Atlantic Notes: Sixers, Toronto, C’s, Bogdanovic
According to 76ers owner Josh Harris, a full-scale implosion of the roster was always the plan in Philadelphia, but it was delayed in part due to the club's success in 2011/12 (link via Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News).
"When I first bought the team, there were elements of the decision-making that I noticed weren't how I would have done it," Harris said. "But at the same time we did so well that first season ('11/12) that I chose to stick with the plan. The second season was a big disappointment and that made me feel empowered that it was the right time to make a bunch of changes. I've always had the same vision, but I took it a little more slowly given the success of the first season."
As the new-look Sixers prepare to get their training camp underway, let's take a look around the rest of the Atlantic Division….
- In a press conference in Toronto, the NBA and the Raptors officially announced that the city will be hosting the 2016 All-Star Game. The Toronto Sun first reported the story last week.
- There are no quick fixes on the way for the Celtics, but the importance of this developmental stage for the team shouldn't be undersold, writes Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
- Danny Ainge's phone remains "active," but the Celtics GM is looking forward to seeing which of the club's current players stand out, as he tells Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. "I wouldn’t say this is a perfect mesh of players, but I would like to see how they play together, and win jobs and opportunities, and just how players fit our system and Brad [Stevens]’ style of play," Ainge said. "I like the competitiveness in camp, and I also like the team because there are so many questions to be answered, so many unknowns."
- NetsDaily passes along a report out of Turkey indicating that Bojan Bogdanovic has rejected a contract extension offer from Fenerbahce. If Bogdanovic doesn't ink a new deal, he'd be a free agent next summer, meaning there's a decent chance the Nets' 2011 second-rounder could come stateside.
- Earlier today, we learned that the Knicks exercised Mike Woodson's 2014/15 contract option and that the Nets have signed Marko Jaric to a camp deal.
Nets Sign Marko Jaric
The Nets have signed Marko Jaric to a training camp contract, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Twitter link). The addition of Jaric brings Brooklyn's roster count for camp to 19 players, including four on non-guaranteed deals.
Jaric, a first-round pick in 2000, hasn't appeared in an NBA game since the 2008/09 season with the Grizzlies. Over the course of his seven-year NBA career, he averaged 7.1 PPG and 3.6 APG to go along with a 12.0 PER. Jaric received a camp invite from the Bulls last fall, but didn't make the team and didn't end up landing with another team, stateside or overseas.
The Nets already have 15 players on guaranteed contracts, so there likely won't be any roster spots available for the team's camp invitees. Perhaps though, if Jaric impresses the club over the next few weeks, he'd receive consideration later in the year if Brooklyn needs to add a player or two.
Atlantic Notes: Woodson, Kidd, Sixers, Knicks
Despite the Knicks having their best year since the 1990s, their coach, Mike Woodson, is on the hot seat, writes ESPN Insider Amin Elhassan [subscription only]. Elhassan goes through five coaches entering the 2013/14 campaign on the hot seat, where their team's success could determine whether they're brought back for the 2014/15 season.
The other four coaches mentioned include Mike D'Antoni of the Lakers, Monty Williams of the Pelicans, Tyrone Corbin of the Jazz, and Randy Wittman of the Wizards.
Conversely, when Roderick Boone of Newsday spoke with new Nets coach Jason Kidd, the new face in Brooklyn told him there was "exciting nervousness" as the team entered training camp. It will be the first training camp for Kidd as a head coach and the first training camp he hasn't begun as a player since the summer before he entered the league in 1994.
Kidd went on to explain to Roderick why he's lucky to start as the coach with the veteran-laden Nets:
"The nice thing about this opportunity with this team is guys being able to sacrifice," Kidd told Boone, "and that's another thing with these guys. Maybe sacrifice a shot or two. Maybe even some of the younger guys will say, 'Yeah, I don't mind not playing the fourth quarter,' and that's sacrifice. It's less minutes and less shots and it gets us a win."
Here's more from around the top-heavy Atlantic division…
- Woodson's challenge with the Knicks this season could be even harder if they don't get healthy as Al Iannazzone writes about for Newsday on the eve of training camp.
- ESPN New York's Ian Begley has a power forward preview for the Knicks. Though Carmelo Anthony played a lot at the 4 last season when the Knicks went small, all their offseason moves — acquiring Andrea Bargnani in a trade with the Raptors, picking up Metta World Peace after he cleared amnesty waivers and signing Kenyon Martin as a free agent – mean the Knicks will have a lot of depth to spell Anthony while also avoiding injuries for their reserves.
- Keith Schlosser of Knicks Journal has more on the Knicks' decision to promote Steve Mills to GM while demoting Glen Grunwald.
- The Sixers had a low-key first day of practice as they opened training camp today, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Tom Moore of the Intelligencer agrees that new Sixers coach Brett Brown was smart to start things slow in his first official practice as coach.
- The Sixers aren't expected to compete for anything but a lottery pick this season after trading Jrue Holiday to the Pelicans on draft day, but at least they have a plan opines Pompey.
Nets To Bring Gutierrez, Johnson, Forbes To Camp
As I noted a week ago when I looked at teams already carrying 15 or more guaranteed contracts, the Nets already have a full roster and likely won't be shaking it up before the season gets underway. Still, the team will bring a handful of camp invitees on board for the next few weeks. Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com reports (via Twitter) that Brooklyn has signed Jorge Gutierrez and Chris Johnson, while Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News tweets that Gary Forbes will also be in camp with the club.
Gutierrez, a 6'3" guard out of California, played 50 games for the D-League's Canton Charge last season, averaging 10.5 PPG and 4.7 APG. Johnson, not to be confused by the Chris Johnson who currently plays for the Timberwolves, is a 6'6" swingman out of Dayton who made his NBA debut for the Grizzlies last season, appearing in eight games with Memphis before the team decided to let his second 10-day contract expire.
As for Forbes, the 28-year-old spent two seasons in the NBA, playing for the Nuggets and Raptors from 2010 to 2012. In 111 career games, the 6'7" forward posted 5.8 PPG and 2.0 RPG to go along with a decent 12.4 PER in 13.5 minutes per contest. Forbes spent last season playing for China's Zhejiang Guangsha Lions, recording impressive averages of 28.4 PPG and 7.8 RPG in 27 games. He reportedly worked out for the Lakers and Knicks last month.
With no easy way onto the Nets roster for these three camp invitees, it's possible that one or more of them will ultimately end up playing for Brooklyn's D-League affiliate, the Springfield Armor.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Felton, Noel, World Peace
You love the NBA. You watch basketball almost every single night from Halloween into the early part of summer and read Hoops Rumors religiously. But you've always hoped that the NBA could be more like Vince McMahon's failed football league. Finally, the league office has heard your complaints. The NBA may have the Nets and Heat wear "nickname jerseys" for at least one of their four meetings this season, according to the Associated Press. Ray Allen plans to don a "Jesus Shuttlesworth" jersey, LeBron James is expected to go by "King James," and Nets stars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will probably wear "KG" and "The Truth," respectively. As you dust off your sweet He Hate Me throwback, check out the latest from the Atlantic..
- Guard Raymond Felton feels that the Knicks were just too old last season, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post. “We’re a younger team this year,’’ Felton said. “Kurt Thomas, Rasheed [Wallace], love them like brothers. [But] those guys were 38, 39, 40 years old. Once they got injuries, they’re out and it hurt us last year. We’ve added Metta [World Peace], Andrea [Bargnani], Kenyon [Martin] and Amar'e Stoudemire are coming back. Tim Hardaway Jr. looks great by the way. I’ve been most impressed with him. It gives us depth at that big spot and youth. Those guys are younger."
- Best friends Nerlens Noel and Michael Carter-Williams are reunited with the Sixers, writes HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy. The youngsters first became friends on the AAU circuit and are anxious to replicate that success at the NBA level. “I’m looking forward to it,” Carter-Williams said. “I know it’s going to be a learning experience. We’re going to have a lot of young guys, but we’re also going to have some veterans so we’re going to learn from them. We’re just going to try to bring everything together as a team and be the best we can.”
- World Peace is back in New York with a fresh perspective on things both on and off the court, writes Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report. MWP joined the Knicks after the Lakers used the amnesty clause to get out from under his contract.
New York Notes: Davis, Knicks, Jay Z, Nets
There's been a little news out of New York already today, as we heard Ike Diogu will join the Knicks next week when training camp opens. We've got a few more Monday links related to New York's two teams to round up, so let's dive in and check out the latest on the Knicks and Nets….
- While Diogu and Josh Powell received camp invites from the Knicks, another player who worked out for the team last week remains a free agent: Ricky Davis. Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com tweets that Davis looked solid during the workout, but adds that otherwise there's nothing new to report on that front.
- In grading the Knicks' offseason, Begley awards the highest marks for the club's two mid-level signings: Pablo Prigioni and Metta World Peace.
- Jay Z has given the NBPA proof that he sold his stake in the Nets and is now officially certified as an NBA agent, reports Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal. We heard a similar report from Mullen back in June, but that story may have been premature, since it appears the rapper hadn't officially divested himself of his Nets share at that point.
- One of the most interesting storylines to watch during October will involve the Nets, according to Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld. Brigham writes that Brooklyn's veteran additions probably won't get a ton of minutes before the regular season gets underway, but the preseason should provide some clues about how they'll fit together, and whether the team will be a real threat in the East.
Atlantic Notes: Kidd, Powell, Knicks, Humphries
Count three-time All-Star Mark Aguirre among those who believe Jason Kidd will do a tremendous job as head coach of the Nets, writes Dwain Price of the Star-Telegram. “I like it just from the situation and understand that as a player there’s things that you have to learn how to do to manage games,’’ said Aguirre. “There’s quite a few young guys that have an incredible understanding of the game, and J-Kidd is one of them. New blood. A new situation in the game. I like it. I really like it.’’ Here's more out of the Atlantic Division..
- Keith Schlosser of Knicks Journal isn't thrilled with the Knicks' decision to bring Josh Powell to training camp and suggests that DeSagana Diop would have made more sense. Diop, he argues, is a very physical player who can rebound the ball well and is probably an even better shot-blocker. Even though Powell is a serviceable big man, he doesn't bring as much to the table as Diop, in Schlosser's estimation.
- In an interview with Marc D'Amico of Celtics.com, Kris Humphries said that he figures to see some time at center on the small ball Celtics. Humphries came to Boston in the summer blockbuster that sent Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn.
- Knicks rookie C.J. Leslie could see plenty of time in the D-League in 2013/14, writes Schlosser for Ridiculous Upside.
Nets, Knicks, Bulls Have Most $10MM+ Salaries
The salary cap and luxury tax are in place to help curb the advantages that large-market teams would have in an open market. They haven't stopped the Nets and Knicks from having more players making at least $10MM this season than almost every team in the league. Only the Bulls, who like the Knicks have four such players, are in the same class as the New York contingent, which is led by the Nets and their fivesome of eight-figure players.
The Bulls and the Big Apple teams seem even more profligate when juxtaposed with the four NBA clubs that don't have $10MM+ contracts at all. The Suns and Sixers play in fairly large markets, but they're still without highly paid talent, just as the Kings and Bucks are. Two more teams don't have anyone who's guaranteed at least $10MM, since Hedo Turkoglu and Andrew Bynum are promised only $6MM from the Magic and Cavs, respectively.
A team top-heavy with well-compensated players doesn't always succeed on the basketball court, of course. The Heat have won back-to-back championships with no one other than their trio of stars making $10MM or more. The Rockets and Grizzlies figure to be among the Western Conference elite even though they each only have a pair of eight-figure salaries. And since the three teams with the most high-dollar contracts all play in the Eastern Conference, at least one of them isn't going to make the conference finals — and that assumes that the Heat won't make it that far.
Here's the complete list:
Teams with five $10MM+ contracts
- Nets: Joe Johnson ($21,466,718), Deron Williams ($18,466,130), Paul Pierce ($15,333,334), Brook Lopez ($14,693,906), Kevin Garnett ($12,433,735)
Teams with four $10MM+ contracts
- Bulls: Derrick Rose ($17,632,688), Carlos Boozer ($15,300,000), Luol Deng ($14,275,000), Joakim Noah ($11,100,000)
- Knicks: Amare Stoudemire ($21,679,893), Carmelo Anthony ($21,388,954), Tyson Chandler ($14,100,538), Andrea Bargnani ($11,862,500)
Teams with three $10MM+ contracts
- Celtics: Kris Humphries ($12,000,000), Rajon Rondo ($11,954,545), Gerald Wallace ($10,105,855)
- Clippers: Chris Paul ($18,668,431), Blake Griffin ($16,441,500), DeAndre Jordan ($10,986,550)
- Heat: Chris Bosh ($19,067,500), LeBron James ($19,067,500), Dwyane Wade ($18,673,000)
- Nuggets: Ty Lawson ($10,786,517), JaVale McGee ($10,750,000), Danilo Gallinari ($10,146,925)
- Pacers: Roy Hibbert ($14,283,844), Danny Granger ($14,021,788), David West ($12,000,000)
- Spurs: Tony Parker ($12,500,000), Tim Duncan ($10,361,446), Tiago Splitter ($10,000,000)
- Thunder: Kevin Durant ($17,832,627), Russell Westbrook ($14,693,906), Serge Ibaka ($12,350,000)
- Warriors: Andrew Bogut ($14,000,000), David Lee ($13,878,000), Andre Iguodala ($12,868,632)
Teams with two $10MM+ contracts
- Bobcats: Al Jefferson ($13,500,000), Ben Gordon ($13,200,000)
- Lakers: Kobe Bryant ($30,453,805), Pau Gasol ($19,285,850)
- Grizzlies: Zach Randolph ($18,238,333), Marc Gasol ($14,860,523)
- Pelicans: Eric Gordon ($14,283,844), Tyreke Evans ($11,796,247)
- Rockets: Dwight Howard ($20,513,178), James Harden ($13,701,250)
- Timberwolves: Kevin Love ($14,693,906), Nikola Pekovic ($12,100,000)
- Trail Blazers: LaMarcus Aldridge ($14,878,000), Nicolas Batum ($11,295,250)
- Wizards: Emeka Okafor ($14,487,500), Nene Hilario ($13,000,000)
Teams with one $10MM+ contract
- Hawks: Al Horford ($12,000,000)
- Jazz: Richard Jefferson ($11,046,000)
- Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki ($22,721,381)
- Pistons: Josh Smith ($13,500,000)
- Raptors: Rudy Gay ($17,888,932)
- Cavaliers: Andrew Bynum ($12,250,000 — only guaranteed for $6MM)
- Magic: Hedo Turkoglu ($12,000,000 — only guaranteed for $6MM)
Teams without a $10MM+ contract
- 76ers
- Bucks
- Kings
- Suns
ShamSports was used in the creation of this post.
Odds & Ends: Nets, Johnson, Nedovic
- Serbian rookie Nemanja Nedovic, the 30th overall pick by the Warriors in last summer's draft, is excited for his first NBA training camp, and says he's committed to entering Golden State's rotation right away, according to EuroHoops.net's Niki Bakouli.
- According to the New York Post's Tim Bontemps, Nets point guard Deron Williams says the addition of Andrei Kirilenko was just as important as the trade that brought in Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.
- James Johnson's contract with the Hawks is a non-guaranteed training camp invite, and not a guaranteed deal, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Chris Vivlamore.
Odds & Ends: LeBron, Mavs, Lopez, Hamilton
The Cavs made a bit of a boo boo this week when they put together their list of all-time Cavs players by number. One would think that No. 23 would be a slam dunk choice for a guy by the name of LeBron James, but the nod instead went to Tyrone Corbin, as noted by Sean Highkin of USA Today. Meanwhile, the Cavs reached out to the Plain Dealer (on Twitter) to explain that the list was not meant to reflect the best player to wear each number. Here's more from around the Association..
- The Mavs bench production was the best in the NBA last season but it could be even more formidable in 2013/14, writes Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. This summer, Dallas added Wayne Ellington, Devin Harris and DeJuan Blair to support their starting five.
- Nets center Brook Lopez, who had a screw replaced in his surgically-repaired right foot over the summer, says he's totally healthy and ready for camp, tweets Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
- HoopsHype runs down the best remaining free agents available. Richard Hamilton has the top spot followed by Stephen Jackson, Lamar Odom, and Sebastian Telfair.
- Commissioner-in-training Adam Silver doesn't see the value in tanking, but Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld says that it's not going away anytime soon.