Trade Candidate: Anthony Morrow
Yesterday, Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld wrote that the Nets wouldn't mind clearing some future cap room by moving Anthony Morrow or Jordan Farmar before the trade deadline. Both guards should draw interest from clubs, but the sharp-shooting Morrow would bring in the greater haul of the two.
While Morrow's defense is less-than-stellar, the 26-year-old has shown the ability to ignite an offense with his perimeter play. Morrow has cracked the top ten in three-point field goal percentage in each of his three NBA seasons.
Roughly one-third of the way through this year's 66-game season, the Nets already appear to be looking beyond 2012. New Jersey has just over $34MM committed in 2012/13 salaries but would like to give themselves as much flexibility as possible as they look ahead. Morrow will earn $4MM next season to close out the three-year pact he inked with the Nets in the summer of 2010.
General Manager Billy King & Co. talked with the Grizzlies earlier this month about trading Morrow and a draft pick in exchange for O.J. Mayo, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports tweeted. Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal later reported that the Nets also offered a package of Farmar, a draft pick, and cash considerations for Mayo. For the Nets, the motivation for either deal would be to unload 2012/13 salary by taking on Mayo's expiring $5.6MM contract.
If they do not receive a two-guard in return, moving Morrow would leave the Nets remarkably thin at the position as rookie MarShon Brooks is sidelined indefinitely with a fractured pinky toe. However, if the Nets are truly looking beyond this campaign, it's a sacrifice that they might be willing to make. Contenders and non-contenders alike can be expected to inquire on Morrow in the coming weeks and he can be had at a great value for a club willing to part with an expiring contract.
Williams Will Consider Exercising One-Year Option
Nets point guard Deron Williams won't rule out picking up his one-year, $17.8MM option at season's end, writes Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. Williams has been expected to seek a long-term contract on the open market this summer but the 27-year-old said that he's open to putting off his free agency until the 2013 offseason.
“Yeah [picking up the option is something I’m considering]. I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Williams told the Daily News on Monday. “At the end of the season, I’m going to figure out what’s going on, I’m going to sit down with my agent and look at every option possible.”
As a player with seven years in the league, Williams can sign a new deal worth up to 30% of a team's salary cap. That contract could be a five-year pact if he opts to stay in New Jersey or a four-year deal if he goes elsewhere.
If the point guard signs with a different team this summer and renounces his Bird rights, he'll earn about $700K less next season. A new long-term, max deal with the Nets would pay Williams roughly $200,000 less in 2013 than the one-year option.
Bondy points out that Dwight Howard has a similar one-year option available, though it's unclear if the former first-overall pick would want to deal with another year of speculation and uncertainty.
Nets Notes: Johnson, Trades, Williams
Head coach Avery Johnson appeared on YES and WFAN this afternoon to speak with Mike Francesa about a few Nets subjects. Here are some highlights, courtesy of Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger and Andy Vazquez of the Bergen Record:
- The Nets aren't trying to trade any of their players, according to Johnson, who added that there's no "circus atmosphere" around the team (Twitter links).
- Johnson said he gets along very well with Deron Williams, and that the point guard is excited about the direction of the franchise (Twitter link).
- Johnson predicts that activity on Dwight Howard will pick up after the All-Star Game, and that we'll see a lot of movement in March (Twitter link).
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News is skeptical about Johnson's comments, pointing out that the coach made similar statements nearly a year ago, right before the Nets traded for Williams. I'm inclined to agree. Even if we assume he's kept up to date on the latest talks, Johnson figures to be more concerned with keeping his players happy and motivated than updating fans on the team's trade discussions.
Odds & Ends: Wizards, Adelman, Irving
Notes from around the league on Monday night:
- Washington's rebuilding efforts must begin with buying out Rashard Lewis and using the amnesty clause on Andray Blatche, writes Ben Golliver of CBSSports.com. Blatche will be out three to five weeks with a strained calf muscle, coach Randy Wittman reported. The Wizards announced they're recalling center Hamady Ndiaye from the Iowa Energy, the team's D-League affiliate.
- Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman, formerly with the Rockets, says there was a lack of communication between himself and Houston owner Leslie Alexander, reports Jonathan Feigan of the Houston Chronicle.
- Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio analyzes the progress of top-pick Kyrie Irving.
- Ben Rohrbach of WEEI's Celtics Blog says Boston's struggles this season can't be pinned on the team's bench play.
- The injury-depleted Nets may be primed to make a move. They figure to have only 10 players available for Tuesday's game with Indiana, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.
- Teams in need of depth on the wing won't be able to turn to Sonny Weems. His Lithuanian team told Sportando they won't be letting him out of his contract before the team's season is over.
Latest On Dwight Howard
Derrick Rose would be open to having Dwight Howard join him in Chicago, as indicated by his comments to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune. Here's the latest about the Magic big man who could be on the move:
- Howard and Milwaukee's Stephen Jackson have spoken with each other and like the idea of joining Deron Williams on the Nets, said ESPN's Ric Bucher via the Nets are Scorching blog.
- The Magic's struggles are putting a damper on any hopes Howard might stick around, writes ESPN's John Hollinger in an Insider post.
- Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel says the Magic would be better served dealing Howard right away instead of at the trade deadline.
- Pat McManamon of FoxSportsOhio.com believes the drama around Howard's trade demands is affecting the team's play.
Kyler On Rockets, Nets, Augustin, Chandler
Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld took a look this morning at a few names he expects to be discussed in the weeks leading up to March's trade deadline. Here are a few highlights from the piece:
- The Jazz and Grizzlies are among the many teams that have some interest in Chris Kaman.
- The Rockets have been active, but are seeking a significant return for players like Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger, and Luis Scola.
- With just over $34MM committed in 2012/13 salaries, the Nets wouldn't mind clearing some future cap room by moving Anthony Morrow or Jordan Farmar prior to the trade deadline.
- If the Cavaliers are still in the mix for a playoff spot as the deadline approaches, don't expect them to become sellers.
- Although the Bobcats aren't shopping D.J. Augustin, Kyler hears from sources close to the team that they'll listen to offers if they can obtain draft picks and gain financial flexibility.
- When Wilson Chandler returns to the NBA from China, the Raptors plan to "make life hard" for the Nuggets. Denver has the rights to Chandler as a restricted free agent, but Toronto may try to move Jose Calderon or Leandro Barbosa to gather assets for a sign-and-trade offer for Chandler.