how much he thinks about the integrity of the game,” the GM said. “He’s more about selling widgets.”
New York Notes: Stoudemire, Williams, Pierce
Here are some notes tonight on the Nets and Knicks:
- Amar’e Stoudemire has been cleared for contact, coach Mike Woodson told ESPN New York’s Ian Begley (by way of The Knicks Blog’s Adam Zagoria). STAT is hoping to play opening night on October 30th against the Bucks.
- But Stoudemire only participated in 5-on-5 half-court drills and avoided the full-court scrimmage, Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News adds.
- It’s still unclear when Deron Williams will return to action one month after the Nets announced he’d sprained his right ankle, writes the New York Post’s Tim Bontemps.
- Bontemps adds that D-Will has ramped up his participation in practice the last two days, and Paul Pierce said he, “Had a chance to see [Williams] get his feet wet a little.”
- But neither coach Jason Kidd nor Williams would talk about whether Williams will appear in any of the Nets‘ final two preseason games, or what his status is for the season opener on October 30th in Cleveland.
- The New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy adds that Kidd’s been largely avoiding most of the questions about Williams’ injured ankle.
- Kidd confirmed to Bontemps that the Nets’ big offseason acquisitions Pierce and Kevin Garnett will not play in their return to Boston for a preseason game against the Celtics on Wednesday night.
- Pierce tells Newsday’s Roderick Boone he’s been seeing a lot of open looks during preseason, but he’s shot poorly and believes it’s the result of being so unused to all the uncontested opportunities.