Mavericks, Nets Among Teams Eyeing Jeremy Lin
If the NBPA is successful in its appeal to allow players claimed on waivers to retain their Bird rights, the Knicks will head into the offseason in much better position to keep their free agents. But either way, New York figures to make locking up Jeremy Lin a top priority this summer.
The Knicks won't be the only team looking to sign Lin though. According to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, the Mavericks, Nets, Raptors, Trail Blazers, and Warriors are among the clubs eyeing the point guard.
Because Lin will be a restricted free agent that has played two years or less in the NBA, he'll be subject to the Gilbert Arenas provision. Rival teams will be able to offer Lin lucrative, back-loaded deals, but the Knicks will be able to match any offer sheet using their mid-level exception, since the first-year salary can't exceed $5MM.
We've heard the Raptors mentioned as a possible suitor for Lin, and the Mavs and Nets both make sense, depending on whether they miss out on Deron Williams. The Blazers also figure to have plenty of cap space and a need for a point guard, as I outlined earlier today. It's hard to imagine the Warriors being serious contenders for Lin, since they won't have cap room, and have a more glaring hole at small forward.
Mavs Notes: Carlisle, Free Agency, Donnie Nelson
It's been a busy day for owner Mark Cuban and the Mavericks as they locked up head coach Rick Carlisle to a four-year extension earlier on Tuesday. The move marks the first of many for the 2011 NBA champions as they were swept by the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. The Mavs will likely feature a vastly different lineup come the fall, so let's head to Dallas to catch up on the latest news and happenings at the American Airlines Center.
- It's time for the Mavs to put together a plan of attack for the offseason now that Carlisle's contract status has been addressed, writes Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com. The team must look to get younger and explore every avenue possible to convince Deron Williams to join Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas. Regardless of which players end up on the Mavs' roster, Carlisle's biggest task as head coach will be to provide strong communication as he looks build team unity.
- After signing his contract extension, Carlisle hit the radio to chat with ESPN's Galloway and Company about the team's goals for free agency this summer, tweets Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Carlisle stated that the Mavs will look to add a player to the roster that will make Nowitzki the second-best player on the team. Entering the 2011/2012 season, Nowitzki was ranked the fifth-best player in the entire NBA by ESPN.com's TrueHoop Network.
- With countless decisions ahead of him this offseason, Mavs president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson is relieved that one of the team's most pressing concerns has been addressed in the re-signing of Carlisle, reports Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. "Rick is simply one of the top coaches in the league today," Mavericks president of basketball operations Donnie Nelson told The News. "He's embraced this community, established a winning culture, and has taken this franchise to a place it's never been."
Mavs Sign Rick Carlisle To Multiyear Extension
1:04pm: The Mavericks have officially announced Carlisle's extension via a team release. Owner Mark Cuban's statement suggests the contract is for four years.
"We are excited that Rick will be back with the Mavericks for at least the next four years," Cuban said. "He is a proven winner, a great teacher and a coach that will help the Mavericks improve as a team and as an organization."
12:32pm: The Mavericks have agreed to a contract extension with coach Rick Carlisle and will announce the deal later today, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas confirms (via Twitter) that the two sides have reached an agreement.
Carlisle, who coached the Mavericks to a championship last year, was in the last year of his contract with Dallas. He owns a 198-114 record in his four seasons with the Mavs, including three straight years of 50+ wins prior to this season's 36-30 mark.
The agreement with Carlisle is the first of many contract decisions this summer for the Mavs, who could have as many as nine players hitting free agency.
Coaching Rumors: Carlisle, Bobcats, Knicks
Before the free agent period for players gets underway this summer, a number of free agent coaches could land new jobs. Here are the latest updates on a few coaching situations around basketball:
- Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson and owner Mark Cuban are in agreement that Rick Carlisle should be back coaching the team next year, writes Earl K. Sneed at NBA.com. Like many Mavs players, Carlisle is not yet under contract for 2012/13.
- Mike Krzyzewski announced at a press conference today that this summer's Olympics represent the last time he plans to coach Team USA in international competition, tweets ESPN.com's Marc Stein.
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer provides an update on the Bobcats' coaching search, which president of basketball operations Rod Higgins says is progressing at a "nice, slow pace."
- The Knicks are more interested in "putting on a good show" than winning, according to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, who says that's why New York hasn't reached out to Phil Jackson. Berger hears that Jackson "has the itch" to returning to coaching, but hasn't been contacted by an NBA team.
- Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports explores the evolution of Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro, who tells Wojnarowski that reports that he'd lost the team earlier this season were "a joke."
Odds & Ends: Rose, Bulls, Knicks, Terry
- The Knicks will be looking for another point guard to partner with Jeremy Lin, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. Among Berman's list of targets are Kirk Hinrich, Gary Neal, Derek Fisher, A.J. Price, Jannero Pargo, and Jonny Flynn. He also mentions Ramon Sessions, Raymond Felton, Goran Dragic, Andre Miller, Jameer Nelson, and Steve Nash, but I think that the names on this latter list would only be sought after if contract talks with Lin were to somehow fall apart.
- After recently having his interim tag removed, Knicks GM Glen Grunwald has a lot of work cut out for him in the upcoming months, says Al Iannazzone of Newsday. He also adds that with the mid-level likely committed to Lin and no first-round pick, Grunwald will have to be creative with trades and free agency in order to address their back court needs. In another article, Iannazzone goes over the five biggest questions facing the team moving forward.
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News speculates that Jason Terry could be on his way out if Deron Williams lands with the Mavericks (subscribers only).
- Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld engaged in his weekly NBA chat with fans. Here are some of his notable thoughts: the Magic may try to package their #19 pick along with Jason Richardson or Chris Duhon to create cap relief, Austin Rivers' game is comparable to Jason Terry and Jamal Crawford, and predicts that Dwight Howard will wind up signing with the Nets eventually.
- Bob Young of the Arizona Republic offers his input on the chances of reportedly interested teams in their pursuit of Steve Nash. Phoenix, Toronto, New York, Dallas, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, and Portland are given consideration.
- John Rohde of NewsOK explores how the support of his Thunder teammates has played a pivotal role in Eric Maynor's road to recovery from a torn ACL.
Odds & Ends: Mavericks, Jazz, Gasol, Hawes
- Bill Ingram of HoopsWorld writes that the decisions made this summer with regards to coaching, the draft, and free agency will determine the face of the Mavericks franchise for the rest of Dirk Nowitzki's career.
- Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune writes that Jazz GM Kevin O'Connor is advocating patience as the team continues to build during the post-Deron Williams era. Although the Jazz are not at the same level of the elite teams Western Conference, the team is optimistic about their young core and has offseason flexibility in the form of cap space and a $10 MM trade exception.
- Pau Gasol is aware that the fallout of a loss tonight would include the pressure of a potential breakup of the team, but says that it's not something that should be on their minds, says Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com.
- John N. Mitchell of The Philadelphia Inquirer discusses the importance of Spencer Hawes' matchup with Kevin Garnett in the second round of this year's playoffs. Hawes will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, so a productive performance against the Celtics could earn him a bigger price tag.
- David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune believes that Luol Deng should pass on the Olympics this summer in order to have surgery on his wrist and allow it to properly heal before next season.
Coaching Rumors: Brown, Woodson, Jackson
- Warren LeGarie, the agent for Lakers coach Mike Brown, feels confident his client will return to the bench next season after LeGarie spoke with GM Mitch Kupchak about comments former minority owner Magic Johnson made suggesting Brown would be fired if the team didn't win tonight, reports Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter links). Spears also tweets that the Lakers are expected to release a statement in support of Brown, and pointed out that Brown has two more guaranteed seasons left on his four-year, $20MM deal.
- Dave McMenamin of ESPN LA tweets that Brown's job is not dependent on the result of Game 7 tonight, according to a source with knowledge of the Lakers' thinking.
- Brown said earlier today he was unfazed by what Johnson said, and had no indication there was any truth to it, tweeted NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper.
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News scolds Knicks coach Mike Woodson for giving into owner James Dolan's wishes regarding his choice of agents.
- With Phil Jackson feeling better, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld speculates about where he might coach next if he returns to the bench, mentioning the Knicks, Thunder, Bulls, Mavs, Magic and Lakers.
- Rachel Shuster of USA Today wonders if the Bobcats might also be a landing spot for the Zen Master, since the owner is Michael Jordan, Jackson's first star pupil.
C.J. Miles Interested In Mavericks
After suggesting the Jazz didn't treat him right this season and taking a shot at coach Tyrone Corbin's communication skills, C.J. Miles appears likely to sign with another team as an unrestricted free agent this summer. One potential destination that intrigues the Texas native is his hometown Mavericks, as he told Dirk Facer of the Deseret News.
"If that was an issue that came up I definitely would look at it. Who wouldn't, especially with the way that team is built now," Miles said. "They're aging a little bit and I'm pretty sure they're going to be looking for some guys that do some of the things I do."
Although he set career highs in PPG (12.8), MPG (25.2), and PER (14.4) in 2010/11, Miles wasn't quite as productive this season, averaging 9.1 points per contest and shooting just 38.1% from the floor, his lowest mark since 2006/07. Still, even after seven seasons with the Jazz, Miles is only 25 years old, making him one of the younger unrestricted free agents on the market. Coming off a four-year, $14.8MM contract in Utah, he's a good bet to find another multiyear deal this offseason.
Odds & Ends: Garnett, Josh Smith, Chandler, Oden
- Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution rounded up a few remarks from Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr., who called Kevin Garnett, a free agent this summer, "the dirtiest guy in the league." Gearon praised Josh Smith, who enters the final season of his contract next year, saying, "We wouldn't be where we are without him."
- Dallas Morning News columnist Kevin Sherrington, in a chat, makes the claim that former Mavs center Tyson Chandler could have swung the team's series with the Thunder.
- In light of today's news that Greg Oden will return in 2013, John Canzano of The Oregonian looks back on Oden's tenure with the Blazers and hopes the team learns from the mistake of drafting him.
Southwest Notes: Hornets, Carlisle, Jones, Spurs
A few Wednesday morning updates out of the Southwest Division:
- The Hornets figure to draft the best players available rather than filling positional needs with their two lottery picks next month, according to Jim Eichenhofer of Hornets.com. "We don’t know where we’re going to be [drafting]," coach Monty Williams said. "We won’t find out until May 30th. So that will determine which positions we go after. We may go after a center or a power forward, but if we don’t get the pick we want, and the best player is a wing, then I’m pretty sure [GM] Dell [Demps] is going to be inclined to take that wing."
- Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com is perplexed that Rick Carlisle doesn't have a deal yet to remain the Mavericks' coach for next season.
- The fact that Kelenna Azubuike seems to have passed Dominique Jones on the Mavs' depth chart doesn't bode well for Jones' long-term future in Dallas, Caplan writes in a separate ESPNDallas.com piece.
- If the Clippers are going to advance past the Grizzlies in the postseason, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich would prefer they do it sooner rather than later, says Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News. Popovich has some concern that, after playing so frequently in the lockout-shortened season, his players will lose their rhythm if they have to wait too long to resume game action.