Denver Nuggets Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Odds & Ends: Nowitzki, 76ers, Hornets, Nuggets

February 12th, 2012 at 11:14am CST by Daniel Seco

With three of the top five trending New York Times stories involving Knicks guard Jeremy Lin (via tweet from NYT reporter Michael Luo), let's take a look around the rest of the league to see what else is happening.

Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News says Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki has responded to Charles Barkley's proclamation that the 11-time All-Star is in decline with a strong showing of vintage Dirk in recent play. Sherrington contends the 14-year veteran still has enough talent and drive left to challenge Jerry West's record of 14 consecutive All-Star nomations. Simply put, Nowitzki's slow start should be attributed to a long offseason rather than diminished skills.
The 76ers need to make a trade if they want to compete for a championship this season, writes Mike Missanelli of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Missanelli points to the erratic nature of the 2011/2012 season as a reason why the road to the NBA championship remains wide open just two weeks before the start of the 2012 All-Star Game. Paul Pierce and Monta Ellis are mentioned as two possible pieces that could take a young, balanced 76ers roster to the next level without having to sacrifice the future.
The departure of All-Star point guard Chris Paul via trade has led to a difficult path for Hornets head coach Monty Williams, says John Reid of The Times-Picayune. After losing Eric Gordon, the centerpiece of the Paul trade, to injury in early January, the Hornets have spiralled to the worst record (4-23) in the Western Conference. As such, Williams has turned to his peers around the NBA for wisdom including Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.
Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post examines how the Nuggets can get by without having a true closer to win games for the team like the Lakers closer Kobe Bryant. Barring a trade, the Nuggets will have to continue to rely on Al Harrington toward the end of the game. Harrington is shooting 56% when there are less than five minutes to play in games separated by five points or less.

Odds & Ends: Jennings, Deng, Spurs

February 10th, 2012 at 11:06pm CST by Chuck Myron

On this date last year, Jerry Sloan stepped down after 23 seasons as coach of the Jazz. Earlier today we passed along the news that at least six teams are trying to convince Sloan to come back to the bench. Here are some more tidbits from around the league today:

Bucks GM John Hammond told Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was caught off guard by what Brandon Jennings said about possibly leaving the team for a larger market. While Jennings is under team control until the summer of 2014, Ersan Ilyasova will be an unrestricted free-agent at the end of this season. There's a strong possibility Ilyasova, from Turkey, may favor a return to Europe, as HoopsWorld's Stephen Brotherston examines.
Luol Deng's selection as an All-Star reserve vindicates the Bulls for hanging on to him amidst many trade rumors over the years, writes Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer.
Manu Ginobili's return, set for Saturday against the Nets, creates a rotation puzzle for Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to figure out, writes Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
When Tyson Chandler went to the Knicks, the Mavs championship defense supposedly went with him, writes Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News. But, Gosselin opines that the team's ability to play defense even without last year's shot-blocking center will help them defend their title. (Subscription link)
DeMarre Carroll, who was picked up Wednesday by the Jazz, was close to signing with Utah before the season started, Salt Lake Tribune writer Brian T. Smith tweets. Carroll signed instead with the Nuggets, who waived him Feb. 4.
Chicago, the hometown of Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade, has also produced Anthony Davis, who is projected as the top overall pick this June, and Jabari Parker, the consensus No. 1 high school player. That makes the Windy City the center of the hoops universe, opines ESPN's Scoop Jackson.
Dirk Nowitzki, who watched Ricky Rubio in Europe, didn't think the Wolves rookie sensation would have quite the impact he's having in the NBA, notes Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star Telegram.

Chandler Plans To Re-Sign With Nuggets

February 8th, 2012 at 10:18pm CST by Luke Adams

10:18pm: Despite a wave of interest coming from several teams throughout the league, Wilson Chandler plans to rejoin the Nuggets upon returning to the NBA. In a tweet, Marc Spears of Yahoo! reports that Chandler will either sign on for the rest of this season, or to a long-term deal.

5:10pm: As we discussed earlier today, Wilson Chandler's status as a restricted free agent when he returns from China could limit his NBA options. Chandler is preparing for such a scenario and hopes to sign a long-term contract with the Nuggets, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.

Chandler's Zhejiang Lions currently rank eighth in the CBA, which would just barely qualify them for the postseason. If they fall out of the playoffs over the next week, Chandler could return to America this month and be eligible to receive offer sheets from any NBA team. However, if the Lions play past March 1st, NBA clubs wouldn't be permitted to sign Chandler to an offer sheet when his contract in China ends, meaning he could only play in Denver this season.

According to Kennedy, Chandler is prepared to sit out the rest of the NBA season if he returns after March 1st and he and the Nuggets can't work out a long-term deal. In that case, the 24-year-old would again be a restricted free agent this summer, with the restrictions on offer sheets lifted.

Restricted Free Agency May Limit Chandler, Brooks

February 8th, 2012 at 9:37am CST by Luke Adams

Fans of the Knicks, Clippers, and a handful of other teams are anxiously awaiting J.R. Smith's return to the NBA, but Smith isn't the only intriguing free-agent-to-be still under contract in China. Wilson Chandler and Aaron Brooks are also expected to head back to America when their Chinese teams finish their respective seasons.

Rumors and speculation have followed Smith more than the others in part because he'll be an unrestricted free agent when his Chinese contract expires, meaning he'll be free to sign with any NBA team. Chandler and Brooks, on the other hand, are restricted free agents under the control of the Nuggets and Suns, respectively. As such, their NBA options may be limited.

As Larry Coon writes at HoopsWorld today, players aren't allowed to sign offer sheets after March 1st of any season, including this one. While the Chinese regular season ends on February 15th, Chandler's and Brooks' clubs both appear ticketed for the postseason, meaning they could be playing in China well into March. If Chandler and Brooks return to America in March, they could only play for the Nuggets and Suns, since sign-and-trade agreements aren't allowed during the season.

If a restricted free agent like Chandler and Brooks hopes to field offers from other teams this season, one of three things must happen, as Coon outlines:

His Chinese club must finish its season in February, giving him a chance to sign offer sheets with teams before March 1st.
His Chinese club must release him before March 1st, and FIBA must grant him a letter of clearance. This was how Kenyon Martin was able to return early to the NBA, though Martin was an unrestricted free agent upon his return.
His NBA club must renounce his rights, making him an unrestricted free agent. It seems unlikely that the Nuggets or Suns would give up their rights to Chandler and Brooks for nothing, but it's a possibility.

The idea of an influx of quality free agents making their way back from China in the next month is exciting, but a number of obstacles must be cleared for that idea to become a reality. At least one thing is certain: We'll be paying extra-close attention to the CBA postseason this year.

Decisions On Non-Guaranteed Contracts

February 7th, 2012 at 10:24pm CST by Luke Adams

February 10th marks the day that all players on non-guaranteed contracts will have their deals guaranteed for the remainder of the season. However, if a team wants to meet that Friday deadline, it will need to make its decisions today, allowing its player(s) to pass through waivers in time.

Some non-guaranteed players, such as DeJuan Blair and Jeremy Lin, are in no danger of being waived. However, with a few dozen players on non-guaranteed deals across the league, there will be plenty of cuts before the day is out. Some of those players will sign 10-day contracts shortly after being cut, while others could join the D-League or find a place on our list of current unrestricted free agents.

We'll track all the day's decisions on non-guaranteed contracts right here, with the latest news up top:

Other players who will have their contracts guaranteed for the remainder of the year: Ivan Johnson, Jannero Pargo, Jerry Stackhouse (Hawks), Cory Higgins (Bobcats), Brian Scalabrine, John Lucas (Bulls), Samardo Samuels, Alonzo Gee (Cavaliers), Sean Williams (Mavericks), Julyan Stone (Nuggets), Vernon Macklin, Damien Wilkins (Pistons), Dominic McGuire, Chris Wright (Warriors), Sundiata Gaines, Keith Bogans (Nets), Steve Novak, Jerome Jordan (Knicks), Ryan Reid (Thunder), DeAndre Liggins (Magic), Lavoy Allen, Francisco Elson (Sixers), Danny Green, Gary Neal (Spurs), Jeremy Evans (Jazz).
The Jazz will guarantee Jamaal Tinsley's contract, according to Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune (via Twitter).
The Pistons are keeping guard Walker Russell, agent Giovanni Funicello told HoopsHype (via Twitter).
The Hornets have waived DaJuan Summers and Carldell Johnson, league sources tell Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
The Rockets waived Jeff Adrien, reports Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). The move clears a roster spot for Greg Smith.
The Wizards have waived Hamady N'Diaye, according to a team release.
Chris Johnson received a call from Trail Blazers GM Chad Buchanan this morning saying his contract would be guaranteed, tweets Mike Tokito of The Oregonian.
The Celtics will hang on to Greg Stiemsma and guarantee his deal, according to Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
The Lakers have waived Derrick Caracter. Caracter broke the news himself, tweeting "It's over before it begun!!! …. On to the next chapter of my life" (Twitter links). The Lakers will hang on to Devin Ebanks, Andrew Goudelock, and Darius Morris, tweets Mike Breshnahan of the Los Angeles Times.
The Clippers have cut Solomon Jones, reports Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times (via Twitter).
The Heat have waived Mickell Gladness, the team announced (Twitter link). Miami's other two players on non-guaranteed deals, Eddy Curry and Terrel Harris, look safe, tweets Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
The Grizzlies have waived Josh Davis, according to Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The Spurs announced they've waived Malcolm Thomas, who was assigned to the team's D-League affiliate last week.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/02/07/steve-nashs-birthday-wish-should-be-a-trade/

Raptors Rumors: Chandler, Kirilenko, Barbosa

February 5th, 2012 at 12:33pm CST by Daniel Seco

Toronto Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo spoke candidly about a potential roster shake-up during Friday's game against the Washington Wizards, writes Hasan Alanam of Canada.com. With the team currently hovering near the bottom of the Atlantic Division, Colangelo expressed a desire to consider any and every move that may help the Raptors move closer to their goal of becoming a championship-caliber squad. In his mind, the path toward success may become a bit clearer once the future for three particular players becomes more evident.

Colangelo discussed what adding former Utah Jazz sharpshooter Andrei Kirilenko could do for the Raptors especially considering the success AK-47 has enjoyed this season while playing in Russia. Averaging 13 PPG and nearly 8 RPG, Kirilenko, 30, has led CSKA Moscow to an undefeated regular season thus far and looks to be an early favorite for MVP. As Kirilenko announced his intentions to stay in Russia for the entire season, the Raptors would be looking to sign the former first-round draft pick this summer.
While the Raptors will have to wait a few months to begin courting Kirilenko, Colangelo can add an important piece to his roster once small forward Wilson Chandler is released from his contract with the CBA's Zhejiang Guangsha. The fifth-year player out of DePaul is a restricted free agent which will allow for the Denver Nuggets to match any contract that the Raptors might offer Chandler. Given Chandler's upward trending career numbers and youth (24), the Raptors' bid must be overly aggressive if they have any hope of Chandler heading across the border to Toronto.
During his concluding remarks in an interview with the Raptors broadcast team, Colangelo mentioned how he viewed Leandro Barbosa as a valuable trade chip moving forward. Colangelo expressed Barbosa's importance to the team but pondered what nearly 13 PPG from a 29-year-old veteran guard could land the Raptors in a trade with a contending team. While Barbosa remains a valuable addition for any team, his most attractive asset may be his contract which expires at the end of the season.

Northwest Links: Sloan, Rubio, Batum

February 4th, 2012 at 5:04pm CST by Chuck Myron

Another element in the dustup between Karl Malone and the Jazz about the end of Jerry Sloan's lengthy tenure as head coach last year came into play today. Utah-area media outlets apparently weren't privy to a team statement that made its way to national writers, according to Brian T. Smith of The Salt Lake Tribune. (Twitter link)

Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports tweeted the statement, which contained Sloan's denial that he was forced out, in piecemeal fashion this afternoon. Smith then passed it along as part of a larger piece on the saga.

Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com tweets that amidst all the back-and-forth, Sloan would listen if another team becomes interested in hiring him.

Elsewhere in the Northwest Division:

Christopher Dempsey of The Denver Post offers an appreciation of durable Nuggets guard Andre Miller, who recently passed the 1,000-games-played mark:
The Salt Lake Tribune's Jazz beat reporters spoke with Earl Watson about the advanced treatment he received on his sprained ankle.
Jake Appleman of The New York Times looks at how Ricky Rubio is helping turn around the Timberwolves.
Nicolas Batum, who will be a restricted free-agent this summer, will have a chance to show off his versatility against the Nuggets tonight. His agent, Bouna Ndiaye, has suggested he will look at other teams before negotiating again with the Blazers after the two sides failed to agree on an extension last month.

Nuggets Waive DeMarre Carroll

February 4th, 2012 at 10:47am CST by Zachary Links

The Nuggets have waived small forward DeMarre Carroll, according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter). Carroll joined Denver as a non-guaranteed training camp invite in December.

Carroll, 25, was drafted 27th overall by the Grizzlies in 2009 but has bounced around the league ever since. The University of Missouri product appeared in four games for the Nuggets this year for a total of 21 minutes.

Berger On Howard, Williams, Chandler, Nash, GMs

February 3rd, 2012 at 9:03pm CST by Alex Lee

Ken Berger of CBSSports weighed in on the Dwight Howard situation, Deron Williams and several other hot NBA topics. Here is a quick summary of his updates:

Dwight Howard would already be on his way out of Orlando if he was able to make a decision on a destination, according to a person close to the situation. Rival executives believe that after the All-Star game in Orlando, the Magic will be forced to move him.
Berger says that despite reports to the contrary, the Lakers are indeed one of Howard's finalists, along with the Mavericks and Nets. The Lakers would prefer to move Pau Gasol in a deal over newly named All-Star starter Andrew Bynum.
While the Nets are encouraged by Deron Williams' outlook on the team, the team knows that it must complete a Dwight Howard-sized deal to resign the point guard.
Despite league-wide concern over how the Kenyon Martin situation shook out in China, the Nuggets remain committed to signing Wilson Chandler.
Steve Nash has not requested a trade, but if he should, the Suns would do all they can to accommodate his request.
On top of the Lakers interest in Ramon Sessions, the team has also discussed the possibility of adding Gilbert Arenas.
Berger suggests the following front office members have uncertain futures: Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld, Pistons team president Joe Dumars, Kings team president Geoff Petrie, Raptors team president Bryan Colangelo

Nuggets Notes: Martin, Karl, Playoffs

February 2nd, 2012 at 6:01pm CST by Jason Hahn

Here are the latest notes on the Nuggets, who visit the Clippers tonight…

Kenyon Martin will not return to the Nuggets this season, writes Benjamin Hochman of The Denver Post, citing a league source. The 34-year-old power forward had been playing in China but was recently cleared by FIBA to return to the NBA, as we noted earlier today.
Marc Spears of Yahoo Sports takes a look at the Nuggets post-Carmelo Anthony. Among the interesting tidbits of information is that coach George Karl says this version of the Nuggets easier to coach than his previous teams. Karl also shared what he said to Anthony when the Nuggets visited the Knicks on Jan. 21: "I respect you. You’re the best scorer I ever coached. What you did [in Denver] before I got here, and what we did once we got together, is a pretty good run. It doesn’t have a lot of playoff success, but it has a lot of good basketball."
Kiki Vandeweghe, a contributor for FOX Sports and former GM of the Nuggets, discusses the Nuggets as they visit the Clippers tonight and host the Lakers on Friday. He says the Nuggets will have to assert their running-style of play if they hope to win against their next two opponents. If they can't, the stars on the other teams (e.g., Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin) will find a way to push their teams to victory. "And that's why I think it's fair when people wonder whether the Nuggets can succeed in the playoffs," writes Vandeweghe. "It's the truth. NBA championships are won by teams with stars."