Northwest Rumors: Carroll, Olshey, Pekovic
There are only six games in the NBA tonight, but four of the five Northwest Division teams are in action, including a clash between the Nuggets and Jazz in a matchup that would be a first-round pairing if the playoffs began today. The division's other teams in action tonight are on the road, with the Trail Blazers facing a stiff test against the Heat while the Nuggets take on the Raptors. While we wait to see how those games turn out, here's what's happening off the court around the Northwest:
- Jazz forward DeMarre Carroll will be a free agent this summer, but he feels he's found his niche in Utah, as Jared Zwerling of ESPN The Magazine details.
- Blazers GM Neil Olshey sat down with broadcaster Mike Barrett for a one-on-one that's up on the team's website (video link), and Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge provides a transcript. Olshey said he coveted Nicolas Batum when he held the Clippers GM job, and revealed that owner Paul Allen never wavered in his commitment to match the offer sheet Batum signed with the Timberwolves this summer.
- Rival executives tell Grantland's Zach Lowe that the Nuggets are "projecting calm" in advance of the trade deadline. The team seems fairly satisfied with its young core and doesn't want to add much or any payroll, so major moves are unlikely. That's in line with coach George Karl's recent comments indicating there's only a slight chance the team makes a deadline trade. Still, the most common prediction from executives around the league about Denver's playoff chances this year is that they'll go out in the second round.
- The Wolves love Nikola Pekovic and don't want to trade him, so the smart money is on the club making a smaller move, perhaps one that includes Luke Ridnour, writes Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld.
Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors contributed to this post.
Karl: Only Slight Chance Nuggets Will Swing Deal
Last year, the Nuggets pulled off one of the most surprising trades at the deadline, sending out Nene, whom they'd just re-signed to a five-year, $65MM contract, for a package that included JaVale McGee. In 2011, the Carmelo Anthony trade shook up the franchise at midseason. This time around, coach George Karl expects a much quieter deadline for his team, believing the odds are slim that Denver will make a trade, as Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post shares.
"It would be different if you knew there was a contract, but we’re happy with our salary structure, we’re happy with our contracts, we’re happy with our players… And we’re happy with our record," he said.
Timofey Mozgov, one of the pieces acquired in the Anthony deal two years ago, appears to be Denver's most likely trade candidate, but multiple reports have indicated the Nuggets aren't moving him unless another team wows them with their offer. Dempsey points out that Corey Brewer, like Mozgov, is on an expiring deal, but Brewer has expressed interest in re-signing with the team this summer.
Karl said he's had a single conversation about potential trades with GM Masai Ujiri, preferring to leave the job of roster construction to him. Ujiri has proven one of the craftier executives in his short time in charge of Denver's front office, having kept the Nuggets in the playoffs amid drastic change to the roster over the past two seasons. With Denver in fourth place and two games behind the slumping Clippers for third, it looks like Ujiri believes the best move now is to sit tight.
Stein’s Latest: Clippers, Josh Smith, Randolph
Marc Stein's Weekend Dime at ESPN.com is usually full of juicy rumors year-round, and with the trade deadline less than two weeks away, this week's edition is especially jam-packed. Let's dig in:
- The Clippers went fishing for Kevin Garnett, and while the Celtics seem uninterested in such a swap, Stein expects Clippers to keep looking for deals as the trade deadline draws near. L.A. might like to send out DeAndre Jordan, who's eager for more playing time and whose lack of production has frustrated coach Vinny Del Negro, but the more likely trade chip is third-year point guard Eric Bledsoe. Stein hears there's a 99.5% chance Chris Paul re-signs this summer, but if the Clippers endure an early playoff exit, Paul's future, as well as Del Negro's job, could hang in the balance.
- If the Hawks trade Josh Smith, they'll be looking for "a quality young center" in return.
- The Grizzlies have told Zach Randolph they won't trade him, and Memphis is unlikely to make another move involving Randolph or anyone else. Still, despite coach Lionel Hollins' insistence that he and management are on the same page, the coach's dim view of the Rudy Gay trade has cast a pall on the locker room, as Stein writes.
- Reports that the Rockets have interest in Danny Granger are inaccurate, according to Stein.
- Denver isn't biting on an offer for Timofey Mozgov unless the Nuggets get one that's "crazy good."
- The Sixers, open to a shakeup as they wait for Andrew Bynum to make his Philadelphia debut, are shopping Evan Turner.
- Samuel Dalembert was on the market even before he did his best to showcase his value with a career-best 35-point game against the Nuggets this week, and he's not the only player Milwaukee might trade. Monta Ellis and Beno Udrih are among the Bucks who could be on the move.
- Boston isn't better with Rajon Rondo out for the season, but Stein believes the Celtics' six-game winning streak can be at least partially explained by the team's improved attitude without the moody Rondo around.
Nuggets Have No Plans To Trade Andre Miller
Earlier this afternoon, we passed along comments made this week by Andre Miller, in which the veteran point guard expressed some dissatisfaction with his role in Denver.
"I don't know how much longer they want me here. I definitely would like to contribute more," Miller said, when asked if he wanted to finish his career in Denver. "I’m not just going to sit back and settle in and be a backup and let my career just fade away. I’m competitive in that way."
Despite Miller's suggestion that the Nuggets may be looking to move him, GM Masai Ujiri insists that's not something the team is considering, according to Benjamin Hochman of the Denver Post.
"Andre is not going anywhere," Ujiri said. "We want to win."
Miller's agent, Andy Miller, also spoke to Hochman and said his client is committed to the Nuggets, and that all is well in Denver. While the 36-year-old might like to play a few more minutes, he hopes to continue contributing to the the team off the bench and to help the Nuggets make a deep playoff run, according to his agent.
Western Notes: Nuggets, Miller, Lakers, D12, Mavs
The Nuggets were firing on all cylinders in last night's victory over the Bulls, putting up 128 points against one of the league's best defenses en route to their eighth straight win. But even with the team on a roll, not everything is perfect in Denver, as Paul Klee of the Colorado Springs Gazette writes (hat tip to Matt Moore of CBSSports.com). Here are the highlights from Klee's piece along with a few more notes from around the Western Conference:
- Andre Miller would like to see more playing time in Denver, as he tells Klee. While he says he'd "really be complaining" if the Nuggets were losing, Miller still doesn't seem satisfied with the current arrangement. "I don't know how much longer they want me here. I definitely would like to contribute more," Miller said, when asked if he wanted to finish his career in Denver. "I’m not just going to sit back and settle in and be a backup and let my career just fade away. I’m competitive in that way."
- Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post isn't convinced that offseason acquisition Andre Iguodala has been a worthwhile investment for the Nuggets.
- The future of the Lakers could depend on whether Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard are committed to getting on the same page, says Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.
- Hakeem Olajuwon, who is close with Howard and has worked with him in the past, still believes D12 will re-sign with the Lakers this summer, according to Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida.
- With the trade deadline approaching, the Mavericks must make another tough call and decide whether they're going to be buyers or sellers, writes Jean-Jacques Taylor of ESPNDallas.com.
Northwest Notes: Hickson, Wolves, Nuggets
With the Grizzlies and Warriors not playing their best ball as of late, another team has quietly passed them in the standings and assumed the fourth seed in the Western Conference: the Nuggets. Heading into tonight's game against the Bulls, Denver has won seven straight, and has posted a 21-3 record at home. The Lakers/Celtics matchup will draw most of the headlines, but it may be that late game at the Pepsi Center that turns into the evening's best contest.
As we look forward to tonight's action, here are a few notes out of the Northwest Division:
- Although he's played out of position at center for much of the season, J.J. Hickson has excelled with the Trail Blazers, and is increasing his chances of landing a big deal in unrestricted free agency this summer, according to Jeff Caplan of NBA.com. "I’d be lying if I wasn’t looking forward to it, but that’s something I’ll get more excited about when that period hits," Hickson said. "It’s something that me and my agent will talk about, but right now I’m just worried about playing basketball and trying to make these playoffs."
- Commissioner David Stern is involved in Minnesota's plan to refurbish the Target Center and remains apprised on Glen Taylor's process of eventually selling the Timberwolves, as Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune writes.
- In his latest mailbag for the Denver Post, Benjamin Hochman fields multiple questions on trade possibilities for the Nuggets, discussing Timofey Mozgov, Jordan Hamilton, and the team's $13MM trade exception.
- Karl Malone is willing to work for free if it means getting a chance to join the Jazz's coaching staff as an assistant, says Jody Genessy of the Deseret News.
Ford’s Latest: Bucks, Smith, Randolph, Nuggets
Although Chad Ford's weekly chat at ESPN.com featured plenty of draft questions once again this week, Ford also addressed a number of trade questions and rumors. Many of Ford's answers focused more on his own opinions or speculation, but here are a few of the highlights from ESPN's NBA draft guru:
- Ford is hearing that the Bucks are "very active" and that Samuel Dalembert isn't the only player they're actively discussing. Monta Ellis, Beno Udrih, and Ersan Ilyasova could all be had as well, according to Ford.
- The Hawks would like to move Josh Smith, but the market for him isn't currently very strong and the team is still holding on to hope that Smith could help lure Dwight Howard to Atlanta this summer, says Ford.
- Zach Randolph "looks like a marked man," according to Ford, though it's not clear whether he thinks the Grizzlies will trade Randolph in the next two weeks or further down the road.
- Ford keeps hearing the Nuggets mentioned in trade scenarios, with Danilo Gallinari's and Wilson Chandler's names coming up most frequently.
Nuggets’ Interest In Garnett Not Reciprocal
The Nuggets have called the Celtics about Kevin Garnett, but Denver's interest isn't reciprocated by Garnett himself, according to Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post. Kiszla reports that the Celtics big man has "let it be known" through his representatives that he's not currently interested in joining the Nuggets.
For most players, that stance wouldn't mean a whole lot, but Garnett is one of a handful of veterans to negotiate a no-trade clause into his contract, giving him the ability to veto any deal. A report earlier this week suggested that the 36-year-old wouldn't give his consent to a trade unless Paul Pierce was also heading out of Boston — even then, KG would prefer to be dealt to a Los Angeles team, near his home in Malibu.
As Matt Moore of CBSSports.com notes, the Nuggets don't make a ton of sense as a potential destination for Garnett anyway, since Denver generally hasn't been eager to add age or money. Garnett also wouldn't necessarily be a fit with George Karl's up-and-down style of play. Still, Kiszla's report indicates that the Nuggets are exploring their options and would be open to making a deal if it helps improve their title chances.
Spears On Mozgov, Josh Smith, Rondo, Gay
Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports has been busy today, publishing a piece on Lindsey Hunter's adjustment to the head coaching job in Phoenix as well as posting Yahoo!'s weekly power rankings, which features the Spurs in the No. 1 spot once again. Spears' power rankings also feature a few tidbits of note, which we'll round up right here:
- The Nuggets are getting plenty of calls about Timofey Mozgov, but aren't under any financial pressure to make a deal. They'll probably only move Mozgov for a "too-good-to-be-true offer," says Spears.
- While there's still plenty of speculation that the Hawks could trade Josh Smith, interested teams have been keeping any talks very quiet.
- A surgery date for Rajon Rondo's ACL still hasn't been set, as Rondo could seek opinions from as many as three doctors.
- A source close to Rudy Gay tells Spears that the newest Raptor was happy about leaving the Grizzlies and should be a very good fit in Toronto — not only in the team's up-tempo offense, but in the city as well.
Northwest Notes: T’Wolves, Jazz, Nuggets
Last night in Minnesota, the Timberwolves cruised to a 115-86 victory over the Hornets behind a season high 18 points from Dante Cunningham. However, the T’Wolves are eight games under .500 and are 2-8 in their last ten outings. Could a move be on the horizon? Here’s more on that and other news out of the Northwest Division..
- All is quiet on the Timberwolves for the time being but the front office will reassess things after their current six-game homestand, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Recently, club president David Kahn stopped short of calling Nikola Pekovic “untouchable” as he did with Ricky Rubio and Kevin Love, but he did say that he hopes the big man will be part of the club for “years to come”.
- With the trade deadline right around the corner, Jazz head scout David Fredman attended Saturday night’s aforementioned T’Wolves–Hornets game, according to Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune (on Twitter).
- A lack of playing time has turned Timofey Mozgov into a trade candidate, but Nuggets coach George Karl wishes he could find more minutes for the soon-to-be restricted free agent, writes Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post.