Eastern Notes: Noah, Bulls, Pierce
Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times heard from Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau that Joakim Noah might require surgery on his right foot this summer but will opt for rehab as his first option. Cowley also mentions that Chicago will likely have to find a way to re-tool their bench with several one-year deals again, as Thibodeau said that the market will dictate whether or not they'll be able to carry over several of their key role players – namely Nate Robinson, Marco Belinelli, and Nazr Mohammed - into next season. Here's more out of the Eastern Conference tonight:
- Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe writes that even though Paul Pierce's future in Boston is yet to be determined, one source says that Pierce's family is already preparing for possible relocation while anticipating that the Celtics will look to trade him or complete a buyout this summer.
- Charles F. Gardner of the Journal Sentinel opines that the Bucks could be looking for backcourt help in the upcoming draft.
- Former Pittsburgh center Steven Adams would be ecstatic if he wound up with the Wizards, according to J. Michael of CSN Washington. While it isn't likely that Washington would use their lottery pick on Adams, it seems sensible that they'd target the 7-footer with one of their second round picks if he was still on the draft board.
- Michael-Carter Williams would relish an opportunity with the 76ers if they drafted him, notes Keith Pompey of Philly.com.
- Mary Schmitt Boyer of The Plain Dealer observes that Greg Oden has been looking great in his workouts as he targets an eventual return to the NBA. As we've heard before, Oden has been linked to a handful of Eastern Conference teams, especially the Cavaliers.
Draft Combine Updates: Thursday Evening
- Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy tweets that international prospect Mouhammadou Jaiteh will forego Eurocamp and will work out for NBA teams instead, possibly as early as a group workout with Minnesota.
- The Oregonian's Jason Quick reports that the Trail Blazers met with James Southerland yesterday.
2:47pm: More afternoon combine updates from Chicago:
- Ben McLemore has already interviewed with the Cavaliers, Timberwolves, and Pelicans, according to SI.com's Chris Mannix (via Twitter). McLemore expects to meet with the Bobcats, Magic, and Pistons tonight, according to various reports (all Twitter links).
- Victor Oladipo will also meet with the Pistons tonight, tweets Keith Langlois of Pistons.com.
- Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune (via Twitter) adds Otto Porter to the list of prospects interviewed by the Timberwolves, but says the T-Wolves won't get a chance to meet with Oladipo, who was on the team's wish list.
- Jamaal Franklin tells Jason Quick of the Oregonian that when he met with the Trail Blazers yesterday, the whole meeting consisted of a psychological test (Twitter link).
- Andre Roberson met with the Magic yesterday, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter).
- Shams Charania of RealGM.com has a list of the 12 prospects the Bulls plan to work out on Monday (Twitter link).
- Jeff Withey is "extremely excited" to be meeting with the Sixers, writes Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
1:35pm: We covered the Thursday morning updates from Chicago's predraft camp earlier today, but with so many tidbits surfacing throughout the day, we're starting an afternoon post to round up the latest notes:
- ESPN.com's Chad Ford hears that two international prospects have received first-round guarantees: Dennis Schroeder and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Twitter link).
- Michael Carter-Williams has met with several teams, including the Trail Blazers, Bobcats, Pistons, Timberwolves, and Thunder, according to various reports (all links go to Twitter). Carter-Williams is hearing he could be drafted anywhere between third and 15th overall, tweets Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com.
- We heard this morning that the Celtics had spoken to Cody Zeller and Glen Rice Jr. Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe adds a few more names to the list of Boston interviewees (via Twitter): Mason Plumlee, Rudy Gobert, and Victor Oladipo.
- C.J. McCollum won't meet with the Trail Blazers this week, according to Jason Quick of the Oregonian (Twitter link). However, he will meet with the Pistons tomorrow, according to Keith Langlois of Pistons.com (via Twitter), and has already interviewed with the Magic, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter). SI.com's Chris Mannix (Twitter link) adds the Thunder, Nuggets, and Cavaliers to the list of teams who have spoekn to McCollum, who has 15 total interviews scheduled.
- Robbins notes in a separate tweet that the Magic also met with Myck Kabongo.
- Isaiah Canaan will meet with the Wizards on Friday, tweets J. Michael of CSNWashington.com.
- Canaan, Andre Roberson, and Grant Jerrett all met with the Pistons last night, tweets Langlois.
- Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports (via Twitter) that the Bucks met with Shane Larkin yesterday and will work him out later this month.
- Erik Murphy has interviews lined up with the Grizzlies, Clippers, and possibly the Pacers, tweets Robbins.
- Seth Curry will meet today with the Lakers, Rockets, and Knicks, tweets Bonnell.
Bulls Links: Robinson, Korver, Brewer, Rose
One possible silver lining of the Chicago's elimination at the hands of the Heat is that it'll lead to an upswing in Bulls content on Hoops Rumors. Since the Bulls' Game Five loss, we've already heard that the team is expected to buy out Richard Hamilton this summer, and a number of other articles on Chicago's offseason have popped up since then. Here are a handful of them:
- Acknowledging that there might be "limited space" for him, Nate Robinson says he'd love to return to the Bulls next season, according to Nick Friedell of ESPNChicago.com. Presumably, Robinson isn't referring to limited roster spots, but rather the limited cap flexibility the Bulls have to offer him a raise.
- In a separate piece, Friedell examines which players on the current roster will return to the Bulls next season, concluding that Robinson is probably gone. Friedell also expects the team to replace several bench players, and suggests that former Bulls and free-agents-to-be Kyle Korver and Ronnie Brewer could be good fits.
- K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes that the focus in Chicago this offseason will remain on Derrick Rose, while Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld shares his thoughts on how the circus surrounding Rose's possible return could have been avoided.
- Scoop Jackson of ESPNChicago.com would like to see the Bulls' front office avoid making any major moves this summer, opting instead to bring back the current roster relatively intact.
Bulls Expected To Buy Out Richard Hamilton
Although the Bulls ultimately decided not to move Richard Hamilton at the trade deadline, the team is expected to part ways with the veteran guard this summer, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Johnson writes that Hamilton will be bought out by the Bulls, though he still hopes to play at least two more seasons in the NBA.
Hamilton, 35, is under contract for one more season, but his salary for next season is only partially guaranteed. While the Bulls would have to pay $5MM to retain Hamilton for the season, they could save $4MM of that total by buying him out for $1MM. Per Mark Deeks of ShamSports.com, an official decision on Hamilton is due by July 10th, the day after this year's July Moratorium, so it appears likely we'll see him released by then.
Significant portions of Hamilton's last two seasons with the Bulls have been wiped out by injuries. When healthy, he has played the equivalent of about one full season, averaging 10.5 PPG in 78 contests (22.9 MPG). Assuming he's officially waived, he'll join a group of unrestricted free agent shooting guards that includes Manu Ginobili, J.J. Redick, Kevin Martin, Tony Allen, Nick Young, and Chicago teammate Marco Belinelli.
Odds & Ends: Jazz, Bulls, Rose
Nothing like a little bit of bonus basketball to liven up a one game Sunday and the Warriors made the most of their extra frame against the Spurs. Stephen Curry has been the posterchild for Golden State throughout the postseason but it was Harrison Barnes who stepped up in a big way as he scored a game high 26 points. Here's tonight's look around the Association as San Antonio and Golden State are knotted at two a piece..
- Coaches without experience are more likely to succeed than retreads are when taking over sub-.500 teams that missed the playoffs the previous season, according to a Charlotte Observer study. A recent Hoops Rumors poll of this year's free agent coaching retreads saw Jerry Sloan voted as the most wanted of the bunch.
- Jody Genessy of The Deseret News rounds up the action from the Jazz's six-player pre-draft workout Saturday, drawing attention to the three playmakers among the group and the team's lack of a pure point guard under contract for next season.
- At the outset of the second round of the Bulls' series against the Heat, Derrick Rose strongly considered returning from his torn ACL injury but ultimately decided not to, a source told Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com. The Bulls are down 2-1 heading into tomorrow night's contest with Miami.
Central Notes: Cavs, Brown, Pistons, Bulls
Here's a look at the latest out of the Central division..
- Cavs coach Mike Brown is looking for long-armed perimeter athletes who can defend, rebound and score, and the team views Alonzo Gee, who started all 82 games this season, as a backup, writesTerry Pluto of The Plain Dealer.
- The Pistons' biggest pick won't come in the draft, it'll come in the selection of their next coach, opines Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News. Meanwhile, in the draft, Detroit will have a good deal of swing players to choose from but not much in terms of big men. Character will be important for Joe Dumars & Co. but they're also in a position to groom a young player thanks to their level-headed core.
- The Bulls just might have the right blueprint for today's smaller NBA, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Central Rumors: Cavs, Mayo, Bulls, Belinelli
After three games in both Eastern Conference Semifinals, the pair of Central Division representatives are in opposite positions. The Pacers are up 2-1, with a chance to push the Knicks to the edge with a win in Game Four at Indiana. The Bulls find themselves at the wrong end of a 2-1 series score against the Heat, with a virtual must win Monday night in Chicago. Here's more on the Bulls and a division rival that would probably welcome even an 0-3 playoff deficit these days:
- Bob Finnan of The News-Herald doesn't expect the Cavaliers to spend freely this summer, but suggests the team might make a run at O.J. Mayo.
- In her latest mailbag for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Mary Schmitt Boyer discusses Anderson Varejao's health and future in Cleveland, potential Cavs offseason moves, and more.
- The Bulls play defense with attitude, and that's what separates Tom Thibodeau from the similarly defensive-minded Mike Brown, as The Plain Dealer's Bud Shaw opines.
- In his NBA Saturday piece, HoopsWorld's Joel Brigham speculates that Nate Robinson and Marco Belinelli will command multiyear deals as free agents this summer. Brigham thinks that makes it unlikely the Bulls will re-sign them, given the team's incentive to clear cap space for next summer.
- David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune agrees that the Bulls have their eyes on 2014, though he believes re-signing Belinelli would be a worthwhile investment. Haugh also advises the team to wait until 2014 to amnesty Carlos Boozer.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
Eastern Notes: Prigioni, Nets, Bobcats, Redick
After spending 17 years playing professional basketball in Europe, Pablo Prigioni has enjoyed his first taste of the NBA this season with the Knicks. Prigioni will be a free agent at season's end, but George Bass, who represents Prigioni, tells Jared Zwerling of ESPNNewYork.com that his client is interested in re-signing with the Knicks.
"Pablo really enjoyed himself here, and he has interest in playing again next year," Bass said. "He's fallen in love with New York, there's no doubt. The Knicks are just a first-class organization, so it's been good all the way around."
Here are a few more updates from around the Eastern Conference:
- With Bojan Bogdanovic expected to sign with the Nets this summer, Tim Bontemps of the New York Post examines what ramifications such a move would have for Brooklyn.
- There's no timetable for the Bobcats' coaching search, which figures to be lengthy and include plenty of candidates, tweets Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
- Before he makes a decision in free agency in July, J.J. Redick plans to consult with Mike Krzyzewski, his former coach at Duke, as Andrew Gruman of FOX Sports Wisconsin writes.
- A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com identifies a few possible offseason targets for the Celtics.
- Over at Bulls.com, Sam Smith's latest mailbag focuses primarily on the current Bulls/Heat series, but also looks ahead to the summer. Asked about Nate Robinson's value on the open market, Smith predicts Robinson will be looking at an annual salary in the $3MM neighborhood.
Eastern Notes: Rose, Cavaliers, 76ers
- Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer provides a breakdown of the Cavaliers' key free agents and lists who he'd keep as well as let go.
- Tom Moore of Philly Burbs thinks that landing a proven head coach for the 76ers will be challenging without a star or the ability to attract a big time free agent.
- Jackie MacMullan of ESPN Boston writes that Doc Rivers' job will become infinitely more difficult without Kevin Garnett, who has been a vocal leader and loyal supporter of the nine-year Celtics coach.
- Paul Pierce says that it will be up to GM Danny Ainge to determine whether or not Boston's core should be dismantled this summer, writes Jimmy Golen of the Associated Press.
Odds & Ends: Celtics, Wolves, Blazers, Hunter
The Celtics made quite an attempt at a comeback, both in the series and in tonight's Game Six, but ultimately the Knicks polished off Boston this evening to set up a second-round date with the Pacers. The loss left some in Boston's locker room wondering about their futures as they spoke with reporters. Coach Doc Rivers isn't entirely sure he'll want to come back for next season, but he anticipates he'll opt to return to the bench when he makes up his mind this summer. Rivers isn't certain Kevin Garnett will come back, either, though that decision is up to KG. For his part, Garnett says he's not ready to make up his mind, but suggests the team's decision on whether to keep Paul Pierce will have heavy influence.
Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com rounds up more comments from the C's as they begin their offseason, and as they ponder their next moves, here's what's happening elsewhere across the NBA:
- Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune examines Glen Taylor's decision to abandon the idea of selling the Wolves, and points out the owner's cryptic remarks about his plan to keep the team in Minnesota.
- Sources tell Henry Abbott of ESPN.com that the Trail Blazers paid the Wolves $1.5MM to settle their dispute over Martell Webster, and Abbott explains how the outcome can be considered a coup for ousted Wolves GM David Kahn.
- Lindsey Hunter isn't assured of remaining the coach of the Suns, but if he's bounced, he shouldn't count on a soft landing with the Pistons, writes Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
- On the eve of Game Seven against the Nets, Sam Smith of Bulls.com answers reader questions about Derrick Rose and the Bulls' offseason plans.
- Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times wonders if soon-to-be free agent Kirk Hinrich's postseason performance has made him too expensive for the Bulls to re-sign.