Eastern Notes: Knicks, Randle, Machado, Lue
Derek Fisher believes that Carmelo Anthony can thrive in the triangle offense, reports Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com. According to the article, Fisher also believes the team can build a contender around Anthony. Fisher said, “I believe Carmelo can and will thrive in the triangle system. He’s actually the prototypical triangle player because of his versatility we can use him in all five positions on the floor. That’s the beauty of the system — being able to put players around on different spots on the floor. I believe [Anthony] can be great and that’s why I believe we can be great right away. Because we have that guy that we can anchor that system around to make the game easier for him but also allow for all of our team to be impactful and to give us something every single night.”
More from the east:
- Scott Machado will play for the Raptors Summer League team, reports Keith Schlosser of SB Nation. Machado averaged 10.2 PPG, 6.0 APG, and 1.4 steals in fourteen games with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA D-League this past season.
- It was reported earlier that Julius Randle may need surgery to repair his right foot and his recovery time could be as long as two months. Andrew Unterberger of The 700 Level examines how this could result in Randle potentially slipping to the Sixers at pick number ten in the draft.
- The Cavs are giving Tyronn Lue a second interview this weekend, but they’re concerned about the 37-year-old’s inexperience, reports Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio. Amico also hears that owner Dan Gilbert isn’t mandating that GM David Griffin hire a marquee name.
- John Zitzler of Basketball Insiders looks at what the Bucks can do to with the surplus of big men on their roster.
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Central Notes: Bulls, Bucks, Embiid, Mirotic
The Cavs appear to be making some progress in their head coaching search, even if David Blatt is unlikely to announce he’s taken the job in his press conference today and the team’s contact with Mark Jackson seems preliminary. That’s far from the only storyline in a busy Central Division, as we detail:
- The Bulls are having trouble finding a trade partner as they attempt to package picks Nos. 16 and 19 to move up in the draft, a source tells Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago and Denver reportedly had serious talks about a pick swap, but perhaps those discussions are no longer active.
- A poll shows little public support for taxpayer funding of a new arena for the Bucks, reports Don Walker of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Owners Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry have said public money will be necessary in spite of a combined $200MM that Edens, Lasry and former owner Herb Kohl have pledged toward the project.
- Gery Woelfel of The Racine Journal Times hears the Cavs don’t want to trade the No. 1 overall pick and have zeroed in on Joel Embiid, but it’s unclear if that information came before or after Embiid’s workout and physical with the team Wednesday (Twitter link).
- Nikola Mirotic appears closer to playing for the Bulls next season than he is to remaining with Real Madrid, writes César Nanclares of TuBasket.com (translation via HoopsHype). Still, he has a nearly $3.4MM buyout clause in his deal that only applies to this summer, as Nanclares points out.
- I examined the Bucks in the latest installment of the Hoops Rumors Offseason Outlook series earlier today.
Latest On Kevin Love
It seems all but inevitable that Kevin Love will be traded prior to the start of the 2014/15 season. The big man spoke on ESPN’s SportsNation today and revealed his primary concern is playing for a winning team. When he was asked if he wanted out of Minnesota, Love stopped short of saying yes but replied:
“My agent is handling everything at this point … I’m hoping that everything works out for all parties involved.”
Here’s more on Love:
- In the same segment, Love spoke to the appeal of playing under Phil Jackson with the Knicks: “I think any time you have Phil Jackson involved in any organization, you’re going to definitely look at it and it’s definitely intriguing. The Knicks are definitely a place where anybody would like to go.”
- In a separate interview with Fox Sports, Love referred to the Wolves as “they” and didn’t sound enamored with the organization, writes Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press.
- Love shot down the notion that he wouldn’t be interested in a trade to the Cavs during a Q&A session with Jason McIntyre of the Big Lead. “I don’t think the Cleveland [trade rumors] are outlandish at all,” said Love. “They have a great young foundation.“
- The Rockets are losing faith that they have a shot at trading for Love, and the general belief within the organization is that other clubs can put together much better packages than anything Houston can offer, notes Sam Amick of USA Today (on Twitter).
Draft Notes: Behanan, Celtics, Mavs, Fair
Today’s the day that the Cavs put Joel Embiid through a workout and physical, so the top pick in the draft could be hanging in the balance. There are plenty of scenarios involving the top pick and even more for the remaining 59, and we detail the latest on prospects working out for teams:
- Dower will work out for the Celtics today after all, having taken Oliver’s place, tweets Baxter Holmes of The Boston Globe.
Earlier updates:
- Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv adds the Rockets and Bulls to the list of teams auditioning Chane Behanan (Twitter link).
- Javon McCrea, Artem Klimenko, Daniel Miller and Devin Oliver are the previously unreported players working out for the Celtics today, as Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston notes via Twitter. Sam Dower, who was reportedly set to take part, is not on the list. Doug McDermott, Jerami Grant and C.J. Fair are among those scheduled to audition on Thursday for Boston, tweets Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com. This will presumably be McDermott’s second workout for the team, since he apparently already had one.
- McCrea is also showing off for the Mavs on Thursday, Zagoria tweets.
- Fair has the Sixers and Kings on his schedule this week, too, Zagoria also reports via Twitter.
- Grant, Cleanthony Early, Glenn Robinson III, Josh Huestis, De’Mon Brooks, Will Sheehey, Murphy Burnatowski and Shaun Glover are all showing off for the Raptors today, the team announced (Twitter links).
- Sean Armand will work out for the Magic, Zagoria reports (on Twitter).
- University of Michigan center Jordan Morgan worked out for the Cavs on Monday, as he told Rod Beard of The Detroit News.
Cavs, Lakers Interested In Nate McMillan
Two NBA teams with head coaching vacancies have spoken with representatives of Pacers assistant Nate McMillan, sources tell Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com. The Cavs and the Lakers are the only two teams still without a head coach, so presumably they’re the ones with interest, and Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio confirms that those are indeed the clubs who’ve reached out (Twitter link). It’s not clear whether the teams have spoken with McMillan directly, but Haynes writes that the former Blazers and SuperSonics head man hasn’t interviewed and doesn’t have an interview scheduled.
A report last month made note of Knicks president Phil Jackson‘s affection for McMillan’s coaching ability, but McMillan never emerged as a serious candidate in New York as Jackson preferred to go with an inexperienced coach, hiring Derek Fisher on Tuesday. McMillan also appeared to be on the Warriors short list before they went with Steve Kerr.
Last summer was a busier one for McMillan, who was reportedly a candidate for openings with the Clippers, Nuggets, Pistons, Hawks and Bucks. A long playoff run with the Pacers might have forestalled his chances with other clubs this spring, but now that the 49-year-old is free for the summer, his prospects for landing a head coaching job appear to be looking up. He’s 478-452 in parts of 12 seasons as an NBA bench boss, but he only made it past the first round of the playoffs once, with Seattle in 2005, and those SuperSonics lost in the second round.
And-Ones: Messina, Embiid, Gordon
Fort Wayne Mad Ants president Jeff Potter is under the impression that his club will indeed have affiliations, with 13 NBA teams this coming season, as he tells Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Mad Ants will feature no more than four players on assignment from the NBA at any a time, with the spots alloted to NBA clubs on a first-come, first-served basis, Potter adds. Here’s more from around the league:
- Spurs GM R.C. Buford denied an earlier report that claimed Ettore Messina was joining San Antonio’s coaching staff as an assistant, telling Mike Monroe of San Antonio Express-News that there has been no contact made with Messina, let alone a hire. “Is someone leaving our staff that I don’t know about?” Buford said. “We have not had one conversation with anyone about a coaching position for next season.”
- Joel Embiid is in Cleveland to undergo a physical with Cavs doctors in the hopes of alleviating concerns about his back, but Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Insider only) says that it will take more than medical clearance for Embiid to land at No. 1 in the draft. Ford writes that owner Dan Gilbert’s anxiousness to win immediately has influenced Cleveland’s draft choices in recent years. While scouts tell Ford that Embiid has the most potential of any 2014 prospect, they don’t expect him to be a steady contributor in his rookie season.
- Dirk Nowitzki tells Dwain Price of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he is likely to meet with Mavs owner Mark Cuban hastily regarding his impending free agency (Twitter link).
- The Celtics will work out Isaiah Austin and Sam Dower tomorrow, tweets Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com.
- The Wolves have been trying unsuccessfully to arrange a workout with Aaron Gordon, reports Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. The Wolves are struggling to convince top tier prospects to work out in general. Wolfson notes that the Wolves think more highly of Noah Vonleh and Julius Randle than they do Gordon (all Twitter links).
- John Calipari acknowledged that he had been approached by multiple NBA teams before signing an extension to stay with Kentucky in an interview with Kentucky Sports Radio (transcription via Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News). “It was significantly more money for me to leave than to stay,” Calipari said. “It kind of tells you where my mind is.”
Chuck Myron contributed to this post.
Ford On Sixers, Nuggets, Bulls, Lakers, Kings
The Sixers inquired with the Cavs about the No. 1 overall pick, as Chad Ford of ESPN.com reveals in his latest Insider-only mock draft. Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio wrote last week that a team with a top-three pick had done so, so it was either Philadelphia or Milwaukee. The Sixers aren’t willing to give up picks Nos. 3 and 10 to acquire the top selection, Ford writes. The ESPN.com scribe adds that it’s possible the team would offer Thaddeus Young and the No. 3 pick, though it’s unclear whether that’s just speculation. Andrew Wiggins is Philly’s prime target in the draft, but if they can’t take him at No. 3, they’ll go with either Joel Embiid or Jabari Parker, Ford hears, adding that while Dante Exum “isn’t out of the question” for that pick, he’d need to “wow” the team in his workout to get the nod. Ford has more significant news from the draft and elsewhere, as we detail here:
- The Nuggets and Bulls have had serious talks about a trade that would send the No. 11 pick to Chicago in exchange for the 16th and 19th overall selections, Ford hears. The Bulls want to move up in the draft so they can take a top-flight shooter, Ford says. Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post first reported that Denver was shopping the 11th pick last week.
- The Lakers are shopping the No. 7 pick, according to Ford, but the Kings are merely listening to offers for the eighth selection, Ford writes, clarifying his report from last week. The No. 8 selection has been linked to rumors involving Kevin Love.
- Sacramento is interested in point guards Dennis Schröder of the Hawks and Brandon Knight of the Bucks, Ford reports.
Draft Notes: Wiggins, Exum, Anderson
Andrew Wiggins has auditions for the Sixers and Bucks on his agenda in the next couple of weeks, but the Cavs will work him out closer to the draft, preferring to hire a coach before taking a look at key prospects, reports Chad Ford of ESPN.com (Twitter links). Ford and others have plenty more as draft prospects criss-cross North America to put themselves on display for teams, as we detail below:
- Ford adds the Sixers to the list of teams working out Dante Exum, but it looks like he won’t be headed to any team that doesn’t possess a top-four pick, Ford adds (Twitter links). The Cavs are the only top-four team without a workout on Exum’s docket.
- Kyle Anderson will work out for the Jazz, according to Anderson’s Twitter account (hat tip to Aaron Falk of The Salt Lake Tribune).
- Roscoe Smith is auditioning for the Rockets and Warriors, tweets Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.
- Travel issues prevented Jordan Adams, Markel Brown and Joe Harris from attending today’s workout with the Hornets as planned, prompting the team to add former University of North Carolina shooting guard Leslie McDonald as a substitute. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer has the details via Twitter.
- The Hornets will also take a look at Cory Jefferson this week, as Boston Globe correspondent Jake Fischer reports, adding that the power forward from Baylor will perform for the Wolves and Wizards, too (Twitter link).
- The Wizards, Pacers and Heat are on Keith Appling‘s workout schedule, Fischer also tweets. Fischer adds the Cavs and Wizards to the teams working out Bryce Cotton (Twitter link).
- Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Sam Dower and Markel Starks will join Jefferson and Appling in working out for the Wizards today, the team announced. Jamil Wilson will also take part, confirming an earlier report indicating that he was expected to work out for Washington.
- Chaz Williams will show off for the Jazz, Warriors, Bucks and Cavs over the next eight days, sources tell Josh Newman of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
And-Ones: Calipari, Izzo, Miller, Wizards
John Calipari wasn’t the only star college coach the Cavs reached out to, reveals Jason Lloyd of the Beacon Journal, who hears Kevin Ollie, Fred Hoiberg, Billy Donovan and Mike Krzyzewski all were contacted by Cleveland. Lloyd’s source adds that the Cavs offered Tom Izzo a coaching position that also would have given him total control of the franchise’s basketball operations, much like the role that the team proposed to Coach Cal. Here’s more from around the league:
- The Cavs have contacted around 11 candidates in an attempt to fill their coaching vacancy, writes Lloyd in the same piece.
- The decision on whether or not to bring back Andre Miller will probably be an easy one for the Wizards, opines J. Michael of CSNWashington.com. Washington holds a $4.6MM option on his deal for 2014/15 or could buy him out for $2MM.
- Former Marquette University forward Jamil Wilson, who had to cancel workouts with the Bucks and Pistons due to a sprained ankle, is expected to audition for the Wizards on Tuesday, tweets Gery Woelfel of the Journal Sentinel.
- Tim Bontemps of the New York Post looked back at the performance of Nets‘ midseason acquisition Marcus Thornton. Thornton turned into a key rotation player for Brooklyn down the stretch of the season and will earn ~$8.58MM in his walk year.
- The Thunder are the NBA’s smartest spenders as they have gotten more success out of less money than anyone else in the league, writes Glenn Davis of USA Today. OKC owns a 271-123 record over the last five seasons combined all while having payrolls that ranked in the bottom half of the league on average.
- Sean Meagher of The Oregonian wonders if the Trail Blazers should hold on to Wesley Matthews, a free agent after the 2014/15 season. Matthews is coming off of the best season of his career as a pro and is entering the final year of his five-year, $33MM deal.
- Former UNC standout Sean May will attend mini-camps with the Spurs and Warriors this month, according to HoopsHype (via Twitter).
- The Clippers will bring in Jordan Clarkson, Nick Johnson, Deonte Burton, and Sean Kilpatrick for workouts, reports Dan Woike of the Orange County Register.
- The Celtics could eye offense in this month’s draft, as Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com explains.
Charlie Adams contributed to this post.
Central Notes: Love, Wiggins, Parker, Calipari
The Bulls are in a long line of teams with interest in Kevin Love, writes K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Johnson suggests that a deal involving Taj Gibson, Jimmy Butler, draft picks and/or the rights to Nikola Mirotic, and expiring deals could get it done. The question, however, is whether the Bulls could win with a core of Love, Rose, and Joakim Noah supported by minimum contracts and rookie scale deals. More out of the Central Division..
- Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (on Twitter) is now getting a strong vibe that the Cavs will take Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins with the No. 1 overall pick.
- Former Duke assistant and current Marquette head coach Steve Wojciehowski says that he would love to see Jabari Parker with Milwaukee, writes Michael Hunt of the Journal Sentinel. “With the Bucks and Jabari, that would be an amazing situation for both parties,” he said. “He’d be a slam dunk, a grand slam, whatever you want to call it. He’d be a great, great pick for the Bucks.” The Bucks, of course, own the No. 2 pick.
- Kentucky coach John Calipari reportedly turned down the Cavs‘ massive offer in part because the Harrison twins decided to stay at UK rather than go pro. Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv finds such news interesting since there was speculation Calipari was pushing the twins out of Kentucky (Twitter link).