Western Notes: Grizzlies, Wolves, Jefferson, Brand
In his latest Insider piece for ESPN.com, John Hollinger explores the concept of the "second draft," an idea that involves acquiring players who had the talent to be high draft picks but who fell out of favor with their previous teams, for whatever reason. Hollinger points to the Grizzlies as one team taking full advantage of the "second draft" concept this season, with Jerryd Bayless, Quincy Pondexter, Wayne Ellington, and Marreese Speights making the club's bench one of the best in the NBA so far.
Here are a few more notes from around the Western Conference:
- Before the Timberwolves signed Josh Howard, they "politely turned down" interest from Kenyon Martin's camp, and made the same minimum-salary offer to Mickael Pietrus, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities. Howard accept the team's proposal first, as Pietrus' camp is still holding out for the mini mid-level.
- Al Jefferson was upset after the Jazz' game against the Celtics that Boston media had interpreted his comments about his C's history to mean he wanted to return to Boston, according to James Patrick of the Deseret News.
- While Mike D'Antoni won over the media when he was introduced in Los Angeles yesterday, it will be more important long-term for the Lakers' new coach to win over Dwight Howard, says Ken Berger of CBS Sports.
- After he didn't land the Lakers' coaching job, Phil Jackson is unlikely to be considered a serious candidate for the next Team USA coach, according to Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game, who says (via Sulia) that newly re-elected chairman Jerry Colangelo and Jackson aren't exactly close.
- Elton Brand appeared on ESPN Radio Dallas to discuss the eventual return of Dirk Nowitzki and the adjustments that fellow offseason acquisition O.J. Mayo has had to make with the Mavericks (link via Sports Radio Interviews).
Odds & Ends: Lin, Crawford, Heat, Cavaliers
As the Pistons and Wizards hit the road in search of their first wins of the season, let's round up the latest odds and ends from around the NBA:
- After his time with the Knicks came to an unexpected and disappointing end, Jeremy Lin is building a better relationship with the Rockets, as Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports writes.
- When he was navigating free agency this summer, Jamal Crawford was advised to take his time and consider all his options. But, as he tells Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com, Crawford had his eye on the Clippers from the start: "When I came here, I don’t know if I should say this or not, but they told me I was their first option at lunch. And I told them at the same lunch that they were my first option. My agent didn’t want me to say that, but I was just being honest and we made it happen."
- In his latest mailbag for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Ira Winderman fields questions on the possibility of the Heat signing Kenyon Martin and trading Mike Miller.
- If the Cavaliers hope to contend for the playoffs this season, they may need to trade for outside bench help at some point, says Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio.
- Yesterday's trade between the Bobcats and Hornets that sent Matt Carroll to New Orleans wasn't overlooked in Dallas by the Mavericks, writes Jeff Caplan of NBA.com.
- Within his NBA AM piece at HoopsWorld, Lang Greene speaks to Ian Mahinmi about the sign-and-trade deal that sent him from the Mavericks to the Pacers.
- Chad Ford of ESPN.com discussed the Lakers, Royce White, the 2013 draft, and plenty more in a chat with fans earlier this afternoon.
Western Notes: Rockets, Lakers, Clippers, Harden
When Hoops Rumors unveiled its predictions for this season, all of us picked either the Lakers, Thunder or Spurs to come out of the Western Conference, and tonight two of those teams clash as the Spurs look to down the Lakers and run their early-season record to 2-0 against other Western contenders. The Spurs were a conference-best 6-1 coming into tonight, their only blemish a loss to the Clippers, who would love to leapfrog their L.A. rivals into the contending group. Here's the latest on the Tinseltown rivalry and other items out of the West.
- Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald lays the blame for Royce White's latest absence on Rockets executives, tweeting that the team is led by "a bush league front office without a soul."
- The notion that Phil Jackson will wind up with the Clippers is a "conspiracy theory you can expect to now hear a zillion times this season," tweets Marc Stein of ESPN.com, though sources tell Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports that the rise of the Clippers played a role in the Lakers' decision to fire Mike Brown.
- Rockets owner Leslie Alexander hopes new star James Harden will attract others to Houston, writes Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. “I know it helps," Alexander said. "Even in the brief time I’ve been around him, he always talks, I just spoke to that guy, I just spoke to that guy. He speaks to a lot of major players in the league. It’s a big plus. How big, you really don’t know.”
- Perry Jones III admits he isn't as comfortable now as he was in the preseason, but Thunder coach Scott Brooks isn't alarmed by the rookie's subpar performance in his limited regular season minutes, as The Oklahoman's Darnell Mayberry chronicles.
- Mavs coach Rick Carlisle is "very pleased" with what he's seen out of recent signee Troy Murphy so far, observes Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Western Rumors: Lakers, Wolves, Dirk, Rockets
We heard almost a month ago to the day that the Lakers had made Steve Blake and Chris Duhon available via trade, and that hasn't changed even with Steve Nash out, according to Chris Mannix of SI.com (Twitter link). Mannix reports that the Lakers have continued to dangle the two point guards in trade talks, but, unsurprisingly, neither player is drawing much interest. Here are a few more updates out of the Western Conference:
- With Chase Budinger officially out for about three months, the Timberwolves will likely move to add a wing, tweets Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. Zgoda names Mickael Pietrus, Josh Howard, and Raja Bell as possibilities, though Pietrus is seeking more than Minnesota can offer and Bell is still a member of the Jazz.
- Dirk Nowitzki's rehab on his surgically repaired knee isn't progressing quite as quickly as he'd anticipated, Nowitzki said on FOX Sports Southwest last night. Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News has the details.
- Following up on yesterday's report that the Rockets would send their three rookies to the D-League, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle notes (via Twitter) that that's always been the case with Rockets rookies who aren't getting regular playing time.
- SI.com's Ian Thomsen fields questions on the Lakers, DeMarcus Cousins, the Grizzlies, and a few other topics in his latest mailbag.
Western Notes: Dwight, Kobe, Kings, Crowder
Dwight Howard told Sam Amick of USA Today last night that he thinks Phil Jackson, rumored to be close to taking over as Lakers coach, will be "great for me," and said he's anxious for the team to resolve the upheaval surrounding the head coaching position. "Yeah, because a lot of stuff that happened last year — I really had nothing to do with it, but it came out like it was me," he said. "So now when it comes out or if somebody says something about me, I'm going to stand up say, 'Hey, this is not going to happen again.' I'm just going to play. I don't want to get caught up in it." There's plenty more this afternoon on the Lakers and their Western Conference rivals, as we detail here.
- Kobe Bryant, who's backing Jackson's possible return, feels he has unfinished business to accomplish under the Zen Master's tutelage, writes J.A. Adande of ESPN.com.
- In the wake of a report by Bruce Rader of WAVY-TV that it was Kings co-owner George Maloof who met with the Virginia governor, the mayor of Virginia Beach and officials from Comcast-Spectator last week, Tom Ziller of Sactown Royalty takes the Maloofs to task for denying the meeting took place.
- Defense and surprising three-point shooting are reasons why Jae Crowder, the 34th overall pick this past June, has made a sizable impact early this season for the Mavericks, as HoopsWorld's Alex Raskin observes.
- Offseason signees Ryan Anderson, Brian Roberts and Roger Mason have teamed with incumbent Jason Smith to form a potent bench for the Hornets, notes Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune.
- Blazers coach Terry Stotts, once an interim coach of the Hawks, weighs in on the challenges the next Lakers coach will face in taking over the team in the middle of the season, as Mike Tokito of The Oregonian examines.
Atlantic Rumors: Knicks, Felton, Fields, Howard
The Knicks remained the league's only unbeaten with a win against the Mavs tonight, moving to 4-0 for the first time since 1993/94, when they fell one game short of an NBA title. Sixers coach Doug Collins, whose team was beaten soundly by the Knicks twice this week, is a believer, as Peter May writes for The New York Times. "If Miami is 1, then they’re 1A," Collins said of New York. The Knicks figure prominently among the items out of the Atlantic Division this evening.
- Knicks point guard Raymond Felton, speaking to 660 WFAN radio, insisted he didn't intentionally let his conditioning slip last year as a ploy to get away from the Blazers, notes Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge.
- Mark Cuban shared thoughts on the group of former Mavericks now with the Knicks, as Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News documents. "I like Jason (Kidd). I don’t dislike him or Steve Novak or TC (Tyson Chandler), they’re all great guys. There’s no reason to dislike them," Cuban said. "But I’ll yell at them, just like I yelled at (Brendan) Haywood and just like I yell at lots of guys I know. And I know they (know) my voice, so I know they’re going to hear it.”
- There's no clear solution for the struggles of Raptors offseason signee Landry Fields, concludes Eric Koreen of the National Post.
- The shadow of Dwight Howard still hangs over the Nets, writes Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.
Reaction To Mike Brown Firing
As the focus of the Lakers switches from what happened today to what happens next, a number of NBA reporters and other figures are weighing in the team's decision to fire Mike Brown, a move that many saw coming, but not quite as quickly as it came. Shaun Powell of Sports on Earth takes it as a sign of panic, and writes that the Lakers can't afford to make a mistake with their next hire. Michael Lee of The Washington Post concludes the task of replacing Phil Jackson was simply too daunting for Brown to handle. Here's what others are saying.
- HoopsWorld's Steve Kyler hears Brown was seen as "too nice" and reluctant to address problems, adding that the directive to fire Brown came from the top down, without player influence. He also believes Jackson is the clear-cut top choice, and isn't sure Jerry Sloan would be a fit (All four Twitter links).
- The Buss family concluded that Brown wasn't a championship coach, writes Arash Markazi of ESPNLosAngeles.com, who argues that Jackson, who has won more titles as a coach than anyone, is the perfect fit.
- Kobe Bryant released a statement of support for Brown on Facebook, and Royce Young of CBSSports.com praises the gesture.
- Grantland's Zach Lowe examines the on-court issues that fomented the Lakers "ludicrous" decision to let Brown go today.
- Mark Cuban believes the firing was a mistake, but for the sake of his Mavericks, he hopes it's the first of many miscues by the Lakers this season, as Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com passes along.
- Sean Deveney of The Sporting News characterizes the move as one of desperation that raises fundamental questions about the future of the organization.
- Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel says the Lakers aren't going to hire Stan Van Gundy, but thinks they should, calling the former Magic boss "the best NBA coach available" and citing cooled tensions between Van Gundy and Dwight Howard.
Atlantic Notes: Felton, Kidd, Shurna, 76ers, Nets
After losing a pair of games to the Knicks early in the season, the Sixers will continue to square off against Atlantic Division rivals this weekend, playing the Celtics in Boston tonight before heading to Toronto to face the Raptors. As we await those games and others, let's round up a few of the latest items out of the Atlantic, where the Knicks are the league's only remaining undefeated team….
- Raymond Felton told WFAN in New York that he was "hurt" when he was initially traded out of New York in the Carmelo Anthony deal, and "felt like a newborn kid again" when he got the chance to rejoin the Knicks. Steven Cuce of Sports Radio Interviews passes along the quotes.
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News believes it's time for Mark Cuban to get over Jason Kidd's departure from the Mavericks to the Knicks.
- John Shurna, who was a Knicks camp invitee last month, is currently weighing his overseas and D-League options, according to Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside.
- With his star player out of action and a number of new additions still adjusting to the team's system, head coach Doug Collins is preaching patience when it comes to the Sixers, writes Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Like the 76ers, the Nets are another team caught between offseason hype and their regular-season results so far, says Howard Beck of the New York Times.
- Appeaing on WEEI in Boston, Rajon Rondo spoke about a number of topics, including wanting to establish chemistry with new Celtics Jason Terry and Courtney Lee in offseason workouts (link via Sports Radio Interviews).
Poll: Did Mark Cuban Cost Himself A Ring?
It has been nearly 18 months since the Mavericks beat the Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals, but if you take a look at their current roster, it sure seems longer than that. Forced to change their offseason approach after missing out on Dwight Howard and Deron Williams, the Mavs overhauled their roster by adding much cheaper veteran alternatives like Elton Brand, Darren Collison, O.J. Mayo and Chris Kaman. At 4-1 through their first 5 games, their strategy looks like a stroke of genius so far.
However, accoring to Marc Berman of the New York Post, Tyson Chandler said today that he thinks that by blowing up the 2011 title team, Mark Cuban cost himself a second championship. With Jason Kidd now also in New York, Chandler addressed Cuban's post-title decision-making:
"I'm glad because I'm here. It's a great situation. I'm very happy with the situation. I definitely think we had an opportunity to win back-to-back. Unfortunately things were blown up. That's the business side of it."
So what do you think? Had Cuban opted to retain Chandler and Jose Barea, among others, would the Mavericks have won a second title?
Did Mark Cuban Cost Himself A Ring?
-
No, it was a one-run type of team 77% (528)
-
Yes, they would've gone back-to-back 23% (162)
Total votes: 690
Western Notes: Blazers, Brown, Williams, Martin
The Western Conference got off to a bit of a slow start in inter-conference games this year, but Western teams turned that trend around last night. Of the six Wednesday night contests that pitted West vs. East, only the Sixers could earn a win for the Eastern Conference, beating the Hornets in New Orleans — the Suns, Mavericks, Timberwolves, Warriors, and Kings all defeated Eastern teams.
Here are a few of today's updates from around the Western Conference:
- The Trail Blazers haven't received much bench production so far, something GM Neil Olshey is keeping an eye on. According to Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, Olshey may look to address the issue at the trade deadline if no one steps up internally.
- SI.com's Ben Golliver reads between the lines of Jim Buss' comments on Lakers coach Mike Brown, concluding that Buss may be laying the groundwork for Brown to eventually be replaced.
- Tyson Chandler believes the Mavericks had a chance to win back-to-back titles if Mark Cuban had elected to bring all of 2010/11's Mavs back last season, writes Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv.
- If Derrick Williams doesn't start producing soon, it may be time to consider whether last year's second overall pick is a bust, says Stephen Brotherson of HoopsWorld.
- Although Kevin Martin is in a contract year, Thunder GM Sam Presti tells Sam Amick of USA Today that isn't a concern at the moment, and that Martin's future will be addressed "at the appropriate time."
- Kirk Lacob, general manager of the Warriors' D-League affiliate, spoke to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle about Santa Cruz's new stadium and last week's draft. We covered a few other D-League items of note earlier today.