Odds & Ends: Williams, Celtics, Heat, Varejao
Before the Jazz came to Brooklyn to face the Nets on Tuesday, Deron Williams told reporters that he has struggled since joining the Nets in part because of coach Avery Johnson‘s offense. While it was seen as excuse-making by some, Sean Deveney of the Sporting News writes that the one-guard has a point. It remains to be seen whether Johnson will re-fashion his offensive system in order to better accomodate Williams, who seemed to thrive in former coach Jerry Sloan‘s 1-4, pick-and-roll-heavy sets. Here’s today’s look around the league..
- There are no obvious fixes for the Celtics on the trade market at present, so Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com offers up three internal solutions to their woes. One idea is for the C’s to recall Fab Melo from the D-League and play him alongside Kevin Garnett.
- The Heat amassed overall quality this summer to position themselves to trade for the right big man at the right price, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The Heat still have time to find frontcourt help either at the trading deadline or buyout deadline.
- The ESPN.com staff looked at five of the top trade candidates in the league and weighed in on whether they should be moved. Most of the ESPN scribes are in agreement that the Cavaliers should part ways with Anderson Varejao, who is playing at an All-Star level and staying healthy.
Nets Notes: Ilyasova, Williams, Johnson
The Nets have been struggling as of late and people are trying to find answers for the team's recent slide. With the Jazz coming into Brooklyn tonight, Deron Williams opened up about his time in Utah and admitted that he has struggled to fit in with coach Avery Johnson's system. Here's more on the Nets..
- The Nets are reportedly interested in Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova, but it would be difficult for the two sides to match up for a trade, writes Dan Sinclair of Brew Hoop. The big man has a $7.9MM average annual salary and everyone on the Nets' roster makes either more than $9.6MM or less than $3.1MM. Beyond the logistics, there's also the question of whether the Bucks would be interested in dealing Ilyasova just one year into his new deal.
- Williams' open pining for Jerry Sloan's system could be viewed as subtle criticism of Johnson's offense, writes Howard Beck of the New York Times. The guard said that there are too many isolation sets in the Nets' offense, but an Eastern Conference scout noted that the U.C.L.A. sets that Johnson is running now appear to be in place for Williams’s benefit as he never used them in Dallas.
- It's pretty early in Williams' five-year, $98MM deal for him to pine for Sloan, tweets Jeff Caplan of NBA.com.
Deron Williams On Johnson, Nets, Jazz
In February of 2011, Jazz head coach Jerry Sloan resigned after 23 years with the organization. Shortly after it happened, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports that Sloan stepped away largely because of repeated clashes with star guard Deron Williams. Weeks later, Utah sent Williams to the Nets for guard Devin Harris, forward Derrick Favors, two first round draft picks, and $3MM in cash.
Both Williams and Sloan have denied that their rift led to Sloan’s resignation, but multiple reports saw it differently. As the Nets get set to host the Jazz tomorrow night, Williams opened up to reporters about his time in Utah and difficulties in Brooklyn just months after signing a five-year, $98MM deal to stay put. Here’s a look at some of the highlights, courtesy of Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News..
On difficulties adjusting to coach Avery Johnson‘s offense:
“I’ve really had injuries I’ve been dealing with the whole time. I didn’t have the talent around me I did there. Their system was a great system for my style of play, I am a system player. I loved coach (Jerry) Sloan’s system there, I loved the offense there…In college (at Illinois), we ran the motion offense. A lot of cutting, a lot passing, a lot of screening, a lot of extra passes. I’m used to just movement. So I’m still trying to adjust. It’s been an adjustment for me.
On making things work in Brooklyn:
“I believe I can adapt to anything. We’re still a young team. Things don’t happen overnight. It’s still just December. We’re working on it.“
On being traded from Utah:
“I understand what they were doing. It was smart on their point, because there was a possibility that I wouldn’t have come back.”
Nets Pursuing Ersan Ilyasova
Ersan Ilyasova is off to a disconcerting start after re-signing with the Bucks for five years and $40MM this summer, having been benched amid declines in just about every statistical category. It would be reasonable to expect that the Nets, one of Ilyasova's suitors in the offseason, would feel thankful they're not the ones stuck with his contract, but according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times, Brooklyn is still trying to acquire the 6'9" Turkish big man. Woelfel spoke about the Nets' renewed pursuit with Robert Haack Diamond of WSSP radio in Milwaukee, and NetsDaily provides the transcript.
Woelfel speculated that the Bucks might want to take back MarShon Brooks and Tyshawn Taylor as part of the deal, though there'd have to be more players going the Bucks' way to make the salaries match. Brooks "would love coming to Milwaukee," Woelfel said, suggesting that would still be the case even if Brooks hadn't seen his minutes cut drastically with the Nets this season.
The Nets turned their attention to Kris Humphries over the summer once Ilyasova was off the market, but Humphries, too, has been a disappointment and finds himself benched after signing a two-year, $12MM contract. He might be someone the Nets send the other way in a deal, though that's merely speculation as well. If Humphries were part of the deal, the Bucks would be the team that had to add players to the mix in order to make the salaries match.
Most players who signed a contract became eligible to be traded on Saturday, but Ilyasova is one of several players who can't be traded until January 15th. He's averaging 8.9 points per game, down from 13.0 last season, 5.5 rebounds per night, off from last year's 8.8 RPG clip, and he's shooting just 39.9% after hitting on 49.2% of his field goal attempts in 2011/12. Though he's only 25 years old, Diamond and Woelfel went over a few of the other names in the Bucks frontcourt, reasoning that Milwaukee might prefer to go with Larry Sanders, John Henson, Tobias Harris and Ekpe Udoh, all of whom are the same age or younger than Ilyasova.
Atantic Notes: Casey, Teletovic, Meeks
The latest news and notes from around the Atlantic Division on Sunday afternoon:
- Despite rumors that Dwane Casey's job is in jeopardy, Doug Smith of the Toronto Star backs the Raptors coach and notes that perception around the league is generally optimistic about Casey and the team's future.
- Mirza Teletovic was used to being the focal point of his team in Europe, so it's been a challenge for him to adjust to being on the end of the Nets' bench this season, as Newsday's Roderick Boone chronicles.
- Mark Narducci of the Philadelphia Inquirer talks to Lakers guard Jodie Meeks, who reflects on the 76ers organization where he spent the first three seasons of his career as his new team prepares to play his former one.
- Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com reports that Iman Shumpert and Amare Stoudemire are making progress toward returning to the Knicks.
Odds & Ends: Wizards, Ebanks, Nets, Celtics
Wizards owner Ted Leonsis used his personal blog to address a report this week by Michael Lee of The Washington Post that the Wizards turned down a trade for James Harden. Leonsis denies that finances were a factor in the team's decision, and points out the trade wouldn't have put the team over the luxury tax. However, Lee didn't write that the trade would make Washington a taxpayer, surmising instead that the team would eventually have to pay the tax if it wanted to keep Harden, John Wall and the rest of its post-trade core together. Here's who else is making news on an 11-game night in the NBA.
- Eric Pincus of the Los Angeles Times thinks Devin Ebanks might not be with the Lakers much longer, though he points out that he's one of a handful of players who can veto trades this season (Sulia link).
- More than half of the players on the Nets roster become eligible to be traded tomorrow, but Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News tweets that the team isn't planning any moves.
- Sports Illustrated's Ian Thomsen isn't high on the Celtics, but he doesn't foresee the team making changes in an effort to win a title this season, he tells CSNNE's Sports Tonight (link via CSNNE.com).
- This year's class of college sophomore draft prospects is especially deep, writes Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider only). Centers Cody Zeller and Alex Len, two potential No. 1 overall picks, sit atop Ford's ranking of the top 10 sophomores.
- Eddie Johnson of HoopsHype points to the shortcomings of Eric Maynor this season and speculates that the Thunder may look to add another point guard to back up Russell Westbrook.
- Pacers rookie guard Orlando Johnson would have been sent down this weekend for his second D-League assignment if not for Lance Stephenson's right ankle injury, notes Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star.
- After passing along a pair of reports that linked Carlos Arroyo to teams in Italy and Turkey, Sportando's Emiliano Carchia believes the nine-year NBA vet is down to a single option overseas. Arroyo last played in the Association in 2010/11, splitting the season between the Heat and Celtics.
Spears On Trade Candidates
In addition to the well-documented cases of Pau Gasol, Jose Calderon and Anderson Varejao, Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports shares a litany of tidbits from high-ranking executives on trade candidates from around the league. Here's the chatter going on about each player:
- Andrea Bargnani, Raptors — "Toronto definitely wants to move Bargnani," a GM told Spears.
- MarShon Brooks, Nets — The Nets put him on the trading block over the summer, but his rookie-scale contract is making it hard for the team to part with him, since there are few more valuable players on the market with a matching salary.
- Andrew Bynum, Sixers — The Sixers are trying to find another starting center, according to Spears, who hears from a GM who figures the team is starting to get panicked about Bynum health. "They could get a really interesting deal for (Bynum)," the GM said. "I could see them doing that."
- Tyreke Evans, Kings — Despite a meeting with GM Geoff Petrie that went well, according to a source close to Evans, the Kings will trade him if they don't think they can afford to re-sign him as a restricted free agent this summer.
- Tyler Hansbrough, Pacers — Spears speculates that the team could trade him for help at the wing.
- Gerald Henderson, Bobcats — Like Evans, Henderson will likely be dealt if the team decides against re-signing the restricted free agent over the summer.
- Kevin Love, Timberwolves — "I don't think that's a match that is permanent in Minnesota," an assistant GM tells Spears. "I'm not saying they're shopping, but if they can get the right deal they would look at it. And I don't think he wants to be there."
- Paul Millsap, Jazz — The Jazz are more likely to trade Millsap than Al Jefferson because Millsap, who makes almost half as much money, will "go to the highest bidder" in free agency next summer, according to a GM.
- Timofey Mozgov, Nuggets — With Mozgov a restricted free agent next summer, the Nuggets are likely to go with Kosta Koufos and JaVale McGee in the middle instead, and with other Nuggets set to hit the market, a rival GM tells Spears that Denver won't pay the luxury tax.
- Derrick Williams, Timberwolves — Both player and team would be pleased with a trade, and an executive for another team warns that Williams' value is shrinking as he continues to sit on Minnesota's bench.
Eastern Notes: Bynum, Blatche, Wizards, Scott
On the heels of Andrew Bynum's comments yesterday, in which he suggested he could miss another month, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld says league sources wonder if Bynum's prolonged rehab is about trying to get healthy for his upcoming free agency. However, 76ers sources tell Kyler that if the team remains in the hunt and Bynum returns at some point in January, they're okay with the wait.
Here are a few more Tuesday notes out of the Eastern Conference:
- Andray Blatche and the Nets are both reaping the benefits of Brooklyn's willingness to bring the ex-Wizard aboard on a minimum-salary deal, writes ESPN.com's David Thorpe in an Insider-only piece.
- Despite working out a couple point guards over the weekend, the Wizards are staying the course and not adding anyone to the roster for now, according to Gene Wang of the Washington Post. "We’re looking at different scenarios," coach Randy Wittman said. "Obviously brought a couple guys in [on Sunday], looked at, and we’re still, we haven’t done anything. Don’t know when or if we will do anything, but we’re looking at different scenarios, different options, different people. We’re not going to make a snap quick judgment. There’s not a guy out there right now that warrants that, so we’re going to take our time and look at some different guys and see what best fits us moving forward."
- With the Bakersfield Jam not scheduled to play their next game until Friday, the Hawks are set to recall Mike Scott from their D-League affiliate, says Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
- While one school of thought suggests the Bulls shouldn't bring Derrick Rose back from his ACL injury until the 2013/14 season, Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times explains why that would be playing it too safe.
Coaching Rumors: Suns, Wizards, Pistons, Kings
We're about a quarter of the way through the NBA regular season, which is enough of a sample size that we can say certain teams have underperformed so far. Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today take a look at the coaching situations for a few of those teams in their latest piece, examining whether any head coaches are in danger of being let go. We touched on Dwane Casey's situation with the Raptors in a post this morning, but here are the rest of Amick's and Zillgitt's updates:
- After Suns owner Robert Sarver told ESPN.com's Chris Broussard yesterday that Alvin Gentry wasn't on the hot seat, Amick and Zillgitt spoke to Sarver as well. Sarver's vote of confidence in this case was even stronger, as he told USA Today that Gentry's job is safe for the rest of the season.
- Like the Raptors, the Suns may explore an on-court change rather than a coaching move, with Michael Beasley a candidate to be involved — according to USA Today, there's some disagreement between the team and player about what his role should be. However, Sarver still hopes Beasley will work things out in Phoenix: "We're working with him. He's working hard, and we still expect to be able to (salvage the situation)."
- The Wizards are still paying their last head coach, Flip Saunders, so they're unlikely to replace Randy Wittman this year, since it would mean paying three different coaches.
- Pistons owner Tom Gores has high expectations for his club, and wants to see some progress toward the playoffs this year in Detroit, making it a potential make-or-break season for Lawrence Frank.
- Keith Smart's job with the Kings appears safe, though team president Geoff Petrie's future isn't quite so clear.
- The Nets still have faith in Avery Johnson and expect some peaks and valleys with the team's overhauled roster. However, there's an expectation that the team will not only qualify for the postseason but be in position to "make an impact once they get there."
- Despite a slow start for the Pacers, there's still hope in Indiana that Frank Vogel is around to coach the team for years to come.
Eastern Notes: Cavaliers, Green, Lopez
Jason Lloyd of the Beacon Journal debunks the misconception that the Cavaliers will be forced to spend big in free agency this summer as a result of the NBA's minimum team salary floor requirement. Next season, teams will be required to spend at least 90 percent of the league's salary cap number next year. Although Cleveland's total amount of committed salaries could fall short of that number, Lloyd points out that the Cavs will be allowed to make up for the difference by dispersing the remaining required amount to its players. Here's more out of the Eastern Conference tonight:
- After initial struggles, Jeff Green appears to be looking more like the player the Celtics envisioned when they inked him to a 4-year, $36MM deal this summer, says A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com
- Brook Lopez's recovery from a sprained right foot hasn't progressed as quickly as the Nets have hoped, writes Mike Mazzeo of ESPN New York.
- Count George Karl among those who thinks that Knicks star Carmelo Anthony is primed to eventually win an NBA title (Matt Ehalt of ESPN New York reports).
- Pacers head coach Frank Vogel is considering more playing time for guard Ben Hansbrough and forward Jeff Pendergraph at the expense of those who have been struggling in Indiana's current second unit lately.
- Several of HoopsWorld's analysts weighed in on who they feel are the most surprising teams in the NBA thus far. Out of the Eastern conference, they referenced the Knicks' dominance, the Bobcats' improvement compared to last season, and the Raptors' difficulty in living up to expectations.
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times says that the ticket to Bulls forward Jimmy Butler earning playing time has been his defensive versatility.
- John Denton of NBA.com examines the niche that Moe Harkless has found with coach Jacque Vaughn, who likes the progression his rookie has made in the starting rotation. Denton also provides a minor update the current statuses of Hedo Turkoglu and Al Harrington, saying that while Turkoglu still appears to be out indefinitely, Harrington could return in the next two weeks.
- Raptors guard Alan Anderson went through his workout today without any pain and believes that he is one practice away from returning (Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun reports).