Nets To Sign Kris Joseph
The Nets are set to sign Kris Joseph from their D-League affiliate Springfield Armor, a source tells Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. The Armor acquired Joseph from the Maine Red Claws earlier this year in exchange for James Mays.
Joseph was selected in the second round of last year's draft by the Celtics and was cut loose by the team in January. In 14 games for Springfield, the forward averaged 19.4 points prior to Friday's 12 point performance.
The 6-foot-7 wing player spent four years at Syracuse, where he was named to the All-Big East First-Team as a senior.
Atlantic Notes: Nets, Celtics, Sullinger
It had to end sometime. The Heat finally lost a game after winning 27 in a row, falling to the Bulls tonight despite the absence of Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose. That leaves the Knicks, who earned their sixth straight victory with a win over the Grizzlies this evening, as the team with the longest current winning streak in the NBA. The six W's in a row have allowed the Knicks to essentially end the Celtics' hopes of a sixth straight division title, and New York has built a three-game lead on second-place Brooklyn, pending the Nets' late game against the Blazers. Here's more on a pair of teams looking up at New York in the Atlantic standings.
- Last year's Gerald Wallace deal allowed the Blazers to select Damian Lillard sixth overall in the draft this past June, but if that trade hadn't happened, the Nets still wouldn't have Lillard, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Brooklyn's scouts weren't high on last year's draft class, and the team likely would have traded the pick elsewhere if Portland hadn't come along, a source tells Bondy, who adds that the Nets weren't close to trading for Paul Pierce at the deadline a year ago, either.
- SB Nation's Paul Flannery delivers a lengthy piece on Celtics assistant GM Ryan McDonough, examining his role in drafting Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley, along with plenty of insight on the team's inner workings. The article deserves a look in full, particularly for Boston fans, and details someone who appears poised to take over an NBA front office sometime soon. "He’s very good at what he does," C's coach Doc Rivers said. "He’ll be a GM. There’s no doubt about that."
- Jared Sullinger's back had him red-flagged by NBA doctors before last year's draft, and even though the rookie is out for the season after undergoing back surgery, Rivers doesn't regret the Celtics taking him 21st overall, as Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer notes.
Nets Recall Shengelia, Taylor From D-League
Here are today's D-League assignments and recalls, with any additional moves added to the top of the page throughout the day:
- The Nets have recalled Tornike Shengelia and Tyshawn Taylor from the D-League, the team announced today in a press release. The two rookies played well in their most recent stint with the Springfield Armor — in three D-League contests, Shengelia averaged 22.3 PPG and 7.3 RPG, while Taylor recorded 23.3 PPG and 7.3 APG. The duo will rejoin the Nets tomorrow.
Atlantic Notes: Martin, Knicks, Nets, Pietrus
Deron Williams was bested by the Chris Paul-led Clippers on Saturday night but he bounced back in a major way yesterday against the Suns. Goran Dragic gave the Nets all they could handle, but D-Will's 20 point, 11 assist performance pushed Brooklyn to a 102-100 victory. It wasn't a pretty win, but the Nets will take it, especially considering that they were without Joe Johnson in Phoenix. Here's more from the Atlantic..
- Kenyon Martin told reporters, including Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter) that he has thoughts that he "probably can’t say on camera" about teams that ignored him as a free agent. However, he says that he is now "in a happy place." Martin sat on the sidelines for most of the 2012/13 season before hooking on with the Knicks.
- Tim Bontemps of the New York Post spoke with former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy about his thoughts on the Nets and he's not as enthused as some about the club's prospects going forward. “[There are] significant things that they have to find out about their team to try to make that next step up to what they want to be, which is a championship-caliber team,” said Van Gundy.
- Raptors forward Mickael Pietrus wants to finish out the season strong and show that he is once again healthy, writes RealGM's Shams Charania. Pietrus will be a free agent after this season when his one-year, minimum salary contract expires.
Eastern Notes: Nets, Raps, Maggette, Heat, C’s
With the Bucks currently holding a seven-game lead on the ninth-seeded Sixers for the Eastern Conference's final postseason spot, there won't be a race for the playoffs over the season's final few weeks. But if we flip the standings upside-down, there is a race developing for the best chance at June's first overall pick. A pair of Bobcats wins last week pulled them within two games of the Magic, and the two teams are set to square off in Charlotte this Wednesday. As we, uh, look forward to that contest, let's round up a few Monday items from around the conference:
- Following up on the latest report linking John Calipari to the Nets, Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game suggests (via Sulia) that owner Mikhail Prokhorov is too discerning to simply be interested in Calipari because the Kentucky coach is a "big name." According to Bucher, Prokhorov had genuine interest in Phil Jackson, but Bucher thinks the idea of Calipari being a worthwhile fallback option is "absurd," despite the improvements he has made since his last NBA stint.
- Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun looks ahead to the summer and predicts which Raptors will be back with the team next season.
- Corey Maggette isn't entirely sure why he hasn't played in over three months, but he isn't going to complain about his situation, as David Mayo of MLive.com writes. Earlier this month, a report suggested that Maggette and the Pistons were both open to the veteran returning to the team next year via free agency. I have to think he'll at least explore the market in search of an opportunity for more minutes though.
- Responding to a reader's question in his latest mailbag, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel agrees that Shane Battier has been the Heat's best non-Big-Three signing of this era.
- Last summer, the Celtics participated in both the Orlando and Las Vegas summer leagues. However, since the C's aren't expecting to add as many young prospects to the roster this summer, they'll only participate in the Orlando league, according to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald.
Odds & Ends: LeBron, Humphries, Gay, McRoberts
Many are buying into the speculation that LeBron James will give serious consideration to returning to Cleveland in the summer of 2014 and Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (Sulia link) says that he can see it happening. Bucher believes that James wants to be universally liked, especially in his hometown, and it's hard to imagine that he won't at least think about making peace with the place he still calls home. Here's more from around the Association..
- Kris Humphries has been squeezed out of the Nets' rotation for much of the season after inking a two-year, $24MM deal in the offseason. However, Hump saw eleven minutes against the Clippers on Saturday night and coach P.J. Carlesimo wants to get him back in the rotation, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. One has to imagine that Humphries will be a trade candidate after this season, though he doesn't have a ton of value at present. If the big man is back in the mix for the Nets, however, they may prefer to keep him.
- Raptors coach Dwane Casey believes that the organization will consider shutting down prized acquisition Rudy Gay down for the season, according to the Associated Press. Gay missed his third game of the month on Saturday due to back issues.
- Bobcats forward Josh McRoberts is hoping to parlay his playing time into a multi-year pact this summer, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
Stein On Nets, Calipari, Grizzlies, LeBron, Cavs
In this weekend's column, Marc Stein of ESPN.com talks to Thunder star Kevin Durant as he gears up for the team's playoff push. Some are wondering if the Lakers could give Oklahoma City a tough time in a first round matchup, but Durant doesn't seem too concerned about it. "They're a tough team, playing well, but it doesn't matter who we play," said Durant. Here's more from the Weekend Dime..
- The Nets have long been linked to Kentucky coach John Calipari, but the Wildcats' down season probably makes that union even less likely to happen. While Calipari is cognizant of the fact that Mikhail Prokhorov is the one owner that could put "Monopoly money" on the table, he will be itching to come back with a vengeance next season. Kentucky went from a national championship last year all the way to a first-round loss in the NIT to Robert Morris.
- The Grizzlies' players were vocal about wanting to keep Rudy Gay in the fold before the trade deadline but it seems as though they've rallied around each other in the wake of the trade with Toronto. Players are quick to point out how well they've been playing since the swap and some believe that the club had some degree of unrest with Gay in the mix. One insider sees it differently. "The guys really like [Zach Randolph] and [have] rallied around the guy who's still there," said the insider.
- Despite all the speculation about a possible return to Cleveland for LeBron James, Stein sees it as extremely unlikely. This time around, James won't be staring at two ringless hands and second guess his status quo. On top of having the security of a ring and a great thing going in Miami, Stein doesn't see him parting ways with Dwayne Wade given the bond that the two have developed.
Atlantic Notes: Knicks, West, Iguodala, Sixers
The Nets became the third Eastern Conference team to clinch a playoff spot last night, and owner Mikhail Prokhorov issued a statement today suggesting that he's hoping for more from the team than just a postseason berth.
"Of course I'm pleased the Nets have made the playoffs, but I can't say I'm surprised," Prokhorov said in a press release. "We have a lot of talent which is really coming together now and starting to gel. I am confident that the team's best days on the court are still ahead."
Here are a few more notes from around the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks continue to keep an eye on the D-League in case the team needs to add injury replacements, as Mike Woodson tells Marc Berman of the New York Post (Sulia link). "We’re constantly looking at the D-League all the time,'' Woodson said. "We have to gauge where we are and see what happens with these (injured) guys. We still got time. That deadline is still down the road. We go to map out our guys and see where they are going to be physically in the next couple of weeks and then maybe make a decision."
- One D-League player that doesn't appear to be an option for the Knicks is Delonte West. Although New York was said to be monitoring West's D-League debut, the team has not discussed signing him, according to Nate Taylor of the New York Times (Twitter link). Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside wonders if West's performance with the Texas Legends so far was a turn-off for the Knicks.
- Andre Iguodala helped the Nuggets defeat his old team last night, and told John Mitchell of the Philadelphia Inquirer that he has no regrets or hard feelings about his time in Philadelphia or the trade that sent him to Denver. Iguodala also expressed hope that the player the Sixers acquired in that deal, Andrew Bynum, recovers quickly from knee surgery.
- In his latest piece for HoopsWorld, Lang Greene takes a look at players whose free agent stocks have been hurt by their performances in 2012/13. Greene's list includes a pair of Sixers: Bynum and Dorell Wright.
Mavs Notes: Deron Williams, Cap, Beaubois
Deron Williams finally returned to his hometown last night, playing at the American Airlines Center in Dallas for the first time since he turned down the Mavericks in favor of the Nets last summer. Although Brooklyn rolled to a 113-96 win, it's still too early to tell whether Williams and the Nets or Mark Cuban and the Mavericks will be the long-term winners of D-Will's free agent decision, writes Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. Here are a few more Mavs-related notes:
- Within Townsend's piece, Cuban notes that the Nets' current situation – well over the tax and still not quite a legit title contender – is one the Mavs wanted to avoid. "That’s the position we didn’t want to be in," Cuban said. "Not talking about any one player, but that’s why we were concerned in our approach because if you sign a max-out guy, well, you get to a point where you’re above that tax plus $4MM, you’re limited."
- The Mavericks announced yesterday in a press release that Rodrigue Beaubois underwent surgery on his left hand. With no timetable set for Beaubois' return, it appears he has played his last game of the season, and possibly his last game as a Maverick — the fourth-year guard is eligible for free agency this summer. The Mavs could make him a restricted FA by making him a qualifying offer, but I think the team will likely let him become unrestricted.
- Ben Golliver and Rob Mahoney of SI.com examine the Western Conference's current lottery teams, answering a variety of questions about which teams have bright or dim futures. The Mavs earn a dishonorable mention from Mahoney, who says Dallas might have "the bleakest future relative to franchise expectations."
Odds & Ends: Wall, Mitchell, Brooks
There are only four games on the NBA schedule tonight. With anticipation for the NCAA Tournament ramping up, we should expect the NBA draft updates to pour in. Here are a few links from around the league and the college ranks:
- Whether John Wall is worthy of a max deal is still up for debate, writes HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy. It was reported earlier today that all signs point to the Wizards offering Wall a max contract. Kennedy indicates that while Wall and the Wizards have been stellar since his return, plenty of evaluators still have their doubts that Wall can take the jump to legitimate stardom. Wall will become a restricted free agent after next season, but says he would prefer to sign an extension before that happens.
- We heard earlier today that North Texas forward Tony Mitchell intends to enter this June's NBA draft. Our Luke Adams noted that Mitchell seemed to take a step back this year in his sophomore season. CBS College Basketball Insider Gary Parrish agrees, writing that Mitchell projected as a mid-to-late first rounder last year and that his sophomore season undoubtedly hurt his draft stock and could cost him millions.
- While his playing time has been drastically reduced in his second season, Nets guard MarShon Brooks has made the most of a recent uptick in minutes, writes Tim Bontemps of the New York Post. Assuming the Nets will continue to be aggressive in their pursuit of a title, Brooks, currently fifth in the team's guard rotation, could be a value trading chip down the line given the ability he showed as a rookie.
- If you ever have the urge to check in on your favorite retired player, Sham Sports has a recently updated (and very entertaining) compilation of the whereabouts of former NBAers.